Projects!

These great projects were in the display area at the SU meeting that I attended today. It was held by my 5th upline, Denise Jorgensen, and her husband Iner + some of their downline. The meeting was fun, and it was nice to see some sideline gals and meet new ladies too!!

My upline, Annika Umbinetti is to the left, and Jill, my sideline, is to the right. I didn't make any swaps, but two ladies were nice and offered them to me because I liked their cards so much! :) Have a little peek at these fun ideas.

I'll be heading off to the Seattle Gift Show tomorrow. Hopefully won't spend too much though!! ACK!! I didn't order the May Arts Ribbon last time....I might just get some this time. It's been a WHILE since I've placed an order with them! We'll see......

I know there are at least six of you who were interested last time, and I'm betting there could be others too...so stay tuned!

hugs,
Elaine

You're the best __________ what?

Well I made the card but can't decide what to put on the little tagboard piece! Someone help give me some ideas!

Trying to see if this makes a difference.

I used the photo editor thing and want to see if the photo shows up with less 'darkness'....can you tell a difference between this and the first picture?

Sugar Nellie Card

Hey everyone! How's the weather where you're at? Here in WA it is still cool (but not freezing, at least not at the moment!). We had flurries of snow yesterday afternoon while I was at the hairdresser getting rid of some pesky gray stuff!

Anyhow, I wanted to share one of my latest favorite stamp lines. I ordered these quite some time ago and just have not had time to photograph them when there is enough light! The ones that I really liked went out as 'Thank you' cards earlier this month. This one was left...I love it even though it is still sitting here waiting to be mailed!

The Sugar Nellie site is here: www.sugarnellie.com
They also have a blog: http://sugarnellie.blogspot.com/
And if you want to buy them, go here: http://www.funkykits.co.uk/catalog/

They take a little longer because they come from overseas, but they are so worth the wait! The images are gray unmounted rubber. I just add some doublestick tape or EZ mount and they're ready to use!

This card is made with all SU Cardstock - Real Red, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White. Ink was the Adirondack Pitch Black; Image colored in with Copics; greeting is from SU, and so is the stamped flower. The tiny red spotted brad is from Queen & Company. Ribbon is Michael's but I think it could be sold by my favorite ribbon company, May Arts!

Stay warm! My honey is on the way home with a spiced caramel apple cider topped with lots of whipped cream and caramel!! I can't wait to sip!!!

A new Favorite Blog to add!

Ok, I have been a bad blogger...actually probably just a lazy blogger. I had the best of intentions, but when it's rainy outside and your home / lighting is so dark you can't get a decent picture, it's just easier to wait until the next sunny day to post something, know what I mean?

Anyway, back to the title. I found an incredibly talented lady today, whose projects I absolutely ADORE!! Check out her place: http://brownpaperpackaging.blogspot.com/
The two latest projects that she shows are just so dang cute!! I can't stand it!! I want to be her and have her talent!! I posted a comment to her that I need her to teach me how to do what she does! Or start teaching classes so I can take them and make cute stuff like that too!! Ahhhh...

Oh, and in case any of you are in the Seattle/Redmond area, Rubber Soul in Redmond is closing up....I was out there today and bought a GREAT BIG shopping bag FULL of goodies!!! They were already quite low in stock on many items, so I missed out a little, but I'm happy that I got a bunch of new things to play with!

And you know how everyone's posting a "WORD" for the year? I don't have one. I cannot think of a word right now that I feel would be good for me, so I'm putting it off, but still hoping it will hit me. Let's hope tomorrow is a sunnier day so I can get some pictures taken!! It's still dark when I get home from work otherwise I would have put something up by now!

Have a great Saturday evening everyone! Hope you're all staying warm, dry and near your stamps or crafts!

Almost forgot to show my PIF...

A couple days before Christmas I got my Pay it forward and LOVE it! I will have to get some pics and then do my own Pay it forward!! :) I hope to get the pictures up later today~!

Last pictures of that mini tag scrapbook...I promise!

Can you tell that I really was in love with this project?

Here's a view of all the pages of the mini scrapbook. The end 'tabs' each had names/nicknames of their friends when the book was complete. I used white rub on letters and it showed up nicely on the dark chipboard pieces.

I also included some Grungeboard (they didn't like the cute little skull piece though, so I had to take it off...it was on the blue folder page that is now blank on the outside).

The last page shown here has clear snowflakes that are really buttons from the craft store - colored with Copic markers and topped with gems.

Have a great evening! It sure feels like Sunday to me know that I have to go back to work tomorrow - yuck. I might be sick. My stomach has been bothering me...seriously!!

I neglected to finish posting the rest of the mini scrapbook made from Creative Cafe tags last year, so I will share it now whether you want to see it or not! LOL

I got the letters on the front using Queen & Co. Alphabettys - I love them, but sadly found out they're now all sold out at the place I bought them before :(

The shaped rhinestone bling just does not photograph well - it's so pretty and sparkly in real life! The KL over on the little tag are Maddie's friend's initials.

The brown tag is stamped with chalk ink and embellished with snowflake grosgrain ribbon, a Martha Stewart felt snowflake, chipboard, patterned paper from the Costco big pack by Wild Asparagus, some chipboard, glitter and more bling. Notice on the next picture the close up of the little acrylic charm that says "Frosty". We put a picture of the girls making their SNOWMAN on this page - it was sooooo dang cute!!

Next is a page with more felt snowflakes. This had the girls outside in the snow - talking. Because they have to talk about their private things outside - and look cute just in case any boys happen to go by - they will be seen.....yeah, right...not on my watch! I chase those boys away! LOL

Then the other page is a pocket for the Friendship tag.

I don't think I can load more than 5 pics at a time, so I have to set up another entry in a moment. Thanks for taking time to peek! I hope your New Year's Day has been wonderful!!

hugs,
Elaine

New cards for 2008

I made these last night when I was working on the challenges at Splitcoast for Jacksonbelle's challenges. I always seem to get sidetracked though - ended up smooshing the party hat, so that won't be seen here, and made a couple of other cards! I even used my Stickles that I bought earlier this year! I hope the Cricut will come out of the box (bought in 2006, mind you, and it is still sealed in the box). Gotta get more use out of my schtuff this year!

Hope you all had an enjoyable New Year's Eve and Wishing you all the best for 2008!

Hugs,
Elaine

Happy New Year!!

We're home with our kids for the first time in many, many years!! Jacksonbelle had a challenge over at Splitcoast, so it was high time that I participate! There are many layers of stamping on the glossy white background, and the glasses are shown on TAPE (which is why they appear backwards from the actual image in the SU catalog).

The ink is Bashful Blue, Paper Pallet Noir, and Copic colored ribbon. The challenge was to make a black and blue card. This is mine. Not quite what I wanted, but I don't have time to make a new one for the midnight hour!! Happy New Year everyone!

It's a cold evening, but no snow in sight right now :(

Orders from We R Memory Keepers!

WOW!!! OMG! I put in a really big order a couple weeks ago for the We R Memory Keepers sale....they carry the big square tins in copper, pewter, vintage brass, and silver finish. It's a box of accessory findings (very much like the Hodgepodge Hardware sets that Stampin Up sells). I got my huge order today, and inside, instead of one 'box', I got a cardboard BOX full of hoddgepodge boxes!! - I think they made a mistake! I will have to write back to see what they want me to do with the extras. Maybe they will say KEEP EM and give them as blog candy! LOL I hope so!! Anyway, I was thrilled to know the order arrived. One of the other items was short, but I suppose I can live with that especially if they say to keep the extra tins!!! Happy Monday everyone!!

-It was pouring rain this morning - just dumping buckets! it's supposed to be that way all week long! U.G.H.

Here's a peek at a new project

I'm working on this little mini tag scrapbook for my daughter's best friend. She is a real sweetheart and my kid wanted something special for her...well this is all we could afford that was special - and I love how it turned out!

The pictures will be added tomorrow and the photos don't show the initials/names/or pictures. Her mom prefers not to have her pictures on anything on the internet, so I have to honor her wish for privacy.

Anyhow, it's made with a Creative Cafe extra large tag in beige. Torn paper is edged with sky blue chalk ink, then touched with glitter. Each round tag is attached, spelling out "SNOW" and has some sort of BLING on it from stars to squares, hearts or round bling...it's there - the girls at this age seem to love bling almost as much as I do! The transparent blue snowflake in the upper right is a transparent button that I colored with Copic marker and topped with a rhinestone. Snowflake ribbon and the paper are from Ebay. The entire book is held together with a cream colored Binder ring in a pretty cream color from 7 Gypsies. More tomorrow. I'm heading off to bed. It's been wet and rainy all weekend!! Hope there is no more flooding tomorrow!

Have you seen these???

I hope you're all having a great weekend! I did a lot of online stamp shopping today. I've been admiring these little cuties for several months now, and just recently they became available here, but they always seem to be sold out so I wouldn't be able to get the big batch that I want. Check out Sugar Nellie here:

http://sugarnellie.blogspot.com/

And tell me which ones you like! I of course want the newest ones, and several that are out. So far I am at 16L pounds - I don't know exactly what the converts to in dollars, but once those other images get back into stock, I can order them all at once and have some fun! :)

Has anyone else ordered from here besides Jan Tink? I think she's the only one that I've seen with them on her blog. Darn - I bet she bought them all up!

It's chilly out tonight - we may even get some snow on Sunday!
Take Care!

Elaine

It was really raining here in Seattle!! and a funny for you...

I've not had time to stamp or create lately, and need batteries again. Until I get out and pick them up, no pics :( BUT there is THIS funny that you have to watch!! Make sure there are no Santa believers in the room though...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmQDt7jVdXQ


We had tremendous rainfall and flooding earlier in the week. The road behind our house had been closed until today because of a mudslide. We're in an area where there are steep hills and cliffs (they always close the one called "suicide" when it snows, so you know it's steep). I drove through because it's the normal way that I go to work, and I forgot it had been closed off. It was a muddy, sandy, rocky mess! The mudslide looked bad. Trees also fell. The one thing that changed when it was all wet -- there was little or no traffic on the way to work! Yay!

Take care everyone! I hear now, that we may have more snow on Sunday in this area!

A chance to get Card Creations .....

from another blog!

Check it out!
http://continuingtocreate.blogspot.com/

Is it cold where you live? It's freezin in Seattle!! Sunny but freezin cold I tell you!! I spent a long time scraping not frost, but ICE off my windshield this morning - ugh!! I like scraping frost...not ice! The pattern of ice on the car was pretty though....too bad it had to melt so quickly once the car heated up!

I will work on posting soon....there are some scrapbooks in the works...little mini ones. They are my favorite kind to make because I can finish them quickly! What are your favorite projects to work on?

Check HERE for more very LIKEABLE pictures of wintery fantasy!!!
http://glitterandgrunge.com/kimhar.html

A birthday project revealed!

I made this for my buddy that I go to stamp conventions with. We've travelled to Florida, Las Vegas, Vancouver B.C., Portland Oregon, Olympia WA, and I can't remember how many other places... She is soooo much fun to hang out with!

Anyway, I made the mini accordian book for her birthday which was on November 4th. I took some photos earlier this season when I made it but didn't want to post them in case she found my blog! Here they are: (please click on the pictures to see them better- they don't look very good in the smaller shots!)

The cover has her initials and a slide mount where a photo will slide underneath.



Next is a shot of the inside pages. The page farthest to the right is a swinging fold-out. There is a Making Memories metal frame on that page with some ribbons and prima sassy flowers. The very left page has some chipboard violets with rhinestone accents. Middle page says "friends" stamped out with Karen Foster snap stamps.




The purple layer has some blue photo turns. Notice the page right next to it - it shows the flip up/flip down page with a string & tab fastener. I guess there was only one shot of that page and it was opened so you can't see the front of it closed except in this shot.


The blurry page is an acetate overlay by Making Memories. I could NOT get it to photograph clearly. I think it was due to the reflection. She can lift the acetate and put pics underneath. It's all clear on the bottom but shows a white reflection from the paper underneath the project.



The tags tuck into a pocket page - and the green tag swings open so you can put journaling or more pics underneath.


The blue on the left side shows the swing-out/fold out page; next to it, the tags are in their little pocket page. I scalloped the top of the pocket, and stamped something on the strip in the middle...I think it said "conventions".

and the last pages are here:

Notice the velvet ribbon and the little chipboard buckle covered in patterned paper on the left!



These tags slip into a little "slot" on the page


The opened flip up/flip down page. See the slot on the right page? That's where the tags slip into...at least the very biggest tag fits into there. The other sit on top looking pretty!

Aha! Here's another shot of the string closure -- it came out better than it looks in that picture!

Almost all papers are by BasicGrey LilyKate line, ribbons are from May Arts, and many embellishments are Making Memories or Prima or whatever was within my reach at the time I made it! :)

That's it for today. I have several other projects that I worked on that I think came out really super cute, but I have not had time to photograph them!! :(

Take care and stay dry everyone! It's really cold in Seattle tonight!

Spreading Holiday Cheer....

Ok, I was reading Trudee's blog and it led me to Teri Conrad's site (she created Webster's beautifull patterned papers). I simply could not resist the chance to participate in her 12 days of Christmas event, so I am linking up as instructed!! Go have a look see and find out for yourself why this looks to be sooooo much fun and irresistible!

Teri Conrad's blog:

http://www.terriconraddesigns.typepad.com/

Teri Conrad designs:
http://www.terriconraddesigns.com/

There are some fabulous items, but I can't shop....I'm out of money this week because Frugalities just had a 49% off day yesterday - that also means I am going to have to delay my Stampin Up order for a bit too.... I made several mini scrapbook items that I needed to photograph, and didn't get to before they went to their recipients. I'm hoping I can still get some pictures of the projects and post them - I love how they all turned out!! :)

-It's cold and windy in Seattle - and we're expecting a little storm tomorrow...hope we keep our power on!!

Background colors are driving me nuts....

Sorry for so many changes on the background, but it is just yucky! I saw my blog on someone's screen at work this morning and almost puked it was soooo dark! Sorry about that. I have no clue how to make it the color I want either...

Here are two more cards from Angel's challenge that didn't get photographed because the camera battery went dead yesterday.

The DP is from the Costco pack by Wild Asparagus, magic mesh is retired by SU, and the tag was from a package that I got at a garage sale. The flowers and "grow" are cut out so you can see the layer beneath. It's on pop dots so there is more dimension in real life! :)

The Gracias card is a Memory Box penguin from Anna Wight's store, and the others are an old SU set. Paper is again from the stack at Costco!!

Load 'em up!

Here are all of the rest of the cards--

Christmas card is challenge #29; image is from Crafty Secrets. DP is from a big pad that I got last year...sorry, not sure who it was by. Glitter is Martha Stewart - it looks really vintage-y!

Eiffel tower is from my new Crafty Secrets stamp set from the CK convention over the weekend.

I had not used my basic gray paper from SU, so I did two cards in colors that aren't normally my style....the skull card is for my niece who loves that kind of motif!

The pink blue Christmas Christmas card is the SU Holiday set called Merry & Bright, colored with Copics. DP is from Costco/Wild Asparagus.

The pink/blue Cherub card is a Crafty Secrets image, Bohemia brads, and a flower that is folded in half is tucked behind the scalloped image.

I was hoping to do all of the challenges, but ran out of time. I had so much fun with these though!! Thank you to Angel, and a very happy Birthday!!!

-Elaine

The last of the Challenge cards....

Well, it's been a while since I've uploaded any cards, but here are the last challenge cards for Angelosity. I actually have more but didn't get the photos done before dinner. I'll try to put them up later on!!

The Acorn Blessings is from an old SU set. Blessings is a $1 Michael's stamp. I used my new glimmer mist on it, but I don't think you can see it unless you do a close up. It's very shimmery and rich looking in real life!

The other card is a really old SU set, retired of course, and is basic - colored and sponged edges. The saying reads, "All is safely gathered in Ere the winter storms begin." Topaz colored rhinestones in the corner, and some sheer rust organza finish it off!

Happy Tuesday! I hope it's sunny tomorrow - we have family portraits scheduled at the lake! :)

Time for a card

Time gets away quickly when there is so much going on! Here's another card for the Angelosity challenge (Day #18). I put stickles all over the flames but sadly that doesn't show in the picture.

The colors are ballet blue, old olive, lovely lilac, and lavendar lace. Brads are embossed with silver e.p. The original finish on them was bright & shiny. I wanted a more subtle addition, so I used the ep.

Stamps are from SU's Hostess set, All About Occassions, and a package of clear dollar stamps from Michael's.

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be at the CK Convention in Bellevue again tomorrow! I had so much fun shopping there today!!

Halloween 2007

Just two pics. The girls had a ton of fun - I have to admit it, so did we!
Happy Fright Night!! Hope you all got lots of candy!! :)