I tried, I really did...

After the last 2 nights of being alone with my demon children (DH working) I have not had time to think, let alone stamp. It is soooo past my bedtime, and I cleaned the kitchen, headed into my craft room to whip up something fabulous and quick to post for you. After 2 attempts, I will just say that I'll have to try tomorrow. U...G...L...Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I tried, really I did. Problem is that I packed all my "good stuff" to take to Austin (did I have time to use it? NO!) and didn't feel like unpacking. Then I would have to put it all where it belongs.

Anywhoo, I'm going to leave you with something interesting. This is the VERY FIRST card that I EVER made. I had only a few stamp sets, stazon ink, markers from Ebay, and ribbon from Hobby Lobby. I was soooo proud of the brown BG...dear heavens. I took wax paper, wadded it up, and inked it in black and saddle brown stazon. It looked like I wiped baby poo on it in real life. I made this card for my mother on September 17, 2006, when she was battling breast cancer. The small script set was the only thing I owned from Stampin Up. And I was sooo proud of this card!

Anyway, I thought yall would get a kick out of it. I will TRY to get something new out for you tomorrow! Hugs!

Goodies and a Bow Tying Tutorial

This is a card I made for my upcoming card class. I love the way it turned out...and I just have to say that I'm lovin Groovy Guava, actually all the new In-Colors. I didn't think I'd like Soft Sky, but it has grown on me immensely.

Anyway, this one is pretty straightforward...I stamped the paisley stamp from Polka Dots & Paisley on the Guava card base and then stamped the sentiment from Hugs & Wishes. Then I stamped the flower in Tempting Turquoise on my White cardstock, punched the corners with my Ticket Corner Punch, and sponged the edges with Guava. Then I layered it onto Turquoise and Black cardstock and tied a ribbon around. Easy and cute!

So when I first started stamping, I had the HARDEST time tying bows...in fact I just tied knots instead. My bows were always crooked and ugly. Then one day I had a MOMENT...and I figured it out! I thought I'd attempt a tutorial to show you how I do it. Maybe it'll help at least one of you!


STEP 1: Turn your image upside down and wrap ribbon around, crossing left over right.
STEP 2: Tuck the piece in your right hand under the left piece and pull each piece to a vertical position.
STEP 3: Pull the top piece to the right side, and the bottom piece to the left side. Try to keep the ribbon as flat as possible.
STEP 4: Make a loop (I call it a "Bunny Ear" LOL) with the right piece, keeping it on the right side, and again, keeping the ribbon flat without twisting.
Step 5: With your other hand, make a Bunny Ear with the left piece. Sorry, I had to take my own pics and only had 1 hand. :)

STEP 6: Cross the pieces, left over right. I use my middle finger to keep the center from coming loose.

STEP 7: Tuck the loop on the right side under the one on the left side. I use my fingers in the loops to keep tension on them.

STEP 8: Turn your image right side up and adjust the loops and the "tails" until your bow looks like you want.





And here's the finished product! It's a small tote that we'll also make in the class that holds 6 cards and envelopes. Cute, huh? Yeah, I was pretty proud of myself. And look...no sparkles!

So if you live in the DFW area and want to take a class...email me! I'd love to have ya!

ETA: Sorry, forgot to post a recipe again!!
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, Hugs & Wishes, Petals Jumbo Wheel
Paper: Groovy Guava, WW, Basic Black, Tempting Turqouise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Groovy Guava, Basic Black
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Turquoise Grosgrain, Black Brads, Dimensionals, Marvy Giga Scalloped Rectangle Punch (punched 2 & layered)

Howdy, Folks!

I have had so much fun in the last few months reading blogs, and today I had a moment. I came home to a bunch of pkgs and fun stuff and I wished I had a blog to share it! So...here ya go! I promise nothing in the way of information or tutorials, yet, as I have only been stamping since July 2006. But I thought I'd give this thing a whirl and see what happens!

So here's a pic of what I've been working on for the last few weeks. They're invitations for my sister-in-law's baby shower, which is Sunday. This was my prototype, so the real ones came out a bit different but you get the idea. She loved them! Now I have to split to work on a guest "advice/wishes" book, finish up her scrapbook, and make a pie. Wish me luck!!!

Creative info:

Stamps: By Air (SU!), Stars by Rhonda Farrar for Autumn Leaves, Sentiment by Katie & Co.

Cardstock: Stampin Up! Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Rose Red, Whisper White, and Certainly Celery

Ink: Colorbox Liquid Chalk Ink in Warm Red, Certainly Celery, and Buckaroo Blue

Tools/Accessories: Small corner rounder by EK Success, Crop-a-Dile, Stamp-a-ma-jig, & twine