Blog Hop & Shout Out to Sheet Load

Today's Blog Hop for Papertrey Ink is focused on birthday cards. I made this card with the new Making Memories Sabrina collection I found at Michael's. I also used the April 2008 SheetLoad scketch.

Supplies: Papertrey Ink (Simply Stationary, Birthday Basics, Polka Dot Basics); Pallet (Black Ink); Making Memories (Sabrina paper collection); Cuttlebug (Houndstooth Embossing Folder); Michael's (Pink Gem), Cardstock (Coordinations-Black/Pink, Ivory Linen).

Time flies

So I thought things were supposed to calm down after the holiday's??? Things seem crazier than ever!!!

So for this month's Guest Star Stamper at Papertrey Ink I have entered the two projects below. I am going to start with my favorite!

There's a story behind this card. So over the holiday's I joined Facebook as a way to reconnect with friends from High School. One of my classmates happens to now live in Kansas City as well. She was gracious enough to invite me to her home for lunch. We had such a great time! We could have talked for days. We weren't close in school, but I can tell we will be fast friends. She is a paper artist as well and had some treats for me....scraps of beautiful expensive papers. The beautiful pattern paper below is one of them. I love the color combo here!

Supplies: Stamps Papertrey Ink (Out on a Limb, Heartfelt Basics); Paper: Papertrey Ink (Pure Poppy Cardstock), Cougar 80# White, Japenese Paper; Ink: CMTH (Cocoa); Papertrey Ink (Pure Poppy), Whisper (Whisper Pink); Ribbon: Papertrey Ink (Pure Poppy Luxe Satin)

This next project was a set of 7 DVD tins I created to hold note pads with a matching pen. Each set was unique, but this was one of my favorites because of the color scheme.

On the inside of the tin I created a pocket out of cardstock. It has a decorative pattern created using Guidelines. I have rolled up some pattern paper inside the pen so that it coordinates with the rest of the set.

Supplies: Stamps Papertrey Ink (Everyday Blessings, Guidelines); Paper: DCWV, Cardstock: Stash;Ink: CMTH (Cocoa); Other: Prima Paper Flowers, DVD Tin, Pen, Note pad (with .5" trimmed off the bottom)

Happy New Year with SheetLoad

Ok the first issue of the year is ready! This is sure to be an exciting year!

The January issue of SheetLoad of Cards is ready to download!!This issue features a sketch by Ann Seleshanko and C.C. Designs Rubber Stamps from All That Scraps!Make sure to check out the samples that utilize their new digital stamp lines. I just love that you can print these directly from your computer, in almost any size you want!!Do you see a set you like and want to buy it? Just click on the sample card in the PDF and be taken directly to C.C. Designs' online store to make your purchase.In the back of the issue are 3 great ideas on how to move this sketch "Beyond the Card".Make sure to check back later in the month to find out how you can win a set of C.C. Designs stamps!!

Merry Christmas!

Ok so I had to share these couple of pictures......

The first is of a girl and her new pink, very soft and comfy, Bronco's pj's!

Next is every little girl's dream.... getting the Barbie Dream House! You should have seen her tearing into it!

Now she's lost in play........................................

Catching Up.......

I know it's been awhile, but December is a busy month! So I'm sharing several things I have created this month.First up is this cute mini composition book. I was playing with my Nestabilities and absolutely love that you can cut out different sizes and even the middles out of larger pieces!

My next card is made from pp that I picked up at the CK Convention. I just love the colors in this card.

Last, but not least, is a notebook and magenet I created for my secret sis at church. I stamped on the front of the manet with one of my CTMH stamps and white stazon.

The picture doesn't show this very well, but I put some Bella's Baubles in the flower centers. All the paper is from CTMH Boo-di-ada collection.

Honorable Mention!

I just had to share with you a project I submitted for Papertrey Ink's Guest Star Stamper for this month. I am very excited to report that I recieved an honorable mention!!! (go check out Nichole's Blog)

I found a pillow box template online and simply enlarged it to fit an 8.5x11 piece of cardstock. I also created a cute little magnet from a stamp block.

Christmas Popcorn Box

Ok, when I saw these little popcorn boxes in the $1 bins a Joann my creative juices went crazy!! You get 4 boxes for a $1; you just can't beat that!

The first round of boxes I made using a Snow Flake Cuttlebug folder on green cardstock. I just love how this turned out. I made some carmel popcorn and took some boxes up to the teachers and secretaries at the kids school on Friday.

I also needed to make a quick box for my secret sis at church and put this box together tonight.

Christmas Countdown Calendar Tutorial

First off a big thank you to Amy Sheffer for allowing me to create a tutorial of her fabulous countdown calendar! I got my inspiration from her creation here.

Ok so on with it. You'll first want to gather some supplies:

• 2 4" square costers
• Pattern paper (2-3 coordinating patterns)
• Cardstock
• Alphabet stamps or stickers
• Number stamps or stickers
• 12" ribbon
• Decorative scissors/dieCircle punch
• Crop-a-dile
• Plastic coil (if you don't have this, check a local Children's Museum for a recycle store or wire from your craft stash will work as well)

Cut 4 pieces of pattern paper 4" square, apply adhesive and adhere to the front and back of your coasters.

After you adhere your paper to the coaters you'll nee to round the corners.

Next you'll punch a circle and stamp "Days Unitl Christmas".

Here's mine (sorry a bit blurry) as I am not fortunate enough to have a JustRite stamper like Amy, but I was able to make due with stamps in my collection. :)

Next you'll cut a strip of paper about 4"x 1" creating a decorative edge on one side. Here I used a Nestability to create a scalloped edge.

You'll also cut a piece of paper 4" x 1.5". You'll adhere this piece, the decorative edge piece from above and your 12" piece of ribbon. Top this off with your "Days Until Christmas" circle.

Next you'll cut 1"x 1.5" pieces of cardstock or paper for your calendar. For this calendar I choose 0-3 & 0-9 for my numbers. I used a snow flake stamp with Close to My Heart Daisy White (THE best white ink ever!) and number stickers from my stash.

Now the fun part! You'll place about .25" of your coaster under a ruler and mark off every .25". This will create the guides for punching holes for the plastic coil.

After you punch holes in the first coaster use this as a template for the second coaster as well as your numbers.

After you get your coasters and numbers punched it's time to bind. Be sure you have your numbers in the correct order before binding!

Here's the finished product with one final step. So the coasters don't collapse on each other cut a .5" x 3" strip of cardstock, score .5" from both ends, adhere .5" on the back coaster, slip the other .5" behind the ribbon. (If you adhered your ribbon already, don't worry. Take an exacto knife under the ribbon to lossen the adhesive and slip in the other scored end.)

My daughter gets a kick every day out of changing the date. Just so we're sure to get the right count I bookmarked this site. She checks it every day and thinks she's big stuff for using the computer!

Sheet Load - December Issue

Ok all go get your Sheet Load !!!! Here are my creations for this month plus a few extra's.

Copic Markers - I took the plunge

Ok, so I took the plung..... I bought some Copic Ciao Markers. Here's a couple of my first creations with my new markers. It takes a bit getting used to but I think I'm getter better at layering the different colors. Stay tuned for more creations with my new markers!

2Sketches4You - Laura's Sketch 12

Here's this weeks sketch from 2Sketches4You.

I decided to use the punch that I HAD to have. (wink) I've used some of my favorite DCWV paper, one of my new vellum flowers (folded in half under the U), and two buttons to make some super cute cherries. Thanks for looking!!

And just in case you were wondering, I intentionally took this picture on my stove. ;)

Randomness

Ok so I have lots to share. Let's start with Halloween. My husband collects comic books and so we decided since he was carving his pumpkin with the Batman symbol the rest of us would follow suit.

Right to left: Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Batman, Flash.

Now on to the costumes. We had Tinkerbell & a Rock Star! Oh what fun it was!

Now for some Thanksgiving crafts! In the Nov/Dec issue of Scrapbooks etc I found the cutetest idea - a turkey made of foam balls, buttons, paint, ribbon, googly eyes, flowers & feathers. Reanne and I made one to send to my mom. Can you guess how many buttons are on this guy? Around 150!!

Since I want to make about 4 of these turkey's (hehe pun intended) I knew that I didn't have nearly enough buttons to do the heads and the bodies. So I decided to make a girl.

I think she turned out soooooo cute! Now, last but not least this furry guy was crawling around in the driveway. I couldn't help but get up close and personal with him. I can only imagine what a beautiful butterfly he'll be.

November SheetLoad

Just a quick reminder that the November issue of SheetLoad of Cards is ready for download. This months issue features a new section - Beyond the Card. Go check it out!

Halloween Treat

So I bought found two Bare Elements Purses in a clearance section of a local craft store, but have really struggled with what to do with them. I always like to give my mom a little something for Halloween, so I decied to decorate one for her and throw in some Mallow Pumpkins (think candy corn in the shape of a pumpkin.)

To get the great transition shading in the Spooky Sweets circle I used a make up sponge to apply Sunflower Ink, then Autumn Terracotta, and then a Purple. I used the same technique before I stamped the witch. I also used black paint and a sea sponge to sponge paint the edges where the different papers met.

Supplies: Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Spooky Sweets II); Ink: CTMH (Sunflower, Autumn Terracotta, Archival Black), Whispers (Purple); Punch: Martha Stewart (Gothic Bats Edge Punch); Pattern Paper: Sorry I used scraps from last year and I dont know the manufacturer!

Here's the coordinating card.