Twisted Sketches #74- Stamp

This week's twist at Twisted Sketches is "stamp". So I decided to rely mostly on stamping for this card as opposed to layering with paper, etc. I did have to add a couple embellishments of course- a couple black pearls, some glossy accents to the flower centers, and the twine. Thanks for checking this out and have a great weekend.
For those of you on the east coast and northeast like me- be safe with hurricane Irene and let's hope for the best!

Wedding card for my trip to Portland/Bend, OR

So I'm finally back from vacation! The wedding we went to in Bend, OR was beautiful and Portland was soo much fun! This is the card I made for the wedding- I must admit I was kind of in a hurry when I did this card so I didn't have a ton of time to come up with a layout, etc...so...I used the layout of a card I made at Stamp-A-Faire with Heather Nichols. The burlap is meant to look like a nest, I hope it does! Anyway, glad to be back in action!

Twisted Sketches #72- torn

This week's sketch over at Twisted Sketches had the twist "torn". I can honestly say I don't think I've ever done a card with torn paper before but I really like it! Might have to do it more often! When my mom came to visit she gave me all this random crafting stuff and one of the things was a pack of feathers. I was thinking- I'll probably never use that. But here I am using them! Head on over to see what the other lovely Twisted Sisters have in store for you today and even better- play along!

Vacation!

Alright girls, you're not going to see much of me for the next 10 days (aside from my scheduled Twisted Sketches post). I'm going to PORTLAND, OR!!! My husband's best friend is getting married in Bend, OR so we're making a whole trip of it. We'll be in Portland for part of it and Bend for part of it. Coincidentally, I also have some cousins that live there so we'll get to see them too! I haven't spent to much time in OR as an adult so I'm really looking forward to it! Sadly we will have to leave our poochie boy Francois and our cat Bella behind but I'm sure they'll be just fine! If any of you have any recommendations for restaurants or things to do let me know!
Until then, happy crafting! 

random

Here's a couple more I made this weekend, not for challenges though! The first one was for Erik's grandpa's 85th birthday and the second one is for Erik for our one year anniversary (which is today!). I honestly don't love it, I might make another one! But ya can't win em' all!

Mojo Monday #202

I used the sketch from Mojo Monday for this card. WHY have I not used felt with this flower die yet? Number one it's easier to make these flowers with felt rather than paper, and Number two they look better! I got a little carried away with the liquid pearls, but hey I had fun doing it!

Just Us Girls #96

There's a fun sketch over at Just Us Girls  this week. I feel like it's been too long since I've done one of their challenges! These ladies are awesome! So I've had these October Afternoon stickers for a while and never want to use them, but I finally gave in today and decided that there's no point in buying something if I'm not gonna use it right?! I also had a ton of fun scraping my scissors on the edges of the paper to give a distressed look, what better way to let off a little steam! The sunlight was coming in just right to catch it in the sun.

CAS-ual Fridays #14

This card is for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. The challenge was to use glue dots and put glitter on them. I've been in love with these ice cream cones stamps/dies from PTI what better way to use them than to add some fun little toppings! Not sure why my first pic looks so blurry, but I can't seem to fix it. Have a good week!

A little inspiration

So I realize these are not cards but I just love finding vintage treasures so I had to share them with you! The typewriter is a gem my mother-in-law found for me. I've been holding her typewriter hostage and I think she wants it back so she founds this one for me to exchange with! Only $35 she said! What a steal! The mill grinder thing and the box were things I found at a consignment shop she took me to as well. The mill was only $7 and the box was $14. I was really happy with both! PS- I'm originally from California so the box was calling to me not just because it's awesome but also because it's so appropriate for ME! Sorry the pics stink!

Time off from work- Woot Woot!

Here are some cards I've made over the last couple days. I gave my notice at my current job and they only had me work that one day and I don't start my new job until Monday so that leaves me with a little free time to myself! Darn LOL! 

I got the idea for this card from the Papertrey Ink release cards last month, isn't it such a cute idea! I just had to recreate it!

 I made this one for my aunt who requested it for someone else. I can't decide if it's too CAS or just right. Thoughts? The inside says "May you live happily ever after".

 I made this one for Erik's grandpa but Erik doesn't think that it's quite right for him so I'll just have to make another one and save this one for someone else!

This one is also for my Aunt to give to my grandma for her birthday. I'm in love with the cameo trend right now and just ordered this set from Waltzingmouse.

Operation Write Home cards

So I totally forgot to bring all my Operation Write Home cards to the Stamp-A-Faire event so I ended up making a few while I was there during the down time. For each card you donate you get a raffle ticket for free PTI stuff so of course I had to at least give a few! Some people had over 200, I couldn't believe the generosity and time that must have gone into that! The first card features the new sunflower stamp set coming out in August (we got it a little early!), the second one is Peaceful Gardens, the third one is the special edition stamp set we got for attending the event, and the last one features that again as well as the skunk and sentiment from the free Forest Friends set we also got for free! Lots of free goodies, well worth the admission cost!

Papertrey Ink's Stamp-A-Faire 2011 in Cincinnati, OH

I just got back from Cincinnati, OH where Papertrey Ink's Stamp-A-Faire was hosted and I have to say it was one of the best days of my life!!! My friend Nicole and I had such an amazing time getting to know all our favorite designers, meeting new crafters from around the country (and world), and making some great projects! Oh, and I can't forget to mention all the free stuff we got in a super cute burlap bag!
We got to do 10 make and takes (two with each designer), had the chance to shop their products in person, we got to meet all their top designers, spend our down time making our own cards, and we got to see some inspiration galleries of cards the designers have made. We not ONE, not TWO, but THREE free stamp sets and an additional free set if we spent over $100, which obviously I did! At the end of the night they gave away a TON of free stuff (I didn't win anything but it was fun to watch). They also had an awesome photo booth to capture the fun. They did a collection for Operation Write Home cards and ended up with four BOXES full! What generous ladies! Here are some highlights from the trip:

 Michelle Wooderson

Lisa Johnson

 Dawn McVey

 Heather Nichols

 Betsy Veldman

Nichole Heady

Clean and Simple FTL 149

I made this card for my aunt to give to my cousin for her new arrival! The baby's name is violet so of course it's only appropriate to use a purple color pallet! The sketch I used was from this week's Clean and Simple sketch. Thanks for looking!

Twisted Sketches #68 Circles

This week's twist is Circles- any how, any way! I decided to make felt circle flowers! The paper and brads are from Girls Paperie and the felt and cardstock is from Papertrey Ink. Felt is so much fun to work with and I always forget about it so sometimes I just have to say, ok I'm making a card with felt today and then I HAVE to use it! Thanks for looking and check out what the other designers did HERE. Even better, come play along!

My Mind's Eye Challenge 25

I came across this challenge on My Mind's Eye yesterday and whipped this card together this morning! I'm in love with these doily stamps so any chance to use them and I'll jump. The theme is "celebration" and some how I think this is the only stamp I have referencing celebration! I'll have to work on that! Thanks for looking and have a great day!

FTL 148- Clean and Simple

I used the layout from Clean and Simple  this week. I'm obsessing over my Authentique paper so I had to sneak one more in today! I'm also still in love with this Memory Box woven circle die. Have a good one and thanks for looking!

CAS-ual Fridays #10

This weeks CAS-ual Fridays challenge was to make a shaped card. I've only had the chance to use this onesie die once so far so I was excited to have the excuse to use it again! I'm not gonna lie, I feel like working on an odd shape is much harder to do than working on a rectangle!

Just Us Girls #92- Cardstock button

This week's JUGS challenge- click here- was to make a cardstock button. Well- I guess it was actually to "showcase" a cardstock button but I ended up making them smaller than I probably should have so I'm not even sure you can tell that the flower centers are "cardstock buttons"! Haha, oops! All kinds of fun new things going on here for me, I've never used flock before, never used this pom pom type ribbon before, and just tried this liquid pearl accent for the first time today. I love trying new things! I also did a messy stitch for the stems and didn't change out the bobbin from black so that showed a bit more than I had wanted- so what do you do? Make it work! I added black thread to buttons and stamped the sentiment in black to tie it all together. I'm totally enjoying this day off from work!!!

Make It Monday #23- Pockets with Edger dies

This week's make it monday on Nichole Heady's blog-click here- show's how to make a pocket out of an edger. I've seen this done before but never tried it myself so what a great opportunity to give it a shot! I used an edger from Papertrey Ink along with Authentique paper (obsessed). Over it I used a PTI die and stamp for the sentiment and a Prima flower. I also sewed the pocket around the bottom and sides to give it a more finished look. Super girly and fun!