Memory*Preserves

February Spotlight

2012-02-02T10:40:00.008-06:00

Here is the Spotlight info I promised, I am so sorry it's later than I had anticipated.
For one month, you can save 10% on the stamp sets used to create these fabulous projects!

Floral Duet
Birthday Builder
Beautiful Botanicals
Woodgrain Background
Just Because

And, for a limited time, order the special Urban Wildflowers cardstock assortment pack - an easy way to get the look showcased in this month's spotlight.

Urban Wildflowers Assortment Pack contains four sheets each:

Pebble
Lido
Vanilla
Seattle
Bermuda

New AND On Sale!

2012-01-31T11:57:00.006-06:00

Welcome Floral Duet! Isn't it beautiful!? I am in love with this brand new stamp set. It can be yours, and at a discount, in February as part of the Spotlight.

I stamped the large and small bloom on brand new Grapefruit cardstock with VersaMark and embossed with white embossing powder. Then I trimmed them out and layered them to make that great bloom.

Do you see the new polka dot paper? It's a small dot, closer together and printed on white cardstock. I am so excited that we have some new dots! The white base makes it easy to use with the gingham paper.

Tune back tomorrow sometime for more information and inspiration from the February Spotlight.

Stamps: a|s Floral Duet and Essential Sentiments
Paper: a|s Sage Gingham, Onyx Polka Dot, Onyx Shimmer, Sage and Grapefruit
Ink: VersaMagic and Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: a|s White Embossing Powder, Onyx and White Bakers Twine

Together Forever Birthday Cake

2012-01-30T15:30:00.002-06:00

Can you believe that it's already time for a muse studio's second catalog!? I can't! The new book is here. Do you want a copy? They are $9.95 and worth every penny. I would love to give you a copy for free for doing any of these three things:

Host a party! It's FUN! I will bring great projects and entertain your friends while teaching them some great rubber stamping tips and tricks. I promise it will be two hours of HAPPY time and a getaway from all the stress of day to day life.

Have a book party! Pass this great catalog around and collect orders. If you would like, I will even provide a little make and take for you to do with your friends! I like to call it a party in a bag.

Order $150 in product. Trust me, that wont be hard to do. Wait till you see this book! I will give you your own copy of the catalog to enjoy AND you will earn an additional $25 of product absolutely FREE. That is more than 23% bonus! Be sure to contact me if you are going to order $150 or more so I can make sure you get your $25 product credit.

Want to get a book for 1/2 price? Place an order of $50 or more and I will give you a catalog for just $5 (plus shipping if applicable). Place your order on my web store, or email me your order. If shipping is required, the catalog will be mailed separately.

Now, let's not put the buggy in front of the horse here, because I still have a whole two evenings left in the current catalog. I have one last order going in! Don't miss out on Together Forever or any of the other fabulous stamp sets that are about to retire. Email me if you need anything before it's too late!

Don't you love the fabulous birthday cake on my card!? It's really the wedding cake from Together Forever! I love a good multi-tasker! This $7.99 stamp set is going to double duty as you make both wedding and birthday cards. To make my wedding cake into a birthday cake, I inked up my stamp and then used a baby wipe to remove the ink from the hearts on the topper. I paper pieced the layers in different paper. Then added tiny star twinkle stickers where the hearts would have stamped. I love those tiny star twinkles. They look like birthday candle sparklers! Click the picture for a closer look at them. They rock!

Stamps: a|s Together Forever, and Wild Rose
Paper: Winter Sky, and Cherry Wood Grain and Buttercup, Cherry and Sage Polka Dot Paper
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: a|s Vanilla Twine, a|s Tiny Star Twinkle Stickers

away at a|s national conference

2012-01-21T09:18:00.003-06:00

Loving New Orleans. a muse studio updates on facebook. Follow me on facebook to Marisa Alvarez see the new stuff and get breaking news.

Foiled Again! meets the Retirement List

2012-01-12T10:47:00.004-06:00

With all this snow, it's a stampy day for sure! I am going to enjoy the day making soup, doing laundry and making cards for my Retirement Party. I would like to have great class projects and inspiring samples. We will be saying farewell to lots of great stamp sets and products.

I am going to miss Foiled Again! I barely had four months to play with it before a|s retired it. My mustaches are stamped in a|s French Roast and then flocked with some Teddy Bear Brown flock. I love the Quickie Glue Pen for adding flock and glitter. You get ball point pen precision and good sticking power.

Don't miss your chance to order Foiled Again!, Polka Dot papers and Vanilla Twine. All of these great products are retiring as of January 31st. There is limited supply of the items on the retirement lists. Things are selling out quickly.

Stamps: a|s Foiled Again
Paper: a|s Sky, Wasabi and French Roast Polka Dot which is also retiring. I didn't have enough time with the dots either!
Ink: a|s French Roast
Accessories: a|s Clear Buttons, Vanilla Twine (retiring), Brown Flock, CB Embossing Folder

Retirement Party Preview

2012-01-10T12:42:00.004-06:00

Don't miss Doctor's Orders, my favorite Cranberry ink and Polka Dot paper! All these great products are retiring from the a muse studio line. These products are only available while supplies last. Some retiring items have sold out rather quickly. Don't delay your order if you have your eye on any of the great products in this post or on the retirement lists. You can buy these products from my secure web shop or you can call or email me your order.

I am going to have a retirement party on January 16th from 12:30 -2:30pm and again from 7pm to 9pm. These cute projects are two of the four we will be making for just $18. If you would like to join the fun, please RSVP by email or give me a call.

Stamps: a|s Doctor's Orders
Paper: a|s French Roast, Sky, School Lined, Sugar, Vanilla, and Cherry Polka Dot
Ink: a|s French Roast, Sky, and Cranberry
Accessories: a|s Vanilla Organdy Ribbon, Nestabilites Standard and Scallop Circle Dies

True Love Stories...

2012-01-07T09:35:00.005-06:00

...never have endings.
This is one of the cards we made in my Three Cards and Dessert Valentine Edition. If you missed it and want to make some great Valentine cards, call or email me! I would love to bring my Valentine class to you and your friends OR bring your group to me! My house never closes!

Hi Stacy! Thanks for reading. I love to know I am not just talking to myself.

You can pick up everything you need to make this card in my a muse studio store, but HURRY. The Tiny Flower Ribbon, Cranberry Ink and the Together Forever stamp set are in limited supply! Get them while you still can.
Stamps: a|s Together Forever, Seasonal Branch and On The Wing
Paper: a|s Sugar
Ink: a|s Sky, French Roast, Cranberry, and Grass
Accessories: a|s Tiny Flower Ribbon, Nestabilites Standard Rectangle, Sponge Dauber

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-21T00:59:00.001-06:00

This is my Hanukkah card. It's the first year I made them. The cards have this sentiment inside:

AS YOU CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS MAY YOUR HOME BE BRIGHT WITH HAPPINESS AND LOVE.

I think that says it all! Happy Hanukkah to all my dear friends celebrating!

Stamps: a|s Festival of Lights
Paper: a|s Bermuda, Sugar and Silver Shimmer
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: a|s Sugar Organdy Polka Dot Ribbon, Silver Glitter applied to the menorah with a Quickie Glue Pen, Copic Markers, Nestabilities Circle and Scallop Circles

Appreciation Event and Scott Sketch 161

2011-12-20T13:48:00.003-06:00

Howdy all! I know I had been promising my card for Heather's Sketch Challenge for a few days now...sorry for the delay! I have been so busy! 'Tis the eason, I guess.
Here is my card for Heather's Sketch 161 plus a little gift card holder. We will be making these projects on 12-29 for my Hostess Appreciation Event.
I have very little time today. I have a wake to attend this afternoon. I lost a neighbor and need to go pay respects. I knew something was not right and had been knocking on her door at various times and days over the last three weeks. I come to find out she was in the hospital. I wish I had known. I missed my opportunity to walk her home. She was a very interesting woman and I am going to miss her! Here's to Glenna, who's friendship warmed my heart.

Supplies used to make these projects can be found in my a muse studio store. Thank you for stopping by. If you want to be invited to my next hostess appreciation, call or email me to book your stamp-y event in the new year. I have two dates available in January and only three available in February.

Stamps: a|s Love Conquers All
Paper: a|s Squash, Vanilla, Cherry, Blueberry Polka Dot
Ink: a|s Slate and Papaya
Accessories: a|s Cherry Satin Ribbon, Cherry Bakers Twine, Cherry Felt, Nesties Rectangle and Scalloped Rectangle Dies

Pam's Workshop Projects - Bath Salt Recipe Included

2011-12-16T13:12:00.012-06:00

One day I will learn how to take good photos! Anyone have any tips? I am going to Pam's house for a workshop tonight. I am excited to meet her friends. Most of the ladies in attendance tonight have been stamping for a long time...so I tried really hard to make projects that were fast enough but will keep even the most experienced stampers interested.

All products used to make both the card and treat are available in my a*muse studio store.
The 1x8 treat bag is filled with made-by-me bath salts.
They are super simple to make:
Combine, in a glass jar, 1 part Epsom Salt, available at your drug or dollar-type store, with 2 parts Sea Salt,you can get that at your hobby store with the soap making supplies. I use a pint ball jar for small batches and quart jar for a larger double batch. Add peppermint essential oil, 3 drops for a pint and 6 for a quart. Shake very well to distribute the oil throughout the salts.
Sometimes I take a quarter to a third of the salt and dye it red with pigment dye. Be sure to use a dye made for cosmetics or soap making. When I fill my container with salt I alternate a thick white layer and then pour in a thinner red layer, then a thicker white layer and so on making candy cane stripes.

Here is a close up of the tag topper. I used French Roast, Shell, Vanilla, and Bermuda Dot cardstock, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink, Copic Markers, Nesties Circle and Scallop Dies, 1x8 treat bags, there is Diamond Glitter filling each of the dots on the Bermuda Dot paper and on the torn edge of the snow bank. I {heart} the Quicky Glue Pen for adding glitter.

I used the same cardstocks for the card, plus Shell and French Roast ink, Nesties Oval and Scallop Oval, Label 4, and a|s mitten Dies, Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Vanilla Pearl Stickers, Vanilla Felt, French Roast Not Your Grandma's Bag of Buttons, and Vanilla Twine.

Both the card and treat bag feature stamps from Chill of Winter.

If you like the projects, pop into my a|s store and pick up some of these great cardstocks, 1x8 treat bags and the Chill of Winter stamp set and make your own winter treats!

Welp, that's all I have time for today! I have a card for Heather's card sketch, but that will have to wait for tomorrow. I have lots to do before heading our for my workshop!

Thanks for popping in!

My baby...Sweet 16?!

2011-12-13T08:59:00.009-06:00

Can you believe that? My Des is 16! We celebrated her birthday with Grandma and Grandpa at our favorite family style Italian joint, Buca di Beppo. If you've never been, your missing out! We also have a birthday bash planned for her and our close family and friends. We will be bowling and playing laser tag and eating pizza and cake...not your typical sweet 16, I know. Des isn't your typical 16 year old girl - so it fits. I can't wait to play laser tag. I {heart} laser tag!

I made this card in honor of my baby. I have to say, I am in love with Shell, Bermuda and Wasabi! I hope that Wasabi will stick around a little longer than just the holiday season. Wasabi is one of holiday colors from a|s. If you haven't gotten yourself a pack of the goodness, email me or call me and I will get you some on my next order.

I also wanted to mention that the Holiday Washi Tape assortment is on sale for 20% off now through December 15th. I used the Wasabi washi tape on this card. Let me say that the holiday Washi Tape assortment is not just for Christmas! The tape assortment includes a Cherry dotted tape, Wasabi solid and a Pebble (gray) and white stripe that would be fab for masculine cards! Don't miss your chance to try this amazing tape at a fantastic price!

Supplies Used to make this card include:
Wasabi, Shell, Bermuda, Sugar and French Roast Polka Dot cardstock, Birthday Builder (also on sale 20% off) and Sheet Music Background Stamps, Meadow Mix Flowers, Shell Not Your Grandma's Bag of Buttons, Shell Twine, Holiday Washi Tape, Standard and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, VersaMark, White Embossing Powder, Wasabi, Shell and French Roast Ink. All products available from a muse studio.

a brief note...

2011-12-10T22:37:00.002-06:00

I am not feeling too chit chatty...I guess I am tired. I made this for the VSN going on at Splitcoast tonight. It was a fun one to make. Sandy, I hope it inspires you! You are going to love Hey Man more and more as you play with it! I know I do. Thanks for popping in!
Supplies used to make this card:
a|s hey man, harlequin background stamps, kraft, cherry, sky, sugar, grass gingham, french roast, papaya, ocean, and orange card stock, Adirondack Espresso, a|s sky, VersaMark inks, Onyx Bakers Twine, a|s grass die, Nesties Rectangle and Scalloped Rectangel Dies

Scott Sketch 160

2011-12-09T11:17:00.004-06:00

My friend Heather Scott is back with her sketches! I am glad too, because I made this pan of gingerbread men and then had the hardest time making them into a card...just ask Gayle! I shifted and shuffled and couldn't make an appealing card! I put the sheet pan of sweetie gingerbread guys aside hoping inspiration would strike. After a few days I had an ah-ha! moment. I remembered that Heather had a sketch! So I browsed on over to her blog and sure enough, it worked! I had to make my card a portrait version of her sketch because my pan is a rectangle. Heather used a square for the image panel in the sketch and that left way to much Bermuda Polka Dot paper and the balance was off. As soon as I rotated the card I knew I had a winner! Welcome back Heather, I've missed your sketches. Go on, pop over by Heather's blog and then play in the sketch challenge!

Supplies used to make this card include:
Cocoa, Cherry, Bermuda Polka Dot, and Silver Shimmer card stocks, Cherry Twinkle Stickers, VersaMark ink and White Embossing Powder, Bermuda Not Your Grandma's Bag of Buttons, Cherry Bakers Twine (20%off right now), Corner Chomper and Fiskars Scallop Edge Scissors. The stamps are from Holiday Tags and they are on sale as part of the Spotlight until the end of the month.

Hot Dog!

2011-12-08T13:01:00.003-06:00

Hi Sandy! Does this help?

Kraft paper is on sale as part of the Top Ten Holiday Must Haves...So is cherry bakers twine. Polka Dot Patterns is on sale for the Spotlight.

Supplies Used to make this card include:
Kraft, Sugar, Papaya, and Cherry card stock, Cranberry a|s, Memento Tuxedo Black and VersaMark inks, Copic Markers, Nesties Labels 1, Standard Circles, and Scallop Circle, Cherry Bakers Twine, and White embossing powder.

CAS-ual Friday Challenge 29 - TAKE TWO!

2011-11-29T09:59:00.003-06:00

So, if you read my previous post you know that I was playing around with CAS-ual Friday's Challenge 29. It's a sketch and I was a little off the mark with my last card. Darn circles! Still a cute card though... This one is more true to the sketch. It was a fun card to create! It really pushed my limits. I am not used to so much 'vanilla space'. I have decided that it is very hard for me to use a neutral - white card base. Especially when there is so much of it peeking out. I am lovin' the challenges, they push me to try things that I might not otherwise do!

Ok, enough chit chat...I am racing to beat the washer. I have 'seconds' on my Christmas buffet tonight and a messy house. There is so much to do around here...AND WHO IS GOING TO PUT UP MY CHRISTMAS TREE?!

Supplies used to create this card include:
French Roast, Cherry and Vanilla Card Stock, Grass, Cranberry, and French Roast Ink, Cherry Twinkle Stickers, French Roast Bakers Twine, Cherry Felt, Corner Chomper, Nesties Scallop and Standard Circles Small, Scor-Pal*, Heart Trio Die, Stamps are from Tweet Heart, Swanky Backgrounds, and Polka Dot Patterns. All products from a*muse studio unless noted with *.

P.S. I am done blogging and the washer is still spinning! I WIN! Thanks for popping or hopping by. Yo.

CAS-ual Friday Sweet!

2011-11-26T14:34:00.003-06:00

OK - So my rectangle turned circle and I debated playing in the CAS-ual Friday Challenge 29. After much debate with myself, myself won and I decided to enter it anyway! After all, it's just stamping right?! My focal image was on a rectangle and matted with both layers tucked under the scallop sentiment panel, but there was not enough contrast. I decided that I would pull off the image panel and cut it into a circle. With the cocoa mat between the main image panel and the sentiment panel I got the contrast I wanted. Much better! I decided to share it on CAS-ual Friday even though it morphed a little from the sketch. I think that you can tell the sketch was inspiration.

I am going to go try again now! I have another brand new a|s stamp set that I want to play with...let's see if I can get the rectangle this time. ;)

Thanks for hopping or popping by!

Supplies used to make this card include:
Cocoa, Shell, Vanilla and Bermuda Polka Dot Card Stocks, Vanilla Organdy Ribbon, Le Pouf, Diamond Glitter, and Cherry Twinkle Stickers, French Roast and Shell a|s inks, Memento Rich Cocoa, Corner Chomper, Scallop Scissors, Nesites Small and Large Circles and my brand new Sweet Love stamp set.

Holly Berry Tag Kit November Hostess Bonus

2011-11-19T09:24:00.006-06:00

I am finding that a*muse is full of surprises! It seems like each time a promotion ends and I think things are going to slow down, a|s has another trick up her sleeve! This month there are two promotions and they are both available from November 25-28th only. Over the Black Friday weekend, a*muse is offering a free package of 10 Black Shimmer Damask note cards to everyone who places an order on a qualified workshop. a|s is offering hostesses a set of these cards too! You can check out more about the Black Friday Promotion here. If you place and order with me between now and 11-28, I would be happy to help you get a set of cards. Just email your order and mention that you want the note cards. Black Friday weekend is the sweet spot this month because you can also take advantage of the Holly Berry Vine Holiday Tag Kit Hostess Bonus too!

Look at this awesome kit of product! Can you believe that my hostess got all that free - in addition to $50 in free product and a half price stamp set of her choice! Qualified November hostesses receive the Holly Berry Holiday Tag Kit in addition to a*muse studio's already very generous hostess benefits!

My hostess let me play with the stamps, ink and cherry tags from the Holly Berry Vine Holiday Tag Kit to make this card. It features the Holly Berry Vine stamp set and the sentiment is from Celebrate the Season. Papers are Cherry Polka Dot, Grass, French Roast, Candy Cane Stripe, and Twas the Night Before Christmas. Inks are Cherry, Grass and French Roast. I used Nesties Labels 4, Ovals Large and Scalloped Ovals Large Dies. Now that is a fast and fabulous Christmas card that you could make multiples of in no time!

Alright, I gotta fly. I have a buffet to get ready for! Happy Christmas card stamping and thank you for stopping by.

Wanna Host a Birthday Card Workshop?

2011-11-18T10:08:00.007-06:00

I am playing in some challenges again with this card! I just love all the great games and inspiration available on the internet for us stampers!
This is a birthday card we will be making at Fayleen's Birthday Card Birthday Party! We are getting all of Fay's girlfriends and family together to make 3 birthday cards featuring a*muse studio products. It's going to be our 2 hours of happy, that is for sure!
This card features these a*muse studio products:
Toffee, Currant, Sky, Onyx and School Lined Card Stocks.
Sky, Slate, Currant, Lemon Whip and French Roast Ink.
Stamps from Rock Star and Essential Sentiments.
Circle Punches.
That's it! with a*muse studio, great cards can be made with just the basics: stamps, ink and paper.
Here are the challenges I am entering this card in:
For Your Inspiration Challenges has this LOVER-LY photo inspiration challenge! Isn't that view AMAZING! I wish I was there.
CCEE Stampers 1146 is use 2 punches or use 2 dies. I used two punches.

Thank you for stopping by! Yo.

Nordic Snow Song

2011-11-16T11:18:00.004-06:00

November 21st 12:30- 2:30 OR 7 - 9pm - Christmas Buffet - Come make various Christmas cards, tags and goodies. Various prices - You choose the projects you make.

I totally cased this card from one my upline Angi sent me. I used Nordic Noel and Sky Ink to stamp the snowflake over the Music Background stamped in French Roast on Sugar Shimmer. I embossed the snowflake with a*muse studio Sparkle Embossing Powder. In real life this card has a wonderful sparkle! This is one of many fun Christmas cards and projects you will find on my buffet. Wanna come make some fun holiday projects? Just email me!

Fun Felt - Thursday!

2011-11-15T23:01:00.003-06:00

November 17th 12:30- 2:30 OR 7 - 9pm - Fun Felt Class - Come make a card, ornament, and stocking all with the wonderful luxury a*muse wool blend felt. $20. I am just so in love with the a*muse felt - yum! This little Christmas tree is perfect for decking your halls or to give as a gift for a special friend, teacher or co-worker!

This stocking is the perfect size for gift cards! How many of those to do you give every holiday season?! Here is the perfect way to make your gift stand out! Not to mention think of all the fun you will have making these cuties!
It's not all Christmas this time. I love this little mitten all winter long. The photo doesn't capture it really well, but that mitten is all stuffed and puffy and luxuriously soft! There is still time to RSVP for this neat class. Call or email so I know I need to cut pieces for you!

October Spotlight Ends 10-14 at 10:59 CST

2011-11-07T13:25:00.003-06:00

Don't miss the great stamp sets and yummy Autumn Harvest Card Stock Assortment on sale this month! You can check out all of the details on my website here. If you want any of the Spotlight products be sure to email me or pick them up here BEFORE 10:59 CST on Monday October 14th.

Happy Stampin' yo!

You Da Man - Cards for Men

2011-10-18T13:10:00.003-06:00

I just love these mustaches! They are just so fun and silly! I made this card for my up coming 3 cards and dessert class. I am going to enter it into the Cards For Men - Make Us Laugh Challenge and Make It Monday #59 - Anything Goes.

Supplies Used to Make this Card:
a*muse studio Foiled Again stamp set
a*muse studio french roast ink and button
a*muse studio Buttercup, French Roast, Vanilla, Winter Sky Wood Grain, and Buttercup Gingham Card Stocks
a*muse studio Pinking Edge Die
Gold brads, Nestabilities Sm and Lg Standard Circle Dies, Foam Dimensional Adhesive

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope to see ya here for 3 Cards and Dessert - Masculine Edition on December 1st!

Adeline's Birthday Card

2011-10-14T10:39:00.002-06:00

Here is a cutie little card that I made for a special little girl. This is Adeline's birthday card.

These are the products used to make it:

a*muse studio grass gingham
a*muse studio bubblegum polka dot
a*muse studio grass and vanilla cardstock
a*muse studio bubblegum ink
memento rich cocoa ink
a*muse studio vanilla satin ribbon
a*muse hearts a plenty, friends fur-ever, contemporary greetings, tweet heart stamps
a*muse studio french roast button

My Grand Opening is on tonight 6-8pm and tomorrow 1-4pm. I hope you can pop by! Email me to RSVP or to get directions to my house.

3-2-1 Challenge - I am at it again!

2011-10-13T06:25:00.002-06:00

Here is another challenge card! The challenge was a fun one I found on Crafty Creations Challenges - use 3 designer papers, 2 embellishments and 1 image. This card also works for Truly Scrumptious' Challenge to distress and Diva's By Design's challenge to button up! See as I was working on this I needed a 3rd designer paper so...I distressed my own! Because a*muse studio paper is printed on the front and white inside You can make your own patterns and designs. I embossed the stripes at the bottom of the card and then with a sanding block scuffed away the sky color. I am sending this card to Deb who had surgery on the 8th. Hi Deb! I hope your feeling better!
Products used to make this card are from a*muse studios, unless otherwise noted, and include:
Cherry Heartbreakers Design Paper, Cherry Gingham Design Paper, Sky, Sugar and Cherry Card Stock. Dies are Nesties Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Lg. The Button is from my stash and the ribbon is Cherry Stitched Grosgrain. I used my scor-pal to get the stripe pattern and my scallops are cut with old Fiskars Scallop Long Scissors

Another challenge or four...

2011-10-12T09:02:00.004-06:00

I think these challenges are going to be a fun way to get creativity flowing! I made this card for My Partner in Crafting Crime's Photo Inspiration Challenge. I love the photo and was inspired by the bright blue sky and colors.

I am also playing in these other FUN challenges:
Pollycraft Monday Challenge - Boys, Boys, Boys
Make it Monday and Woodware USA's Anything Goes Challenge.

I used a*muse studios products on my card including:
Stamps from Essential Sentiments and Quick & Cute Valentines, Bermuda Polka Dot paper, Grass Gingham paper, solid Cherry, Grass and Buttercup Cardstock, Vanilla Felt, Cloud Duo and Nesties Circle and Circle Small Dies and Cherry Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Playing in a Challenge!

2011-10-07T07:55:00.003-06:00

Hey look! I am playing in an online challenge today. I have heard online challenges are 'where it's at'! I have to admit, this challenge was FUN!
Southern Girls Challenge is hosting a challenge to make a project for the men and boys in your life. Well, I was dragon butt on making a card for my brother's birthday...this was just the challenge I needed!

Here are the supplies used to make this card:
a*muse studio swingin' day and ovalicious
a*muse studio cardstock in fern, french roast, orange, french roast polka dot and grass gingham.
memento rich cocoa ink
a*muse studio grass ink
a*muse french roast button

Thanks for popping by!

Happy Birthday Maria!

2011-10-05T08:18:00.002-06:00

Today is Maria's Birthday - and it's a milestone one too! This is the birthday card I made for her. It was a very satisfying card to make. I guess I just needed to let loose and STAMP.

Happy, happy birthday Maria!

Supplies I used to make this card include:
a*muse stamps from Life is a Song, Avian Notes, Celebrate in Style, and Polka Dot Patterns.
a*muse ink in French Roast, Sky, and Lichen.
a*muse sky, sage and buttercup gingham cardstocks.
a*muse Meadow Mix paper flowers, French Roast buttons, and Twinkle Stickers.
ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Catalogs are Going Out Today!

2011-09-30T11:42:00.005-06:00

I am a busy bee getting catalogs out to those of you who have requested them. If I can send you an a*muse studio 2011 Catalog and Inspiration Guide and/or a 2011 Holiday Catalog and Inspiration Guide, just email me.

I made a little note card to tuck in with the catalog. It's made with the supplies as the party favors in the previous post.

No time for chit-chat I just wanted to show and tell. Gotta run. Thanks for stoppin' by.

Want to see the catalogs right now? Stop by my website.

Action Shot - World Card Making Day Party Favors

2011-09-29T22:45:00.004-06:00

What?! Your not coming to my World Card Making Day Party...too bad! I am busy, busy working on making it a kick it day!

Here is a quick sneak peek at the party favors I am making.

Yup! That's what I am doing right now...
Cute and yummy! I am wrapping little Hershey's Miniatures in pretty a*muse Polka Dot and Gingham cardstock. Then I stack 'em, tie 'em in a bundle and add a tag. The tag features stamps from a*muse studio 'School Days'. I used French Roast, Grass and Cranberry a*muse studio pigment inks. I inked the edge of the tag with Latte a*muse studio ink...I must say, I like it. I think it is going to be my go to ink for edges now.

Wanna join the party, email me! The more the merrier!

September Spotlight

2011-09-28T07:00:00.009-06:00

For one month, you can save 10% on the stamp sets used to create these fabulous projects! The September Spotlight ends October 14th at 10:59 CST...DON'T BE LATE.

Celebrate in Style
Foiled Again!
If You Dare
Victorian Charm
Web Background

And, for a limited time, order the special Jack-O-Lantern cardstock assortment pack. The Jack-O-Lantern Assortment Pack contains four sheets each:
Apricot, Onyx, Pumpkin, Squash, Toffee

World Card Making Day Party!

2011-09-27T12:41:00.007-06:00

Are you busy on WORLD CARD MAKING DAY???

If you don't have plans already...Please join me to stamp the afternoon away! I need a just for FUN stamping day to get my mojo flowing again! On Saturday, October 1st from 1:00pm to 6:00pm I am going to have refreshments, champagne, challenges, stamping, more stamping, party favors and a couple of prizes at my World Card Making Day PARTY. If you can join me just email or call me.

If you are planning to attend, bring your favorite basic tools like scissors, paper trimmer with a scoring blade, bone folder, your favorite adhesives and other must have crafting basics. Besides the basic essential tools, bring some cardstock, papers and embellishments. If you have cards you want to make - bring the basic supplies. I have lots of punches, dies, ink pads, markers, colored pencils, decorative scissors, stamps and consumable things too! If you forget anything or need something, chances are I have it!
I will have light refreshments including a chilled bottle of Asti - my favorite!
a*muse is having two special offers, you might like to take advantage! The first is the September Spotlight. Click here or check back tomorrow for more information on the fantastic Spotlight promotion. It features all the discounted items and some great project ideas. The second is a special Word Card Making Day offer. a*muse studio will be giving away a special package of ten a*muse studio note cards and envelopes FREE with any customer who places an order on a World Card Making Day Party order. It's just a fun freebie from a*muse to celebrate card makers and say thank you.

Finally, I want to let you know in advance that there will be four challenges with prizes. The challenges are fun and friendly. They will include a 20 minute card challenge, a use a*muse challenge, a sketch challenge and there will be surprise prizes for completed cards too. Here is a sneak peek at one of the fun prizes and incentives I am working on:

This cute mini card kit is going to be used as an incentive at my World Card Making Day Party.

The kit contains a sample card and all the supplies you need to make four of the same card PLUS envelopes. It even includes the YOU ROCK and guitar stamps!
Supplies used to make this kit:
Rock Star and Past Due (I used Past Due for the Thank You on the tag)
a*muse pigment inks in Bermuda, Grass, Papaya and Slate
a*muse cardstock in Orange, Bermuda, Buttercup and Grass - Don't you love the white stripes on the left side? a*muse paper is so fun to emboss and sand!
a*muse studio orange satin ribbon and onyx and white bakers twine top this bag of FUN!
I am a busy bee getting ready! I hope you are as excited as I am!
Please feel free to bring a friend or forward this on to anyone that you think would like to join us!
See ya Saturday!
Marisa

A Fond Farewell to The Angel Company

2011-08-28T14:58:00.010-06:00

It is time to say a bittersweet and fond farewell to The Angel Company. After 14 years, Mischelle has announced that we will be hanging up our wings. It's been a wonderful adventure and I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

I usually have so much to say about everything, but today words escape me. I take comfort that God understands silence when the words wont come. To all my TAC friends, thank you for the memories. I will cherish them always. What a blessing you are to me. To Mischelle, thank you so much for giving The Angel Company so much of you. It has been a wonderful journey that would not have been possible without your dream realized in The Angel Company. I can not wait to see where your adventures will take you.

Please hop along and check out the other creations made to celebrate and remember The Angel Company:

Julie: http://juliesstamppad.blogspot.com/
Seleise: http://www.amethystcat.blogspot.com/
Rita W.: http://handmadebits4u.blogspot.com/
Donna: http://lakesidestamper.blogspot.com/
Chan: http://purpledfly.blogspot.com/
Mary: http://www.marysangelinspirations.blogspot.com/
Angela K. http://www.angelakelley.blogspot.com/
Laura: http://www.thecraftysister.com/
Barbara: http://www.stampingwiththekamperstampr.blogspot.com/
Trudy: http://www.trudystreasures.blogspot.com/
Shirley: http://glitteredpaws.blogspot.com
Wendy: http://wendyswhimsyandwit.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://stampincarol.blogspot.com/
Rita K. http://ritasangels.blogspot.com/
Chelsea: http://inkystamps.blogspot.com/
Kim: http://angelatmydoor.blogspot.com/
PaulaKay http://www.angelstampingwithpk.blogspot.com/
Ginger: http://rubberstamped.blogspot.com/
Teresa: http://mamapickle.blogspot.com/
Maria: http://www.meastamper.blogspot.com/
Angie: http://www.creativeinkspirations.com/
Deb Miller: http://www.creamcityangels.blogspot.com/
Diana: http://memorycrafter.blogspot.com/
Betty G.: http://www.stampinteacher.com/
Christine: http://christines-creativetherapy.blogspot.com/
Sandy A. http://inkingofyou.blogspot.com/
Char: http://pawsn2stamp.blogspot.com/
Diane H. http://www.thesmilinstamper.blogspot.com/
Chris F. http://allamericanstampers.blogspot.com/
Sandy M. http://www.stacysangelcreations.blogspot.com/

Rita H www.ritaholmes.blogspot.com

More August Card Kit Cards

2011-08-17T09:50:00.007-06:00

Sew, What's New? I just love that stamp sentiment! As promised, here is a peek at the other two cards you can make with the August Card Kit.

These two cards are made with Angelee Soar With It Collection papers. This month's kit is a little different because it features TWO TAC paper collections, Angelee and Willoughby. You get lots of variety in this kit.

In the first card you can see how I used two of my favorite new tools; Nestabilities Labels 18 Dies and Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die. What do you think of that flower? Isn't it FAB!? Order the tools with your kit and save 10%!

My second card is a little washed out in the upper left and I couldn't seem to fix it. Sorry.

I love the pinking sheer and stitched detail on this more simple card. A nice feature of this kit is you could make 8 cards - 2 each of the four designs with left over supplies. OR you can make 10 of this more simple design and still have left over supplies to play with. If you vary the ribbons and pattern paper you can mix and match 10 of this design and have a bunch of fun cards made and ready to send. FAST.

The kit is $30, you can see the detail break down of what is included here. See that?! $30 /10 cards = $3 per card with the stamps to make as many more as you want! That is much more affordable than stopping at the grocery store or card shop when you need a card! Have you seen how much those cards at the store go for?! Save some money. Enjoy the process. Stamp your cards!

Thanks for stopping by today! Just email me if you are interested in the August Card Kit.

August Card Kit

2011-08-16T16:42:00.005-06:00

August Card Kit anyone? Here are two of the cards in my August card kit. What do you think?

My kit is $30 and includes:
'Sew Lovely' a Nina B. for TAC stamp set
10 Angelee Soar With It Collection 6x6 Designer Papers
10 Willoughby Soar With It Collection 6x6 Designer Papers
10 Fern and Mocha 5.5x8.5 Card Bases
Ivory Cardstock
4 Shipping Tags
5 Yards of Assorted Willoughby Ribbon
Lace Trim and Assorted Buttons
4 Full Color Photo Idea Cards with Directions

The card kit includes everything you need to make 2 each of 4 cards PLUS extras to make some of your own designs.

I would like to offer some of the tools that I used on these cards to you at a discount. If you order the tools with the August kit I will give you a 10% discount on them. Enjoy the convenience of having the tools you need delivered with your kit. No need to search the craft stores, just pick up the tools with the stamps and papers. If you would like to purchase Nestabilities Labels 18 Dies, Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die, Raw Sienna and Burn Umber Palette inks and/or Mini Kai scissors with your kit you will enjoy some savings on those tools. Just let me know when you place your order for the kit.

I will post the other two cards tomorrow. I have to get dinner made..it's getting late! Thank you for stopping by!

Stamping on Fabric - BLOG HOP!

2011-08-12T12:46:00.010-06:00

I love fabric! It is so much fun to add to your paper crafts. I love felt and yo-yos and of course ribbon! Today I made an easy baby gift set. Onsies are my FAVORITE! Babies look so cute sportin' just a Onsie. I had some great not so baby fabric that I thought would look sweet and unique when paired with the 'Trunk of Love' Gift With Purchase from TAC. Here's a little tip when looking for fabric to stamp; look for fabrics that have blocks of coordinating patterns. They are perfect for the paper crafter that doesn't want to store tons of fabric. I used a fabric that had a stripe, the pattern I used on the elephant body, two paisley, pink and blue with white dots, the pattern I used on the ear, PLUS three floral patterns all on the same piece of fabric. That is lots of choice in a little storage space. It's like the designer paper collection for fabric.
The baby set consists of a cloth diaper turned burp cloth, a Onsie and a matching gift card. I stamped the elephant from Trunk of Love on fabric with Staz-On. The sentiment on the card is from Savvy Sayings. It is stamped on watercolor paper with Memento Tuxedo Black. The card is embellished with coordinating satin ribbon. That's it. Want to take a class and make this set? Let me know, I have time on Saturday morning before our Cards for Kids - Cards for a Cause Club on August 27th. If you stay for class and donate cards that you make at Card Club, I will treat you to a light lunch of pesto tortellini and fruit. Class is $18 and Card Club is free if you donate two or more cards. If you don't have 2 cards to donate, make them at club or order $30 or more OR pay just $5 for a day of fun and stamping! You can read more about Cards for a Cause here. If you want to know how you can get 'Trunk of Love' free, email me!
Thank you for hopping by!

Cards for a Cause

2011-08-09T11:30:00.006-06:00

I am putting the last Saturday of the month aside for Cards for a Cause Club. We met for our first card club on July 30th. I think our first meeting was productive despite a late start. It was also so much FUN!!

Our card club features a different cause each month. I am looking for causes that are close to your heart. In July we made cards for Crafting for a Cure. Crafting for a Cure is Jo Ann's Relay for Life team. Crafting for a Cure is holding their annual Craft Fair on August 14th. Spring into Fall is the name of the show. Spring into Fall is an annual fundraiser for the benefit of the American Cancer Society with loads of crafters and great raffle prizes, including the cards we made photographed here plus loads more AND Crafting for a Cure's beautiful handmade team quilt. If you can swing or should I say SPRING by the show you should. It's for a fantastic cause. The Spring into Fall Craft and Vendor Fair is August 14th from 11am-3pm at the Holiday Inn, Rolling Meadows - 3405 Algonquin Rd.

Here are two of the cards I made at Card Club. They both feature some AWESOME Bazzill cardstock that I got on clearance from TAC. We used TAC's Card Club Quickies for inspiration. Jo Ann brought some Frutti Fusion paper and challenged us to use the square dot pattern. She has some difficulty designing with that bold pattern. The images are both from TAC's Sweet Day Cupcake T3442 and the Sentiments are from Savvy Sayings t3256 and Sweet Sayings T3443. I colored my images with Copic markers.

Our next Cards for a Cause is going to be a cards for kids day. I work with preteen girls at church during the school year. Occasionally I like to send a card to encourage these girls in their faith and in their lives. Some of them are disadvantaged and many come from challenging family situations. They need the love and encouragement. If you can join us, I promise, it is a fun and rewarding. We stamp on the last Saturday, August 27th, from 11am to 4pm. Bring any supplies that you want to use - especially those uncut stamp sets. I provide my stamps, tools, inks and other non-consumables. Cards for a Cause Club is a great way to use those supplies you HAD to have while being inspired by other card crafters like yourself and doing good to others! If you can join us on the 27th please send me an email!

Wonderful Cloud - For Gayle

2011-08-08T10:25:00.003-06:00

I love the Nina B. for TAC exclusive Wonderful Trees! The stamp set was featured in my July Card Kit. I promised Gayle I would show how you can do more than trees with this fun set. I have also been on a quest to make some cards that are SUPER SIMPLE, but still cute. That is how this card came to be...that and a last minute rearrangement of elements to cover a smudge! LOL. I might put the sun on the left of the cloud when I make more of these. ;)

Hostess Club - be ready to stamp a pile of SUPER simple cards tonight and tomorrow night! I am going to set you up with a bunch of cards that are ready to mail! Spread the LOVE - send some LOVE!

I used Nina B. for TAC's Wonderful Trees and TAC's Level C Reward Stamp Set, Love this Day for this card. I also used VersaMagic Cloud White Ink and White Embossing Powder. I got some great Bazzill cardstock on clearance from TAC, it included this blue. My blue sky is simply embellished with a yellow button and scrappers floss.

Finally Friday

2011-07-29T08:20:00.003-06:00

It's Finally Friday over on TAC's Savvy Projects Blog and it was my turn to post something to inspire you for the weekend.

I made this little card using some brand new rubba! New rubba inspires me to stamp, how about you? I posted a picture tutorial for making fringed felt flowers on the Savvy Projects Blog. I love all things felt and these flowers are an inexpensive and easy way to shake up your cards. If you have time, head over to Savvy and check out the tutorial. Let me know what you think.

Supplies used to create this card include: Bazzill Smoothies Kraft Cardstock, TAC Brown Cardstock, Sands of Time Classic Soar with It Collection Pattern Paper, Nina B. for TAC exclusive stamps Giddy Up RN-15 and Fancy Labels RN-18, Nestabilities Labels 18 dies, Palette Burnt Umber ink, Deckle Scissors, craft felt, and May Arts stitched ribbon.

Samplers and Swatches - I am CONSUMED!

2011-07-28T11:36:00.008-06:00

Here is your loverly paper! Aren't those YUMMY shades!?! Wait till you feel this stuff! It's not called smoothies for nothing! Smooth and heavy with rich pigments! If you haven't claimed your Sampler Pack, it's not too late! I hope to order the second round on Monday. I need to get 10 more Samplers Packs claimed so tell your downline, upline, sister angels and stampy friends! Email me if you want one of the second round Sampler Packs!
Here is a peek behind the scenes. That is my daughter Desi. She and I spent most of yesterday afternoon and into the evening walking around the two tables turning the 60 packs of 25 sheets into 25 packs of 60 sheets! I am so thankful for her help! Each Sampler Pack contains one full sheet of each of the 60 Smoothies colors for $29.95 shipping included.
The last picture for now is my progress on the Swatches. I have 53 of the 60 colors cut into swatches. You can print your swatch card here. These are 1x2 pieces cut to fit on the TAC cards. If you want a set email me. They are $2.50 plus actual shipping. I will be able to pack and weigh these today...so if you are waiting on a total from me I can get that to you tomorrow. EDITED.

For Gayle

2011-07-26T08:11:00.004-06:00

This post is especially for Gayle! I promised some more ideas with TAC's Wonderful Trees. Gayle commented that she loves my July Kit featuring Wonderful Trees, but she asked me how many tree cards does she really need. I told her that is why I love Wonderful Trees so much. The trees don't have to be trees! See, they make BEAUTIFUL flowers! Next up, CLOUDS.

I used Lotsa Dotsa, Give it a Whirl, Wonderful Trees stamps and Memento Tuxedo Black ink, a button, black scrappers floss and Penelope Ribbon to make this card. Oh! My pink cardstock is some pink that I got from Shar, my SU! demo.

Happy Simple Stampin'!

Oh! Speaking of simple stampin' check out TAC's Card Club Quickies...BRILLIANT!

Christmas in July 7-25 Make 5 Cards for $20

2011-07-20T09:35:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas in July! Here is a peek at two more cards for my Christmas in July card class! Can you join us? Come to get a jump on your Christmas cards. Trust me, in November when you have Thanksgiving preparations and Christmas shopping and gift wrapping and halls to deck and parties to attend you will be so glad you started your Christmas cards in JULY!
Class is from 6:00 to 9:00pm and costs $20. You will make 5 cards and have the opportunity to plan and order supplies for your cards. I am happy to help you with ideas and designs so you can get rolling on those cards early. Have a stress free and enjoyable time doing your Christmas cards this year! Email me to RSVP so I know how many class kits to prepare. If you are in the Chicagoland area and want to join us just shoot me an email!

Happy Christmas card stamping!

Christmas in July on Savvy Projects Blog

2011-07-15T09:01:00.002-06:00

Have you been watching the Christmas in July bloggin' going on at the Savvy Projects Blog?! My fellow TAC Dream Team Designers have been posting Christmas cards all week! July is a great time to start planning your Christmas cards.

Angi featured some great holiday uses for TAC's all occasion papers.

Kerry did a nice job with some of TAC's brand new rewards/hostess sets.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE what Rita did with Vintage Rides and who would have thought of Brandi and Emma for Christmas?!

Paula Kay's card just screams Merry Christmas and her coloring is wonderful!

Michelle used Reece for both a elegant and playful Christmas card.

Here is my contribution to Christmas in July! Isn't that little penguin so CUTE-Y?! He is a Gift with Purchase. That means he can be yours for free with a $30 purchase. This is one of 5 cards we will be making in my Christmas in July card class. Do you want to join us to get a jump start on your Christmas cards? Class is Monday, July 25th from 6:30-9pm, email me to RSVP.

Like Angi I used all occasion papers from TAC's Kaleidoscope Girlz and Mia's Cottage Collections. My greeting is from TAC's Merriest Wishes T3147. The white ribbon is from the Lilly Anna Ribbon Collection. I used Nestabilities Standard and Scallop Circles Large and Labels 3 dies.

Welcome to the World of Blogging!

2011-07-14T12:14:00.006-06:00

I am sitting here with my downline Arlene Cook and we are starting a blog for her. We decided that a good training post would be blogging the card we made for our monthly swap. Each month I get together with an excellent group of stampers and we do a shoebox swap. This month we started with a sketch. Everyone used this sketch to make a card. I will add an inlinkz to the bottom of this post, as soon as I teach myself how. PLEASE take a look at the sketch and play along. There will be prizes for everyone who shares a card AND comments on Arlene's Blog! YUP that's it just link your card and leave Arlene some LOVE.

Here is the card I made with the sketch. My cards features Nina B for TAC's Wonderful Trees, Lilly Anna SWIC Pattern Paper, Cardstock, Ribbon and Hardware. I stamped my images in Palette Beaux Arts Blue, and Chartreuse and Memento Rich Cocoa.

Hostess Club Projects

2011-07-13T07:03:00.003-06:00

Last night was hostess club. Here is a peek at the projects we made! The card is a 3x3 gift card. Don't you love that purdy hat? I stamped the Mimi cardstock with the big lace from Beautiful Lace in VersaMark Dazzle. The hat, also from Beautiful Lace, is paper pieced with More Mimi SWIC paper. I colored the roses pink and green with Copic markers. I used Nestabilities Scallop Circle Lg and Standard Circles Lg.

The project we did was one from Michelle McDaniel's class at TAC's Seminar. Isn't that the cutest little purse? I am not sure about the photograph, it was kind of hard for me to get a good picture.

The purse is made with More Mimi SWIC pattern paper. I love the double sided paper for projects like these because you actually get to use both yummy sides!

I used Labels 5 Nestabilities to make the flap for the purse. I cut the flap and pocket from TAC's brown cardstock. It's a rich dark chocolate brown that has a nice weight. Loverly cardstock. The flap is embellished with a Bitty Blossom, button and acrylic gemstone. The leaves are punched from More Mimi with a SU! punch.

These little purses are so easy and quick to make. I plan on giving this one with it's little gifty to Violet's bus driver. Violet just loves taking the bus for her summer reading program. Her bus driver is a nice lady. I hope she likes the purse. I see myself making bunches of these.

Oh wait, you want to make one too? Ohhh. Well you should have joined my Hostess Club! It's not too late! I am looking for groups of 5 to rotate hostess benefits. Come stamp once a month with other crafty ladies making projects like this. You'll get the brand new TAC catty free as one of the many benefits to being a Hostess Club member! Email me if you need more information!

Techinque Blog Hop - Spotlighting

2011-07-08T11:06:00.009-06:00

Spotlighting - It's not a new technique that's for sure...BUT just between you and me, this it the first time I have ever tried it!
Since I am confessing here, I might as well tell the whole truth...I have never really liked the look of Spotlighting! Boy, is my opinion changing! Here is my first attempt at the technique and I have to say I am very happy with the results.
Since I don't have any experience with the technique, after popping in on the Savvy Projects Blog, I decided not too look at any of the stops on the hop until I made my card. Here is one more confession - I JUST FINISHED about 3 minutes ago. I didn't want anyone else's creative spin on Spotlighting to effect what I would ultimately do with the technique. I can't wait to see more of this technique in action. It's an old technique, but I am sure the fabulous TAC Dream Team has put a new and modern spin on it.
Have you tried Spotlighting? Are you a fan? I would love to see your take on this technique. Grab some stamps and some paper and play along. Thanks for hopping by! Be sure to check out the Savvy Projects Blog for Mischelle's very inspiring Spoghtlighting post.
This card features: TAC New Creation T3492, TAC Maggie SWIC Pattern Paper, Copic Markers, Prismacolor Pencils, Rich Cocoa, Dessert Sand and Tuxedo Black Memento, TAC Emma Ribbon, Neutral Bitty Blossoms, Paper Flower from In Bloom Blossoms and Buttons, and Smoothies Kraft Cardstock all available from The Angel Company My card also uses Rust and Dark Brown Cardstock, a blue button, paper floss and eyelet lace trim from my stash.

Desi and Violet's Thank You Cards

2011-07-07T09:02:00.006-06:00

Stamping is a fun family activity! These are a couple of the thank you cards my daughters made last night. The first and third cards were made by my 15 year old daughter Desi. She used a brand new set from The Angel Company called Konnichiwa.

The second and fourth cards are made by my 6 year old daughter Violet. She decided to do her own doodles instead of using stamps. So we pulled out the Stardust Glittering Pens, Souffle Pens and the Gelly Glaze Pens and let her imagination run wild. TAC carries all these lovely specialty pens. They make very nice hostess 1/2 price items!

If you want to see more BEAUTIFUL cards made with Konnichiwa, check out fellow TAC Dream Team Designer, Angela Kelley's Blog here.

Look at that one of a kind art work...maybe with a little more practice and a few years Violet could be TAC's next great artist! Thank you for stopping by today! In honor of my crafty kids, take 10% off of Konnichiwa AND anyone or more packages of specialty pen sets. Just mention this blog post at the time of your order. Must buy both the stamp set and pen set in one order. Offer expires 9-30-11 and can not be combined with any other discount such as, but not limited to, hostess half price items.

July Kit is HERE!

2011-07-02T08:06:00.004-06:00

That's right! I have another fun card kit for you. This kit features stamps by Nina Brackett exclusively for TAC. Have I mentioned to you how excited I am to have her stamps in our line of product? You should see my wish list, it includes all but 3 or 4 of her sets! The July Card Kit includes Wonderful Trees, an $18.95 retail value. As always, the kit includes enough product to make 2 each of these four designs PLUS some extras for you to play with your own designs.

My July Card Kit is $42 (plus actual postage if I need to reship to you) and it Contains:
Nina B for TAC's Wonderful Trees Stamp Set - $18.95 retail value
10 - 6x6 Lilly Anna Soar With It Collection Pattern Papers
8 - 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 Lilly Anna Soar With It Collection Cardstock Card Bases
12 - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 Assorted Cardstock Sheets for Layers and Stamping
5 - yards of Lilly Anna Soar With It Collection Ribbons - 1 Yard each of 5 styles
20 - Assorted Pieces of Lilly Anna Hardware
4 - Full Color Photo Instruction Cards

I am offering a few add on items this month. Since the Wonderful Trees are a bold stamps that require stamping in colored ink I am offering 10% off any of the recommended ink colors. I recommend Memento Rich Cocoa and either Memento Rose Bud, Memento Pear Tart, and Memento Bahama Blue OR Palette Claret, Palette Chartreuse and Palette Beau Arts Blue. Add any of these inks in any size pad and save 10%
I am also offering two sentiment stamp sets as discount add on items. I love the thinking of you sentiment that comes in Wonderful Trees and used it on all four of my cards this month. I was thinking that you might like to have more variety. Since TAC just came out with a new catalog and I am so excited about a bunch of the new word sets, I am offering 10% off of Grace and Peace T3503 and Contemporary Greetings T3505. I will add photos of the stamp sets as The Angel Company makes them available. Since they are all new set released on Monday there are only thumbnails out there right now.

If you would like to order my July Card Kit just send me an email. I have about 60 people coming over in 6 short hours so I need to get a move on it. I hope you have a happy and safe Independence Day weekend. Speaking of Independence Day, If you haven't seen my Savvy post from yesterday go check it. The Dream Team really rocked it. You will not be sorry!

You CAN NOT miss this Savvy Post!

2011-07-01T07:30:00.004-06:00

'America I Love' is a brand new Level A Hostess Reward/Card Club Incentive Set from The Angel Company. Isn't is lovely? You just have to go to the Savvy Project Blog and check out my post there. The TAC Dream Team designers have made a bunch of unbelievable cards for your viewing pleasure. You will be so inspired. I promise. So go. Go on and look. Go.

Have a safe and happy Independance Day weekend. God Bless America.

My card features America I Love TA3482, Bazzill Cardstock and gold ribbon from TAC's Emma Ribbon Collection. I colored my image with Copic Markers and trimmed the edges with deckle scissors.

Beautiful Lace - New for 2011-12

2011-06-29T10:38:00.004-06:00

I am back from Seminar and can not wait for you to see the new TAC catalog! Just let me know if you want one. I am offering the new book for $5 or FREE with a $35 order from the catalog. If you are a current hostess I have your free copy here. I'll see ya on July 11th or 12th for hostess club.

My sample today features Beautiful Lace, a brand new Nina B set. The sentiment comes from Brighten Your Day. That pretty pink and black paper is from TAC's Uptown Girl Fly With It Collection. Notice the little Scor-Bug detail on the main panel? I thought it looked like a pull chain and reinforced the lamp image.

I am still catching up AND I have so many ideas for the new catalog year so this post is going to stay short and sweet. Peace out.

20011-12 Catalogs are HERE!

2011-06-27T20:18:00.003-06:00

Come and get 'em!

I can not even begin to tell you how excited I am about the new catalog. Wait til you see it. I have not been this excited about a catalog EVER.

I got home from Seminar at about 1:30 am after about 16 hours in the car. I am so tired I can't even tell you any more right now!

Stay tuned, I have lots of great cards to show you. I did all my Seminar trades with new stamp sets.

I'll be back when I can see straight. For now, Check out Angi Kelley's blog. Angi did the smart. simple. sophisticated. cover sample. She is wonderful.

Vintage Rides Sneak Peek!

2011-06-14T15:41:00.007-06:00

YUP! You heard right! Nina Brackett is now designing exclusives for TAC! I am so excited about her newest set - Vintage Rides.
I love the bold line-drawn clean style of this set. It's just a taste of what TAC has in store for you in the 2011-2012 catalog year. I am so excited I can't stand it!
If you like the look of Vintage Rides, now is the time to order it. TAC has a fun sneak peek going on right now. Vintage Rides will retail for $23.95 when the new catalog goes live on June 27th. Right now, Vintage Rides is just $16.95 for a limited time! Order your Sneak Peek stamp sets from me by email me before 6-21!

TAC Favorites Blog Hop

2011-06-10T08:52:00.011-06:00

Thank you for hopping by today! This blog hop is all about FAVORITES! I had such a hard time narrowing down my favorite TAC product or stamping technique. I finally settled on this card. I decided on this card because it represents my two favorites from the 2010-2011 catalog. Funny Farm and Funny Farm Phrases were my favorite stamps debuted in the soon to retire publication. My favorite TAC SWIC collection (today...lol) is Emma.

I pictured an outside/inside view of this card so you could see how funny the those Phrases are! They are perfect with the animals that look like they are up to no good. If these stamp sets make you smile and you want to have them for your own, than you need to order them before I leave for Seminar. They just got the retirement ax. I am so sad, I thought I had another year with my mischief making buddies!

Here is a list of the other stamp sets that were added to the Final Farewells retirement sale:
Discontinued ADDITIONS!

Page Item Description Retail Value
5 TA3286 Basic Blooms $7.95
5 TA3324 Whooo Loves Ya $7.95
16 T2798 Ornamental Joy $5.95
19 T2692 Snowman Nativity $19.95
30 T3109 Summer Boys $10.95
40 T3308 Blossom $7.95
55 T3115 Funny Farm $10.95
55 T3125 Funny Farm Phrases $15.95
91 T3369 In My Heart $19.95
97 T2665 Little Things $7.95
97 T2895 Life is Short $19.95

SHOP EARLY & SAVE BIG on our Final Farewell ADDITIONS!

June 3-12th ~ Receive 40% OFF!
June 13-19th ~ Receive 35% OFF!
June 20-24th ~ Receive 30% OFF!

TAC has also slashed the prices on some of my favorite accessories! To be honest with you, I am a little nervous about it. Check out the list of Discontinued Accessories and save big on my favorites; paper floss, stickles, CABOODLES CARDSTOCK, and much more.

June Kit - Details

2011-06-02T17:58:00.003-06:00

These card are SO MUCH MORE AWESOME in person! I just can not seem to get them to photograph right. Maybe it's the time of day I am trying to take pictures. I will try again tomorrow morning. I just wanted to get these posted since I promised yesterday I would be back today with more details!

Here are the other two designs you will be able to make with the June Card Kit. You really need to see these in person!

The June Kit is just $38 (plus shipping if I need to reship to you) and here is what it includes:
-Fun Flower Pots Stamp Set Retail Value of $19.95
-10 6x6 Sheets of Emma Soar With It Collection Pattern Paper
-8 A2 Cardbases from Emma SWIC Cardstock
-5 yards of Emma Soar With It Collection Ribbon, 1 yard each style
-Antique Copper Hardware, 20 assorted pieces
-8 - 4 1/4x 5 1/2 Ivory Cardstock
-1 - 4 1/4x 5 1/2 Yellow Cardstock

I used Ordinary Greetings on all four cards. If you don't have the stamp se,t I highly recommend adding it on. It is a casual sentiment set that is not too big and not too small. It's my favorite TAC greeting set. I was sad to see it on the retirement list...however, that's a bonus for you since it's 30% off right now.

I used VersaMagic Ink on my samples. You might want to check your ink pads and make sure you have colors that will work. If you want to add ink to your kit just say so! I am going to offer 10% off any ink pads ordered with the June kit. I used Jumbo Java, Gingerbread, Brick Red, Thatched Straw, Tea Leaves, Pink Grapefruit, and Aspen Mist on my cards.

May Kits are HERE, June Kits are AVAILABLE!

2011-06-01T16:04:00.006-06:00

If you ordered a May Card Kit they are arriving daily! I am cutting and packing and printing as we speak! If you didn't get one and you want one, just email me! I can get the stamps for a few more weeks. You can see my May Card Kit in this post and more samples here and here.

My May kit was such a smashing success, I decided to go ahead right away with a June Card Kit! Here are two of the four cards this kit will make. The kit has enough paper and embellishments to make two of each design with leftover supplies for you to make your own designs.

I will be back tomorrow with the other two cards and the details. Don't delay if you want this kit because the stamp set, Fun Flower Pots (a TAC Level C hostess set) will be gone for good in just a couple of short weeks!

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T13:09:00.009-06:00

Happy Memorial Day! I am sitting here kinda lonely today while my hubby works. I hope that your day is more exciting than mine!

I have been so busy this week! Here are all of the cards I was going to show you this week - all in one post.

The first card is one that I have been meaning to make for a long time. I have had Fairy Birthday from TAC for ages. The little flag banner is one of the fun images in the set. Banners are SO trendy right now. Here is my TAC take on a HUGE stamping trend. What do you think? I stamped the flag banner and sentiment, from TAC Thinking Of You, in Memento Rich Cocoa. The paper and cardstock are from a scrapbook kit I had in my garage. Notice the subtle frame around the focal image? That stamp is from Background Soup. I love Background Soup, it's the perfect stamp set for cards that need a little something.

Next card is also made with paper and cardstock from that long forgotten scrapbook kit that was in my garage. The pattern papers are American Crafts and the cardstock is Bazzill. Isn't that bird fun? I stamped him in Aloe Vera VersaMagic ink on my image panel. Then I stamped again with Jumbo Java on a scrap of white. I cut just the bird out of the image and popped it up over the original Aloe Vera image. All the brads and ribbons were also a part that kit too! What a find!

The last card also features images from TAC's Fall Harvest and papers from that same scrapbook kit. The little bandit bird is stamped twice and the body is popped up. I used Ordinary Greetings, my favorite TAC sentiment stamp set of all time for the "You make a difference!" sentiment. The flower is a fabric Bitty Bloom and the button came from Lemonade Buttons and Blooms.

I am featuring stamp sets from TAC Final Farewell list in this post. Ordinary Greetings, Fall Harvest, and Fairy Birthday are all on sale right now for 30% off. If you want to grab any of these great sets, at a discount, before they are gone be sure to email or call me.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy holiday weekend.

OH! For anyone keeping track of my card a day in the month of May progress, I am at 21 cards so far. I only have a day and a half to do the other 10. I sure that I am not going to make it. :( I have had so much fun sending cards and letting people know I care.

I am Happily Grateful

2011-05-24T14:20:00.002-06:00

I just have a quick post for you today. Max is home and we are working in the yard. I should get out there and help him! I made a bunch of these on Sunday. My daughter is going to be baptised next Sunday. We are nondenominational Christians. We are baptised when we make the decision to follow Christ's example. My daughter is 15 and has decided to be baptised! I am happily grateful.

This is the card I am giving to family and friends to remind them to join us at church on Sunday.

Stamps are TAC Happily Grateful. The butterfly is from a retired promotional set. I don't know the name of the set, if you do, comment.
Paper is some yellow that I love and buy by the ream. I think it is Neenah. It comes in handy when I have to make lots of cards. The green and pink are from Mia's Cottage Cardstock Collection.
Ink is Memento Rich Cocoa, VersaMark, and VersaMagic Jumbo Java.
Accessories include; Jumbo Scallop Scissors, Tim Holtz Wood Grain Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Ribbon is May Arts.

A Variation and Some Tags

2011-05-19T11:01:00.008-06:00

I was talking to Laura at my Hostess Club on Monday night. We were looking at all the pretty tags that come with TAC's Soar With It Collection paper packs. They are so beautiful, little works of art really.

I am trying to send more cards this month. Looking at the tags with Laura gave me an idea. Why not make some simple cards that showcase the tags? I pulled out my Emma and Maggie Soar With It Collections and a pack of Birch Cardstock then got to work. These are the cards I made. The sentiment is from TAC's Blossoms and Blessings. I stamped the image with Adirondack Espresso ink. The edges are punched with my SU! eyelet edge punch. I finished the card with ribbon from the Maggie and Emma ribbon collections.

So what do you think?

I also have a variation of the Pick A Date Birthday card I blogged earlier this week. You can see the original card in this post. I wanted to show you all how versatile Pick a Date can be. The variation is made using TAC's Emma Soar With It Collection paper and Cardstock, just like the original. Isn't it cool how different the same paper pack can look? I stamped the card with the date I sent it and added a Thinking of You sentiment from Sophisticated Sentiments. It's the same card but different.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a happy stampy day!

More Pick a Date

2011-05-17T09:28:00.006-06:00

I have a real quick post today stamp-y people! Here is another take on the third sketch for the Card a Day in the Month of May over on Savvy. I turned the sketch on its side and rotated the rectangle element.
Cardstock: TAC Birch, Mimi and Emma Cardstock Collection
Pattern Paper: Maggie Soar With It Collection
Ink: Palette Reflection Blue and Burnt Umber, VersaMagic Cloud White, Pink Petunia and Sea Breeze
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Nesties Circle and Scalloped Circle Large, Angelee Ribbon, Crop-a-dile, Bone Scrappers Spool, Misc. Buttons, Pop Dots.
Stamps: TAC Grapic Blooms, Ordinary Greetings and Pick a Date. <--- ALL RETIRING and 35% off right now. Each stamp set is regularly $10.95 on sale for $7.12. That's only $21.36 for 3 stamp sets! WOW! TAC really know how to offer fantastic VALUE!

Card A Day Sketch 3

2011-05-16T11:49:00.008-06:00

May is FLYING by! I can not believe Summer is around the corner! We are already on our third sketch for TAC's Card a Day in the Month of May Challenge.

I have already made two cards with this sketch. The second one is scheduled to post on my blog tomorrow. With these (today and tomorrow) cards I am on 10 for the month. I have a few more planned. I am going to be stampin' all day with my TAC Team on Saturday. I think I might get to my goal of 31!

If you have time you should play along with the sketch challenge. What do you think of this little challenge from Heather Scott? I wasn't looking forward to trying it. If I use a circle it is usually with my focal image inside. The rectangle over circle made me stretch outside my comfort zone a lot!

My card features TAC Emma Soar With It Collection Pattern Paper, Cardstock, and Ribbon. I stamped my image from Pick a Date on Ivory Cardstock. I love the playful calendar. You mark the special date using the included flower, heart, or butterfly stamps. It really makes a unique and personalized card. The happy birthday sentiment is from a Level B hostess set, Sophisticated Sentiments. I stamped my sentiment and calendar images with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I used VersaMagic Aloe Vera and Sahara Sand to mark my Mother-In-Law's Birthday. I can not believe that I waited til retirement to finally break down and buy Pick a Date!

If you want to get your hands on this playful versatile set email or call me before it is GONE. TAC's Final Farewell's are now at a 35% off discount. Pick a Date is regularly $10.95 but you can pick up this must have set for just $7.12 if you order by May 28th.

A Card for my Niece

2011-05-13T13:26:00.015-06:00

I am so inspired by the Card A Day in the Month of May Challenge on The Savvy Projects Blog! This is the second card I made, this week, inspired by Heather Scott's Sketch. I modified the sketch measurements and used a circle for my sentiment instead of a rectangle. It's ok to modify as needed. Don't be afraid to try! There are still 18 days this month for you to play along. I hope you can find some time to play. I am also trying to send a card a day...well maybe not one per day, but I want to send 31 cards this month. So far, this is number 8. I gotta go! I have some catching up to do on my card a day. :) Have a happy day!

Cardstock: Not sure about red and brown, it's from my stash. The image is stamped on TAC's Birch Cardstock which is SUPER fun and easy to color with Copic Markers.

Pattern Paper: Echo Park

Accessories: Nestabilities Classic Circle and Scallop Circle Large, Ribbon, Button, Scrappers Floss

Stamps: Sock Monkey From TAC.

Don't miss this CUTIE PATOOTIE set. It's going to retire in June. Get it on sale right now for 40% off. Regular Retail is $19.95, Sock Monkey is on sale for only $10.17. Just send me an email or give me a call if you want to place an order. The retirement sale is structured to benefit those that shop early. The discount on Sock Monkey, and the other 131 stamp sets, will be 35% if you order after the 15th.

Sweet Sketch

2011-05-11T09:18:00.009-06:00

It's A Card A Day in the Month of May over on the Savvy Projects Blog! Here is my first card with this week's sketch. I made 6 of these yesterday in NO TIME FLAT! It is so nice to have a stack of cute cards ready to send! Watch your mailbox, because a bunch of these are going out today! Maybe I have been thinking of you!

My card is made with all TAC product except were noted.
Cardstock: Hemmingway SWIC cardstock pack, White Caboodles Cardstock, and scraps of Pink and Green.
Stamps: TAC Sweet Sayings and Sweet Day Cupcake.<-- FROM Spring Fling...Hope you didn't miss these cuties, because the are GONE now. :p Maybe they will be back with the new catalog, one never knows for sure.
Ink: Adirondack Espresso, VersaMark
Accessories: Copic Markers from Color Caboodle Set G plus rv00, 02, and 04, b0000, and c00. Prisma Glitter, Light
Pink Scrappers Floss, Scallop Scissors.

Here is the sketch for this week. If you have time, make a card and play along. Post your card using the linkie below. If you need help, let me know!

Have a happy day!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T13:53:00.005-06:00

Happy Mother's Day! I hope that you enjoy beautiful weather and company of those who love you today! This is my mom's Mother's Day card. The papers are Kraft Cardstock, Black Cardstock, White Cardstock, Pattern Papers are Echo Park. I am in love with the Echo Park papers that have four designs on one 12x12 sheet. They are PERFECT for card makers. The sentiment stamp is from TAC's Trendy Greetings and is stamped on a cut from Nestabilities Labels 9. The leaves are a SU! Sizzlet die with which I am madly in love.
My card is heavily inspired by Karen Dunbrook. You can see her card in the Splitcoaststampers Gallery here.
My God's blessings be upon you today! Thanks for stopping by!

More Sunday Strollin'

2011-05-07T09:24:00.003-06:00

Happy Saturday! I love the weekend. I am going to try to get some stamping in this morning and afternoon. Anyone want to join me? Just call me before you come over, ok? Here is the last card from my Sunday Stroll May Card Kit. Supplies are from The Angel Company and you can see the kit in this post. Have a creative day! Thank you for stopping by.

A Card A Day in the Month of May

2011-05-06T14:25:00.008-06:00

TAC is doing A Card a Day in the Month of May over on the Savvy Projects Blog. Check it out and play along with us if you can. There are a few ways to play. You can either make a card a day and post on the linkie below OR make a card each week with the weekly sketch. I am going to make a card or two per week using the sketch for inspiration. This weeks sketch is this from Heather Scott:

I made my cards with the contents of my May Card Kit. I took a little liberty with the sketch. That is what creative people do, I guess. Thanks for popping by today. I hope you find a little creative time this weekend. Try the sketch for inspiration and post your results below. Happy Stamping!

May Card Kit - Order By May 28th!

2011-05-06T13:41:00.013-06:00

Card Kits are back by popular demand! My kit for May brings special value with soon to retire, Sunday Stroll! This kit makes 8 cards, 2 of each design, with lots of extras to play at your own designs. The stamp set is included and the kit is just $32. Actual shipping is extra if I have to mail the kit to you. The kit contains:

10 sheets (2 each of 5 designs) of 6x6 Toodle Loo Pattern Paper

3 sheets of 6x6 Solid Cardstock

8 Toodle Loo Cardstock A2 Cardbases

5 Assorted Toodle Loo Ribbons - 1/2 yard each PLUS Jute Twine

25 + Assorted Lemonade Buttons

10 Assorted Lemonade Paper Blooms

5 Assorted Lemonade Felt Blooms

Full Color Photo and Instructions for 4 Card Designs

Sunday Stroll Cling Mount Stamp Set - 9 Stamps as pictured below
ETA: Yes! The Sunday Stroll Stamp Set is available by itself. It is normally priced at $15.95 but is on sale until it retires in June. The sale is structured to benefit those who order early. You can get Sunday Stroll for just $9.57 +shipping and tax from now until May 15th. The price goes up to $10.37 after May 15th and stays that low until May 29th.

Hostess Club Project - April

2011-04-19T07:57:00.005-06:00

I have been stamping away and really lovin' every minute. I can not show most of what I have been making, but I have been BUSY. I thought I would share the little projects my hostess club made this month. They are very heavily inspired by Angela Kelley and Heather Scott. <-- Take a minute and check out their fab posts if you can.
Hostesses get to make both of these fun projects FREE in April. That is just one of the AWESOME benefits of being a hostess in my club. Hostesses also get free stamp sets, great discounts, access to TAC specials without the qualifying $30 order*, free projects, like this one, and a fun night out with the girls! Even better, hostesses can take advantage of Spring Fling and TAC's Final Farewells Retirement Sale and really get a lot of stamping fun for their limited crafting dollars. If you are interested in joining us for Hostess Club, email or call me. It's not to late to get in for April and make these little cuties before Easter!

April Use What You Bought Card Club

2011-04-11T11:50:00.006-06:00

I keep hearing about how everyone has so much stuff! I know. I do too! I think about the stash of paper and kits I have in the garage and I cringe. Look at this Basic Grey I have had forever: Still makes a CUTE card right?! I also keep hearing about all the stuff you stampers have and don't use! I know, you should see the wall of retired stamp sets I have! The little lamb is from Spring Friends, retired TAC, and the sentiment is from All Occasion Celebration, also retired TAC.

I have wanted to get my hands on some seam binding ribbon. It's so hot and trendy right now, but I am really watching what I spend these days! I've heard that you are too! Look at the seam binding ribbon on my owl card. It was in a scrapbook kit I had in the garage from May of 2005!

I just got this cute little stamp set (above) as blog candy from Christine Pennington. Thank you Christine! What a blessing. Sometimes it takes me forever to cut a stamp set and use it! Not this time. I am determined to use what I have and to be a blessing to others. Above: Stamps are from Singing Praises and paper, ribbon and cardstock is TAC Juliette.

If this is hitting home for you and you want to get better use from the things that you have purchased, then this Card Club is for you! Let's get together on the last Saturday of the month and STAMP! Starting April 30th, and then every final Saturday of the month, I will host a Use What You Bought Card Club. Above: More of that Basic Grey paper and stamps from All Occasion Celebration, retired.

Come over at 11 am and stay til 4 pm. Bring your paper, adhesive, embellishments and a basic tool kit. If you have stamps that have not been cut or have not been inked bring them! Let's show the stamp and paper hoard some LOVE! Above: Stamps are from TAC retired Nothin' But Net, and All Occasion Celebration. Paper, brads and cardstock are all from that May 2005 kit that had the seam binding ribbon in it!

I will provide you with two sketches for inspiration. From those two sketches I will make three different samples to help get your creative juices flowing. You can use all of my stamps, tools, punches, ink pads embossing folders, Big Shot and other non-consumables to make your own cards inspired by the sketches. Card club is just $5 for 5 hours of stamping, inspiration and use of my tools. If you make a purchase of $25 or more then Card Club is free. Wanna join me?

Busy...Busy...Busy!

2011-04-09T11:04:00.003-06:00

I have been stamping like mad! It has been so much fun! I know my blog doesn't make it seem like I have been doing anything at all. See, the thing is I can't show you what I have been doing! I have made about 20 cards since my last blog post and this is the only one I can share. I made this card for my cousin's bridal shower. I needed a quick card to coordinate with my gift. Since I just got TAC's Damask Background I decided to C.A.S.E. this little beauty from Holly Mays. <---Awesome right!? Thanks for the inspiration Holly. Thank you for stoppin' by my blog! I appreciate you. Oh! I promise some fun new classes with the cards I have been working so hard to create. Stay tuned for more info soon!

Tune In Tuesday - Nesties Need A New Home

2011-03-29T20:44:00.004-06:00

It's Tune In Tuesday over on the Savvy Projects Blog! Today we are making masculine cards! I made these two with a set I got a long time ago as a freebie. See, TAC rocks and sometimes offers special sets free with parties of a certain amount. I got this one a while ago. I wasn't sure I liked it until I actually used it. I have to say, after playing with the set, I am a fan!

Both of my masculine cards feature TAC's Reece SWIC pattern paper and cardstock. I embellished with jute twine and some rust color mini brads that just didn't seem to match anything until I made these cards. The stamp images are all from TAC's Greatest Dad and they are colored with Copic Color Caboodles Set F, C01, Boo, Booo, Boooo, and W1 markers.

Can you make a new home for my Nestabilities Blossom Die? I bought a multi-pack over the weekend and had one of the four already. I would love to get this set off my table. If you are interested in the die email me. I am asking $15 for it, plus actual shipping if I have to mail it. It retails for $24.95.

Thank you for stopping by! Please take a minute to check out these masculine cards. If you have time join us by making a masculine card and adding your link.

TAC's Pot of Gold Challenge

2011-03-25T15:50:00.004-06:00

I did it! OK! Fine, we did it! I finished my pot of gold card today with a lot of help from my friend Rhonda. I couldn't have done it without her! See, I am feeling a little under the weather and I can't make decisions alone at the moment. Rhonda really helped me through this one! My card is super CAS style. I used the darker pink and lighter blue cardstock from TAC Cardstock Caboodles Set B. The rain boots are from TAC's Girls Day Out stamp set. I used Nestablities to cut my rectangle and scalloped rectangle pieces. The dots are white cardstock cut with my Marvy 1/2 inch circle punch. The ribbon is Bazzill and the button is a lucky find from one of the Audrey Embellishment Jars. Play along with the Pot of Gold Challenge this weekend if you have some time. Here's what your card must contain to qualify for the challenge:
Stitching - Either stamped or stitched, your choice.
A punched Item - Punch with a Clever Lever, Spellbinders or other punching tool.
Ribbon
A button and/or a bow and/or a brad.
The color GREEN! Use a little or a lot!
and Layers, use more than one layer of cardstock.
Here's a linky, play along! Happy stamping!

Tune in Tuesday - Pop Up Card

2011-03-22T07:00:00.003-06:00

It's Tune in Tuesday over at The Angel Company! Today's challenge is make a pop up card! I had so much fun with this challenge and love the way my card turned out. I wish I could have gotten it to photograph a little better. I have a really pretty blue sky behind the cat and mouse that just would not show up. It really completes the ground I drew in for both animals. I took a close up here and if you look knowing that it's there you can almost see it!

My card is made with TAC Cha Cha Soar With It Collection pattern papers and cardstock. I think it has been a year since I used this collection last....BOY have I been missing out. I am not sure why it got shoved to the back, but not any more that's for sure! The image and sentiment on the front of the card are from TAC's Animal Thoughts. I LOVE THIS SET. The art is quirky and the sentiments are punny. It's a ton of fun to make cards with these interesting images.

The background on the cheese color cardstock is from Simple Starters. I thought dots made the paper look even more cheesy. Mice like cheese you know?!

Flower and circle punches are Marvy from TAC. The perfect match red and green ribbons are from the Cha Cha ribbon collection.

I treated myself to Tim Holtz teeny tiny stapler last time I was out at the craft store. Aren't those tiny little staples wonderful!?

My image is colored with Copic Markers from TAC's Color Caboodles and I used B0000, B000 and B00 for the sky that you can not even see in the photo. Too bad, because it looks good. Come over and see.

Next photo is a side view of the pop up inside. I did a very basic piano hinge pop up. I hope the photos make it clear how the pop up works. You can check out The Savvy Projects Blog for Paula-Kay's tutorial.

I stamped a cat and lots of little mice, colored them and trimmed them out. The flower is a bigger Marvy flower punch.

I love Ordinary Greetings, it's the super useful sentiment set that I pulled Happy Birthday from. It's a must have with Animal Thoughts because the fonts match perfect and you can make your cards say so much more!

The last photo I took was inside the card straight on. I wanted you to see all the little mice all stacked up! Notice the ribbon loop on the flower stem? I like little touches inside that tie together with the outside of the card. It's a little detail that makes all the difference. I tried to leave plenty of room inside to write a birthday greeting. I think that is one of the challenges with a pop up card. You can really only send them to someone if you don't have much to say.

I hope you liked my pop up card! You don't know how bad I want to show you in real life! Be sure to pop over to the Savvy Projects Blog and check out the pop up action from Paula-Kay Bourland. If you have some time, please play along and add your link below!

Team Time Shoebox Swap & Schedule

2011-03-21T12:47:00.003-06:00

Team Time last Saturday was a BLAST!! This is the card I made for a shoebox swap. The card on the left is with Catelynne Fly With It Collection Paper and the card on the right is made with Maggie Soar With It Collection Paper. I stamped the background with Background Soup using VersaMark ink. Isn't that paper pieced phone cute? It is a freebie Gift With Purchase from TAC. Place a $30 order with me or join my hostess club and I will give it to you FREE! The little LOVE U sentiment comes with the phone. I just had to make a card with the phone and helloHELLO from Sophisticated Sentiments. I have team time scheduled in my calendar for the next couple of months. Here are the dates:
Saturday April 16th
Saturday May 21st
Saturday June 18th
If you are planning on attending email me! I have limited space at my home. I can make arrangements for us somewhere else if we out grow my space. I need to know if you are coming so I know where we will get together.
Are you an IL Angel and want to get together with us? Just shoot me an email! Maybe you are not an Angel, but you want to be...just email me and we can get you every thing you need to join my team. If you join during Spring Fling you will get all the cutie new Spring Fling stamp sets FREE with your starter kit!

http://www.theangelcompany.net/Promos_SpringFling.html

Going Green Birthday Card

2011-03-17T07:01:00.005-06:00

Today is my big day! No, it's not my birthday. It's my first post on TAC's Savvy Projects Blog! It's my first assignment as a TAC Dream Team Designer. It's my first time on a design team and I am PUMPED UP!

What is my assignment for the TAC Dream Team you ask. Well it's Going Green Week! I had to make a card that fit the green theme and post it on Savvy Projects. Pop over to check out my post and discover my twist on the Going Green theme.

This little card is inspired by a card over in my Savvy post.

I used the same layout and paper ruffle but made a more all occasion card.

I am so pleased with the way this card turned out. In the close up you can see just why. I have been browsing the gallery over at SplitcoastStampers and have found a few stampers that do lover-ly work. One of my recent favorite galleries is bfinlay's. I love the way she inks around her images. I have always been afraid to try. I thought after I took the time and colored an image I didn't want to ruin it if I made a mistake with the sponge! Well, inspired by Bridget, I decided to just go for it! I got my sponge out and some VersaMagic Thatched Straw ink and just did it! I LOVE the way it turned out! It's so different from my usual! What do you think? Other materials used to make my new favorite, bfinlay inspired, card include; Sophisticated Sentiments TB3364, Sugar Coated Sweetness T3341, Spring Time T2944, the cardstock is from my scrap bin, and the pattern paper is from TAC's Tutti Frutti SWIC. I used Nestablilities Classic Circles to both cut my circles and mask my edges when I sponged. The cake image is colored with Prismacolor Pencil and Mineral Oil and then glittered with Prisma Glitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by! It really makes my day. Don't miss all the other FUN activities and hops going on at TAC's Savvy Projects Blog! Please pop in on the other designers and check out their idea of what 'Going Green' means. You will not be disappointed!

Going Green Week:

Friday March 11th - Angela Kelley

Monday March 14th - Kerry Urbatch

Tuesday March 15th - Michelle McDaniels

Wednesday March 16th - Heather Scott

Thursday March 17th - Marisa Alvarez

Friday March 18th - Christine Pennington

Hostess Club Top 10

2011-03-16T14:21:00.010-06:00

Hostess Clubs are forming NOW!
If you are considering hostess club but you haven't emailed me to join, what are you waiting for?? Here are my Top 10 reasons to join my Budget Friendly Hostess Club:

10. I will include FIVE cards, one each month, for you to make with fun stampy friends!

9. I will schedule the time and motivate you to participate in TAC Challenges PLUS photograph and post for you! If you are not local, I will walk you through it...PROMISE.

8. Enjoy 40-50% off ANY TWO items in the TAC catalog! NO required purchase when you are hostess so you can take full advantage!

7. Receive a FREE Level A stamp set of your choice. The first card features Whooo Loves Ya TA3324. The second card features Happy Today TA3409. Either of these sets could be yours free. There are 8 total to choose from!

6. Be the first to know about up coming sales, promotions, bonuses, and challenges with prizes awarded.

5. Collect all the CUTE Gift with Purchase Stamp Sets.

4. The discontinued list is scheduled for MAY! Get those retiring sets while you still can! Earn great hostess benefits for your purchase!
3. You will have access to all the promotions, like Stamp of the Month, Blast From the Past and MUCH MORE!
2. SPRING FLING is here!
1. The TAC 2011-12 catalog debuts July 2010. Hostesses get a FREE copy!

Fan Fold Birthday Flower

2011-03-10T12:12:00.004-06:00

I try to do a shoebox swap once a month with Jo Ann, Arleen and Shar. This month we are swapping cards with a different fold. I don't think that this is the kind of fold they had in mind when we decided on a theme. So far this is all my creativity has allowed. I hope that they like my interpretation of the theme!
I made my festive flower with Kaleidoscope Brights from TAC and the Birthday Blessings sentiment is from a Level B hostess set called Love You. I stamped my sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. The card is finished with a Yellow DCWV card base a fun spotted button from my stash and some piercing.
Super simple, but festive.
Thanks for stopping by!

Tune in Tuesday - Flower

2011-03-08T09:44:00.004-06:00

It's Tune in Tuesday and the theme is flowers! Let's see your cards with flowers on them. Holly Mays is the featured designer on the Savvy Blog today. You just have to see her cards! I thought I got creative with my flower...wait til you see hers! Be sure to hop along the blogs below and leave some love in the comments section. Bloggers love to know that they are not talking to themselves!

My card showcases TAC's Joyful Notes, Happily Grateful and Just a Note. I broke down and cut up cardstock from my Color Caboodles Cardstock set C. I am a paper hoarder no longer! Aren't those greens just lover-ly? The Color Caboodles Cardstock sets are hand picked to match with our Copic Caboodle Marker sets. They make card crafting a breeze. I used Palette Reflection Blue to stamp the notebook paper from Just a Note. I used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp the sentiment from Joyful Notes. The background is the very versatile vine from Happily Grateful stamped with VersaMark. Thank you to Mary Allenspach for the fabric scrap I used for my yo yo flower. The leaves are cut with a Stampin' Up! sizzlets die. Ribbon was permanently borrowed from Sandy Gordon, so I don't know what brand. Thanks for the ribbon Sandy! It really made the card POP!

Now it's your turn! Get stampin' and show us your cards with flowers!

Really Reasonable Challenge

2011-03-04T12:57:00.005-06:00

I made this card for Really Reasonable Ribbon's Challenge 19 to use green and ribbon. I pulled out an embossing folder that really had not had much love and embossed the green layer. That's when I decided that the leaves just NEEDED a butterfly. The butterfly is from TAC's Happily Grateful and the sentiment is from Joyful Notes. My sentiment is stamped on a die cut, Nestabilities Labels 1, that I cut in half. My butterfly is colored with Copic Markers from TAC's Color Caboodles C and G. After I colored the butterfly I covered it in Crystal Lacquer and dusted it with Prisma Glitter. It's was a very hard card to photograph. I hope you can imagine how pretty it is in real life. Thank you for popping by!

Seeing Shamrocks Blog Hop

2011-03-03T12:14:00.007-06:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know I am early. Today begins The Angel Company's "Seeing Shamrocks" Blog Hop. The hop runs through March 6th - play along and you could win some lovely TAC blog candy. If you don't blog, that is OK! You can upload your card to the TAC Paper Crafting Community Gallery, just tag your card "Seeing Shamrocks Blog Hop". While you are getting to know your way around the TAC PCC take note of the chat feature because Mischelle will be hosting a chat there on Saturday, March 5th at 8 pm CST. I can not be on the chat because I will be in Peoria for Desi's Winter Guard State Championships! Max and I are going while mom stays here with the littles. I can not wait for some alone time with the man. Don't let that stop you from playing along and stopping in on the chat!

My card for this hop was a fun exercise in creativity. See, I am not Irish nor do I believe in luck so I don't have a lot of shamrock supplies! I wanted to show you something that was different and worth your time. I appreciate that you stop in and read! After thinking a little about it I decided on a fabric FAV - The Yo Yo! I have had a long love affair with yo yos you see. I thought I would challenge myself to make them heart-shape for my very own clover. Here is how I did it:

Step One: I folded my fabric so I had three layers. Why? Because 3 heart yo yos and a little scrappers floss makes a shamrock!

Step Two: Find a circle object to trace. I start with a circle because it is easy to find (I use it for circle yo yos too) and keeps the hearts all uniform size.

Step Three: Trace with a black marker and cut inside the line with pinking sheers. I cut all three layers at the same time so that all the finished yo yos are about the same size.

Step Four: Trim the circle shapes into hearts. They don't have to be perfect! Let them have some character!

Step Four: Starting at the top, in the center of the heart, sew a running stitch all the way around. End right were you started.

Step Five: Pull and knot. Your yo yo will look like a little hobo bag. Make sure you knot it off tight, but don't cut the thread yet.

Step Five: Shape the little hobo bag into a heart shape and sew on the button to finish. Tie the thread in a tight knot and trim the thread.

Step Six: Repeat two more times.

Here is another look at the finished card. It's a long post, with lots of pictures! I hope it inspires you to play with yo yos! You can see a yo yo pumpkin on my blog here, and there is a yo yo flower here. <--- more yo yo inspiration. I used Kraft, White and More Mimi Cardstock on this card. The pink almost solid pattern paper is from the More Mimi Soar With It Collection. Trendy Greetings from TAC supplied the greeting. I am in love with the little Scor-Bug that I used to make the embossed stitched lines. After I made and adhered my clover to the card I stitched the stem with brown scrappers floss. Thank you so much for stopping by! Because of you, I am so blessed.

Tune in Tuesday - You Animal

2011-03-01T00:05:00.008-06:00

Every Tuesday in the month of March is Tune in Tuesday! Tune in to my blog for a fun post, then hop around to other Angel Blogs to see more cards on the same theme! This Tuesday the theme is A Card with An Animal!

I am TOTALLY in love with this little Gift With Purchase stamp from TAC. Isn't he a CUTIE? Want one of your own? I will give him to you free with your $30 purchase. What's more, ANY stamp set with both a four legged ANIMAL and a FLOWER is on sale this month 25% off! YUP that's right! Get your critter fix for less $$ in March! Email me to place your order or get a catalog. Be sure you email or call instead of using online ordering. If you don't talk to your Angel, you wont get the freebies you have earned. Your demo has to add Hostess Benefits and Gift With Purchase Stamps on the order for you!

My cards feature Trunk of Love, a free Gift With Purchase (GWP) stamp from TAC and sentiments from Sophisticated Sentiments (left) and Joyful Notes (right). I used Kraft Cardstock for my card bases and Memento Rich Cocoa Ink for my main image. I also used VersaMark to stamp the horizontal cardstock panel on both cards. I used Awesome Blossom (left) and Simple Starters (right) for the background stamping. The card on the left is made with Maggie paper and cardstock and the card on the right features More Mimi papers and cardstocks.

The Joy of Easter

2011-02-28T00:05:00.006-06:00

I can not believe that this is the last day of You make February Fabulous! It has been a fun month of stamping and sending cards, sharing on my blog and WINNING lots of blog candy! I want to thank Rhonda Sarver again for playing along! Where was everyone else? Don't worry, you will have plenty of time to play along with the FUN!! I have planned for you in March.

I made this card for The Joy of Easter Blog Hop happening on The Angel Company's Savvy Project Blog. Our final Feb Fab Designer is Michelle McDaniel. She is showing off with The Joy of Easter, R2049. The Joy of Easter is a precious set drawn by our own Mabelle RO. You want to email me TODAY if you want to get this set at a great discount. Regular retail price on this set is a deal at $21.95, but today only you can pick it up for just $16.46. Mabelle's sets are harder to get on sale...don't miss this one! If you want to see a list of all the other 70+ stamp sets that are on sale through today only, check out this post.

My little card features images from TAC's The Joy of Easter, Toodle Loo paper, cardstock and ribbon. I stamped my image and sentiment in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copic markers from Caboodles sets A, B, E and C. I used Marvy Circle and Scallop Circle punches, Coluzzle, and Fiskars Scallop Scissors to whip my paper into shape.

Team Time and Bamboo Sketch

2011-02-26T10:00:00.004-06:00

What a FUN Friday! I organized my first TAC Team Time for 2011! We got together yesterday and HAD A BLAST! Here are the few photos from the day that we remembered to take! "What is this mess?" you ask. Well, we started our Team Time, which was devoted to getting cards for the up coming Savvy Projects Blog challenges done, with a 30 minute challenge. I called it the Let's Get This Party Started Challenge. We had 30 minutes to design and finish a card. I had to extend our time twice! After 45 minutes we were almost finished with our first cards and having a great time! Sorry, I can't show you the finished cards. My card was for the Joy of Easter Blog Hop. Come back on Monday and you can see the finished card.

Here I am working hard. It's another challenge card. You can tune in for that one in April. It's for 'Chicks With Attitude", and lemme tell ya that 'chick' has attitude. As soon as I colored the beak the back talk began!

Here is a picture of Sandy Gordon. I adopted Sandy to my team. She is also a really good friend. Wait till you see the card she was working on! It's one you will want to case for sure. You can watch her blog for the creations that she made at our Team Time. Well, that is it for Team Time pictures! I told ya we were having too much fun. We forgot all about the camera in all the productive stamping time!

Next is a card I wanted to share. I made this one for Heather Scott's Sketch 138. You can see the sketch here. Play along with us!

My card features Simple Starters and Sophisticated Sentiments from TAC. I used Emma paper and cardstock, inks are VersaMark, and VersaMagic Brick Red and Tea Leaves. It's a quick card to stamp, but I don't think it lacks anything. I wish I could stamp CAS (Clean and Simple) all the time. This is one of my favorite cards ever. What do you think?

Watercolor Sketch

2011-02-23T11:18:00.006-06:00

I made this card for Heather's Monday Sketch 139. Play along with us! I turned the sketch on it's side.
What do you think of my brand new stamp set? I just got Watercolor Plants from TAC. I stamped the purple flowers and background with watercolor crayons. I spritz the stamp with water, color with the crayons right on the rubber, spritz again and then stamp on water color paper. Fun huh? I did the background stamp on the green the same way. The paper and cardstock are Angelee also from TAC. I used Platinum Stickles on the flowers. It is a pretty vintage chic touch that can not be seen in the photo at all!
Watercolor Plants was featured on The Savvy Projects Blog on February 3rd, therefore it is on sale for 25% off until 2-28. Take a look at the cards Holly Mays, Guest Designer, made for Savvy Projects. Then hop along a check out all the beautiful projects made using Watercolor Plants.

Spring Friends - February Fabulous

2011-02-21T15:52:00.008-06:00

Spring Friends is the stamp set featured on The Savvy Project Blog today. Heather Scott was the Guest Designer and she really did a great job with the set! Check out her cute cards here, then hop along the blogs using the links below.

My card is bright and cheery for a friend that is facing some tough times currently. I used Miss Moxie cardstock and paper. The lamb is from Spring Friends and the sentiment is from Joy of Easter. Both stamp sets are 25% off this month! Other products that I used to create this card include Awesome Blossom, for the orange card base. I stamped it using VersaMark Dazzle. I sponged the edges and stamped the sentiment using VersaMagic Cloud White. The sentiment is embossed with white embossing powder. I colored my image with Copic markers and used shimmer chalks for the sky background. Can you tell the tuft on the little lambs head is stamped a second time, cut and popped with foam adhesive? So is the flower.

Cased Thank You

2011-02-18T10:06:00.009-06:00

I made a bunch of these Thank You cards after seeing this card on Chelsea Comer's Blog.

For my card, I changed the orientation and I changed the colors. I picked these colors to use up some cards that I had cut for other classes or buffets. The stamps are TAC. The Thank You Oval is a little bonus that TAC was giving free with a $30 purchase last month. This month you can still get it pretty cheep with your $30 purchase. I stamped the image with Jumbo Java VersaMagic and cut it out with Labels 5 Nestabilities. The swirly image is a tree from Spring Time. I stamped the swirly tree in Jumbo Java also. The label is lifted with a little foam adhesive. I thought the card needed a little more color so I pulled out my scrap bin and sure enough there were scraps of the pink, yellow, green and blue. I pulled out my glue pen and hand punches and jazzed up those trees with little dots of color.

I am going to use these cards in customer orders just like Chelsea. Thank you so much for the great design and wonderful idea, Chelsea! Your blog is inspiring!

Sunflowers - Today's Featured Stamp Set

2011-02-16T07:37:00.005-06:00

I love this stamp set even more now that I have seen Maria Van Stratton's samples on the Savvy Projects Blog! Today, TAC is featuring Sunflowers. This AWESOME set retails for $10.95, but if you order it this month you will receive 25% off! That makes this set only $8.21. Can you believe that? It's a set of 5 beautiful, high quality rubber stamps for just $8.21. What VALUE. At a craft store, you would pay more than that for just the main image I used on my card! What's more, wait til you see how Maria used the accompanying images as main focal images on her cards and projects. It opened my eyes even more to the VALUE that TAC offers everyday. Go look at Maria's samples. They are so creative!

My card features TAC's Sunflowers. The sentiment is from TAC's Hoppity Skippity. The paper and cardstock are from Hemmingway. I used my Scor-Bug on the rust cardstock. Isn't it a nice detail? If you are looking for an economical way to step up your cards, I highly recommend the Scor-Bug. It's only $8.95 and NEVER runs out.

Te Quiero, Max's Valentine

2011-02-15T09:52:00.004-06:00

I made this for my hubby. I just love these Robots from TAC. They are fun for boys or girls of all ages, AND they are on sale this month for 25% off!! I was talking to my friend Sandy and she said, "I think Robots would look cool with the circle layout from Debra Miller's post on Savvy." I agree! I am going to get busy stealing Sandy and Debra's ideas for my card buffet.

You need to check out Debra's post from yesterday on TAC's Savvy Project Blog! It is AMAZING! Debra used Simply Sweet, A Level C Hostess Set, to make the most beautiful cards. Go. Go look. You wont be sorry you did! After you look, come back and email me your order for Simply Sweet. YUP! That's right, this month you can order the set and get 25% off! You bet I am going to order it!

My card features More Mimi pattern paper and stamps from Robots, Background Soup and Everyday Spanish Cuties.

Another 4 BAR Card

2011-02-12T10:08:00.003-06:00

Here is another quick 4 BAR cutie. I am having fun with this slightly different size card. A 4 BAR card measures 3.5" x 5" closed. I am also stuck on cutting the front, or the entire card, short and adhering the main panel off the edge. This card is cut so the front of the card is 3/4 inch shorter then the back. It's fun because when the card is closed the pattern paper inside peeks out.

I used Kraft Cardstock for my base and Catelynne pattern paper from TAC. The chick is colored with Copic markers and the bubble has a touch of Icicle Stickles. Main circle panel and scallops are cut with Nestibilities. My images are all TAC from Roller Chick, an adorable $2.95 PWP set, and Happily Grateful. Remember those mulberry paper flowers in the glass milk bottle that everyone had to have years ago? Yup, those. I used some up making these little cards. The adhesive pearl is from the Archivers Hot Spot.

Quick Post for a QUICK Card

2011-02-11T14:39:00.005-06:00

I LOVE THIS CARD! I owe it all to the inspiration on Savvy Projects Blog and to the fun conversation here on The Angel Company's Paper Crafting Community.

Today the guest designer on Savvy Projects Blog is Yuki. She really went in depth with Fundamental Frames. Check out her post and then hop the blogs below...YOU WILL BE INSPIRED!

I don't have Fundamental Frames -->insert SAD face here <-- BUT I do have Fabulous Frames! This card is a 4BAR card, it measures 3 1/4 x5 and features TAC's Fabulous Frames and Savvy Sayings. I also used Mia's Cottage Cardstock, Lime Scrappers Floss, More Mimi Ribbon, and flower and button from Elizabeth Blossoms and Buttons. All supplies are from TAC. OH! One thing I forgot to mention, all the great frames in Fabulous Frames are perfect for use with Nestabilities! No fussy hand cutting!

Pea Pickin' - A Blast from the Past

2011-02-10T08:11:00.020-06:00

I am so excited that Mischelle brought "Pea Pickin'" back as a blast from the past for February Fabulous! I had to have this set when it came out, but never inked it up! See, I kinda have a thing for roosters and the rooster in this set is ADORABLE! I was having so much fun playing with this brand new, old set! I made three cards and the CUTEST little treat project.

The first card is so spring. I used Pea Pickin', and Tutti Frutti from TAC. The ribbon is from TAC's Mia's Cottage. The chick is colored with Copic markers.

Next is the penguin. I got a little crazy with the Uptown Girl paper. It's so girly, isn't it!? My images are from TAC's Pea Pickin' and the sentiment is from Hoppity Skippity. I used a scrap of black and white gingham ribbon that I found in the bottom of my ribbon box. The flower and button are from the Ava Embellishment Jar. I like this image because there is so little coloring.

I saved my favorite for last! It's the rooster. I made a card and matching treat. No, those are not real peas! I used green Sixlets! Aren't they the perfect treat to give with this set? Both the card and the treat feature paper from Rustic Chic and TAC's Pea Pickin'. I used cardstock from the DCWV stacks. My roosters are colored with Copics. I used lots of Nestabilites to shape my paper, cardstock and to cut the window in the treat bag.

Just One More...Sew Thankful!

2011-02-09T10:11:00.002-06:00

Here is a card I made awhile ago, but didn't blog. Isn't it cute!? The card is made using TAC's Maggie Soar With It Collection ribbon, paper and cardstock. The images are from Sew Thankful, which is 25% off this month! <--- That's HOT! I stamped the main panel with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics. The green background is VersaMarked with the pin cushion, button, and scissors. It's a great touch, but it's hard to see in the photo. The border punch is, *gasp* Martha Stewart...those of you who know me can fill in the blank here. It's a pretty punch isn't it? ;)

Cup of Love

2011-02-09T09:12:00.002-06:00

I am having so much fun stamping along with the February Fabulous Promotion. Why aren't you playing too? I've mentioned there are prizes involved! <----NEVER MIND! I just saw that Rhonda Sarver is playing along! YES! Go Rhonda! See, even if you don't have the featured stamp set you can play using a featured layout! Rhonda, thank you for playing! I have a stamp set for you.

My card features images from Cup of Love, along with paper and cardstock from TAC's Maggie Soar With It Collection. My card base is Kraft Cardstock. I stamped it with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it with PrismaColor Pencils. The ribbon is from the Maggie Ribbon Collection. The main image is colored with Copic Markers.

Another Cupcake Cuties!

2011-02-08T11:17:00.003-06:00

One more... Why? Because, I worked so hard on this one! I spent most of yesterday, between what absolutely had to be done, working this card out. I threw away so much paper and got a lot of practice coloring with my Copics.
I like the end product and got to use my brand new border punch, but boy! I thought about quiting the whole stamping thing after I wrasseled with this one all day!

Here are just the facts: Paper is Catelyn from TAC. Stamp images are from Cupcake Cuties and Sending a Latte. Image is stamped in Ranger Adirondak Espresso and colored with Copics. Ribbon is Bazzill, the brand spankin' new border punch is EK and I used Prisma Glitter on the cupcake frosting.

Check out the BLOG HOP HERE:

Cupcake Cuties...Feb Fab...WIN BLOG CANDY!

2011-02-08T10:20:00.012-06:00

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT!! I WON LAST WEEKS BLOG CANDY FROM MISCHELLE! <---YUP! I was shouting! I don't usually have that kind of luck. I can't believe I won. Mischelle is sending me a blog candy prize pack worth at least $50! I can not wait to see what it is! I will share a photo when it arrives! Do you want a blog candy prize pack worth at least $50? Well, then PLAY ALONG! Yesterday Mabelle, the artist that drew these CUTIE images, was guest designer on the Savvy Projects blog. The challenge is to use the featured stamp set OR sketch from one of the featured cards to make your own card creation. Then blog it or post it on the TAC Paper Crafting Community and link to Savvy Projects. Play all week and get one entry into the blog candy for each time you post! At the end of EVERY WEEK in February Mischelle will give away blog candy worth over $50! Cool HUH? So come on and play! Why is it so hard to convince you!? If you decide to play, leave a comment! GO GET STAMPING!

I have three cards to share today, two in this post and one in the next post. These are cute little window cards I made months ago at a weekend crop. I hadn't blogged them and the work perfect with the promotions going on at TAC now. Mischelle also posted a window card tutorial on the Savvy Projects blog, so the time to share these is NOW.

You can see the outside shot and then the inside shot for each card. Man, these were hard to photograph. I hope that the pictures give you a good idea what the cards look like. My window cards are slightly different then Mischelle's. I hope our posts get your creative juices flowing!

These cards feature stamps from Cupcake Cuties, Sophisticated Sentiments, and Awesome Blossom. I used Memento Tuxedo Black to stamp Cupcake Cuties and Sophisticated Sentiments and VersaMarked Awesome Blossom on the front. The cardstock is from my stash, I think it was ColorBok and the paper is TAC's Tutti Frutti. I used both Nestibilities and my Colluzzle to make the windows...I know I said Colluzzle! Welcome back 1999. Anyone else wish it was easier to get replacement parts for Colluzzle? I still LOVE it and can't live without it! BUT I DIVERGE...

My images are colored with Copic Markers and the flame of the candles are glittered. It doesn't really show the glitter in the photo, but it is a little detail that really looks great in real life.

I really love Cupcake Cuties! It's a great birthday set with character like nothing else I have seen in the stamping world...let's just face it, Mabelle does cute like no one else! During the YOU make February Fabulous Promotion you can get Cupcake Cuties for 25% off!

There are bunches of other stamp sets on sale this month too! Check out the details in this post here. Want to take advantage of the sale? Just shoot me an email.

Retiform Blog Hop is ON!

2011-02-04T12:28:00.006-06:00

Get your inks and sponges and blog hop with us! It's a technique blog hop this time. There will be blog candy from Mischelle for one lucky Angel and one lucky customer!

Have you ever tried RETIFORM? This is my first time! I found it very challenging, but I am looking forward to trying it again soon. My card features TAC's Good Timber. The Retiform panels are inked with Palette Waterlily, Jardin Moss and Burnt Umber, then stamped over second generation with Background Script and images from both Hope Perches and Good Timber. My paper and cardstock are TAC's Willoughby.

Be sure to check out the other retiform cards and tutorial on the Savvy Projects Blog!

Feb Fab is Going Places

2011-02-03T12:19:00.006-06:00

TAC's The Places You'll Go is featured as part of the February Fabulous Promotion going on on Mischelle's Savvy Project Blog. You can play along and win some great blog candy! Please comment if you decide to play along.

I made this cute card with inspiration from Heather Scott's Sketch Challenge 137. It will be one of the cards you can make on my Card Buffet Monday, February 21st. The buffet starts at 4pm and goes til 9pm. Cards are $2 each and you make as many as you want. RSVP with what time you plan to arrive!

The Places You'll Go is one of many stamp sets that you can pick up this month for 25% off! Be sure to check out this great sale even if you can not make it to the Card Buffet.

True Beauty Challenge - YOU PLAY TOO!

2011-02-02T09:27:00.006-06:00

Play along on TAC's SAVVY PROJECTS BLOG and you could win some fantastic BLOG CANDY! Each week TAC will be drawing randomly for blog candy from those that play along on their February Fabulous Promotion!

Here are details from Mischelle's Blog:

I don't know about you ... but I'm ready for some FABULOUSNESS ... and this February will be ALL THAT and MORE!

Even MORE FABULOUS ~ you can play along! Each week (Sunday evening) we're going to have a DRAWING and YOUR name will go into that drawing if you made a card (using the featured stamp set or a sketch of one of the featured cards) and LINK IT to our Savvy Projects Blog! Enter as many cards as you like each day, every day, all week and all month long using our TAC and MRO stamps!

Each week our BLOG CANDY Winner will receive a BLOG CANDY package from me with at least $50 of product inside! How FABULOUS is that!

This is my card for TAC's second February Fabulous Feature, True Beauty. I find True Beauty to be a little intimidating. Christine, the guest designer featuring True Beauty, made it look so easy to create beautiful cards with the set. I have to admit making this card was so enjoyable even though I felt a little challenged and slightly out of my comfort zone. I love the way challenges like these develop me as an artist and crafts person. I combined TAC February Fabulous challenge with Maria Van Stratton's Tuesday Template. You can check out the sketch and play along here. Supplies used for this card include; More Mimi Paper and Cardstock, Stamps from True Beauty and Joyful Notes, Copic Markers E70, E74, E79, R01, R02, and R05 from Caboodles Set E, R81, R85,YG93, YG95, and YG97 from Caboodles Set A, E13 and E15 from Caboodles set G and RV14 and RV19 from Caboodles Set B, Felt Ribbon and Sticky Pearls are from my stash.

You Make February Fabulous!

2011-02-01T13:35:00.006-06:00

During the month of February, a Guest Contributor will showcase at least 3 cards using 1 stamp set, every day, Monday-Friday during the month of February on The Angel Company Savvy Projects Blog.

All stamp sets featured during YOU Make February FABULOUS will be on special during the month of February! With a $20* purchase customers can purchase any or all of the FEATURED stamp sets at 25% off!

Below is a list of the various stamp sets, and when they will be featured on the Savvy Projects Blog - http://www.savvyprojectsblog.com/.

BUT WAIT!!! We are also going to take 25% off ANY stamp set in any of our three publications that has a heart in it! On the NEXT PAGE we have those sets and their special price!

Sew Excited!

2011-01-31T11:10:00.008-06:00

SEW...I just love this stamp set! Isn't it CUTE! It's TAC's Sew Thankful T-3288. I made the first card for Heather Scott's Monday Sketch Challenge 136. I love the layout and plan to use it more in the future! Thanks for the sketch Heather! The supplies used to make this card are all TAC. The Paper and Cardstock are both Amberly Grace from TAC. The sewing machine and sentiment come from Sew Thankful and the background stamp is Basic Blooms stamped with Charcoal Palette Ink. Do you like the little touch that Basic Blooms adds to the card? I do! Basic Blooms is a TAC Level A hostess set. You can get it free with a $34 purchase at my Customer Appreciation Event tonight!
The next card also features Sew Thankful! Did I mention that these cards are for my February Card Buffet? I am going to have a Card Buffet on February 21st! The cards will be first come first serve for $2 each. Please RSVP if you plan on attending. The fun part about this Card Buffet is we will be featuring stamp sets that are on sale, 25% off, in the month of February. Come stamp and replenish your supply of finished cards while shopping an AWESOME TAC sale. In these challenging times, I bet you know someone that could use encouragement! SEND HANDMADE CARDS!
The second card is also primarily TAC. I featured TAC's Emma cardstock and paper, images from Sew Thankful, and Copic Markers G82 and 94, YR21 and 24 from Caboodles set F and E70 and 74 from Caboodles set E. The Emma pattern paper is cut from SU! Top Note die. I bought it 2 years ago, I think, and just used if for the first time! I have to say that the card is a total case of one I saw somewhere...wish I could remember where. I made this card before the miscarriage and can not remember where my inspiration came from! My apologies, I would like to give credit where it is due. If this is your card layout, leave a comment!

Just One More...

2011-01-27T12:57:00.002-06:00

I am really loving the Free Robyn Paper Download from The Angel Company. I know my last three posts have been very similar, all featuring Robyn and January Stamp of the Month, Frogs & Kisses. This is the last one, I promise! I made this card and now I am going to mail it to my friend.
Frogs & Kisses is on sale this month for just $10.95, normally $15.95. You can get Frogs & Kisses discounted with your purchase of $30 this month only! Come to my Customer Appreciation Event and pick up Frogs & Kisses and all the other great freebies and discounts while January lasts!

How about a treat?

2011-01-25T13:58:00.003-06:00

I have been wanting to make one of these little treats for a long time. I think it turned out pretty cute. The base of this little bucket treat is a paper towel tube. I cut a 2 inch piece of the tube then covered it with SU Close to Cocoa cardstock and TAC Robyn Digi-Paper. The bottom of the tube is sealed off with a scrap of Close to Cocoa punched with a Super Jumbo Scallop Circle. Are you thinking about coming to my Customer Appreciation Event Friday or Monday? Join me either day and you can make this little treat tote and the matching card too!