Hugs to You

Yesterday night before going to bed, I was able to see SCS's Friday challenge, Limited Supplies (LS164-Long Tall Sally). This morning, my goal was to do this challenge and maybe incorporate other SCS's challenges from this week. When I am done with my card, I did challenges SC172 and WT62-Acrylics instead. My card is 4x81/2, but I added design pattern paper and maybe too much layers and embellishments, thus disqualify from completing LS164 challenge requirements. Most of the stamps are from Great Impressions April Month stamps (bird, nest and vine stamps). The sentiment "hugs to you" is from Hero Arts. I used my cuttlebug swirl folder. I added acrylic red gems and pink flower from Heidi Swapp. I added a button and thread in the middle. I pop up the bird and the eggs in the nest with foam. I colored in the leaves in the vine with green souffle gel pen. I colored the image with Twinkling H2O which gives it a little shimmer. I distress the edges. The dp is from DCVW, the Christmas dp slab.

I had problem uploading the baby shoes picture. I made this last weekend. The baby shoes template is from SCS's Barbra1224 . I wanted to do this for awhile now. I made this for Charlotte, my newest niece. I have to mail this out to her parents which I haven't have the time to do yet.

Busy Week

I had a busy week this week. I haven't have time to play. I did something last Sunday, but haven't have time to upload. I will do it tomorrow when I have get some time to play. I want to do this week's SCS challenges. Maybe I will have some time tomorrow.

My cats have been sick, first it was Rusty which was sick about 2 weeks ago, then he passed on to Shui Di, and now it is Lay and Kutsu. They have been really needy for the past month since Rusty got injured which cost me an arm and leg on the vet bill. Shui Di pushed Rusty off from the play tree while Rusty was asleep and he landed hard on the carpet. He was having problems walking, so we took him to the vet. Likely, his left hind leg was just bruised and sored, and nothing serious. Rusty is fine now, but hasn't went up to the play tree or anywhere really high since his accident. He started playing with his mice and running around the house again which is good new. Right after his accident, he got sick, sneezing quite a bit. We thought he has allegeries since it is Spring, but he stopped after 3 days and then Shui Di started sneezing and this is when we knew the "cat flu" is being passed around. Kutsu has been very needy, he actually slept with us on our bed yesterday. He usually doesn't sleep with us nowadays. I don't think Kutsu got much sleep and he looked sick and so does Lay. Lay was sleeping quietly by himself all day for the last three days now. Lay usually like to bother us and scratch the blinds and "meows" to go out or to get some attention, but he hadn't done that for the last few days. I worry for Lay and Kutsu because they are so much older than the other two and they look miserable. I have to keep my eyes on them to make sure they are ok.

On Tuesday, I had jury duty. I didn't get selected to be a juror, but the people next to me all got selected. Thank goodness, but I wouldn't have minded, but the case was expected to last to the end of April (12 day trial). It was boring and I actuallly spent a whole day for jury service as I was selected to be on a jury panel for a criminal case (murder case) and the judge asked some questions which there were quite a few answers, thus took a whole day.

I have started going to work with Jim a few days a week to save some trees and to keep myself busy.

Window View

Another early morning for me, but not as early as yesterday. Today, my youngest cat, Rusty decided to wake me up and get me out of bed by stepping on top of my body. I got some chores done and got to finish my card which I started yesterday. This is my first try after getting a lesson from Nic, Stamp Works, on this product from one of her make n' trade cards. This stuff is called Flower Soft, an England manufacturer and it is so fun to play ith. You just put some craft glue on wherever you want to put the flower soft on and pour or use your fingers and put the flower soft on top of the image and shake off the excess. Make sure you let it the glue dry first before shaking off the excess. It gives it a 3-D effect. You probably can't see it in this picture, but you can see it in my close up picture of this product. Isn't it gorgeous? I wanted to pop up the flower pot, but I already putted the flower soft on the image, so I decided to add a blue bird and pop it to give it a more complete look. I probably should have added some more embellishments like brads or something on the card, it just look so plain right now. I will try another one on a later day.

I don't really like this asian fan iris fold ATC, not the iris folding put, but the overall ATC card. I did an UGLY card, but I will share with you anyways. This is my first try outside of class. It should be for cards, but I signed up for an Asian ATC swap at SCS, so I thought this should be fun and creative to do. I used my expensive origami paper, per 6x6 piece is $0.50/$0.60 each to do the iris folds. I colored the fan handle with my gold spica copic pen (I got some more colors just the other day from Stamp Works, they finally have more in) and added crystal effect. I think I am going to change the white cardstock to black or a dp and do better work on the gold marker outline, LOL. I will show you another picture of the iris fold once I have decided what changes to make.

It has been really nice in Arizona, the weather is warm, not HOT! Get out and enjoy spring.

SCS Weekly Challenges

The weekend is here, but unfortunately, my two younger cats woke me up REALLY early this morning. I went to my craft area to play. I want to combine most of this weeks challenge into one card. I have never combined so many challenges into one card and since I I haven't been playing with SCS's challenges for awhile now, I thought this will be a good chance to do it now. This week's SCS challenges are Try a New Technique, TLC163, Stacked Ribbons; Card Sketch, SC 171; Ways to Use It, WT161, eyelets; and Limited Supplies, LSC163, DIY DP.

I wanted to play with my new Penny Black hedgehog which I have purchased for awhile now and haven't got to inking it. I used the gamsol technique with is coloring my image with prismacolor pencils and then rub the images using stumps and odorless mineral spirits. I liked the Hanko flower stamp, so I decided to make my own DP, by stamping pink Colorbox ink on white cardstock. I don't really like to work with eyelets, but this was extremely easy, just added on the lounging chair where the screws usually are placed on a lounging chair. I distressed the ovals and edged the dp,ovals, and lime green circle ribbon with pink Colorbox ink. I stacked pink w/red circle ribbon on top of the lime green circle ribbon. That it, this was a really easy to make.

I am going to be going to Stamp Works, my local stamp store where I buy tons of my stamping and crafting supplies from for the last year and a half. I I have been spending less this year because I haven't been playing much, but also not much spare money. Nicolette, the owner has a make n' take for $2 on Saturdays. I also take classes there. I just took an iris folding class. I had never took it before and it is really easy and fun. I did an asian fan artist trade card (ATC) for a swap. It takes awhile to make, but very fun! I will upload it tomorrow or next week. Nic's store gets really crowded on Saturdays especially with her make n' take and classes. I support my local craft stores rather than the big stores unless it is for a really big purchase which I use the coupons for. For those of you who knows me, you know I know all about the mom & pop stores that doesn't make it because of the big chain stores. Have a good weekend!

Acetate Collage Cards

Happy Wednesday, I stayed up late yesterday to get a sneak peek of the Gina K's new stamps. They are fabulous and I love Gina's new line concept, love the stories behind the cards and stamps. Can't wait till mid-night, April 10th to view the stamps in her online store.

I will be heading off to Xpedex in Tempe to see what I can grab as they are discounting their craft department. They are a paper store, but I go their to buy their stamps and inks. They have the best price in town. I am SOoooo SAD they will no longer sell the craft items, but I guess it will be good for my pocketbook. I am wondering if I can use my 20% off card in addition to the 30% sale they are having. This will be an AWESOME bargain if they do. I will have to see when I go there after this blog entry.

Now onto my cards. Yesterday, I was playing the Hero Arts Blog weekly challenge. I combined last week's challenge of using acetate and this week's challenge of using collages. I used the Hero Arts collage stamps and swirls. This is actually the first time a made an acetate card, so thanks Hero Art for the challenge to get me to try a new techniques and to use my acetate/transparency paper and glitter mist. I brayered the white glossy using the kaleidacolor ink pad with a brayer and stamped the collage image stamp with black dye ink. I stamped twice and cutted our the butterfly so I can pop it up. Color the butterfly with the gold copic spica pen. Currently, I only have that color. Stamped the swirl around the edges of the acetate.

This one I also used Monday's Try a New Technique, on SCS, TLC163, Stacked Ribbon as the Hero Arts acetate and collage challenge. I so love to play with my cuttlebug. I embossed the front card with the embossed swirl folder. I stamped the collage in white stazon on acetate and then stamped again in the brayered white glossy paper in black dye ink. I just layer the acetate on top of the glossy paper and attached crystal brads to hold them together. I popped the word "Create". I layered the ribbons with black on the bottom and multi-color on the top. I got those ribbons for $1 dollar and the embossed swirl folder for 1/2 off at Michaels, they are having a huge craft blow out this week.

Thanks for looking, now off to Xpedex to see what I can grab.

Monthly Card Swap

I am currently in a monthly card swap which consist of 6 people per group, hosted by Melissa Craig from SCS. Each month the hostess will send out an image and designer paper (dp) for the other 5 people in the group to use on their cards. Embellishments are optional. Finally, got the time to upload my monthly swap cards.

This one is from February. It is quite plain, but love the scalloped circle, reminds me of a flower with the circle. I used bazzill cs and my giga scalloped Marvy punch. The bee image (Stampendous), dp and eyelets were provided by the hostess. Truthfully, I don't like to work with the eyelets as I don't like the pounding I have to do because I don't have the pink or green dile setter which everybody has these days. I don't have the money to invest in this think yet. It's on my wishlist, but my wishlist is currently very long, LOL.

This was the March swap. I also have this spa bella image. Bought it awhile ago. Makes me envy those ladies who can afford spa treats like this where you get pampered like a queen. I am trying to use up all my old cardstocks which a purchased at my local Xpedex store before buy new ones. I have purchased a few (wink.. wink) packs which consisted of 250 cardstocks (cs). When am I ever going to finish using these things, LOL. I cheated already as I purchased new bazzill cs in January. The hostess for March was really generous, she gave us so much goodies. I added faux crystal, paper flower, and lime green brad. Another simple card for me. I haven't really been creating anything the last two months.

Finally, my April card. This dog (Penny Black) image is just so cute. I love the designer paper (dp) also. It is just so fun to do this card. I used the gamsol technique to color the dog, which is prisma color pencils and odorless mineral spirits. I finally purchased some embossing folders from Michaels last Sunday for 50% off. Finally, I get to play with my cuttlebug. I purchased the cuttlebug in January and never touched it until now. Shame on me as it was a big investment. I paid $60, including shipping for this thing as it is now $40 at Michael because of the 50% sale. Anyways, like I said, trying hard to use up all my old cs, my prism flowers and brads, so I can buy MORE new ones, LOL.

I need a job to feed my stamping, crafting addiction.

What a Lame Blogger....

I am such a lame blogger. I haven't been stamping or crafting for almost 2 months except to do my monthly card swap. I am feeling so much better after my miscarriage. I finely got the "all clear" after 1 1/2 month of going to the lab to get my blood withdrawal every week to test my HCG level. I am back in action and getting my groove back. I just finish reorganizing my craft space and finish my month card swap for April. I have a lot of stamping and crafting to catch up on as I spent quite a bit of money on the cuttlebug embossing folders and dies at Michaels on Sunday because of their "BLOWOUT SALE". I finally get to use my cuttlebug. I had bought it 3 months ago and never play with it because I didn't have any embossing folders. I have so many new stamps I haven't ink yet.

I will be uploading some of the cards I made within the following days.

Thanks for looking at my blog. Leave me a message at the below link to tell me what you guys are up to.