Happy Easter!

I'm dashing out the door with both boys to tackle a few errands and then I'm taking the boys to lunch at their dad's office, they're so excited for that!

Here's another card I created for Right at Home using Kim Hughes Sweet Spring set for Cornish Heritage Farms.  This uses the October Afternoon paper that I simply adore, thought the black and ivory was so farmy looking. 

I masked the eggs to get them in a straight line like that, and then colored them neutral for a natural colored egg shell.

By the way, I wanted to apologize for those gross adds that were on my blog.  I was experimenting with ad units, and they were okay when they had SU ads come up,  or some links now and again, then I saw it.... the nasty stretch mark ad.

YIKES!  So, clearly I pulled those down, yuck!  I apologize, I only want to show you NICE things to look at, like eggs and chicks and such.  Hope you can forgive me for that one....

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend with family and friends!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!!

At long last, here's the Christmas card that I taunted you with only pieces of.  As I've mentioned, these were a lot of work, because I just can't say no to layers and embellishments and ribbon and buttons and such. 

I did have a crazy thought that I'd run all the cardbases through my Janome and sew all these panels- but reason set in when remembered that I was creating 100 cards this way.  I also had my heart set on 100 nice loopy bows, but sadly, I had to give in on that wish too.  I wanted to be sure I could mail each card with standard postage, and I knew my buttons were already putting that in jeopardy!  

This is Cornish Heritage Farm's "Joyeux Noel" stamp set and the paper is from October Afternoon.  I love the rustic detail of this image, and the beautifully scripted sentiment.  I remember I first saw this set used by Amy Rohl and then added it to my shopping cart the next day. She has some seriously beautiful creations on her blog "Ink About Me." I must say, if you don't already read her blog.... get going!

My husband thinks I'm totally crazy, but it was well worth it and I actually can't believe how quickly I was able to get the job done and somehow, I managed to keep this blog populated with newness too!  

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday, filled with all the people you love best!

Snowy Sketchy Day

It has now been snowing since Friday afternoon and will snow here again all day today.  It is beautiful outside my window, and feeling very Christmasy. Our neighborhood is not on a main road, so there is barely any traffic coming through, save for the rare adventurous neighbor.... I'm going out for a snowy walk around the block and perhaps do a little sledding with my husband and the boys. 

Its feeling so very cozy in my Lazy Pants and enjoying my warm Christmas candles burning, and my George Winston Christmas music off my ipod... but it such a winter wonderland out there that boys NEED to go play a little.  

Last night, I stalled on my "to do" list a little bit and just wanted to play with two of my favorite sketch challenges.  

My friend Karen is the Featured Cupcake Sampler for Taylor this week, so how could I not play to celebrate. Besides, the sketch is super cute, and just right for this sweet set from The Cat's Pajamas that has not so quietly been calling my name!  Sprinkle is dressed in a paper pieced scrap of this Stampin Up Ski Slope designer paper, and then given lots of liquid applique details.    

Since my Ski Slope paper was already in use, and quite honestly, because I have lots of it, I decided to also use it in Jen's Sketch for You To Try this week.  

Again, I had a particular set in mind that I've been wanting to pull out and use again, Cornish Heritage Farm's "Heartwarmer's"    

I will admit, all those circles terrified me, but I turned one into a bow placement, one the sentiment, and one is a clear button to which I added a circular punchout of paper coated with glitter.  

After our little adventure outside, I'm looking forward to a lunch of minestrone soup I made in preparation for the snowstorm on Friday, a Christmas movie for the boys, and hopefully LOTS more stamp time for me!

Gettin Cozy with Kraft and Chocolate

I think I have mentioned that I'm into some really non traditional Christmas color schemes this year? Quite possibly because I'm just adoring this line of paper from October Afternoon.  Isn't is just cozy... that an my addiction to kraft cardstock. 

This stamp set is titled "Joyeux Noel" from Cornish Heritage Farms -- eeks when I just went to link it - I noticed its on SALE! RUN RUN!!  

I think is going to be my Christmas Card stamp set. I'm just waiting on one more element that is making its way to me from Polka Dot Plaza to finish the job. Well actually, to start the job, but you know what I mean.  

I'm tempted to go all crazy with layers and buttons and "stuff" but I keep reminding myself, if I'm going to make LOTS of these, I've got to go clean.  I really really want to add machine stitching all over this baby, but its for a class (possibly a kit, we haven't decided) over at Right at Home.  Left to my own devices, every inch of this would be distressed and stitched, and I might even use the cracked glass technique, but that's just not practical for class huh??  

I'm planning on bringing parts and pieces of my Christmas cards to work on during our Thanksgiving holiday... maybe the boys will cooperate by watching Wall-e or playing games?  

I'm also going to be whipping up lots of these, and filling them with chocolate covered cranberries for treats for the mailman, the bus driver etc.  Going to load up on them at Sweet Inspirations. I can taste them already.....Hey, did you know those babies were an Oprah's Favorite item one year? Trust me, they're amazing!!

One more coordinated item left in this set that still needs some designing. First, I've got to clean up this house so that my sweet husband thinks I've done something other than just STAMP while he's been away on business......

Bella Sonoma

While I had my Sonoma paper still handy from yesterday's Gina K card, I also played around with Jen's Sketch for You To Try.  I'm really loving loving loving this paper if you hadn't noticed.

Christie gave me this sweet Stamping Bella and I hadn't yet had a chance to get her inky (eeeks!!) as I was sorting through stamps trying to figure out what to do with the sketch, she said "Pick me! Pick me!!" 

I paper pieced Bella's dress and matching rolly bag from the celery polka dotted paper, and colored the rest of her with my Copic markers. 

This sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms, its from the Mona Lisa Moments line.  This is Motivational Centers I've got a few more of these sets on my wish list and I'll collect them one by one.  Yes, I'm a stamp-a-holic.  

Have a great day!

Heartwarming Bag and Tag

I mentioned the bag and tag set we'd made during my Heartwarmers class over at Right at Home and one of you had asked to see the full item, so here goes......  

I apologize because these oversized objects, and by that, I mean anything larger than a card.... are hard for me to get a clean shot of. The background (ahem, my HOUSE!) always gets in the way.

The lighting in this picture is wonky, but the item now lives at the store, so I can't even try to take a new picture.

This is an ordinary kraft gift bag that the front has been embellished.  This charming designer paper is from Making Memories, and I just loved the richness of it.  All of the edges were sewn.  I brought in my Janome Sew Mini for the girls to play with during class, and I think they enjoyed it.  All the stitching for sure took some time, but it gives such a nice extra touch. 

For sure, my favorite part of the project is the little charm created by paper piecing the ornament in the Kim Hughes Heartwarmers Set, then tying it onto the twill tape with twine.  I know I shared this picture in my preview two weeks ago, but you'll have to humor me, this bag was one of my favorite things I've made in a while, and now it lives at the store. Sniff.  

Last but not least, there is a tag tied to the handle again with some twill tape, this time secured with a gingham ribbon, I've been adding that to everything lately.

What was especially fun was that the shop owners daughter was watching over us as we made our project.  Grabbed an extra bag from her mom, picked her own papers and put a bag together.  Her paper selection was so wonderful, that I had to go buy some (young-enabler/entrepreneur in the making!)  I had a blast showing her how to use the machine to stitch hers up... remember I have boys, I don't get to do that sort of stuff often!  

This bag was one of those things that I spent so much time on that I sure was sad to see it go.  Maybe I'll have to arrange a shopping trip to go visit it at the store.  

Heartwarmers Continued

Here's another sample from my card class this past weekend with Cornish Heritage Farms Heartwarmers stamp set which I taught at Right At Home.  In the class, I wanted to focus on cards that were easily mass producible, so I streamlined...  You'll see that there are not as many layers as I'd make for my usual cards. 

I made up for the simplicity on these cards by going way into detail on the gift bag and tag. Slowed them down big time with lots of sewing and little details, but I think they liked the finished product.  

So, back to the cards, I wanted to stress that quick can still be cute-- right?? Our cards involved lots of paper piecing.

This particular card involved stamping the ornament a few times and cutting it out.  But even still, it was still faster I think that coloring and blending the ornament many times!  To jazz it up a notch, just stickle up that little heart, or add some Spica pen to it.

Here's two that didn't make the cut for the class, but they still fit the theme, so I thought I'd share them here.   Also, several of the girls at class purchased the stamp set, and I wanted them to have a few more ideas to go along with their new stamps!

You know I love white space cards....  this has just a dash of Scenic Route across the top, and some black scallops and grosgrain ribbon for a little pop. Again, stickle up those hearts, or add a little diamond glaze for some shine.  

Lastly, here's one more lotsa white card.  

I thought those trees were just so cute with patterned paper, and happened to have just a few scraps of Scenic Route Roxbury to get the job done.  We'd done them in class with solid green cardstock, but patterned paper is super fun too! 

Hope you have a great day, and thanks for dropping by!

Heartwarming Christmas

World Cardmaking Day is nearly here! (My husband thinks that's totally hysterical by the way....) I've been busy making my next set of class samples for over at the store. 

I'll be teaching a "Heartwarming Christmas" class at Right At Home using Kim Hughes "Heartwarmers" set from Cornish Heritage Farms.  

We'll be working on paper piecing and all the cards are quick and clean! I love sending handmade holiday cards, but when you're mass producing for holiday cards you need those cute, but quick cards!

We'll make three cards as well as a bag and tag set - perfect for those little hostess gifts we all need this time of year!  

I must admit, I really love this little bag and tag set the most, here's just a peeky of the bag, isn't it sweet?  

Hope you're having a great day, and if you're in the Boston area, hope you can join us for a little fun at the store!! If you're not near here, be sure to check the World Cardmaking Day site to find a participating store near you!

Flying By....

With both boys now off to school, and daycare back in session I feel a bit like this little hummingbird flitting from place to place!!   Life is moving fast, but its all good! I've had to cut back on my super late night stamping adventures...  a girl needs some sleep to keep up with all these kids and their activities!

I'm excited though because this coming Saturday I'm teaching a card class over at Right at Home Scrapbooking!    We'll make five cards using the Kim Hughes "Pretty Birds" stamp set from Cornish Heritage Farms as well as the Copic Markers from the September Kit Club.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with my new pal Karen (waves "Hi Karen!") hopefully making some new stamping buds, and of course, checking out the recent additions to the store....

I snatched up this paper the last time I was there in fact, this cute paper is from Three Bugs in a Rug and I scoffed it for this class because I loved the whimsical patterns and rich color combinations.  This is a little pocket card on the inside that you could tuck in a special message or a gift card if you'd like.  

Speaking of CHF and Kim Hughes I finally got to play with my Mocha Chica paper which has been waiting patiently the last two weeks for its turn on the messy desk..... I will have some cards to share with you in the next few days!  

Box o Birds

For the longest time, I've been loving this "Pretty Birds" set illustrated by Kim Hughes from Cornish Heritage Farms. I'm shocked that I'm only just now adding it to my "collection" (okay, I feel a little less guilty when I call it a collection.... that makes it seem a little less gluttonish to hoard all these stamps right??))

So finally I got a chance to buy it!  I've adored it for the longest time, I really just don't know what took me so long.....

I've also been meaning for ages to make one of those little boxes to hold an assortment of 3x3 notecards.   So what a perfect opportunity to pick up the stamps, and create a little box of notes.

All the fixings for this Box O' Birds will soon be available at Right at Home Scrapbooking! I'll be sure to post a link as soon as everything is available, it was just too cute not to share.

If you like the stamp set and live in the Greater Boston area, I'll also be teaching a class in the 

store on September 13th where we'll make five different cards with this set.  I had a lot of fun with all sorts of different papers and tools.  Can't wait to show you what I've been up to!!  Karen, you lurker, ((hugs)) I hope you'll be able to make it!