DIY

So, yeah... I think it's a mid-winter crisis kind of thing, but I have lately become quite the follower of DIY blogs. I've always loved interior decorating and organizing and its starting to drive me a wee bit crazy that my options for both are quite limited in our apartment (decorating - I can't paint the walls because we have to paint them back before we move out and that totally is just not worth the effort).... and my closets are as organized as they are going to get for the time being... ah well...I shall paint mental walls in my mental house - and no you cannot judge about how that last sentence sounds! ;)

I'm also pretty sure that I can add ADD to my OCD.....

and no, there was no real point to this post.... Actually, originally I think there might have been, but I forgot halfway through the paragraph... which is what prompted the above ADD statement (that among MANY MANY other things...) k, I'm done rambling now... I'm pretty sure that this entire post can be blamed on not enough caffeine in my system...

I get to go home in 57 minutes!

Lawnscaping Challenge Blog

If you like to win stamping goodies and like to play along with challenges, head over to the Lawnscaping Challenge blog!  The current challenge is to CASE the fabulous Mrs. Lawn Fawn and it ends on Wednesday, 2/2! Plenty of time to play along! This is a new challenge site and they really could use the help getting the word out there!

P.S. I was finally able to create a few things this weekend - my dad's birthday card (on the third try - I've scrapped two previous attempts over the last week and a half) and a birthday card for my boss... Also got a few cards out in the mail that had to go out.. valentine's cards for St. Jude's card drive for Kids, valentine card for my niece, birthday card for my dad, birthday card for a friend... Lots of birthdays!!!! But necessity is the mother of invention and needing cards finally got me through my major crafting/creativity block!!!! I'll try to post the pictures soon, I actually tried to last night, but our computer crashed and we lost all the entire Adobe suite on our PC. My hubby is going to try to fix it this week...

My crafting mojo....

I misplaced my mojo somewhere.... If you happen to see it, please send it home....I hope to spend some time crafting tomorrow... maybe it will wander back by then....

Some mini notecards....

Hello all... hope that everyone is having a glorious week :)  If not, no worries... tomorrow is Friday and the week is almost over!!! :) :) :)

A few weeks ago, I started a card set for one of the girls in our church, whose birthday is coming up in March. I have 4 done so far, two with blue ribbons and two with green ribbons... They are nothing fancy and I am still debating whether I want to add a sentiment to the fronts or just leave them blank for her to use for whatever occassion she would like to... What do you think? Sentiment or no sentiment?

Supplies:

Paper: Textured card stock from Michaels, patterned paper from my cousin (Don't know what brand - I have a horrible time remembering the if I don't have the names written down somewhere)

Ribbon: from a friend

Playing with Paper

So the other day I went to the dollar store for valentines stickers for my niece. While I was in the store, I decided to see if I could find any cheap mini notebooks and large sticky-note type notepads. I was pumped when I found a pack of 3 mini notebooks for a buck and some large sticky notes. The only problem with the sticky notes is that they were neon colored, so I bought a green one because I knew I had colored papers at home that would work with it. I've been wanting to branch out from just making cards to other paper crafts, so I wanted to just buy one of each to experiment with...

Beware.... I took a lot of pictures this time...

This one is for my niece (LKG = her initials). She is 5 and absolutely LOVES to draw and write herself notes, so I thought this would be a cute little notebook that she could put into one of her purses....

The last mini notebook I made in colors to match the sticky note holder. I'm thinking of using them for a gift set of some kind. I might make up some matching small note cards and get a pen. I found this great tutorial for making up containers for paper gift sets. I just have to find the URL again! lol....

Hope you are all having a great start to your short work week!!!!! Me likey short work weeks :) I worked a half day from home yesterday, but I got to sleep in an extra 2 hours and get up at 7:30 instead of 5:30 so that was a nice bonus!

P.S. I need a better adhesive or system for putting paper around the binding of notebooks. (Which is why I only did this on one of the notebooks.) Right now I am using the "Wrap a ton of string around the notebook and tie tight until the adhesive sets" method and hoping that the paper doesn't peel off when the string comes off. Have any of you made notebooks like this? Any tips?

Oh... yeah... supplies used..... Forgive me peeps, I was up early this morning and I haven't quite had enough coffee in my system yet....

Supplies:

Paper: Basic card stock from Michaels, Patterned paper from a friend

Embellishments: Ribbon from a friend, my cousin, and from K&Company dollar scrapbooking supplies at Target

Letters: Stickers from K&Company dollar scrapbooking supplies at Target, don't remember what paper pack I got the pink letters from

I used my score board for the top flap of the sticky notes holder to add a little bit more visual interest. Doesn't really look like it in the picture, but you can tell when you are looking at it in person :)

Thinking of You

Hi there ladies.... Guess what??? It's Friday!!! PTL!!!! This has been one loooong week and I am very thankful that it is almost over (the work week anyway). Today is a quick post, but I wanted to share a card that I made late last week for a friend. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!!

I cut the flowers out of patterned paper and used Scotch brand square mounting blocks to give the flowers a little dimension. The background of the flowers I put together with some scraps I had laying around.

Supplies:

Paper: Card stock from Michaels and scrap supply, patterned papers from friend

Ribbon: Friend

Embellishments: acmoore

Christmas Card # 1

So I posted Christmas card # 2, earlier this week because I hadn't taken a picture of the first Christmas card that I actually made on like December 29th. :)  I just couldn't help myself. I was still in Christmas mode, I was sick on the couch and the Christmas papers that I had just picked up for a $1 were just sitting there, saying "Usssssse meeeeee!!!!" (Okay, so they weren't talking to me, but I still couldn't resist ;) )

This was one of my first experimentations with my new mini Christmas stamps that I scored for $.50 a piece at Michael's. (I love after Christmas sales ;) ) - I usually also stock up on Christmas cards for the next year, but as my goal is to make all of my Christmas cards for next year I didn't buy any. This way, I figure I have to force myself to get them all done because I don't want to pay full price for Christmas cards come next Christmas. (My logic is astounding isn't it ;) ) - Anyhoo, I've made two so far and I"ll probably make my third for next week over the weekend.

I haven't done many cards like this before, and the Christmas trees didn't come out even...(I have issues with straight lines) I think I'll probably use my mini alphabet stamps to stamp "Merry Christmas" below the Christmas trees. One thing I did learn: When using different stamps use 1 long stamp block and level them out on that before stamping. :) I do really like the papers though :)

Supplies:

Paper: K&Company (dollar aisle from Target), basic card stock from Michael's

Images: Dollar aisle from Michael's (didn't have  brand name on them, so I'm assuming its just a generic Michael's stamp set)

Ink: Inkadinkado

Ribbon: Friend

P.S. Tomorrow's Friday!!!!!!!

Stylish Blog Award

Lookie what my sweet cousin Christy over at Christy Gets Crafty gave me :)

Looking at Christy's blog and seeing all of her amazing creativity is one of the things that first got me into card making (as a regular hobby anyway). She has always given me support and inspiration in everything I do.

Christy is so talented and I love seeing her new creations!

She's been so supportive of my crafting and has given me tips and even helped me add to my stash with amazing crafting supplies!

There are three rules on accepting this award:

1. Link and thank the person who gave it to you

2. Share 8 things about yourself

3. Pass it along to 8 fellow bloggers

So.... 8 things about myself:

1. I am slightly OCD (although there are those who would argue with the "slightly" part :) ). I like things nice, clean, and organized.

2. I am the wife of an assistant pastor at a Latino church.

3. Reading has been my biggest hobby since I first learned how to read.

(Christy was actually also the one that started me on reading. By the time I was in 1st grade I was borrowing her books all the time! Thanks to her, I had a 12th grade reading level by 6th grade!)

4. I write upside down. Always have, always will.

(Actually, I'm pretty sure that one is Christy's fault too! lol.... She is left handed like me and I would always watch her write sideways when I was little. I started out sideways and now I write with my paper almost completely upside down... It kinda just happened.)

5. The office supplies aisle is one of my most favorite aisles in a store.

6. I always looked forward to the beginning of school because it meant that I could buy school supplies. Nothing like brand new notebooks just waiting to be wrote in and freshly sharpened pencils. :)

7. I get easily distracted by shiny, sparkly things.

(Sheesh, that makes me sound like a racoon.)

8. I STRONGLY DISLIKE getting up in the morning, but dawn is my favorite time of day. The world is so beautiful and fresh in the mornings.

(Don't worry, it doesn't make sense to me either. :) )

And now the 8 bloggers I am passing this award on to (in no particular order):

Anita & Sarah

Anita and Sarah are amazing. They are the Queens of finding deals in thrift shops and are so talented! Their purses and other creations are absolutely beautiful! Hop on over to their blogs and see for yourself!

Alice

Alice's cards are always so cheerful. I always enjoy hopping over to her blog to see her latest creations.

Nina

Nina is a missionary's wife in Croatia. Her cards are so beautiful and her life is an inspiration.

Vera

Vera is such a sweetheart. She ran the Caring Hearts Card drive for a number of nursing homes over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her cards are beautiful too!

Lucy

Lucy's cards are so cute and always put a smile on my face.

Chat

This lady is so talented! Her cards are amazing!

Teresa

Teresa's blog is one of the first that I found. Her cards are gorgeous!

Hope you are all having a fantastic week!

Valentines

Since I've been out of school, I don't usually give valentines day cards to anyone besides my husband. This year I wanted to make a card for our niece, Lexus. That, in addition to the fact that my mom bought me valentines day card supplies for Christmas, encouraged me to set myself down to make some valentines day cards last night while we watched Gilmore Girls.

I've made three so far. On the card on the right, I tried cutting up the image, like I've seen on a lot of blogs. I've wanted to try it for a while and finally felt like I had a good image that would slice well.

This is a close up of the card in the back so you can see the entire card.

Supplies:

Paper: Basic cardstock from Michaels, patterned paper from a friend

Images: Rub-ons, I believe they are from K&Company

Embellishments: Ribbon from a friend (I have been blessed with crafting gifts by so many dear friends - if you are one of them, please know that I appreciate your thoughtfulness so much! They have really helped me explore different crafting techniques, that I otherwise might not have even tried yet!)

Sentiments: Freehand

Secret Pal gifts and a Christmas Card...

So I've decided to try something a little different. During the week it is difficult for me to get many pictures edited and posted, so I always end up with one massive post like every other week. This year, I'm going to try editing over the weekend in bulk and then post a small set of creations each day to spread them out. (This is a double bonus, I'm posting more and saving myself from boredom during the week :) )

Today's post are some pictures of some beautiful gifts from my Secret Pal (signed up on Paper Craft Planet - sign ups are closed for the year, but you can sign up again come next October!).

Isn't my Secret Pal generous??? I can't wait until October when I find out who she is and I can thank her :)

Now on to the card :)  This year I have decided to try to make one Christmas card a week, starting at the beginning of January. This way I hope to have a nice stock come Christmas time and also will be able to contribute more to a Card Drive for Nursing Homes that I participated in this last year. I have 2 done so far. I created one the week after Christmas, but forgot to take a picture. The second card I created last week. It is white and blue and uses some of the beautiful snowflakes that my Secret Pal sent me!

Hope you likey :)

Supplies:
Paper: Card stock from a standard 12x12 Heavy cardstock pack, patterned paper from a K&Company pack (Target dollar aisle). The rest of the paper were leftover scraps I had laying around
Embellishments: Snowflakes from Secret Pal, ribbon from a friend, blue gem from Secret Pal

Sentiment: Warm Wishes sentiment and stamped snowflake from a small stamp pack I got from the dollar aisle at Michaels (except I bought them after Christmas and only paid $.50 - score! I bought like 4 packs and only spent 2 dollars :) )

I'm back....

I took a little break from blogging the past couple of weeks, getting over a nasty virus I caught over Christmas weekend. I'm finally starting to feel better though and I am very thankful for that! 

Even though I haven't been blogging I have made a few cards. My mother's birthday is early next week and my BIL's birthday is later in the month but I thought I would whip up his card to make sure it is done in time to go out. 

My supplies mainly came from Christmas gifts I was given from my sweet hubby, my mom and my sister. I don't remember the exact brands and I'm at work right now, but I will post later (if I remember, lol!).

Anyhoo, here are the cards....

This is the card that I made for my mom. I wasn't really sure about the color of these flowers with the rest of the card, but it needed something, and that was the only color flower I had that was even close.....

 And this is the card that I made for my BIL. For this card I used a birthday stamp that was part of a package that my hubby got me as a stocking stuffer. I used markers made especially for coloring stamps (FYI - I LOVE these markers. I actually like being able to color them in better than stamp pads.... Might just be something I am doing wrong with the stamp pads, but the colors seem to come out so much more rich with the markers.. IDK... I'll have to experiment some more with the inks that my cousin gave me to play with. :) )

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P.S. A short prayer request, a dear pastor's wife in our fellowship is going through chemotherapy right now. Any prayers sent for strength and grace for her and her husband would be appreciated.