Another card from the Preserves Cartridge

This is a general card that I made (I can add the sentiment later) from the Preserves cartridge.  I also used the Storybook cartridge to cut the circle and the scallop circle.

 The flowers came from an assortment of flowers and brads and pompoms for $.99 on the end cap at Michaels.  I used a pearl bling for the core.  The ribbon was from the $1 rack at Michaels (last year's bin).

A Sweet Card...

I had gotten the Preserves Cartridge and wanted to try it out. I then went to get some 'crafting thread' at Michaels and used my paper piercer so I could make 'stitching' on the card.  The sunflower was from Martha Stewart's sunflower embellishment (that I got at Michaels).

SUCH CRISP CLEAN LINES....

I DO have cards to post but this post is just to share a link that I saw. This is one of the actors on Glee, performing in a short dance-video.  It is phenomenal.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love to dance.  I love sharp, clean moves perfectly choreographed to the music.   The moves in this video are exactly what I like to see. 
Check this guy out!




Also, as an addendum to my prior post, Marlene confirmed in her comment that there is no Digi Shack website anymore. (How very sad!). 

LIEBSTER BLOG AWARD--- THANKS TO MONICA!!!

I was so surprised to get a blog award from Monica over at http://monicalott.blogspot.com/

Monica doesn't just make cards- she has tons of neat craft stuff so I like to go by her blog and check out what she's made.  She's a crafty one!

Thank you Monica for the Liebster Blog!!! 

So, I have to name 3-5 blogs that I like to view.  I have a lot of blogs bookmarked however here are my 5...

1.  Remember my friend who made those CUTE alternative Valentine cards?  Well, she started a blog. She is still getting her blog up and going but I'm going to tell you that when she posts something, you should CHECK HER OUT.  She makes AWESOME PROJECTS.  I have been the recipient of a few of her mini-scrapbook cards and they just BLEW MY MIND.  So...put  http://scraplane.blogspot.com/    on your list to check up on. 

2.  These aren't "new blogs" but I do like seeing what Tammy and Jeni and Kelly have created.
http://tammy-tammyspot.blogspot.com/

http://jeniflipflop.blogspot.com/

http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
 5.  And then there is Viv!!!!  (who thankfully is doing fine in New Zealand, post-Earthquake).   http://doggonecrazy-viv.blogspot.com/

And I know I only can say 5, but I also like this Scrappy Rat's blog!  :)
http://scrappyrat.blogspot.com/


thank you again Monica!!! I'll post my blog award on the sidebar, as soon as I can figure it out (I'm not very good with this layout stuff) and notify the recipients....
For now though, I'm going to run out to Panda Express (for some Chow Mein (YAY! Noodles) and Garlic Tofu!)  

NOODLES!!!!!

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Update:  Panda Express had no Eggplant Tofu. I then tried to go to Pick Up Stix which had just closed.  :(

I'm not kidding people... I WANT CANDY!!!

Isn't he cute???? He's an image that I think I got at the Digi Shack. I tried to check this reference so I could provide you with a link but I can't find a working Digi Shack website.

My favorite commercial candy growing up was Reese's Peanut Butter cup however in the last 8 years it has become Butterfingers.  My absolute favorite candy is Victorian Toffee [or any toffee/brittle really.]  When I was younger, I used to go to my local Bookmobile every Tuesday to see my librarian friend, Barbara.  She would make the BEST homemade Victorian toffee at the holidays. It was basically toffee with a small layer of chocolate over the top of the toffee.  I looked forward to receiving a little carton of Toffee every holiday season.

Speaking of toffee and candy, I went to the dentist yesterday.  No cavities! Yay!   [Of course, I told him if he ever has to tell me I need any 'invasive dental work,' he had best be wearing a cup because "I won't react well."  Thankfully, he doesn't take it personally.  ]

What's your favorite candy or sweet? 

This card was made with Copic Sketch Markers and a Cuttlebug Embossing folder (Spots and Dots, I believe).  The ribbon was from Michaels (got on sale rack) and the embellishments were from an old Halloween embellishment set (I think it was Jolee's).  The sentiment came from Scrappy Mom's!

http://scrappymoms-stamps.blogspot.com/

 

And now... A Copics Moment... courtesy of Tiddly Inks

Happy Presidents' Day! (for those of you in the US).

I hope you're all having a prosperous day as you celebrate our American Presidents today.  

Here is a card I made with my Copics Markers. I'm still working on my shading technique but I really like this card.  I distressed with my Cricut Spatula the edges of the image and then used my Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad  ("Broken China") on the edges.  There is a drop of red Stickles on the barrettes in her hair.  The paper came from Blossoms and Butterflies (paper pack from DCWV).  I colored the red dog collars with a fine Sharpie pen.

Mo' money, Mo' money, Mo' money

I have been uber busy the last few days... making wallets, card, and trying new techniques.  I can't wait to show you what I have been working on. 

I know I've showed you this wallet a few days ago, but I made 7 of these in the last few days, WITH gift boxes.

The only difference (from the one I posted a few days ago) is the inside tags I made for the 7 wallets...

Here is the gift box I made (to go with each wallet):  Bazzill White (textured) 12x12 cardstock, Black 8.5x11 Recollections paper and "Divine Swirls" Embossing Folder.  The flower is the flower that I've been making with Tim Holtz Distress Ink/Pad and Mod Podge and a bit of Bling.

Flower was cut from George&Basic, inked with Distress Ink, sprayed with my homemade Glimmer Mist of Pearl Ex (color: silver) with some water in a Mini-Mister.  Once dry, I "Mod-Podged" it to make the petals stiffer.

 Amuse-bouche:

As I work on my cards, I typically have the tv/laptop/phone going so I can listen to something as I work.  Usually, it's a tv series on DVD or Adam Carolla or something on Hulu.com.  This time, I listened to 5 hours of Remington Steele (One of my ALL-TIME Favorite tv shows).  Hulu.com has all the seasons available for free!!! My favorite episode?  "Steele Framed." (followed by Elegy in Steele, and Vintage Steele). 

They also have "Hart to Hart" episodes for free. (Robert Wagner, Stefanie Powers).

My Scrapping Mess.... and a birthday wallet!

I wanted to give a shout out to all the scrappers at Bonibleaux who commented on my last post.  Boy, I had never gotten so many comments.  It inspired me to use more Bonibleaux images   :)    Seriously, thank you for the comments!!! 

Coincidentally, I was able to go to a great Arts warehouse where I found Copics.  I've been wanting them for so long!!!  I bought some Copics Sketch Markers.  (They were $3.99 each). Is that a good price?  It seemed like it. I got to try them out and I LOVE them.  I don't have a lot of colors so I'll have to balance with my Prismacolor pencils but Marlene (www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com ) was right... so easy.  I can't wait to use it on some digi-images.

They also sold Tombo Mono-Liquid Glue which Christina has been talking about at http://www.creationswithchristina.com/ .  Michaels and Joann's doesn't sell it.  AND Michaels (in my town) stopped selling the Terrific Tacky (red, double sided tape).  BOO!!! I guess I'm going to either try other Michaels' stores or order online. Oddly enough it is still on their website for sale.

In the meantime, I have been very busy.  I made a wallet card for a co-worker for his birthday.  Please see below.  I got the recipe from Nicole. She has a great video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHXkv1_goI&feature=player_embedded  ) so if you want to make one.... click on the link.  

(COMMENTARY:I had trouble with adhering the credit card section to the bottom part of the card.  The double back adhesive didn't hold the cardstock together.  If you opened the 'bills' section, the wallet fell apart.  I then resorted to Scotch Quick dry.  I found with that, it didn't allow for flexibility to open the wallet and the paper tore... So I resorted to apply Quick dry along the sides and bottom framework... however, I didn't apply it on either side of the crease at the bottom (about 1/2" in each direction of the crease).   This seems to help (SO FAR).)

As for my co-worker's card, a bunch of us are signing it so you can see all the tags I made so people could sign the 'card.' 

I am also trying to work on a few cards with the Wild Card Cartridge that I got.  I was inspired by Christina (Creations with Christina) however I don't have an Expression so my cards aren't very big. Oh well.

So, here are the photos of my co-worker's card followed by my scrapping table that I took a photo of this afternoon. Notice, I just took a photo of the desk.  You don't see other parts of the room because that's a mess beyond messes.  There are eviscerated stuffed animals (and stuffing) all over the floor (yes, I pick it up but the Chi-weenie LOVES to bring 'nesting material' to me-- even if it's from my couch!).  

Cuttlebug Embossing folder (I think it's called Traffic).

Valen-dude(s)

Ha!
Happy Valentine's Day!!!  This is the Last Card you'll be seeing from me for a while regarding Valentine's Day.  I'm off to go find myself a short, red-headed dude in a green suit with a lot of money and some beer!!!!!!

This guy is such a DUDE!  Look at him. He exudes "Dude-Ness".  Maybe that's why I found him on http://www.dudetimedoodles.com/.

Inside, I wrote "What more can a woman ask for?"

I applied Worn Lipstick Distress Ink with my ink pad (from Ranger Ink). 

(To be honest, I don't know what he's holding?  Sunglasses case? Man-clutch?)

 

 I've been a crafting tornado lately.  This week, I plan to be dormant... 

Amuse-bouche:
Another Supernatural convention has come and gone.

 

I'm addicted to Pawn Stars.  I love the historical information they give.  Episodes are free on Hulu.com.  

Sam and Dean Winchester.... here we come!!!

Another Valentine's Day card...?   FOR ME????

Glitter was applied to the skunk and pink flocking was applied to the nose. 

I wanted to make a card using the Action Wobble and here it is.  It's made with Create a Critter's stinky skunk (with glitter on the stripe), ribbon from Michaels, Scrappy Mom's LOVE NOTES stamp and my homemade flowers.  I also stamped hearts with the Whisper White Stampin' Up ink pad and the Scrappy Mom's stamp.  The smaller hearts were done by hand with a white pen.  (Note: the whisper white ink was very faint so I had to color over the image with my white pen)

I also experimented with making hearts similar to the flower in the card above.  I used the Cuttlebug on some of the plain colored sheets and used distressing ink to outline the big heart.  The silver heart came from a brad that I got at Michaels. 

Amuse-bouche:
The Supernatural boys are in town for their annual Convention.  Yay!!! Hoping they'll reveal if there will be a Season 7!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS TURTLE!!!!!

Guess who is having a birthday today?????????

Happy Birthday Miss Turtle!!!! I hope you have a fabulous birthday party and get lots of nifty gifts and eat lots of cake and stay up really late with all your girlfriends.  And don't worry about your mom.  She doesn't need THAT MUCH sleep (LOL). XOXO Miss Turtle.

I hope you don't mind that I share with my dear Readers the birthday card I made you.  I fashioned it after the Canadian Nickel's wallet and my own personal wallet.  

The flower was made with the George&Basic flower cut at various sizes and then I used my inker from Ranger Ink to distress with Tim Holtz Distess Ink and then I "mod-podged" it to make the petals firmer.  I got bling from Michaels and I glued the layers with Scotch Quick Dry. I did use a thick ZOTS adhesive to adhere to the 'wallet.'  I used my Stampin' Up paper piercer to make stitch impressions.

I bought these velcro circles in the sewing section at Michaels

All Paper was bought at Michaels.  There is a little package of bling in the pocket sticking out.  The sentiment was from Scrappy Mom's.  and the insert tag was from Just Because Cartridge (I love this insert tag). I put a McD's gift card in the pocket

Dear Readers,

I know you all will be wondering about the measurements so I have posted the photos and the template of this card.  Please read the captions below the photos as there are two amendments that I wanted to clarify on my templates.  I'm sorry I cannot show you a video but my fingers are unsightly. 

Don't score right below the 5.75" mark. That was an error!

these are the pockets. Note: you can also cut out a rectangular area in the smaller piece and put acetate to make a Driver's License type pocket window.  I recommend increasing the width to 2.75" if you make this as it was a little tight for the gift card. 

Valentine's Candy Boxes

Here is a super simple treat box.  It is used with the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More Cricut cartridge. It is the "heart box."  I used DCWV Valentine's Day paper.  I cut a small square of clear acetate plastic for the window (which I got at Michaels).  I believe it's by Graphic X.  I then filled it with M and M's (plain and peanut!).  

  

I only have a Cricut Create (rather than an Expression) so I made the box as large as I could on my mat.  (I used my Gypsy to plan the size on the mat).  The box surface is about 1 3/4" x 1 3/4"

The flower was just used for the photo. I ripped that off a gift bag someone gave me.



ADDENDUM TO "THE DRESS:"
Holly: yes, I sent my friend the card. She LOL'd.  She was so surprised to get it and yet, she was amazed at how perfect Marlene's image was!!!  Needless to say, she loved the card, despite my odd reptilian skin color.  C'mon, don't you think my skin looks the underbelly of croc?
Marlene: yes, I still have the dress.  AND I plan to model it and post the photo so all you 5 Readers can view it... in all its glory. 
Perhaps the skin coloring is accurate.  I tend to have a yellowish hue in the winter months...  a shade my dermotologist prefers as opposed to my normal 'sun-worshipping-sans-sunscreen-toasted-whole-wheat-english-muffin' look.

THE DRESS

This image is one that I got at Squigglefly.  http://www.squigglefly.com/shop/perturbed-tilly

The name is "Perturbed Tilly."  And, it was created by one of my favorite bloggers (www.disguisedasagrownup.blogspot.com).   Yes!  Queen Marlene.

The instant I saw it, I knew I had to have it and tell y'all about my vacation in Palm Desert.  

I have a very very comfortable dress.  It is so comfortable that one doesn't want to get out of it.... and I didn't.... for a couple days in Palm Desert.  

My friend and I had gone to Palm Desert but unfortunately, the first full day was filled with thunderstorms. The intent was to go out to the pool but after 30 minutes, the rain started.  So, we went back to the room, wherein my friend read work-related manuals (WTF?).   The peace of a quiet hotel room with controlled air temperature and silence (no barking dogs, no dogs wanting me to let them go out, no dogs pouncing on me in an effort to get me to play with them... In short, NO DOGS)... put me in a coma.  I essentially slept from 11am until 7pm at which point,  my friend woke me by saying  "did you want to go eat dinner?  because it's 7pm."  She later confessed that she was afraid I was dead... She was periodically checking throughout the day to see if I was still breathing.  We then went to Marie Callendar's (I wore my dress)... followed by a trip to the Super-Walmart.... and then back to the hotel... where I fell asleep again... in my dress.   

It has now become known as 'the dress.'  

The dress is made of two layers of sheer material.  It is like a sundress.  There is no waistband...which works wonderfully at all-you-can eat buffets.
 

I used Stickles on the earrings and necklace.  I used Glossy Accents on the shoes.  I struggled with creating the skin color. 

Inside the card

WATCH WHERE YOU'RE POINTING THAT THING!

I loved creating this card.  The paper was DCWV  but the image was from Bugaboo Stamps http://www.bugaboostamps.com/home.html.

I love the images. They're snarky, just like Marlene  :) 

As you can see, I used my Prismacolor pencils and glittered the wings.  I used the Red Christmas stickles on the heart/arrow.  I used Sharpie (red color) to color in the hearts on the headband.  The ribbon was at Michaels (50% off.  I love this ribbon.  It's so pretty).

Inside, I typed a sentiment that says "Is this thing insured?"

A Cute Birthday Card

Here is a birthday card that I likened after Sarah at www.liveloveandscrap.blogspot.com.  I loved what she did but I didn't have the circular shape so I made a rectangular shape with my Gypsy.    If you haven't checked our Sarah's blog, you should. She posts a lot of videos and she's so honest and humble when she makes a boo-boo.  Now I too embrace my boo-boos!!!!

 

I made this with Create a Critter, Scrappy Mom's sentiment stamp and Just Because cartridge.  I welded a rectangular square to the Just Because scallop rectangular.  I then made a separate scallop rectangular that I glued on top of the underlying frame.  I used my Distress Ink (Broken China) to create the sky. 

 

Side view to show the mat inside to write on.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAH

My Comic-con "partner in crime" has a birthday today. Happy Birthday Leah!!!

Here is a birthday card I made for her.  I used a Tiddly Inks image (http://tiddlyinks.com/)  with my PrismaColor pencils.  I used my cuttlebug embossing folder (Happy Birthday).  I also finally put together my homemade flowers that I created with white cardstock, homemade glimmer mist, mod podge to stiffen the flower and a purple bling from Michaels' Recollection set.  The glue I used is the Scotch Quick Dry.

The ribbon was on sale at Michaels.  It's so cute!  I used Stickles on the cupcake and the skirt ruffles and the little girl's barrettes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A FISHERMAN

I created this birthday card for my dogs' trainer for his birthday. He's an avid fisherman and I thought this digi image from Bonibleaux Designs  http://www.dudetimedoodles.com/ would be perfect for him.  [My sentiment is inside and I used a Scrappy Mom's stamp.]

I used my Prismacolor pencils,and some Distress ink (Broken China) and a Rangers Ink inker pad to make the sky.  The paper came from a small Noah's Ark pad that I got at Joann's last year.  The wire is the wire used when making bracelets.  I can't recall the cricut Cartridge I used for the mat.  It might have been Just Because.  

Lastly, I went to Wal-Mart and bought some bass weights for $1.50 a bag (7 per bag).  

I created some very nice cards this weekend. I can't wait to showcase them. I am really proud of them. It's the first time, I felt that I really made some nice cards.  I had the chance to use different techniques and practice some techniques.

Amuse-bouche:  I am so excited that my friend was able to score us tickets to this year's San Diego Comic-Con.  It takes place over 4 days in San Diego in July.  This year's ticket sales were handled so poorly.  I won't get into details except to say that the ticket website they used couldn't handle the traffic of buyers.  We were able to score 3 days of the 4 thanks to my friend's perseverance and agile keyboard fingers.  Thanks L!