a creative mind at work in the deep dark basement

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Birthday Invitation Take 1


This week I tried to finish up some birthday invitations for my daughter's birthday next month. This is the first time we are having a birthday party for her, and she is so excited.

Originally I had downloaded these adorable images from Pixie Dust Studio as my daughter is having a "Princess Party" and loves Cinderella. I colored all the images and had them all sitting aside on my desk. When I showed my daughter, she loved them but commented on having some other princess "Snow White". That's what she was for Halloween and so that's what she wanted for her birthday invites. So, I went back to the drawing board and will share my final invite sometime this week.

This uses Card Pattern Sketch #7. I love their sketches, then again I love any sketches, they are my favorite type of challenges.

Card details:
Stamp: Cinder FS from Pixie Dust Studio
Ink: Versamark, Night of Navy, Copics
Cardstock: Night of Navy, White, SU! Retired patterned paper
Accessories: Oval & scalloped oval nestabilities, silver embossing powder, silver stickles, hero arts rhinestones

Friday, December 18, 2009

Gift Card Holders

I'm in love, again! I have many loves, but this easy tutorial from Val is by far one of my most favorites and am going to need to tuck it away for safe keeping.

Need a great presentation for a gift card, this is it!!! I broke out my beloved Scor-pal and scored away and made a few of these in a matter of minutes. I went for simplicity, letting the patterned paper work it's magic instead of overdoing it with some stamped images.

Details of card holder above & to left:
Stamps: Little Somethings & Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy,
SEI Moravia Michov & Rosice, More Mustard
Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon unknown, MS punch

I discovered this digi image through my online buddy Kristine's site after seeing her adorable card here. It was perfect for the Caardvark's challenge as well the digi days at Papercraft Planet. (and there's some more free digis there as well)

I gave 2 of these out last night at my husband's Christmas party and the recipients loved them. I'll be making a few more to give away but it would be great to use it for any occasion. I did choose to add a belly band instead of a ribbon closure although either way they are adorable.

Details of card holder above & to left:
Stamps: Digi Image from Cuddly Buddly & sentiment from Taste of Christmas from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Bordering Blue, Real Red,
SEI Wintersong Flurry Kisses & Snow Bubbles
Inks: Copics & Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon from Michael's, EK Success scalloped borderd


For the belly band I cute a 2" x 11" inch strip, scored it at 4 3/8 & 8 3/4" and it fit pretty snug around the card. You could probably go up an 1/8" on one of the sides and it would slide on really easily.

Thanks Val for sharing your tutorial! Here are some more I created.

Details of card holder above :
Stamps: Winter from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, retired Just Chillin' paper from CTMH

Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Taken With Teal, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Circle & Scalloped circle punches

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Teacher's Gifts

Through the last part of this year I have been trying to use up scraps to make additional cards here and there. I was pretty successful in making some, to which I will be giving to my oldest son's 2 main teachers. I packaged them up in one of Papertrey Ink's Clearly Creative Card Boxes. They will each get 12 cards with envelopes (although my envies didn't fit...I just put them in this bag). I decorated the bag with some scraps as well as the little card for my son to write on.

2 gifts down, about 10 more go...think they will be getting some of the goodies I've been making this week; chocolate covered pretzel rods, cake pops (mine won't be as fancy), fake twix bars (I had to try one, they were delicious) and possibly some sugar cookies if I get enough energy for them.

Are you making teacher's gifts this year or buying them?

Friday, December 11, 2009

Blogger's Challenge 129: Birthday Theme

Oh, I just had one of those stressed out moments. I finished my card this week and am in LOVE with it and then I went to look at the number of blogger's challenge we are on...and thought I made the wrong theme for the week. WHEW!!!

So, this week, our blogger's challenge is birthday themed. It worked out so well this week for me as I needed to make a birthday card for one of my favorite little guys who is turning 1 this weekend and I can't wait to see him (and my BFF).

I pulled out some neglected stamps to make this card. I love them and think I need to pull them out more often as I'm not always happy with how my cards turn out, but I'm going to have a hard time giving this one away.


This is a new sketch I used from Just Us Girls, which I have been following, but just have not had time to participate in yet. I liked this sketch a lot and although I did eliminate one of the elements, I still like how the images worked with this sketch.



Thanks for all of you for continuing to follow my blog even though it's been quiet the last few weeks. My family and I have been doing some traveling & I've also been working on some new and exciting things for Clear & Simple Stamps. So while I have been doing a lot of stamping, I can't share any of it just yet. I am excited for it and can't wait to share it all.

Check out the other blogger's challenge peeps to see what fabulous birthday creations they have going on this week.


Card details:
Stamp Sets: Flyin' High by CTMH, Hot Rocketz by Stampendous
Cardstock: Pumpkin' Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Scrapworks Doublesided Sedona dot, Chocolate Chip
Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Accessories: Ribbon from Michael's, Clear embossing powder, circle punches

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Clear & Simple Stamps Well Wishes Release

WELL WISHES COLLECTION
Cup of Cocoa
Get Well Darling
Get Well Gent
Beary Well
Love
Believe in Words IV
Bubble Talk
Month to Month I
Month to Month II

SOTM TEMPLATE:
Cup of Cocoa

ADDITIONAL TEMPLATE:
Yes that's correct we have an additional freebie to giveaway this month - a fabulous calendar template. It fits perfectly on the front of a standard card. You can trim it down to be smaller or mat it to make it larger - this little calendar has tons of possibilities and works wonderfully with the new Month-to-Month sets releasing with the collection.


I used Mercy's sketch from this week for this card, and I can't wait to do more with this set. I have been busy behind the scenes working on some exciting things that I'm unable to share just yet, but you will love it!!!

I paper pieced the little kleenex box on this card, I wanted to do the bear but then went and colored it instead. This set is a perfect little "Get Well" set!

Make sure you check out the rest of the design team for their creations for this release, there are some great new sets being released today.





Make sure to visit us at Papercraft Planet as Clear & Simple Stamps sponsors the 10th Day of Christmas over there with a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Clear & Simple Stamps store.

Clear & Simple Stamps new blog ROCKS, make sure you check it out here!




Card details:
Stamp Set: Beary Well from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Rose Red, Papertrey Ink Stamper's Select, My Mind's Eye mellow "Cheerful" Pleasant Petals/Harmony Paper
Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Copics Y21, YR21, W1, E25, RV34
Accessories: Rhinestone Brads Fire Circles, Ribbon from Michael's, Paper Piercer

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

FTL71: Very Merry Christmas

I fell in love with this sketch the moment I saw it and knew this weekend when I had some friends over to stamp that I would use this sketch to make a Christmas card.

This card is for my boss at work to give to a friend. I hope she isn't reading this blog or she may not be too surprised when she receives it.

This website always has great and easy sketches. This is the sketch I used: FTL #71


Stamp Set: Best Yet from Stampin'Up!
Cardstock: Real Red, Bordering Blue, Whisper White, SEI Wintersong Flurry Kisses & Snow Bubbles
Inks: Versamark & Silver Embossing Powder
Accessories: Ribbon from Michael's, EK Curved Embossed Punch, Recollections Adhesive Chipoboard Shapes

The Pioneer Woman Book Signing Tour

*if you are here for the Take the Tuesday Challenge, please scroll down to the next post here.*

I know, my 2nd post of the day. So, when I read on Dawn McVey's blog about PW's Book Tour, I corralled my sister-in-law Heather into going with me.

I have to pre-face this with "I have NEVER been to a book signing before". Therefore, I had no expectations as to what may happen.

Heather & I met for dinner at one of our favorite stops, Panera for a quick bite to eat before we headed downtown for the book signing. We knew we needed to get there a tad early to wait in line and to buy our book.

Imagine our surprise when we arrive 50 minutes early for the 7:30 p.m. book signing to find out that the discussion had already been canceled and that she had started signing at 6 p.m. because the crowd was so big. Disappointing about the discussion as it would have been a blast to interact with PW in that type of forum, but glad the book signing itself was still going on.

So, we get our wristbands, Green, Letter F and go upstairs to see where everything was going on. WOW!!! WOW!!!! People were lined all over the floor waiting to get their book signed. We'd walk by and see people with PILES of books to be signed. We knew we were in for a long wait when we heard them call Orange, Letters A-F. We're thinking to ourselves, what did we get ourselves into and how many other colors are before us?

We headed down to the magazine section to pick up some material to read along with the cookbook. Let me just say, I shouldn't have eaten before I went as I was going through her cookbook, I became so hungry...but I just ATE!!!!

Everyone was very friendly and I think mostly courteous. Finally around 10 p.m. they called our color and letter and the wait to see the light at the end of the tunnel began. Leave it to Heather and I, neither one of us brought our cameras with us. Scrapbookers, who don't bring their cameras??? Well, I haven't scrapbooked in awhile as you can tell from my blog so I'll blame it on that and the 3 kids who consume my life :-)

We met some really nice people in line and this lovely lady on the right snapped a few pics of Heather & I so I can't wait to see what she posts to her blog that also has yummy recipes on it.


All in all, we walked out having a great time and getting not only PW's autograph, but also Hycanith and Wetsy's (Betsy) autography and a picture with them. I should have went to get a t-shirt earlier, but I didn't think about it so I was out of luck on that one for now.

If you haven't ever checked out her website, run, don't walk to it now! Her love story is funny, her blog is full of wonderful photos, but her recipes, TO DIE FOR!!!

My favorite (and family's) that is NOT in the cookbook, but is on the blog is her Smashed Baked Taters. Give 'em a try, let me know what you think about it!

Oh, and NO Marlboro Man in sign for this book tour and we learned his real name...and we know why he's referred to Marlboro Man after hearing it :-) Marlboro Man more accurately describes him!

Take the Tuesday Challenge #12: Holiday Decor

Today is Clear & Simple Stamps last Take the Tuesday Challenge. Create a holiday decoration, centerpiece, something fun!

I chose to decorate a candle as during the holidays (or any other time of the year) I enjoy lighting them around the house. This one is going to look beautiful on my mantle in my living room.

Join us in creating and post your creation to Paper Craft Planet or Splitcoaststampers using keyword TTC12. Can't wait to see what you create, but in the meantime, check out what the design team came up with.



Candle Details:
Stamp Set: Winter from Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, SEI Moravia
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, More Mustard, Enchanted Evening and Really Rust, Copics G17, R27, BG72, R20, Really Rust, Night of Navy and More Mustard markers
Accessories: Ribbon unknown, SU! gold cord

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Cup of Cocoa Stamp of the Month and New Template




Month after month, Sue comes up with fabulous templates for us to use. I love the versatility of the templates and the ease of putting them together.

This would be a perfect template to use for teacher's gifts. I *love* chocolate and so decided to use the Stamp of the Month Cup of Cocoa along with some of my favorite chocolate-Snickers.

This new Stamp of the Month has some great sentiments to use for any cocoa lovers out there!

COPIC BUNDLE:
For December the bundle will include the Copic Trio Set: Earth 6 (E71, E74, E79)

Copic Marker Bundle with the SOTM for the bargain price of $26 - that's a $15 stamp set and $15 Copic Marker Trio set combined at a $4 reduction in price - you won't find a better bundle anywhere! (HINT HINT...it will will be $25 if using the DTBlog $1 Discount too)

BLOG DISCOUNT CODE: DTBlog1209

TEMPLATE: Cup of Cocoa

Make sure to check out the rest of the design team for their wonderful creations:



Cup of Cocoa Details:
Stamp Set: Cup of Cocoa, Winter by Clear & Simple Stamps
Cardstock: PTI Stamper's Select, Real Red, SEI Wintersong Snow Bubbles
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Real Red, Brilliance Starlite Silver
Accessories: retired SU Ribbon
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