Cosmobella

It's finally Friday and Cosmobella is ready to let loose. This was a really fun one for me! I am so glad it is Friday and this card got me pumped up for my stamp camp tonight. I found the cute magarita paper at Pat Catan's and I couldn't pass it up because it's perfect to use with this Bella. The base of the card is Pumpkin Pie and I stamped the glass also in Pumpkin Pie. You can't tell too well from the picture but I used a 2-way glue pen and added micro beads around the edge of the glass to look like salt. Bella is watercolored and layered on Ruby Red and Green Galore. I put black brads in each of the corners. Bella's glass also has "salt" and her flip flops have Dazzling Diamonds on the straps. Bella and layers are on dimensionals. TGIF everyone!!!!!!

Staceyfishabella

My oldest son, Austin, LOVES to fish. He can't wait until it's warm enough to go to his Papa's pond and fish from sun up 'til sun down. When I came across this Bella it made me think of him so I had to get her. I used Always Artichoke for the card base.The next layer is Chocolate Chip and I pierced around the edges. For the corners I used my Crop-A-Dile to put in the snaps. I used my Cuttlebug for the More Mustard layer and I used the ticket punch on the corners. Bellas is layered on Ruby Red and at the bottom of that piece I tied brown polka dot organdy ribbon and added a frog charm. I colored Bella with watercolor crayons and blended with a blender pen. On her hair bow, pocket of her overalls, top of her boots, and the center of the flowers I added Dazzling Diamonds. I used the Daisy wheel with Always Artichoke under Bella's feet after making them so it looks like she's standing amongst them. This inside says "Worm Wishes". This card wasn't at all what I pictured it would be, but I am still pleased.

Friday's Stamp Camp Project

This photo wallet kit was available for a short time after leadership in limited quantities to SU! demonstrators, so I snatched one up right away. For me it was a perfect choice for stamp camp because it would take more time than we would want to spend on a workshop project, but not so long that the customers will get bored during a stamp camp. I whipped up my sample in about 45 minutes. Add some munchies and chit-chat and we should be wrapping it up in about an hour and a half. If you would like complete direction on how to make this adorable photo wallet feel free to email me - epayne@glis.cc.

Jammybella

How cute is she? I had so much fun coloring her. The paper that I used for the base of the card is called Granny's Kitchen by S-E-I. I found it at Michael's. I colored Bella with watercolor crayons and blended with a blender pen. I added Dazzling Diamonds to the flowers on her top and pants. I used liquid applique on her slippers to make them fuzzy. I added brown flock to the teddy bear with a 2-way glue pen to make him fuzzy. I put 4 square silver brads across the bottom of the main image and turned them so they are diamond shaped. And using the round tab punch I added the sentiment "Happy Place" from the Cute Converse SU! set. This past weekend we had my nephew's birthday party. My husband bought him a shirt that has a label on the front that says "WARNING- I AM NOT IN MY HAPPY PLACE". My sister-in-law joked that she should have a shirt like that, so when I was looking for a sentiment to put on this card I came across that one. I thought it would be perfect to send her. She would love to put on her jammies and go to her happy place!

Down On The Farm

This layout is of Carter hanging out at his Papa's farm. I found the cute paper and stickers at one of our local scrapbook stores. I tied black gingham ribbon around the journaling and added a barn charm to the ribbon. Carter enjoyed his afternoon on the farm. He loved the cows, and cats, and he even got to hold a baby pig. He'll probably be showing a pig this summer at our county fair with his brothers.

Teddybella

Today's card was created with 3 things in mind: using another new Bella, making a baby congats card for a friend, and using the SCS color challenge colors. The challenge colors are More Mustard, Cool Caribbean, Bravo Burgundy, and Old Olive was optional- but I chose to use it.I used More Mustard for the card base. On the Old Olive piece I used the Swirls cuttlebug embossing folder. I stamped the safety pins from the SU! Swell News set in Cool Caribbean onto the Cool Caribbean piece. The Bravo Burgundy piece was stamped in Very Vanilla craft ink with the "Happy Waiting" sentiment also from the Swell News set. Then I tied a piece of Taupe grosgrain ribbon around it and added the safety pins by Making Memories. Bella is colored with watercolor crayons and blended with a blender pen. I put Dazzling Diamonds on her shoes, the bear's bow, and the rattle. Bella is layered on Bravo Burgundy and More Mustard and mounted to the card with dimensionals. Happy Waiting Rena!

Flowahbella

Today was another beautiful day so Carter and I spent some time outside exploring the backyard. Last spring and summer he wasn't even a year old so all of this is new to him. His favorite thing so far seemed to be the pinecones that have fallen out of the tree. He picked them up, one by one, and inspected it before he threw it in the field. I say this was his favorite thing because he's been saying "pinecone" all day, but then again- maybe he just likes the word.
Anyhow- this past weekend I got 5 new Bellas. This is Flowahbella. I made another springy card with her. You'll get to meet all of them by week's end.

Some Bunny Loves You

This is the card I made for my family for Easter using my new set, Some Bunny, from The Angel Company (TAC). It's kind of busy because I used lots of colors, but it is very springy to me and that makes me happy. For the card base I used Apricot Appeal. The next layer is Rose Red that I ran through my cuttlebug for the embossing and I used the ticket punch on the corners. The striped strip of paper is from the SAB Scrappin' kit - Simply Delightful. I also tied a piece of white grosgrain around the bottom of the strip. My main image was colored with watercolor crayons and the flowers were dusted with dazzling diamonds and mounted on Certainly Celery. I scalloped the bottom of the C. Celery by taking the plastic guard off the bottom of the corner rounder punch and punching along the bottom. Lastly, I added a Ballet Blue tab that says easter cheer stamped in white craft ink and dusted with dazzling diamonds. I hope this card brings my family Easter Cheer!

Mummy's boy

Here is a Halloweeen layout that I just finished for Carter. I'm a liitle disappointed in that I've only completed 2 layouts so far this weekend. But hey- sometimes life gets in the way and 2 is better than none, right!?

He Gets It From His Mommy

Cameron, who is my almost 5- middle son has a new found love for stamping (much to his dad's dismay!) Everytime he sees me stamping, he thinks he has to. So today I let him make an Easter card for his Nana and Papa. He is a very artistic child- loves to draw and I think his card turned out pretty cute too. But his artwork always has a story to go along with it. This card is no exception. So here it is: Cameron's Easter Story...........
The man ( notice the hand drawn man because I don't have a man stamp) came out and saw the rabbit's eating his flowers. He got madder and madder and madder to the sky. ( I think that means he was pretty pissed!) He got his flashlight to scare the rabbits and chicks away. Then he wasn't mad no more. The end!

At least this one has a happy ending.

Monkey Business

I had the intentions of spending all my free time catching up on my 3 sons' scrapbooks this weekend, becasue I have fallen seriously behind on them. I haven't made a lot of progress so far, but here is one layout that I have finished. This is my 19 month old son, Carter. These are some pictures I have taken of him over the past few months- "exploring" his surroundings. I just loved this monkey paper that I found at a local scrapbook store and thought it would be perfect for these pictures of him climbing on things, tearing things off of shelves, unraveling a roll of toilet paper, emptying the trash, and a box of tissues! He's a busy little monkey!

I Caught The Bug.....

The Cuttlebug that is. I'm finally catching up with the times! My husband so generously bought mine for me last night. How sweet is that? Of course- I didn't get to play with it much because he had to "make sure it works". Now I HAVE to get all the dies and embossing folders to go with it. Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring me some (HINT,HINT)!!!

My First Stand Up Card

My friend, Dawn, sent me a card this style for Easter. I had never tried making one like that before, but I loved hers - so today I used the Basket Full Of Fun hostess set for mine. I think it turned out pretty cute. How about you? For complete directions on how to make this type of card email me at epayne@glis.cc and I'll be glad to help you out.

Brock's Baptism Bitty Book

I've had this On Board Bitty Book stashed away in my "I'll use it for something.....someday" drawer, and today was the day. My nephew is being baptised this weekend so I made this mini album to put his baptism pictures in. I think it turned out adorable. All it took was minimal Au Chocolat paper from the spring mini, a little hodgepodge, and some ribbon. If you are thinking about making one of these I recommend putting a coat of Mod Podge over it to seal it, especially if it's something that is going to be handled often. I should take my own advise, but I don't have any and I was too impatient to wait until I can get some to make this book. I had to do it Right Now- while the creative juices were flowing.

Happy Petals

Here is today's SCS sketch challenge. We had to put one panel offset to the side and a smaller panel placed the opposite direction. This was a simple sketch and there are so many possibilities for it. Maybe I'll give it another try tonight. Happy first day of spring!!!!!

Rusty Circus Train Double Slider

Today's challenge on SCS was a color challenge using Really Rust, Marigold Morning, and Brocade Blue. You can make anything you want using those colors, so this is what I came up with. I haven't used this set for a really long time, so I thought it would be fun to use it with these colors. I really like the color combination and my nephews love trains so I'll send this one to them. Who doesn't love to get mail just because?!

Brock's Baptism Card

I needed a baptism card for my nephew for next weekend, but was stumped on what to use because I have no stamps for that sort of thing. But I think what I came up with will work perfectly! This was my first attempt at a shadow box card and it turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself! Using 2 sheets of cardstock or paper (I used Very Vanilla for the back and Au Chocolat D.S. paper for the front), cut them both at 4 1/2 x 5 1/2. Score both sheets at both ends at 1 1/2 & 1". I stamped the teddy bear from Bundle of Joy in Chocolate chip ink on the Very Vanilla cardstock and I used my 2-way glue pen and dusted him with brown flock to make him fuzzy. I added a chocolate bow on his neck and cut out a cross that I stamped in gold and dusted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter and attatched to my bear with dimensionals. For the front of the card I cut out an oval and attatched a window sheet to the inside. I stamped BLESSED from the So Very SAB set in Very Vanilla/ dusted with Dazzling Diamonds onto Chocolate Chip cardstock punched with the word window punch. I attatched it with cream grosgrain ribbon and that's all there is to it. What is neat about this type of card is that is can be laid flat to fit into a regular envelope for mailing.

Take 2

Finally, here they are!

April Swap Challenge- Shaker Card

This card was quick and easy. Good thing because I'll be making 10 of them to send out in a couple of weeks to my stampinggirls. I hope they like it. I haven't done a shaker card for probably 2 years- so I was pleased at how this one turned out. For the card base I used Cool Caribbean. Plan on seeing that color from me a lot before it retires. It reminds me of summer. With Cool Caribbean ink I stamped the dots on the top half and the petal outline on the bottom half from Polka Dots & Paisley. Then I put a strip of Old Olive across the middle and layered it with a smaller strip of Petals & Paisleys designer paper. On a smaller square of Whisper White I stamped the flower from Polka Dots & Petals as well as the sentiment using Old Olive, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, and Cool Caribbean. Around the outside of W.W. Cardstock I placed double sided foam tape. For the next part you have to lay you card flat and put microbeads on the W.W. C.S. and place a window sheet over top to close in your beads. Then I stamped the small flowers from Polka Dots & Petals in So Saffrom on a square of So Saffron C.S. and cut out a section from the center to make a "window frame". I wrapped a piece of pink ribbon around the frame and attatched a frog charm from Walmart. It's very springy and I hope you all like it!

Austin's Activity Box- Part 2

As promised, here are the 5 games that I've made to put in the activity box. (Tic-Tac-Toe, Ladybug Picnic, Word Search, My Art,& Picnic Scramble) I also thought about adding Buggy Bingo- maybe another day. I had so much fun making this that I plan on making 5 more as Easter gifts. It is very time consuming so I don't recommend as a last minute project. I laminated the games with clear contact paper for durability and put a dry erase marker in the box so the cards can be re-used. If you would like more information on these games feel free to email me: epayne@glis.cc

Bugs & Kisses~
Erica

I will try again tomorrow to upload the photos because it is not letting me right now and I'm getting very frustrated.

Austin's Activity Box- Part 1

Today I got my new On Stage magazine only available to SU! demonstrators in the mail. It had this adorable activity box and inside you can put games for the kiddos when traveling or at church, or anytime that you need a few quiet minutes. This was so simple. The box is an empty extra large stamp and store box, sold in packs of 4 through SU! I stamped on my confetti white cardstock with Bugs & Kisses-but you can use any set and I layered it on Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquois, and Gable Green. I put some dazzling diamonds on my bugs to give them a little sparkle. Then I rounded the corners and adhered it to the inside of the lid. Check back tomorrow for directions on the games to put inside.

This One's For My Sistahs!

Today's card is made with my new sistahoodabella stamp. Actually, I've had it for a few weeks, but it's seeing ink for the first time. I made it in honor of my stamping sistahs: Dawn, Ashley, Beth,Kelley, Danielle, Amy, Blondena, and Lauri. They are great friends of mine and I am greatful that Dawn brought us together in this swap group. I colored my Bellas with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. They all have Dazzling diamons on them. The main image was stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock and layered on Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, Cool Caribbean and mounted on Chocolate Chip as my card base. The layers have eyelets in 3 corners as well as primas in the bottom right corner. The card base was stamped with one of the images from Polka Dots and Petals from the spring mini in gold ink. And finally, I added an Apricot tab at the bottom of my main image that says "sistahs". Happy Stamping!!

Look At All My New Rubbah!

I had a workshop last weekend, the first one with me being the hostess since I've become a demonstrator. It was a successful workshop-as you can see from all of the goodies that Mr. Brown brought for me today. Kudos to SU! for shipping my order so quickly. I bought a few things, but most of it was free merchandise for hosting the workshop. Also, during the month of March for a workshop with sales over $400 the hostess gets to choose 1 item out of the spring mini for 1/2 off. I chose Office Accoutrement because it was the most expensive set in the mini. So check back often in the next few days because I will be busy playing with all of my new things and who knows what I might create! TGIF!!!

Pretty ~ Bashful Chocolate Doodles

The past couple of days it has been so beautiful that a few things have started to bloom! Although, by the snow covered ground that I woke up to this morning- you would never know that just yesterday it was 75 degrees! I still have hope that it will get nice and stay thay way in the next couple of weeks, so today's cards are reminders of what's to come! These cards are somewhat of a case, but I changed up a few things to make it my own. The original design was done by lesarapp on SCS. I used the Doodle This set that I received in the mail today free for my SAB redemption. Just one of the many perks of being a Stampin Up! demonstrator. I had to put it to use right away! The brown polka dot ribbon I found at Michael's and the butterfly and dragonfly charms came from Walmart. The Stickles that I used on the dots of the main flowers came from our local scrapbook store. Everything else is from Stampin' Up! This was not one set that was at the top of my wish list, but hey- if it's free I'll take it!

Supplies used: Chocolate chip, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, & Whisper White Cardstocks, Bashful Blue Pretty in Pink & Creamy Carmel reinkers, chocolate chip ink, blender pens, dimensionals, white gel pen, brown polka dot ribbon, charms, paper piercer

Bella Quarter Fold Card

I'm back and I brought Stampingbella with me. My good friend Ashley created a quarted fold card using the Crab & Co. set. It was sooo cute and our swap group loved it, so quarter fold cards became this months challenge. I'll admit that I wasn't too hot on the idea because I couldn't get the measurements right- and it didn't work out, so I took a break from it for a while. I decided to give it another shot and this is what I came up with. Ashley also turned me on to Bellas. I had never heard of them before and still am devoted to Stampin' Up!, but I have since bought a few and LOVE them! I hope the Stampinggirls like this card as much as I do.

Acrylic Frame Post-It Note Holders

Because of yesterday's beautiful weather I didn't take time to post. I took the kids to the park instead. That means today I will post twice. Lucky you...I know! This morning I whipped up these adorable post it holders from those acrylic picture frames that you can buy for less that $1 each at Walmart. So, I scooped them all up and made these for some very deserving people. Who knows, you just may be one of them.

Supplies used: acrylic picture frames, Rebecca Designer paper/Petals & Paisley Designer paper, Happy Harmony & Patals & Paisley stamp sets, primas, silver & gold brads, turquois, olive, rose, & chocolate ribbons, sticky strip, assorted cardstock

How Sweet It Is.......

I made this fun card this evening using the So Very Sell-A-Brations set. I don't know who I'm going to give it to just yet, but whoever it may be- I hope they like it! The lollipop was so easy to make. I just cut out several size circles from different colors of cardstock and layered them. I then put 4 layers of crystal clear embossing powder over top of them to make it thick and shinny. I attatched it to a lollipop stick and covered it with glad wrap and tied on a black gingham ribbon. Sweet, isn't it?!

Supplies used: tempting turquois, black, gable green, real red, yo-yo yellow, only orange, garden green cardstocks, basic black ink, crystal clear embossing powder, lollipop stick, glad wrap, and black gingham ribbon

Flocked Bunny Bear Easter Card

A friend of mine made a similiar card with the bunny bear idea- that I fell in love with, but I added a few special touches to it. I used the bear from the Bundle of Joy set. I added ears to him using the bunny from Bunny Hugs using a black stampin' write marker to color only the ears before adding them to my bear. Then I masked my bear to make it look like he's holding the easter basket with eggs, also from the Bunny Hugs set. I used flock from The Angel Company to make my bear fuzzy, but you can't tell from the picture. I added a tail using liquid applique. I used the spiral punch from the spring mini across the top of the main image and added a few primas and a couple of safety pins and voila! There you have it!! And you can tell the detail much better from the first picture. Happy Sunday!!

Today's SU! Workshop Projects

I had another workshop today, but this time the hostess was...me! I gave away some awesome door prizes, but forgot to take a picture of them before giving them away-so I'll just have to make more so I can share them with you too! Here is a picture of all of the things we made today. The first thing is a 6x6 scrapbook page using the Bugs & Kisses set. Yep- those are my munchkins in the photo. I'll even claim the one on the left picking his nose:) We also made a gable box using the template from the SU! demonstrator website. We used the Bugs & Kisses set for that as well and we filled the box with Keebler Grahams Bug Bites.They have little butterflies and caterpillars and I forget what else but they went so well with the theme- I had to get them! I'm going to make those for my daycare kids, my son's preschool class, and my nephews for Easter. We all know that there will not be a candy shortage from the Easter Bunny so I'm going a healthier route this year! The First card we made was using the Happy Harmony SAB set. You can't tell from the photo, but we did the cracked glass technique on the main image of the card. What a neat technique. My customers were flabbergasted! The final card is a tri-fold card. I am in love with these right now. They are so easy, but look complicated. My customers thought there was no way they'd be able to figure that one out. They were WRONG! We used the Petals & Paisley set for that one. That's all for tonight! Gotta put those big orders in!! Thanks for looking:)

Baby Girl Altered Paint Can Shower Gift

I made this paint can for a friend who just found out they are having a girl. I loved this paper that I found at Pat Catan's, but I have boys so I was hoping I'd be able to use it for something. I bought an empty paint can from Home Depot and covered it with this adorable paper and tied ribbon to the handle. On the lid I attatched a poem that reads:

Baby books are great ideas, but sometimes you're too busy

Living with a little one can put you in a tizzy

Milestones pass too fast at times to find the proper page

So jot a note of each event with date and baby's age

Like: took steps on June the 1st or teething 5th of December

Then drop it in the memory can to help you to remember.

Cute, Huh? I thought so, but I certainly did not make that up. Inside the can I included a mini composition notebook that I found at Wal Mart. I covered it and the front says "She did the cutest thing today". Next, is a pocket calendar that I also covered. Most of these things I found at Wal Mart as well. The front of that says "What's today's date?" I then included a pen that matches everything else by covering the ink barrel inside with the paper. And lastly, an altoids tin I covered and it says "For the little things" and I plan on including a gift card for the place where she will register. I think she'll like it. What do you think?

My first blog post!!!

Today I've been very busy creating. I made my first pinwheel spinner card. It turned out pretty cute, I think. It was so easy too! It reminded me of seeing the joy on childrens' faces when playing with pinwheels outside on a warm, breezy spring day. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it says Happiness in the word window. For complete directions email me at epayne@glis.cc. Have a great night!

Supplies used: Very Vanilla c.s., Choc. Chip c.s., Petals & Paisley and Warm Words stamp sets, word window punch, Very Vanilla craft pad, Creme and Chocolate ribbons, pop dots, choc. chip marker, button,Au Chocolat designer paper and 2 pennies