Message Monday

I've struggled with my weight for a long time. I love food and I hate exercise...a bad combination. I don't love my body and I'm sometimes ashamed of the way I look. I found this quote inspirational. I still plan to lose weight, but if I never did...there's a lot worse things I could be.



Boy Oh Boy...Masculine Cards are Difficult

My dad's birthday was yesterday. We ended up celebrating on Sunday when we could all get together. I love my dad more than anything. I have heard almost all my life how similar my dad and I are...personality, looks, attitude...and as I get older I realize how right people have been. My dad is a very special person to me and I cherish the time I've been able to spend with him. One of the best times I've ever had was spending almost 3 weeks in Europe with my last a few summer's ago. He was the best travel buddy. There's no one I would have rather spent the time with. That's why it is always really important to me to make a nice birthday card for him.

I am terrible at masculine cards though. I got a little of inspiration from Mary Fish though and broke out my Well Worn DSP. This card was very simple, but very nice indeed. I hope my dad had a great birthday!

Message Monday

I feel like this message has been particularly true since school started. Although I love my new group of middle school students, I feel like not only do the days attack me, but the kids.

No Orange for Halloween

I stumbled upon a really great blog a month or so ago called CAS-ual Fridays. Each Friday they post a challenge that needs to be incorporated into a clean and simple card. This weeks challenge was to create a Halloween inspired card WITHOUT using the color orange.

I automatically turned to Jack of All Trades, my new favorite fall/pumpkin set, to set the stage. I have been seeing pictures all over the internet of white and tan pumpkins, so I used Crumb Cake ink instead of orange. I used Lucky Limeade and Concord Crush for a pop of color. I added a bit of dazzle by including a small 1/2" strip of silver glimmer paper. Love that sparkle!

October Card Class

For our October class, I decided to take the opportunity to try a OSW or One Sheet Wonder. I think OSW cards are a great way to maximize your designer paper, which lets face it is expensive, as well as make a bunch of cards. I used the Spice Cake DSP from Stampin' Up and Crumb Cake cardstock, my go-to color.

At this class we scaled back from a 12 x 12 OSW class to a 6 x 6 OSW class which allowed us to make 4 cards out of one 6 x 6 sheet of designer paper. I decided to make them all thank you cards so that we could give them as a card set for a gift.

Pumpkin Time

My new guilty pleasure...the Jack of all Trades stamp set from Stampin' Up. Not only is this set adorable, but a perfect pumpkin and fall set, which just happens to be my favorite season. I am looking forward to pumpkin picking soon.

I used a wild color combo provided by Paper Pal Arts and their PPA Challenge #114.

I also played along with Karen Giron, at The Sweetest Thing blog, who always has the most fabulous sketches. This week's Sweet Sunday Sketch # 138 was just amazing.

So here's what I came up with. I used the Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry in the background, which I embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder, and used the Pumpkin Pie in the foreground with my spectacular pumpkins.

Happy Fall everyone!

Message Monday

I do apologize for my absence. I said I wasn't going to let anything get in my way of continuing to blog and share what I love and look what happened...I let school get in the way. Well I've made some time to get back in the groove. I envy people who can let their creative juices flow everyday without putting them on hold for other things.

This message is inspired by my Aunt Lori who passed away last week. Life is too short and we never know when ours will end so it is more important to me than ever to find the time...for anything and everything. 

Birthday Card for a Special Student

David was my student a few years back and we got along so well. He helped me out in my room after school and he was always very sweet and polite. He started high school this year and it's been a little weird to not see him around the halls anymore. He still invites me to his sporting events. One of his football games just happened to be on his birthday. I made him a special birthday card and gave him a small box of Skittles as they were our favorite after school snack.

I used paper piecing for the balloons. I wanted this card to be fun, yet appropriate for a high school boy. I love the Curly Cute stamp set. It's pretty much got a sentiment for everything occassion. I also busted out my new In Colors...Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, and Island Indigo.



September Card Class

For September my stamping club focused on Tricks and TREATS...treat packaging. These ideas could be used for any occassion of treat packaging including baby showers, wedding showers, birthday parties, and secret santa gifts. We had a lot of fun using new techniques.

This first project was a little treat bag to give out to special neighbor kids or family members. We used a faux marble technique on the pumpkin cardstock. I am in love with Jack of All Trades. It has got to be one of the cutest sets I've seen in a long time. We also used the Frightful Sight DSP and mini clothespin. 



The next treat bag we made was using the Frightful Sight DSP to make little Hershey Nugget wraps. We also used the It's a Wrap Holidays set on alternating chocolates. I made this one for my nephew, Austin.

The last project we made used the new skinny cellophane bags from the Holiday Mini Catalog. We filled them with Skittles, but you could also use mini M&M's to fill them easier.. We created a bag topper using the Wicked Cool set.

I'm looking forward to Halloween and fall in general, although Wisconsin has been feeling more like summer than fall the last couple of days. I hope you enjoy this time of the year as well.