Holy Blog Candy!

All I can say is WOW! I've just come across the mother of all blog candy! Debbie is celebrating her blogaversary with the most generous blog candy I have ever seen! She is going to make one blog reader VERY happy! You should go check out Debbie's Blog and congratulate her (and enter to win!)

Cards, Cards, and More Cards

Here are some of my latest card creations...I havn't had time or energy to blog lately so instead of posting each card seperately, I'll just do them all in one fell swoop and I'll try to be better about blogging before my cards get stock piled :) Later this week I will also be posting some 3D projects I made using some "My Timeless Templates" from Papertrey Ink...so stay tuned for those. Here are my most recent card creations... My Challenge entry for my Stampin Up! demo group meeting...I didn't win :(

More fun with the Big Shot

I splurged and ordered the Movers and Shapers Curly Label die for my Big Shot. I am so obsessed with the shape of the curly label/top note...it's just so versatile and cutesy. I can't get enough. Anyway, this die is super cool because the "curly label" part of the die is magnetic and you can place it where ever you want it to be on your card. I did a little bit of playing with it over the weekend and here's what I came up with.

Big Shot Matchbox Tutorial

So I just pre ordered the brand new matchbox die for the Big Shot from the Stampin Up! occasions mini catalog which will be available on April 1st. It's a pretty cool die because it comes with three cute little labels that fit with the box (and there's also a coordinating stamp set!)...anyway, in the mini catalog there is a picture of the matchbox with a "window" cut out of the top with the curly label punch. I thought it was a super cute idea and I wanted to make one myself...however, I'm not as smart as I look and it took me several tries to figure out how to do it. So I thought I would make a tutorial to save some other people some frustration. First, I like to use two coordinating colors of cardstock so that the lid contrasts from the box Here is what the pieces look like when they are cut out Go ahead and fold your lid on the score lines...but don't adhere anything yet There is a tab on each end of the lid piece, one is smaller than the other. You'll want to fold the smaller tab under and then position your Curly Label punch in the center of the box lid. When you punch it, it will cut part of the tab...but it's okay Place glue dots or chosen adhesive on the small tab (the one with the cut out) and overlap the large tab to comlete the lid. Then you can add a small piece of acetate to the inside and decorate however you like :) I hope this was helpful! Here are some more examples of the other Matchboxes I made...

I heart Manhattan Flowers!

I'm lovin the Manhattan Flowers series from Stampin Up! I love the design and I love how they have incorporated it in to so many products. There's the stamp set, the DSP, the Decor elements, the rub ons, and the texture plate. I had the opportunity to play with the stamp set and the texture plate because some of my friends had purchased them...needless to say, I think I will be purchasing them for my own collection as well! Here are the creations I made with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and the Manhattan Flower tecture impression die.

Countdown to SPD and some Blog CANDY!

Yay! March is here...which means Saint Patrick's Day is almost here! Woo Hoo...I may not actually be "Irish" but I will be on March 17th! It's such a fun day to take the day off work and spend it with great friends and green beer! So in honor of SPD here is fun Bella card I made. I used Kiwi Kiss CS and some green DSP from the Raspberry Tart pack. I also thought it was a great opportunity to use my kiwi kiss corduroy button. The "Kiss Me" stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. and "I'm Irish" is my very own handwriting. Also Froggy at Froggaritaville is giving away a fantastic collection of Saint Patricks Day clear stamps. You should go check it out!

Look who got her first Papertrey Ink order!

I'm a bad girl and I went ahead and spent my whole Ohio tax refund on a Papertrey Ink order. I've been wanting to place a Papertrey order for months but I kept putting it off because I could never decide what to get because I wanted soooo many things. They finally released a sampler pack of their FABULOUS card stock and a collection of tiny polka dot patterned paper in all of their signature colors. Plus they released a kit that included a selection of card stock, ribbon, and inks all for $16! So I knew I had to get each of those things to get me started. Then I somehow narrowed down a few stamp sets that I've had my eye on forever and got those too. I also got several ink spots because they are only $2 and they come in the signature PTI colors. I must say all of my Papertrey Ink products are as good as I expected them to be. So here are the things I've been working on with my new Papertrey loves... First I used the brand new Friends till the End set. I just love the gorgeous flower. It's soooo pretty! Plus it has a ton of versatile sentiments in a very cute little font. I LOVE IT! I used some very springy color combos because I can not wait for SPRING! OMG I neeeeeed some sunshine! I also used the brand new Beyond Basic Borders set which I love, but I'm still trying to get good at stamping with it. The border stamp I used wasn't the easiest stamp to work with...just need to practice.The CS colors used on those two cards are PTI Spring Rain, Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Yellow, and Spring Moss. I used Ripe Avacado Ribbon on the 1st card and SU! Old Olive Ribbon on the 2nd one. Next I used the Bitty Baby Blessings stamp set to make a baby card for my cousin who is expecting. I've seen this color combo used recently and I've been meaning to try it and I finally got around to it. The colors are Spring Rain, Lemon Yellow, and Bitty Dots Pattern paper in Pure Poppy. I also used my SU! So Saffron Ribbon. I love how fresh and crisp the colors look with each other. And finally, of course I have another altered box to show you. This one had a yummy smelling candle in it and I found it on the cheap at TJ Maxx (I LOVE that store!) It already had the fancy little plastic diamond on the top and was a simple black and white color scheme. I decided to use the PTI Raspberry Fizz and Aqua Mist cardstock with the True Black patterened paper to jazz it up. I also used Raspberry Fizz grograin ribbon. I chose those colors because if and when I ever have a craft room, that would be the color scheme. Can you tell I've put some thought in to my imaginary craft room? I also went ahead and monogramed my initial on the front since afterall it will be going in MY craft room someday :) But for now I'm using it to store my PTI ink spots. So there you have it, my first(of many) PTI post.