I LOVE PENNY BLACK....

I know I say that every few posts but I just got a few new PB images and I am just in love with her animals series.... her farm animals, her critters in London-- and now check this one out....

AREN'T THEY CUTE???? O-My-Lanta....
I colored with Copics, and added some Distress Ink on the edges to brighten the cardstock.  The background was created on watercolor paper with Distress Ink Pads (similar to the technique that Kristina Werner used on a recent card). The colors I used were Chipped Sapphire, Tumbled Glass, and Dusty Concord.  I then waited for the colors to dry and then stamped with White Colorbox ink "Thank U" from my Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set from Michaels.

If you want to see the video that shows how to do the background, go to the link from Kristina Werner:  click HERE.

I have Glossy Accents on the windows and headlights.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I love my Scrappy Moms' Scrabble set so I used it for my Father's Day card.  I wanted to add many more words but it would have been a scrapbook page.

I used the DAD stamp from Paper Smooches.  The background swirls and circles are from an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set from Michaels.

The sentiment was from a $1 stamp at Michaels.  Considering my father has been my only father, he was a shoo-in.


Amuse-bouche:
Still addicted to BONES (Fox TV).
Currently reading with my refreshing drink:

A wedding gift box

Today we had a wedding shower for someone at work. I made my exploding gift box however THIS time, I made my own paper.  Here's my wedding gift box....
(for a video tutorial on the exploding box, click HERE)

I used a Hero Arts background stamp with VersaMark/clear embossing powder.  I then dabbed a combination of Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress STAINS and blended with a gloved finger.  The flowers came from the wedding section at Michaels.

 

Here's the lid.  I gathered some Recollections wired flowers into a bunch. I used a medium size DOT to glue it down.  Those things are super sticky!.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo (I've used it before on prior wedding gift boxes).  I used Tumbled Glass distress stains on the edge of the tag.

 When you open the lid... here's what you see. The car and phrases were cut from the Sweethearts cartridge (Cricut).  The matte that I wrote on was from Spellbinders. 

TO make it look like the doves and hearts were floating, I used clear sheets that I bought at Michaels (in the painting/water color section).  I inked the edges of the doves and hearts (from Sweethearts cartridge).  I used the thick red clear tape but it wasn't strong enough so I had to bond the strips with Glossy Accents. BOY That stuff worked great!!!

I put red bling for the tail lights and red Stickles for the license plate.  I used the Zip 2way glue and then sprinkled Crystal glitter to bling the car up.  I applied Tea Dye Distress Ink (brushed it with an ink pad) to the silhouettes of the man and woman). 


Amuse-bouche:

Here is the lovely shower cake we got the employee.  Isn't it gorgeous?  It was purchased at VON's grocery store and it was really yummy!!! (in case you're looking for a nice cake for a party).

One of my employees made these gorgeous cupcakes for the wedding shower potluck. The inside had strawberries and a cool-whip type spread. Isn't it beautiful?

She got the recipe from Giada de Laurentiis however I can't find it on the internet. It might be in one of her cookbooks.

Thanks via Penny Black and Marlene S (at Squigglefly)

I made this thank you card for my physical therapist for helping me with my back.  I used the Penny Black image for the front of the card (using Copics, stickles, Black Enamel from Ranger), and some Glossy Accents on the blue bike frame.  I cut this with a Spellbinders Nestabilities die cut and used Tumbled Glass on the edges.

 

 Here's a close- up (I LOVE PENNY BLACK'S COW IMAGES)

 This is the inside of the card.  I got this image from Marlene (who I miss in the blog community).  You can find her images for purchase at Squigglefly.com.  I used flocking powder on her socks and Liquid Pearls on the dress and Glossy Accents on the eyeglasses.  I also used Stickles on the hair bow.

The sentiment came from an Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set re: Thanks that I got at Michaels.  The light blue dots are Liquid Pearls.  The ink on the sentiment is Jenni Bowlin.

Note: I am not this "top heavy" however pretty much everything else is accurate.  Even the little hairs on my leg.  (I have about 3 hairs normally... and sometimes forget to shave Larry, Moe, and Curly).

Here's a close up:

Go check out Theresa's blog:   http://theresasgottahaveblingblog.blogspot.com/

She has a great little card with this flower petal that opens up when you open the card.  She also has been really kicking out the cards!!!   (She really has some lovely cards on display).  I like that she varies her card shapes.

A gift bag of cards....

I made gift bags of cards (4 in each bag) for Christmas.  Each bag had the cards, envelope and a Gel Pen.  The cards were copied after samples of cards I saw on various sites/blogs.  (Yea, 2012 resolution--- I will create my own designs....

Starting with the bags, I took blue cardstock and sprayed it with liquid pearls.  I tied Baker's twine from Scrappy Mom's around it.  The little penguin is from Paper Trey Ink.  I used a glitter pen on the snowflakes to bling them up.  The tag was cut from a Spellbinder Nestabilities die cut. There is a Happy Holidays sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up on each tag

 Here is one card:  I used a Paper Trey Ink newspaper stamp.  This card was on a prior blog but I re-created it again for my gift bag sets.This was actually created by Creations by Christina.  [Christina makes great videos-- and is really creative, with PTI products and Cricut stuff.]  I actually put two of the same image on top of each other to give it a bigger impression of a 'stack.'  I put distress ink on the edges.  The sentiment came from a clear stamp from Michaels (Hero Arts) and was put on a Spellbinder Nestability diecut.  The twine is from Paper Trey Ink.

 This is a lovely stamp from Paper Trey Ink. I love this stamp. I saw it on a sample card  from Nichole Heady (of PTI) and actually recreated it with many different colors.  I believe the sentiment is an Inkadinkadoo sentiment that is stamped on a Paper Trey Ink Die cut and stamp outline.

This is another sample card I saw on Nichole's site (see link above).  I love this die cut from Paper Trey Ink. I then used the PTI Mendhi stamp inside the squares using VersaMark. 

 You have seen this sample before, when I did a Thank You card series.  I silver embossed these images on Pink watercolor paper.  The pink  background is a combination of Distress stains.   The sentiment came from Lawn Fawn.  The die cut is Spellbinder Nestabilities.

Goodbye Marlooney??? (Not so fast... I WILL STALK YOU)

I am so sad to read that Marlooney is 'retiring' (is that the proper word?) from our blogging community.... TO LIVE HER LIFE.  

Just Kidding.... sort of.  She has been such a good blogging friend and inspiration to me.  I've only been fortunate to know her a bit over a year but, like you all, she has entertained, inspired, and made me LAUGH.OUT.LOUD!!! (A "LOL" simply doesn't express the laughter that came out of my pie-hole).  

Luckily, I know where she lives and have the financial means to stalk her... although only in the warmer seasons.  I do not stalk in snow, Marlene.

If you haven't been reading my prior babbling posts, please quickly RUN to try to read and view some of her blog entries.  HERE!  I hope she won't take her blog away from us.  Please leave it up, Marlene!!!

It'd be like reading Judy Blume books on a bad day. 

I understand she will still be creating her fabulous images and selling them on Squigglefly-- so she won't be gone forever!  

I didn't make the cards displayed below for Marlene but I was going to showcase them tonight. How poetic.

All kidding aside, I'll miss your blog postings, Marlene. You'll always be 'the QUEEN' to me. And.... Yes, I Will Stalk You (snort).  :)  Your student and fellow tv junkie, Naomi

*************************************************************************************************

These cards are 5.5 x 8.25 ".  I used a Britta Swiderski's idea of using silver Embossing powder and Distress Stains. (Seriously... my 2012 Resolution is to try to create something On My Own.  I'm so thankful there are talented people I can copy to get my technique down-- however I really have to take the training bra off...  LITERALLY)
The clear stamp is a clear stamp set (I believe Inkadinkado, at Michaels).  I then rubbed Distress Stain (Tumbled Glass and Broken China or Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick) over it and rubbed it all in with my fingers (very messy). I also sprayed some Perfect Pearl on it. I used white watercolor paper to absorb the ink.  The ribbon is from Michaels (50% off!!!) and the sentiment is from Paper Trey Ink (using either Melon Mambo from Stampin' Up or Speckled Egg from Jenni Bowlin).  The sentiment tag is a Spellbinders nestability. 

Thank you, for tolerating my tv addictions...

Before I bore some of my reading audience with the header, let's get to the card. I made this card to thank an employee at my gym.  I won't bother getting into the minutia but I was appreciative of his effort to help me out.  He is a front desk staff  member and he is ALWAYS there.... dawn, dusk, Saturdays, Sundays.  I made this card, using Penny Black's Cow (how appropriate, for the gym, eh?)   The embossing is from Cuttlebug, and I used Copics, Glossy Accents on the pink lemonade, and Liquid Pearls on the bikini.  The sentiment came from Inkadinkado and the ink is Jenni Bowlin. The sentiment was on a diecut from Spellbinders Nestabilities. The background of the cow was done with Chalk.

Amuse-bouche:
Today, I went to Target to buy more Gardein's (haha- they're on sale. I bought 5 bags... cleaned them out of "Mandarin Chicken.").   I decided to mosey past the DVD's and nearly screamed in GLEE. 

WHEN DID UNIVERSAL DECIDE TO RELEASE THIS? AND WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED??????  :)

$29.99 at Target

To see the intro to an episode of the Six Million Dollar Man, and re-live the 70's, please click on the link below:

http://youtu.be/HofoK_QQxGc

[And to all you nay-sayers out there... Be thankful I'm not going on and on about my other 'childhood favorite show' (haha!):
Check out the ABBA-like choreography in the first 30 seconds of the clip.

I practiced daily- my Donnie & Marie choreography on my stage (long coffee table) with my microphone (pencil).   Thank goodness camera phones didn't exist back then  or you'd be seeing another YouTube video.  :)
I could have been an Osmond, don't ya think?... well, an Asian Osmond...  :)

My first dog, Sachi.

And yes, I have this CD. Yes, I said CD!

Congratulations!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was beautiful in So Cal and we're up for 70-80 degrees this week.  (BIG SMILE!!!!  OOH, MY CHEEKS HURT, I'M SMILING SO MUCH!... or is that my sunburn?  ha! )

A friend of mine got a promotion... and isn't that a wonderful blip of hope in times when you hear of people continuing to be laid off.  I made him a card/CD holder.... I wanted to use a technique that I saw on one of the Paper Trey Ink designers' blogs.  It was all about using your stamps to create background pattern paper.

The ink is Jenni Bowlin. The stamps are from  a combination of an Inkadinkadoo clear set stamp that I got at Michaels (the circle shapes).  The flowers came from a Michael's Recollections clear set stamp called "Flowers for You."   The sentiment and the flower next to the sentiment is from Lawn Fawn stamps.

Here it is....

These tickets are from Paper Trey Ink (including the sentiment).

I was super busy making Christmas gifts this weekend... (em... and sleeping... and watching Dexter until 3am...   :-)   ).  I hope to have some crafts to show this week as most of the things I worked on can't be showcased until after the gifts have been sent on their merry way....

Have a wonderful week....

Thank you, Sassy Cheryl's!

I love Sassy Cheryl's images.  I used Copics and put Glossy Accents on the bowl and the sign that says "Thanks."  I painted "Smooches" on the arm band and the headband.  I used Spellbinders Nestabilities with Distress Ink to frame the image.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo (a clear acrylic set available at Michaels).  I also used Stampin' Up's Melon Mambo ink.

This is from Inkadinkadoo clear acrylic set.

Digital Delights--- Thank you card

Today, I used a Digital Delights image for a thank you card.  I colored with Copics and lastly, put Glossy Accents on the flowers.

Thank you card

I wanted to use my Lawn Fawn ("Critters in the Burbs") set and this is what I came up with.  The background was made with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The images were colored with Copics.  I did put some Martha Stewart white flocking powder on the dog's muzzle.  I used a sparkly pen on one of the butterflies (I bought the pen from Michael's.  It is a Sakura Gelly pen).  I used Stickles on the other butterfly (pink wings).  Lastly, I used a Silver colored gel pen on the dog's license.

 

From Inkadinkadoo clear stamp set, available at Michaels.