My Crafty Obsessions

Baby Totes

Hi Everyone!
I know I was supposed to post these pics on Saturday but I was hoping to finish what goes inside the totes before posting the pics... Unfortunately, I have not finished what goes inside the totes and I have to put it aside for a couple days while I get ready for a class I am teaching this Thursday. So... I am going to post the pics of the two baby totes I stamped and decorated for now and show you what goes inside later.

Aren't these stamps so cute?? The shop I teach at just got these in a couple weeks ago, they are from Stamping Bella. I colored in with my Copic Markers (went a little heavy with them in spots and it ran a bit so will probably make new bags soon). I figured I was ok to use my markers since no one will be wearing this but I also picked up some fabric markers this week to try on these. After I stamped and colored the image, I added a little lace and buttons - what a difference a little trim makes!! (although they look different sizes in the pics, both totes are the same size - roughly 5-5.5" square.)

Oh, and Typepad has a few new blog themes so thought I would change things around for a bit. One of these days I will take the time to sit down and figure out how to make my own, but until then...

I'll be back later this week with pics of what I am making to go inside the totes and also more penguin cards (the theme of my card class this week)

Have a great week! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Shari

Best Witches!

Ok, so I posted a Christmas card earlier this week... now, how about a Halloween card?!? I am still having a hard time believing it's July already! And was in even more shock during a visit to a nearby big chain craft store yesterday and turned around and smacked right into Halloween and Fall decorations!!! Yikes!!! The whole corner, a few aisles, were nothing but Halloween and Fall decor - where did the first half of this year go?!?

All right, on to the card... This is a big image so I had to make a big card (5x7) to put it on. You can't see it in the picture but the ribbon on the card and the card base are both a very dark purple- not black, as it looks in the picture. Both stamps are from Stamps by Judith. Although you can't see it - I have a matching sentiment that is stamped on the inside that says "Best Witches" and has a little witches hat and spiders hanging from it (also Stamps by Judith). Cardstock is from Stampin' Up, the pattern paper I don't remember who's it is, something I've had in my paper stash for about a year now. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Colored with Copics and a little bling added with a clear Spica glitter pen.

Tomorrow I have a baby project to share with you - super cute! :)

Thanks for stopping by, have a safe and fabulous weekend!!
Shari

PS: Wishing all my Canadian Friends a belated Happy Canada day and everyone in the US a Happy 4th of July!!

Christmas in June...

Where have the last six months gone?!?  I can't believe tomorrow will be July already!  For today's post I have a Christmas card to share - yep, I said Christmas card!  When I saw this stamp by Inkadinkadoo, I thought of a Christmas card. I'm still working on a few other cards with this stamp, this was my favorite from "Buy 2 get 1 free" group of stamps this month. Here's the card and also a pic of the inside:

Supplies
Cardstock: Bazzill, PaperTrey Ink
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo (bird stamps), Outlines Rubber Stamps (tree branch), Savvy (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Ink (Shabby Shutters & Antique Linen)
Colored with Copic markers
Petite Oval Nestabilities to cut the ovals

After yesterday's looong post I figured I would keep this one short and sweet!  Thanks for visiting my blog!
Have a good day,
Shari

Penguin Party!

I know, I know... I've been a bad blogger and it's been over a week since  my last post!  The good news is I have been busy busy busy and have lots to show you but am going to spread everything out through the week!  :)

Now about that Penguin Party...  These Penguins are all from Memory Box's summer release 2007; I pulled them out to play while I waited for the new Penguins (18 of them!!) to arrive at Scraptasia (my lss). I also needed to make a couple samples to show some Masking techniques so I played around a bit and these cards are what I ended up with, love that hula penguin!!  lol!!  Since the making of these cards, the new  Penguins have safely arrived at Scraptasia (and flying out the door very quickly), so watch for more Penguin cards in the next week or so - need to make up some samples for a Penguin card class I am teaching on July 10th.  Ok, on to the cards...  (remember - you can click on any picture to enlarge it)

Party Time!! 
I stamped and masked the penguin, then stamped the rope across to make it look like it's standing on the rope.   

Supplies:
Cardstock: BoBunny and Bazzill 
Stamps: Penguin, Margarita and sentiment from Memory Box, rope from Crafty Secrets
colored with Copic Markers and a little added bling with some Star Dust Stickles by Ranger.

Happy Summer 

I stamped three squares on white cardstock, masked off the area around outside of the boxes and stamped the different penguins (wouldn't these three squares also be cute as Inchies?!?).  Then I masked the inside of the square to cover up the penguins and stamped the sun all around.

Supplies
Cardstock: Bazzill, Papercuts (white)
Stamps: Square outline stamp-Stamps by Judith; all other stamps from Memory Box
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark, Ranger Sea Brights (now called Adirondack)
Colored with Copic markers, Ribbon from ribbon stash.

Let's Catch Up! 

This is just a silly card, it probably would have been more appropriate to have the Scuba Penguin looking out of a bubble or something - but a jar?!?  But hey, since you really don't see penguins that scuba I don't see why he can't be in a jar!  lol!!  I actually hadn't planned to make this little card, I was just playing around with the jar stamp and one thing led to another...  used up some scraps. 

Supplies
Cardstock: Bazzill and Papercut
Stamps: Jar from Stamps by Judith; all other stamps from Memory Box
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Sea Brights in Pool (I think).
Colored with Copic markers.

And the last one... Best of the Bunch

I stamped the Penguin, masked it and then stamped the flower stand twice.  I thought I put this aside to dry after applying Stickles for a little bling but it had a run in with another card, the stickles smeared and it was too late to wipe them off so pardon the smear.  I was trying to show a masking technique and it still served it's purpose.  :)

Supplies
Cardstock: Bazzil, Papercut
Stamps: big flower used for background from Hero Arts; all other stamps by Memory Box.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Colored with Copic markers and added Star Dust Stickles by Ranger Ink to the flowers.

Ok, so a long post today to make up for being absent the last week.  I hope you enjoy the Penguin party and Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a great week!
Shari

PS:  If you are a fan of the Memory Box Penguins...  You can see all the new ones here on the Memory Box website (you've got to see the Curler Penguin - love this one!).

Canvas Card Tote

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all are having a great weekend! The project I want to share with you today is a cute little canvas tote bag I picked up at the craft store. This was a plain little canvas tote, approx. 5" x 5" in size, that I stamped the front of, added some trim and buttons and ta daa - it's all set to fill up with a cute set of cards or a gift! I had only purchased two of these bags to try out, but this was so much fun, and will be great gifts, that I think I will be going back to buy more! They come in the natural canvas, like I used, and white; I don't remember if there were other colors.

I am also including a peek at what the cards that I'm working on to go inside - I just have to stamp the image and sentiment and add to the cards and it's ready to go. I used paper from the Little Girls paper pack from Cosmo Cricket on all the cards. I will post a picture of all the cards later today when I get the stamping done on them. The cards I made are 3" x 6", but this little tote will hold Bar 4 size cards (3.5x5") and also regular A2 size cards (4.25x5.5").

Now the last card I am posting is my shabby version of Debbie Olson's Bitty Baby Blessings Bib Card. I saw this on Debbie's blog and just HAD to try one myself! Debbie's bib card is sooo adorable and if you haven't seen it yet, make sure to check it out here. Debbie has also included a great tutorial on how to make this card. And while your over there, take a look around, her work is amazing!!

Ok, here's the details:

Canvas Tote: Gerber Flower Stamp-Savvy Stamps, Sentiment stamp-Hero Arts, Buttons/lace/ribbon from stash. Paper used on cards for tote: Little Girls by Cosmo Cricket

Bib Card: Cardstock-Stamper's Select (PaperTrey Ink), PP: Little Girls collection by Cosmo Cricket, Buttons and trim from stash (twill was colored with a Copic Marker), Little Lamb stamp - I stamped this at the shop and I forgot to write it down, have to go look and will update post when I have it. All shapes cut with Nestabilities from Spellbinders.

Enjoy!
Shari

You will Fly...

UPDATED: Fixed the picture and added pic of card inside.

Hello!

Happy weekend!! :) I hope this works, send a short note and pic from
my cell phone (pic also taken with cell). Last time I did this the
picture came up huge, so if it happens again I will fix later when I'm
on my computer.

I sat down the other night to make a quick birthday card, picked out
my paper & ribbon. Then while going through my stamp drawers to decide
what stamp I wanted to use, I came across this stamp I bought a few
years ago at a stamp show (the butterfly is not part of the main
stamp) and ended up making this card. Never got the birthday card
done I originally sat down to make!! Not sure what I will do with
this card but thought it turned out ok.

Paper: Fancy Pants -Celebrate Main stamp: Paula Best; butterfly stamp: Hero Arts Ribbon/lace from my stash Colored with Copics, inked up a bit with Antique Linen Distress Ink,
then stitched and sparkled up!

Thanks for visiting! I am working on another project that I hope to
finish and share tomorrow.

Have a great day! Shari

What to do...

what to do, with Nestabilities... If you haven't already done so, these are something you need to check out! I love these dies! Anyway, Not too long ago the shop I teach at started carrying the Nestabilities and so I taught a class on different ways you could use these dies, below are the cards I made for that class. The first class was this past Thursday and since it had filled quickly I will be doing another one on the 23rd (still one spot open).

So, on to the cards... going from left to right:
1. What's Up Cupcake - Large Petite Oval Nestabilities used to cut the plain and scalloped edge on the bottom and Classic Ovals for the main image.
The stamps used for this card are from a new set (What's Up Cupcake) just released last week from My Favorite Things, this is a great set! PP: the newest Wild Asparagus collection from My Mind's Eye. Ribbon: May Arts (This was a White Grosgrain dot ribbon that I colored with a Copic Marker (R37)- if you color the ribbon from the back side the dots stay white - Cool huh?!?) Ink used for the frosting: VersaMagic (from Tsukineko) ink in Pink Grapefruit. and of course had to add some bling with some Star Dust Stickles.

2. Fun in the Sun - I used the Long Rectangle Nestabilities set (love this one) to cut a card and the Classic Circle set for the circles. Then stamped my own pattern paper using a Hero Arts clear stamp set -Circular Designs; Ink used was VersaMagic in Pink Grapefruit and Sea Breeze; Cardstock is Bazzill Doodlebug; Sentiment and Flip Flops from Sunny Summer clear set by Rubber Soul. And the ribbon, like the last card, was white grosgrain colored to match with a Copic Marker (BG45).

3. Thank You - This card showed how to emboss w/o cutting the paper (click on the pic to get a closer look)I used the Square Nestabilities set to cut the big pink piece of paper and to emboss around the sentiment. Stamps from Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages clear set. PP: Melissa Frances (Hope and Peaceful from Thoughtful collection)

4. And lastly, a little 3x3 mini card that gave everyone a chance to practice cutting with two dies at the same time to make a frame. I used the Scallop Square and a small Classic Oval to cut the frame. Cardstock: Bazzill Doodlebug, PP: Wild Asparagus from My Mind's Eye, Stamps: The same Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages set used in the pink card (this set is great - it has great messages and images).

Ok, now that I've written a book tonight, I'm off to go join in the PaperTrey Ink release party tonight - check it out, the details are on Nichole's blog! Fun... fun... fun... So glad it's on a Saturday night this month!

Enjoy, thanks for stopping by!
Shari

PS: Remember, you can click on the picture to see a larger image.

Happy Birdie..

Hi Everyone!
Here's another birthday card I made this past weekend for my friend Chris, this card is 5x7". I "cased" or "lifted" the design from Michelle Rodgers/Stamper's Dream with a few minor changes, you can see her beautiful card here. And while you are there, take a look through all her other cards, they are fabulous!!

I used white cardstock for the base of the card. PP from Melissa Frances, Birdcage and Tree limb stamps from Hero Arts, Happy Birdie stamp from A Muse Art Stamps, ribbon from PaperTrey ink (Sweet Blush). I used one of my corner rounders to make the scallop edge on the left. And you can't see it in the pic but the flowers have a little sparkle from a Spica glitter pen. Scallop, and plain, circles cut with Nestabilities by Spellbinders. Oh, and of course I inked it up a bit with, yep, you guessed it - Antique Linen Distress Ink from Ranger!! :)

I am finishing up cards for a class I am teaching a couple times this month focused all around using the Nestabilities dies, so I will post those later this week.

Have a great day, thanks for visiting!
Shari

Birthday Flowers...

Hi Everyone!
I hope you all are having a great week so far! And staying cool, it's still really hot and humid here.

The card I am posting tonight is a 5 1/2" square card that I made for my friend Barbara's birthday. I had originally made her a regular A2 size card a while ago and then decided to "kick it up a notch"!! lol!! I don't know why but have been making a lot of big cards lately - 5x7, 4x9.5 and these 5.5/6" square cards, more room to work with I guess! :)

Ok, on to the card... The card base and all paper used for this card, except the white cardstock, is from the new Wild Asparagus collection from My Mind's Eye. The flower stamp is from Lockhart, the HB stamp is from Endless Creations, Inc, the ribbon is Berry Sorbet from PaperTrey Ink, the lace trim is from my overflowing stash of ribbons and goodies. Coloring is a bit sloppy but I still like it, colored with Copics and you can't see it on the pic but the flowers all have a little shimmer from a clear Spica glitter pen. Rectangles cut with Nestabilities Classic Rectangle set. This card looks so much better in real life, I'm happy with how it came out - I love square cards.

I'll post another big birthday card tomorrow using some yummy Melissa Frances paper and Hero Arts stamps.

Make it a great day!! Thanks for stopping by!
Shari

October Afternoon...

Hi Everyone,
I hope you all are having a great weekend and staying cool! It has been hot and muggy here, so I have stayed inside most of the weekend, I don't do heat well.

Have you all seen the new October Afternoon papers, stamps and rub-ons?!? Whatever pictures you've seen on the internet does not do it justice - it's gorgeous in person! Lucky for me that my LSS just got got all the Paper and lots of the Rub-ons and a few of the stamp sets in - Yummy!!! The cards I am posting tonight were both made with new October Afternoon paper.

The first card is a 4" x 9.5" card is using PP called Gazebo, from the Detours collection. The graph pp on the card is the flip side of the red floral pp! Yep, it's all double sided!! :) The Owl, tree branch are from one of the Rub-on sets, the "Happy happy happy Twill" is 7 Gypsies and the only stamp on the front of this card-you hoo! - is from a mini Hero Arts set. Unusual for me to use so many rub-ons instead of stamps and ink, but this little owl was so cute, had to try it out. also posting a pic of the inside of the card that is using a combination or rub-ons and stamps.

Now the second card, is actually a work in progress as I have not finished it yet, but wanted to post a pic to show you the paper!! Thsi card is 5'x7'. I just have to decide on a main image, then stamp and color it and get it on the card; I will post another pic when it is done. On to the details... PP is from October Afternoon Country Fair collection (except for the graph paper in the background). You notice how my ribbon matches so beautifully???? I colored it to match using Ranger Alcohol Inks in Stream! Stream is a perfect match for this paper, so is Copic Marker BG09 - Blue Green - it matched pretty good too!! And both cards were inked up a little using my favorite Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen.

I made a few other birthday cards today but will save those to post over the next couple of days. Time to sign off and get things ready for work tomorrow.

Have a great week, Thanks for visiting my blog!
Shari