... and New Card #2...

I finished this one up this morning. I think it's cute and makes a great card for the fall (even though I'm so not ready for summer to be over yet!).

I used some of the new In Color colours for this card. Oh ya, and I tried out my new Stampin Up blender pens. Before I was using some that I got at Michaels, and I have to say the SU ones are waaaaay better. They blend better, and they seem to be more wet or something.

Stamps: A Flower for All Seasons (SU), Pocket Silhouettes (SU) (for the thank you sentiment)

Ink: Basic Black (SU), Tangerine Tango (SU)

Paper: Kraft (SU), Tangerine Tango (SU), Kiwi Kiss (SU)

Other: D'Vine Swirl cuttlebug folder, watercolour pencils, blender pen, flower brads, corner rounder punch, hemp twine (SU)

Finally... New Card #1

I was FINALLY feeling half-way decent yesterday and took the opportunity to play with all my new toys. Here's the first card I made. Not sure what I think of it. I do love the new Pocket Silhouettes set as much as I hoped I would though.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes (SU), Thank You Kindly (SU)

Ink: Basic Black (SU)

Paper: Basic Black (SU), Riding Hood Red (SU), Whisper White (SU)

Other: Spots & Dots embossing folder, photo corners

Almost Healthy!

I'm almost back to normal. I went to work today for the first time all week. So, hopefully this weekend I'll feel up to being crafty and make some stuff to post on here.

My demo kit came in, as well as some other stuff I ordered, so I've got lots and lots of new supplies to work with. I'm super excited to play, just need the energy to do it!

This post marks week 3, unfortunately it wasn't a good posting week :(

I'm enjoying watching where people are coming from when they find my blog. Make sure to say hi and let me know who you are!

Still Sick!!!

Not fair! I'm still sick. I have the flu or something and it is keeping me in bed and away from my craft room. Thank God for laptops :P

I even got a new shelf and some other storage things for my craft room last week and haven't even felt like putting that together (I love building Ikea furniture) :(

My demo kit should be arriving tomorrow (I had it shipped to work, without knowing of course that I would be stuck at home sick. Hopefully I'll feel better so I can go in tomorrow). I'm excited to get all my new stuff. And if I'm feeling better I should be well on my way to having new stuff to post here very soon! I'm thinking a Get Well Soon card should be one of the first things I make :P

Week Two of Blogging Complete!

No cards to post today, unfortunately. I've been sick off and on all week (that's why I missed posting one day earlier this week), and haven't had much time to craft. Plus, the Olympics have been keeping me occupied at night. Hopefully this weekend I'll have some time to get some of the card ideas that I have floating around in my head done up.

Somehow I've managed to get over 130 hits in 2 weeks. I wonder how many of those are me? :P Seriously, if you're coming in here, let me know!! I'm thinking I'll need to do some blog candy once I hit 250, so keep on coming back to visit!

I was checking the status of my demonstrator kit, and it's almost here! Supposed to come in on Tuesday. I can't wait for all the nifty new things I'm getting from Stampin' Up! If you have ever thought of becoming a demonstrator yourself, there's a really good deal going on right now. For only $119, you can become a Stampin' Up Demonstrator yourself. This offer ends October 11, so if you have any questions or want to join up, feel free to contact me!

Not quite your typical wedding card

Here's a card I made today for some friends who are getting married on the weekend (he's in the military and got back from Afghanistan in the spring, so I tried to go with army colours).

Anyway, as you can see, it's using the Always heart (again!) and the pearls in the corners are to make it a bit more girly (they are stick on pearls. I'd been trying to find pearl brads everywhere and these were all I could find).

Btw, can anyone tell me how to take decent macro pics without natural daylight? The pics with the flash never look as good as the ones I take in the mornings.

Stamps: Always (SU)

Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU), white

Paper: All from Michaels

Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), Pearl stick-ons, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug folder, ribbon

A Quick Birthday Card

I made this card last week as a quick birthday card. The stamp isn't a SU one, but I saw it at Jo-Ann's when I was down in the States a couple weeks ago and picked it up. I was gonna add some gold stickles to the flames but I forgot :)

Stamps: Birthday Candles (Hero Arts)

Ink: Brocade Blue (SU)

Paper: Brocade Blue (SU), the rest from Michaels

Other: Ribbon ($ store I think?), Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, watercolour pencils, blender pen

Embossed Thank You Card

I made this card for a card workshop I'm doing at my place with some friends in a few weeks. It uses the Stylized Flowers embossing folder. I run a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 paper through the folder, and then cut it in half lengthwise to make 2 cards.

Stamp: Short & Sweet (SU)

Paper: Michaels (waiting on the cardstock I ordered from Stampin' Up, can't wait!)

Other: Silver ribbon (Walmart), Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug folder, jewel brad, diamond stickles

I'm a New Stampin' Up Demonstrator in the Montreal Area

I was waiting to post this until all the paperwork had gone through, and it finally has, so now I can post! I decided to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator a couple weeks ago, and signed up with Heather once the new catalog came out last week.

So, if you are in the Montreal area and are looking for someone to buy your Stampin' Up products (stamps, paper, ink, punches, etc), send me an email. I live on the South Shore, but work downtown, and also go to the Laurentians and Townships often, so if you are anywhere in the area, feel free to contact me if you want to place an order or host a card workshop with your friends. I can always order products for you and have them shipped directly to you too if you prefer (this applies to anyone living anywhere in Canada). Click here to view the current catalog.

Stampin' Up is also having a sale right now of 15% off several of their new stamp sets. (I'm loving Snow Swirled, Eastern Blooms, Pocket Silhouettes and Upsy Daisy from this promotion). You can view the whole list of sale stamp sets here. Sale ends September 30th.

An apple a day...

This is the first card I've made in awhile that isn't using Stampin' Up stamps. In fact, I think the only SU product on this card is the hemp cord at the bottom. I picked up the corner punch on sale at a scrapbook store a few weeks ago, and this was the first time I used it. I think it looks pretty neat.

Stamps: Apple (from Michaels)

Paper: All from Michaels

Ink: Versafine black

Other: Dots & Spots embossing folder, watercolour pencils, blender pen, eyelets, hemp cord (SU), photo corner punch

I just wanna be a sheep, baa-baa!

I had that song running through my head as I made this card that I totally CASED from Sharon's cute sheep card. (Thanks Chelle for showing me it last night!) The original was made with all Stampin' Up punches, but I don't have the oval, small circle or message window punches yet, so I improvided. For the legs I used the corner rounder punch to round the bottom of the legs, and I cut out the pieces for the head and ears. Isn't she so sweet though?? :)

Stamps: Short & Sweet (SU)
Paper: All from Michaels
Other: Scallop Circle punch (SU), Swiss Dots cuttlebug embossing folder.

First UStamp Project

Part of the first UStamp class was to create a gift bag and tag. The original project was made using the cherry stamp from the Tart and Tangy set, which I don't have (yet!), so I improvised and used what appears to be my favourite stamp at the moment. The original design also used the new scallop edge punch which I don't have (yet!) either, so I added a secondary border to the top part. I wouldn't mind receiving a gift in this bag, what about you? :)

Stamps: Always (SU)

Other: Scallop Circle Punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), 1 1/4" circle punch (SU)

One week of blogging :P

Wow, it's been one week since I started this blog on here and I've managed to update it every single day. I impress myself :)

I'm liking it because it's forcing me to create something to share every day. Now I just need to find people to come and look and read :) If you're reading this, please comment and let me know what you think of my first blog week. If you have a blog, post the link so I can check yours out too. And if you want to link to me from your blog I would love you forever :D

Sometimes they come back

OK, not really, but this stamp set is retired, and I decided to use it this morning anyway, so it came back for me :) Not bad for 6:00 in the morning, eh? I'm happy that I managed to make a birthday card that isn't birthday-y! I can't wait til I get my Stampin' Up order from the new catalog so I can make all kinds of cute things with all the new stamps I ordered! I'm excited for the On Your Birthday set, which is a new set of different birthday phrases.



Stamps: Fun Filled (SU) and the Happy Birthday is from an acrylic set from Michaels.
Paper: All from Michaels
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU) and Black Versafine
Other: Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder, flower brads, 1 1/4" circle punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), lace ribbon, watercolour pencils, blender pens

Thinking of You...

I got this set from Stampin' Up awhile ago (it's called Take Three), but I never made anything with it until today. I looked around on the Splitcoaststampers gallery last night and found some inspiration there.

Stamps: Take Three (SU)

Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Brocade Blue (SU), ivory cardstock (Michaels)

Ink: Brocade Blue (SU)

Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), D'Vine Swirl Embossing folder, silver brads, Silver clip (Making Memories), brown ribbon

UStamp

Heather et al. have created UStamp, an online stamping university.

They will be showing how to create many different projects.

I'm just waiting for my account to be activated, I can't wait to see what they have in store for us.

If you decide to sign up, please let them know you were referred from me!

Birthday Snail

For some reason I always have a hard time with birthday cards. I guess it's cuz I always try to make them "birthday-y" with balloons, hats, cakes, etc.

For this card I started with a square of red cardstock, not sure what to do with it. I played around with my paper cutter, chopping off the corners. "It looks like a stop sign" I thought to myself, so I stamped the snail from the Garden Whimsy set (snails are slow, get it?) :P

I had an acrylic set of stamps I got somewhere that had the happy belated birthday sentiment, so I used that.

I don't usually use colours that are so bright, but I think it's cute :)


Stamps: Garden Whimsy (SU)
Ink and Cardstock: Random from Michaels
Other: Black brads, white ribbon, Cuttlebug Spots & Dots and Tiny Bubbles embossing folders

Post-It Notes Project

Awhile ago, Chelle posted a link to this tutorial to make a Post-It Note holder. I liked it, and thought I'd give it a try.

The stamp is the branch from the Always set (again!), and it uses the scallop circle punch.

If you're looking for velcro, try the dollar store, I got a bunch of adhesive velcro there.

Stamps: Always (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Brocade Blue (SU), light blue cardstock
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Other: 1 1/4" circle punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), scalloped circle punch (SU), Swiss dots embossing folder

A Little Bit of Happiness Thank You

I'm hoping to do a Thank You card workshop with some friends in September, and I'm tossing around some ideas for which cards I want to make. This is one I tried out yesterday... I think I should have put a border behind the top part now that I look at it some more. I coloured in the stamped image with some watercolour pencils and a blender pen.



Stamps: A Little Bit of Happiness (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), white and green cardstock from Michaels.
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Other: Ribbon from Michaels, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder

The Always Birdie

Funny, I love the heart from the Always set, but so far it had been the only stamp I'd used from that set. Last night, I used the birdie, the branches, and the always stamp. Here's what I came up with.

The background is embossed with birdies too :)

Stamps: Always (SU)

Paper: Brocade Blue (SU), black and white cardstock

Ink: Brocade Blue (SU), black

Other: 1 1/4" circle punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), scalloped circle punch (SU), birds & swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, black brads.

More Hearts

Did I mention I love the heart stamp from the Always set? :)

Here's another one I did, I love black and white together.

White ink looks cool on dark paper, don't you think?

Stamps: Always (SU)
Paper + Ink: Black and white, from Michaels
Other: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder, Square Brads, Black and white ribbon (I think I got it at Costco)

A different kind of card...

I tried something new the other day, and I'm not sure if I like it or not :P

It looks kinda crooked in this pic too :(

Anyway, I used some burlap that I had, cut it to size and frayed the edges a bit. I made a "flower" with some raffia and 2 buttons in the center.



Paper: Brocade Blue (SU), white cardstock, and the colourful paper behind the thanks is some watercoloured paper my mom made for me.
Ink: Brocade Blue (SU)
Other: 1 1/4" circle punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), scalloped circle punch (SU), flower brads, burlap, raffia, buttons, ticket corner punch (SU).

It's Wedding Season

I made a card like this for a friend of mine, and then made another because I liked it so much!

The hearts are from the Always stamp set, and the brown one is stamped with Versamark (you can use it on any colour of paper and it just makes the stamp like a watermark, so it's a bit darker than your cardstock).

Stamps: Always (SU), Short & Sweet (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Brocade Blue (SU), other paper from Michaels
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU), Brocade Blue (SU)
Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), brads, ribbon, paper flower

Christmas in August

Well, not quite, but I've been trying some ideas for Christmas cards. Here's one I just made:

I coloured in the image with watercolour pencils and a blender pen. This was the first time I tried on watercolour paper (was doing it on card stock before), and I think it was easier to do.

Stamps: Big on Christmas (SU)

Paper: Random from Michaels

Other: Ticket Corner Punch (SU), Gold Stickles, Eyelets

Ladybugs!

I was awake early and couldn't sleep, so I decided to get up and make a card. Here's what I came up with.

I don't have a tag punch, but it's really easy to just cut a rectangle and then angle the corners in a bit.

This was my first time using my new Crop-A-Dile. Among other things, it punches holes and set eyelets, something I was never able to do with a hammer before. See my first ever eyelet on the tag?? :)

Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Short & Sweet (both SU)

Paper: Brocade Blue (SU), other random paper from Michaels

Ink: Brocade Blue (SU), red and black markers

Other: 1 1/4" circle punch (SU), 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), Swiss Dots and Spots & Dots embossing folders (Cuttlebug)

A card from this week...

I bought the Garden Whimsy stamp set from Stampin' Up! a few months ago, but hadn't used it yet. I finally decided this was the week, and this is the first card I made with it... It's nice and simple, but still pretty (at least, I think so).

Stamps: Garden Whimsy
Paper: All from Michaels
Other: Flower brads

First Ever Blog Post

Wow! This is my very first blog post ever! You'd think that from working in IT I'd be more likely to have jumped on the blog band wagon years ago. But I haven't, and here I am. My goal for this blog is to showcase some of my crafty creations.

I've been crafting in many different ways for almost as long as I can remember. Way back when I was little I used to paint little wooden shapes and make magnets and sell them at my mom's craft show table. Somewhere around then my grandmother taught me to knit, and I made my first "scarf" :P I can't say it would be very warm with all the dropped stiches. From there, I've gone on and done all kinds of crafty things. I sew, I crochet, I've made candles, jewelry, bath products... you name it, I've probably done it.

My new crafty obsession is card making. I tried to do the scrapbooking thing first, but I quite frankly couldn't find that much in my life to scrapbook about :P so instead I started to use all the nice supplies I had bought for scrapbooking to make cards. Of course, I've found all kinds of new and fun things to buy to expand on this hobby :) Card making has become a great hobby for me because it is actually useful, and everyone appreciates a nice handmade card. It also doesn't take too long to get results, unlike crocheting an afghan :P

So, with that, I will post my first blog post. Now that you know a bit about me, please make sure to check back often, as I hope to post a lot of different cards that I make (and maybe something else besides cards every so often too!).