Finally, I'm back!

Sorry for the delay in posts...Gustav came through Louisiana and gave me a week long hurrication (that's a combination of hurricane evacuation and vacation for those of you who aren't familiar with the term) in the Great Smoky Mountains. Ike hit a few days later, causing me to evacuate again to higher ground, since I live on Lake Pontchartrain and the water kept rising and rising and rising, luckily sparing me any damage (a few feet more and that wouldn't have been the case!). Losing the week of work caused me to work a LOT of overtime to prepare for our accreditation site visit. Finally, that's over with and hopefully, now I can take a breath!

Now, don't think I didn't find time for a little fun in there--Scrapfest is a 3 day, 45 hour crop that is held in Mandeville, LA each Spring and Fall. They have lots of giveaways, vendors, classes--all the fun things you look for when going to a scrap retreat! It's such a blessing to be able to meet up with my friends each time, sometimes not having seen them for a whole year in between, and just really relax and work on projects. I am happy to say that I created over 100 things while I was there--45 baby announcements, and over 50 Christmas gifts, which I can't really talk about since some people who stalk my blog may be getting those gifts! It was alot of fun, needless to say!

I made a big Papertrey order before Scrapfest and finally got the Quilter's Sampler set...let me tell you, I LOVE IT! I'm on a quilting kick, since Mish got me all stirred up and into it with her lovely card creations, and her suggestion to read the Elm Creek Quilt novels. I am so into those books and of course, when you read them, you totally want to quilt! I am NOT getting another hobby, but I will continue to make some cute stuff with this set, I can promise you that! I missed making cards yesterday for WCMD, but I am sharing one that I made during Scrapfest.
Sorry for the bad picture, but I used the pink patterns 6 x 6 paper pad from Papertrey, along with the new Quilter's Sampler set. The ink colors were Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush Palette ink. I paperpieced the quilt blocks and added some button accents...don't you love it! I found that mini ric rac at Scrapfest and had to buy a bunch in all sorts of colors just so I'd have it to tie through those clear Foof-a-la buttons since it turned out SO CUTE! I have more to show you but my picture software is acting up so I'll try again tomorrow.

Hope your Sunday is restful--I'll be doing laundry and going to church later--no big plans thank goodness!

Inque Boutique Action...

Finally, finally, my new Silhouette Inque Boutique stamps have seen the light of day...and ink! I have had this set for a while now and made myself use them when I was playing around over the weekend. I started out with a rectangle on my nestabilities and then kept the frame on it to keep my 'border'. I stamped different colors of the Silhouettes set to match my Autumn Leaves Foof-a-la paper. I backed the image with a scalloped border of CTMH Blush. I used CTMH garden green organdy ribbon and added three clear dew drops to the bottom of the card (you can't see them too well on the small image but if you double click and blow it up, they're there!). Not sure I like the dew drops, but the card is pretty cute! I added a sentiment from my go-to Papertrey Faux Ribbon set. LOVE those sentiments, obviously!

You will be so proud of me--I sent out cards to over five people last week! Anyone that knows me will tell you I'm horrible at actually sending cards! But, I did it...it was heavy on my heart to tell those around me how much I cared about them and so I just did it! Go me, go me...can you hear me cheering myself on?! I challenge YOU to send out cards too--anyone else have the same problem that I do?

Monogrammed Birthday Ensemble

One of my closest friends, and roommate from LSU's birthday was this past week. I wanted to get her something, but decided the best gift would be if I made her something. She likes all the things I make and appreciates them, which, as I'm sure most of you know, isn't always the case.

I started out with three sheets of coordinating paper from Hobby Lobby. I rarely buy 'cheap' patterned paper, but this sort of spoke to me and I'm glad I did! I'm not trying to be snobby, I just like a heavier paper and sometimes I get frustrated at the flimsiness of the cheap stuff.

Anyway, I knew I wanted to use my Papertrey Trojan monogram set, with the Borders and Corners set. It makes the cutest little scallop monograms that are perfect for notecards. I just used a standard cardstock base and then added a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of the patterned paper. I made a 1" strip of coordinating cardstock to 'ground' my scalloped monogram and then put the monogram in the center. I added a couple of brads to each side and it was the perfect finishing touch! Sarah isn't really bling bling, so this was great for her.

I added in a coordinating checkbook cover, notepad and pen, and card, which are all pretty self explanatory. I used my Papertrey Piece of Cake stamp set for the card. If you have questions, let me know...What do you think? I am thinking of making these sets for my family and friends for Christmas. I know they're pretty 'old' business in the paper craft community, but I really think everyone will like them. If you're a friend or relative reading this, pretend you didn't read this and be real surprised if I give it to you for Christmas, k? lol

Anyone have big plans for the weekend? We're on the Fay lookout this weekend, so I know it'll be pretty soggy here and hopefully, not too much flooding. Poor New Orleans gets a big thunderstorm and we're still flooded in the streets. Yuck! Hope all of you are high and dry...and cool!

I'm back...sort of!

My cousin was in town visiting for a while before she starts her first semester at LSU! We had a great time hanging out--of course, watching the Olympics and catching up on all of our favorite Bravo shows (any other Project Runway, Flipping Out and Shear Genius junkies out there?!) I am an LSU alumni, so needless to say, I'm excited for her and all the good things the new year is going to bring her.

I wanted to send her a special card to let her know I was thinking about her and missing her, of course! I started with some fab Amy Butler paper from Michael's. I love the mat packs of this paper--it's perfect for card makers. I used my Lockhart pencils stamp, that yes, Michelle sold me on! I colored it with some copics and added a little liquid glass (CTMH) to the bowl to give it a little pizazz! I used my Marvy scallop punch and added some Stickles dots to the scallops for some bling. Gotta have that! I used a piece of velvet ribbon I found on those wooden spools from Michael's and voila! I think she'll like it...I hope she does at least. Oh, and the sentiment at the bottom is from the Faux Ribbon Papertrey set. Here's a close up of the image.

Well, I'm sad--the Olympics are almost over, but, hey, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I think it was a well deserved couple of weeks 'off'! Sorry the pictures are funky--my camera is acting funny. Hopefully a new batter will do the trick and I'll have some better pics for you in future posts.

Well, here goes nothin'!

Hi all...This is my first blog post so I hope you enjoy. I have been a blog hopper for over a year now, and finally am reaching out there with some of my own creations. I know that my family enjoys seeing my 'talent' so I hope you do too!

I am using this blog as a challenge to myself to create a card or something every few days...I have alot of stuff just dying to be used, so this is the way I'm going to hopefully move forward and actually ink up those uninked stamps! I mean, come on, the stamps are dying to be inked aren't they?!

This is a card made using Poetic Artistry's Mojo Monday Week #45 Sketch. I used a New England Ivy (CTMH) base then some new K & Company Berry Sweet paper, which I LOVE! I used my Papertrey Ink set, Green Thumb, and went with a berry motif. I stamped the strawberries in Hollyhock (CTMH) ink and accented with the Hollyhock paper. I used my Fiskars Threading Water punch just to add a little fun scallop. For the final touch I used my Sakura glitter pen to add a little sparkle to each berry...double click the picture to see a larger version of the card, which of course, shows the sparkle! I'm a blingy girl, so almost all of my stuff has to have some sort of pop!

Off to work now...hope you all enjoyed my first post!