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Friday, December 31, 2010

PEACE, LOVE & REFLECTIONS

Can you believe another year has come and gone?  I remember when I was a kid and time just crept by...everyone always said it would go faster as I got older.  Holy crapola, batman!  This year just started last week!  What happened?  *sigh*

Here's the highlights/lowlights for this year:
  • In February I created an SCS profile so I could share my paper crafting with my buddy, D, who lives in another state (sending pics through email was getting to be a pain in the hiney).
  • In June my dad had a stroke and, unfortunately, didn't make it (miss you dad!).  He was less than one month shy of his 66th birthday and was finally talking about retirement.  While my dad was in the hospital, my step-brother (his son) reconnected with the family.  Since then we've even gone camping together which was really cool!  Two weeks after my dad passed, I had foot surgery and was on a knee scooter for three months (a VERY long three months I might add).  If you've never seen one, it takes the place of crutches and is truly a life saver!
  • In August I created my blog (it's been fun and I'm slowing getting all my stamping buddies into it as well!).
  • In October I accepted a Guest Designer spot with Our Craft Lounge and my 19 year old son decided to quit his job, give up his apartment and start "traveling".  Although I don't understand why he feels the need to do this, he seems to be having a good time and he is seeing the USA in a way he would never have experienced any other way.  He checks in with me regularly so I won't worry so much and shares with me the places he has been and the people he has met.  I anxiously wait for the day when this phase in his life is over and he decides to settle down.  In the mean time, I look forward to hearing about his journey.
  • In November I was invited to be a full-time member of OCL's Design Team and participated in their Valentine Release Sneak Peek and Blog Hop (good times!).
  • In December, well, I decided to teach my first class at our local scrapbook store, Memories of Time.  The class will be in January so I've been spending a little time over the last couple of weeks prepping for it and trying not to panic!
  • The best part of 2010...I met some really cool people through my habit...I mean hobby!  Stamping buddies are the best!!!  Enough babble already...onto the card!
To be honest with you, I made this card in November and have just never gotten around to posting it.  The stamp set is from OCL and is called Flower Power.  The flowery peace sign was stamped on Neenah card stock with Black Soot and was colored with Copic markers.  The center was cut out with a craft knife and backed with packaging tape.  That gave it a nice, sticky surface for the Crafty Sparkles to adhere to.

I hope everyone out there in Blogland has a happy, safe and creative New Year!

Thanks for stopping by!  SmileyCentral.com




SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Flower Power
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; I can't remember the DP...sorry!
INK:  Ranger Black Soot
ACCESSORIES: Copic markers; craft knife; packaging tape; OCL Crafty Sparkles; Dimensionals

Friday, December 24, 2010

BREAKING NEWS...GRINCH CAPTURED!

OMGosh...so there I was, sitting at work when I got this weird feeling.  I rushed home as soon as I could to find none other than The Grinch sitting in my craft room dribbling egg nog all over my new Nesties.  Seriously...what was he thinking!?!  I grabbed the first thing I could find (double-sided sticky tape) and taped him to the chair until the police could arrive.  The police conducted an investigation and were able to locate the missing property of Laura Lou Who.  The Grinch was arrested and charged with Theft and Breaking and Entering.  He's very photogenic, don't you think???


All of Laura Lou Who's property was returned and, as promised, the citizens of Whoville offered a reward (valued over $150) for the return of the stolen property.


I'm glad I was able to do my part in the capture of The Grinch!  I hope everyone can sleep better tonight knowing The Grinch is behind bars where he belongs!

To Laura at A Fairy Creative Place thanks for an AMAZING game!

Merry Christmas!


Tuesday, December 21, 2010

LOVESTRUCK VALENTINE TREAT BOXES


I saw a couple different versions of these treat boxes in the SCS gallery so I thought I would throw mine in the mix.  They were waaaayyyy easy to make...and fun!  Warning...they can be wonderfully addictive!!!


Start by cutting two Spellbinders hearts (one of the largest and one of the third largest) out of Neenah card stock then cut three Spellbinders scalloped hearts (two of the largest and one of the third largest) out of Basic Black card stock.  Cut a 4" x 4" square and a 4 1/8" x 4 1/8" square out of Basic Black card stock.  Score both squares at one inch on all sides.  Fold on score lines, cut slits and add ScorTape as indicated below.  Assemble boxes and adhere between largest scalloped hearts.  Run largest Neenah heart through the Big Shot in an embossing folder then sponge with coordinating ink and attach to the top of the box.  With the third largest heart still in the Spellbinders die, sponge with coordinating ink and attach to the third largest scallop heart.  Attach to heart box with Dimensionals.  Stamp image on Neenah card stock and color with Copic markers.  Cut out and attach to heart box with Dimensionals.  Embellish as desired.



Copic Coloring:

Lips:  RV09, RV04, RV02 Outline:  110

SUPPLIES

STAMPS:  OCL's Hearts & Hugs
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Basic Black, Pink Passion
INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Pink Passion
ACCESSORIES:  Copic markers; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Heart, Classic Scalloped Heart; paper snips; Ranger Craft Sheet; sponge; Sizzix embossing folder; ScorPal; Glossy Accents; EK Success Heart Punch; Heat & Stick Powder; OCL Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; Dimensionals; Glue Dots; rhinestones and ribbon from my stash

   
Copic Coloring:

Pea-Nut:  R11, R00, C4, C3, C2, C1, C0  Outline:  110

SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Dr. Pea-Nut
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Basic Black
INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Blush Blossom, Going Gray
Accessories:  Copic markers; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Heart, Classic Scalloped Heart; paper snips; Ranger Craft Sheet; sponges; Cuttlebug embossing folder; ScorPal; Glossy Accents; EK Success Heart Punch; Heat & Stick Powder; OCL Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; Dimensionals; Glue Dots; ribbon from my stash
  
Copic Coloring:

Pat:  E43, E41, E40, E37, E35, E34, E29 E27, E25, R20  Heart:  R29, R27, R24, R20  Outline:  110

SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Pat the Dog
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Basic Black, Riding Hood Red
INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Riding Hood Red
ACCESSORIES:  Copic markers; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Heart, Classic Scalloped Heart; paper snips; craft knife/cutting pad; Ranger Craft Sheet; sponge; Cuttlebug embossing folder; ScorPal; Glossy Accents; EK Success Heart Punch; Heat & Stick Powder; OCL Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; Dimensionals; Glue Dots; rhinestones and ribbon from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

BE ON THE LOOKOUT...

Oh no...the Grinch is up to no good!  He's trying to steal Christmas and he's especially unhappy with Laura Lou Who, one of the Happy Who Stampers.  Can you help locate and capture the Grinch before he makes off with all of Laura Lou Who's property?  The Happy Stampers of Whoville are offering a reward...a sleigh full of blog candy (minus the sleigh...minimum prize value $100...the prize will increase with every 10 new followers).  Hurry...you can play too.  Click on the Grinch's picture below for all the details. 






Thanks for stopping by and have a Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 17, 2010

CRAZY IN LOVE

Whoa...two posts in one day!  Look at me acting like I'm feeling better!  I kinda am actually.  I still sound all nasally and one of my ears is plugged half the time, but other than that I'm great!  Don't sweat the small stuff, right?  Ha!

This came together really fast and I love all the spaaahkles!  Every heart in the OCL Heart & Hugs set was stamped with Regal Rose onto a strip of Neenah card stock, the whole thing was VersaMarked then sprinkled with Heat & Stick Powder.   It was heated just until it melted then OCL Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles (that was a mouthful, huh?) was quickly sprinkled on it.  Heat set it one more time and viola'...shimmery sparkles that don't make a mess and rub off!  You can get the same effect with a Xyron sticker maker.

Check out that black lace...it's my new Magnolia Doohickeys die.  I had to see what all the fuss was about (besides, I just like saying Doohickeys!).  I like it...I'm glad I splurged!  Merry Christmas to me!  *wink*

The heart is a Sizzix embosslit that was sponged with Regal Rose and isn't that a cool key?  What an awesome find and it came in a set of four.  I finished the card by stamping the sentiment in the corner.  It's from the new OCL Valentine's Release and it's called Notes of Love.  This set has some pretty sweet sentiments in it!  Guess that's it!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!






SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Hearts & Hugs, Notes of Love
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Basic Black, Regal Rose
INK:  Ranger Black Soot; SU Regal Rose
ACCESSORIES:  VersaMark; SU Heat & Stick Powder; OCL Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles; heat tool; Big Shot; Magnolia Doohickeys Old Swedish Lace die; Sizzix Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits die; sponge; glue dots; key from JoAnn's; Glossy Accents; ribbon from my stash

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GLORIA!

Well it's that time again...Friday sketch challenge over at The Lounge.  If you use an OCL stamp set and follow the sketch, you could win an OCL stamp set of your choice.  Visit The Lounge blog to see the current challenge and read the rules.  Hey, did you know OCL is still "Very Thankful for YOU"!?!  Yep, they are!  They are giving away stamp sets Monday through Friday until the end of the year.  Go here to read the rules and here to see the latest set and leave a comment.  Good luck!

I saw a tutorial a while ago for a really cool fabric flower and wanted to try it out.  I finally broke down and did it.  Yea...it was so cool!  It really is a shame though...the pictures don't do it justice at all!  The flower looks kind of black but it isn't...it's a deep, dark plum...very pretty!


I started by making my flower per this tutorial.  I switched it up a little though.  I didn't cut paper circles or draw pencil lines (blah, blah, blah)...I just cut a piece of fabric and ran it through my Big Shot with my Nesties.  Worked great!!!  I used Old Olive card stock and an EK Success punch for the branches.  The best part about the flower...I put a magnet on the back so my friend can hang it on her fridge or filing cabinet.  Kewl beans!


The sentiment (inside and out) is an OCL set called Big Birthday Wishes.  I absolutely LOVE this set!  It has the best script writing!  I used a Spellbinders die and Neenah card stock for the sentiment.  Before it was removed from the die, I sponged Rich Razzleberry around the outside edge working my way towards the center.  The sentiment was also stamped in Rich Razzleberry.  The paper is My Mind's Eye and a wired ribbon completes the card.


Thanks for stopping by!






SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Big Birthday Wishes
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Rich Razzleberry; My Mind's Eye Lovely Lines
INK:  SU Rich Razzleberry
ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Small and Large, Labels Ten; EK Success leaf punch; silk fabric; tea light candle; thread; small and large half pearls; Glossy Accents; magnets from my stash; sponge; wired ribbon from Costco

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A PENGUIN HOLIDAY


Hmmm...has anyone else out there procrastinated about their Christmas cards this year?  Me, me...ooh, pick me!  Yeah, I'm guilty.  *sigh*  So there I was...wondering what in the heck I was going to do and whatever it was, it needed to be quick!  So I started digging through my stamps and this little guy from OCL's Penguin Fun set just jumped out at me.  This is what I came up with...what do you think?  I wish I could have captured all the glittery sparkles in the pics.  Not too bad for the last minute though, huh?  Now to duplicate it...that will be the fun part!

To make this card, two different sized circles were cut out with Spellbinders dies and Neenah card stock (two each = four circles total).  I've only used Black Soot Distress Ink when coloring with Copics but a couple friends suggested I try Memento Tuxedo Black so I did.  I haven't decided which I like better (I'll know after my cards are finished).  Stay tuned...  The penguin was stamped with Memento on one of the small circles, colored with Copics then sponged with Baja Breeze.  Daiquiri Ice Crafty Sparkles (one of the new colors) was glued on the puff ball and brim of the hat with a 2-way Glue Pen.  Looks great, huh?  One of the large circles was also sponged with Baja Breeze before removing it from the die.  The circles were layered with Dimensionals.  I used a tear edger (looks like a ruler but has two different tear edges for those of us that are "tear challenged" ha!) to rip both of the remaining circles to the size I wanted.  A 2-way Glue Pen was used on the very edge of the ripped card stock then dipped in Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles.

The circles were layered with Dimensionals and Pop Dots.  This is what it looks like from the side.  The post office is going to love me!



The background Neenah layer was dry embossed with a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder.  Two snowflakes were cut from a Sizzix decorative strip, one in Baja Breeze and the other Neenah.  A 2-way Glue Pen was used to glue the edge of the Neenah snowflake before it was dipped in Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkles.  The snowflakes were taped together, popped up on a Dimensional and a Glue Dot was used to attach the button.  Two different size tag punches were used to make the tag.  The sentiment was from OCL's No Peeking! set and the snowflake was from Penguin Fun.  A bow completes the card.

Copic Coloring:

Hat and scarf:  BG13, BG11, BG10  Cheeks:  R11, R00, 0  Beak:  YR14, Y38  Body:  N6, N4, N2

This card includes the following challenges:

A Spoon Full of Sugar ~ Christmas Card
Allsorts Challenge Blog ~ Last Minute Christmas
Cards for Men ~ Male Cards With a Christmas Theme
Catch the Bug Challenge Blog ~ Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Creative Belli Blog ~ Christmas Embellishments/Papers
Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog ~ Anything Goes Christmas
Critter Sketch challenge ~ No Pattern Paper
Cupcake Craft Challenges ~ Non-traditional Christmas
Ellephantastic Challenges ~ Wish Upon a Star and/or Christmas/Winter
Frosted Designs ~ Use Ribbon
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge ~ Non-traditional Christmas Colors
Let's Ink It Up ~ Christmas - Twist...Add Sparkle/Bling
Lots To Do ~ Glitz
Pear Tree Designs ~ Christmas
Pollycraft Monday Challenge ~ White Christmas
The Fuzzy Wuzzy Challenges ~ Christmas Something or an Otter
Top Tip Tuesday ~ Christmas Inspired Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays!SmileyCentral.com   






SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL Penguin Fun, No Peeking!
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Baja Breeze
INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Baja Breeze
ACCESSORIES:  Copic markers; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Small and Large, Big Scalloped Circles Small; tear edger; Sizzix Northern Frost Decorative Strip, snowflake embossing folder; SU Tag Punches Small and Large; sponge; 2-way Glue Pen; OCL Daiquiri Ice Sparkly Fluff, Cosmo Crystal Crafty Sparkes; Dimensionals; Pop Dots; Glue Dots; button, embroidery thread and ribbon from my stash

Sunday, December 12, 2010

TO THE ONE I LOVE

Here's another Valentine's Day card made with the OCL set called Love Notes (same stamp set as my earlier post...two totally different looks).  Kewl beans!  Hmmm, on second thought...I suppose it doesn't just have to be for Valentine's day though...it can be a "just because I love you" card.

This card has some SERIOUS layers!  Not a lot to it though.  The oval is Neenah Solar White card stock that was cut out with a Spellbinders die.  It was stamped with Black Soot and Fired Brick.  The love panel is also Neenah that was stamped with Fired Brick.  The letters are from a Sizzix alphabet die set that was used to cut out Grungeboard.  Once they were cut out, they were sponged with Fired Brick and that awesome script (my fav stamp in this set) was stamped with Black Soot.  The pink heart felt button and the red button are tied together with black twine and glued on with Glossy Accents.  The big heart on the bottom is a Sizzix embosslit that was lightly sponged with Fired Brick.  The DP is Bo-Bunny and the layers are Basic Black.  The ribbon completes the card.

This card includes the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion Challenge ~ Anything Goes
Frosted Designs ~ Use Ribbon
Little Red Wagon ~ Use a Die Cut
One Stitch at a Time Challenge Blog ~ Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday ~ Use Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!






SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL's Love Notes
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Black Soot; Bo-Bunny Crush Stripe, Crush Sugar (both sides) DP; Tim Holtz Grungepaper
INK:  Ranger Black Soot, Fired Brick
ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Ovals Small, Big Scalloped Ovals Small; Sizzix Sizzlits Round-a-Bout Alphabet set, Heart with Dots Embosslit; sponge; Ranger Craft Mat; Glossy Accents;  felt button from JoAnn's; regular button and black twine from my stash; ribbon from Ben Franklin's

OCLDT43 - I LOVE YOU MORE

Gosh...I was beginning to think I lost my mojo when I got this cold.  *sniff*cough*ah-ahh-ahhh-choo*  I haven't been in a creative sort of mood for a while and everything I touched seemed to be a complete waste of time.  I finally finished a card that I actually like though!  Woohoo!  I've got a couple other cards that are done but haven't been posted yet.  I'll try to get to them within the next couple of days.  But first, I went all luvy-duvy with this monochromatic card using the Love Notes stamp set.  What do you think?  I actually enjoyed making it in between sneezes!  For details on this week's OCL sketch challenge, go to The Lounge blog.  Grab your favorite OCL stamp set and play along for a chance to win an OCL set of your choice.

To start, a heart mask was punched out of card stock.  Removable tape was used to adhere it to a scrap of Neenah Solar White.  The heart was sponged with Blush Blossom (concentrating on the right side), Ruby Red (all over but not completely covering the Blush Blossom), Riding Hood Red (mostly on the left side but blending into the Ruby Red) and Cherry Cobbler (focusing on the far left edge...the darkest part of the shadow).  When I was happy with my blended colors, I left my mask in place and inked up the word stamp with Cherry Cobbler.  Since I was using a card stock mask, I had to press extra hard to get good coverage with the stamp.  It wasn't quite big enough to cover the whole heart so I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig to align and stamp the rest of the heart.

Check out that script writing...isn't it gorgeous?!?  Next, the mask was carefully removed then a Spellbinders die was positioned over the heart to cut it out.  While it was still in the die, the same inks were lightly sponged around the outer edge. A strip of Neenah was cut for the top and, again, the same inks were used to sponge it (lighter on the right side and gradually darkened working my way left, just like the heart).  A heart border punch was used on Bo-Bunny DP and the edges were sponged with Cherry Cobbler.  Everything was layered with Cherry Cobbler card stock before the bow was tied then the heart was popped up on Dimensionals.  A button and embroidery thread was used to attach the heart charm.  Guess that's about it.

This card includes the following challenges:

Craft Your Days Away ~ Punch it Out
SmileyCentral.comFrosted Designs ~ Use Ribbon
Little Red Wagon ~ Use a Die Cut
One Stitch at a Time Challenge Blog ~ Anything Goes
Splitcoast Stampers ~ Deck Your Cards with Some Sponging
THE LOUNGE ~ Sketch
Top Tip Tuesday ~ Use Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!






SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  OCL Love Notes
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Cherry Cobbler; Bo-Bunny A Gift of Love DP
INK:  SU Blush Blossom, Ruby Red, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler
ACCESSORIES:  Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Big Scalloped Circles Large; removable tape; Ranger Craft Mat; sponges; Stamp-a-ma-jig; EK Success heart punch, border punch; ribbon from JoAnn's; Dimensionals; button from my stash; embroidery thread; heart charm

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BECKY!

Oh boy...I'm a little late with this post.  I kinda went MIA for a little bit.  Tell the truth...did you even miss me!?!  Ha!!!  I wanted to make something special for a friend that celebrated her birthday on Thanksgiving.  For the record, the card was on time but the post wasn't.  I didn't want to post it when I made it because she would have seen it early, but then I didn't get a chance to go back in and post it after her bday.  *sigh*

I got this OCL set, Whispy Blooms,  the first part of November and have been wanting to try it out.  OMGosh...LOVE it!  I think I say that about every set when I first ink it up!  Teeheehee.  This was another one that colored up really quick!


I cut out Neenah CS with a Spellbinders die then stamped it with Black Soot.  The image was colored with Copic markers, masked then sponged with Barely Banana and So Saffron.  The DP is My Mind's Eye and the layers are Basic Black.  The ribbon is from Ben Franklin's and the brads are from my stash.  The flower brad was a freebie from SU that I haven't used until now...not really sure why...I think it's a nice touch!

Copic coloring:

Flowers:  BG34, BG32, BG10  Leaves:  G82, G40, G20

I kept the inside simple to match the envelope.



Thanks for stopping by!

Tam

SUPPLIES
STAMPS:  Whispy Blooms
PAPER:  Neenah Solar White; SU Basic Black; My Mind's Eye Delightful "So Sweet" Falling Flowers, Buttermilk Polka Dots DP
INK:  Black Soot Distress Ink; SU Barely Banana, So Saffron
ACCESSORIES:  Copic markers; Big Shot; Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Big Scalloped Circles Large; sponges; ribbon from Ben Franklin's; brads from my stash; mat pack and paper piercer; flower brad from SU
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