absolutely, fabulous

I'm surprised at myself these days.  Lately, a card just doesn't seem "done" to me unless I've added some sparkle.  I wanted to try out the Delightful Doilies from last month's release and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  I'm not one to lean towards the vintage look, but it seems as though that's where I ended up anyways.  Now, on to the main event:

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), New Leaf, Aqua Mist

Stamps: Say It With Style, Delightful Doilies

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, and Wild Wasabi (SU), Tea Dye Duo

Other: punch (SU), crystal glitter (Martha Stewart)

Have a fabulous day, Friends.
 

let it snow ...

FINALLY!!  Our school board declared it's first snow day since 1999 yesterday.  And I was thrilled.  Granted, I would've been happier if they'd announced it before I had left for work, but, better late than never.  I took advantage of a found 6 hours to get my craft room a little more organized and to get my fingers a little inkier than usual.  My mom's birthday is next week, so I decided that my stamping task du jour was to finish a card for her.  I know that she saves every card we give her.  I mean.  Every.  Single.  Card.  So, this was definitely more labour intensive that most of my crafty creations.

I have a personal aversion to the colour purple, but in honour of her birthstone, amethyst, I went with a regal theme.  On the way home from work on Monday, I had stopped at Michael's on impulse and found these really cool fleur-de-lys embellishments from Jolee's Boutique on sale which were my inspiration.  I also was dying to try out my new Decorative Doily die and to make some wrinkled ribbons.  

I made a bit of an oops on the inside so I had to do a quick fix which turned out pretty okay, if I do say so myself.  All in all, I am thrilled with the finished product. The ribbon was so easy (I coloured it with a copic) but I need to figure out a better way to make bows and froo-froo thingies with it.  So, now that the card's taken care of , I just need to think of a gift for a mom who always says, "don't get me anything" when you ask her what she wants, or needs.  Any suggestions?

See you all later.   

Details: 

Paper:  purple (Core-dinations), chocolate (Bazzill), Rustic Cream & Happy Spots (PTI), Solar White (Neenah), bronze glitter paper (unknown)

Stamps:  Happy Birthday (PTI), inside sentiment (SU)

Ink:  brown, purples (Memento), tea dye duo (PTI)

Dies:  circles (Spellbinders), decorative doily (MFT), medium scallop border (PTI)

Other:  seam binding (white-Hug Snug), RV12 (Copic), fleur-de-lys (Jolee's)

vintage valentine

Happy Wednesday, Friends.  I'm trying to get a jump on all of my holiday crafting for 2011, so I'm starting Valentine's Day early.  I was in Michael's on the weekend and found this gorgeous print that I literally fell in love with in the store.  I mean, I bought three 12 x 12 pieces of this.  I have been dying to ink up & create with Love Birds, so I was just messing around in my craft room last night (instead of marking book reports LOL).  This is what I came up with:

Hope you are having a great time.  And for my PTI forum buds, I hope you're working on your Holiday Central goals.  I've got big plans that I'm hoping will come to fruition over the next few weeks.  You may want to follow my blog so you'll know when I start to post my Valentine treat sets.  They're going to be great.

Have a great day!!
Supplies: 
Paper:  white (Neenah), red (Bazzill), print (Anna Griffin)
Stamps:  Love Birds
Ink:  Cranberry (ColorBox), Tuxedo Black, Chamomile Tea Dye
Other:  Large Circle & Petite Scalloped Circle dies (Spellbinders)

PTI Blog Hop - Holiday Leftovers

December's Challenge: 

It's that time again for our annual holiday leftovers challenge! Use scraps of wrapping paper, parts of holiday cards, recycle gift tags or bits of ribbon on a paper crafting project. We all have plenty of it laying around after all the holiday excitement and this is your chance to incorporate some of those pretty little things into an amazing piece of art!

You know you're addicted to stamping when someone hands you a present and your first though is, "Oooh.  That paper would be gorgeous on a card."  However, when your second thought is, "YES!!  There's at least 6 yards of ribbon." and you start to happy dance in your head, it's time to get help.  Or prepare to hop, PTI style.

I created an assymetrical frame using a print from The Girl's Paperie that I used for Christmas cards.  The green flower was die cut from a linen textured wrapping paper using Beautiful Blooms #1.  I tucked in a few snippets of the gold ribbon from the same gift instead of making real leaves.  The final step was to put it all on a Pure Poppy scallop base.  Or so I thought. 

 

This card just wasn't doing it for me so I grabbed some rustic cream cardstock, my woodgrain impression plate, and a little tea dye duo.  Et, voila!  C'est fini. 

Now this card works.  Hope you like it.

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted)
Paper:  spring rain, pure poppy, rustic cream, print (the girl's paperie),
Sentiment:  Kind Words (Verve)
Ink:  Rich Cocoa (Memento), Tea Dye Duo
Embellishments:  beautiful blooms die, lemon tart button, rustic button twine
Other:  woodgrain impression plate, large scallop & circle Nestabilities

Merry Christmas, Friends

Wishing you God's richest blessings today and always.  May your day be filled with family, friends, love, and laughter as you take time to remember the real reason to celebrate.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come.  Merry Christmas, Friends.

Details - all PTI unless otherwise noted

Paper:  rustic cream, red (Bazzill), print (the Girl's Paperie)

Stamps:  Silent Night, filigree dove (Michaels)

Ink:  tea dye duo, VersaMark

Other:  large circle & scallop Nesties, white EP (Stampendous)

shabby, little Christmas

Well, now that the presents are bought I'm getting serious about making cards for the family.  The only problem is, I have more cards to post than I do sleeps 'til Christmas.  So be prepared for a little Christmas cheer leading up to the new year.  Doilies, snowflakes, and vintage/shabby chic seem to be all the rage still so I tried my hand at combining all three.

In keeping with the busyness of the season, and the fact that I still have all my baking to do, I'll get straight to the details.  Thanks for visiting & happy holidays!

Details

Paper:  spring moss (PTI), blue (SU), white (Neenah)

Stamps:  Big & Bold Holiday Wishes & Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers (PTI)

Ink:  Tea Dye Duo (PTI), VersaMark, blue distress ink

Other:  Top Note die (SU), doily (Michael's), blue & silver EP (AC), Corner Chomper