Wow, that's a lot of paper!

I'm sure that most if not all papercrafters have the same problem - what to do with the tons (literally!) of paper we accumulate. My solution for 8.5 x 11 cardstock was a couple of Cropper Hopper totes on wheels. This was working okay when all I had was Stampin' Up! cardstock. But as I accumulated more paper from other companies, my storage system began to fail me. And my 12 x 12 paper really needed a new place to be, as well. The Cropper Hopper totes can be used for 12 x 12, so I set out to find a new way to store my 8.5 x 11. I checked on Craigslist to see if there were any file cabinets available that would fit my needs. I was surprised and thrilled to discover that one of the thrift-type stores that I've driven by countless times is actually completely dedicated to donated office furniture, and their sales benefit a local children's hospital. I went to check it out and found row upon row of filing cabinets. Look what I got! A three drawer lateral cabinet, which holds way more paper than I currently have (one drawer is still empty). It's also the perfect height for my paper cutter and Big Shot.

Christmas in February?

This card was created from a sketch. I don't use sketches much, but I enjoyed working with this one.

While looking for a stamp to use instead of the flower I don't have (yet), I came upon the Snowflake Serenade set, and thought the snowflake would stand in nicely for the flower. So I made a few Christmas cards. Never too early to get started, right?

You can check out the sketch I used, and see how I modified it to use the supplies I had on hand. I didn't have the ribbon that Nichole used, but I had a different ribbon of the right color. I only had clear buttons, so I embossed a little snowflake on the button to keep it from blending in quite so much. I also used silver cord instead of twine, and decided not to do any sewing on my card.




Details: stamps - Snowflake Serenade, Holiday Treats (the tiny snowflake on the button), Holiday Wishes, Silent Night; paper - Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado; ink - Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado; accessories - slit punch, 1" circle punch, ripe avocado dotted satin ribbon, clear button, clear embossing powder, silver cord

A very dotty card

Details: stamps - Floral Frenzy; ink - Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss, So Saffron (SU!); paper - stampers select white, summer sunrise, spring moss, polka dot parade; accessories - 1/2" circle punch (SU!), 5/16" neutral brads (SU!)

Valentine treat bags

These valentine treat bags are for to my two daughters. Of course, we have to be fair and make them very similar. But since the girls have very different likes and dislikes, it's easy to tell whose is whose. Katrina is all about pink and blingy things. So the bag on the left with its flowery hearts, eyelet border punched edge and yummy raspberry fizz colors is for her. Juliette is much more of a tomboy, so the red polka dots, less frilly border bag is for her. Filled with chocolate hearts, I think they'll be a hit.


Details: stamps - Heart Prints, Around & About Sentiments; ink - raspberry fizz, pure poppy; paper - stampers select white, true black, raspberry fizz, pure poppy; accessories - eyelet border punch (SU!), scallop border punch (SU!), large heart punch, small white coffee bags

Same image, two very different cards

Interesting stamping session tonight. I was playing with this gorgeous tree stamp from the new Stampin' Up! set Thoughts & Prayers. I inked it up with a big handful of SU! markers (chocolate chip plus several different greens) and stamped it a couple of times. I really liked the way it looked, so I started playing around to see what kind of cards they wanted to be. I ended up with two very different cards, one more masculine and one more feminine, using almost all of the same basic supplies. Very small changes, such as the mat color, knot versus bow, and font made a big difference in the overall feel of the cards. I think I like the masculine one best. What do you think?


Details: stamps - Thoughts & Prayers (Stampin' Up!), Birthday Basics; paper - Aqua Mist, Figgy Pudding (Basic Grey); ink - dark chocolate, markers (SU!); accessories - ripe avocado twill ribbon, 5/16" neutral brads (SU!)


Details: stamps - Thoughts & Prayers (Stampin' Up!), Birthday Basics; paper - Aqua Mist, Figgy Pudding (Basic Grey); ink - dark chocolate, aqua mist, markers (SU!); accessories - aqua mist twill ribbon, eyelet border punch (SU!)

Look ma, no red!

Can you believe it? I finally made a card with no red paper or ink! I have been seeing photos of these Top Note die quilts for the past week or so, and decided to try it out for myself today. It's not difficult at all. Just cut a piece of scrap paper (I used regular computer paper) 3 3/4" by 5". Then punch twelve pieces of patterned paper with a 1 1/4" square punch - or you could cut them with your paper cutter. Glue the pieces down to the scrap, then run the resulting quilt through your die cutter with the Top Note die. It doesn't take long to do, and it's a real wow!


Details: stamps - Quilter's Sampler; paper - barely banana (Stampin' Up!), vintage cream, Urban Prairie (Basic Grey); ink - regal rose (Stampin' Up!); accessories - 1 1/4" square punch, horizontal slot punch (SU!), corner rounder punch (SU!), Top Note die (Sizzix for SU!), vintage brads (SU!), summer sunrise twill ribbon, dimensionals

What have you done with your life?

Saw this on Shannan's blog this morning and thought I'd play along. All of the bolded lines are things that I've done in my life. Want to play too? Just copy the list to your blog and bold your experiences instead of mine. And link back so that I can see your list!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee