On the second day...

Hiya!
I hope you all had a truly blessed Christmas, but don't stop the celebrations yet! We've got twelve whole days in this season, and eleven (including today) left! :)

I was debating on what to blog, since there seemed so much to blog about - a HUGE stack of paper I'm gonna give away, some new cards, some fun new product I wanna share with you - and I finally decided that  every day till New Years, a old, possibly published, card will be posted. With 200 drafts just gathering dust, I need to get these out. Plus, it's fun (for me at least) to see how my style has changed - cardmaking, photography, even blogging style! I'm even going to keep the original draft the same (anything I had previously written), with a little prelude before. ;)
So here's an '11 April pub with CARDS, with details on a little contest below....

Instructions: Cut and score card base, and round corners. Cut patterned paper out, and adhere to base. Adhere half doily to base, and tie ribbon around card base. Top ribbon with rose. Ink back side of chipboard flourish, and adhere to base. Adhere glitter to back of chipboard frame. Stamp frame and sentiment onto white paper, and adhere behind glittered frame. Adhere frame to card base.

So here's the deal - I'm gonna make this little 'countdown to New Years' blogging thing into a fun game: I want you to link up a card that has been in your drafts for at least a year! If you're not a bad blogger like me, and don't have a draft that old, then reach back into your archives, and get a post from a year back. If you're a new blogger, just post one of your first posts.
Also, comment on this post and you'll have another chance!
One last chance - mention this giveaway in a blog post. It doesn't have to be entirely dedicated to this - just a snippet. :) Link that post up as well, and you'll be entered again!
The prize? As many goodies as I can cram in a large flat rate box! Which I guarantee you is a big lot! I'll try and get little sneaks up. :)
You have until my birthday, January 9th, to enter!





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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: Crate "Lillian"
Stamps: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages", Studio G
Ink: Colorbox
Chipboard: K&Company
Ribbon: Seam binding available HERE
Rose: Remembrance
Doily: Available HERE
Other: glitter

Tools: trimmer, stylus, adhesive

Butterfly birthday

I'm determined to start posting all the super old posts here in the blog, so here's one of them; a card published in the April '11 CARDS magazine...

This was in the days before I had my trusty Martha Stewart butterfly punch - I had to handcut these butterflies from a Martha Stewart stamp set instead. I still think they're pretty...I kinda wish MS had some punches to coordinate with that stamp set. :)

Anyways, thanks so much for stopping in and have a blessed day!

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Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: Crate Paper "Lillian"
Stapm: Sugarloaf, Martha Stewart
Ink: Colorbox
Ribbon: Websters Pages
Half pearls: Remembrance

Tools: trimmer, stylus, adhesive, Spellbinders Labels Four, Cuttlebug

I care

Been busy with some dt assignments this week, thus the absence.
Now I'm just popping in here quickly to share a card that was published in the April CARDS.
A sweet story behind this card -

I had been wanting the Crate 'Restoration' line so badly, but my wholesaler wasn't able to get it for a long time as it was sold out (in October!). Then one day I got a surprise package in the mail from sweet Theresa, filled with lovely trimmings, bobbles, and, a 6x6 'Restoration' pad!! I was so excited and so grateful! :)

Instructions: Go shabby.

Haha, how about these instructions lately? Shabby cards, to me, are always just putting a lot of lovely bits together and somehow making it not look too overwhelmed.

Anywho, thanks for stopping in today, and have an beautiful Sunday! (hopefully it's sunny where you are - we've got rain and cloudy skies, after a gorgeous yesterday)

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Card recipe
Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: Crate "Restoration"
Stamp: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages"
Ink: Distress Ink
Ribbon: Seam binding 'Aqua' HERE
Flowers: bloomer by Websters Pages, mulberry flower by Michaels (Remembrance)
Half pearls: Michaels (Remembrance)
Other: Doily available HERE, thread

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, scissors

Sew what's new?

After a pretty hectic weekend, not much around here. :)

The simple card I'm sharing today was made for this weeks Simply Scrapping Crafts card challenge - sketch!

We announced our three new card design team gals - Dana, Dawn, and Dani!! These girls are so super talented - I'm so excited to have them on the team!! :)

That's pretty much it for me - hope you're having a relaxing Sunday and thanks for stopping in!


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Card recipe
Cardstock: Unknown
Patterned paper: Sassafras 'Indie Girl'
Stamps: Hero Arts "Sew Artsy"
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Half pearls: Remembrance
Ribbon: one sided satin, twine

Tools: adhesive, trimmer, scissors, sewing machine

Waltzingmouse blog hop

{squeal!}
Yes! I actually have Waltzingmouse stamps, so now I get to participate in the blog hop! Yay!

This months theme is buttons...uh, honestly, I'm not really a button person, but I had to participate in this hop, so I just stuck a button on my card! ;)

Some pretty Girls Paperie paper....my original four sheets are down to bits and pieces..:(

I actually had a third butterfly on the roses, but I suppose it fell off somehow - I hadn't stuck it on securely with Glossy Accents (love that stuff!) like with the other accents

And the button! Found it in a old abandoned button jar - so sweet!

Isn't the tag so cute? It's from my ABC vintage image set in my shoppe. :)

Anyways, I think that's about it - thanks so much for dropping in a have a wonderful day!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: LSS
Patterned paper: Girls Paperie
Stamps: Waltzingmouse "Fancy Phrases" and "Very Vintage Labels 1"
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Walnut Stain"
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Flowers: Remembrance
Other: ribbon, doily

Tools: trimmer, scissors, adhesive, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, sewing machine, stylus, Glossy Accents, MS punch

Update

My Grandma did have a small stroke, but what was really worrying was that she was having seizures after that as well. Right now, she's still in the hospital, but she's doing better - she's now taking food and talking a little bit, which is a good sign. :)

Thank you so much for your prayers/hugs/everything!, and please continue to pray - this is/has been especially hard on my Mom!

Hugs!,

 

(a little something I made awhile back :))

 Clare

Nuts about you

Hi there!

Just a quickie post, before I head back to the tv to watch the hockey game (I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan!)
I used this weeks Waltzingmouse Sketch; my first time playing along with the challenge, and certainly not the last!

Anyways, onto the card; I didn't really know where to stop, so....yeah, that pretty much sums up this card. ;)

Instructions: Trim card case and score. Cut out patterned paper, adhering cream paper to base and tying bow around. Adhere rose to ribbon, and lace right below. Add tag to card base using foam squares. Stamp sentiment and add pearls. Stamp images onto cream and brown paper, than cut out and adhere to tag. Distress card.

Yup, that's pretty much it. ;)
Thanks for stopping in!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: K&Company, Basic Grey
Stamps: Hero Arts
Ink: Colorbox
Ribbon: Seam binding available HERE, American Crafts
Flower: Remembrance (Michaels)
Half pearls: Prima, Basic Grey



Tools: trimmer, scissors, adhesive, foam squares

Beautiful day

Hello!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!!

Over at Simply Scrapping Crafts, we've got a fun little challenge going on, which you can find HERE. All you need to do is post one of your oldest cardmaking photos, and than post you latest card, with some optional fun questions to answer. There is a small mystery RAK up for grabs - check out the link for more details!

Thought I'd share the pic of one of my first cards - terrible, but funny. You can see the other one over at SSC....that is, if you really want to. ;)

I got some AWESOME lighting the day I took this photo, so I'm really pleased with how it turned out.
I felt like going a little retro with this card...the perfectionist in me is going crazy with how the paper isn't centered, and how the stamped frame isn't centered, but I'm just going to let go with this one...go a little wild. haha. ;)
Admittedly, I wasn't too wild about this paper pad at first, but it's grown on me, and now I love it (well...at least this particular pattern, anyways ;))

 Won the gorgeous stamps and die from 2S4Y - thanks SO much, girls! :)

Instructions: Cut patterned paper and adhere to pre-cut card base. Adhere strip of ribbon down patterned paper, roughing up the bottom end. Using die, cut out cream paper and stamp frame image and sentiment. Adhere to base, and top with roses.

I didn't have any other ribbon that matched the coral colored flowers in the paper except for this Dear Lizzy strip, and, since it looks kinda bunchy tied into a bow, I just used it straight - never done that before!

Thanks SO much for stopping in, and here's to another year of cardmaking goodness! ;)

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Hero Arts
Patterned paper: Sassafras "Indie Girl"
Stamps: MFS
Ink: Staz-on
Ribbon: Dear Lizzy, Websters Pages
Roses: Remembrance (Michaels)

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, MFS die, Cuttlebug, scissors

My Love

Hello!
Sorry for being a bad blogger. :( I'm sharing an old card with you, one I wasn't too happy with, but, wanted to post something on the blog. ;)

Instructions: Trim card base and cut out patterned papers. Adhere patterned papers to base. Cut a slim piece of yellow patterned paper, pleat, and cut ends ribbon-like. Attach this to base, and add sticker on top. Embellish sticker with two half pearls. Tie twine around base, and adhere flower to the center of the bow. Distress edges of card with ink.

Hm....not much else happening card-wise around here, although of course I'm up to my ears in everything else. I apologize for not getting around to all your blogs, but hopefully I'll get some more time this weekend. :)
Thanks SO much for dropping in! :)


PS; What do you do when you've lost your mojo? Look at sketches? Blog hop? I need to know, because I'm surrounded by tons of gorgeous product that are just gathering dust!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket "Everafter" and "Honeypie", October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"
Sticker: Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Colorbox
Flower: Remembrance (Michaels)
Half pearls: Remembrance
Other: twine

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, foam squares, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, scissors

Ribbony wishes

Hello there!

Just quickly popping in this card before I head off to Ohio to  spend the weekend with some friends. :)

Ribbon galore!

Instructions: Cut and score card base, and cut out patterned papers. Adhere striped patterned paper and half doily to base and distress. Make a frame using the pink and white die cuts, and adhere to base. Stamp image onto paper, and cut out using punch. Attach this to center of frame, and adhere gem to center of punch. Adhere half pearls to corners of frame. Tie two double bows, and adhere flowers to center.

Sorry, I couldn't make the photos any smaller on here without them being minuscule. ;)

That's it for the weekend - thanks so much for stopping in! :)


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Card recipe
Cardstock: Unknown
Patterned paper: Girls Paperie, Cosmo Cricket "Honey Pie"
Stamp: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages"
Ink: Colorbox, Martha Stewart
Jewels: Half pearls by Remembrance, gem by Prima
Ribbon: Offray
Roses: Remembrance

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, scissors, circle punch

Be happy

Hiya!
Thanks all for the sweet comments in the blog hop a few days ago! I wasn't able to visit everyone's blog, but the ones I did had some FABulous projects! Gotta love those HA gals and their amazing talent. :)

Today, sharing a quick little card I made, after a couple days of NO mojo...dang it, I hate those kind of days. :( But nothing like a big ol' load of HA product to cheer a cardmaker up! ;)

{this is an older picture, so it wasn't taken very well}

Instructions: Trim card base, and cut out patterned paper. Sew along border of patterned paper, and than stamp sentiment and image onto paper. Paper piece the image with blue patterned paper and yellow cardstock. Color in base of image with coloring pencil. Tie twine around sewn patterned paper, and attach button and half pearls. Adhere embellished piece of patterned paper to base using foam squares for dimension. Distress edges of base with ink.

I placed those pearls on the paper, trying to decide whether or not to use them, but when I finally decided not to, I couldn't get them off! So now I'm stuck with it....ah well.

Hope your hump day went well, and thanks so much for stopping in! :)

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: Girls Paperie
Stamps: Hero Arts "Be Happy"
Ink: Colorbox
Half pearls: Remembrance (Michaels)
Other: twine, coloring pencil, button

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, foam squares, sewing machine

Congratulations

Hey there! Long time no see! ;)

Still trying to get around to everybody's blogs (finally finished my assignment, so more free time!), and thought I'd share a quick, simple card with you today - made with SSC's first September card challenge! We're being sponsored by the fabulous Catherine Pooler, who is a SU! demonstrator, and will be giving away a nice goodie bag this month!

So now onto the card...


I added some beads to the pins for shine....

Instructions: Trim and score card base. Round right side corners. Cut out image and brown cardstock, adhere together, and than add to base. Add pearls beneath sentiment. Tie bow around base, and stick pins through. Add button, and then slightly sand edges of paper (or use a white ink pad).

Quick and easy. :)
Thanks for stopping in today, and I hope to stop in by your blogs soon! :)

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Image: Cosmo Cricket
Ribbon: Cosmo Cricket
Half pearls: Remembrance (Michaels)
Other: pins, button

Tools: trimmer, scissors, adhesive, sandpaper

Ninja

Hi there!

Well, I don't have a recent card to share with you today; instead, I would like to present my very first 12x12 layout!

I never jumped into the scrapbooking wagon before because my whole family and I are camera shy - finally, a contest finally pushed me to do it, so I grabbed a photo of a pup we used to have. Long story short, we thought the pup was going to grow to be a large black lab so the guys named him Ninja, only to find out a few months later he was part dachshund and was doomed to stay around 20 lbs. He was definitely not on the fierce side, which made his name very funny.

I'm not the best writer (though I am a grammar freak ;)), and I was in a hurry, so a few misspelled words here and there...oh well. ;)

So forgive the poor photos as this was my first time taking a picture of a layout - any photography tips from you scrapbookers out there?

Thanks for stopping in and for all the sweet, kind comments - they are SO appreciated! I hope to return the favor soon, but all is hectic at our house right now so I don't know when I'll have a chance....
Have a wonderful weekend :)

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Layout recipe
Patterned paper: Crate, K&Company
Stamp: Martha Stewart
Ink: Martha Stewart
Ribbon: American Crafts
Half pearls: Remembrance (Michaels)
Stickers: Crate
Other: pen

Tools: trimmer, scissors, adhesive

Thoughtful thinking

Hi there!

Yes, I did change the blog look again, but I'm pretty sure this ones a keeper...at least for a few months. ;)

Anyways, Simply Scrapping Crafts first Card Corner challenge is up, and the the challenge is to make a card using a frame - easy peasy with some Spellbinders dies.
Whipped this card up awhile ago, when the sewing machine was broken, so I had to all those little holes without a guide...nothin' but a little pin. ;)

And some pretty roses I got at Michaels...

Instructions: Trim and score card base. Cut yellow patterned paper out and faux stitch near borders with pin. Cut out blue patterned paper and brown cardstock using Nestabilities dies, and adhere blue paper on top of brown. Place image behind die cuts using foam squares. Adhere to base. Stamp sentiment and cut out, than adhere to die cuts. Add half pearls and flowers.

My sister would like to thank you all for the sweet comments yesterday, and I'm to let you know she will be adding some toys to the Etsy shop sometime soon, but I don't know when exactly. :)

Thanks for stopping in and enjoy your weekend!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket "Everafter", October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"
Image: Cosmo Cricket
Stamp: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages"
Ink: Colorbox
Half pearls: Remembrance
Flowers: Remembrance (Michaels)

Tools: trimmer, scissors, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, pin, adhesive, foam squares

Thinking pretty

Hi there!

Thanks for all the kind, encouraging comments yesterday - you know us bloggers, we depend upon them! ;)

Today, I have another 2 Sketches 4 You card - more sewing! Not quite as crazy though. ;) Finally got some of the highly praised Girls Paperie paper, and on MAJOR discount, thanks to my friend Judy. 

I always liked frame stamps, but my budget doesn't really allow for them, so I made my own...

Instructions: Trim and score card base, and cut out patterned papers. Sew papers to base. Cut out white die using Nestabilties, stamp grid image, and lightly distress with ink. Stamp sentiment onto die. Stamp butterfly image onto reverse of polka dot paper and cut out. Adhere half pearls to centers and than attach to die. Cut out green die, distress, and adhere embellished white die on top. Adhere this to base. Tie bow twice and adhere flower - stick pin through bow. Distress edges of card with ink.

With the card deets out of the way, how do you like the new blog look? I'll have to update the banner, but I just had to use this background template. Plus, I haven't done anything with my blog in a long time, and I was getting bored. ;)

Thanks for popping in - have a great day!

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Card recipe
Cardstock: Bazzil
Patterned paper: Girls Paperie, Michaels
Stamps: Hero Arts "Thinking of You messages" and Grid stamp, Martha Stewart
Ink: Colorbox
Ribbon: Hand-dyed; available HERE
Rose: Remembrance (Michaels)
Half pearls: Remembrance (Michaels)
Other: pin, thread

Tools: trimmer, adhesive, foam squares, sewing machine, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities