To My Mechanic

The Papertake challenge for this week was to make a card for a man, so I decided to pull out this adorable image that another of my blogging friends swapped with me and make my husband's Father's Day card.  It's very simple, just cardstock, patterned paper and a few brads... oh - and of course a few fingerprints!!  No good mechanic would be without them!!

On the home front, I guess the house we looked at wasn't the right one yet.  I loved it, but my husband was not impressed.  Sigh.  God is faithful... I'm just impatient.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank Ewe

Wanda sent me some wonderful images from Pun Fun, and I got to use the little sheep for a quick thank you for a friend.  I used Sketch 121 from ASB as my starting point,  and I layered with some of SU's patterned paper to fulfill the requirement for this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge, colored my little sheep-y with Radiant Pearls (anyone have any more of these around??  They're really fun!!)  and put together a quick, easy, cute card.

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm going to look at some more houses today.  Perhaps today I'll find one!!! :)

Happy Birthday to Jo!!

I had a list of 9 cards to make today.  I got one done.  But it's for one of my blogging friend's birthdays... well actually to be entered in her blog candy drawing, but that means she'll come here and see it and then she'll know it's for her. Right???  Hi, Jo!!!!  Happy birthday!!!

I can't get enough of Tilda.  I really have fallen in love with a few of the images that friends have sent me.  Here she is ready to go to a birthday party.  All pink and yellow and girly.  I colored her with my few little pots of Radiant Pearls and added some Stickles for even more sparkle.  The TAC gift with purchase HB stamp is one of my absolute favorites.  It's free with a $30 order... but only for another month or so!!  The new catalog comes out soon!!

Thanks for stopping by.  If I keep going on my list, I should have quite a bit more eye candy soon!! :)

Thinking of You...

I got to pull out my TAC stamps and Radiant Pearls for this card using one of Mish's sketches.  Quick and easy - and isn't the layered tag made with SU's word window punch cute?  I saw it on someone's blog... don't remember who, though.

If you want to see the shine of the Radiant Pearls a little better, try clicking on the image to make it bigger.  

Card Kit Samples!

Finally!  Here are the samples.  Hope they show up better on your computer than they do on my laptop screen.  Try clicking on the picture to make them larger.  I had fun with this kit, they're so pretty in real life.

Those of you who have already ordered, your kits will go in the mail tomorrow.  Sorry it took so long.  The holiday on Monday really threw me!! :)  

If you haven't ordered your kit yet, let me know.  I have just a couple left!! 

Get Well Card Kit Is Here!!

This month's card kit has a Get Well Soon theme.  It includes:

5 - 6"x6" sheets of patterned paper

4 - 5.5"x 8.5" sheets of colored cardstock (one each of Chocolate, Ruby, Olive & Blue)

4 - 1 yard pieces of ribbon (chocolate & cream grosgrain, ivory organdy & gold cord)

16 assorted brads

6 - 5.5" x 8.5" sheets of Ivory Naturals cardstock

6 - White Envelopes

An assortment of "Get Well" themed stamped images and sentiments 

A color picture of my sample cards 

and... instructions to make a quick and easy card portfolio.  How fun!!

The cost of the kit will be $10+$3 shipping.  (Sorry for the increase in shipping & handling charges!! Unfortunately prices have gone up!)  You can reserve your kit by emailing me at tjtrax @ yahoo . com (without the spaces, of course!!)  and I'll send you a paypal invoice.  If you'd rather pay by check or money order, please let me know.

I'll be working on my samples and have them posted by Monday, so be sure to check back after you reserve your kit.    And if you tell a friend and they reserve a kit as well, I'll send you a free stamp from The Angel Company!

Talk to you soon!

Fixing a Mistake

I made this card for a challenge over on ASB, and thought it needed a bow or something, so I punched a half circle on the edge of the image like I'd seen on Debbie Olson's blog and tried it.  It was AWFUL!!  Junk!!  I really, really wanted to still use the image, cuz it was cute, so I decided to cover my mistake with a flower.  Now I really like it!!  I used up a bunch of scraps of DP - from Daisy Bucket, I think - and even did some doodling around the edge of the main image.  That's about it, I think!  

I have so much stamping to get caught up on that I think I'll go pick up my desk and start.  Have a great weekend, if I don't happen to "see" you!

Take 5 (6??) Challenge

The "Take 5" challenge on ASB was to make a card using the following elements - no more, no less...  colored cardstock, colored pencils, buttons, stickles and paper punches.  Of course stamps and ink and neutral cardstock are ok, too.  Well... I couldn't do it!!  I had the idea for the layout in my head and then I saw this ancient piece of Stampin' Up designer paper and just *had* to use it!!  So... I guess mine is a Take 6 card. :)  

On another topic, I don't know how my pictures are turning out on my blog since I started to upload using my laptop.  Every time I move the screen, they look different to me!!  So, if you have any input, let me know.

Oh - one more thing - are you interested in getting one of the new TAC catalogs that come out in June?  Or would you like to see the newly released Retiring List??  If so, please email me - even if you think you should already be on my mailing list.  Like I said, I switched computers, and I don't want to miss anyone!!

I should have a new card kit up by the end of the month.  Sorry for the lapse.  We've been looking for houses and I haven't stayed on track very well.  Must.Stay.Organized!!

I'd love to hear from you all - email or comment - it makes no difference!  Thanks for stopping by!

Fun Photography

I had so much fun taking the picture of this little ATC for the Tilda & Friends ATC challenge.  I antiqued the coloring and faded the edges to give her more of a "romantic" look. LOL! I hope I'm getting in right under the wire with this, cuz the next challenge is tomorrow, only tomorrow starts earlier in the UK!! 

Anyway, here is Tilda in green with her little frog prince.  The papers and ribbon are from my Mimi's Cottage collection from The Angel Company.  Love them!  Don't forget all the fun specials for this month!  I'm going to be placing an order tonight or tomorrow, so if you need something let me know. 

I got three little tabletoppers pieced today, so I'll be quilting like a mad woman tomorrow.  One will be a wedding present, one will be for me, and one will probably be put in a basket with an altered frappe bottle of hot chocolate mix for someone for Christmas.  When I get them all done, I'll really feel like I accomplished something!!

No Stamping Today!

I don't think that I'll be getting any stamping posted today.  I'm planning on cross-stitching after supper and then maybe I'll have a little time to finish up some projects on my desk.  We're waiting to see if an offer that we placed on a house on Friday will be accepted.  I really like the house, even though it needs a lot of work, but I'm perfectly happy with whatever the Lord will send.  He's been teaching me contentment and stretching my faith, but the peace that His Spirit has given is indescribable.  I know that He has a place for us and that it will be the perfect place.  Perhaps for now that place is here... 5 people in under 1000 sq feet.  It meets our needs, it's easy to pick up, and it's a little less expensive than buying.   Besides, I have a place prepared for me in eternity, bought by the precious blood of Christ.  A place where I will see Jesus Christ my Saviour in all His glory.  Truly, what more could I ask??

Have a wonderful evening!!

Tilda in Black & White

The challenge over at Tilda & Co for this week was to make a Black & White card.  I think grey is a shade of black... at least I hope so!  The dp is retired from SU - Charbon, I think, and the sentiment is from a clear Studio G set.  Thanks for stopping by today!!

Blog Candy

No, sorry, not here... but there's wonderful Hanglar & Stanglar blog candy on Heidi's blog, here... Oh, wouldn't I love to win some of these adorable images!! (They're exclusive to Sweden and Norway!)

Thanks, Mish!

One of my favorite blogs is Michelle Wooderson's Mish Mash.  I love her stamping style and I love her decorating style and she inspires me to mass produce classy cards.  Her tutorial today on mass production was SO timely, as I needed to make 6 cards for an upcoming TAC card swap.  If you need to be inspired to fill up your card stash, be sure you stop by her blog!!

So, here's my answer to her "challenge".  I used the Everyday Events set and cardstock and designer cardstock from the Mimi's Cottage collection from the Angel Company.  I colored the images with Prismas and OMS, matted them on green cs, tied them with a ribbon and layered them on designer cardstock.  So easy and quick and cute!!  Thanks Mish!! 

Lots of Stamping Today!

You would be so proud of me today!  I made duplicates!! :)  I needed 5 cards and I had a little over one hour to make them, so here's what I came up with...

The first card is for a friend who's overseas, made with House Mouse, Primas and paper by K&Co.

Then I made two graduation cards with a cute Penny Black stamp and some scraps of Charbon DP from SU...

And two Wedding Cards made with SU's Watercolor Garden II and one of last year's SAB sets...

Have a wonderful evening.  I finally finished my daughter's cross stitched stocking - at least the stitching part is done.  I still need to make it into a stocking - so tonight I'm going to start on a quick and easy cross stitch just for me.  Yea!! :)

May Angel Company Specials - WOW!!

There are SO many specials this month at The Angel Company!!  I know you won't want to miss out.  Designer cardstock, matchbook kits, Limited Edition stamp sets... Be sure to drop me an email if you'd like to place an order!!

Here are the four new limited edition stamp sets.  Can't wait to pick these up!!  They're only $2.95 each with a $30 purchase!

How about this adorable Vintage stamp set ??  It was one of my favorites in previous catalogs, but I put off ordering it.  Not any longer!  It's just $4.25 with a $30 purchase through the month of May.Here is the New Stamp Set of the Month.  Isn't it great for all of your 4th of July, Military and Summertime cards and Scrapbooks??  Just $6.95 through the month of May, with a $30 purchase.

This gorgeous stamp set comes with 2 of TAC's exclusive Matchbook Mini Scrapbook kits - both Pemberley Bay and Roxie!!  All for only $28.90.  It's a great way to come close to your $30 order so you can get the Limited Edition stamps and Stamp sets of the Month!!

And finally, TAC has brought back an exclusive pattern of their designer paper just in time for Spring and at a huge discount!!  While supplies last you can get this adorable Soar with It Collection of Bella Flor designer cardstock for only $10.00!!

Incredible, huh!!  I need to place my order!!  Can't wait to hear from you!

Silk Truck

The challenge for our card group this round was to make a card using "faux silk" - basically stamping on a piece of tissue paper and crumpling it - then flattening it out and attaching it to your cardstock. I don't know. I think mine still looks like crumpled up tissue paper. The image is "Old Truck" from The Angel Company, colored with markers and prismas.

Tomorrow I *have to* clean my stamping desk so I can make my Tilda ATC on Wednesday. If you don't see me around, that's why. Oh - by the way - The Angel Company has incredible specials on this month!! Check out their website, and I'll try to get a newsletter out tomorrow!! :)

In the Garden

The theme for Cute Card Thursday this week is "In the Garden". I chose this fun Penny Black image to color and matted it with some K&Co paper. I even pulled out my Coluzzle to cut an oval and all my circle punches & scalloped circle punch from SU to mat the sentiment. It is a bright and cheery card and makes me smile. :)

Here's a couple of answers to your questions and comments of the other day....

When do I craft as a homeschool mom?? Well, I usually craft in the morning, but sometimes that becomes a long morning!! I'm very blessed that my children are all teens and very independent workers at this point. I'm called upon here and there to correct work, help with Algebra, give Bible lessons and teach Spanish, but otherwise I'm fairly free to just be Mom. Which obviously includes crafting!!

Do I use Copics? Nope - I only own 3 and just can't justify the expense right now. Especially cuz I would love to get a used Mac laptop in the near future. I can't pay much, so I'm hoping maybe I'll find one at a garage sale or have one given to me. (One can pray that way, at least!!)

Someone mentioned looking forward to my CC Design peeks this week. Sorry! My term with the design team ran out at the end of April and although they sweetly asked me to stay on until December, I decided not to keep up with it. I'm not quite as "in love" with the new Glamour Girl type stamps, and Christine (from CC Designs) deserves to have a design team that can gush over the product they are using... just as I did with the cute animal stamps!!! :)

Thanks for all your sweet comments and remarks. I do read them all, and they make my day!!

And the Winner Is...

Good morning, everybody!! It's May 1st.... time to draw for the Blog Candy!! But first I want to show you the cards I made yesterday. I think I've mentioned before that I have a really, really hard time making more than one card at a time, but Michelle Wooderson almost *always* does four or five cards at a time and makes it look so easy that I had to try it. I've joined Virtual Convention again this year, and I'm on the welcoming committee, so I needed to make at least 5 welcome cards to have on hand and ready to send. What better stamp to use than the wishing well from this retired Stampin' Up set?? :) I colored each picture with Prismas and OMS and then drug out my sewing machine to stitch around the main image. They are all different, but they all have the same basic layout and the stitching, so they were really quick and easy to put together. Thanks for the inspiration, Mish!! :) Oh, and if you'd like to maybe receive one of these cards from me, check out the info on VC Rocks 2008 here!!

OK, now on to the fun stuff... The winner of my Blog Candy is.... (drum roll, please....)

(just a second, I have to go cut all the names apart and draw one!!)

OK, I'm back!!

The winner is Casie!! Congratulations! Be sure to email me with your address!!

Thank you so much for all your sweet comments!! I'll try to answer all your questions tomorrow. :)

See you then!!