OCC sketch to try

I wanted to get right to work on the OCC sketch challenge for today...but my sick husband had other things to say about that. He's been battling a nasty virus all week and requested breakfast, so I made him scrambled eggs and toast. Finally I headed to the basement and here is my take on today's sketch:

I flipped the image to accomodate my stamped image. I'm not sure of the name of the set--it's one I inherited from my mother, and neither of us ever inked this stamp up. It took much longer than I would've liked and now it's time for me to be off to work. Enjoy the rest of your day...hope the sun is shining for you like it is here in NH!

Smiles, Caryl

Beautiful Blue Ridge

My mom taught me from a young age how to go antiquing. I can't even walk through Goodwill without scouting out a familiar design or cool plate. Today after I struck out at Goodwill and my favorite consignment store, I decided to stop at the big log cabin antique shop. It's truly a big log cabin! And I found some great Blue Ridge plates. Being on a budget I chose just one, a design I'd never seen before, even in my mom's vast collection. The pink and black are perfect pairs! The same dealer had the best little bowls too, and I'm thinking I'd like to get a set of all different designs. I'll have to stop by next month.

The plate also inspired me to make a card! Which is great, because I haven't made a card since early in the week. I've been scrapbooking and crocheting but couldn't find a reason to stamp. Thanks to the antiques I did!

Smiles, Caryl

Paper: Whispher White, Basic Black, Regal Rose, Pink Passion

Stamps: Friendship Blooms, Happy Harmony

Ink: Black Stazon, Rose Red

Accessories: Dimensionals, Blender Pen, Pink pearls, rhinestones

Poo Poo Paper

Last night I discovered one of the funniest things in the world. Paper made from poo. Yes, it is made from elephant poop. A tagline for the company: We're number one at number two. I got a kick out of it and wanted to share. So go check out the Great Elephant Poo Poo Paper company....it'll at least make you laugh, and it's environmentally friendly!

Be Who You Are

This morning after making my Mojo Monday card, I found Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration challenge.

Isn't the necklace adorable? Made from a Scrabble tile I believe. I always love the jewelry she picks out, but I never have the colors, or anything close. I thought the same thing today, but discovered I had all but Kiwi Kiss. So I dug out a Making Memories rub on that was close and the polka dot ribbon has been lying around waiting for a good home. I didn't have ink for any of the colors so I just worked with my Sizzix and rub-ons.

This card will go to my husband's cousin in college. She's an education major, like I was, and I remember the winter of junior year being especially difficult. Everyone in my family probably remembers that too....so just a pick-me-up for Kaitlin incase college life isn't all fun and parties!

Dearest Friend

I'm on school vacation this week and I was excited to start my day with a new Mojo Monday sketch!

Here's my card:

We woke up to a bit of snow this morning (better than the 5-8" forecasted) and I love this sentiment about rays of sunshine. I'm not a layer person so I had a bit of trouble putting it all together. I'm off to shovel and hit the gym now, thanks for checking out my card! I'm hoping to get lots of cards made this week, in addition to some other projects.

Smiles, Caryl

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue

DSP: Candy Lane, Delicate Dots

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp: True Friend (Sweet and Sassy)

Brads: SU! silver, Blackbird brads

Wedding Adventures

Last night I went to a wedding with my husband and BIL, for a guy they coach with. I found out about the wedding at the last minute and had to throw together a quick card. Using a Cuttlebug embossing folder I embossed three Whisper White rectangles and adhered them using stamping dimensionals so it was like a wedding cake. I must have seen an idea like this somewhere because it's been floating around my head for awhile. Either that, or Hallmark makes a similar one! I knew it needed something else, and my husband wanted a splash of color. I embossed the hearts in silver, colored them Rose Red with my blender pens and put the cake topper on.

Because we don't know the couple well, and all new couples can use $$$$, I wanted to make the card a money holder. I scored my 6" cardstock at 3 1/2", 7", and 10 1/2" and cut the last section at an angle to make a pocket.

We almost didn't make it to the wedding! Navigation systems are flawed, but so is attempting to get directions when no one in the area speaks must English, or knows the church. We arrived at the flag and there wasn't a church there. We circled the block and found what we though was the church. My BIL even helped carry in some soda. But when we were asked if we spoke Spanish or if we would need a translator it was time to move on! We learned our lesson about going in the side entrance of the church too! Go to the front and check the name. Thanks, honey.

We tried a second church with no luck, no one at the funeral home knew, and all the cops we saw seemed to be in pursuit of criminals. Even though we left with a half hour to spare and we ended up being 45 minutes late....but so were more than 25 guests! Just in time for a prayer, the kiss, and a great reception. A good story too. :-)

Congratulations Joe and Gina!

Mail Call!

In college I worked in the mailroom (thanks to my dad making me apply before unpacking) and I learned how happy mail makes people. Especially anyone in college. There's nothing worse than an empty mailbox, and no day is better than when you have a slip telling you there's a package!!! Melky, my cat, thinks there's nothing better than sitting in the sun...even if you have to be in a picture!

In cleaning my basement I came across this box that I got at Joanne's from the $1 bin. I didn't know what I would use it for but who cares, it's a buck. This is partly how my basement has become the way it is.... I've been meaning to send my cousin Anna, a freshman in college, something fun for a care package. Instant inspiration!

At home her room is pink, pink, pink so I figured I'd go with it from there. I just wanted it to be bright and cheery, so I stuck with bold brights paper from SU! I also can't look at ribbon in the store without buying it, so I made use of this very cute argile like ribbon that's been waiting patiently for a turn.

I originally started to make this card for the Mojo Monday sketch, but the card had a mind of it's own. No stamping, just ribbon, paper, a fun felt piece an rub-ons from Making Memories. Even though Mary says you don't need to stay true to the sketch, I'm not good at wandering off the beaten path! I made a different card for today's sketch. Anyway, I filled the box with some fun stuff (note pad, keychain, gum) and some useful stuff (sewing kit, lint brush), and of course some chocolate! Hope you enjoy your mail, Anna!

And now I'll attempt to get back to the basement, but I'm sure some other project will distract me...am I the only one with that problem?

Bluebird of Happiness

I'm so excited to play immediately with this week's Mojo Monday sketch! Mondays can be busy but I'm off so I wanted to make a card before I again tackle my mess in the basement.....


This is for my aunt who is having a birthday tomorrow. In December when we had ice storms in NH she took this picture which is why I used a bird and many shades of blue: Bashful, Brilliant, Night of Navy and a scrap of something. Her pictures are always amazing and this one is the wallpaper on my computer. Nature is amazing...even when the beauty of ice knocks out power for a week, in my aunt's case.

My first attempt at Mojo did not come out as planned. But I adore it! I'll post that in a bit. Thanks for coming by!

Blog Candy Winner!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day, as I enjoyed dinner and a (rented) movie. We tried to go to the movies, but Grand Torino was (still!) sold out and there wasn't anything else at a good time we were interested in. Then we decided on dinner and the wait at Longhorn was TWO AND A HALF HOURS!!! Who would wait that long? We ended up at TGIFridays sitting at the bar, and managed food and beer for $30. Not too bad I'd say!

I actually did not get ANY homemade valentines which was sad. Everyone had their store bought ones and candy to go with it. I did get a beautiful white chocolate box filled with little chocolates. And a cute little boy said "I have a valentine for you" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. So I guess that counts as two homemade ones! Thanks for playing along!

Onto the blog candy winner, as decided by Random.org .......

#3

curlywhiskersandtwitchingnoses said...
I think 20 and you'll deserve them all!! I hope so anyway. i'm in the UK and we're not very big on it here but I am aware you in the US love your holidays and I really hope you get at least 20 if not more!!

Send me your info and I'll get the blog candy in the mail to you!

I'm off to the gym and then I need to clean the basement....my mother stopped by and told me she didn't raise me to have such a messy basement. It's more of a gathering area, so I'll gather it neatly today and tomorrow!

Revisiting and revising

Two more days to leave a comment for Blog Candy!!!

I'm enjoying digging out cards I made a year or two ago and bringing them up to my current standards, like I did with this card. My uncle's birthday is today (I'm loving my birthday calendar I got for xmas as I've discovered relatives that I need to send cards to!) and I needed something masculine. Unfortunately I was in a rush to get it made and in the mail and didn't take a before picture!

The before card had the Night of Navy stamped image, complete with circle highlighted, and it was mounted on a Really Rust card. That's all. Blah, which is why I never sent it! So I ripped it off (carefully!) mounted it on a Navy square, mounted Candy Lane DSP on Chocolate chip, and added silver brads. I stamped Happy Birthday on the inside of the Sahara Sand card and finished. Hopefully Uncle Mark likes it, but I hope my card making Aunt Karen enjoys it as well! Thanks for visiting!

Valentine treats

One thing I loved to do as a kid was make valentines. At least that's how I remember it...correct me if I'm wrong, Mom! As a teacher I look forward to making something unique each year and I think this year is the best yet, thanks to so much inspiration from all the blogs out there. We don't have school Friday (teachers do, but not kids) so we'll be exchanging our valentines tomorrow.

How many homemade valentines do you think I'll get? Leave a comment here for a chance to win my blog candy!

Here is what I created for my 20 sweethearts:

I like to give them something sweet, because they are so sweet to me. But not too much sugar and they aren't allowed to eat ANY until they are out of my class!!! Sorry parents...

I had fun using my Love You Much stamp set from Stampin Up! Had I thought of it in the grocery store I would've bought Hershey Hugs instead of M&Ms but I don't think the kids will mind the candy not matching the tag on the bag.

Hope your valentine gives you something sweet too!

Friends are definitely like angels!

Don't forget to check out my BLOG CANDY!!!

This is my take on this week's Mojo Monday sketch. My great friend and co-worker Hayley has been such an angel and let me vent after work yesterday. I just wanted to let her know how grateful I am and she loves chocolate so I made a little bag to go along with it too! Filled with Dove, which she has trained my tastebuds to prefer over Hersheys. Not that I'll turn down a classic Kiss! I had a lot of fun using my Top Note die too. I've seen this bag style in a few different places, but no recollection as to where. Please let me know if it's your design!

It's the time of winter when sun is scarce, the full moon makes the kids crazy and I can taste February vacation...but it's not here yet! I needed a break after school yesterday and all I wanted to do was craft! On my way out a kindergarten teacher approached asking for design ideas to present a cute chocolate rose to her volunteers. I took it home and whipped up a simple presentation--just roll, staple and stick in the flower. I even had the tags sitting on my table waiting for something to go with. Needless to say June loved them! Hope you do too!

Blog Candy!!!

I've been wanting to offer up some blog candy for Valentine's Day and here it is:

It's a variety of stamping and scrapbooking supplies, along with a fun journal to jot down ideas or whatever! All you need to do to enter for a chance to win is leave a comment here with the answer to this question....

Of the 20 students in my first grade class, how many homemade Valentine's will I receive?

You don't need to be right for the chance to win, I'm not even sure as it is my first year at the school. The demographic of the school is quite varied and my kids come from all types of families. I used to love making my valentines and wonder if many of them will!

Leave a comment on this post by midnight February 14th. I'll pick a winner on Sunday the 15th.

Spread the word and share the sweets....Goodnight and good luck!

Card makeover

I started stamping because of my mother. Actually every craft I've started is because of my mother, with the exception of crochet which I learned when I took a class from a friend. But if I wasn't already cross-stitching and knitting I probably wouldn't crochet! My mom did Stampin Up a bit and had stamps when I was in college. I helped out with Christmas cards, or actually made her make the cards a few times. Once I was teaching she was headed to a make-and-take night and took me along. I've been hooked ever since! While I haven't gone to a make-and-take for awhile I have many cards I've made in my "just incase I need a card" pile.

Now that I'm more consistent in my stamping I'm making cards especially for each occassion and don't look in my stash. Wasted cards! Over the weekend when I looked through I thought I could improve upon the basic designs of some exsisting card and give them that WOW factor!

Before:

After:

I'm sure there will be many more makeovers in my future! What do you think?

Mojo for a Great-great aunt

I was very excited to come home today (after working out!) to play along with another Mojo Monday sketch! Normally I work Monday nights at my second job but I was given the evening off so I tackled the job at hand....

I'm extremely please with the result which is not always the case.


I think I was a bit more successful than usual because I waited to glue until I had every last little bit planned. The two images I used I had actually stamped for last week's Mojo sketch and they never worked out. They were just waiting for their card to come along! This card is headed to Pennsylvania to my great-great aunt--my grandmother's aunt for those who are wondering. She's 105 and 1/2 (You can count halves again after a certain age) and I've been sending her cards and letters regularly for ten years now. I arrived at college and found out how sad it is to check your mail and have nothing, just as my dad suggested I write to Aunt Greta. I ended up with a few more letters, as did she, and we've formed a great relationship from that!

Thanks for checking out my card and be sure to check all the other fabulous cards. My personal favorite (as of posting time) is Eve, age 5. That could just be the teacher in me but it's a great card too. I don't think I'll make everything line up "just so" anymore!

Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Green Galore, Apricot Appeal, navy
Ink: Midnight Blue Stazon
Stamps: greeting-Refuge & Strength, "something "Adoration SU

Crazy for Hearts

Yesterday I was excited to do the Our Creative Corner challenge to use two or more hearts on a card. But I spent so much time looking at everyone else's cards I barely had time to finish my card before I ran to work. I wasn't in love with it when I left the house but I think time away made it grow on me.



The ribbon has been floating around my craft area for a year or so, so when the call came for two or more hearts I knew this was meant to be. I used green galore as well because I couldn't stick to just traditional red/pink/white for a valentines card. Thanks for checking out my card, I hope you like it!

Stamp: SU Love you Much
Paper: Whisper White, Green Galore, Real Red, Candy Lane DSP
Ink: Real Red, Green Galore, Black
Other: Yellow Brad (Making Memories), SU blender pen