In love

I'm in love with this embossing folder. I think it looks so rich and elegant. It looks great in all different colors but I especially love it embossed with this red carstock.

Time Saver

I've been asked how I find time to make so many cards every day. Here is a tip...I don't make cards every day. I will usually make a batch of them all in one sitting. When I'm making the cards I usually make more then one of the same card or I will just switch up the card a tiny bit depending on what supplies I have left. Above is an example. I made a card and then had some cardstock left so I made another one that is only a tiny bit different.

DIY picture card

I don't know why I didn't do something like this sooner. I have a few extra pictures laying around that I don't use for anything. Either I was going to scrapbook them and they didn't fit in a layout or they are pictures that I was going to frame but decided to use another picture. I hate to throw pictures away for some reason. So I found a great way to use them. I think it makes the card way more personal and it is great for Grandparent cards. You don't need to get fancy with the patterned paper if you don't want to. I used patterned paper that looked like cork board and then I added a brad to the top of the picture to make it look like a picture stuck on a cork board with a tack.

Yummy Cupcake

I made this card with someone special in mind. I'm pretty sure she has already received it. I've used this cupcake stamp before. It is one of my favorite stamps. I think it is so cute! It only cost me a $1.00 at Joanns. It is an acrylic stamp. I used this color combination for my wedding. I love pink and green :)

Purple and Green

My Mom was totally the inspiration on this one. Almost her entire house is decorated in purple and green. I love that color combination. One of my sisters actually used it for her wedding colors. Enjoy!

How Thoughtful

I used the same techniques on this card as the last post. I used an embossing folder and then inked the embossed portion of the cardstock. The how Thoughtful sentiment is also embossed. I don't own any embossed sentiment folders for my cuttlebug but I was able to borrow one from a friend about a year ago so I just ran a bunch of my scraps through. I used the last embossed sentiment during my latest card making session. I need to get my hands on those embossing folders!

The great card stock up

I have been making a lot of cards lately. I think I made about 20 thank you cards in the last few days. I'm nesting through cardmaking :) I've actually already used most of them. I have a lot of wonderful friends who gave me diapers and wipes that I sent a thank you card to.

I used purple cardstock for the card base. Then I ran some white cardstock through my cuttlebug dots embossing folder. Then I took a green inkpad and ran it over the embossed bumps. Then I just added my sentiment and a ribbon. I also put a white piece of cardstock on the inside so it would be a little more sturdy and to make it easier to read what I write on the inside.

Tip: instead of stamping your sentiment on your circle...stamp the sentiment first and then cut the circle out. Then you will always have a centered sentiment.

Baby Booties

I was going to wait to post this until tomorrow but I'm too excited! I made my first real knitting project. My first project was a washcloth that I made to learn casting on and knit and purl and casting off. I wanted to make something useful with the extra yarn I had from some other projects. Here is what I came up with...

The first pair I did were the medium size. The second pair I did with the green ribbon are for my new baby. They are so tiny I can't even believe it. Austin was really excited about them so I might try and make him a pair that will fit. I just hope they don't make him slide and fall down in our tile kitchen when he wears them.

I think I am officially "hooked" on knitting :)

dragonfly

My friend gave me a bunch of her stamps that she wasn't using anymore. One of them was this dragonfly stamp and another was the dotted lines. I cut out my cardstock and inked the edges and then I stamped my sentiment and dragonfly and dotted lines. Piece of cake.

Colors of Summer

I have a bunch of florescent colored cardstock that I bought when I was in middle school. My taste in colors has since changed so I don't use it very often. This picture doesn't show how bright it actually is. I really like the bright colors on this card. It is very cheerful and I think the ribbon adds a good accent.

It's Your Day

I've talked about this sentiment before. I love "It's Your Day" it could mean anything!!! I usually have someone in mind when I'm making a card but it is nice to have some on hand in case I don't have time to make one or if I forget (which never happens to me...wink...wink).

You will notice that I have been posting a lot of cards lately. I am due to have my baby in two weeks so I won't be finishing any of my other projects anytime soon. I am working on a few other projects though so be patient and enjoy seeing all the cards I'm making to have on hand for after the baby is born.

Toodler Blanket

Austin's grandma made him a beautiful quilt that matches the theme for his room and he loves it. We put it on his bed everyday but we needed something else for him to use at night because he kept getting the quilt dirty when he would wet the bed. He has a blanket that he really loves that he got when he was born that is too small for him now. We are letting him keep the blanket but we wanted to make something that might replace the security blanket one day :)

We went to Joanns and Austin picked out the flannel he wanted. Of course he wanted trains. He also wanted the green minke fabric. Austin even decided on a matching green satin binding. He really picked everything out.

A few friends of mine helped me sandwich and tie it and then I just sewed the satin binding on. Satin binding is really annoying to sew on. There are a few puckers here and there but like I said before this blanket is for Austin to be able to use everyday and he can have his accidents and I won't care if it gets dirty. I can just throw it in the wash.

I think he is really pleased with the results.

Austin wanted me to take a picture of his old blanket.

Best Wishes

A good friend of mine got me this stamp. It is acrylic and came in an awesome set with other stamps. You will be seeing more stamps from this set in the future. I really love it! The set has different sentiments and then it also has a bunch of different frames in the set. I love how versatile it is.

Bring on the Texture

There are many times when I use the phrase "adds great texture". Some of you may not know exactly what that means so I'll explain. Instead of using the same supplies for a card with the same surface I like to mix it up. For example. Making a card using only cardstock isn't necessarily bad but the entire surface of the card feels and looks the same. When you add texture to a card you just need to choose one or two things that aren't made of the same material as the rest of the card ie. ribbon...embossed cardstock...even patterned paper can give an illusion of texture. Adding texture to a card gives it more dimension and more interest. Another great trick is to use ink to give a textured interesting look. I like to use ink for more then stamping sentiments. I like to put ink on the sides of my cardstock to make it pop off the background. I also like to rub ink on my cardstock after I emboss it with my Cuttlebug embossing folder. So give it a try. Think outside the box and dig through your craft box to find some things that might add some texture to your craft project.

Home Sweet Home

I found this stamp for $1.00 at Joanns. It also came with two little bird stamps. I'm not sure what occasion I'll use this for but I really liked the stamp.

Flower Punch

I love my flower punch. It is so easy to add some texture to cards with it. I usually punch out two flowers in different paper and crinkle the paper a little bit. Sometimes I run the flower through my cuttlebug to give it even more texture. The green part of the flower you see on the bottom has been run through my cuttlebug. I didn't add a sentiment to the front of this card. I did stamp Happy Birthday on the inside. I could have left it blank and then stamped my sentiment when I needed a card for something but I had someone in mind when I made this.

I'm still waiting to hear what gumpaste flower tutorial everyone wants me to make. Please leave a comment to let me know which one you want to learn how to make.

Adorable Baby Treats

My good friend Jamie stopped by for a visit and brought me a really fun gift! It was a car seat blanket, a binki clip, burp cloths and a taggie blanket. They are adorable! She used really nice quality fabric and her workmanship is great. I am totally in love with the fabric she picked out for me. Check it out!

I can't wait to wrap my little baby boy in these goodies. If you want some of your own you can order on Jamie's Etsy shop.

Jamie's Etsy

Happy Mothers Day

I wanted to post these a few days before Mothers day but I didn't want the people receiving the cards to see them on my blog before they arrived in the mail. The top card I embossed with a cuttlebug embossing folder. Then I used chalk on the raised parts to color it. The middle brown cards I used some leftover fabric I had. I just pinked the edges and tied it around the cardstock. The last one was a piece of cake too. Just tie a ribbon at the top and stamp your sentiment. It is really simple.

If you want me to do a tutorial on the gumpaste flowers remember to leave a comment so I know which one the majority of my readers wants me to do.

waiting

My wonderful husband got me a new computer for Mothers Day. Unfortunately we are still waiting for the wireless Internet card to arrive. The only place to hook up to the Internet here is in my 2 year olds room and I wouldn't dare put a computer in his room. So here I am with lots of projects to show you and no way of uploading them. All my pictures are on the other computer. As soon as I get my Internet card I promise I will post.

Oh and for all those interested in a tutorial for the gumpaste flowers...
I have decided that I will do a tutorial. But the catch is you need to leave a message and let me know which flower you would like to see. I won't be able to make a tutorial for all of them. I don't want to take business away from your local Wilton cake decorating instructor. all the flowers are taught in the flowers and gumpaste class.

Leave a comment telling me which flower you want me to make a tutorial for.

I'm having a baby in 4 weeks and there are a lot of other projects I have lined up first so please be patient. I will make it when I get a chance but it might be awhile :)