Another new Banner...

I knew as I was making my Autumn banner that it wouldn't stay up for long, since I would be making a Halloween banner. I was very inspired by a darling banner I saw at a local nursery. I was tempted to buy it, but it was around $30 and I knew that I could make one just as nice. Mine turned out way better, if I say so myself. It is funny that I wouldn't pay the price they wanted, but after putting this one together, I would want to charge even more! LOL! I put a lot of little details into this one that sometimes don't seem like a lot of work, but by the time you get it done for each of the 6 panels, it is very time consuming. As with the Autumn banner, I had a lot of fun with this. The shape of each panel is the same as the one in the shop and similar to the darling ones they had hanging in shop windows at Disneyland in April. I blogged about being inspired at Disneyland, but haven't really done much with the "inspiration".

Each panel is 4 by 6 pieces of patterned paper by My Mind's Eye (The Spider's Web Collection) I saved myself a little time by purchasing the glittered chipboard letters by Making Memories. I really like the style of the alphabet and they were the perfect size. I went to my local scrapbook store last week and asked the worker if they had any packages of chipboard letters, to which she replied, NO. I wonder if she was surprised as she rung me up as to where I conjured up the package of CHIPBOARD LETTERS! Ughhh...talk about frustrating! I also picked up two "vellumish" clock faces that I knew would be perfect to go on top of the accordion medallions. I also embellished the "O" with a pumpkin button and a computer generated sentiment. The scripted words across the top of each panel are computer generated as well and then printed onto vanilla cardstock.

I have been hoarding packages of Crepe paper for about 10 years because you just can't find it like you used to. I pulled out some of my black that is almost gone, and baste stitched it and then gathered it for the top of each panel. I adhered it to the back using sticky strip. The edges of each medallion are glittered using SU! chunky essentials glitter (black) and then the top of each panel is glittered using the same glitter but in silver. A girl can never have too much glitter! LOL! I had a lot of fun and I will probably use up my scraps for some other fun projects! Thanks for fluttering by!

Bonjour!

I needed to make a Birthday card for my Mom {Hi Mom!} so I decided on some things that I already had out. I used the same paper combo that I used for my SFYTT card two weeks ago. I also used last week's SFYTT layout. As you can see, I didn't go for a "traditional" birthday card, but rather something that I thought she would enjoy. I hope she does.


I promise I will be putting away all of my "currently used" supplies this week. You shouldn't be seeing any repeats for a while. I guess I shouldn't be promising that, since the Halloween paper I used on Saturday is for a fun new project, so you will be seeing that again! LOL! But as for the rest, I will get them all put away so they aren't tempting me! Thanks for all of your sweet congrats on our baby boy and thanks for fluttering by!

Trick or Treat *SFYTT*

I can't believe it has been an entire week since I have posted! This was the first week of my kids being off track and I feel like I have spent the week sitting and waiting for them during all of their lessons. I have been back and forth twice each day to the Aquatics Center for them to have their swimming lessons, back up to the park each day for Football Practice, plus dance and tumbling. I thought I was busy while school was in! LOL! Plus...I had two Doctor's appointments this week; one for my 3-D ultrasound and again for my regular monthly appointment. It was fun seeing my baby twice this week! I know that I promised blog candy in connection with finding out the baby's gender, but I just can't wait....we are having a baby BOY!!!!!!!! I am really excited! We have been mulling over names since Tuesday and having a rough time. I think we may have it narrowed down. I think I may do a "baby name" blog candy to make up for spilling the beans without a contest!

So...now that I have finally sat down to stamp, you probably would like to hear about that rather than my crazy week! LOL! I really liked this week's sketch, partly because it had some of last week's elements in it that I really liked. I stopped by the Scrapbook Store on Friday and picked up some fun new Halloween goodies that are for another project, but I couldn't resist cutting into the paper for today's card. All of the papers are by My Mind's Eye (The Spider's Web collection) and they are yummy. I also pulled out this darling image from American Art Stamps that I got while I was in the Dirty Dozen an it hasn't seen ink since. I decided to keep the focal image neutral and not add any other colors than what was in the paper. Then sentiment was created on my computer and printed out onto white cardstock. I did a little bit of sewing and added some chunky essentials glitter from SU!. The black button is tied onto the ribbon with crochet thread and then I added another pumpkin button with glue dots. I simply cut off the part that you thread from the back using my craft and rubber scissors. They are perfect for cutting metal, plastic and other materials.

My son has an exciting football game today; we are playing another undefeated team! Go Thunder!!!!!!!!!

You won't want to miss the other SFYTT designers.
Jen Del Muro and Gretchen
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles and Amy Sheffer

Thanks for fluttering by!!!

Get Well Soon *SFYTT*

I will admit that I wanted to run the other way when I saw this week's sketch. For some reason it really seemed daunting, but in the end I had a lot of fun working on this card. I actually put the entire base together without knowing what stamped images I would be using. You should see my desk now, with all of the *possibilities* all over the place. In the end, I settled on using Tea for Two. I thought it worked nicely with the paper, layout and embellishments. I also included Fancy Flourishes to represent the steam coming from the tea pot as well as Damask Designs to add a little bit of detail to the tea pot.

I also used one of my prismacolor markers to add a little bit of shadowing on the pot since it was paper pieced. It doesn't show up well on the photos.

I rounded the "Get Well Soon" sentiment onto my acrylic block to have it go with the circle layer. I also stamped the "Herbal Tea Co." image onto two pieces of the pattern paper that I used in this design to create the layered embellishment. The word "friend" was simply inked using a black marker, cut and layered onto the tea pot. The pot looked a little bare with all of the other embellishements on the left hand side; it added a bit more balance. The flowers are from "The Paper Studio" and I simply added buttons to the center for texture and detail. Of course, I had to add some stitching and glitter to complete the card.

All of the stamping was done using Smokey Shadow ink and the cardstock for the base is Smokey Shadow as well. Like I mentioned earlier, this sketch seemed scary at first, but in the end I had a lot of fun with it. I hope you will all get a chance to play. I would love to see what you come up with. Leave a comment here and I will pop over to your blog or gallery(leave a link) to check it out.

You won't want to miss the other SFYTT designers.
Jen Del Muro and Gretchen
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles and Amy Sheffer

Thanks for fluttering by!!!

Autumn Banner

ETA: The triangles are 4 by 6 pieces of pattern paper and then cut into triangles. I didn't use a die. The accordion medallions are created using 1 1/2 by 12 inch strips of paper. The chipboard letters are about 2 inches high. The triangles aren't backed with cardboard or anything. They are just the pattern paper. Here is a link to the directions on how to make and accordion flower.I decided to freshen my blog up a bit by creating a new autumn banner. I had so much fun making this. I decided to gussy it up just a bit more than I usually do. I picked out the paper about a month ago with the new banner in mind. I picked out 6 sheets of coordinating paper since I would be using 6 letters to spell Autumn. I decided on the order I wanted each piece and then got started. I used the same chipboard letters from SU! that I always use. I painted them with making memories paint and let them dry. I then sponged the edges of each letter using Walnut Stain by Ranger to let them pop out a bit more. I put a bit of crystal glitter on a fe of the edges of each letter for some extra dimension. I also splattered some Chocolate chip ink onto each letter using the Color Spritzer from SU!

For the accordion medallions, I did them like always, but added some gold micro beads to the edges. I really like the effect that it gave the banner.

The sentiments are from the Autumn Abundance stamp set from Papertrey Ink. This was so fun to make and I love how it looks hanging in my entry way. Now I just need to get the bench underneath decorated for fall. I spent the day gutting my closet. I have four huge garbage sacks overflowing with clothes that I am getting rid of. Do you know how good that feels? I will be back tomorrow with one of Jen's new Sketches. Thanks for fluttering by!

Autumn Blessings *SFYTT*

I couldn't resist using this new "Autumn Abundance" stamp set from Papertrey Ink again. I haven't really made an official *fall* card, yet, so I thought I would today. The leaves on one of my trees are starting to turn and a few are falling. My daughter grabbed one today and asked if she could put it on the porch to start decorating for Halloween. I should have been a good sport and said yes, but instead I informed her that Halloween wasn't until next month. Shame on me!

I used one of my nestabilities dies for the focal image. I really liked how well the shape worked for the large sunflowers. Everything else is pretty much straightforward as far as "me" cards go. I used a lot of my old stand-bys on this one, but I had fun using some new K& Co. paper I picked up a couple of weeks ago.

We are off to spend the day as a family and of course go to my son's football game!!!

You won't want to miss the other SFYTT designers.
Jen Del Muro and Gretchen
Amy Rohl
Susan Liles and Amy Sheffer

It's on the House *Sneak Peek*

As promised, here is the 2nd "My Timeless Template" that will be released this month. Isn't Lauren amazing? I am in love with this template. It will be available from Papertrey Ink on the 15th of this month. I had a lot of fun putting this one together and again, this one comes with two sizes. This is the larger of the two sizes; the small one is perfect for place settings or tiny gifts.

I couldn't wait to ink up the new Autumn Abundance stamp set that I got the other day. It is beautiful and I am super excited to make some other fun autumnal creations with it. Again, I went for an autumn color combo; this one is a little unconventional, but I love it. I also used a couple of Nestabilities Dies to complete my project. They have been feeling a little neglected lately. I also added a row of assorted buttons which I opted to leave naked. I wasn't feeling that patient, but in all reality it probably would have looked a little more polished. Who knows, maybe I will pull them all off and get them some thread! LOL!

On a different note, I finally took the plunge and put on some maternity clothes this week. The panel in my pants is a bit baggy, but the waist band on most of my pants were starting to get tight. I finally *feel* pregnant with the maternity clothes on. I decided to go and get a few new clothes since the ones I have from my daughter are all summer and the ones from my son are totally out of fashion. Now I am scratching my head as to why I held on to them for so long. Anyway, while I was shopping, the sales girl asked what I was having and I told her that we were still unsure. She told me to do the wedding ring threaded with a strand of your hair trick. I did it when I got home and it gave a result opposite of what the doctor and I were thinking. It is the same result as the chinese zodiac, too. I don't know how much stock you can put into either one, but it is kindof fun and it will be fun to see what he or she ends up to be! Baby is certainly active and it has been lots of fun to feel him or her kicking me. It is such a reassuring feeling, although I freak out if I don't feel any movement for a while. Is it January yet? LOL! Thanks for fluttering by!!!