Friday, February 25, 2011

Things that Make me Smile...



Happy Friday everyone!

There you go...that's one of the things that makes me smile.

Here's another....
It's the 'Tuesday Trigger' over at
I love pretty much anything from 
Crate & Barrel
and these colors and design were really
fun to work with.


I featured the 'Funky Foliage' set from Wplus9 Designs,
Colorbox Chalk inks and my favorite baker's twine


I really loved this sketch from Card Patterns, too.
I am not typically a 'sketch' player...no reason,
I just gravitate towards color instead....
but I love this sketch and was happy to play!

Finally, the best part of my Friday.....


My oldest grandson CJ spent the day with me today
as there was no school here in town.
Papa Paul treated him to an early birthday present.
I am happy to boast that he has all the makings of
an engineer at the young age of almost 8.

Hope you enjoyed your visit.  
I'd love to know you stopped by so I hope you
will leave me a quick comment.

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: The Paper Company
Stamps: Wplus9 'Funky Foliage'
Ink: Colorbox Chalk, VersaMagic, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Tools: Fiskars 'Corner Rounder' punch
Embellishments: Baker's Twine by The Twinery in 'Honeydew', 
Pearls by Recollections

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fresh & Bright...The Play Date Cafe


I'm not sure if you've been able to tell, but I have
really been diggin' bright colors this week.
I think it's been a long winter and I am just ready
for some color.

It's great timing because this week's color challenge
over at The Play Date Cafe scratches me
right where I itch!!!


Three of our Senior Designers are
responsible for choosing our weekly
color stories and we each have our own
style and color palette that is all our own.
This palette....is pure Ruby 2 Shoes!


I decided to go with a distressed, aged look for this card.
One of my very favorite tools in the studio is the
Distrezz-it-All by Zutter.
It saves that cramp you get in your hand with tiny little
distressing tools and can handle a single sheet of
cardstock all the way up to chipboard.

This card is all about layers of designer paper and
embellishments.  The sweet little lucite cherries are by
Mary Englebreit and were the perfect little addition.


Of course I tied it together with a little baker's twine 

We have the talented Maria Gurnsey joining us as
our guest designer this week.
In honor of Maria, I used her 'namesake' 'Gingham Gurnsey'
stamp to create the tag under the 'my friend' sentiment.
Check out that story and learn more about Maria
when you visit The Cafe.

We have the most talented design team
waiting to inspire you, and here they are....

and of course, our sweet guest...
Maria Gurnsey

 So glad you stopped by and I hope you'll 
leave a quick little note to let me know
you were here : )

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: The Paper Company
 Designer Paper: K&Company 'Sweet Nectar' & BoBunny 'Abbey Road'
Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Friendship Jar & Ippity 'Gurnsey Gingham'
Ink: VersaMagic, Ranger Archival, Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Tools: Spellbinders 'Labels One', Big Shot, sewing machine
Distrezz-it-All, Martha Stewart punch 'Loop Heart'
Embellishments: Baker's Twine by The Twinery in 'Caribbean', 
Pearls by Martha Stewart, Cherry by Mary Engelbreit



Monday, February 21, 2011

A Sweet Moment Indeed...



Oh my!  Get ready for some color because it's
H{ippity} Hop Monday!!!


This is the weekly gathering of Ippity Chicks and
fans of Ippity who love to inspire you to
play with the fabulous rubber from Ippity!


I had lots of fun putting this card together because my goal was to 
play with color and fun images,
and that's what I did!

I love this DP from K&Company's 'Sweet Nectar' Set.
I stamped the cupcake and heat embossed it so it would
really show off the colors of the 'frosting'.
If there's one thing that people get to know about me,
I do NOT like to color, as a rule, but coloring an image like
this is simple and fun because once it was complete, I topped
it with 'diamond' Stickles.
I am absolutely in love with the Martha 'heart loop' punch.
I spotted some CrAzY beautiful work using it over on 
Sankari Wegman's blog and I had to have it!
Adorned with four different colors of bright and beautiful
baker's twine from The Twinery and some fabby
rhinestones....it's a done deal!

Here's what I used to make this colorful creation...



I have both of these stamp sets available
for purchase over on my Ippity page here
and I would love to be your Ippity Chick!!!

Both sets are discounted just for you!
If you order BOTH sets, you will get an additional
ONE DOLLAR OFF ANY ADDITIONAL
STAMP SETS FROM MY IPPITY PAGE!!!

Order 2 other sets, get $2 off...
Order 4 other sets, get $4 off...
you get the idea!!!!

In the meantime, make sure you stop by The Ippity Blog
to see the great group of people who have projects to
inspire you to play!

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: American Crafts
Designer Paper: K&Company 'Sweet Nectar' Collection
Stamps: Ippity 'Cuppy Cakes' & 'Here and Now'
Ink: VersaMark, Memories in Black 
Stickles: Diamond
Tools: Martha Stewart 'Loop Hearts'
Embellishments: Baker's Twine from The Twinery
Rhinestones by K&Company & Mark Richards

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Wrapping my World in Baker's Twine!



Sometimes all it takes is little color and
a little embellishment to make a card
complete.

That's what I LoVe about using my
baker's twine from The Twinery!


I loved using the 'Funky Foliage' set from
Wplus9 Designs and thought I
would enter this card in the current
Color Cue Challenge over there....



I used Cappucino and Lilac
and I love the affect with
the rest of the colors used
on this card.




I am sure you know by now, I think that
the baker's twine from
The Twinery
is the best quality and the
saturation of color is out of this world!


There are LOTS of twines out there that
are low-quality and one available in 2 or 3
'faded' colors.  For my money, it's
The Twinery all the way!!!


Ya know, they have a terrific
Sampler Pack for only 20 bucks!!!


All 11 colors (including the 3 newest colors)
15 yards of each!  It's a terrific deal!

I am really glad you stopped by!
I'd love to know if you've gotten your
baker's twine from The Twinery yet?
 Leave me a comment.......YAY!!

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: The Paper Company
Designer Paper: Memory Box
Stamps: Wplus9
Ink: VersaMagic
Tools: Cuttlebug EF, Big Shot,
Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch
Embellishments: Baker's Twine from The Twinery
Pearls & Rhinestones by Recollections

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Enjoy the Moment in The Play Date Cafe


It's hard to believe another week has come and gone
and come back around once again!
What am I talking about?

The Play Date Cafe Challenge, of course!


Look at this gorgeous color story!!!

I am the host this week and I just have to
say that this inspiration would not exist
without the kindness of a dear friend
of mine here in my hometown.
Polly owns a wonderful business and a
blog that holds the same name
where she specializes in all things
vintage and shabby chic.
I've always loved the look and try to bring
it into my home as often as I can, 
but this girl is the master!!!
I hope you will pop over to her lovely blog and
bring a cup of tea with you!


All week I thought about making something with a whole lot of
layers, flowers, lace, pearls...you name it.
But as you can see, I went clean and simple.

You would not believe what is waiting for you over in The Cafe!

We have the fabby Kazan Clark 
as our Guest Designer this week
and the most amazing inspiration from our entire design team.

and of course, our honored guest...
Kazan Clark

 So glad you stopped by and I hope you'll 
leave a quick little note to let me know
you were here : )

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: The Paper Company
Designer Paper: Memory Box
Stamps: My Mind's Eye, Memory Box, The Paper Company
Embellishments:  baker's twine from The Twinery, Stickles in 'platinum'
Pearls from Martha Stewart

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Twinery Shares a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!



Well....it's no secret that
I LoVe baker's twine!

And...you know I believe the 
Best in the world
is


I am thrilled to share with all of you
that The Twinery
has asked me to be the
new Design Team Coordinator
for this wonderful brand!

We have 22 amazing designers from
all walks of life....
paper crafters, bakers, home decorators
and so many more!
You are going to be seriously inspired
as we continue to share on
Have you been over there?
You really must go!
Giveaways, freebies and of course,
THE WORLD'S MOST LUXE
BAKER'S TWINE!!!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Cherish Every Moment...The Play Date Cafe



It's another week with another grand challenge at


How about this amazing photo??!!!

It was chosen by our own Ruby 2 Shoes who as
one of our newest Senior Designers, will be joining
Sarah and I as color hosts.


I think all of the girls on our design team are willing to admit
from time to time when we struggle with a challenge, 
and it seemed like the more I loved this color story,
the harder I was making it for myself.
I know that as players, many of you experience the
exact same things in your creative process.

I am happy to say that I love the results!


One of the elements I really wanted to use was
this fabby blue rose, which at this point doesn't
really resemble a rose, right?
I tell you this because again, I know we all experience
many of the same creative road blocks and many are
really easy to get around.
This rose bloom was very substantial and would
have caused my card to need a box to send.
I wanted to use it, but wasn't sure how to without
ruining it.  I just took some scissors and cut
right across the bottom then flattened it out.
It was a tough little monkey to cut through and 
at some point, I had to get Paul to lend 
his strength to the cause!
So don't give up on an element or an idea
just because it doesn't seem like it fits!
I love the results of this!

Hope you will stop by The Cafe.
You will see some fabby creations by
The World's Best Design Team....
these girls right here....


 So glad you stopped by and I hope you'll 
leave a quick little note to let me know
you were here : )

Today's Project Recipe:
Cardstock: The Paper Company
Designer Paper: My Mind's Eye, Webster's Pages
Die Cut Sentiment: My Mind's Eye 'Madison Avenue'
Embellishments:  Recollections rose bloom & pearls, 
Making Memories fabric brad, Prima gemstone flourishes
Hand-dyed Seam Binding from Sugarlump Studios