Surprises are great!

Our former next door neighbors are "bunking" with us this week unexpectedly. Mike's Dad died and they flew up from Miami for the funeral. I have hustled around to get set up for them and I knew there was a reason my crafting/guestroom finally got cleaned up last week. They will be here until Monday so it will be great to spend time with them and also for them to see other friends since they have not been back to Michigan in 5 years. We are hoping to go to the cider mill on Saturday.Cider yum!
Happy crafting!

My friend

Gini is downsizing her stuff and gave me this great storage unit for my crafting area. I decided to fill it with my "go-to items". This way I won't have to go hunting for them as they get hidden in my crafting frenzy moments.I put my Cuttlebug boards right on top so I can condense the tool. I put all of my folders, and dies for it on the shelving unit together in a box. It started out that way but it didn't last long as I worked on projects.Here is my "new unit "all filled up.My Spellbinders are in a hanging basket next to it, easy to find quickly.
My next project is tackling the paper shelves. I know it will be easier to find the exact paper when it is properly sorted again but it isn't a fun job for me.
Happy crafting and thanks again Gini.

Guess Who!

I had the chance to work with the Cricut Storybook cartridge today. This cute owl was the result. It was cut at 4inches and using each of the layers, and scrap paper plus a sentiment from the Hampton Arts "Who loves You?"stamp set became a card. The base is from a set of pre-cut cards from Michael's in the Dollar section.It was inked around the edges with DI Stormy Sky. The owl was enhanced with Zig Markers,and attached to the card folder with Pop Dots to give him some room for his wings and is sitting on a freehand branch I crushed a little after cutting it out to give it a bark like feeling. This will be a Halloween card for some special little friends.
Happy crafting!

I have been

busy, busy. I had an order for sympathy cards so I have been working on that plus trying to finish up my reorganizing of my work area. I rediscovered the many sheets of designer papers that I have and really want to use up.I plan to bring some of them to our next paper crafting meeting at church to share with others.I have a new card posting to share tomorrow. Now since it is starting to turn to fall like weather, I will be able to spend more time with my card making instead of my gardening and other outside projects. I did get some needed work done this week like reworking the flower beds near the front door, which was on my to do list all summer long.
Hope you get to have some time for crafting this weekend too!

Pumpkins in the cornfield -part 2

The second card from the same set of stamps is this one.The sweet scarecrow and the tumbling leaves went so well together. I water colored the scarecrow after stamping with Memento sepia ink, and then edged the card using DI Pumice Stone .The ribbon is unknown but is so shimmery, and was just enough for this card. This is going off to a friend as a thinking of you card.
Happy Crafting!

While cleaning,

I rediscovered an uncut sheet set of stamps from Firecracker Designs by Pamela. I had picked up a few sets before she closed last year and was happy to find some new autumn stamps in my stash which didn't get ruined in our basement flood . They were in a plastic shoebox tucked away safely on my shelf where I kept my acrylic paint. I cut out just 2 of the stamps from the sheet but will certainly be making more cards with the other images soon.
The sentiment was stamped with Mementos Tuxedo Black, and the circle was edged with DI Antique Linen.The pumpkins were stamped on some shimmer scraps and Zig Markers were used for some embellishment. The ribbon is American Crafts Dk. Green. The plaid paper is unknown from the scrap box, and the edges were distressed with a scissor blade.The folder is Bazzill Brown.
Happy Crafting!

Make a Wish

I have been a cleaning whirlwind in my craft area this week in my spare time. It was a disaster and sorely needed attention. Now between this ,that and work, I finally had time to make some cards.
Today's card was made using Quic Kutz Santa's Workshop set of dies. I got it at a swap a while ago and tucked it safely away... and rediscovered it during cleaning. The set includes a variety of circles and other shapes. The card included a flower made using some Sizzix flower dies, and a shape pre-stamped with make a wish from a swap , it will be used as an emergency card for the autumn season. I had premade the flower and sprayed it with Glimmer Mist Sunflower for a hint of a shimmer. The background cardstock has torn edges using Coordinations paper. The folder is a Bazzill brown while the brad is from Making Memories. The twist ribbon is from Berwin Offray(after Christmas sale last year).Pull out those older items and have fun crafting!

Funky Fold Two

I made another card using the same technique and a stamp from the GinaK Design set (Warm & Cozy Christmas)which was colored with Zig Markers. After rereading my previous sketchy directions, I decided to instead send you right to the creator of the process at the end of my post today. Here is my card today. I like the punched snowflakes enhanced with Stickles to added to the card. The punch is a Mc Gill.The paper and ribbon are from the scrap box.My friend Gini asked me at our church coffee hour hour to replicate the card pattern for her,so I tried to demonstrate it with no tools like a a bone folder, cutter, ruler, glue stick, etc. It was a challenge but I think it was sure better than the partial directions I included in my last post. Here is the original site again:http://wickedwonderfulcreations.blogspot.com.
Happy Crafting!

Something unique

I found a new kind of funky folded card on wickedwonderfulcreations.blogspot.com. It used a piece of pattern paper 11"x11" folded in half on the diagonal. Next score on both sides of the triangle on the long sides at 3" and 5.5". Turn it 90 degrees and score it at the peak 3 1/2" on both sides of the triangle peak. Using a bone folder, press all of the score marks sharply. There will be an excess tiny triangle on each side of the peak flap, using scissor cut it off. Reopen the paper and using adhesive glue it together. Stamp a small image, color it and add it to the closure for the card formed by the small triangle on one end of the card. I know her directions are more detailed than mine so for more help check the site out . My image is from Unity(hello my friend).It was stamped in Mementos Tuxedo Black and colored with Zig Markers. A ribbon finishes the card . The sentiment is hidden inside. Hope you check out the site and try something different yourself.

Hi There

Pumpkins are turning up in the grocery stores , a sure sign that fall is on the way. I have been seeing costumes and the shelves and shelves of candies too for the visitors who will soon be touring the neighborhoods. I have some young friends to make cards for in the coming weeks but here is the first one. The card includes a cluster of vintage stamps, including a Stampendous small checked frame(I love the uneven frame -so perfect for Halloween time),a SU pumpkin from an old set, and the Hi There is from a Verve Set-Happy Hello. They were all stamped with Memories sepia and the image was colored with Zig markers. Diamond Stickles was added to give a little glow to the pumpkin , while the scrap of unknown ribbon tied it together.
Have a great weekend. I'm happy to have some time to work on some cards!