Happy Birthday Zalena

Yesterday was Zalena's birthday - from Jimmy's of Chicago. I made this card for her. We didn't know it, but her favorite color is blue. I had Helen text Kerry to ask. It's strange...she never wears blue but yet it's her favorite color. We did know she loves bling so that part was easy. I ended up casing myself on this card. I used three sizes of dots instead of just two like I did in the VSN challenge over the weekend. She loved it.

Supply List: Bazzill (white and black), SU brilliant blue, SU pink passion, paper piecing, bling, SU Garden Greetings (sentiment), Katie & Co (cupcake), Cricut shape, bling, Offray ribbon, pop dots, circle punches.

MAY11VSNMINI Challenges

These cards are for the May VSN mini challenges on Splitcoast Stampers. I will add all the four new cards all in one post. The fifth card was posted on Saturday morning. I did that one first because I needed to give it to the family at the Habitat for Humanity house dedication.

The first challenge was Weigh Anchor and hoist the mizzen! (In English, that means to use material of some sort on the card). I'm not up on my pirate talk. MAY11VSNMINI1. I used pink material for the strip of the material, the handmade flower and the smaller heart. For the large heart, I used the SU chipbboard shape to cut out the paper. For the smaller heart, I used another piece of chipboard to cut my heart. I covered it in material. Apparently, I can't seem to figure out which way I need to put the paper in my dot embossing folder. I wanted the shiney side to be out with the embossed dots, but that didn't happen so I used it anyway. Still like the look, just not as much. I made this little flower by ripping the material into strips (already had that done), freying the sides, and pleating it. I then stitched it together quickly and added the pearls. The rest is pretty straight forward. In real life, the background is shiney (Bazzill bling) and the color is a soft pink for the accents.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), Bazzill Bling (charcoal), SEI (pink and white polka dot and reverse side for solid pink), Recollections black, pink material, Studio G stamp ($1 Michaels), handmade flower, Pearls from Recollections, non-SU black ink.
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This was the second challenge. MAY11VSNMINI2. We be going on the account. Which was a sketch. I turned the sketch upside-down and changed which corner the do dad to the right. This was a fun sketch. The bonus was to use something "piratey". I found this paper at Hobby Lobby a while ago and this was the perfect opportunity to use it. I just realized that the panels beneath the main panel are two different sizes. I didn't notice that before.

Here is the sketch:


Supply list: Bazzill (white), Recollections Red, Me and my big ides (skeleton), The Paper Studio (pirate skulls), Inkadinkadoo stamp, ribbon, non-SU black ink.
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This was for the MAY11VSNMINI3 challenge. Ahoy land lubbers. We were to use a picture or colors for inspiration. All of this is paper from various stacks I have or cardstock. I think it's the ugliest card I have ever made. It needs something. I didn't take the entire 45 minutes on it, so may add to it later. Paper pieceing was done for the tree and the Umbrella.

Here is the inspirational picture.


Supply list: Bazzill (white, green), Stack sand, sky, and water paper, SU chocolate chip, SU Delightful Daffodil, Recollections (red), Inkadinkadoo clear stamps, Katie and Co umbrella stamp, non-SU black ink, SU garden green ink.
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This is the fourth challenge for VSN. MAY11VSNMINI4. Pretty polly. Using colors of a parot (green, red, orange, yellowm and a spash of blue). I used the embossed technique on this card. Paper pieced the cupcake and added a rhinestone to the top. I love this look with the bright colored circles.

Supply list: SU kraft, SU chocolate chip, su brilliant blue, su delightful daffodil (yes, both yellow dots are this color), bazzill (white,green), recollections, misc orange, Cricut shape, cuttlebug, SU embossing folder, Offray ribbon, SU garden greetings stamp, Katie and Co cupcake stamp, circle punch, hole punch, SU chocolate chip ink.

Semra

Ceylan and Mark's baby girl turned one. I made a scrapbook layout for them as their gift. I had acutally made a layout for Matthew when he was a baby that Ceylan had framed. I asked her once why she didn't have a layout for Semra...the answer was simply put, "I'm waiting for you to do it so I have one for both kids from you." I had completely forgotten I made Matthew's layout. I thought it was one Ceylan had made and mine was in the book. Guess I was wrong. I asked Ceylan for a picture long ago. I received two, but made this one since I have a completely and more "modern" look in my mind for it. Ceylan was so excited when she saw this. I'm glad she liked it. I was so excited yesterday. The frames just happened to be on sale at Michaels. That made my day especially since I was going to buy one anyway. Click on the photo below if you would like to see the details of the layout. I used a sketch from Prima Marketing although, I'm unsure of which month it is. I didn't use the 3 pictures, just the one. I used my sewing machine to create the lines around the heart (which was hand drawn and cut). Do you know how hard it is for someone like me to intentionally sew crooked? It just wouldn't have looked the same if I had. I drew the lines on first so I would have them there and be able to follow them.

Here is the link to the build-a-page sketches.

Supply list: Bazzill (white), CTMH (pink, dark pink, brown, and pattern), Wilton doiley, Cricut, Don Juan cartridge, Heritage cartridge, Prima bling flourish, circle punch, scallop punch, homemade pink material flower, pink flower on top to match the ones in the dress from Walmart.

New Home

I made this card for the family who's home dedicated today with Habitat for Humanity. I was a team leader on the house, in which I won a star night light for perfect attendance for this build. Hard to believe since I had no voice two weeks ago and still went. lol. This card was made for the MAY11VSNMINI5 challenge - walk the plank (use wood grain, or wood) and bonus points if you secure it with some metal. I made the card to have significance. The house started with wood for framing and finished as a house.

For those of you who do not know, I am a 10-year volunteer with Habitat. I am a team leader so am assigned to a house and work on it from start to finish on Saturdays for at least 15 weeks. I love setting trusses and roofing the best, but also like framing and dry wall. The rest, is so important, hoever not my favorite part.

I added the "evil eye" on it since the family has them, wears them, and were refugees from Kosovo. For those of you who do not know, here is a link to describe what it is. I made the evil eye over look the little house stamp so it will ward off the evil looks. Before the dedication, I had as many people as I could sign the card so the family could have well wishes all the people who worked on the house.

They were able to get the house because of their 21 year old daughter who works to pay the interest-free mortgage. The one child, 9 years old, wrote on the walls back when we were framing (a Habitat tradition) Please hurry and fix this house for us. We hurried and they can move in soon.

They really liked the card. When Raza, the 21 year old daughter was reading it, she actually got teary eyed. Awww, how sweet. A simple card. Hmmm. Who knew it would mean so  much? Shw was impressed that I made the card, also. The other sister said, "oh look, it has the evil eye on it.

Supply list: Bazzill, Stack (wood-grain) paper, Recollections black, SU brilliant blue, SU Bashful Blue, Cricut (large circle), circle punches, orner rounder, brads, Katie and Co stamp. Paper pieced the roof. I left the house white and made a blue roof since that is what their house is.

Hugs and kisses

I made this for the fourth Verve (VLVApr2011) sketch on Splitcoast Stampers. It was a fun one. I haven't ever made a sunburst card before and winged it. It's not unusual that I winged it, but it is unusual that it worked the first time! I used my Cricut and my Elegant Borders cartridge. Man...I love that cartridge. I sewed around the edge in a striaght stitch and used a zig-zag stitch in between the paper triangles. The bling...I love by the way...is a ring I got in a pack at Walmart ($1) in the gift section for kids birthdays. I cut off the ring part so it would lay flat. How cute (and cheap) is that as an embellishment!!! In real life, the bling matches the blue in the paper.

Supply list: bazzill, su chocolate chip, su melon mambo, rob and bob stack, cricut, elegant edges cartridge for border and sentiment frme and base, ribbon, bling, Kollette Hall/Studio G ($1 Michaels)

Happy first birthday Semra

I made this card for Ceylan and Mark's little girl. She turns one. Her party is next Sunday and the card is done...now only if the scrapbook layout would make itself. lol.

Supply list: bazzill, DCWV, SU melon mambo, ribbon, SU scallop circle punch, Cricut shape, Stufio G stamp, paper piecing.

You go Girl and Your Day

I hope you had a happy Easter. I went to my girlfriend Helen's house. We both cooked so it was fun. She made grilled veggies, chicken, steak, and garlic bread all on the grill. I made my famous cheesy potatoes and apple salad with homemade pineapple topping. It was a good day and good food. No pictures of the food though.

I made these two cards for two challenges on Splitcoast Stampers. One was the TLC321 Same but Different Challenge, and the other was the CAS116 Artist's Rule of 3 Challenge. In the Same but different challenge, the cards had to have the same supplies, but there could be sutble differences. The same things were the papers, and basic layout, sentiment shape, black accessories and black ink. The differences are: The layout of the patterned paper, one had ribbon, the other didn't, one had no layers under the sentiment, the other did, one had flat-back black pearls, the other had flat-back black rhinestones.

Both were relatively simple cards. Doesn't mean it took me any less time. I've said it before...I struggle with CAS (clean and simple with a lot of empty or white space) cards. The shape for the sentiment is from the Cricut, but they were hand cut. I had a shape sitting there so used it on the cards.

The You go Girl card is for a coworker who is leaving the company to work at another place. The Your Day card is for our Admin for Admin's Day.

Update: Ashley, the coworker who is leaving the company, the You go Girl card, LOVED it. She said, "Did someone make this card for me? It's so neat." She is crafty so she appreciated it. 

 Supply list: Bazzill, The Paper Studio, Recollections, G Studio stamps ($1 at Michaels), Cricut shape, Recollections flat-back pearls, Zaz flat-back rhinestones, Ribbon, SU Melon Mambo, SU Green Galore.

Hug a Tree...In honor of Earth Day!

I just LOVE this stamp! I think its funny for some reason but oh so perfect for Earth Day. I used the Verve VLVApr2011 sketch. I thought it worked perfectly for this card. I cut the paper the long at 4.25 instead of the normal at 5.5. I wanted something a little different. I also used a Kraft base, which is way out of my comfort zone, but it worked! I had to re-learn how to thread the bobbin in my sewing machine. Geeze. Glad I'm getting back in my groove. Don't expect any sewing prrojects...lol. Sewing on a card or scrapbook page is about all I can do! I popped the tree, main image box, and circles on pop dots.

Remember to be green as much as you can, especially conserving water.

Here is a link to the sketch

Supply list: Bazzill (white, green), Sonborn (Sam's Club - green and brown dp), SU Kraft, SU chocolate chip, cuttlebug, SI swiss dots embossing folder, Sewing machine, Cricut, Elegant Edges cartridge, Studio G stamp ($1 at Michaels), Circle pinches, paper piecing.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread...Yum!

I made this homemade banana bread with chocolate chips in it today. It smells so good. It's right out of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook my dad gave me in 1990 for Christmas before I moved to Arizona. The only difference was my addition of the chocolate chips. It's good without them, but sooooooo much better with them. My bananas were almost too ripe so good thing I was home and could use them today. I'm fighting this sinus head cold or something so stayed home. This am, I could barely raise my head it hurt so bad. I must have slept it off so now, all is good. I just need to be healthy again. I'm NOT good at being sick. This may be just what the doctor orderd. lol. I would share it with my friend Helen who also isn't feeling well also, but she doesn't like banana bread.

All dogs go to heaven

I made this card for my boss. Her dog passed away last week. I hope she likes it. I added the heart on there as an after thought because there was a tiny spot of ink on my paper I couldn't remove. I think it adds to it. I followed the VLVApr2011 sketch on Splitcoast Stampers. I used my cricut, elegant edges for the shape in the middle. I added the blue ribbon and navy around the main image because of the All dogs go to heaven paper. I added "My Forever Pet" on an insert inside for her.

My Forever Pet

There’s something missing in my home,

I feel it day and night,

I know it will take time and strength

Before things feel quite right.

But just for now, I need to mourn,

My heart – it needs to mend,

Though some may say it’s “just a pet”

I know I’ve lost a friend.

You’ve brought such laughter to my home,

and richness to my days…

A constant friend through joy or loss,

With gentle, loving ways.

Companion, pal, and confidante,

A friend I won’t forget,

You’ll live for always in my heart,

My sweet, forever pet…

by Suzanne Taylor

Here is the link to the sketch

Supply list: Bazzill (white and grey), Recollections (red and black), SU (vanilla and night of navy), Around the Block (paw prints), Pet collections (dog houses), Carolees Creations (all dogs go to heaven), SU embossing folder, Cricut, Elegant Edges cartridge, Stamp is unknown (Dollar Tree), Making Memories brads, Ribbon from Michaels, Cuttlebug, Fiskars hole punch, Heart punch, Corner Rounder.

Baby Business for Trang

I made this card for Trang's baby shower in May. Wow...I'm early! lol. This card fits two challenges at Splitcoast Stampers: VLVAPR2011and TLC320. I wanted to try the punched circle edge technique. It's really not that hard. I used the cricut for the butterfly.

I could have used my new cartridge for my Cricut machine, but I really wanted to try this technique. It's pretty neat being able to use a straight punch for a round item. I will have to try this around a shape other than round to see if it works.

Thanks for looking!

Here is the link to the sketch:

Supply list: Bazzill (white, pinks), NRN Designs vellum, DCWV, SU Taggers Dozen heart stamp, Studio G ($1 Michaels), Cricut, Elegant Edges cartridge, Quick Cuts embossing folder, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Recollections bling, cell phone bling, Offray ribbon.

Wishes for you...AJ

I needed a card for a guy who is leaving the company after many years. I made this for the CAS113 challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. I was determined to make a clean and simple card with a lot of white space...this card took me forever to make. I'm not sure why this clean and simple design is soooooooo hard for me. I kept wanting to add and add stuff and had to keep telling myself that it wasn't clean and simple with all that extra stuff. The challenge was to use soft aqua, soft yellow, and white and you could add a splash of color if you wanted. I wanted! I used my Cricut and the Martha Stewart seasonal cartridge for the stars. The border was from PaperTrey Ink. The sentiment and the stars are popped up for dimension.

Supply list: Bazzill, DCWV stack, Rob and Bob stack, PaperTrey Ink border, Cricut, MS seasonal cartridge, G Studio stamp ($1 at Michaels), Cuttlebug, black ink.

Bluebird of happiness...

That's really not what I named this, but that is what Belinda said when she saw it. lol. I made this last night for two challenges on Splitcoast Stampers, but realized this am when I woke up that it really only fits one. The CAS challenge is supposed to be clean and simple, a lot of white space, and easily duplicated. This week, the challenge was to use soft aqua, soft yellow, and white. It dawned on me that it has a lot of layers so probably doesn't qualify for the CAS113 challenge. Oh well, it turned out cute. The one challenge it does work for is the Verve Sketch challenge. There will be four Verve sketches for the month of April. I will post this on Splitcoast Stampers tonight under the VLVApr2011 challenge. I paper pieced the beak and wing. I used my Cricut and Paper Lace cartridge for the flower frame behind the main image. This card would be perfect for a baby or Spring, or just because.

 Here is a link to the sketch:

Supply list: Bazzill (white and blue), SU barely banana (yellow), DCWV stack (yellow) and Rob and Bob stack(blue), Craftsmart stamp ($1 from Michaels), Cricut, Paper Lace cartridge, Cuttlebug, Embossing folder, Recollections half pearls (eye and pearls on sides), Non SU black ink, Nestabilities.

Vintage/Victorian Swap cards

Hi. Finally, here is my card for a Vintage/Victorian swap I am in. The deadline is April 22nd, but I'm mailing them from AZ to WI tomorrow. I have spent a lot of time on these...I want them off my desk. I won't post on SplitCoast Stampers until Dani the hostess posts that she received them. I like how my card turned out. Originally, I was going to use black, white, and pink. I found the papers that looked like my idea in my head and then couldn't get the idea to work so I went with black and ivory. I must have known something was going to happen because when I bought the pink material, I also bought the ivory. I used my Cricut my mom gave me and the heritage cartridge for the cameo. Laurel had the suggestion for me to use the vanilla behind the cameo to make it pop more. At first, I didn't want to do that (didn't want to have to cut more stuff by hand), but am glad I did. I used a stamp my mom found for less than $2 for the entire set. She is quite the bargain shopper!! Must be where I get it : ). I popped the stamped image and the cameo up with foam mounting squares from the DollarTree. I always use these squares. I love them and have turned quite a few people on to them. The flower and the hat pins were hand made by me. The material was ripped and threads removed to achieve the frayed look for the flower and the strip. The ribbon was ruffled. The flower started out as a strip of material with frayed edges and I pleated it then attached the pleated netting, hat pin and button.

Supply list: SU vanilla card base, stamped image, and behind cameo, black on first layer is Recollections, DCWV black/vanilla stripe (All Dressed Up), The Paper Studio (Black and Cream Damask), Cricut and heritage cartridge for cameo, Button by LaMode, Lace from Hobby Lobby, Material from Hobby Lobby for flower and strip, black ribbon is Offray, stamped image is Rubber Stampede - Wedded Bliss set. The edges of the Black and Cream Damask papers were distressed using the Heidi Swapp paper distresser.

A little birdie told me...Bargello

I made this card for the weekly Bargello tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. The instructions said to use a dark color to make the pattern stand out. Not sure I picked the right dark. I didn't follow the directions for the first piece I created. Not sure if it's even right. I think I will try this technique again with pinks, yellows and blues.

Supply list: Bazzill, Recollections, Designer Papers: Sonborn yellow and green (from Sam's Club), Making Memories (black and white polka dot), Stack pink, and Rob and Bob stack flower. Cricut, Lacy Lables cartridge, G Studio Stamp ($1 Michaels), homemade hat pin, ribbon from flowers, Bazzill flower, Prima flower, brad from Oriental Trading.