Did you feel the ground shake

yesterday? LOL!!! The card below was the cause of that. I was doing the happy dance...lol...I really don't know how to make simple cute cards (let alone, stamped) and that's how this one turned out... simple and cute..well at least I think so. I soo resisted the urge of inking the edges so much as to, I had to walk away everytime I went to grab my ink pad to ink the edges. I soo love vintage, but I am trying to venture out abit from my norm. Not to mention using these very cute and adorable stamps that I have been collecting over the years and not using. So what do you all think. It's a card for my sister in law's birthday this coming weekend. I added some pop dots under the owl and the circle saying and some glitter to give it jsut a little touch of added depth. The box set below is for (I think) my Mother in Law for Mother's Day. I used a template for this from Split Coast Stampers. And once again stamped..I am starting to get the hang of this stamping stuff. And now I"m seeing why all you stampers love them sooooooo much....I cut the flowers from Storybook Cricut cartridge (hibiscus--pg 46--- 4 1/2" ). I inked them up using Distress inks, stamped Tim Holtz' letter stamp onto it. Stamped the center flowers using See Dee's stamps and added some flower soft to the top layer. I think these turned out to be just a simple set of note cards. I think she will like them. She's always sending notes in the mail...

inks I used were old paper, worn lipstick and broken china.

Well that's it for today. Off to make another set of something. I have 3 Mom's that I need to have something ready for.

Oh, if you get a chance, over at Bitten By the Bug, the DT is having a blog hop today. So hop on over and check out all of their designs they are sharing. I think it starts at Regina's blog, Hand to Paper .

Have a Happy Monday everyone.....hugs from a very sunny and pretty Charm City

Blog Hop Anyone

Happy Saturday everyone. I want to invite everyone along with my first blog hop. A bunch of us from over at Outta This Funk is participating on this blog hop. Come and join in on the fun and check out some of the most awesom creations that these ladies make. Believe me, you will be so inspired.

Here is my creation that I made for this hop. I made a card set and box for our lovely Aunt Rene for her 92nd birthday. I know it says Happy Mom Day on the lid, but I'm going to change that. I used the template (Valentine's Box) that I purchased from Becky Roberts over at Inking Idaho and converted it for my 5x7 cards. I wanted to use the bigger cards for Aunt Rene to make it easier for her. I also made the lid so it wasn't such a snug fit and easier for her to just lay it atop of the box.

I do have to say that I am so pround of myself though. I'm not much of a stamper, but I used all stamps on this project. Not to mention all cardstock. I colored them in with the different colors of Tim Holtz Distress inks for each card. The inside compartment I'm going to add a few stamps and some little candies.

Here's how it turned out..

Box and 6 cards

the inside with a little side compartment

I used worn lipstick ink

spiced marmalade ink

I used Archival Ink on this one instead. Aqua

dusty concord

fired brick

peeled paint

I also wanted to keep them on the simple side. But I really love how this turned out. And I just hope that she will too. The stamps I used are from Tim Holtz and Inkadinkado.

Now I'm sending you over to

Ashjoy

http://1ashjoy.blogspot.com/

We Would love to know that you stopped in, if you could leave a message that would be wonderful. Thank you so much for blog hopping with us today.

Hugs from a very sweet Charm City

Hellooooooooooo

It's been awhile since my last post. Things have been crazy since I lost my job a month back. I wanted to share a few things that I have worked on these past few days. Our daughter's baby shower is coming up real fast and I wanted to make a little set to put something inside it for her. I don't know what yet, but I'll find something...

If you get a chance pop on over the the Hallmark Ladybug blog and check out the easter bags that DeeDee just posted yesterday. They are awesom, cute and jsut too adorable...

here's what I have been working on...hope you like them....

I used the tags bags and boxes, paper dolls and my community cricut carts, cuttlebug embossing folders on the treeglossy accents, stickles and some distress crackle paints on the number 4 from Tim Holtz' grungeboard. You can purchase all of these in the store at Hallmark Scrapbook. Take a gander over to the store and check out all of the new things and the deals that are still going on. You totally won't be surprised.

You can click on the photos to get a better view.

here's a layout of our little one and her adopted sister (friend)...I used the grungeboard and distress crackle painted from the store. I don't know about you, but I just love this stuff. If you don't have any of this yet, you need to have this in your supplies. It's so fun and easy to add dimention to your cards or projects. You can get these in the store also...

here's a layout of a day trip we took down to the beach to help celebrate Dad's 70th birthday. I used the Sesame Street cricut cart for the crab. Used some washers that I purchased in the hardware store and aged them with some chemicals. I made a border around the layout using the MArtha Stewart doily punch and used tea dyed material through the holes that I punched out with the Bind it all machine. I also tea dyed the 2 tags and used alot of Distress inks to age the layout.

here's a card I made for a challenge over on the message board at Hallmark Scrapbook. I had asked everyone to use the border flower cut from Walk in my Garden to make a card for Mom. Hallmark Scrapbook is having a sale on Cricut carts still. Pop on over and check them out if you're looking for some new ones. Or you can pre-order the new carts that will be in later sometime.

I wanted to make a new piece of art for my studio and this was what I came up with. I was playing around with the negatives from a few cuts for the background and to make the letter "L". I used polymer clay added it to the negative to make the letter and then I used the Sizzix clear stamps to impress into the clay before I baked it. Then I used bown, black paint watered down to give it an aged look. The background I used the possitives then inked the sheet using the Distress inks, then took the sheet of negative and added the swirls Sizzix clear stamps and stamped inside the scrolls. I think it's missing something, but I just can't put my finger on what I need to add yet...

Well I hope everyone has had a great month...Hugs from Charm City

Is it Me

or does anyone else make happy things when life throws you a curve? This past week has been such a rollercoaster here. So I made this cute little set for our little ones friend for her birthday yesterday. It just brought a smile to my face (not to mention our little one loved it too..).

I used the Sesame Street Cricut cartridge for the frog and Celebrations cart for the balloon. You know the Cricut carts are on sale right now over at Hallmark Scrapbook . Pop on over and check them out. You won't be disappointed. I also used Ranger's Stickles that you can purchase in the store. Inside the box I added a stuffed frog that holds gift cards...Isn't that frof just the cuttest? It made me happy happy to use her....lol...

This litte card I made with the inspiration from Bunnylover over at Hallmark Scrapbook . She's been sharing her cute cards using clipart. Go and check out her gallery.

I used the cute little raggedy doll I purchased along time ago from Scrappin Doodles. They make the cutest little country clipart. Not to mention they are hiring. They are looking for someone to write tutorials using their clipart. So if you think you might be interrested, pop on over and read the details. Good luck if you try out. It seems like an awesom deal too...

I printed out raggedy's onto one piece of cardstock. And then I just cut each one into different layers. The second photo shows a little more. I also used the Zooballo (grass and tree) and Storybook (marque) Cricut cartridges that you can purchase at Hallmark Scrapbook.

Well that's it for today...Have a great week ahead.

Hugs from Charm City

GO STEELERS!!!!!!! Super Bowl here we come

lol...I just had to throw that in there...I am soo happy that they beat the Ravens in yesterday's game. Although I live here in Maryland, I still love my all time favoriet STEELERS!!! So wish them luck. Even if you're not a Steelers fan, come on show them a little "love"...my husband has lately. But I think that's only because his Cowboys didn't make it and he truly does not like the Ravens...lol...

Other than that, how's everyone been doing lately? Me, just abit busy here and trying to work on some cards and such lately. I finally was able to get some photos taken of them and thought I'd share them with you all.

These projects I made using my Pazzles machine. I've had this machine for awhile now and have put it on the back burner. I thought it was so complicated and just didn't have the time to figure it out with the holidays and my computer crashing on me. So with alittle inspiration from Jody (over at Hallmark Scrapbook) I got it out and have been playing. It's a great machine and can do so much more than the Cricut can. Although I love love love my big E, this machine might become one of my new favorites once I get to know all of the functions. Regina has made so many tutorials over at Hallmark Ladybug Blog....stop on over and check out all that she has shared with us. And while you're at it check out the rest of the Ladybugs tutorials...they have some awesom ones that they have all shared...and from there check out the store at Hallmark Scrapbook .....they are running a sale, and if you see at the top of the page, there no payment for 90 days. But you need to check into that too. So if you're interested in purchasing the Pazzles machine, this would be a great time to do it. With income tax money coming back soon and all...and it's easier than I thought

So here's what I made using the Pazzles machine and the paper piecing animals, paper piecing children and the bags and boxes cd's.

above used the paper piecing animals cd

above were made using the clipart that came with the Pazzles software. (Mouth and photo corners)

(above) this was the paper piecing children cd and the bags and boxes. It's an envie made into a box. All of the different ones that come on the cd are awesom. I can't wait to get to play even more with them. I have another project finished, but you'll have to wait til this week. Sorry..

Here's a little set above I made for the challenge on the Hallmark Scrapbook message board. We were asked to use a kitty or a doggie cut from any of the Cricut carts. Come and have some fun and play along with us. We would love to see you there.

Almost all of the papers used on the above projects I purchased them from Ustamp4Fun. They are the Stampin Up's Love kit. And let me tell you, the papers are to die for. Have you ever had so much inspiration from a set of papers before? I just couldn't stop. These papers were just talking to me....lol....not to mention, stamps and punches. I have never purchased a kit before, so this was my first. And I used my little Tim Holtz paper distresser for all of the edges of the projects. Love love that little tool...

here's a little card playing around with a digi kit that I downloaded from the internet. I am so sorry that I can't remember who's kit it is, so I can give proper credit....sorry.... I also used mica to cover the vintage image alittle.

and last but not least, here's a little card playing around with the Wild Card Cricut cart. It's such a fun one and I can't wait to play alittle more. I did a backwards stitch with some silky ribbon to outline the heart, embossed the inner heart and the card with the Cuttlebug embossing plates, crackle paint and grungeboard (number 4) and added pop dots to the backside of the inner heart to give it some heigth...

Well that's it for this posting. If you've made it this far, thanks so much for hangin out with me.... I hope that everyone has a great week ahead and remember to SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE STEELERS!!!!! YAH!!!! GO STEELERS!!!! lol...

Hugs from a very chilly Charm City

Happy New Year

I know, I'm a little late, but better late than never....*smile*...sorry, this post is going to be a long one...

I was so surprised and very honored to see that I received 2 awards from 2 amazing ladies Tammy and Donna...this is my first to receive any awards, so I hope I do it right..... here's a link to their blogs...pop on over and check out all of their amazing creations that they make...they both are soo wonderfully tallented.

Tammy's blog---- Tammy's Place

Donna's Blog--- Popsicle Toes

Thank you ladies for such a great way to start my new year.... you both are just amazing and sweet to think of me...

The rules are to List 5 addictions and List 5 of your favorite bloggers...these are just soo hard to choose from...I have so many addictions and soooo many favorite bloggers....

My 5 addictions are:

1/ I am soo addicted to coffee first thing in the morning (mentioning that I don't like the taste of it)

2/ I am addicted to all things vintage

3/ chocolate ( but that goes without saying, right ladies)

4/ I am addicted to planning my day/time ( must stem from being a planner at my previous job)

5/ chicken wings (but only if I have blue cheese and celery to go along with them)

My 5 Favorite Bloggers (now this was just so hard to choose..a few that aren't posted have already received this award, so I thought I'd choose someone that hasn't received this yet)

1/ Tracy--- Scrap Happens

2/ Paper Tales

3/ Ingvild Bolme-- My Paper Art

4/Danielle Flanders-- Homespun with Heart

5/ Jana Eubank-- From my Feathered Nest

On another note, things here at our house have been so out of schedule. Our little niece is here for the week, and we have just been so busy at being LAZY....I totally exhausted myself this past month, that I took this week off and only did the bare min's that needed to be done. Which included not a damn thing...lol....(other than feeding everyone, dishes, laundry, you know, the everyday kind of things)..didn't even do much here on the computer...go figure....

the photo below is the only present I had asked Santa to bring me this year...and to my surprise, I got it...it's a light box so I can learn how to take better photos of my cards and such...so I need to really do some reading on lighting and camera angles to fully get the whole advantage of it.....Thank you Santa, I know you're going to read this....I Love You...

These photos are bags and cards that I made for my family this year...I know they truly don't understand the concept of homemade things, but I still wanted to make something anyways, seeings how we just did gift cards and a little something to fit inside these little lunch bag gift sets...

this is a set of cards that didn't make it to the mail. So I have a start on next years cards...lol...

And here is what part of my kitchen looked like this year...mind you, I ran out of time to fully finish it, but at least I have a start for next year...these curtains are my $5.oo curtains I made for 3 windows in our kitchen and mud room. Just a simple stitch on the machine, added some crumpled up newspaper to the inside to give them a poof, some white and beaded snowmen doohickies and added a little dollar craft store ornament in the center...

here's the little candy section...I am such a dork, I forgot to remove the tag from my little chef dude...lol..the snowball in the corner lights up and I have it sitting on top of a piece of glass to reflect the light..I'll work on this little corner for next year too...and there's my little people that was on an HGTV Holiday special on t.v. this year...woohoo....I'm still amazed at that one....

this is my lighted boa wreath that I made a couple years back. This year I added all of the embellishements...the Christmas bulbs are actually Dale Earnhardt bulbs. They belong to DH and I thought it would be fun to bring a little NASCAR into the play...

Ok, this was my centerpiece for this year. Normally I buy a real centerpiece with candles and such, but this year I wanted to make something. So I had seen on an HGTV show where they used tree branches and hung ornaments. Well this is what I came up with. Spray painted the branches with white paint and hot glued white, red and silver ornaments (fishing line) onto the branches so they wouldn't fall off...I ran out of time, so it was a project that really didn't get the look I was hoping for. But over all, I liked it. And DH was telling the ladies at work about this, and I think a couple of them did the same thing for their holiday decorations. How funny is that. After all DH made fun of me that I had a tree inside on our table....what does he know.

The other photos are others that I took of things around our house.

these two little figures I painted about 10 years ago. Can you tell we love Nascar...lol...I have more pieces that I really need to get out and paint for more scene pieces that go on top of our center, but I just haven't gotten around to it...and normally I used the pillow stuffing for the ground with white lights underneath it, but this year I opted to use that snow blanket for the ground of the little city scene on top of the center...I didn't care for it, so next year it's back to the lights...

this is our SAD tree this year. I wanted a small one. Well that's what I got. REALLY SMALL but cute...I think...

Well, That's it for this post. I hope that it won't be so long til my next post. I do hope that we get things back on schedule here so I can play some more...

I do want to do a HUGE shout to the Hallmark Ladybug's, Jody and Brad for such a wonderful year of working with everyone. I've had so much fun and look forward to another year. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your team Jody and Brad. You both are just amazing and sweet...

Go and pop over and check out their site and store. They have a wonderful sale going on. Not to mention they have those Distress Crackle paints in stock...I just ordered 7 of these in different colors...and the sale on the Cricut Cartridges...soo run, don't walk...I see they are still offerening 90 days same as cash...check into that...get some new years goodies...

Here's the link to the site...

Hallmark Scrapbook

And if you haven't seen the new tutorial from the Hallmark Ladybug blog, you have got to run over there too....DeeDee has posted this awesom video on going green with envies that you get in your mail...what an awesom idea girl....you are just amazing at everything you create...not to mention the other ladybugs...you all are just soo AMAZING and TALLENTED...check out their links and visit their blogs...you won't be dissappointed.

Hallmark Ladybug Blog

if you scroll down to the post just below DeeDee's, you'll see the one I just posted using the Krylon frosted and stained glass spray paints, on a Valentines Day clear card and matching vase set. Make sure you post a comment too...we love to know when you stop in...

Ok, here's a little set I made for our daughter that is having their first baby in May. I posted this on my last post as a little teaser. So without ado click on this link to see which bag I used....but you'll have to click on each photo and read the discription to see which one it was...

Boy or Girl?

Well that's it for today...And if you made it this far, thanks...I hope everyone has a wonderful new year....hope all of your dreams and asperations come true...

Hugs from a Frosty Charm City