A Couple Cuppas and Fabulous Freebies!

I am still just LOVIN' Lindsay's Coffee Talk stamp set and these papers from bo bunny! I made two cards this week - one for a dear cousin who just had shoulder surgery, and one for a favorite friend who shares my love of coffee! I used this week's Inspirational Card Sketch #36 for my cards. Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is sponsoring this week, so be sure to join the challenge and get a chance to win some fabulous free stamps! Speaking of free, hop on over to Lindsay's blog to see what she has for freebies today, and be sure to check out her special this week - 50% of the Babies and Bows stamp set in celebration of the birth of her nephew, Mason. She has also added some cute BINGO Cards to this set. (Scroll back through her blog to see the bingo cards and super cute pics of Mason. He's a doll!)
My cards were quite simple this week. I printed the images, cut them out with my coluzzle oval template and colored them with my bic mark its. I used a cuttlebug die for the "hello friend" sentiment. I blended antique linen distress ink on one card to give it an aged look, and used picket fence distress stickles to give the second card just a touch of bling. The card bases are made with bazill cardstock. Lindsay has posted links to everyone's blogs so you will see the most current, up-to-date creations by her fabulous design team members. Just go to Thefrugalcrafter's Weblog to check out what's new this week! Until next time, happy stamping!

Creepy Crows ATCs

ATCs are one of my favorite things to create. I just love trading/collecting them - I have a whole notebook full of them. The theme for this swap was "crows". I didn't really have an outstanding crow stamp, so I asked Lindsay at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff to create one for me and I chose to use one of the flourished crow stamps in her "Creepy Crows" stamp set. I started by cutting my cream card stock base to 3 1/4 x 2 1/4. I used antique linen, faded jeans, and spiced marmalade Distress Inks to create the background. Next I ran each piece through my cuttlebug using the swirls embossing folder. I painted the backgrounds with blue and orange pearl paints so the card would sparkle. I printed the crows, colored them with my bic mark its and cut them out. I die cut the branches using a sizzix die and punched the moons from an old Edgar Alan Poe book. I gave the moons a quick gloss of gold pearl paint and adhered all the pieces onto the background. I attached that to a 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of blue bazzill cardstock and stamped the sentiment (Wood Cellar Graphics) on the back. I really like how these turned out!














The "Creepy Crows" and the new "Cute Halloween" sets are both available for just $5.00 each. Check out her blog Thefrugalcrafter's Weblog to see what awesome project she's created today and to find her new freebie! You can also check out the Design Team's blogs for some fabulous inspiration. Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Stamping!!!!!

Tim Holtz, Cranberry Muffins, and Stamped Wrappers!

I've recently been obsessed with Tim Holtz and his demos. I've been watching them on my netbook and wanted to try some of his techniques. I picked up on something he said - he said he liked to use tags for his demos. My mind went from tags to Cupcake Wrappers! This morning was a beautiful, crisp fall morning and I decided to make some cranberry muffins and put my idea to work. So, while my muffins were cooling, I went to the computer to print Lindsay's Blank Cupcake Wrappers. There were 3 different distress ink techniques, and well, there were 3 wrappers in the set. It was a sign... I knew I had to do it!
Just a side note - I was afraid it would take a long time to cut out the wrappers and medallions, but being the OCD person I am, I set my timer for just to see how long it would take to cut everything out. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it only took me 11 minutes to cut out all the pieces. A tip I will suggest is when you are cutting both the medallions and the wrappers to turn the paper, not your scissors. You have better control and it goes more quickly. Also a big tip - make sure your wrappers are right-side-up when you decorate them. The long curve is the top and the shorter curve is the bottom. You know why I'm telling you this...I have a set of upside down birds and trucks on my hands!
I made this one for my hubby. It occurred to me recently that I make things for lots of people, and he's usually not one of them! Poor guy! For this one I used distress inks colors Orange Marmalade and Faded Jeans. The stamps are all Tim Holtz. This technique is done by inking your craft mat, adding water and laying your paper on top. Continue with this until you get the desired results. You will need to heat dry after each layer.
The next one I made using only Aged Mahogany ink and Tim Holtz stamps. This one is done by crumpling the paper, inking with a distress pad, and spritzing with water. Next, you iron it flat and start stamping! I think I'm going to give this one to a very special friend. But I'm not saying who it is, in case she reads this before I see her!
The last one is for Halloween. I used Orange Marmalade and Peeled Paint distress inks. This was the technique where you ink up your tool, and start on your craft mat by circling around and on to the paper. More pressure gives you more color. After this one dried, I ran it through my cuttle bug in an embossing folder and added a spooky pumpkin stamp and sentiment to this one. The pumpkin is Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, the sentiment is snag 'em stamps, and the spider is studio g.
Click HERE for the link to the recipe. I made a cream cheese frosting for the top, but cannot find it! So sorry. It's a good one! Click HERE to go to Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and buy these fun wrappers! I think they have endless possiblities! She also makes a birthday set that you can buy and color.
Well, I am off to deliver my goodies. I'll see you all soon. Thanks so much for stopping by...and leave me a comment, it makes my day! Until then, happy stamping everyone!

Crow Trees and Freebies!

Fall is certainly in the air way up here in Maine. The leaves are beginning to change and we may have a frost on our hands (well, on the grass) this morning. When the sun comes up, I'll go check and see! I had asked Lindsay to create a crow stamp for me because I'm in a ATC swap at The Stamp Shack. Well, being the overachiever that she is, she made a whole set of crow stamps! Here's a preview of the set: (I'm not sure why the pic is so small. Maybe someone can help?)
I just love it! If you love it, you can buy it at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for just $5.00 You can also get an awesome FREEBIE if you stop by her blog, thefrugalcrafter's weblog. I can't tell you what it is, just that it coordinates with the Creepy Crow Set and you won't want to miss it...
Even though I originally asked for a crow to use for the ATC swap, I decided to do another sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches. Makes sense, right? :) I am really loving sketches lately! They take all of the "thinking" out of making a card. I used black bazzill for my card base. I layered a panel of the the striped side of a sheet of bo bunny paper onto the base and cut two small strips of purple bazzill and emobssed them with a border folder. I layered a panel of the polka dotted side of the bo bunny paper onto that and printed the Crow Tree onto a scrap of orange DCWV, inked up the edges with Black StazOn ink. I used pop dots to adhere the top two layers and I finished up with a couple of Prima Flowers (also pop dotted) and some Stickles~ Ta DA! I can see I'm going to have a lot of fun with my new stamp set! Thanks, Lindsay!
Make sure you hop on over to the rest of the Design Team's Blogs this week and check out all their fantabulous creations! Click HERE for the link, and until next time, Happy Stamping!
...weather update! The fog is clearing, and there is no frost here in my neck of the woods. Safe for one more day!

Nothing like waiting 'till the last minute...

This is the card I made using Lindsay's new Coffee Talk digi stamp set! I just love this new set and can't wait to make more cards with it. This one was made with a sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches. This week's challenge is sponsored by none other than Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I think I'll just make the deadline this week...tomorrow is a new sketch already. One of these days I'll get my act together. I'll be sure to let you know when that happens!
Thanks for stopping by. I'll see you again on Thursday. Happy Stamping!!!!

Freebies, New Groups, and ...

and I didn't get a project made! Oh, bother! It has been a very busy week. I'll spare you all the gory details, but you mom's with teens starting back up at high school know what I'm talking about! Anyway, I do have some cool news to share with you and I'll get my card done soon, so PLEASE come back! I just love all the comments and suggestions you all leave for me each week. It's what makes crafting so much fun.

Lindsay, of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, has designed a new set of stamps this week and I just love it. It's a cute coffee set, complete with sentiments! Click HERE to check it out! I'm sure the talented ladies on the Design Team have created some fabulous cards with this set. Lindsay also has some awesome FREEBIES on her blog this week. She's been in her studio creating up a storm, so look out-and check out her blog THE FRUGAL CRAFTER'S WEBLOG to see what she's been up to.

Ok, I'm off to see if I can eeek out a bit of time to create something before posting time. Happy Stamping, Everyone!

Sunflower ATC Fun!

I am in an ATC swap at the Stamp Shack. OK, so I'm really in about 8! Anyway, the one I worked on this week is Sunflowers. I know I've used this image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff before, but it is so cute, I just couldn't resist using it again! I thought it was perfect for this swap! I used my bic mark its to color the image and cut it out with my nesties. I layered the image onto a piece of bo bunny paper, and then onto a piece of pumpkin cardstock that I embossed with one of my cuttlebug folders. A few dollops of stickles and it's done!

You can get this image and tons more at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for just $1.oo! She is giving away a bonus freebie this week, so be sure to check the DT's blogs to see who has it! Well, I'm off to work on the rest of my swaps...Happy Stamping Everyone!!!