It's My Turn!!

That is right! It is my turn to share my tutorial over on the Top Tip Tuesday blog. I learned the technique many years ago and have had fun getting all inky. Have you tried Polished Stone? Do you even know what this technique is? Well, if you are new to stamping and have never done this technique - or perhaps you have been stamping for many years now, but have pushed this one to the side - well, I want to invite you to pop over to the Top Tip Tuesday blog and check out my tutorial. We have some wonderful sponsors this week and I have also thrown in an extra opportunity to win something. In my sample, I have used a sketch from Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog. I have chosen So Saffron and Elegant Eggplant for my colors. I used my newest tulip embossing folder from Stampin' Up! and a new stamp set from an upcoming mini catalog. I love using my Magic bow maker to make perfect bows. I really like the way the colors blended together making this background something I wanted to display, rather than cover up. Thanks for stopping by today and do play along - it is a very fun technique. Paula

A Recipe for you!

Today I am going to share a recipe with you - and a little fun information along with it. I LOVE the Elizabeth Bell images - so sweet and Whimsical. And I love participating in the monthly challenges. This past month the challenge on the Elizabeth Bell Challenge blog was to make RECIPE cards. So, I set about to find an image that would indicate some kind of food. Well, most of the digitals that she carries didn't quite say 'food' to me, so I went in search of some of her stamps. Now, what can be better than having the actual rubber in your hand? A gift card to purchase the stamps!! I have a friend who lives in the UK who won a gift voucher for Simon Says Stamps. Well, the shipping to her was so incredibly high that it wasn't worth it for her to use it, so she gifted it to me and I was able to find some beautiful Whiff of Joy stamps by Elizabeth Bell that fit the project theme. Thanks Deb!

So, once I got my stamp - JUST in time to complete my project for the month - I set about to decide what I wanted to do. Now, I LOVE chocolate chip cookies - however, not all chocolate chip cookies are alike. My kids call me a chocolate chip cookie snob - so my first part of the project was to create a recipe for CHOOSING a chocolate chip cookie. Of course, I had to use 'Cookie Girl' and my Parisian Breeze (retired) DSP as it has CHOCOLATE CHIP as one of the colors!! I colored my cookie girl with my prisma color pencils and then set about to make a pocket on the front of the card for my 'choosing' recipe. Now just in case you are wondering what that recipe says, I will tell you.

"The cookie must be brown but not burnt. It must be crisp but not crunchy. It must have nuts of some kind, walnuts are best. When warm the chocolate chips must be gooey, not the cookie. the cookie when warm must maintain a bit of crisp, but not be crunchy! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! eat pale looking cookies!! Don't indulge in the soft kind either! ENJOY!!

This is MY criteria for choosing a good chocolate chip cookie - I am sure there is a bit more to it than that, but when I first came up with this 'recipe' I didn't write it down - so, now it is written down and I can't say as it might get tweaked when my memory returns!! lol Now, before I take you inside my card, I wanted to show you a closer look at my bow. First, I LOVE the new seam binding ribbon that Stampin' Up! has in their mini catalogs. There are several colors to choose from right now and they are PERFECT for making beautiful bows. I added a small pearl to the knot on my bow just for added beauty. What I really want to share with you though is the way I made this bow. I have had a gizmo that I got a long time ago at a stamp club meeting I used to attend. It was fairly primitive and I really didn't use it all that much. Then I saw on a website that someone was selling something similar, only much nicer looking. I decided that I would get mine out and work with it - but I still wasn't satisfied, so I broke down and purchased this Magic Bow Maker. I am SO happy that I did. I have to admit, I liked the bows I was seeing from this cardmaker and I really wanted to know what her trick was. With the bow maker I got the directions on how she made the bows, which was similar to what I was already doing. I also got this nifty card holder - so I think the $15 I spent on this bow maker was WELL worth it - and I hope that if you don't already have one of these, you will purchase one from her - her shipping time is awesome too. (Now, just so you know, she isn't paying me to say all this - I am just sharing because I am a happy customer) So, back to the card - now that you have seen the outside, I decided that I might as well give you an actual recipe of a fantastic chocolate chip cookie - the recipe I have used for years. Now, rather than me writing out the recipe for you here - I will send you to a website I found with the recipe. when I was typing out the recipe to put in my card, I noticed that it was from Maida Heatter's Book of Great Chocolate Desserts. Now, I do not remember where I actually got this recipe - I know it wasn't online, as that was before computers and I had never heard of this person - so that mystery remains. However, you will find the recipe here. You will have to scroll past the Toll House recipe that we are all familiar with - and continue reading through the recipe to the end - as you will see that she says something similar about a good chocolate chip cookie!! Honestly, I looked this up online after I finished my card and had NO IDEA there were other Chocolate Chip Cookie snobs out there! So, here's to the BEST chocolate chip cookie and all chocolate chip cookie snobs!! :)

I hope you have enjoyed reading my musings today - I will be posting this to the EB challenge blog and hope that I find some more chocolate chip cookie 'snobs' to join me!!

Have a fantastic rest of your day - wherever you are in the world.

~Paula~

Button, Button, who has the button?

I will tell you - Top Tip Tuesday has the button this week! At least that is what the tutorial is all about. My teammate Samantha has done a fabulous tutorial on altering buttons and using them on your projects.

I don't often use buttons on my cards - I prefer using ribbon and flowers, however for this week, I took up Samantha's challenge and made a card using buttons. I used the sketch from Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge #195 for my card layout. I started with a base of Daffodil Delight and then layered with a beautiful DSP from Stampin' Up! I continued to layer with the Daffodil until I got to my main panel and then I matted this with Cherry Cobbler. I added a Cherry Cobbler seam binding bow - which I just LOVE!! This is the first opportunity I have had to use this wonderful ribbon. It is easy to work with and makes such a pretty bow. I played with the sentiment - not knowing exactly what I was going to use, and decided to use a partial sentiment from one of the new Hostess sets from Stampin' Up! called Afterthoughts. I stamped it on the Daffodil Delight with Cherry Cobbler and then cut it with my spellbinders dies. I had Cherry Cobbler buttons from my Christmas package and just recently got these Daffodil Delight buttons. They were the perfect touch for this simple card. I hope you will come over and join in with us this week using buttons on your project. This simple embellishment can be plain, or you can use alcohol inks to color to coordinate with your project, but don't stop there, check out Samantha's tutorial and then post your project for a chance to win something from our wonderful sponsors this week.

Thanks for stopping by - I will have more to share with you later in the day - afterall, it is time to submit for the monthly Elizabeth Bell challenge - just in the knick of time too!!

~Paula~

Wonderful Boxes!

Life just seems to get busier and busier. I am now going to start training to become a shift manager at work. That is a good thing - it means more money - but I am not sure what it will do with my crafting time - which seems to be sketchy at best lately. However, this week at Top Tip Tuesday, my teammate Heike has done a wonderful job with a tutorial on making a box. The tutorial is in English as well as Heike's native language - so you will be able to follow along.
When I read the tutorial, I just had to make one of these wonderful little boxes. I have been really intriqued lately with 3D projects such as these. Awhile back I read a tutorial on how to make your own color coordinated shreds - so I set about to make shreds to put in my box. I cut each sliver of paper with scissors, however, it could be easily done with a guillotine style paper cutter - but I don't have one of those and my paper cutter has a dull blade, so the cardstock wouldn't cut nicely. (I did buy new blades today, so perhaps now it will cut those slivers). It actually took quite a few cuts to get enough to make a nice bedding in my little box. I haven't filled my box with anything quite yet - but I plan to give it to one of my daughters - they love getting these little gifts - especially when I fill it with goodies. I have wanted to use a bright cheery color - perhaps it will bring Spring and warmer weather a little faster. So, I pulled out this retired DSP from Stampin' Up! and the coordinating colors of cardstock - So Saffron and Bashful Blue. I made the box in So Saffron and then pulled out one of my newest Spellbinders dies (label four) and cut the top and bottom for the box. I then added bashful blue taffeta ribbon - this is no longer available from Stampin' Up - but it was perfect for this box. I have the So Saffron grosgrain ribbon - but I really like the satins and taffetas - they just flow so nicely when tied in bows and such. Grosgrain is great for tying knots. Anyway, I then cut the next size down of the label four from bashful blue. I chose another piece of the DSP from the same package and layered that on the blue. I played with images until I finally settled on just adding a word sentiment and some flowers. I stamped a flower and then fussy cut it and added the mini roses from Wild Orchid Craft. These little roses are just wonderful - they add such a fantastic dimension.I then added a leaf cut from a MS punch to finish the spray.
I really enjoyed putting this little box together and need to find the perfect little treat to add to the inside to give as a gift.
Thanks for stopping by today - I sure hope you will join us in making these simple and sweet boxes that can be used for so many different things.
~Paula~

Time for another Top Tip Tutorial

Yesterday was my day off and I had looked forward to creating - however, I had to do other things that were more necessary. Perhaps I will get some time on Saturday - my next day off.
In the meantime - the Top Tip Tuesday blog has a wonderful tutorial today. We are being sponsored this week by: The Crafty Pad and Dew Drop Craftz
The challenges for this week are Your favorite embellishment and/or your favorite technique. I know - it IS difficult to choose just one - but give it a try and post your project for a chance to win. Remember - you can leave a tip in the comment section for another opportunity to win.

So, drop on by and see the tutorial my teammate Eileen has done for us.

~Paula~

One of the Top Three

I am SO THRILLED to be chosen as one of the Top Three on the Elizabeth Bell Blog for the month of February. I got my project done JUST in the knick of time. I presented it to my youngest daughter a couple of days ago and she was thrilled with it. The Elizabeth Bell challenge blog started just a few months ago and I have submitted a project each month - sometimes just under the wire, like this one. For the month of March the challenge is to make recipe cards. Hmmm, perhaps I will share my favorite cheesecake recipe on a recipe card or another favortie recipe. I will have to think on this one. I was gifted a $20 certificate for Simon Says Stamp and they carry Whiff of Joy stamps - one of Elizabeth Bell's lines - so I am going to choose a few and create my project - hoping to do it early in the month - rather than just in the knick of time.
What about you? Do you have a favorite recipe that you could create into a beautiful Elizabeth Bell enhanced project?
~Paula~

One more Love!

A few years ago, my youngest daughter used to play near a pond that had frogs, so we used to tease her about being down at the pond kissing frogs. Ever since then, she has lovingly been called the frog kisser. So, when Elizabeth Bell came out with this adorable image I KNEW I just had to have it. Then the challenge on the Elizabeth Bell Challenge blog for February was to create an altered item with the theme of Love. It didn't take me long to decide what I wanted to make. I had this tin from Christmas - it was filled with chocolate and almond covered toffee (one of my favorites) - the toffee is all gone, but the tin was something I knew I would do something with eventually. So, I set about last night grabbing the DSP from Stampin' Up! and covering the tin with it. I added pretty in pink ribbon around the bottom part of the tin and then added real red ribbon on the lid.The hearts are cut on my Big Shot with the
spellbinders scalloped heart dies. I used the two smallest hearts and just layered them on top of each other. I added the hearts to the lid and then added a few roses from Wild Orchid Crafts. My sweet image of the 'frog kisser' is colored with prisma color pencils. I added the tiny pearls from Stampin' Up! to her crown. I added a couple layered hearts sponged with real red to the side of the tin and added a few extra roses. I plan to give this to my youngest daughter today as she has had a hard time adjusting to the move and fitting in with the groups at her school. I just have to find something to fill the tin with - like her favorite treat! :)
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my creation. I am entering this in the Elizabeth Bell Challenge for this month - and just in time too - today is the deadline!!
~Paula~

Embellishments and Insertions!

I KNOW you all embellish your cards - they just wouldn't seem finished without that little extra - be it ribbon, brads, rhinestones, pearls, - whatever your choice of embellishment is. But, what about the inside of your card? Do you take the time to finish the INSIDE of your card? If not, then take a look at the Top Tip Tuesday tutorial for today. My Teammate, Maggie has done a fabulous job showing you ways that you can finish the inside of your card. We also have THREE fabulous sponsors this week. Wink Wink Ink, Digital Delights by Louby Lou, and Simon Says Stamp. I have been working with some retired DSP this week - just trying to use what I have before buying more - and have made this simple card using the Saturday Sketch #191 from Stamping 411 I like using ribbon on my cards and usually some other embellishment - whether it be rhinestones, pearls or flowers - the lovely ones you can get from Wild Orchid are fabulous. I started out with the sketch, wanting to use my new Spellbinders dies - these are label #2. Don't you just LOVE those dies? They are so versatile and my husband thinks I need to get them all because he KNOWS I want them. Gotta love the man!! Anyway, back to my card. I used the set Blessed Mother which can be found in the new Occasions mini catalog. This is such a simple, yet beautiful set. I stamped it with Rich Razzleberry and then thought that I should have used a bit of old olive on the leaves - however, I don't have too many of the Stampin' Up! markers, but I do have Pear Pizzazz and Certainly Celery, so after I stamped the image, I colored with a little bit of the Pear Pizzazz to give just a bit of green to the leaves. I debated whether I wanted to put a sentiment on the outside, and decided that I would finish the inside of my card - something I seldom do - but have been inspired to do more of through Maggie's tutorial.I double stamped the smaller flower, adding a bit of green to the stems and then stamped the sentiment with Old Olive. Though this set is called Blessed Mother, you can see how versatile this set can be with the change of sentiment.
Thanks for stopping by today - and be sure to check out Maggie's tutorial and enter for a chance at some fabulous products from our sponsors.
~Paula~

Crafting again - at least for today!!

Actually, I did some crafting yesterday - so what I am going to show you right now is from yesterday. A few weeks ago, I was working with packages of retired DSP from Stampin' Up! Well, I am still doing that - so over the next few days, you are going to see ALOT of this particular DSP called Cottage Wall. It is a lovely paper that coordinates with Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Orchid Opulence (retired). The current catalog has this same design but with colors that coordinate with Poppy Parade (InColor), Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait (also InColors). I chose my layout from Stamping 411 sketch challenge #190. I also used the set Easter Blossoms from the Occasions Mini catalog. I double stamped the branch - you have to look closely to see that. Then I stamped the sentiment and added my ribbon - which is certainly celery satin ribbon - I don't have any old olive or white ribbon - but this one coordinated close enough. I like the way this one turned out with such simplicity. This set really lends itself to doing a quick and easy card.
So, I encourage you - choose a DSP, grab some coordinating cardstock and this Beautiful set and get going on those Springtime and Easter cards.
Come back later to see what I am able to accomplish TODAY!!
~Paula~

No Time to Craft!!

It seems since I started working that I cannot find any time to craft lately. Do you find yourself in that rut sometimes?
Well, I DO want to share with you that today over at Top Tip Tuesday There is a fantastic tutorial on how to use your sewing machine on cards. Anne has given us lot's of tips and shows us some wonderful pictures of how stitching can be used on your cards and also how to use your sewing machine for paper piercing. Go on over and check it out - there are some wonderful sponsors this week too. Just remember, you can post up to three cards for the challenge.
Now, if I can find some time after work one of these nights, I might just try out my new sew easy stitch piercer. I do have wonderful sewing machines, however, it is more cumbersome to get them out to use - so I choose to do faux stitching. However you like to 'stitch' on your cards, I hope you will join us this week.
Thanks for stopping by - I hope to get working on some projects by the weekend.
~Paula~