I think I'm addicted....

to The Greeting Farm stamps!! I love these little things...they are so adorable! This is Hope & Grace - Laundry. I'm not sure of where I got the patterned papers - they were in the scrap collection. The skittles were hand dyed...I believe these are Red Pepper. I used the usual lone Copic for her skin and a combo of SU!, Bic and Sharpie markers for the rest.

Here is a closer look at the coloring. I am no where talented at this - it's a major miracle that I can stay inside the lines. and here is another attempt to embrace my handwriting....for some reason this looks NOTHING like my usual hen scratch!

Introducing Alley Sunday

This is our newest family member, Alley Sunday Landers. She showed up one day at work, in the alley behind the office. She was pregnant and homeless and she reminds me so much of Shadow that I could not let her have the kittens outside. So after two days of feeding her and letting her sneak into my office I decided that she needed to go to the local shelter. I thought I was doing a good thing for her. Unbeknownst to me I was more attached than I could ever imagine - I cried like a baby when I dropped her off at the SPCA. I could not even drive home- I had to sit in the parking lot until the sobbing was done....the director of the SPCA is a friend of one of my co-workers so she told me that I could have her after she had her kittens. I knew in my heart that I wanted her to help fill the void that was left after Shadow's death and Purrsha really needed someone to love while we were gone all day. Alley fit the bill.
Now the hard part was talking Chuck into letting me bring her home. He fought it tooth and nail telling me that if I brought the cat home that I could find my own shelter somewhere else. I didn't let that stop me! I bombarded him with photos of Alley and finally told him that I was bringing her home and he had no choice. So, after a week at the SPCA where her kittens were aborted (she wasn't that far along I was told) she was fixed and gotten all her shots and a micro chip in case she gets lost, it was time to bring her home. She is a very loving cat and cuddly with her humans. However, she and Purrsha still have to come to terms. We usually awake to a screaming ball of fur rolling down the hall way....not what I envisioned at all. Everyone tells me that they will settle in and they may - meanwhile the current situation is NOT working for me. Today was a good day; no fights that I was aware of. Purrsha is choosing to stay in the basement on the ratty old couch - which is better than hiding behind the couch or under the bed.

I named her Alley after where she was discovered, Sunday after Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's daughter Sunday Rose; Alley calmed down on the long ride home when listening to his music.

She sleeps through the night snuggled between Chuck and myself spread out on her back with her little kitty arms over her head....She is content with her new home.

birthday cards for Emily and Jennifer

My sister in law Jennifer's birthday was this week so I made her this Bella Birthday card. The patterned paper is Basic Grey with some random ribbon scrap that was on my desk. This card was for my co-worker Emily's birthday, also this week. The background papers are Basic Grey, some random stray ribbon, some skittles and the stamp is from TGF - its Sassy Suzi! This little chick looks the most like Em- brown highlighted hair with a funky blunt cut. And her fav color is purple

Here's a close up of the coloring - I used my SU!, Bic and Sharpie markers.

Megan

Megan is a Wild Sprout from The Greeting Farm - I really really love these cuties!
The floral background paper is from DCWV not sure what stack; the peach polka dots is Paper Crate. Megan was colored with a combination of SU!, Bic and Sharpie markers.
I am trying to embrace my own handwriting so, instead of using a stamp I wrote the "hello" myself. I can live with it.

Blingabella~

Here is the card I made for my friend and previous co-worker Barb - she recently got engaged and we are meeting up with a bunch of other co-workers to celebrate. I hope she is not adverse to the color purple.... Here is a close up of my faux bow and some of the faux stitching (used an old tracing wheel that old time sewing people used). I used scraps from my stash so I'm not sure of the origins.....the embossed scalloped heart is from Stampin' Up! ~ I just got it this week. The "sparkle" sentiment is also SU! Here is a close-up of the tiara and her sparkly dress~I think Barbie has a dress just like this!!

Flapper Anya

Meet Flapper Anya! She is from The Greeting Farm.

I made this card for my co-worker and friend Pat. I stickled her headband, shoes, feather and the fringe on her dress. She was colored with SU!, Bic and Sharpie markers. I did have to chalk her blush as I couldn't get a marker to look soft.

The background papers were from a set I picked up from Target several years ago - I'm thinking that it is Making Memories.

Gigi

Here is Gigi - a super sweet stamp from The Greeting Farm. My friend Rachel turned me on to these adorable characters.
I honestly do not know the manufacturer of any of the printed papers- there all came out of my scrap stash.
The "friend" stamp is from SU!, a set that I got years ago during Sale-a-bration.
I used my Pixie sewing machine that Chuck bought me for last Christmas; as you can see, I can not sew a straight line.
I used the Cuttlebug for the solid blue scrap; the Swiss Dots folder is one of my favorites.
I also used some of the card candy that I got off E Bay for the corners and the center of the flower on her headband.
Gigi was colored with a combination of SU!, Bic and Sharpie markers.
I think she turned out pretty cute!!

Hoo loves U baby?

This card is too cute if I must say so myself!! I hand cut the tree from some kraft paper that was used as packing material for something I bought ages ago; the owls and the mushrooms are STICKERS! that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. The background paper is from the Autumn Recollections collection that M's carried this past fall.

Just wanted to say....

I had some upsetting news this past week - my supervisor from my last job (17 years ago) is battling breast cancer. This news was devastating to me - she is only a year older than me and is so vivacious and full of life; we were very close while we worked together and have kept in touch over the years. I have not talked to her since hearing the news but have been told by one of her co-workers that she has a positive attitude and has recently completed her first round of chemo. Hopefully the treatment will work and she will be back to work and back to being herself.


I made this card to let her know that I am thinking about her. I used the Martha Stewart double loop border punch, random ribbon and my brand new stamp, Talkalotta Bella since Karen and I usually talk each other's ears off when we do connect.

Karen - please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers! Kick ass girl!

Made during my all day online crop

For my online crop we had a bingo card with challenges to complete - this card fulfilled the pop dots challenge. The patterned paper is from DCWV - the one for baby girls {sorry I don't remember the correct name}. The solid papers are SU! barely banana and certainly celery which I ran through the cuttlebug using the swiss dots embossing folder, one of my all time favs.

Not sure of the brand of the ribbon but I know I bought it at Inky Fingers when they were closing! The yellow and pink flat back adhesive pearls were bought at M's - their Recollections brand.

The Stamp is from The Greeting Farm, Hope and Grace Snuggle
The border punch is Fiskars Lace. I used SU! markers to color the image.

The following card fulfilled the "try a new technique" challenge. I used my brand spanking new Martha Stewart Score Board - {on a side note RUN - don't walk to your nearest M's and purchase this tool - it's only $19.99 (cheaper if you use a coupon) and is very user friendly}.

The bunny is a stamp from M's $1 bin (gotta love that place), the paper is from K&Co, the button is PaperTreyInk. I used my Label One Nesties to cut and emboss the base for the bunny which I colored with Crayola pencils. The little Easter egg is from the package I received from sister Vera - M's Recollections.

The only thing I do not like about this card is that I don't think the button is enough to keep the card closed. I tried to reinforce it today and managed to rip the paper. I think the fault lies with the card stock I used; PaperTreyInk card stock is very thick and sturdy which is usually a very good thing but in this case I think a thinner stock would have worked better.

I made this card for my sister in law Mary whose birthday is next week. The usual Bella, random unknown patterned paper {I just know that I have had it for eons}. I finally used some tulle on a card - have seen several gorgeous examples from my MB sister IvaR.

Here is a detailed look at my coloring - all done with SU! markers except for the flesh tone which I used my lone Copic.

Here is a close up the rhinestone-y ribbon slide I used to accent the tulle. This card completed the "BLING" challenge.

This sweet little Easter card was really easy to make - the patterned paper is from an ancient DCWV spring stack, the bunny and the sentiment are both from the $1 bins at M's, American Crafts ribbon and card candy. I used the Label one Nesties. This was made to fulfill the "animal" challenge.

My friend Rachel (hi!!) turned me one to these cute little paper accents - card candy - for some unknown reason they can only be found overseas!??? These I found on EBay and are much smaller than the ones she uses on her beautiful cards but they turned out to be the right size for this spot on the card.

This card completed the challenge to use scallops. I used my Nesties - absolutely love these and can not imagine NOT using them when ever I get the chance. Random sheer ribbon, a Bella (surprise) Basic Grey background and patterned paper from the Lemonade collection.were used. The "Sparkle" sentiment is from SU!

This card was made for a BIG FAT LIAR! One of my clients tried to tell me that she was no longer involved with this person whom had a very bad driving record (I'm in the insurance business) and requested repeatedly that I remove him from her policy (after she found out the extent of his tickets). Long story short- several weeks ago the local Fire Dept (she's a member) put up a huge sign congratulating her on her engagement to him!! Guess they got back together once her policy cancelled. ... (please insert scarasm here).

I am sending her this card with a picture of the sign enclosed ..........

This is the lone Layout that I made during my crop. Friday was a beautiful day but there was a ban on all unnecessary travel for the county that I work in so the regional manager sent us home. I decided to make a snowman - the snow was perfectly packy. I used my gloves and a scarf that I had knit for myself several years ago, Dove chocolate foil wrapped hearts for eyes and buttons, a shriveled carrot for his nose and Chuck's John Deere hat. I think he was pretty cute - he has since gone the way of most snowmen; first he fell backwards and now is part of the lawn.

I used the cutest chocolate colored pom pom trim - I should have uploaded a close up. You certainly can not tell from this picture but I stickled the green snowflakes. The paper is from K&Co and there is a pink striped twill ribbon on top and underneath the pom poms. For the title I used thickers I had purchased from QVC.

It was a long and productive day for me - I was online from 5AM to 9PM with breaks for meals and housework!

All day online crop

My online "sisters" from the Cricut MB had an all day online crop yesterday (2/26/10). As part of our fun we were assigned a sister to send a small gift - mine was to go to Sarah aka Cuttergirl.

I made this "magazine rack" resized to hold greeting cards (5 A2 cards with envelopes fit perfectly) however I had no cards on hand so I sent this on so that she would have it in time for the crop along with some baby girl rub-ons (she had a sweet princess Attleigh Jane earlier this month). I told her that she would be getting another package in the coming weeks as I plan on sending her the cards. This was made from double sided MME paper - I do not know what colllection but I know that I purchased this from QVC in the old days when they actually had craft days. The flower is made out of 2 primas layered with a Making Memories brad. I used little rhinestones from M's $1 spot for accents on the upper rim and in the centers of some of the flowers. I made this card for her as a congratulations on the recent expansion of her family. I am not sure of the origins of the patterned paper or the rosebud ribbon but they really did match much better in real life - the colors are off in this picture. The border punch is Fiskars Apron Lace. The stamped image is a Bella from this summer's image swap.

Recent cards

This is a card I made for my friend Rachel using one of the Bellas I received in an image swap this summer, DCWV patterned paper (both) random ribbon and a handmade crocheted flower.

Here is a close up of the crocheted flower - I need to make more of these - gave away too many! and here is some detail of the inking I did on the edges - green then black.

This card was for Rachel's daughter, Brooklyn - this was extremely easy to throw together as the paper was already printed with all the glittery cupcakes, cute butterflies and the cute critters- the paper was from the Naughty but Nice 6x6 paper stack by Smirk - I was talked into purchasing this paper while on vacation in CT this past summer - imagine that - someone enabling me?? Who'd a thunk it?

I added the chipboard "B" after I inked it an appropriate shade of PINK then distressed and added the little butterfly and the card candy in the corners. TA DA done!

I inked the little butterfly also - it came from the American Girls punch that Rachel enabled me to buy.. thanks Rach!

This card was made for Rachel's little man, Westin who was turning 2 - where has the time gone? He was just a newborn!

I used George cricut cart and cut the 2 three times out of chipboard (was trying out the deep cut blade my niece bought me for Christmas) then covered with orange DCWV glitter paper. The background paper is also DCWV - I think its from Animal Crackers?...

I even broke out the Dyno label maker for this card and some sheer orange ribbon to accent the corner.

trying to catch up on my postings...

This is my first attempt to create with The Greeting Farm stamps - I really like these guys.....this is Hugh NOT Edward as I thought when I made the card. My BFF Karen is a newly converted Twilight fan - so I used a quote from the book for her birthday greeting. I am not a good colorist; only own one Copic which I used for his face; used a combination of Bic, Sharpies and Stampin' Up! markers for the rest.

I used the new Herringbone (I think) cuttlebug folder on the background and some really narrow ribbon from Walmart.

This card I made for my NSSS Jenny for her February package - this image was from an image swap,background paper is from DCWV, Nana's Kids stack (I think),the orange and the lime green are from random DCWV glitter stacks and some purple grosgrain ribbon, hand dyed skittles and some little white baby prima blossoms. I even used my brand new Nesties, label one.

{This is supposed to be me and Jenny}

A simple birthday card

I made this card for my brother in law Dave's birthday using a stamped image I received in a swap, some DCWV paper (from the Green Stack) and some dotted orange ribbon. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Flowers, flowers and more flowers

I'm a sucker for flowers of any kind... real flowers, felt flowers, paper flowers, crocheted flowers....since its the middle of winter I have to wait for spring for the real flowers and I've already shown you the felt flowers I created (posted back on March 15, 2009), so know I will show you my paper flowers.

This is one that is SO easy - I just love it...but I don't think I will use it on any pages as it is very bulky - so it will probably end up on something altered. I added some glimmer mist to this one - I made it from regular ol' copy paper.
Those crazy chicks over at My Little Shoebox have a great (and fun) tutorial that you can watch ... and be patient...its at the very end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpAKetnM9c&feature=player_embedded

This lovely specimen is something else I found on my online wanderings.... I found this over at the Pink Paislee website... for some reason I can not get the link to post but the website pinkpaislee.com and the post is from October 2009 wacky wednesday ...I'll keep looking until I can get it for you. If you are really dying for it - email me at jewel@twcny.rr.com and I will get it for you!

And here are my creations... using cream colored cotton yarn. I can't follow instructions so I just made my own version. Someday I will post a tutorial I promise!! The bigger one in the center was made using a larger crochet hook.

Then to dress them up a bit I sprayed them with glimmer mist.