Long Time, NO Blog!

I am finally back after a long and unexpected hiatus from blogging.  What started out as a brief hiatus from blogging due to the turmoil from redoing our kitchen turned into a longer absence then originally planned. First, there was Hurricane Sandy and a power outage that lasted more than 10 days! Yep, 10 days without electricity, heat (and boy was it cold!) and the internet. I never realized I was so dependent on the Internet before that. Maybe I need a 12-Step program like Bloggers Anonymous.You would think 10 days with nothing to do would mean time for crafting but it was just too darn cold and dark to do any of that. (Insert frowny face here!) Anyway, by the time the power came back it, it was time to kick it into high gear and start planning for Thanksgiving dinner which I was hosting for 15 in said new kitchen and help my son get his college applications out. Thanksgiving preparations turned into Christmas preparations and another celebration dinner -- this time for 14! Anyway, you get the idea. So, new year...new start.

If you are still reading, then I guess it's time to share a card. This is a card that I made for my niece using the Rosie Posie stamp set from Papertrey Ink. The flowers and leaves were die cut and stamped onto PTI's chipboard coasters.  For extra dimension, I adhered the largest flower with foam adhesive. I used the doily to anchor the cluster of flowers.

I don't usually make resolutions but my One Little Word this year is "simplify." And, if I get that right, maybe, just maybe I will have more time for regular blogging.  My fingers are crossed!

Supplies:

Cardstock & Chipboard Coasters: Papertrey Ink;

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Indie Bloom);

Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Rosie Posie);

Inks: Papertrey Ink (Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet); Stampin' Up! (Gumball Green); Ranger (Coffee);

Misc.: The Twinery (twine); Wilton (doily).

Celebrate -- An Anniversary Card

When I first bought this Itty Bitty Unity stamp, I envisioned using just two chairs for an anniversary card.  

So, I masked it, stamped it twice --once on cardstock and once on patterned paper -- and made this card:

Not only does this card use some of my favorite October Afternoon papers, but it also uses two of my favorite techniques, namely embossing (the doily stamp) and paper piecing on the chair.  Here is a closer look.

So now that I used part of this stamp on an anniversary card, I just may have another use for the entire stamp.  I just learned that my nephew and his wife are expecting their second baby!  I think the four chairs may offer some fun symbolism for a congratulatory card.  What do you think? Should I go traditional baby congratulations or stretch the chair stamp?  Let me know.
Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink;
Patterned Paper and Sticker: October Afternoon (Farmhouse);
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Enjoy Your Company): Papertrey Ink (Mat Stack 1); Hero Arts (Circle Design);
Inks: Ranger (Jet Black); Versamark;
Tools: Martha Stewart Border Punch (Doily Lace Edge)
Misc.: Zing Embossing Powder (white) Ribbon (Recollections)

Scrap Pile Challenge

We are in week five of our kitchen remodel so I thought it would be a good time for a Scrap Pile Challenge. Most of the pieces for this card were leftovers that that I had cleaned off the dining room table when I was packing up the kitchen. The card base had been cut and scored.  The flower made from a Nestabilities die was ready to go. Even the cardstock for the sentiment was scalloped and somehow trimmed to the right size.  All I needed to add was a background stamp, a sentiment stamp, the black mat and a few jewels.  Easy, peasy, right?  Here's my card: 

 And here's a close-up of the flower and the embossed sentiment.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink;
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants (Love Collection);
Stamps: Hero Arts (Dash Pattern); Papertrey Ink (Think Big Favorites #13)
Inks: Versa Mark; Ranger (Jet Black):
Tools: Spellbinders Shapeabilities (Blossom 1); Fiskars Border Punch (Scalloped Sentiment)'
Misc.: American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder (Opaque White); Recollections Rhinestone stickers.

Cave Tubing

I realize that I haven't shared as many layouts on my blog as I have cards so today, I have a layout.  This one was inspired by the wood embellishment that reads "All Time Best Day Ever" and it includes some very imperfect pictures that were taken with a disposable underwater camera when we were in Belize.  Here's my layout:

I started this layout by making a grid with my pictures.  I cropped the picture on the bottom (which was mostly black since it was taken inside the cave) to fill the gap under the 4x6 vertical picture.  I think its 4x2 size works much better than the original and really pulls your eye to the opening of the cave.  The papers are all My Mind's Eye.  The green stripes are actually washi tape.  I heart washi tape! I created the effect of the water using my EK Success Zig Zag punch.  I really like how this carried out the theme of my page and  grounded my journaling.  

To create my title, I stamped cardstock using the Hero Arts Envelope Pattern stamp.  I love the texture that this adds to the letters.  Then, I used my Cricut to cut the title out three times.  Why three times?  So I could stack each letter.  These homemade Thickers add more dimension to my page!

The journaling reads: After a 1-hour bus ride with our very entertaining guides, we reached the site, picked up our tubes and hiked to the river.  The only way across was to swim or jump off the cliff like Mark did.  After a 30-minute hike through the hot jungle, we reached the caves, got in our tubes hooking our feet under the arms of the person in front and began our float trip.  Best day ever! 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill;

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye;

Embellishments:  My Mind's Eye (wood sub-title); October Afternoon (Tidbits & Tin Pin);

Tim Holtz (mini paper clip): Queen & Company (washi tape);

Stamps: Hero Arts; (Envelope Pattern: Travel Journal)

Ink: Ranger (Coffee)

Tools: EK Success Border Punch; Provo Craft Cricut. 

Dear Lizzy Happy Birthday!

Sorry for the unexpected hiatus from blogging.  We took a cruise to Bermuda the first week of August. Upon my return, I had one week to finish packing up the kitchen for the remodel.  We are completely gutting the room and raising two headers so the dust and dirt have gotten in the way of all things paper.  Another thing that has gotten in the way of crafting is a temporary lack of space.  Right now, the dining room table and chairs are in the living room under drop cloths; the kitchen table and refrigerator are in the dining room and we are "cooking" in the basement in a toaster oven and microwave or, when we can walk through the kitchen, on the BBQ out back.  With all this mess, scrapping and card making have taken a back seat.

When, I needed to make a birthday card for my niece over Labor Day weekend, I had to make space.  So, I pulled out the keyboard tray on my desk and basically made this card on my lap.  Since my space was limited, I let the pattern paper do the work.  Here's my card:

To create it I pulled cut strips of pattern paper in a variety of widths.  Since I didn't have much desk space to work on, I used just one 6x6 pad of coordinating papers. For the sentiment, I used a combination of Thickers and stamping.  (Did I ever confess to my Thickers addiction.  I seem to buy them in every color -- especially pink and green -- and then only use the black and brown ones on my projects.  I thought this card was the perfect time to start using up my pink Thickers!) To finish off the card, I added a piece of ribbon, chipboard embellishment and button, and rounded the corners.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper/Chipboard: American Crafts (Dear Lizzy Neapolitan);
Stickers: American Crafts Thickers (Honey puffy letters);
Stamp: Papertrey Ink(Tag Its #10);
Ink: Ranger (Coffee);
Embellishments: ribbon (My Mind's Eye Lost & Found); button (Melissa Frances).

Our Broadway Tradition

Wow!  It's been a while since I posted a layout to the ole' blog.  It's been a busy summer and although I have created quite a few layouts, I have been a little slow to photograph them.  I hope that will change but I can't promise anything since my kitchen demo, I mean remodel, begins on Wednesday.  It's hard to believe how much stuff I have accumulated in one room over the past 20 years.  I couldn't even begin to imagine how hard it must be to pack up a house.  I haven't quite figured out where I will be scrapping for the next month since my dining room table was relocated to the living room to make room for the kitchen table and refrigerator which will live temporarily in the dining room.  My sanity will depend on me finding a way!  Anyway, here's today's layout:  

It uses the Cosmo Cricket  Circa 1929 collection.  I started with the grid paper and adhered photos, paper strips and stickers across the middle.  I created the city scape at the top with some Creative Imaginations rub-ons that I purchased for a dollar a few years ago. I grounded the title with a journaling block from the collection.  I used a mixture of fonts for the title, stamping the word "Our",\ and using Tiny Type for the word "Broadway." For the word "Tradition", I used a circle punch to cut the letters from patterned paper.  I covered each letter with an epoxy dome sticker and used foam dots to adhere them.

The journaling reads: In 2003, I took you to see 42nd Street.  It was your first Broadway show.  Now that you are older, Girl's Day Out on Broadway is an annual event!

And, yes, for you Seinfeld fans, that is, indeed, John O'Hurley with Melissa!

Supplies:
Patterned Paper, Stickers: Cosmo Cricket (Circa 1929);
Rub-Ons: Creative Imaginations;
Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Just the Ticket, Library Ledger); Technique Tuesday Perspectives by Ali Edwards);
Ink: Stampin' Up  (Riding Hood Red) Ranger (Jet Black);
Tools:  EK Success Border Punch (Postage Stamp);
Misc.: Making Memories buttons, Epoxy Dome Stickers (Papertrey Ink).

Birthday Flip Flops

I have been trying my hand at clean and simple cards lately -- partly because I love the style and partly because it's all I have time for.  I have to admit that sometimes clean is not so simple for me.  Sometimes it actually takes longer to get clean look just right!  However, this birthday card for my niece came together just like I imagined it would.  Here it is:

 After running an A2 card through my Cuttlebug with a linen impression play, I adhered a patterned paper scalloped rectangle that was cut and embossed with a Nestabilities die.  Next, I cut a piece of cardstock with a smaller die, stamped the image with Memento ink and colored with my Copics.  Since my Copic collection is somewhat limited, I added shading to the image by going over certain areas more than once.  When I finished coloring, I added the stamped image to my main card using foam adhesive.  Some rhinestone stickers and a stamped sentiment finished the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Stamper's Select White)'
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Margarita);
Stamp: Imaginisce Snag 'Ems; Papertrey Ink (Birthday Basics)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black); Stampin' Up (Dusty Durango) Copics;
Tools: Papertrey Ink Impression Plate (Linen); Nestabilities (Classic Scalloped Rectangles);
Misc.: Rhinestone stickers (Micheal's).