One Martini, Two Martini

I got your attention with that heading didn't I. The only martini I have ever had is a chocolate martini - and I must say - I highly recommend them - but don't be driving. I only drink those when I am not behind the wheel.

This card was done for a "same image swap" - I sent the same image - the martini glass - which is the face of a card - it is always fun to see what other people do with the image - every card is so unique.

Paper - One Heart One Mind

Kaiser Scrapbooking - Rub On

Stickles on the fluid in the martini glass

Black pin dot is ribbon trim from Hobby Lobby Christmas clearance

QuicKutz die cut - die cut the seal on the coffee can - nice silver accents on the card

Bling - Dollar store in Canada (I have a friend who sends me the best stuff from their dollar store - I hve never seen this kind of stuff in our dollar stores)

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Barb

Happy Sunday

Today is my day to stay home and not go anywhere and spend some time doing the house crap and hopefully play with some paper. Yesterday I did get a chance to create a card after running my errands, getting some groceries, made a pan of brownies to share with my neighbors, and then had dinner with one set of enighbors - got me out of the house with friendly people. I took my treasure box (this is a little box I keep on my table in which I throw all my not stamped right, little embellishments, etc) to Kristin - she is a first grader and loves to make cards - this box full of goodies made her so happy. My little leftovers brings smiles and lots of creativity to many children.

My favorite brownie to make is the Betty Crocker frosted brownie mix. I love to dress it up - by that I mean - add extras to the mix. Instead of water - I will add coffee. Throw in some capfuls of vanilla syrup. For add ins - I just look in the cupboard to see what is left - whatever chocolate chip may be there - last Monday it was white chocolate chips. Yesterday - I had mint M&M's leftover from Christmas - threw them in a plastic bag, got out some frustration with my rolling pin and added that to the mix. The brownies tasted so nice and minty with little flecks of color.
What is your favorite brownie recipe?

My card today is based on two challenges. I hang out on a wonderful little forum called Cuppas and Cards. It is a small group - we have been together for about 5 years on a couple different boards and like to stay together - we have all made some wonderful cyber friends who encourage and support each other in our creativity and lives. Come join us if you want a warm community to support you in your creativity. The week end challenge was to make a tall card.

The other challenge is from the Cuddlebug Challenge site. The challenge is based on a sketch from Becky Fleck and also to use your Cuddlebug.

Stamp - Stampabilities (Hobby Lobby had a half price sale)
Colored with Copics and clear Stickles added to bee image
Paper and sticker - Bo Bunny
Cuddlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder and heart die cut
Bling - RAK
My Valentine Stamp - Studio G

Scraps

A friend issued a challenge this week to make a card out of scraps we still had laying around - I was lucky I had some nice pieces of this paper. The lace was the exact length that I needed - it was white - but a dip in a coffee cup - and it picks up the distressing that is reflective of the paper. The flower was built from flowers in the flower drawers.

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Kaiser Scrapbooking - Rub On

Ribbon - unknown

Brad - Hot Off the Press

Holiday from Work

Happy Monday - today was a legal holiday so I have been home today - my Ya Ya's are coming for dinner tonight so I have been cleaning and cooking - nothing too fancy - I always make soup since January in Wisconsin is always cold. I will have to share the recipes with you sometime - maybe tomorrow. Must post quickly - I have other things to still get done - for one thing - I have not showered or cleaned the bathroom and need to finish in the kitchen.

My card is based on "do any sketch we have already posted in the past" at Card Positioning System. I already had my image colored so wanted to find a sketch that would work. I found one - it is Sketch 89. I have been collecting these rubber stamps with a sewing theme for quite awhile - I sewed in a former life and was quite good at it - but that was in a former life. But in my resolutions for the year to use product I had - paper I had, a rubber stamp I had, prismacolors I had.

Stamp - Pansy Lane

Ink- Memories Dye - Sepia

Colored with Gamsol and Prismacolors

Paper - Daisy D's

String - May Art

Sizzlet button

And the inside is finished also - I am loving this. I did use on the inside another stamp I have had for a long time. YEAH.

Creativity

Creativity - somedays you have it and somedays you don't. I do enjoy my week end because I do have time to create. Work seems to sap the creativity out of me - so If you can have your projects or cards planned out ahead of time - lots of time - you can still create during the week. Sometimes - there is no mo jo - as you all know - you can sit and stare at the paper and nothing comes to you.

Hardest thing to do - make a very simple card - no layers - I can't do it - You have to build layers - making a card is like cooking - building your layers of flavor or creativity to make your end product tasty or beautiful.

My card today is based on a sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You - it is time to try out for their new design team - I am thinking of trying out so have created a card from one of the sketches - not totally happy with it and of course, I took my creative license with the sketch (as always).

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Rub On - One Heart One Mind

Stickles

Threading Water Punch

Heidi Swap flower

Stickles

And keeping with my new year's resolution (I have never been this good with a resolution before) I have finished the inside of my card - it is very hard to take pictures of the insides of your cards. Does anyone have any good suggestions??

Brrrrrrrrrr - Bitter cold

Wanted to share one of the holiday cards that I just recently sent out - better late than never. this is a Penny Black sticker. I have used very non traditional Basic Grey paper for the card. The poinsetta is by Imaginisce; brad - Hot Off the Press.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Wacky Wonderful Wednesday

Nothing too exciting here except frigid temperatures - so we are not even going to talk about it.

My card tonight is based on the weekly sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. I love this vintage sewing machine rubber stamp - it is by Prickly Pear. I stamped it with dark grey chalk ink by Colorbox - I love stamping with this color grey so much nicer than black - I read that on someone's blog when I was blog hopping and I totally agree. The paper is by some company - new one - I actually picked up after myself and put it away - see you shouldn't do that (Pink Paislee is the company - thanks everyone). The sentiment stamp is by Cornish Farms. Sizzix die cut for the button and DMC embroidery floss.

You can also see the inside of the card.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - and if you are in the midwest - stay warm.

Basic Grey Valentine Card Contest

Basic Grey is having a Valentine Card Contest on their website. Everyone needs to make a valentine card with Basic Grey products and upload it into their gallery. This is the card that I made. I used paper from the Urban Couture line, leftover lace that was tea or coffee stained and the stamped sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp. Please note - I also finished the inside of my card - I am staying on top of that New Year's resolution.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Sketch Monday

OK - another catchy title - sorry - I did not want to say "snow" again.

Busy day at work - pedal to the metal all day - jump out at the end of the day and back at it tomorrow again - YIKES - but tomorrow - I do positive work.

My card that I am sharing - is based on the sketch at Card Positioning System. I had to use the diecut I had made out of my Coredinations cardstock - so it was added to my card. I also finished the inside of my card - which is the second photo. Sorry about the pictures - not a very nice backdrop for picture taking in the office but I at least have natural light.

Paper - from the brown/pink drawer - sorry can't find the manufacturer

Stamp - Hero Arts

Die Cut - large - Sizzix small heart - QuicKutz

Coredinations Cardstock

Yikes - It is Sunday

Yes - Yikes - where has the week end gone. Enjoyed a great show - dinner theatre - musical review of the 50's. Love that music and the performers do such a great job. Can't help but feel good after hearing all those great tunes.

My card tonight is for my baby brother - hard to believe he is in the later part of his 40's. (I think). I suppose I could do some subtraction but it is late - and that would be way too difficult to do - plus I would need to remember my age - and that would involve more subtraction.

Paper - Moxie (this is a baseball themed paper)

Stamp - Creative Mode (Wisconsin company)

Brackets - Sizzlet

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink

Letters - EK Success

Fussy cut the zig zag strip

Inked edges of all paper

Inside will read (when I write it in) Another Birthday - Oh well - Happy Birthday.

Everyone have a wonderful week.

Snow and More Snow

Good morning - survived another snow storm in Wisconsin - and the flu - not fair to be hit with both of them at the same time. Luckily my "snow blowing fairy" came through yesterday and again this morning (because we got several more inches over night) and cleared out my driveway and the sidewalk. Enough snow - but then this week the artic express is heading our way and the temps are heading into the basement - the deep deep basement.

I have already done my housework, washed the sheets and remade the bed - now I am going to go out and run errands so that is done for the week - because I am not going out in that cold after I get home from work at night.

Here is my card based on the sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You. A very fun sketch - the paper has been laid out on my table all week and I slowly worked on it and finally finished it. I hope you enjoy my take on the design. I also include a shot of the inside of the card - one of my new year card making resolutions - finish the inside of card when I make it.

Paper - Daisy Bucket Designs - Sweet Marabella (from my stash - yeah Barb)

QuicKutz scallop

Hero Arts Stamp

Flowers - Sizzix die cuts and one fussy cut from paper

Brad - loose in the bottom of the brad plastic bag

Scrap lace tea or coffee dyed

May Art fiber

Wednesday - down hill slide now

Yes - made it through Wednesday - now it is a downhill slide to the week end. Whew - those 5 day work weeks are hard after all the holiday breaks.

Busy Busy at work but the days do go very fast.

My card tonight is based on the sketch at Card Positioning System. I could hardly believe it - I don't have any big ovals so we had to go with a small oval. These are a Sizzix die cut.

Paper is by Heidi Grace Designs by Fiskars. The stamp is by Stampendous - isn't that little guy just the cutest. Rub on - loose in my rub on folder. The big white snowflake is an iron on applique from Wrights - got it in the clearance bin sometime. The small snowflake is a sizzlit. Some Stickles added to all the snowflakes brings a little bit of sparkle to the card.

Now to decide who to send it to.

Core'dinations CoreColor Cardstock

So do you know how to spend one hour of vacation - an exciting hour of vacation - is to leave work early and come home and scrape ice off the sidewalks. But the sidewalks are now mostly clear. I do hate winter. Anybody know of a good job in the warmer regions of the US.

Enough of that - I decided to try Core'dinations CoreColor Cardstock - how easy to make a card and how fun. The card also has the coolest feel to it. It is all soft and fuzzy - kinda like suede.

I used the Cuddlebug embossing folder and then sanded it - would you believe it was red on the back of the black - but when embossed and sanded it became this shade of pink - there went my plans for a card using all that black and red valentine paper I had. I have no idea who makes this scrap of pink paper. I trimmed down the embossing and then cut out two of the hearts to accent the card - the letters are from EK Success.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Ice

Made it through Monday - yeah for me - went into work early - and it was dangerous walking from the car to the building - the parking lot and sidewalks were sheets of ice - as at home - before I went to work - I tried to put melt on the sidewalk - it was so icy I could not even go onto the sidewalk - had to throw the melt from the lawy - tonight I threw 4 buckets of sand up and down the long sidewalk that I unfortunately call mine. I was scared walking into work this morning - tonight leaving - the sidewalk was fine but not the parking lot. Is spring any where near?? Please tell me it is next week.

Tonight's card is a birthday card for one of my son in laws. His birthday was in December - my daughter's birthday is this week and I thought he should get his birthday card before I sent her one - so guess what - I put it in the mail - and forgot to put a stamp on it. Dang.

The image is a copy of a stamp from the US postal service. The paper is from K&Co. dug out the only HB sentiment stamp I could find but I did get it done and will attempt to once again put it in the mail.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

Reality Returns

By reality - I mean I have to work a 5 day work week this week - and I am busy so no slacking allowed on my part. I do prefer to be busy rather than try to look busy - everyone who feeds into my job will be back to work on Monday - so a fast pace will be required to get things done.

I have been busy this morning - I need to do dishes but I decided I was going to do my cooking before I did dishes - so before 9 this morning - I have a batch of chili made and a loaf of banana bread - had some bananas that needed to be used - still have two more - too bad I did not buy another box of banana bread mix. One load of laundry is done - needs to go into the dryer.

I have had fun making cards the last couple days - some of my resolutions are working - I am putting insides in all my cards - keeping my work area clear - not working. I did go do a little shopping though - shame on me - but it wasn't too much. If you stay out of the stores, you do not spend money - but I need to keep my LSS in business right.

The card I am sharing today is based on the sketch at Our Creative Corner - they have a new sketch every Saturday - they have the most beautiful designs for their sketch - their artists are fantastic. Of course I did take a little creative license with the design - added that strip in the middle.

I am going to work on a set of cards for my assistant for her birthday - she is a quilter - and I have lots of sewing stamps - so I plan to dig them out and use them - yeah BARB.

Paper - Paper collection book - Vintage - from Hot Off the Press

Stamp - River City Rubber Works

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Font - CAC Shishoni Brush

Threading Water border punch from Fiskars

Happy Saturday

Don't you Saturdays when you don't have anything you really have to do. I had to go to the post office - only thing on my list that was a must for today - done, went and did a little 80% off holiday shopping. Stopped at theLSS and bought some of the coordinations paper - going to try the cuddlebug embossing folders - might make some quick valentine cards for the little kids in the family. Now I am going to watch sports, cook myself a decent dinner (something other than leftovers) do some creating and just enjoy myself. Everyone have a wonderful day.

My card for today is a baby card. My neighbors brother and his wife have a new baby boy so wanted to send them a card - my friend Annie - sent me a little knitted stocking hat for him.

Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Nana’s Kids by Die Cuts With a View
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Rub Ons: One Heart One Mind®
Inks: ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inkpad by Clearsnap, Inc.; Memories™ by Stewart Superior Corporation
Stamps: Stampendous!®
Brads: The Paper Studio®
Twinkling H2O’s

Colored monkey with Twinkling H2O’s. Inked edges of all paper. Add rub ons.

Thanks Snow Much

Hard week - work 2 days - off two days - work one day - off two days and then next week I have to work 5 days - yuck - no - I may take off part of Thursday or Friday depending on the weather to go see my daughter for her birthday - we will see how the week works out.

Nothing too exciting planned for the week end - maybe do some card making - trying to get my groove on - I am not into valentine day cards - but I do need to make some birthday cards - so maybe I can get started on that project.

Everyone needs thank you notes after the holidays - this is a winter based card - I did the card for a challenge on the Hero Arts blog - the challenge was to make thank you cards using your holiday stamps - you have until Sunday to make a card for the challenge. Their cards are posted on Flickr - in their own Hero Arts Flickr Pool

Thanks stamp - Clear - trees, birds and messages

Holiday Stamp - Design Blocks - Stunning Snowflakes

Versamark Ink

Embossing Powder - Seafoam White

May Arts twine

Inked edges of everything with Colorbox Chalk Ink

Sizzix Die cut - snowflake

QuicKutz die and Sizzlit Button

Happy New Year - 2009 Here I Come

A very happy new year to everyone - I hope that 2009 brings you great health and happiness.

Card
Paper - it is from a pad I bought and the cover is missing - maybe Provo Craft
Martini Glass - gift tag from Target
Speckled card base - from my enormous supply
Font - Staccato