The Stamps Of Life Limited Edition set!

Hello!  The Stamps Of Life just released a Limited Edition Halloween set called Web4you!  It is super cute and when they're gone...they're gone forever!  This set goes perfectly with the Spooky2scare club set for this month!  Both of the larger sentiments on the cards I made are from Spooky2scare.  Make sure you check it out!  Club member price is $7.95 and regular price is $9.45. 

Fall for Fall at Paper Maniac!

Stamps:  Imaginisce Apple Cider Snag Em Raccoon

Paper:  Imaginisce Apple Cider, Soft Suede CS

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Copic Markers, May Arts Burlap String in brown, Nestabilities Labels 15, vintage button

Hello!  Today I made a fall inspired card with some wonderful imaginisce paper and stamps!  I just fell in love with this little raccoon image!  I will probably be sending this one to my parents, as they have lots of little raccoon families that visit them all year long.  

To make my card stand up right, I had to cut the little point of off the bottom.  Remember...so that you don't have a fold at the top of your shaped cards, simply score 1/4 of the way down from the top of the back shape.  Apply strong adhesive and your card will open and close beautifully without that fold!  See below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

The Stamps Of Life-Flower2doodle

Hello!  Today I have two cards using The Stamps Of Life set, Flower2doodle.  This is a great set to have for all occasion cards.  It also matches several other TSOL sets, including Back2basics, all4moms, and icons4us.  LOVE that they match with previous sets!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop-Victorian Christmas

Hello!  Monday means time for another Hippity Hop!  Today I made a card using some fabulous patterned paper from Memory Box's Mistletoe collection.  I stamped a sentiment from the ippity set, Season of Joy using my Martha Stewart glue pad.  I then sprinkled some NST Copper micro glitter from PK Glitz over the sentiment.  I used my tombow glue pen to outline some of the foliage on the patterned paper and sprinkled the same micro glitter on that too.  I topped it off with a brown satin ribbon treatment.
You can purchase this lovely  Memory Box DP from Paper Maniac along with several other Memory Box collections.  You also need to know that Paper Maniac is offering 20% off everything fall related!  You can find everything in one category that is on sale for fall HERE.  You will find items from your favorite companies including Sasafrass Lass, Memory Box, Girls Paperie, My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey and imaginisce too name a few!  This sale will last through September 30th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC107-Indigo Twin

For my card this week I used stamps from The Stamps Of Life set, Thanks2Fall.  I stamped my pumpkin onto acetate with black Staz on ink.  I used glossy accents to cover the image and then sprinkled micro glitter from PK Glitz in Mandarin and Clover.  I adhered the acetate square to an off white square of CS with brads after the glitter and glue dried.

Hello!  It is time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge!  This week our shop is Indigo Twin.  I LOVE the folk art look of their sculptures!  Tons of cuter than cute Halloween decor!

Our sponsor this week is Black Leaf Studio.  Cute stuff!
We hope you can play along!  Make sure that you upload your project to the EIC blog HERE.  Ashley will pick random winners next Friday!  The prizes this week are THIS adorable cupcake set from Indigo Twin. LOVE this!  The prize from Black Leaf is THIS flip flop clip art.  Two chances to win this week, so get busy!  Can't wait to see what you make!

Emily

FWF-Happily Ever After

Hello! Happy Friday!  Today I have a card using the July 2010 KOTM.  I paper pieced the birdies and added some bling flourishes.  I used this week's color challenge on SCS-wild wasabi, baja breeze, and cajun craze.  The DP is from My Mind's Eye Home collection. 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  It is supposed to start cooling down FINALLY around here tomorrow.  I am totally ready for jeans and sweater weather!

Emily

Quickie CAS-No stamping card!

Here is a quickie CAS card.  I love to use borders and journaling boxes from patterned paper to create quick and simple cards.  I used paper from Cosmo Cricket's DeLovely collection for this one.  One border + one journal box + bakers twine = CAS Card!!!!!  No stamping necessary!

I will be back tomorrow with some Unity goodness for ya!

Emily

My FAVORITE Halloween paper this year!

Hello!  This year, my absolute FAVORITE Halloween paper is Echo Park's Happy Halloween collection.  LOVE it!  I purchased the paper kit at Paper Maniac (on sale for $10.07), and have had so much fun using the paper, alpha's and adhesive die-cuts.  The first card uses a journal box and some of the tiny alphas to spell out the "trick or treat".  I cut strips of DP to make the three spider web border strips behind the main image.

The second card uses the adhesive die-cuts on a cardstock base.  I doodled a border around the edge and cut the circle out of some of the DP and doodled around that, too.

I really love buying kits, especially for holidays.  There is always plenty of stuff for every kind of project, big or small!

Paper Maniac is having a sale on all fall products-20% off!  HERE is a link to all of the fall goodies!

Emily

I {heart} Fall!

Hello!  Fall is by far, my favorite season.  LOVE. IT.  Unfortunately, we are supposed to have 3 days this week reaching 90 degrees, so fall is not quite here yet!  I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival, along with all of the fun festivals, food and smells that go along with it!

I made this card with stamps from The Stamps Of Life set, trees2build.  This was August's club kit, however, you can still purchase it if you missed out!  I love this set because you can make cards for ALL seasons!  Here are a couple Christmas themed cards I previously posted on my blog using this set:

Have a fabulous day!

Emily

Hippity Hop-Fall Bouquet!

Hello!  Happy H{ippity} Hop!  I made this card for last week's ippity challenge to use the colors red, green and yellow!  I am super happy with the way this turned out.  I LOVE that flower pot stamp.  So many possibilities!  I used my markers to ink it up in different colors and blend the inks together.  The DP is from Making Memories Autumn Splendor.  I HAD to have it last year and never even opened until I made this card!  How nuts is that?  I am glad I rediscovered it because it was perfect for this challenge!

If you would like to add some ippity to your collection, you can browse my ippity page HERE.  Don't see what you are looking for?  Just email me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

The Stamps Of Life-Exciting News!

Hello!  The three cards above are all made with the new set from The Stamps Of Life, calendar2build.  This set is perfect for not only cardmaking, but also for making those neat little calendars for gift giving around the holidays!  I made three very different cards using this set.  LOTS of possibilities!  The last one is an anniversary card for my hubby (in January).  I made a calendar from January 1999, and stamped a red heart over the ninth, which is our anniversary.  How cool is that?  I covered a red heart in micro glitter from PK Glitz.

To see all of the amazing things you can do with this calendar set, you will want to check out Stephanie's video HERE on her blog! (the second video is the one with all of the details about calendar2build!)

Want to hear my exciting news?  I have been asked to be a regular design team member for The Stamps Of Life!!!!! EEEEEEK!  Super excited!  I have had so much fun the past few months as a guest designer, and I was over the moon when Stephanie asked me to stay on! Still pinching myself!

Have a fabulous day!

Emily

EIC106-Pegasus Maiden

Hello! Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge (EIC)!  This week the shop for you inspiration is Pegasus Maiden.  They have some very eclectic and unique hair accessories for you inspiration this week!  I chose this butterfly headband for my inspiration piece.  My card uses a butterfly transparency from PK Glitz along with some of their micro glitter in silver and blueberry.  You add clear glue to the back of your transparency image and then pour the glitter where you want!  I LOVE this  look! I learned how to do this in their booth at CKC.  The sentiment is from The Stamps Of Life set, Thanks2you.

Our sponsor this week is Schlosser Designs.  They have some super cute stamps!  In case you don't know the drill....upload your project on the EIC blog HERE.  Ashley will pick random winners from the entries next Friday.  This week one person will win THIS hair accessory from Pegasus Maiden, and someone else will win two stamps of their choice from Schlosser Designs.

Hope you are inspired to make something BEAUTIFUL!

Emily

FWF-Trees of Many Thanks!

Hello!  Happy Friday!  I used a stamp from the August KOTM (Thanks, Steph!) and my sentiment is from the ippity set, Bitty Pixie Paisley.  I used some Cosmo Cricket Togetherness DP.  I sponged distress inks on the edges of all of my paper and paper pieced the tree tops.  I made this for this week's color challenge on SCS-Always Artichoke, Blushing Bride, and Marina Mist.  This Cosmo paper works great for that combo!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Emily

Here are some more CKC cards!

Hello!  Here a couple of cards I made in one of my CKC classes (not my design).  I love the clean and simple look of these cards.  It was so funny because the four ladies sitting in front of us at this class were fighting over the die cut machine!!!!!  I am not joking...they were so hateful and nasty that even the instructor was rolling her eyes at them!  My friends and I were in disbelief!  Definitely wouldn't want to go to an all night crop with them!

Hope you have a fabulous day!

Emily

Paper Maniac and Suzi Blu by Unity!

Stamps:  Love Yourself-Unity Suzi Blu

Paper:  Kraft CS, Neenah Classic Crest CS, Crate Paper Restoration collection

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  hand dyed seam binding, vintage button, Copic Markers, Creative Inspirations paint in sea foam

Hello!  Today I made a card with a Suzi Blue stamp by Unity.  I actually painted her dress with Creative inspirations paint in sea foam.  This was my first time using it and I will definitely be adding more colors to my collection.  A little goes a long way and it has this fabulous shimmer that unfortunately, I could not capture with my camera!  Paper Maniac has them in several colors!  I just used a tiny paint brush and voila!  It dries pretty fast too, which is a bonus since I am NOT PATIENT! LOL!

Paper Maniac has just restocked all of the UNITY stamps AGAIN!  They are flying off the shelves like hot cakes and also the new BASIC GREY is here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Quickie CAS-The Raven...

                   The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more." 

I LOVE Halloween and the festivities and decor that go along with it.  I also am a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe, so I  am pretty excited that raven's are all the rage this year.  I am working on a banner that includes some raven's for my fireplace this year.  

Here is another Quickie CAS tip:  Don't be afraid to use patterned paper on your CAS cards.  I usually try to stick to one pattern and keep it simple.  In this case, I used one tiny strip of BG's Eerie on the left side of my card.  It doesn't detract from the focal point which is the raven image, but it draws the eye in and helps to balance out the card.  The raven image is Inkadinkadoo-found it in the dollar bin at JoAnn's! :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Emily

H{ippity} Hop-A Little Buggy!

Happy Monday!  Today I made a little set of gift cards using A Little Buggy set.  I paper pieced the bugs with paper from My Mind's Eye Home collection.  I doodled borders around the perimeter of the bases.  I added some teeny tiny bling for the eyes and used some copic markers for shadowing under and around my bugs!
I have one of these A Little Buggy sets in stock, so let me know if you NEED to add it or any other ippity to your collection!

Have a great day!

Emily

Back from CKC!

Hello!  I am back from a fun filled weekend at CKC in Cincinnati!  I only live 30 minutes from downtown Cincy, but I stayed downtown with my girlfriends and had some fun "girl" time!  Shopping, going out to eat, and paper crafts couldn't make a girl happier! LOL!
This was the first year that CKC has come to Cincinnati, so it wasn't HUGE.  Everyone says that each year it will get bigger and better with tons more vendors.  Here are just some of my tips, if you are planning on going.

1.  Only take classes offered by the folks who actually work for CKC.  Two of my classes were AWESOME!  The other two were very dated and used paper and product that was like 4 to 5 years old. 

2.  There is a vendor who sells pretty much nothing but bling-for 99 cents a package!  I am not talking little packages but HUGE packages of bling!  I stocked up big time.  The name of her company is Want2scrap.  She told me she goes to almost all of the CKC shows.

3.  Another vendor who hits most of the shows-PK Glitz.  I received a bunch of glitter from them to use on one of my stamp design teams.  I have never really known what to do with glitter, so I used it the way I was taught years ago.  I had the pleasure of meeting Jim and Janelle Marshall, the owners and they were sweet as pie!  They both demonstrated AMAZING techniques for using their glitter products.  I was completely WOWed and excited to use some more of their products at home!  You have to check them out!

4.  Take advantage of all of the freebies and prize drawings.  We all walked away with some kind of freebie or prize (several, in fact).  Also, a lot of the classes will offer free kits just for signing up.

I will be back tomorrow with a card or two for you, but for now I will show you a little Halloween mini book I made at a make and take.  I believe the chipboard book is Maya Road.  The papers were pre-cut but they are from a wide variety of wonderful companies.  I decorated with buttons, bling and punches.  Now I just have to add some photos of the boys!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC105-Handmade Whimzy

Hello!  Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge.  This week our Etsy shop for your inspiration is Handmade Whimzy.  They have some beautiful jewelry, hair piece and whimsical aprons in their shop.  I chose the above necklace and hair rosettes for my inspiration.  My card uses stamps from The Stamps Of Life set, flower2doodle.  This is a new release and so much fun to stamp with!

Our sponsor this week is Craft Burlee.  They are an online craft boutique from the United Kingdom.  This week there are two chances at prizes.  The first prize offered by Handmade Whimzy is a lavender and chamomile eye pillow.  The second prize is a $10 gift voucher to Craft Burlee.  Two random winners will be chosen from the uploaded entries next Friday.

Make sure you use keyword EIC105 when uploading to online galleries.  Also make sure that you link your project to the EIC blog HERE.  Now go get crafty and make something fun!

Emily

Paper Maniac Birthday Blog Hop!

 Paper:  kraft CS; Neenah Solar White CS; Melissa Frances Kitschy Kitchen collection

Ink:  Ranger distress ink in Old Paper

Accessories:  Melissa Frances Kitschy Kitchen die cut stickers; buttons, adhesive lace, bakers twine

Tim Holtz On The Edge Die-Ornate

Hello!  Welcome to Paper Maniac's 1st Birthday Blog Hop!  If you are just getting started, you will want to start at the Paper Maniac Blog so you don't miss anything!  You should be arriving from Rachel's blog if you have been hopping along with us!  Make sure you hop all the way through for a chance at some FABULOUS prizes.  A list of prizes and descriptions will be your last stop of the hop!  Plenty of chances for winning!

Most of the projects on the hop today will have a "celebration" type of theme.  When I want to celebrate, with family and friends, good food is usually involved!  I made this tri-fold recipe card holder with some fabulous Melissa Frances Kitschy Kitchen products.  I know I always enjoy getting new recipes, so I thought this would be a great little gift to give to our new neighbors who are moving in this coming week.  I will write down the recipes of the foods I will be preparing for them and present it in a brown lunch bag with the matching tag tied to the top!

Your next stop on the hop is CASSIE! Hope you have fun hopping with us today!

Emily

Witchy Pumpkin!

Hello!  Today I have another card using some stamps from The Stamps Of Life!  I used the new club release set, spooky2scare and a set from last year called Thanks2Fall.  Love how you can mix TSOL sets together so beautifully!  I paper pieced the pumpkin with some Memorybox DP called blackbird.  I added the hat, stamped in black and the boo sentiment.  I doodled a border around the main image and added some gingham ribbon at the top.

If you become a club member you will get a fabulous stamp set delivered to your door the beginning of every month for 11.95!  That INCLUDES shipping!  Even if you don't want to commit to the club, you can still order the stamp sets.  Shipping is only $1 per set.  TSOL also releases several other sets throughout the month that you can purchase.  I will have some peeks of the new sets starting on Saturday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Vintage Tag...

Ink:  Distress inks in old paper and walnut stain

Paper:  Melissa Francis Kitschy Kitchen (blue covering tag)

Accessories:  Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps-Altered Fairies; Creative Tags by paper reflections; jump rings; beads;Rock Candy stickles (on stars); ribbon; star punch

I love making tags to go on the outside of gift bags.  I think a vintage looking tag looks great hanging down from the handles of a kraft bag.  Paper Maniac has everything you need to get started, if you would like to try some tags.  Tags are inexpensive to make, and lots of fun!  I love the Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps line.  They have so many cool vintage images that are easy to cut out and glue down on your altered projects.  I started out covering my tag with some DP from Melissa Francis.  I inked the edges with my distress inks, and then added my cut out images.  I punched some little stars to go along with my moon, and added some stickles.  

At the bottom of my tag, I punched some holes and then looped my jump rings through.  I then added a crystal bead to each ring.  You can tie some ribbon or twine at the top of your tag.  I used hand dyed seam binding and crochet thread.

I hope I have inspired you to try making some tags!  Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Hello!  Here is a CAS card I made last week that never made it to my blog!  The stamps are an old set from H&M stamps.  I colored it with copics and prisma pencils. 
Thanks for taking a peek!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop and embellish square color challenge!

Hello all of you lover's of ippity!  Today I made a Halloween card using the embellish squares color challenge.  I used the witch's hat from That's Creepy set.  This set is perfect for cards and scrapbook layouts! Love it!  I added some purple glitter around my background squares and on the band around the witch's hat.  I doodled a border around the main panel.  I finished it off with some black gingham ribbon and some paper pleating.

If you would like to buy some ippity stamps from me, click HERE!

Thanks for looking!

Emily

Trick Or Treat with The Stamps Of Life!

Hello!  Here is another cute little Halloween card, I made with the new The Stamps Of Life club set, spooky2scare!  I stamped my spiders on some paper from Little Yellow Bicycles Booville collection.  I matted it with some black CS and then doodled around my classic flax card base.  Couldn't resist stamping one more little spider down in the corner. 
Make sure you check out the fabulous benefits of being a club member for The Stamps Of Life!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC104-Inspired by Glamasaurus!

Hi! Welcome to another Etsy Inspired Challenge!  This week our store for your inspiration is Glamasaurus!  They have some very cute and quirky jewelry pieces to get your creative juices flowing. My card was inspired by the pink and blue flowers on these bobby pins.  The stamped sentiment is from The Stamps Of Life set, Youare2kind.

Our sponsor this week is Tiffany Doodles.  If you are into digi images, they have some adorable images for you!  Remember to use keyword EIC104 when uploading to galleries.  You also need to link your project to the EIC blog HERE.  There will be four prizes this week.  A $20.00 gift certificate to Glamasaurus and Tiffany Doodles will be giving out three...first place-5 free digis, second place-3 free digis, third place-2 free digis.  Ashley will pick random winners next Friday!

Go get crafty and upload those projects!

Emily