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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Valentine's is Just around the Corner!!

What is your favorite holiday? My favorite is Christmas, however, I really like most all of the holidays and I do like Valentine's Day. It is just one of those FUN holidays - though it really isn't a holiday at all - just a special day. I like to make it special for my family and have at times done something special for my sweetie and kids on that day. This year, I am planning to do something special - though I am not sure what quite yet - but I am sure that it will involve cards. So, I have set about to make several cards - and of course, I have had help from some of my favorite blogs. On the SU Only Challenges blog, this week, the challenge went out to create Valentine cards. So, I took some time earlier this week to make not just one, but several. This was the first one that I started with and I didn't have a sketch to follow, I just created my own with scraps of paper. Remember early in the week, I was trying to use up one DSP packet and make as many projects with that packet as possible - well, in some ways I am still on that roll, just changed packets. :) I chose this new DSP packet from Stampin' Up! and used the scraps that I had saved from some other projects I have been working on. This card is one of the more simple ones that I have done in awhile, but I didn't want to take away from the border that I had created. I also took some of the 1/4" grograin real red ribbon and ruffled it onto the card. This is a really fun technique and quite easy to do with a little red liner tape and ribbon of your choice. I don't like the grosgrain tied in bows as much with this size as I think they just get to flattened out, however, using the ribbon in this way is quite effective. After I was done with the main elements of the card, I decided to add just a bit more embellishments, so got out my pearls - I LOVE these - and added them to the right side of the scalloped strip and then under the sentiment. The card is really simple and a bit too plain too me - but yet it is complete. I am not sure who of my family members will get this card, but I am sure that whoever it is, will be pleased.
Thank you for stopping by - I will have more cards to show you of a Valentine's Day sort and I hope you find inspiration to send greetings to your loved ones too.
I am submitting this card for the following challenges:
SUOnly Challenge #11 - Valentines
Res-Q-Challenge #68 - Get in Line
~Paula~




Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Fabulous Flowers!!

Good Morning my friends. Today I have a Fabulous card to show you featuring Fabulous Flowers. The Tutorial this week at Top Tip Tuesday is how to make flowers from hearts and Leanne has done a wonderful job with this. The challenge for you is to either use this tutorial to make flowers from hearts, or to use flowers on your project. We have two Wonderful sponsors as well. Wink Wink Ink and Michelle's Scrapbooking and More
I have used the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die with some retired DSP from Stampin' Up! I really like the soft colors of this paper. I love two-sided papers as they give you more options for the money.My base is So Saffron with the DSP added. I distressed the edges of the paper and then sponged around with so saffron. I took another strip of the dsp and sponged with the so saffron again. I added a strip of certainly celery satin ribbon - love this stuff! My flower was sprayed with water and then crumpled up like I was going to throw it away - then, I opened it back up and sponged around the edges. I gave it a quick shot of gold glow smooch - this is also one of my favorite products to use. It just gives a nice shimmery touch to the card. Inside I added my sentiment on top of another piece of the dsp. I kept the dsp clean on this one and just sponged the edges of my sentiment. I used Spellbinders Polka Dot frame nestibilities and used the inside piece of the smallest frame. I love the versatility of the nestibilites.
I hope you will join us over at Top Tip Tuesday this week. You are eligible for a chance at one of the fabulous prizes by either making a NEW card (no back linking) following the challenge, or leaving a helpful tip in the comment section on the blog, or by doing both. We do ask that you only enter no more than 3 projects.
I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - Sketch 175
Paper Sundaes - Distressing
Tuesday Throwdown - Distressing
Thanks for stopping by the spa today I really enjoy your visit and hope that you find inspiration here.
~Paula~

A New Sketch

There are many blogs that I visit fairly regularly and one of them is the OWH Stars and Stamps Blog. Each Sunday they post a new sketch and it is usually quite simple to do.
This weeks was no different. I have been using this old DSP paper package from Stampin' Up! this week for my cards just trying to use up stuff I already have. I love the the soft pastel colors of Certaqinly Celery, So Saffron, and Bashful Blue with a bit of Sahara Sand for the base card. I added Bashful Blue Taffeta ribbon (retired) and some pearls below my sentiment for the final touch.
The OWH Stars and Stamps blog has challenges throughout the week, but one of my favorites IS the sketch challenge.
I hope you have enjoyed your short visit today. I haven't sat down to make anything today, but the day is not yet over. I would like to encourage you, though to check out the OWH site and perhaps share some of your gorgeous work with the troops overseas.
Thanks for stopping by,
~Paula~

Monday, January 24, 2011

I LOVE sketches!!

For those of you that follow me regularly, you know that I LOVE sketches. They make my card making SO much easier when I don't have to decide how to lay out a card. I like to enter challenges that offer a sketch so when I saw the one for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch, I just had to do it. I also love CAS cards, and this sketch just lends itself SO well to an easy and simple card. There are SO many ways that you can use that center panel. I don't have a lot of BIG sentiments that take up large panels, but as I thought about what I do have, I went in search of this particular sentiment from the All Year Cheer set. Actually, I was thinking of another sentiment from a different set, but this one worked. I used a MS border punch for my matting and OLD DSP for my background. The ribbon is Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon. I have a device that I got from a stamper YEARS ago that helps with the tying of the bow. You can find similar gadgets around or even make one yourself. Mine is fairly primitive, but it works! I finally tried my hand at tying a double loop bow and I am pleased with the way it turned out.
I am on a roll with this particular DSP, so you will see more cards in the coming days using the variety of papers in this packet. Actually, what I am trying to do is limit my supplies so as not to drag too much out at one time - I don't have a dedicated space just yet that I can leave all my stuff for whenever the mood strikes.
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Let's Ink It Up - Anything Goes
Stamping 411 - Saturday Sketch #187

Thanks for stopping by - I will have more as I search through challenges and get inspired. I hope YOU have been inspired to do something creative today.
~Paula~

Saturday, January 22, 2011

It's a Numbers Game!!

Have you counted your stamps lately? Perhaps you are a newby and only have a handful, or perhaps you have been doing this for A LOT of years and have NO clue how many stamps you own, you just know they are taking over every nook in your home! I feel that way, so I set about to do inventory. I finished up this morning - and unless I have a few hiding that I am not aware of, the grand total is MUCH less than I expected! Here are my totals - 2097 individual stamps. This includes clear mount, wood mount and everything in between - PLUS add 10 more for the wheels that I have. Now, out of those numbers I own 97 Stampin' Up! sets! A good portion of the non-SU stamps are Sweet Stamps and I thought there was around 2000 in those alone, but obviously, I was wrong. I do know that some of my Sweet Stamps are missing, but not that many. Now, this number does NOT include any digital images that I have purchased or gotten as freebies - I won't even attempt to count those at this point in time because they are not all in one folder - another thing I have to organize. So, there you have it.
So, why are numbers so important to me today? Well, because as of today I have had 10,000 hits to my blog!!! That is AMAZING! And is cause for a celebration - so while I go off to start my new job, I will be thinking along the lines of some blog candy - FROM MY INCREDIBLE stash, of course!! In the meantime, tell your friends - and come back in the next few days to see what my candy will be - I am SURE it will be good.

~Paula~

Friday, January 21, 2011

January Digi Bell Release

Have you seen the new Digi from Elizabeth Bell? It is just plain adorable.I hopped along on the blog hop and then created my card - with Chocolate Chip and hearts all over the DSP. I paper pieced the dress on my young lady and the little boys overalls. I added a bit of chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon around the pink heart embossed piece behind my image panel. It was fun to do this card and I am getting it posted just under the wire.
Thanks for stopping by to take a look.
~Paula~

Sugar Bowl Sketch Challenge 51

I am LOVING the new Sugar Nellie digital images. I had to have all of them - so splurged last week to get them. Tonight I am participating (as well as hostessing) a Virtual Stamp Night at SplitCoast Stampers and one of the challenges was to paper piece an image. Well, I decided to see how it would work out to use one of the new digital images for this challenge. I printed out the image on plain white cardstock and then printed again on two different patterned paper. I wanted to use the Sketch over on the Sugar Bowl so that I could enter this card in the challenge there. I REALLY like the way this one turned out.I started with Real Red as my base and then used the Love Impressions DSP. I matted this paper on Pretty in Pink as well as the base. I wrapped the pretty in pink grosgrain ribbon around the sentiment piece and then ran my scallop circle through my cuttlebug using the heart embossing folder. I then sponged around the edges with Real Red ink. I added flowers from Wild Orchid Craft. My little girl is colored with Prisma color pencils on her face, hair and shoes. I then took the two different DSP papers that I had printed the image on and cut the pants from one and placed these directly on the image. I then cut the shirt out and placed this on my image with mini dimensionals. I like the 3-D effect this whole card gives off.
I hope you have enjoyed looking at this card - it is one of my favorites so far.
~Paula~

Virtual Stamp Night

It is Friday night and over on the SplitCoast Stampers site they have a Mini Virtual Stamp night taking place. I am one of the hostesses for the mini and having a fun time commenting on all the fabulous cards. I have also made cards for the other challenges going on. I am posting the first three cards here. The first challenge was to 'punch your heart out'. I used many different dies and border punches to make my card. Part of the challenge was to use a sketch, and particular colors - it was a really fun challenge. The next challenge was the one that I am hosting. The challenge is What SHAPE is your heart? The base has to be a heart shape, but you can actually make anything you want with a heart shape - it doesn't have to be a card - however, I did make a card. I don't have any heart nestibilities - and had considered buying some, however I got some cookie cutters instead and used those to make my card. I put a vellum window in the card and used gold smooch around the edges - signifying that my heart is edged in gold! :) The next challenge is to make a luminaire. Now, THIS was fun!! I am actually thinking of making several of these to line my staircase. This luminaire has printed vellum - I have had this vellum for AGES and it had big and small hearts all over it. I decorated with the heart cutouts from one of my Stampin' Up! sets.
I hope you have enjoyed looking at my projects for the VSN. If you want to play along you can find all the information here YOu have until Monday to get your projects uploaded - so why not come over and play along.
Thanks for stopping in today - I will have more posts before the evening is over.
~Paula~

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Back to making Cards!

Today I decided to spend the bulk of the day making cards. I haven't done any in nearly a week and I am getting grumpy!! I am trying to catch up with the challenges and one of my favorites is the 'All Things Sugar Nellie" over at Paper Craft Planet. The week 34 challenge was to use your FIRST Sugar Nellie that you ever got. Well, mine was a digital. I think it had something to do with the instant gratification. I wasn't all that thrilled with the choices of digital back then (maybe a year and a half ago) - NOW, they have some BEAUTIFUL digiitals that are awesome to work with. The fun thing about digitals is that you can resize them to fit whatever die cut you are using. I had sized this one a little bigger, but decided that I wanted to matte her, so made her a little smaller and printed it out. I used the Operation Write Home sketch challenge #52 and kept it simple and free from alot of embellishments. I am also using OLD DSP from Stampin' Up! I have so much that just sits, in addition to a box of 12 x 12 papers that are unopened from the move. I seriously do not need to buy any more DSP, however, I probably will since I can never seem to find the right (perfect) coordinating colors for the project I am working on.
Thanks for stopping by - I may be posting more throughout the day, or just craft all day and post later this evening or tomorrow morning - it all depends on the challenge deadlines! :)
~Paula~

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge

This week at Top Tip Tuesday we have a fantastic tutorial by my Teammate Carol. I am sure you have seen wordbooks at your local craft store and I am sure you have probably even bought one and embellished it (or at least plan to in the future sometime). The problem with these wordbooks is that they are never the words YOU want. I mean - wouldn't it be cool to have a word book that you have created for one of your children using THEIR name - which by the way is so unusual that NO ONE would ever carry something like that? Well, now you can - just take a peek at Carol's tutorial and you will be on your way to making word books of all kinds.

We have a couple fantastic sponsors this week - Pink Cat Studio and Catherine Pooler
There is also an extra prize that Carol is giving to anyone that makes a word book using her tutorial.
Now, if it all seems to daunting to make a wordbook - or the time is just not there for you this week - have no fear - you can still play along - just make something with a sentiment on it. Remember that you can also have a chance at a prize just by leaving a tip - so make sure you leave a comment on the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge blog with your tip.

Thanks for playing along with us this week.

~Paula~

Thursday, January 13, 2011

A Change of Pace for a day!

This morning I woke up quite early and couldn't get back to sleep - so I got up and read email - there wasn't much at that time of day. I decided I would play around with my digital stuff. I haven't done anything with digital for a VERY long time and I have gotten quite a few kits from Scrappers Guide and haven't played with any of them in many many months.So, I downloaded the latest kit and then had a look around my folders at some of the other kits that I have gotten in recent months and found one called Garden of Memories. This one is a beautiful kit with gorgeous elements - so I played around with the paper and elements and then added my pictures. The pictures are recent ones from Christmas of my kids and husband. It was fun to work with some digital stuff again. I may have to pull some more out and work on my pictures from the move and the holidays. Tomorrow I will be working on cards again - I have fallen behind on my daily goal - so will have to make some clean and simple cards. I did get some new papers in and a new stamp set yesterday, so that will make it easy. There are also a few challenges out there to take a peek at as well.
Thanks for stopping by - hope you enjoyed the change of pace for a day.
~Paula~

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Mojo Monday Sketch 173

I have had a very productive day making cards and finishing projects today. However, I am still one card behind my goal of one card a day. This card makes #10, so I will either work on one more card for today, or just do it tomorrow - which is more likely as the day winds down.
So, after coloring and playing with new Sugar Nellie images, I wanted to do something completely different. No Valentine, No little girls - just plain and simple. The sketch over on the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog was perfect for this. I LOVE this sketch and it sets such a pretty scene. I had to decide what I wanted to do first and I started out thinking I wanted to do something bright - not blue, not purple or red or pink! In the end, I chose blue afterall - but not before I chose the brown. Aside from brown and pink, I think I like the brown and blue combination best.This stamp set is another new one out in the Occasions Mini and it is a must have in my book. Just think of all those friends you can be encouraging!! I also used this set to make some mini cards for one of my friends at Christmas time - she LOVED them. Afterall, what girl DOESN'T love chocolate??
I started with a light blue base and then added early espresso. On top of that I added some old DSP (that I just LOVE) and then added my center piece. The roses are from Wild Orchid craft - and since I hadn't used any today, I thought I needed to give them a little love.
I hope you enjoy my card - come back tomorrow - as I will give you all a rest from my postings - and see what I come back with.
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - Sketch
My Time To Craft - Chocolate

Enjoy your evening wherever you are in the world.
~Paula~

Another Sketch Challenge

One of my friends in California is a phenomenal paper crafter. I have learned SO much from her and have aspired to emmulate her in my papercrafting - though we have very different styles. She now creates her own sketches and she has created a sketch for Christian Paper Crafts. Now I am not a member of this group, but I liked the sketch that she created and used it for one of my newest Sugar Nellie Images. Interestingly, this image is called Faith! She is one of the newest digital images found at Funky Kits I altered the sketch just slightly - which is always something that we as paper crafters area at liberty to do, right? That is what makes this art so unique for each one of us. My DSP is from one of my new packages from Stampin' Up! It just works so perfectly with this old fashioned image. I also liked using my deckle edged oval nestibilities. I have always thought that deckle is another of those old fashioned things.
Anyway, I hope you like these newest images - I have a few more that I will be coloring up over the next few days to share with you.
Now on to one more sketch challenge.
~Paula~

OWH Sunday Sketch #51

Do you ever wonder what to do with all the DSP that you buy for each holiday season when the season is over? I know, Christmas you can do cards all year long and by the time it comes around again, no one will remember that you gave them a card with that paper last year - at least you hope not. But, what about Valentines Day? I mean, there are so many cool papers out right now and you can really only make one (unless you have kids) Valentines card, right? So, what do you do with all the rest? Well, of course you could make cards for OWH, but the deadline for Valentine cards is way past, so what do you do? Well, you just change the sentiment!! By changing the sentiment to something like this, or 'thinking of you' or something along those lines, you can still convey your love for the person you are sending this to no matter what time of year. So, when I saw this sketch, I decided to make a card to match another project I was working on yesterday (it isn't quite finished, so you don't get to see it yet). By the time I DO finish the project, I may have made a completely DIFFERENT card to go with it - you know how that goes. Anyway, I loved the simplicity of the sketch and can see using this one for many different cards. Afterall, I DO have kids, and Valentines is coming soon and I want to show them a little love - but shhhhh, don't tell them!!

So, I am catching up with my one-a-day cards - so stick around to see my next card - you will LOVE it!!

~Paula~

New Toys to play with and some sketches!

Do you like new stuff to play with? I sure do - and the challenge over on the 'All Things Sugar Nellie' forum at Paper Craft Planet last week was to use new stuff that we might have gotten for Christmas. Well, I didn't really get any new stuff for Christmas, however, I did get new stuff around the holidays and just this week got some more stuff. I discovered that Funky Kits has some NEW digital images and they are absolutely adorable. These little ladies are old fashioned and so innocent. I just had to have them all! This little girl is Grace. The shadows in the image are so helpful in coloring her and she colored up SO well. I was going to use my standard blue - but decided that she needed a lavendar dress instead. I did slip the blue in there on her overcoat - but for the most part, I chose the purple family. For my sketch, I chose the Stamping 411 sketch challenge #185. It was a simple sketch that just fit for this card. I haven't been adding sentiments to my cards too much lately, but when the challenge went out from the OWH Stars and Stamps blog to make cards that said 'thinking of you', I decided I would use this stamp that I just got last week. The sentiment is actually all one line, however, I wanted to make it fit without covering any of the beautiful Grace so I stamped part of it, then stamped the rest of it underneath. This is a wonderful way to use sentiment stamps that either don't fit, or you like part of the sentiment - or you only want to use one or two words of the sentiment. This particular stamp set has several other sentiments and some small micro images that would be perfect for many different cards. It is a Sale-A-Bration stamp that you can get (starting the end of this month) when you place a $50 order or more.
Now a little about my bow - I have seen these little gadgets that help you tie your bow easily. Well, the interesting thing is - I have had one of these gizmos for about 10 years. I used to belong to a stamp club when I lived in Washington and one of the ladies in the club brought each of the members these gizmos that her husband had made. I seldom use mine, but thought I would get it out and play with it. It really does make tying the bows SO much easier. I just have to figure out how to make the double loop bows!!
Anyway, I appreciate you stopping by and taking a look at my card. I have some other sketches I am going to be working on today, so stop by later for another peek.

~Paula~

Anything Goes

That is right - it is time to finally reveal my first project for the Top Tip Tuesday of which I am part of the design team. It has been a very exciting week as I have started thinking about the projects and tutorials that I want to share with all of those that follow the Top Tip Tuesday blog.This week the new team members have their first chance to share their work in an ANYTHING GOES challenge and you can join in too. I will tell you what you can win - but first, I won't keep you waiting any longer - here is the project that I have created. Now, I am sure you are asking what this is, right? Well, do you remember during the holidays seeing little sacks with lights in them that light the pathways and walkways at some homes? My friend Lisa does this and it is beautiful. I always thought it would be cool to have luminaries - but have never gotten around to buying any. Then I came across a tutorial on how to do them and they are SO easy to do.The holidays are behind us, but winter is still very much in the air. We had an ice storm that hit our area night before last and closed up EVERYTHING yesterday. I didn't even as much as venture out to take pictures - perhaps I will do that before it all melts away. Anyway, back to my project. The windows are made from vellum and I decided to try embossing them with this beautiful snowflake folder. I LOVE the way the embossing turned out. I got out my Pergamano kit next and used the dorsa crayons to color the back of the snowflakes a bit to give them some color. You can use colored pencils as well - I know, because I tried, but since I have the dorsa crayons, I used those and then rubbed it out to make a nice subtle coloring. I thought it turned out pretty cool, but then when I put a light (I just used a flameless tealight that I bought at Wal-Mart) in it and took it into a dark place - WOW the embossed snowflake REALLY popped and it looks beautiful. I am picturing several of these going up my long staircase to the upstairs. (see pictures in an earlier post here). Of course I would put them on the outside - and they fit PERFECTLY. I will need to make 15 of them if I want one on each step and will need a ladder to reach the top five!! I do have tall kids, so they could probably reach up to the 12th step. Anyway, these could be made for all those holidays you celebrate.So there you have it. Now, if you want to have a chance at some fabulous prizes - head on over to Top Tip Tuesday. Our Sponsors this week are: Sew Many Cards and Making Handmade Cards (for the tip challenge)

Remember, all you have to do to win a prize is:
Create something using the theme of the challenge OR leave a tip (using the comment section)OR do both!! So get on over there and post your creations - remember this week, it is anything goes - so a card, a tag, an altered project, whatever you fancy, just get creating and then go post it.

Now, before I leave here - I want you to know that something very special is going to be happening here very soon - and I wouldn't want you to miss out, nor any of your friends - so start sending your friends over here to become my followers - you won't want to miss this one!!
Have a wonderful day - and come back a bit later, I just might have some CARDS to show you!!
~Paula~

Monday, January 10, 2011

Working on more projects

Today with ice on the ground outside from the ice storm that hit our area yesterday - it was a good day to be inside near a warm fire creating. I got a new Elizabeth Bell digital image last week and had colored it, but hadn't decided what I wanted to do with it. I came across this tutorial for a kleenex box cover and decided that this was a perfect way to use this image. I used NIght of Navy for the base and Baja Breeze for the box lid. I then took four white panels and embossed them with a snowflake cuttlebug folder. I took my ink and sponge lightly over that to bring out the emossed surface a little better.I used an old designer paper for the top of the box as well as the sides of the lid. I kept the oval cut out from the box top and decided to use it as an added element behind my image. I sponged all surfaces of my box top, the designer paper and my embossed panels as well as my image panel. I popped the image off the box with pop dots and then added the snowflake cut-outs - also popped off the image. I added the rhinestones for a little bit of bling.
I thought this was a perfect image for this box because after the kids have played out in the snow for endless hours, they come in and their noses are cold and red and they reach for a tissue. If they were bundled well enough, then they won't have to keep running back to the box because they caught a cold. This past week, I wasn't playing in the snow (that is not something we normally get here in Alabama) however, I was fighting a cold and this image just brightens up each time I have to reach for a tissue.It's better now, and the box is displayed on my mantel - not an ugly old box of tissue, but a beautifully embellished box. I am enjoying making different projects, not just cards.This project is a winter project that I am entering in the Elizabeth Bell Monthly challenge.Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my project for the day - come back tomorrow when I reveal my design team project for Top Tip Tuesday.

~Paula~

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Making projects

Today I did craft - however, I did not make any cards - HOWEVER, I am still up to date as I have made six cards so far this year - and it is only the 6th! What do ya know!! lol
Anyway, I worked on some projects that I can only show you a sliver of right now - you will have to wait for the complete reveal to come soon.
This first sliver is for an upcoming Virtual Stamp Night over on SplitCoast Stampers. I am one of the hostesses and therefore get to see what the other hostesses are doing ahead of time. It gives all the hostesses a chance to make the projects/cards before hand, so at the time of the VSN we can sit and comment on all the cards that everyone is doing. I haven't been a VSN hostess in a few years, so this will be kind of fun. I still need to work on what my challenge is going to be.
Now this next sliver you will get a chance to see MUCH sooner.
It is for my DT project for next week on Top Tip Tuesday. You will just have to wait until next Tuesday and come back when I reveal the full project. :)

Thanks for stopping by today - I just didn't want you to think that I wasn't crafting. STILL need to get a job though!!

~Paula~

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

All Day Project - Complete!!

Earlier, I posted that I would be working on another project - and I sure did have fun with this one. There are several challenges involved in this little project, so this will be a fairly long post, with many pictures.
I started out doing a card for the Mojo Monday Sketch challenge 172. Most of the time the challenges are for fun, but the first sketch each month there is a prize for the top picks. I decided to use one of my favorite packages of DSP and a new Elizabeth Bell digital image that has been waiting for me to color her up. I love using my prisma color pencils and coordinating the coloring with the cardstock that I use. I chose to use Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive. I had some dotted grosgrain ribbon in rich razzleberry that I tied in a bow and added to my finished card. Once I had my card completed, I started working on other parts of this fun project. The next challenge from Top Tip Tuesday blog Challenge #16 was to either alter a tin or use metal somewhere on your project. Well, I have collected many tins over the last several years with the idea that I would eventually alter one. However, this is one of those crafting projects that is a little out of my comfort zone - so the tins sit and every once in awhile I see a project using a tin and think - wow - that is cool, maybe I will try that. The other hindrance is that some of my tins have a raised surface on the top - so how do I work around that? That is still a project waiting to happen. So, I looked through my tins that had flat surfaces and pulled out this one from "Let's Do Tea'. I have a friend that sells this tea and it is REALLY good - this particular flavor (snowflake) is really good too. Anyway, I decided to show you what the tin looked like before I started my project of altering it.I started out covering the tin with my DSP. That was actually the easiest part. I just had to decide which paper I wanted to use. I didn't want something overpowering due to the rest of the stuff that I had planned to put on the tin. Once I got the paper on it, I had to decide how I wanted to do the top. I knew I wanted to use some ribbon, but I had to change it a few different times before I got it the way I wanted - so in the mean time, I added this piece of DSP edged with rich razzleberry. With the ribbon where I wanted it - I set about to color my image - the same as I did on my card. I then cut my little rapunzel out with my nestibilities and matted it with old olive and sponged the edges with rich razzleberry. The backside of the dotted ribbon is plain, so I used that for my bow and then added the rhinestone for the finishing touch. Now, with a card completed and a tin completed - I had to figure out what I would put in the tin - afterall, we alter tins to put something in it to give as a gift, right? So, I couldn't think of what I wanted to do with the tin, so I decided to make a few gift cards - afterall, we all need a few giftcards, right? So, I measured the inside of the tin, so the cards would fit inside. Now this little tin will hold A LOT of little gift cards and I thought about using one of my new gift tags set from Stampin' Up - however, the set is for Christmas gift tags - and that just wasn't working with this. Now there are many other things that I could put inside this tin - like chocolate kisses, or hard candies, or even a votive candle that is embossed with this image WHEN I figure out how to print on tissue paper since this is an Elizabeth Bell digital image. For the final challenge, I am entering the entire project in the Elizabeth Bell Challenge for December (due by the 22nd of January) which is to make anything Winter. Now, I know this is not very wintery, I may have to alter another tin and do something similar in a winter theme. So, there you have it - my project that took the rest of the day - but was SO fun to do and now I am ready to do more - but that will be for another day. :)

Thanks for listening to me ramble on and on, if you have made it all the way to the end - thank you. If you care to leave a comment, that would be MUCH appreciated.

~Paula~

Singing the BLUES!!

I AM feeling blue today! I woke up with a sore throat yeaterday and it just got worse as the day progressed - so I didn't feel like doing any crafting at all! Today, I am feeling a bit better, but still under the weather - which is cloudy and rainy, so I suppose it fits. Well, the challenge on the Magnolia Stamp Lovers Blog just fits with the way I am feeling. It is a BLUES Challenge. So, I chose this LOVELY Violin Tilda, which one of my stamper friends kindly stamped out for me, to make this card. I used the Sunday Sketch #50 from Operation Write Homes Stars and Stamps Blog. It is a very simple sketch and I chose not to 'fancy it up'. I did use a couple different embossing folders and a bit of BLUE pearls and ribbon. I used my prisma color pencils to color with. I am really enjoying using the colors to blend, rather than using the gamsol (or similar product) I have to say I don't like her wings - I used a combination of gold and silver, but they look like she has been rolling in heavenly mud!! lol
Thanks for stopping by to see my simple card - I am going to take up another challenge and work on that this afternoon - so I may have another post later on, so come on back later and have a cup of your favorite beverage and keep me company while I craft.

~Paula~

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

ANNOUNCEMENT ~ ANNOUNCEMENT

Can you tell I am excited to share some NEWS with all of you? Well, if you can't see the logo on the right side yet - you will have to scroll down - or just keep reading!! MANY of you know how much I have wanted to be part of a Design Team. I started applying many months ago and so far nothing. UNTIL YESTERDAY!!! I got an email from Leanne over at Top Tip Tuesday asking if I just might be interested in a spot on her team since there was an opening. Well, hmmmm - do I need to think about this one????
So, let me tell you a little about Top Tip Tuesday!! EVERY week they have two sponsors - and every week two people win a prize. There is a theme each week - I will get to this weeks a little later - and you can also leave a tip each week. You will have to visit the blog to get the details on how you go about winning a prize. You can enter as many times as you like, however your project has to be new (no back dating).
This week, my teammie Moriah is featuring the project/challenge and you are going to love this one - ALTERING A TIN (or using metal somewhere on your project. Now I KNOW there are many of you out there that LOVE to alter things - so why not pull out your tins and get busy creating a masterpiece. The prizes are Fantastic - but you will have to go check out Top Tip Tuesday to see what they are.
I will be back later with some kind of project - so drop back by for a visit later this afternoon/evening.

~Paula~

Monday, January 3, 2011

Double Challenge

Do you ever find yourself opening several windows on your computer that have challenges that you want to do? I do this all the time and sometimes I get to the challenges and sometimes I don't. Well, this week, I am determined to complete the challenges on the windows I have opened. This second card (for today) is for the sketch on the Stamping 411 Challenge blog.

The sketch was posted on January 1 and it is Saturday Sketch number 184 - a new sketch for a new year! I changed it up just a little as I wanted to use this new punch from Stampin' Up. It was first featured in the Holiday Mini - which sadly ends today. There were such great products in that mini. I also wanted to submit this card for the challenge on the SU-Only Challenges I have been looking at that blog for awhile and just haven't taken the time to sit down and just make something with only Stampin' Up! products. Well, when I got the new paper pack last week and this new stamp set which you can order from the occasions mini stating tomorrow - I just had to put it all together in this fun card. The challenge on the SU Only blog was to use bling - to celebrate the start of a new year. I added the rhinestones to the scallop edge, underneath the bow and also on my sentiment panel. I had considered adding some stickles to the branches of the image, however - that would not have been totally Stampin' Up then and I don't have any of the diamond glaze yet.
So, there you have it, my first SPRING card of the New Year. Perhaps this card will warm your heart all the way down to your toes. I know with this cold in the air, I get chilled to the bone all the way to my toes and if my feet are cold - the rest of me is as well - so hopefully you have been warmed by this Spring card.
Here are the particulars on the card:
Vanilla base, Pear Pizzazz mats the Springtime Vintage DSP. Baja breeze edged cut with the scallop punch. Vanilla grosgrain 1/4" ribbon. Easter Blossoms stamp set stamped in baja breeze, sentiment stamped in pear pizzazz. Rhinestones.

Update - my kids are finally home - so I can go to bed and sleep peacefully tonight knowing they are tucked into their warm beds upstairs. They are tired, but glad to be home - it has been a VERY long day and I don't think any of them want to see an airport for a very long time!!

~Paula~

I am Crafting while I WAIT!!!

The kids are on their way home from Washington - I can hardly wait! But I will have to as their flight has been delayed and they won't get home until after 9:30 pm now!! They had delays GOING to Washington, and now coming home. They have been up since 2:00 this morning and they are tired and just want to get home - plus, they have school tomorrow - SO, while I wait - I craft!!
Some of my favorite images are my Sugar Nellie's and over at the Sugar Bowl not only are they celebrating their 50th challenge, but they are having their SECOND birthday and the prize is delectable!! A set of Nestibilities and SIX super sweet brand new Sugar Nellie Stamps for TWO lucky people!! This is the sketch that I followed to enter this challenge. You can turn it sideways - or leave it as it is - I chose to use it sideways due to the image that I am using. The added challenge was to use embossing. I chose a red and white color scheme because over on the All Things Sugar Nellie forum at Paper Craft Planet the challenge for Week 32 was to use red and white. Now this challenge was posted some time ago, so I am quite late in getting it done - however, the next challenge will be posted sometime tomorrow, so I am getting it in just under the radar - I seem to be flying that way a lot lately!! I have used a new DSP from Stampin' Up called Love Impressions. It is available for order starting tomorrow and it is a wonderful package of beautiful papers just in time for Valentine's Day. For the embossing part of the challenge, I used one of my Cuttlebug folders that has hearts all over - I found this one fitting for the challenge. I also used large pearls for the embellishments and a tiny little pearl for the ring on her finger. My flowers are from WOC. (Just LOVE those flowers!!) Of course, I colored with prisma color pencils.
I hope you like my little princess and I am glad that you stopped by today.
Thanks for all your comments they mean a lot to me. Keep coming back each day for new inspiration and something else - you just never know when I might throw in some candy!! :)
~Paula~

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Day 2 and a GDT Call

How are you all doing on your decision to make cards everyday of the year? Is it working so far? Well, it is okay if you haven't made that decision - I have and so far, so good. Today, I have made a card - just in the nick of time for the Guest Design Team call over on the Digi Bell Design Team Blog. Now, are you familiar with Elizabeth Bell and her beautiful designs? I LOVE them. For the Call, we were given a couple of sketches to use for our creation. I used this image that I got last year from Funky Kits when her designs were available through that shop. This one is called Demure and was one of the first ones that I purchased. I have used her in so many different cards and have loved everyone of them that I have colored. Here I used some new DSP that I got last week. I used a couple different border punches and flowers from Wild Orchid Craft. I just love these flowers and they go SO well with Elizabeths' beautiful designs. I added a bit of diamond stickles to the flowers to make them sparkle.
Thanks for stopping by to see my card for this GDT spot.

Have a glorious rest of your day and remember to come back tomorrow to see what I cook up!!

~Paula~

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!!

I am determined to make at least ONE card a day throughout this year - we will see how that goes. It took me awhile to get going on this card today - simply because I am still trying to organize from the move. I added more shelving in my under stair closet - thanks to my sweet husband that helped me with that - so now, the items I had in my big box are out where I can use them if I so choose - like my bind-it-all and my cricut!
Anyway, so I got started very late on my card - but combined a few challenges with this one. I used one of the new Magnolia images that I got in my Fall kit JUST before I left California. I have not had any time to stamp them, so took the time tonight to see what these cuties look like. I also got some new papers from Stampin' Up - these papers are lucious and will be available starting on Monday. This paper pack is called 'Springtime Vintage' and it is full of lovely two-sided papers. So, with my image stamped and my papers chosen, I set about to color my image with my prisma color pencils to coordinate with the colors in the DSP.
I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday - a sketch challenge - two choices, I obviously chose the square.
Magnolia-licious Highlites - a recipe: 4 flowers, 3 patterned papers, 2 magnolia images (I am wondering if my Edwin and Tilda count as one or two??) and 1 ribbon
Totally Tilda - Ribbon and Roses
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything Goes
7 Kids College Fund Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
I am very pleased with the way this turned out and wonder if this is a sign of the way my crafting will take off this year?? I sure hope so.
Well it is now way past my bedtime and nearing tomorrow - so I better get to bed.
I appreciate you coming by to take a look, I will be back tomorrow with some more fun - there are other challenges I will be making cards for, so stop by the spa and see what relaxation you might find.

Paula