Hello Thursday

Check out all of Prov Crafts new cartridges at Obsessed with Scrapbooking.  I think I have my eye on Wrap it Up cartridge.... She has some great giveaways going on now too!

Back Sprain

On Sunday I sprained my back trying to carrying the crate that holds all my students papers.  It was so painful I thought for sure I messed up one of my disks...I went to the chiropractor but he couldn't do a whole lot because the injury was new (he did energy manipulation).  Then, I went to primary care and got pain pills, motrin, and muscle relaxers!  Praise the lord.

Anyways, I probably won't be posting for awhile - at least until I'm feeling better.  Also, thanks Mel for taking yesterday off so you could drive me to all of my appointments!  You're the best!!!

Embossing Trial and MPS Challenge

Hey friends!  This card started out to be an experiment in embossing since I just received my versamark and embossing powders from Papertrey Ink, but I really liked the way it finally turned out.  Cutting out the card and designing this one was really easy.  It was the embossing that turned out to be tricky. 

At first I could not get the stuff to melt!  I sat there with my hairdryer blowing on it for like 10 minutes.  I kept dropping the paper and when I tried to anchor it, it still blew away and ended up scrapping off some of the embossing powder.  So, I had to remake the tag and the red portion of the mug. 

I went online to do some more research – I didn’t know if I messed up the stamping and applying the powder, if my product was defective, or if a hair dryer wouldn’t work (but come on…if that is not a heat tool what is??).  Online they kept saying you could see the powder melt (had not experienced this yet) and that it had to get to 200 degrees before it would melt.  So, I decided to try using a lighter to melt it.

I went on our front porch and pulled out the trusty Zippo.  While I was trying to melt the paper the crazy cat lady across the street came out to tell me that she was taking a bunch of cats to the vet… She had one in a cage and I really didn’t catch the rest because my paper caught on fire!!!  I tried to blow it out but it just made it worse so I dropped it on the ground and had to stomp it out.  Through all of this the lady kept telling me about her cats!  BUT it did melt the powder!  So I stamped up some more paper and took it outside to emboss with a lighter (no more Zippos).  It worked great and I just barely burned my finger.

Anyways, I loved how this card turned out.  I started out wanting to try embossing and I needed an entry for the My Pink Stamper challenge.  You had to make something cute!  I think this qualifies!

I hope you like it!  Oh, and I couldn’t resist taking pictures of the paper that I ended up burning….

Recipe: All products are Papertrey Ink and Stampin’ Up

Paper: Pure Poppy, Old Olive, Brown (forget the name), and Kraft paper

Ribbon: Pure Poppy, twine (papertrey)

Embossing Powder: Silver from Papertrey Ink

Versamark stamp

Cartridge: Winter Frolic

Stamp: My Pink Stamper

Holiday Challenge CCCB#25

City Crafter Challenge Blog is having a holiday theme challenge this week.  I just received my order from Papertrey Ink and was so excited I had to make a Thanksgiving card.  I think if I could do something over I would have put a solid color piece behind the sentiment to make it stand out a little bit more, but I still really like how it turned out!

Recipe:

Paper: PaperTrey Ink

Ribbon: Papertrey Ink (Orange Zest)

Cartridge: Create a Critter

Gold Stickles

Stamp: My Pink Stamper

Pride!

Happy Pride my gays!  As most of you know by now, I am in a lesbian relationship and am head over heels in love.  In the past I dated men, but for me it is all about the person on the inside.  Anyways, it is pride weekend here in Atlanta and so I made two of my friends "Happy Pride" cards.  Shockingly there are not many crafting supplies devoted to this special event.  However, I think I succeeded in making the gayest cards humanly possible!  Enjoy and be proud of who you are!!

Version 1

Version 2

It's hard to see in the pictures (I have light issues) but these are actually really bright colors (not the pastel that is showing up for some reason).

More Halloween!

I have been in a Halloween card frenzy these past few weeks.  I just made this for the Simon Says Challenge and Lexi Creations Challenge.  I really like how it turned out.  I still have a few Halloween card ideas in me so I may do a few more (but I need to start sending them out!).  Hope you all like it :)

I also made a special card for someone today, but I'm going to wait until I give it to them before I post it.  I've never made anything like it before but I think it's appropriate for the occasion.

Boo!

I just made this card and I think it is one of my all time favorites!

 I bought these different Halloween flowers awhile ago and could not figure out what to do with them.  (Impulse Michael's buy.)  I added distress ink (vintage photo) to the leaves and around the edges of the petals as well as to the "Boo!" tag and the ribbon (LOVE THAT STUFF!).  The stamp is from my pink stamper.  All of the spiders were cut from the Happy Hauntings cartridge (no clue at what sizes because I forgot to write it down).  All the paper is from Stampin' Up.  I used stickles on the ends of the spiders so it looked like they were hanging from their webbing (or whatever that stuff is called - I should know....right Mel :)

I sure hope I get a bunch more craft stuff for Christmas (hint hint :)

Papercraft Star

For those of you who regularly read my blog (but still haven't become a follower :) you may have read one of the recent comments I received from Papercraft Star.  They are having a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Papertrey Ink (or My Favorite Things).  I of course will be picking Papertrey Ink if I win.  

They seem like a really great website - lots of challenges and giveaways.  Also, they are going to be looking for DT member soon and I think yours truly will be applying!  Happy Happy Monday!

Hero Arts Giveaway

Hey friends!  Go on over to Hero Arts and check out the great giveaway and challenges they are having!

Stamp man blog hop

Stamp man is having a great blog hop (he always uses some create Tim Holtz stuff).  Anyways, there are chances to win at each blog you stop at.  There are several steps you have to do in order to win, and I hope that I don't forget any of them!!

Here is where you need to start: http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/

MPS Halloween Challenge

Here is another card that I made today.  This one is for the My Pink Stamper Halloween Challenge.  You just to make something for Halloween.

 

I used Tim Holtz distress ink on the Stampin' Up Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry paper.  The two stamps on the edges are also Tim Holtz (I've had them for a few weeks and have been dying to use them).  The sentiment is my pink stamper (ironically the stamp set you can win for submitting a Halloween project).  I also used gold stickles for the cat's eyes and on his bow-tie (again, I need to work on taking better pictures of my cards because they are WAY cuter in person).

Color Challenge for World Card Making Day

Since today is world card Making day, I had to make something!  Over at Creations by Christina, they are having a day full of challenges and giveaways (so be sure to check it out).  Anyways, I made this card for challenge #4.  You had to make a card using orange, purple, and green.  I had lots of fun making this card and have a person in mind to send it to you.  I hope you like it!!  I thought it would be perfect for one of my Boot family members :)

Those holes were REALLY hard to get out of the green part of the shoe...I had to cut that part out like 3 different times!  The color in the picture isn't the best, but I promise that is purple (as the card base and for the shoe) it is Stampin' Up: Rich Razzleberry (I really need to get better lights in the craft room so the pictures show up better).

Pine Lake October Fest!

So, today Mel and the Lives of the Monster Dogs performed down by the lake for the annual October Fest.  They play pretty much every year, but unfortunately last year we didn't get to go because Mel was still in the hospital.  So, this was my first time going!  I had a ton of fun and I felt like one of the Gilmore Girls in Stars Hollow for a while...there was even a very Taylor-esch lady walking around asking people if they had been counted (she asked me at least 3 times - you had to have a green circle sticker).  There were also some people selling an assortment of crafts.  At one booth they were selling hand-made cards (it was kinda funny because I could see where all their stamps and punches were from).  Mel was so cute and even asked a lady if she owned a Cricut!  I think next year we may try to see if we can get a booth there (Mel can sell her pumpkins and I can sell cards and some of my altered stuff).  Anyways, here are some of the pictures I took.

The band!  I wish I had gotten some better pictures with the lake in the background...it was beautiful!

Ron and I were in charge of the merch table....Favorite thing a customer said "I love that California song..." (that's the song Mel wrote for me :)  Oh, and Ron's mohawk and little rock star shirt were the hit of the festival...everyone there was obsessed with him.

This is my favorite smile of hers...sigh

The pretzel booth next to us that smelled delish!

These are just a few of the pictures I took...leave me alone with my camera for an hour and a half and I end up with 100 of pictures to go through (thank god for digital cameras with rechargeable batteries)