Tags! What a CHALLENGE!!!

Tags - this is another one of those crafting items that I am not quite sure what to do with. So, when the challenge for Day 153 popped up on the 365 card blog I KNEW what I would use, I just didn't know HOW I would use it. I have had these tags for, oh a couple of months now!! I bought them at Michael's because they were on sale and I thought they were pretty and I knew then I didn't have a CLUE how I would use them - so, they have been stashed away. Of course, while I was looking for something to put in the center of the flowers, I came across some little plastic tags that I could have used as well, and STILL do not have a clue how I would have used them either!! Let's just say that TAGS are a big challenge to me! Oh, I love looking at what others have done with them - but I just can never figure out how to make them look so elegant.
Anyway, instead of using a stamp for my sentiment, I hand-wrote the sentiment from one of my stamps. I wished I had the Night of Navy marker, as I think that would have made it so much nicer, but I didn't so I just used one of my Martha Steward writers. I bought these flowers - again at Michael's - ON SALE - and I KNOW how to use primas - especially these ones - they are just the right color, just the right size and they are so pretty with the glitter and such on them - I could buy a TON of these!! I punched the scallop from white cs, and then realized that it didn't really match - if the cs was off white, it would have been better, so I decided to grunge it up a bit with my distress inks. I chose old paper - now, I am not sure about you, but my old paper looks GREEN to me - anyway, it worked here ok. I stamped my scroll stamp with white on the blue bg for added texture.
In all, I am pleased with the way it turned out - and may have to look into making something with the REST of the tags I have - they are in books of 24 and I bought TWO of them (the other one is pinks!!)
Thanks for stopping by today - and enjoy the rest of your visit in the spa.
*~*Paula*~*

Three-In-One!!

I know, it is usually a Hole in one - but today on the 365 card challenge (Day 152) the challenge was to use a flap somewhere on your card. So, I decided to use the Splitcoast stampers Sketch (SC238) for my sketch. I have had these sheets of 1-1/4" squares (SU) from YEARS ago and really don't know what to do with them - so when I saw this sketch, I thought that these would be perfect for my matting. THEN, I received an email from Cards For Heroes to sign up for their e-newsletter, so in checking out their site (which I haven't been to for awhile) I noticed that they have a challenge going on over there to submit Christmas Cards by August 15th in order to be entered into a drawing for a big box of stamping goodies. Click on the link to find out more information. So, anyway - back to my card - with these three challenges in mind, I got to work right away creating my card. For some reason, I am NOT liking white space today and just HAVE to cover it up. I REALLY need to stock up on colored cardstock - then it won't be so bad!! Anyway, I pulled my scroll stamp out and stamped with Real Red, then layered the DP from SU. I layered the little red squares (oh, I didn't mention, I have a bunch of OTHER colors as well!!) on the white and then stamped these cute little ornaments (a clear stamp set purchased at WM) on the front. I decided I needed to stamp something inside the flaps. I looked through my winter stamps and came up with these three. I really should have stamped the mittens in red, as the black just doesn't fit - oh well.
Thanks for stopping by the spa today - I will be working on some other projects that I have in the works around here - so do stop by again soon.
*~*Paula*~*

You CAN Do It!!!

Many of us have heard those words since we were a child. Our parents (or other significant adult) encouraging us to follow our dreams. Well, on Day 151 on the 365 card blog - that was the challenge - to use those words as our sentiment on our card. Of course, I didn't have a CLUE what else I was going to do with those words, so taking inspiration from the Splitcoast stampers sketch challenge for the week SC239, I broke into my new (just received) package of razzleberry designer paper from SU. LOVE that color!!! And just set about layering. The image is another SU - from the Eastern Influences set. It is one of FOUR current sets that I own. Don't get me wrong - I have TONS of stamps and MANY of them are SU, they are all just retired ones now!!! :( I didn't like all that white space, so I added the crystals for a nice finishing touch.
Thanks for taking a peek - see you in the spa again real soon I hope.
*~*Paula*~*

Homophones - What's that??

Homophones? Have you ever heard this term? Well, even if you don't recall the word, you have used homophones - an 'I' for an 'eye, 'bearly' there (for barely) - they are often a fun way to use words in extraordinary ways. Well, with that said, the challenge on Day 150 of the 365 card blog was to use a homophone in our sentiment on our card. Well, I didn't want to go with the usual 'I love Ewe' - as I knew that would be used by some, so I thought about this - for a couple of days and finally came up with my version. I do think it is somewhat corny - however, in looking through my stamps - yes, I used my STAMP collection for inspiration this time, I came across this pear that I have loved for a very long time - and just knew what I wanted to do. Once it was settled, the card came together rather quickly. I used a mixture of green galore and summer sun for the pears layering on pumpkin pie and summer sun CS (all from SU) I added the grosgrain ribbon (from my stash) and the buttons are from Basic Grey's marrakech line. I also thought I was somewhat clever to underline the sentiment using a scrap cut off from the pumpkin pie. The font is one I got from Dafont.com and I printed it off on the printer.
Thanks for stopping in - I should have more for you to take a peek at shortly.
*~*Paula*~*

Try a Technique: Sponging

Sponging is such a fun technique. If you haven't tried this technique, or haven't for awhile - you really ought to! Today is Day 149 on the 365 card blog and that is the challenge for the day - to use sponging. Well, I first chose my image - a nice beach-y kind of scene and then I decided I wanted to give the impression of an approaching storm - so I made my own cloud template and then sponged around it. I haven't done this for quite some time, but I wanted to do something different for a change. I sponged the 'clouds' with baja breeze and a bit of going grey ink - and then threw in a bit of summer sun. After layering my image onto my card base, I decided to carry the clouds a little further. I still felt like it needed a bit of bling, so I added the rhinestones.
Thanks for taking a peek at my creation - now I am off to work on my digital scrapbook pages for the 92 days of summer contest - if you haven't checked it out - click on the icon and come join us.
Have a wonderfully relaxing day and thanks for visiting the spa today.
*~*Paula*~*

No Mojo for the Sketch Challenge

I usually like sketches, as they help me get over the challenge of just sitting down to make a card - but Day 148's challenge was a bit more difficult for me. I had NO MOJO - and even when I did try to muster some up today, I either was disrupted by someone in the family - or I had to go into work. So, I am NOT pleased with my card, but I did the challenge anyway. I even looked at others who had completed the challenge, trying for some inspiration and nothing!! (Not to say those other cards weren't great - they were, it just didn't hit the magic mojo number!!)Some days you have it and some days you don't - today was one of the 'don't' days!
Thanks for stopping by - come back each day as there will be some great inspiration this week from the 365 card blog as they feature a different reader of the blog each day.
*~*Paula*~*

Scraplifting Saturday

It is Day 147on the 365 card blog and the challenge for today is to scraplift one of the DT members cards. Vicky is the one giving the challenge, so I decided to take a look at her blog and choose a card from there. For my challenge, I chose this simple card that she made during the 'Shortcuts' week. She used a stamp set that I didn't have, but I DID have the Tart and Tangy set from SU, so used that set for my card. (I think this is the first time I have used this set!!) She bound two pieces of plastic together for her card base, but since I didn't have that, and didn't really want to bind anything together, I just used the image idea for my card. I did choose to use flower eyelets at the top instead of ribbon and I punched all the way through the cardstock. I overlayed a piece of vellum to create the softer look. The vellum I used has some texture on the front of it too. I found the sentiment stamp in my collection and thought it fitting for this card.
Thanks for taking a look and thank you to Vicky for the inspiration for this card.
*~*Paula*~*

Mirroring

Yesterday, I didn't get a chance to make my card for Day 146 on the 365 card blog as I spent the morning with my husband walking along the beach, checking out the HUGE waves and then having breakfast together out on the pier (there is a Ruby's diner at the end of the Oceanside Pier). I had to go into work at 2:00, but when I got there, I found out that my client had rescheduled for later in the day, so that gave me time to run up to Michael's and take a look around. I was specifically looking for these little flowers that my friend Gloria told me about - of course, I was not quite sure what I was looking for - so I just wandered through the store. In my wanderings, I took a peek at the clear stamps and came across these adorable sayings. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them.
One in particular really jumped out at me and I just KNEW what I was going to do for my card challenge for the day. I didn't get the opportunity to create the card until this morning though. The challenge was to make a symmetrical card. Well, I decided to make a card 'playing' on the words in the sentiment. I used scrap pieces of SU cardstock that I have in an overflowing ziploc bag. I popped the flowers (from the set I got this week) and added a bit of stickles to the center.
Thanks for taking a peek and I hope you have a colorful day today!!
~*~Paula*~*

Another Ad Insired Card

Today (Day 145) on the 365 card blog there is an ad inpired challenge. Ad inspired challenges are always difficult for me - but this one came together fairly quickly. I had the CB background already done from my 'playtime' yesterday, so I completed it with inspiration from the ad. The butterflies in the ad caught my eye and then I noticed the letter down in the right hand corner. I have had these monogram stamps for quite some time - bought them from the Michael's dollar bins - and have wanted to do some monogram cards for awhile. I had bought monograms for each of my kids, hoping to make some cards for them to send out notes of thanks, or whatever to friends and family. Notice the color scheme - it is the same as my card kit that I mentioned in an earlier post - however, I had some cameo coral cs, so I used that from my stash and then used the ink spots that came with the kit. I didn't have any ribbon to match, and didn't want to use the ribbon from the kit, so I grabbed some white grosgrain and ran it across the certainly celery ink spot creating the green ribbon. The brads are from basic grey.
Thanks for taking a peek.
*~*Paula*~*

Double Dimension

I am so glad that life isn't all flat! I know, that is a curious statement - however, think about it - if everything was flat, we wouldn't have mountains, there would be no ups and downs in our life - everything would be the same ALL the time. BORING!! So, tying this into the challenge for yesterday (Day 144) on the 365 card blog we were to incorporate at least TWO ways to add dimension to our card. Hmmm, I can think of alot of different ways to add dimension, but since we only HAD to do two - I set about to make my card. The planning of the card was SO super simple since I had just received an SU Simply Sent card kit from my secret sister (now revealed) from the Splitcoast stampers Ultimate Unos secret sister round 2. (wow, that was a mouthful!!) Anyway, she sent me this kit - I think it is a retired one - but it had EVERYTHING I needed to make 10 cards. Of course, I had to mix it up a bit and not do the cards exactly like the directions say - I CB the base card - adding a bit of dimension there, then I added the ribbon - so that adds some dimension and I popped the green square and the flower on top, adding just a bit more dimension with the crystal flower center. I am SO thrilled with this kit that I am considering ordering a couple of the ones in the new catalog - but I am also thinking of making up kits so that when I have to be away from home I can still create some cards. So, my thoughts are to run through the new catalog (or past catalogs) and choose a few cards I really like and prepare the elements to make the cards.
So, what are YOU going to do today to inspire your creative side?
Thanks for stopping by
*~*Paula*~*

Silent Sorrow

Tuesday on the 365 card blog (Day 143) the challenge was to make a sympathy card without using any sentiment on the outside of the card. Thankfully I have not had to make too many sympathy cards, and I am not sure what image I would think of immediately if I had too. Oh, perhaps flowers, or butterflies - but I also think about how much I would miss the person that is gone. So, I actually made a card yesterday for this challenge, with a flower and I used my cb folder - but as I thought about the card, it didn't really convey the message - so I thought through the stamp sets I had, and this one of the lady in the boat really expresses sorrow to me. I know that if there was a death in my family, I would wandered down to the shore (I live only a few miles from the ocean) and walk or sit and just look out to the sea and let the ocean waves soothe my heart and let the seabreeze blow away the tears.
I hope your visit to the spa today brings happy remembrances of your loved ones that have gone before you.
*~*Paula*~*

Twilight!!

Have you seen the movie 'Twilight'? Or perhaps you have read the books, or both!! I have seen the movie - my older daughters have read the books, so we bought the movie and watched it together one evening quite some time ago. Today is Day 142 on the 365 card blog and the inspiration is the movie 'Twilight' - with a twist! Our card base is to be black, and we are to use a patterned paper with the dominant color being red - rhinestones or glitter and the rest is up to the imagination! If you know anything about the movie, it is about Vampires - and one of them falls for a human - the portrayal is of good vampires and bad vampires - well, I don't know about you, but ANYONE that wants to suck my blood is bad - but it is good for imagination!! So, as I understand it - the vampires live forever - so I used this new sentiment that I got recently. I wanted to use the flower border too because the movie has a bit of romance in it! I used my alcohol inks to color the primas and then sprayed with red velvet glimmer mist for a shiny, glittery feel. I have had the rhinestone swirl for some time and decided to use it here.
Thanks for visiting in the spa - where I learned yesterday that it can lower your cholesterol!! :)

note:the color doesn't look real bright red - it is a muted red and the flower was actually colored with cranberry alcohol ink and then sprayed with red velvet, it just didn't turn out bright red

Have a wonderful day - *~*Paula*~*

It's time for another Sketch!

I like using sketches. It helps cut down on the brain power needed to create! If I don't have to think up a sketch, then sometimes that is half the 'battle' in creating. Sunday's are always sketch days on the 365 card blog so for today (Day 141) the sketch was a simple one. I thought I was going to create the card while at work - I had taken the 'ingredients' to make the card, but worked on a digital LO instead, (it was a slow day). So this evening after supper I decided to finish up the card. I am all caught up for the month as well. I used an old set from SU that I have had for quite some time but seldom use. Since I stamped the ink pen on the strip, I decided I needed to stamp the hand using the pen so that it would be easy to understand what the card was trying to convey. I then stamped the sentiment in black over the image. I used archival brown for my images.
Thanks for stopping by this evening and as you go into a new work week - remember to stop by the spa for a little relaxation.
*~*Paula*~*

I finally Stitched it!!

Before I started stamping and scrapbooking, I sewed. I still do from time to time, but seem to be more interested in making cards and saving my memories rather than making clothes that end up not fitting. I have done a few quilt tops - they are still waiting to be quilted and I do LOVE making American Girl doll clothes.
So, what does this have to do with cards? Well on Day 129 the 365 card blog issued a challenge to stitch an image on your card - not just use stitching. Well, this one had me as I just didn't know what I wanted to do. I contemplated trying to embroider an image using my embroidery machine - but thought that it wouldn't work through paper - but I did consider using velvet paper. In the end, I chose to stitch an image by hand using a hand embroidered stitch. I first stamped my image - one from SU - on velvet paper. I then stitched and then put the card altogether. I had this scallop window cut from another project and decided to use it on my card, so I added the sentiment and then attached the window card on top. I felt it still needed something, so I added the stickles glitter to the button and stem and stickles pearls to the scallop and the flower.

Thanks for visiting my spa. Have a great day!!
*~*Paula*~*

Digital sketch for TNT

TNT (Tips n Techniques) is a local scrapbook club that meets once a month. We usually work through some kind of book (as it is typically a book club), we share the projects we have been doing over the past month as it relates to the challenges given during our club meeting. In June, our fearless leader - Lori aka the Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire created a sketch of her own and gave it to us to use for our sketch challenge to bring to our July meeting. Well, I was so busy with many other crafts during the month that I didn't get to the sketch challenge until the day of the meeting and then because it was digital, I wasn't able to get it printed in time to take it to class - so I am posting it so that my friends in the club can see how I used the sketch challenge. Every year on the
4th of July my sister has a big BBQ where friends and family come together for games, good food and much chatter. My sketch is about that event from this year. I used elements and paper from my July Premier Scrappers kit from Scrappers Guide - a WONDERFUL digital scrapbook group that I discovered last summer. I used clipping masks to create my photo sections - and then added the photos in. I didn't have just one photo that really stood out for the bigger block, so I just added several photos to the block with some digital paper behind to set it off. I wanted to get all my family members in the photos - but there are a few that didn't make it - like my mom!! I guess I will just have to make another LO to go along with this one. Rather than using just one or two journal blocks, the idea for the LO was to use journaling strips - so I created the journaling with this in mind.
If you haven't tried digital - I HIGHLY recommend it. It is SO much fun - SO portable (if you have a laptop) and nearly instant!!
I am off to work - where I only have one client this morning (at the moment) so I am taking my laptop so I can create digitally until another client calls, or it is time for the day to be over.
Have a WONDERFUL Sunday - *~*Paula*~*

More Old Products!

On the 365 card blog today (Day 140) the challenge was to use paint on your card. Well, I just KNEW what I was going to use - RADIANT PEARLS!! I haven't used my radiant pearls in quite some time. I remember when they were so IN and I used them ALL the time. I experimented with them, I mixed colors and was amazed at the results. Well, today was no different. I really LOVE using the radiant pearls, they are just not in my sight as I have to keep them put away since they would take up precious space on my stamping area - which is already occupied with my Laptop computer, my Cricut, my cutting board - which leaves me very little space in which to actually put everything together.
Anyway, back to my card - I used the new SU In Color Melon Mambo for my background card - I think this color is SO similar to Purely Pomegranate that SU had out a couple years ago and was one of my favorite colors. Then I chose my radiant pearl colors - hmmm, do I REALLY have to tell what colors I used? I stamped the Sweet Impressions image and proceeded to mix and paint my colors. When I was done - I was a little impatient and cut out the image - and in so doing got a couple little smears of paint - what to do? I decided to get out this fancy little tool that I bought back when I was really into this art and used it to 'splatter' the radiant pearls around - so it no longer looks like paint smears! :) Since I had taken alot of time to paint my image, I didn't want to ruin it by stamping the sentiment crooked or in the wrong place, so I cut out the oval shape with my nesties and stamped on that adding a bit of the 'splatters'. It was fun to do this card.
Thanks for visiting in the spa today. Have a wonderful day
*~*Paula*~*

Techniques and Old Products

How long has it been since you have tried a new technique? Or perhaps an old technique? The challenge for today - Day 139 on the 365 card blog is to use Paper PIERCING on your card. I don't often use this technique, but when I saw the challenge, I decided to pull out my Pergamano kit and one of my stamps that lends itself to this technique. Pergamano is the name of the company that has elevated the 15th century art of Parchment craft to endless options for design. Sweet Impressions has many stamps that lend itself to using this technique. I stamped my image using Staz-on cotton white onto vellum. I then used my stylus tool and traced around the image on the backside causing it to 'pop' and turn whiter on the front side. I did use a bit of the paint that came in my kit to brighten the white. I pierced the little dots and all the way around the heart thereby 'cutting' it away from the vellum. I used one of my CB folders to emboss the heart images on the card and then used the die cut from this set to cut out the words and double hearts. I added the silk flowers (a find at Michael's) and added the bling in the center to finish off the card.
It was fun to do the paper piercing, but more so because I pulled out something old and used it!! When was the last time you did THAT? Whether you try paper piercing for the first time, or use it after a long absence - try something NEW today - even if it is something you haven't done for a long time!
Thanks for stopping by.
*~*Paula*~*

Quotes!

Quotes - we all use them - and sometimes we find opportunity to use them on our cards or other items we create. For Day 138 on the 365 card blog the challenge was to use a quote on our card. WELL, yesterday I was looking for quotes to use on a card for yesterday's challenge - so when I printed them out, I did a few and just happened to have this quote sitting on my table when I was done with the card for yesterday (which I completed today!!) When I was at Wal-Mart earlier this morning - I came across a few new finds, and one of them was this ribbon. I thought the color combination was interesting and probably one I wouldn't have thought to use, but it really is pretty put together with similar colors. I chose the new Dusty Durang0 In Color and Blue Bayou (a past In Color) from SU. I had the quote already printed on the transparency so just added that with a couple zots hidden by the prima flowers. I added the bling to the center of the flowers to bring it altogether. My sketch is the sketch challenge (SC237) from the splitcoast site - just turned sideways.
Thanks for taking a peek. Later I will upload some digital stuff I have been working on. But now I must scurry off to work - the spa - where I will bring relaxation to some deserving soul. ~smile~
*~*Paula*~*

Time Binds

Well, not sure if it really does - but time is something we deal with EVERYDAY! Well, when I saw the challenge on Day 137 which was to bind two pieces of something together on your card, I thought about how I wanted to make my card - so while at work - I thought and came up with this idea. Of course, it took me until this afternoon to put it altogether - somehow the 'time' got away from me!! I used a piece of graphic 45 and 'bound' a piece of transparency on which I had printed a quote about time that I found online while I was being productive with my time!! I knew I wanted to use my new 'Sense of Time' set from SU, so that is why I was hung up on the 'time'!!
I hope you have enjoyed your 'time' here today - come back soon.
*~*Paula*~*

Black and White and RED . . .

. . .and texture and brads, and eyelets, OH MY!! Yes, I am playing with new toys and old ones today. The challenge for Day 136 on the 365 card blog was to use Black, white and red on your card - no other colors - which is fine. It is always the image that often presents the problem - however, when I looked through my NEW - as in delivered TODAY - CB folders, I decided to use this image to create texture. Then I used a piece of bazzill basics swiss dots for the matting on my sentiment. I picked out the ribbon from my drawer of ribbon and got out some silk flowers and added the flower eyelets (red) and the black (heart) brad to the centers. Of course it was AFTERWARDS that I decided I wanted to add the stamping with my red and black staz-on pads - but it worked. So much going on and I LOVE the results. Not sure if I will keep this one and give it to my sweet dh, or pass it on to those soldiers in the field that need to tell someone at home they are loved.
Thanks for visiting the spa today - it has been a productive one - and I am not even finished - working on a BIG project that I am hoping to have done for my Scrapbook club meeting tonight!!
*~*Paula*~*

A Wonderful Sketch!

On Day 134 it was another sketch challenge from the DT at 365 card blog. They always come up with great sketches for your cards - and this one was quick to put together. The exciting thing about this card is that I had JUST - I literally mean JUST received my new CB folders from UPS - my daughter brought the box up while I was catching up on some other card challenges. When I started work on this card, I KNEW I had to try out my new folders! I am not sure which folder this one is - I will label them when I get a chance - but it went well with the ribbon I chose for my card. The sentiment I haven't used for quite some time. The card still needed just a little more something, so I added the prima flowers with a button center from SU to match the pink cs.
Thanks for taking a peek - just a couple more to go and I will be ALL caught up.
*~*Paula*~*

Imagine - BUBBLES??

I seldom take bubble baths - in my opinion, the bubbles never last as long as they do in the commercials - I mean - you would have to use a COMPLETE bottle of bubble bath for that! Anyway, when I saw the Day 133 challenge over on the 365 card blog, I thought - hmmm - I don't have any little ladies bathing in bubbles, I am not sure WHAT I have that will work. When I started looking through my stamp collection, I found these tiny little bubbles and knew it would work. I got out my kaleidacolor (blue breeze) stamp pad and stamped these cute little fish along with the bubbles. This is a FLAT card - meaning there is NOTHING on it that is three dimensional!! So, I added a couple layers and am happy with the results.
Thanks for taking a peek.
*~*Paula*~*

I am ALMOST caught up

On the 365 card challenges for this month. Of course, it only takes a weekend to set me behind again!! Yesterday was Day 135 and I was able to get the challenge done in fairly short order. The challenge was to create a card with a window using some see-through material. Mine is plain and simple - but I used my nesties oval dies and cut the window in the card. Then I used transperency and cut another oval out of that and placed it behind my cutout to create the window. I was playing with different colors, so had the lighter pink shape cut out and decided I would use it for my sentiment. This piece is attached inside the card, but is hard to see that from the photograph. I was going to use patterned paper and ribbon, but just couldn't make it all come together the way I wanted, so I opted for this less than perfect flower!!
Thanks for stopping by, now I have to get back to my crafting so I can REALLY catch up on all the challenges and complete another project that I NEED to get done as well. I may even post some of my digital LO's later on today or tomorrow.
*~*Paula*~*

Picture This

A birthday cake!! Specifically THIS birthday cake - well, at least for inspiration! On Day 132 this was the image we were to use to inspire creativity in making a card. When I saw the challenge, I knew just exactly what stamp I was going to use - I just had to FIND it!! If you have seen my crafting area, you know that it is a task to search for my stamps. Yes, I need to categorize, but I am working on creating a new system. Anyway, back to my creation. I found the stamp and it was quick to put together this fun card. I think of a birthday card for a child when I look at the whimsical cake and the softly dotted background.
Thanks for taking a peek. Stop by later for more inspiration!!
*~*Paula*~*

What inspires you . . .

. . . to create? Is it a magazine that you pick up? An internet site? Perhaps it is a combination of many different sources. For me, I often find inspiration (and challenges) from the 365 card blog. On Day 131 we were given this ad for inspiration: There were so many elements to this ad, but the first thing that jumped out at me was all the white space. Then the stripes and polka dots and finally the 'dr. suess' - oh, just thinking of dr. suess can bring all KINDS of images!! Did you have a favorite dr. suess book growing up? Tell me about it in the comment section.
Now, onto my card that was inspired by this ad - You see lots of white space, and the polka dotted ribbon as well as the stripe ribbon. I also threw in that little rug - using my nesties dies and then CB'd the blue circle and attempted to use chalks - which didn't work real well!! I couldn't find a font that exactly matched the sentiment, but this one was close enough.
Thanks for stopping by today - I will have more projects posted as the day goes on as I am once again playing catch up with all the challenges.
*~*Paula*~*

All Dressed up in Purple!

I have a secret sis and her birthday is coming up soon - and she loves purple - so when I saw the Day 125 challenge I decided to make a card to send to her. The challenge was to make a card with some kind of closure. It could be a ribbon (which I used), twine/brad combo, snap or magnet. Now what I really wanted to use was one of those mini Basic Grey magnets - however, I have not been able to find them locally - and the LSS that I ordered them from who knows how long ago has never called to tell me they came in - so I will probably have to order them online. In the meantime, I wanted to complete this card as it was the only one from last week that I hadn't completed yet and I am trying to stay fairly caught up with the card challenges. I used a new Bazzil Basics Dotted Swiss paper that I picked up at Michael's - I couldn't resist - I have this thing for Dotted Swiss. I used my Martha Stewart edge punch and my SU horizontal slot punch. Inside the card I stamped a 'recipe for a special birthday'. Now I need to get it ready to send to her.

Thanks for stopping by the spa today - I have so many projects that I need to be working on and today I have to go into work.

*~*Paula*~*

Silly Stamping!

I don't usually do silly cards - for one thing, I don't have alot of silly stamps - probably because I am not real crazy about silliness - however, when I saw this stamp, I just HAD to have it! And when the post for Day 130 was put up on the 365 card blog, I KNEW I would use this stamp. First, I LOVE snowmen - and second - this is SO true - when the sun comes out, snowmen melt!! I don't really like the way the card turned out. I CB the BG with the snowflakes then added a bit of color and stickles to the snowman. I decided that I would place the sun up in the corner - just because 'he' is incognito!!
Hope you like my card and get a chuckle out it - I know that most of the snow around the country is probably all melted away by now - but perhaps in other parts of the world, you can relate.
Have a wonderful day,
*~*Paula*~*

Announcing the Winner of the Blog Hop

Over the Weekend, SNR Card Universe had a 4th of July Blog Hop in which I participated. I am happy to announce the winner of my RAK from that event:

Carolyn McAvoy

Carolyn please contact me so that I can get your goodies sent off to you!

Now, onto my card from Day 128 from the 365 card blog. The challenge was a recipe one - I LOVE these kinds of challenges - here were the ingredients: 1-5x5 card; 1 rub on image; 2 buttons; 1 piece of patterened paper; 1 piece of ribbon (no bows) and 1 sentiment - inside the card. Well, that seemed easy enough - I have a nice package of rub ons from SU, so I pulled those out. I decided I wanted brown and blue for my colors, so I again turned to my stash of SU designer paper and found a nice piece that fit well. The ribbon I had in my stash - I believe it is also SU and the buttons are from Basic Grey from the Marakech line. The sentiment is also a rub on from the same set. I don't use rub-ons all that often, though I do have a few packages around, so this was a little bit of a challenge for me.
I really enjoy doing the card challenges as it really gets me thinking outside of the box and I am usually happy with what I create.
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to the spa today.
*~*Paula*~*

Catching up from a busy Weekend!

I am catching up from the weekend. I hope you all had a wonderful one and enjoyed your 4th of July celebration. For those of you that did the 'Oh Say can you See Blog Hop' I will be posting the recipient of my RAK tomorrow - promise!!
In the meantime, I am still on a patriotic creative burst, so for the 365 card blog -Day 127 which was Sunday I did a patriotic card. Sunday's are Sketch Days, so we were to use this sketch for creating our card. I had FULL intentions of following the rules - HONEST - however, I decided to use my NEW Cricut cartridge for the sentiment and it just didn't fit (nor look right) with the card opening from the side, so I just turned it so the card opens from the bottom. Since I did that, I also had to move the line (of whatever is supposed to be there) and placed it under my sentiment. I KNOW, I am a rule breaker - but only SOMETIMES!! Either way, hope you like what I have created.
I hope to find MORE time to play in the spa, now that all my kids are back from their adventures over the last few days.
Come back again and see what I am creating.
*~*Paula*~*

Happy 4th of July!!

Welcome to the Paper Spa - if you are participating in the SNR Card Universe 'Oh Say can you see 4th of July Blog Hop' and this is your first time to the 'Spa' I want to welcome you and invite you to come in and rest awhile. If you have come from Melissa's Moments then you are right on track, however if you have not and would like to start at the beginning of the hop you can go here - you will eventually come back to the spa where you can relax a little longer. If you have never participated in a blog hop before - it is really quite fun and there are little surprises along the way, so you really don't want to miss one single site.
In honor of America celebrating our Independence today, I have created a special card. Do any of you have a Cricut? And if you do, how much do you use it? I use mine once in a while, but while thinking about the project I wanted to make for the hop, I realized I didn't really have any 'star' stamps (well I discovered I do have a couple) - but I don't have star punches and since I was short on time, I turned to my cricut to cut out the stars. I also discovered this really fun star with a tail in the cartridge that I was using - 'Home Decor' - Once I added the white dots and the metallic star to the middle of the cutouts, I was ready to assemble my card. I used a bg stamp that has the words to "America the Beautiful' a very fitting image for today. I then layered my cutouts, popping the big star and then added the sentiment. Inside is another cutout (perhaps I will show a photo of this a little later).
Now, not to create another diversion for you, but I discovered that this card also fits the challenge for Day 126 on the 365 card blog however, you will want to hop on over to Treasured Dreams to see what Karen has created - her card is absolutely gorgeous and she has a little surprise for visiting.
And speaking of surprises - I will be putting together a RAK package for one lucky poster - I will choose Monday so leave a comment with your email so that I can contact you.
Happy 4th of July - and have fun hopping -
Oh, and thanks for visiting the Spa - do come back when you can really relax and spend some time rejuvenating.
*~*Paula*~*

Computer Generated Card Challenge

Why not? We use our computers for so many other things, why not use it to create lovely cards? Well, for one thing, I don't think my computer has THAT much crativity and I only have a B&W laser printer, so the cards would eventually just get SO boring and I NEED color in my life. However, When Day 124 was posted early this morning and I saw this challenge - I turned to my publisher program to see what clip art I could find. I had considered just creating a word art and using one of my stamps - but wanting to make it easy - I found this very cool image - you would think it was a stamp - but honestly, it is not. I did add the word art, so it is two images merged together and printed. I like it just as it is - without any other fuss. I hope you like it too and turn to your computer when you need a quick card and the mojo is just gone or the time is short!
Thanks for visiting the spa today - tomorrow I will be posting information about an event taking place on Saturday, and you don't want to miss it!!
*~*Paula*~*

Half the Year is over!!

Yes, it is July 1 and half of 2009 is gone! Has it been a productive one for you so far? I think it has been for me. Have you learned anything new? I know I have - and if you have as well, then it has been a good year - regardless of the end result, right? I know one of the things I have done this year is make lots more cards - thanks to the 365 card blog. Today is Day 123 and the challenge for today is an awesome one. It is another 'white space' challenge. The challenge was to leave the white space blank - nothing in that space at all - which of course limited the area in which to create. You REALLY need to go check out Kristie's card on the blog. It is an awesome Patriotic Card. I had considered card-lifting it, however, I don't have any star stamps! I might just have to go get some though and do a similar card for this Weekends' 'Oh Say Can You See Blog Hop on SNR Card Universe'. However, since I did NOT lift it, I decided to make a Fall card instead. I know - it is Full On Summer, but I can dream, right? I love Fall - I think I mentioned that in my post yesterday, so I got out my old SU set 'Festive Fall' and created my card. It is difficult to see, but I did use my CB on the white space (I don't know if that is 'cheating' or not!) I used Handsome Hunter, and three of the new In Colors from SU - Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, and Crushed Curry for the leaves and little acorn. I layered it all on a past In Color - True Thyme - the Soft Suede is SO close in color to this retired color. I used a sentiment from Sweet Impressions since the sentiment that came with this set is too large for the space I was trying to stay within.
In addition to my card this morning, I worked on creating my two-page digital LO for week 4 of the 92 days of summer challenge. I still have a little to do on that one before I feel that it is 'done', but it is close.
Thanks for visiting in the spa today - I hope you have a wonderful sunny day!
*~*Paula*~*