Responding to Email

I just love reading all of your comments and emails! It means a lot to me that my readers take the time to talk to me about their favorite hobby, new technique, or just to ask me a question! So tonight I wanted to write this post in response to some emails I've recently received...

Hi Susan! As promised, I have taken a photo of the stamp set and stickers I used to create the two cards in the photos below. In the first card, the little bird came from a Martha Stewart sticker set called, "Gnome & Woodland Stickers." In the second card, I used the Trick or Treat banner from a Halloween clear stamp set from Michael's - it's their Recollections brand. 

Shown below is the Halloween stamp set and the leftover stickers I still have from the Gnome & Woodland set. I found each one at Michael's. 

Next, Melissa wanted to know what type of die cut I used for the above Trick or Treat card...

Hi Melissa! It's funny because even though I own a Cuttlebug die cut machine, the shape in the center of the Trick or Treat card was hand-cut with an X-acto knife. My little secret is that sometimes I will save packaging if it has an interesting shape. Then I used it as a template to cut out and use as a banner or background for my cards. The cool part is that I can reuse the template over and over and it saves me a little money too - nothing wrong with that! 

Thanks to both Susan and Melissa for your emails! It was so nice to meet you both!

It's Beginning to Feel Like Fall

The weather here in California has cooled off this past week. I felt all cozy and wanted to snuggle up at home, but I am certain that next week the weather will be completely different as it always changes in California. Anyway, the cooler weather inspired me to create this fall-themed card. I love this time of year when the leaves start changing color - it's amazing!

I used fabric leaves, a Jenni Bowlin bingo card, some pretty satin ribbon, and a stamped sentiment from Papertrey Ink. And the best part is that this card came together in just a few minutes. I just love it when it all works together! Easy peasy!

Patterned Paper: Restoration line from Crate Paper

Bingo Card: Jenni Bowlin

Sentiment: Spooky Sweets II from Papertrey Ink

Mojo Monday Sketch 157

Have you seen the fun sketch over at Mojo Monday this week? I saw the sketch and in an instant I knew exactly the card I was going to make. I chose to use the classic Early Bird line from Cosmo Cricket. I love the bright colors, vintage style, and the too cute chipboard! 

This card challenge was to create a card using border punches or die cuts based on the sketch above. I used border punches from Fiskars and EK Success, added a zig-zag stitch, and applied my chipboard and letter stickers. And last, added those cute buttons at the bottom. 

Patterned Paper: Early Bird from Cosmo Cricket

Sticker Letters: Tiny Type from Cosmo Cricket

Scalloped Border Punch: Fiskars

Notebook Edge and Circle Punch: EK Success

Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket 

Halloween Card Using Copics

Another fun stamp set arrived in my mailbox from Papertrey Ink. This set is called "Spooky Treats II" and I have used it on so many little projects in preparation for Halloween. This is definitely my new favorite stamp set! 

For this card, I started with black cardstock and used a large circle punch to remove the center piece. I then stamped white cobwebs at random on the cardstock and used orange embroidery thread to stitch the edges. 

Next, I used the same circle punch to cut out a circle from white cardstock. I then stamped the circle flourish in orange ink and colored the rest with Copic markers to create a moonlight effect. Last, I stamped the black cat onto the moon and once again onto another white paper and cut him out removing his tail and wiskers. I then used foam tape to make him pop off the card for dimension. 

Then, I applied the orange circle to my cardbase first and used foam tape to add the black paper directly on top. Now it really looks third dimensional!

Cardstock: Bazzil Basics

Stamps: Spooky Treats II from Papertrey Ink

Ink: Fresh Snow from Papertrey Ink and Tangelo VersaMagic from Tsukineko

Copic Markers: Y38 Honey and YR07 Cadmium Orange

My First Project for Hybrid Chick & Treat Bags Tutorial!

Yay! I'm so excited to have done my first tutorial over at the Hybrid Chick! The tutorial will show you how you can mass-produce a huge assortment of fun little treat bags in no time at all! I made these for my son's soccer team as it will be my turn soon to bring snacks for the team. With Halloween approaching, I knew I wanted to create fun little Halloween themed gifts that the kiddos would enjoy. 

Want to learn how I made these? Hop on over to the Hybrid Chick! Then, let me know what you think. I hope you have fun making your own version of these super easy treat bags!

Friendly Snail Mail Surprise

Sending snail mail is something we don't do much these days. But wouldn't you love to be surprised by finding something in your mailbox? Especially something handmade? I though you would. So I wanted to share with you something you can send out to your friends to remind them of how important they are to you. And this card can be done in minutes with the right ingredients.

Step 1: Trim all your papers. My card base measures 10" x 7" (when folded this card will be 5" x 7"). Cut matting paper to 4.75" x 6.75". Cut patterned paper to 4.5" x 6.75". Set aside. 

Step 2: Use die cut machine to cut out shape for sentiment. You could also cut a shape by hand or use a large punch. Then use standard hole punch to create holes at each side (this will be where your ribbon is inserted). Add sentiment. Set aside. 

Step 3: Cut ribbon large enough to wrap around matting and enough to tie bow. Cut lace trim to measure width of matting at 4.75".

Step 4: Stitch matting and patterned paper using a zig-zag stitch or simply adhere with double-sided adhesive tape. Adhere trim to patterned paper using double-sided adhesive tape.

Step 5: Wrap ribbon around matting and pull through your sentiment label. Tie bow. Adhere to cardbase.

Step 6: Add pearls or jewels to complete!

Patterned Paper: "Fringe" from Crate Paper's Restoration Kit

Die: Ornament No. 5 from Sizzix

Impression Plate: Woodgrain Impression Plate from Papertrey Ink

Stamp Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado from Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Spiral Bouquet from Papertrey Ink

Other: Jewel Flourish, Pearls: Zva Creative; Ribbon: Michael's; Vintage Lace Trim; Cardstock: Bazzil Basics

Paper Crafts Magazine

I've browsed every page in the current issue of Paper Crafts magazine. Ok, I've browsed it several times. But there is one particular card that I keep turning to over and over - it's Melissa Bickford's "One Crazy Cat" card on page 40. I just love the bright colors and its simple design. I loved it so much that I decided to scraplift it! 

Now because I believe in giving full credit to those who've created their own artwork, I requested Melissa's permission to post this remake of her card on my blog. So with her blessing, here is her card followed by my own remake. I hope I did the card justice! 

Thanks, Melissa for the inspiration and allowing me to share this card!
Your work and stamps are so lovely!

The supplies I used to remake this card are:

Cardbase and Matting: Bazzil Basics

Stamps: (Circle Flourish, Cat, Sentiment) Papertrey Ink

Ink: Tsukineko black

Halloween Vintage Style Postcard

If you're like me, then you are inspired by all things vintage. There is something about the muted colors, the tattered edges, and the imperfections that are, well....perfect! I wanted to recreate that vintage look when making this Halloween card. 

Now, I didn't dare want to alter this original postcard so instead I scanned it and printed it onto cardstock. Then I used mod podge to add a protective coating and to prevent any ink bleeds. After the mod podge dried, I mixed a few drops of white paint with water and added a few thin coats over the postcard wiping off with a towel after each application. I was really surprised at how quickly this dried and I love the soft muted effect it gives. I will definitely try this technique again!

The layout of this card is really simple. I laid down my background paper, then adhered my postcard, a strip of vintage lace and cut out a scalloped black border to adhere on the bottom. For my last detail, I tied an orange satin bow, added a vintage pale blue button and two orange sewing pins. 

Now, I hope you're inspired to create your own vintage card! If so, send me a link - I'd love to see it!

Disneyland Mini Album

In case I haven't said so enough, I love using Cosmo Cricket for most of my scrapbooks, cards, or paper crafts. So after looking through my photos, I found our trip to Disneyland and knew that Cosmo's Early Bird line would match perfectly for a mini album! The colors are so bright and happy - just like Disneyland!

I used my Cricut to cut out the chipboard and papers from the Accent Essentials cartridge. I am so thankful I have the Cricut because I wasn't about to hand cut all these pages (gasp)! To decorate the mini album, I used the Early Bird line Ready-Set-Chipboard and Journal Cards.

Here are my children acting it up for the camera and riding the Buzz Lightyear ride in Tomorrowland. 

Here we are enjoying breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. Such a fun and interactive place. The kids can play with the dishes, sing and dance, and even have breakfast with all the Disney characters. This is RSVP only, but well worth it! And the kids loved the Mickey Mouse shaped cereal and waffles!

Look at my daughter with her hands up! My little dare-devil on the teacups. 

And here we all are enjoying the Jungle Cruise (it feels good to sit down). 

And here we are waiting in the line for the Pirates of the Caribbean - my favorite ride! When I was little, I remember thinking the pirates and fire were real (I wonder if my kids think the same way). 

And here are my children, each with their dads. Look at those happy faces - these photos make me smile!

Creative Scrappers Sketch #121

Hello all! I wanted to share with you a layout I created and submitted using Sketch #121 from Creative Scrappers. For this layout, I used the new Restoration line of papers from Crate Paper - love them! This line of papers has had me so busy creating and scrapping. They are becoming my new favorite and are so easy to work with!

I think I was able to keep my layout true to the original sketch. I usually don't follow sketches, but this one got me out of my layout slump. I can't wait to try another one!

Papers and Embellishments: Restoration from Crate Paper

Letters: Thickers from American Crafts

Blue Doily: Electric Blue Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels

Other: Vintage Lace Trim

The Lovely Designs of Tanya Tahir

Have you seen the designs of Tanya Tahir? She is a very talented scrapbooker and paper crafts artist and is the blog author of Sweet About Me. I was visiting her blog and saw this card she made. I was immediately drawn to the bright colors, and of course, that vintage children's imagery. It reminds me of the 1950's when Dick and Jane ruled the school books. 

Anyway, so when Tanya mentioned that she would start selling her cards on Etsy, I was so excited that I was able to buy this card from her. I'm even more happy that it made it safely through its travels all the way from Australia to my home in California. 

Now, I hope that all of you visit Tanya's blog and are inspired by her beautiful designs. 

Thanks, Tanya! I love this card!

Going Batty for Halloween

During the weekend, we were busy making homemade strawberry jam. Oh my goodness, the berries were so perfect and ripe, I'm surprised there were any left to make the jam. Then, of course we had to decorate all the mason jars. I can't wait to reveal them to you!

For today, I wanted to share another Halloween themed card I created, again using my Cuttlebug to emboss the zig-zag stitch (which I am loving these days). Then, I added a black scalloped border to divide my two patterned papers. I stamped my sentiment in the center and cut out my stamped bats, then added them onto the card with foam tape. Last, I added little jeweled eyes on the bats. So cute!

Notice the simplicity of this card? I haven't had much time after work this past week to create, but I've embraced the time constraint and beat the clock with each creation. Plus, it's a great challenge!

Play With Your Food!

I have a picky eater in my house. My son just won't try anything new. Every night it's a challenge to get him to eat his dinner. It's been this way for years. So...I gave up the battle and decided to let him play with his food instead. Thanks to these adorable Food Face plates from Fred & Friends!

I had seen these on their website a while ago and was so excited when I found them in a local shop. They were the last one's on the shelf so I naturally grabbed them, hid them under my arm, and hoarded them all the way to the register (lol)!

So, if you haven't checked out Fred & Friends products - you must! They have the coolest gadgets, fun kitchen products, and party supplies - all unique and a lot of fun. 

Even though these plates haven't made my son try new foods, he has been having a blast decorating it with the foods he loves and I've enjoyed watching him clear his plate! Hey, it's a start. 

Now if only he'd let me borrow one because I want to play with my food too!

Halloween Card (Altered Doily)

Wow! It's almost midnight here! I've been busy all day cleaning out my scrapping supplies, rearranging, and finding goodies I forgot I had. I still have a few things to do, but that will have to wait until the morning (which is just 30 minutes away). 

But I have also been busy making some really fun goody bags that I made with the new Crate Paper line - I just love it and can't wait to share all the fun things I made! 

Anyway, it's been a very busy weekend here. So I thought I would share another simple Halloween card that I made the other day. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the zig-zag stitch around the border and stamped some stars onto the background. Then, I took a plain white doily and changed the color by stamping it with black ink. I was trying to make it look cobweb-like or even gothic, dare I say?

Then, I stamped my "Trick or Treat" sentiment and added black and orange embroidery thread. Last, I added some orange jewels. Super simple!

Now, I'm off to try to get some sleep. There's so much more to do tomorrow. Good night, all!

Halloween Card: Embossed Details

We are approaching Halloween (well, next month anyway)! I have been busy creating lots of different Halloween themed cards. Each with its own special details - some with doilies, some very vintage inspired, and this one for today - a basic card with pretty embossed details!

I stared with a soft orange cardstock to create the base and used black cardstock as a matting. Then I took my kraft paper and embossed it with my Cuttlebug and inked the raised parts in orange. I added my simple black satin ribbon around the card and adhere to the black matting. 

Then I used two different sized circle punches to cut out a black and orange base, stamping the orange base and inking the edges. Using foam tape between the circles, I placed them both under this purple frame chipboard and added three orange jewels.

A super easy card to make in less than 15 minutes!

Cardstock: Bazzil Basics

Jewels: Zva Creative

Frame: Chipboard Frames pack from Recollections (Michael's)

Stamp: Halloween Clear Stamps from Recollections (Michael's)

Ink: Tangelo from Tsukineko

Embossed Swirls: Cuttlebug A2 D'vine Swirls

Embossing, Doilies, & Jewels - Oh My!

We are approaching birthday season over at our house. Seems like everyone will be having a birthday soon. So I have been busy stocking up on birthday cards. Starting out, my daughter's friend will be having her birthday first so we decided to create a very girly card for her, because that's just what she is - very girly! Plus, she loves coming over to look at all the cards I make. 

For her card, I did a zig zag emboss at the edges and used my circle punch at each corner for a different kind of look. Each corner is stamped with Papertrey Ink's Spiral Bouquet stamp set. I added background paper from My Mind's Eye and also used the circle punch for the corners. 

Then, I found a small white doily and used my new VersaMagic ink in Sea Breeze to change the color. This ink has the best quality for doing such things and it dried very quickly! Then I used foam tape to add my "Make A Wish" sentiment, tied a satin bow and added two pins through it. Last, I added that pretty jewel flourish from Zva Creative - of course! 

TIP: I typically cut my Zva Creative flourishes to a smaller size for cards. Then, I save some money because I use one flourish several times. The flourish used from this card was cut and used in four different cards. Notice those three little jewels on the sentiment? They came from the same set. And I still have a few individual jewels left over.

Patterned Papers and Sentiment: Quite Contrary from My Mind's Eye

Jewels: Zva Creative

Flower Pins: Little Yellow Bicycle

Doily: VersaMagic in Sea Breeze by Tsukineko

Embossing: Cuttlebug

Flower Stamps: Spiral Bouquet from Papertrey Ink

Delovely Card No. 3 - Doily Love

Happy Saturday all - hope it's been going well! Today is Day 3 of using Cosmo Cricket's Delovely papers to make a card. My daughter was a big help with this card, sitting right along beside me giving her opinion along the way. I think she made better choices than I originally had for this design - I'm glad I listened to her!

I created We created this card by starting with a bright blue matting, then adding Cosmo Cricket's Delimit patterned paper for the background. We found a pretty little white doily in my stash but decided it would look much better if we changed the color. So we took out the turquoise Glimmer Mist and sprayed away (aaahhh, much better)! 

For the flower, we cut out a scalloped circle, then added a smaller circle, followed by that cute flower brad from K&Company.

My daughter chose the sentiment for this card - Love, from Papertrey Ink. Then, we completed the card by adding a scalloped border and pink Zva Creative pearls. 

Next week, I will be posting a few mini albums I've been working on. Oh! And some fun Halloween projects too!

Patterned Papers: Delimit and Deluxe from Cosmo Cricket's Delovely line.

Stamped Sentiment: Mega Mixed Messages from Papertrey Ink

Other: Flower Brad from K&Company; Pink Pearls by Zva Creative; Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels

Delovely Card No. 2 (Butterfly)

Thank goodness for the nice, long, four day weekend ahead of me. I'm looking forward to getting crafty and to start working on my project for the Hybrid Chick blog. But for today, as promised is the second Delovely card I created from Cosmo Cricket. These papers are seriously becoming my favorite! They are so easy to work with and they match most everything I have in my supply stash.

For this card, I created a simple 5"x5" cardstock (when folded) and placed a bright pink cardstock for my matting. Then, I chose the Delicious patterned papers as the background and inked the edges.

For my butterfly, I used a Jenni Bowlin chipboard to cut my patterned paper in the same shape. I then took a scrap paper and cut out the middle part of the butterfly to adhere. I used my white gel pen to add stitching between the two papers so they seemed to flow into each other as one piece. 


To complete the butterfly, I used my scalloped punch on an old book page and added that cute flower brad from K&Company. I used Zva Creative jewels and pearls and repeated my stamped sentiment across the bottom. 


Want to see the next Delovely card I made? Come back tomorrow to see how I altered a lace doily for my card. Until then, enjoy your Friday!

Patterned Papers: Delovely from Cosmo Cricket

Butterfly Die Cut: Jenni Bowlin

Flower Brad: from K&Company

Jewels: Zva Creative

Sentiment: Mega Mixed Messages from Papertry Ink 

Delovely Card & Ghost Flowers

I have several cards coming up for you all created with Cosmo Cricket's Delovely papers. Maybe it's the bright colors, the patterns, or the endless amount of ideas I am getting from these papers - but either way, I've been making tons of cards with these papers. Today, I will show you my first card...

I had been keeping that cute little ghost flower from Heidi Swapp in my stash, but hadn't used it yet. I'm glad I did - I think this ghost shape added so much fun to my card!

Then I cut out flowers from the back of the Deluxe patterned paper and added flowers, butterflies and a little pin. For my last detail, I added some lime green pearls and my stamped "Hi there" sentiment from Papertrey Ink. 

I can't wait to show you the other cards I made! Until then....enjoy the day!

Patterned Paper: Deluxe and Delicious from Cosmo Cricket's Delovely line

Butterfly: Martha Stewart's Classic Butterfly

Stamped Sentiment: Mega Mixed Messages from Papertrey Ink

Ghost Flower: Heidi Swapp