FWF-Super Sweet!

Happy Friday!  Today is a great day not only because it is Friday, but also, it is my hubby's birthday.  So glad he was born!!!
My card today uses stamps from an older store kit, called Super Sweet.  These two stamps had not seen ink yet (gasp)!  I paper pieced the lollipop with DP from echo park's Summer Days collection.  I stamped the sentiment in licorice ink by Stephanie Barnard (my new fav black ink) and added some rhinestones underneath to tie it all together.  Simple and sweet!  I don't know why I haven't used that sentiment before because I say "that's super sweet" A LOT! LOL!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Emily

Scary cute...

Hello!  Today's card uses papers from Sassafras Lass's Monstrosity collection.  I love the quirky little monsters and decided to pull this collection out for the sketch challenge on SCS.  The monster in the scallop circle is actually a die-cut from this line of papers.   I made a big loopy bow from some baker's twine to wrap around the bottom.

That is all for me today.  I am going to try to run a bazillion errands today and try to sneak in a little nap later.  I have not been sleeping well.  Don't really know why, but it is catching up with me!!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Emily

Tradefish Designs-'Tis The Season!

Hello!  It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner.  I wanted to share with you today, a card using a new release from Tradefish Designs called Sentiments of The Season.  I LOVE a good sentiment only set, and this one is a must have for the holidays!  I used papers from echo park's Merry Christmas line, along with some papers from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found collection.  I love making accordion flowers, but they are a bit bulky to mail.  During the holidays, many times I hand a card and gift to someone, so I love to use bigger embellishments for Christmas!
When you use bigger, more elaborate embellishments on a card, it is nice to have the perfect sentiment to stamp with it.  Sometimes that is all it needs!  I used some green burlap string to tie an antiqued jingle bell on.  You can get a closer look at this fab set below:

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

A Vintage Hello for the IC....

Hello!  Stephanie, the hostess extraordinaire of the Inspiration Challenge over on SCS, asked me to create a sample for this week's challenge.  I was completely blown away by this week's site-Creative Comforts Daily Inspiration.  Every day they pick a photo collage AND give you the colors underneath!  Perfect to get those creative juices flowing.  I have bookmarked this site and plan on visiting it often.
I recently picked up a 6x6 pad of My Mind's Eye Lost and Found for only $3.00!  The colors were perfect for my inspiration photo.  I made my rosette by sponging walnut stain ink on some white cardstock (a 1" x 8.5" strip).  I scored every 1/2".  I have found that a hot glue gun is the best to keep these things from coming apart.  My bow is made from some cream burlap string and I added a vintage button from my stash to the center.  The lacey border is actually a die cut from K&Company-their Handmade collection, I believe.  I distressed the edges of my paper and used distress inks to ink everything up.

Thanks for stopping by.  Make sure you check out this awesome site!  You will be blown away by the inspiration.  If you would like to play along with the IC challenge click HERE.

Treats For You!

Hi, there!  Today will be a great day to get some stamping done.  Cold and rainy here!  I am always looking at fun, quick and easy treat bag ideas.  I also like to make tags, as opposed to cards sometimes.  They are just cute, and little and take up less space! LOL!
All you need is a small, brown lunch bag.  I used an oval punch to punch the handle.  Decorate your tag anyway you like.  I chose to do a brayered/sponged sky for this one.  The stamps are from The Stamps Of Life set, solids4Halloween.  So many super cute silhouette images in this set.  I used some baker's twine from The Twinery to tie my tag to the bag handle.  I think these will be perfect for classroom party treat bags.  I also would like to try a regular size lunch sack and make treat bags to "Boo" our neighbors!  Does anyone else do that in their neighborhood?  Fun stuff.  I will try to make one of the larger bags up and show you that version soon!

Thanks for stopping by.  I cleaned out some of my kitchen cabinets yesterday. I am on a roll, baby!

Emily

More owls2love cards!

Hello! I wanted to share a few more cards made with the owls2love and moreowls2love stamp sets from The Stamps Of Life.  Both of these sets coordinate beautifully together!  And check it out...the branch on my second card is from the last month set, branches4flowers set!

What have I been up to besides card making?  Cleaning closets!  I know, I know...so much fun.  I have so far, de-cluttered the toy room by removing broken and unloved toys while boys are at school.  I also have removed three garbage bags of old clothes from my closet!  I probably could get rid of a couple more, but hey...baby steps, right?  Next stop-going through my boys closets and getting rid of those summer clothes that I know will not fit next year.  Organization and redecorating are priorities for me right now too.  Max and Luke are old enough that I can start decorating the way I used to, knowing that they will not conquer and destroy whatever it is I choose to put out! LOL!  I am also ready for some change.  It's fun to shake things up a bit with decor, don't you think?  Definitely ready for some change...

Thanks for stopping by,

Emily

Tradefish Desings-Nuts About You

Hi!  Today I want to share a card using a fab new set from Tradefish Designs called Got Leaves?  I love all of the images and matching sentiments in this set.  My favorite, has got to be the acorns and this sentiment. I remember collecting acorns when I was little and thinking that they looked like a little head with a hat on top.  Me and my husband's old house had a HUGE oak tree in the front.  One year we literally had acorns EVERYWHERE! The squirrels were sure happy, but I only wish they would have taken more for themselves!  They were a real pain to try and pick up out of the yard, flower beds, and the gutters. 

Okay...on to the card.  I colored the acorns and oak leaves with copic markers and then cut them out.  I had an idea for a circle card, so I just played with the placement and curve of the sentiment on my acrylic block until I got just right.  I colored a rhinestone to match the acorns (copic marker).  The strip of patterned paper was from my scrap bin.  I have been trying to use up some of my old supplies (including scraps).  I sponged distress ink around the edge of the inner circle and the scallop front and back is cut with my nesties. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you check out Tradefish Designs new challenge blog HERE.  We would love to have you participate!

Emily

Pumpkin and Turquoise flowers...

Hi there! I made a quick little OLC today for the color challenge on SCS-pumpkin, olive and turquoise.  I pulled out my branches4flowers set from The Stamps Of Life.  I made a very similiar card a month ago in just green and blue with a different sentiment.  This literally took minutes to make. The hardest part was adhering the rhinestones to the flower centers!  I am going to try to get out all of my fall decorations today so the house is decorated when boys get home from school. I LOVE fall!  I have lots of ideas brewing in my head but not enough time to do them in. LOL!

Have a great day,

Emily

Garden Silhouette Sympathy

Hi there!  Today I am sharing a card I made using the old chalkboard technique.  I hadn't done that technique since my days of being a SU demo, so I thought it fitting to pull out some of my old SU stamps.  Garden Silhouettes is probably one of my all time favorites.  I stamped the floral image in white on night of navy cardstock and then sponged more mustard chalk over that.  I pulled out some of my My Mind's Eye "Hattie" DP and added some twine and a button.  The sentiment is actually from The Stamps Of Life set, branches4flowers.
What is your favorite "older" technique?  I think it is fun to revisit techniques of the past and put a modern or trendy spin on them.  I would love to hear your favorites!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Spiros in Blue!

Hello!  Today's card features stamps from the spiros2stamp set from The Stamps Of Life.  Do you remember those little spirograph machines when we were younger?  I know my sisters and I sure got a kick out of creating beautiful shapes in different colors when we were little.  I think they also take on a doily look in white, or snowflakes-as I was going for this look on my card!  I know several people with December birthdays so I wanted it to have an icy, snowy look to it.
First, I stamped  my large spiros in Versamark ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  To create the background I brayered and sponged several different blues.  The smaller spiros, are stamped in Pacific Point and then I just stamped them without reinking to get the lighter color.  The sentiment is stamped in Licorice (black).  I am LOVING Stephanie's new ink pads.  They are super juicy and stamp like a dream.  They also dry quickly, too.  You will definitely see me using these more!
I finished the card off with a MS punch border and some denim twine from The Twinery.  I love my twine!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily

What's not to love about Owls2love?

I just LOVE the owls2love set from The Stamps Of Life! I have had oodles of fun with it.  On SCS, today's technique lovers challenge was to create a window card.  I die cut a circle on the front of my orange card base.  I then lined the inside with white card stock to create a moon.  The tree branch is hand cut from a scrap of brown card stock.  I colored my owl with copic markers, and cut him out and placed him on the tree branch.  I used a bat from the new solids4Halloween set, and the little spider is from the spooks2scare set.  The spider web I drew with a black archival  pen.  The sentiment is also from the owls2love set. 
I also stamped a few more bats inside of the card on the white panel.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily

Happy Birthday "C"!

Hello!  This is a card I made for Cecilia's birthday yesterday over on Tradefish Designs.  I know...I am a day late and a dollar short.  This was supposed to post yesterday and my Frankenstein card today, but I obviously switched the dates when I scheduled them!  I didn't realize until late yesterday afternoon, so I just decided to reschedule it for today. Sorry, C!
In celebration of "C"s birthday, she is offering the Another Year set for only $10!!!!  I used a sentiment and the banner stamp from this set for the card above.  I paper pieced the banners with some DP from My Mind's Eye.  Sorry for the smokey looking photo.  It has been so dreary and rainy, and I can't get my lighting right.  Time to buy an Ott light (spelling?)!  Make sure you stop over and wish Cecilia a Happy Birthday over on Tradefish Designs!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Trick Or Treat Bats...and some staples!

So...back already with a quick card.  I actually made this with paper from my scrap bin! Every single piece!!! I ran the orange cardstock through one of my Tim Holtz embossing folders and then inked the edges with black ink.  The "trick or treat" sentiment is an SRM sticker that I framed with orange and black punched squares.  The bats are cut from a scrap of what I think is echo park DP.  The challenge today on SCS is to add staples to your card.
Here is a funny story about staples.  Over the years my mom has also gotten into stamping.  I remember the first time I used staples on a card in one of my classes and she just about died!  She couldn't understand why anyone would want to ruin a card by stapling all over it!!!! I always make sure NOT to send her a card with staples.  I on the other hand, think that staples on the right card, add just the right touch!

Hugs,

Emily

silly photos, sweet back to school boys, and quiet time!

Hello!  Yesterday was my first day of the school year where ALL my boys went to school.  Luke's first day of kindergarten was yesterday, so he was excited to finally get on the bus with Max, who is staying in pre-school for another year.  I think the decision to keep Max back has been harder on me then on the two of them!  It has been nice to spend some quality time with just Luke.  Sometimes I feel like he doesn't get as much of that from me, with all of Max's speech and occupational therapy.  We went out for lots of lunch dates and had some crafty time together.  He loves to draw, paint and color, and is super talented for a 5 year old.  I am always amazed at some of the things he comes up with.
Yesterday morning before school we took some silly photos, so I decided to share one with you today.  It quickly went from 100 degree, humid summer days to blustery, rainy fall weather here in the Cincinnati area.  Fall is my favorite season, so look for LOTS of fall themed cards, home decor and Halloween goodness on my blog this season!
I may be back with a card later, or I may just take a nap, or read a book and enjoy my three hours of quiet time this afternoon.  I really need to go to the store, but who needs groceries?

Thanks for stopping by,

Emily

Tradefish Designs-Thank You Teacher

Hello!  I made this "thank you" teacher card with the new Back 2 School release from Tradefish Designs.  This is probably one of my all time favorite school/teacher stamp sets!!! Love it!  I used some Crate Paper patterned paper to piece the chalkboard, desk and the "tile" floor.  The center of the black board is just pieced with some black cardstock.  I used some white pigment ink to stamp the sentiment to look like chalk.  I made several of these to give to my boy's teachers at the end of the school year.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily

Happy 'Owl 'Oween!

Hi there!  Today I have a Halloween card to share with you, using the new release from The Stamps Of Life, owls2love set.  I paper pieced my owl with patterned paper from echo park and then popped the owl body up with foam dots.  The horizontal strip of paper is from Basic Grey's Eerie collection.  Lots of cute owls in this set that can be used for a variety of occasions-not just Halloween.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily

TradeFish Designs New Release Blog Hop

Hello!  We are celebrating the release of some fab new sets at Tradefish Designs.  Today I am featuring a sentiment from the new set, Sentiments of The Season. This set is full of holiday sentiments in every font and style.  I think it is a must have for the holiday season!  Sometimes it is nice to showcase a strip of patterned paper and your favorite embellishments with a simple, stamped sentiment.  This set does the job beautifully!

For a chance to win a TFD Stamp of your choice, you must be a follower of TFD and leave a comment on each DT Blog.  BTW you also get bonus entry points by liking us on Facebook, you have until Sunday 9/11 12est for a chance to win.  Winners will be announced on Monday 9/12

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TFD is also offering a 10 % discount on your entire order or free shipping on any purchase of 2 or more stamp sets from September 5^th through September 11^th. 

Next up is Amy. See what she has created for you, but just in case you get lost, here is the line-up.

Tradefish Blog

Kate

Emily

Amy

Ivette

Hoot Hoot Hooray for TSOL new release!

Hoot Hoot Hooray! It's September 1st, so that means a new club release from The Stamps Of Life.  This set is absolutely ADORABLE! It is called owls2love, and you must check it out.  I stamped my owl in soft suede ink and then touched him up with copics to create some shading.  I tied some brown baker's twine around from The Twinery, to make it look like a wire.  I also used clouds from the set, kites2fly and outlined them with a blue copic marker.  I love that so many of Stephanie's stamps work together from different sets!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Emily