A fun new find & a challenge

I told y'all a few days ago about going this past weekend to the Stamp Scrap Art Tour in Columbia, SC and one of my new finds is a company called Repeat Impressions.  I went bonkers for their "Flip" card stamp sets.  These are stamps sets made for Waterfall cards which are not just cute and easy to make, but people in general love to receive them because they're fun.  Here are the 2 sets I got & I plan to get at least one more. 

Last night I was checking out their website and Facebook page and found their blog also The House that Stamps Built.   They have a couple of challenges going on and I wanted to join in so the card below is for their What if Wednesday Sketch Challenge- F812.  The only problem was that it has to be posted by 5:00 today.  That gave me 2 hours to get home from work, get the card made and post this (which will probably be the longest/hardest part of the process with my old dinosaur of a computer.) 

I spent the day yesterday cutting and mounting the 2 sets I bought so as soon as I can get some cards whipped up with them I'll put 'em up.   OOoo!, 4:40, only 20 mins. left, so bye for now. 

Helping Heal the Hurt

In my last post I told you about a special project I was involved in that had to do with a tragedy that has fallen on our quite little town.  Actually, it is a tragedy that unbelievably struck us not once, but twice in a 6 week period.  Two of our city police officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty.  Both of these officers grew up here in Aiken and both of them, as well as their families were and are very much loved and highly thought of in this community.

The loss of one was almost incomprehensible but then to have it happen again just 6 weeks later was a shock that still has us reeling and that no one can quite believe.  
The outpouring of love and support from the community, while it can do little to ease the pain that these families and fellow law enforcement colleagues are feeling, will hopefully give them at least a feeling of encouragement and a small acknowledgement of how much we appreciate their sacrifices.

There have been numerous fundraisers and benefits held in the past few weeks with more planned in the coming weeks, but the one activity I was able to be a part of was thru my church and we called it "Buckets of Hope".  Last week, all 155 employees of the Aiken Department of Public Safety received a 5 gallon bucket STUFFED to the rim with all kinds of things donated by the people and businesses of the surrounding area.   We also have collected cards for each of the 155,  and these will be delivered this coming week as a kind of follow-up, just to let them know we are still thinking of them, praying for them, and appreciate what they do.  From what I understand, the overall favorite item in the buckets (& there was some good stuff in there let me tell you) but the one thing we kept hearing comments on were the notes and letters written by children that were included, so while our cards may not measure up to the kids' cards & letters, hopefully they will convey the message all the same. 

 

If you have someone in your family that is in law enforcement or any branch of our armed forces, please give them a hug for me if you can and tell them I said THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart, and a hug and thank you to you too.

Can I come sleep over at your house --

Cause I don't want to sleep in the doghouse tonight!

I was so bad today.  I went to a Stamp/ Scrap Art Tour show in Columbia, SC and had a blast, but I did way too much damage too.  I was kidding about having to sleep in the doghouse because my sweet hubby doesn't say a word about my buying craft supplies, but the guilt when I go overboard like today is what eats me up, (at least until I start playing with all my new stuff.) 

My haul for today

I got a friend of mine to go with me to the show and as soon as we walk up to the doors to go in, she recognizes a lady who lives just down the street from her, Carol was the lady's name.  Well Carol is a card-maker too, and she expressed just what I've been whining about for a year and half now, "There is no one around me that makes cards or at least I can't find them if they're out there," and here we are in the same town!  She gave me her blog name and I'm going to check it out as soon as I finish this post.  I'm so excited to find a fellow card-maker right here in Aiken and get this, this is the second one in 2 weeks!  So my wish of finding some local craft buddies may be finally coming true at long last, plus, I am in the beginning stages of starting a new card-making/paper crafting group at my church.  More about that later.

I haven't been on here in a while but I have been crafting.  If you can stick with this post (it's gonna be a little bit long 'cause I've got a lot of lost time to make up for) but if you can stick with it, I need some input on a project below.  We'll get to that in a minute.  

Here we go.

vinyl on glass wall hanging for my daughter (an idea she found on Pinterest--go figure)

Yarn wreath I saw on Pinterest, but I made mine small so it can be a candle ring

*What I can't decide is whether to put tiny flowers in it or small Easter Eggs, or both.  What do you think?

Of course I've been making cards, below are just a few.  I've actually been working on a special project that I'll tell you about later because it deserves a special post of it's own.  It has to do with a horrible tragedy that struck our little town and about our community showing appreciation to our public safety department employees.

(Waiting for some bronze brads to finish embellishing these two.)

I made several Valentine's cards but who wants to see those now- (nobody.)  I just wanted to show this one because it uses a digi I got from Cre8tive Hands.  She puts out some really cute free digis.  Check her out.

Birthday card for one of the nephews (the only little one left in the family.)  I think this penguin is "Dexter" by Bugaboo if you know or if I"m wrong please tell me.

 

 

I CAN NOT wait to show you some of the things I got today in more detail- that is if you want to see them.  I'll be posting them over the next couple of days.  I got some new "things" to try out which always excites me, so I hope you'll come back soon.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

Wishing you 

Sunshine and Smiles

Love and Laughter

What's on your list?

 I've come to realize there is just no getting ahead, or even just slightly caught up in the crafting world when it comes to those magically infinite things we call our wishlists.   Every time I think I"m getting close to paring my list way down, badaboom, new release &/or CHA time!   Have you seen all the cool new stuff that's coming out?!  Not to mention the things we have only been given teasing little sneak peeks of. 

So, what's on your list?  Inquiring minds want to know..... 

No really, I DO want to know.  (I may have missed something that I need to go check out, he,he.) 

Me?  Well, I'm always wanting more Lawn Fawn stamps, and of course there are tons of new paper lines coming out and new Spellbinders dies that I want to get my hands on.  Luckily I haven't really seen any new  machines that I think I've just got to have.

Speaking of Lawn Fawn, I whipped up a card for Lawnscaping Challenge #26: Winter Wonderland

sets used- LF: Ornate Ornaments and Winter Bunny, Hero Arts: Thinking of You

This is one of those times that I am totally baffled by the way this photographed.  There is very subtle inking around the frame of blue and lavendar, but in this pic it looks like dark blue blotches. 
I have got to invest in some kind of photo editing software!  Any suggestions, and please keep in mind, I am a total dunce when it comes to computers.
Have a great rest of the week everyone.  (I really do hope you'll tell me what's been added to your lists.)

White on White- Heartsong Challenge #31

I have a couple of baskets I keep my cards in until I'm ready to mail them off and lately the basket for my everyday cards is running really low, while my holiday basket is overflowing, (actually it's overflowing into the everyday basket) so I have really got to get back to making birthday, sympathy & T.O.Y. cards for now, and here is my first one.  I'm entering it in the Heartsong Challenge #31 -Glitter or White on White.

I'm really hating the bow on the front of this now that I'm seeing it on the screen, so that's probably gonna go- thank goodness for "UnDu"! 

Edited:  I've just found a great site called ScrapChallenge.com
I'm pretty new to the challenge scene and have been overwhelmed by how many challenges there are out there.  This site makes it so much easier.  I will also be entering this card at a site that I think is fairly new that I found because of ScrapChallenge called Friendship's Garden for their Clean and Simple challenge.

Wishing you Sunshine and Smiles

                Love and Laughter!

Why I don't post Layouts

In the 14 months I've had this blog I think I have only posted two LO's and they were both for blog hops.  It's not that I don't do them, I've been scrapping 14 years, and have done hundreds of pages, it's just that I don't follow the "trend" of scrapbooking with the ultra elaborate embellishments, and layering, etc.  I stick to a very simple look with the pictures being the main item on the page, (and rather boring by industry standards,) therefore I don't post my LO's.  I've got to admit that this one is even a little more simplistic than usual for me.  I'm entering it in Emma's (My Creative Time) Throwback Thursday challenge.  The theme for this challenge is "sports".
I actually had a card in the works for the hubby for Valentine's that had a lot of sports terms like, "touchdown, score, homerun, goal, etc."  on it (because he's a sporty kinda guy and that'll grab his attention,) but I was afraid the suggestive nature of the wording might offend someone, but I've got to tell you, I think he's gonna like it ;) 

Football cut from Cricut Sports Mania cart.

I took a class with Shelby Dredge from Embellish It, last summer and she made the joke..."who else but scrapbookers would spend $50 on embellishments and papers to scrap $2.00 worth of pictures?"  She was so right.  So, what's the worst you've probably ever done as far as spending on a LO?  I don't think I've ever spent more than $5-7 on a page, and I mostly do double page LO's.  Be honest!

More Snow & missing stamp update

Inside sentiment:  to warm your heart

Yes, another snow themed card!  It looks like my craft room is gonna be the closest thing I get to seeing snow this year.  (I'm seriously thinking of hanging pretty glittery snowflakes all over my room to enjoy.) 

In the past 2 weeks I have gone crazy buying old Stampin Up stamp sets on Ebay, and it's all because of that crazy little missing stamp I posted about last week.  It was so heartwarming to read all of your sweet comments offering to help or wishing that you could help with my little dilemma and I just wanted to say THANKS!   Two ladies offered to stamp me out a few copies of the stamp that I can use to make the cards I want to.   This was just more proof that crafters are the biggest-hearted, sweetest people around and yes, we do look out for each other.

Materials used:
Stampin Up stamp set, Spellbinders oval dies, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Snowflake buttons from Hobby Lobby, Copics, Stardust Stickles.

Entering in the following challenges:
My Craft Spot #41: Snow Much Fun
Little Scrap Pieces:  Anything Goes
Whimsical Wednesday:  Anything Goes

Do you have this Stampin Up set?

Your help is needed......
The Loads of Love Stamp set and its accessory set are two that I immediately wanted the first time I saw them.  Although the set has lots of uses and possibilities, I had a very specific idea/plan for a Christmas card I wanted to make.   I found the combined set on Ebay and was so excited.  I got it for a good deal, or it seemed so at the time.  When I got it, it was missing 3 stamps and I didn't catch that fact when bidding nor was it written in the listing, (so buyer beware.)  This really wouldn't have been so bad considering the good deal I got except for the fact that my "idea" card requires one of the missing stamps, the little pile of presents.

If by some heavenly ordained chance someone is reading this post that has this set or knows someone that does, could I please "commission" you to stamp me out about 10-15 of the little "pile of presents" stamp?  I would be ever so grateful and I will send you the $ upfront. Hopefully if I start now, I can somehow get what I need and be ready for next Christmas. 

How's this for an unorthodox post, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures and when I get my mind on something I don't/won't rest until it is resolved! 

Thanks everyone.

Snowflake dreams continued.....in blue

Yep, it's this little guy again, but this time in blue.  OK, that's 3 with him so I'm in the clear with this stamp.  Actually, 2 would have put me in the clear because he didn't cost much but I made one more for good measure.  (If this makes no sense to you, see previous post.)

When I said I was going to start entering challenges I had NO IDEA there are so many out there!  It's quite overwhelming.  I visited a blog that must have had between 20-25 challenges she was entering with just one card.  I picked 5 that my card will fit the requirements/theme and they are:

Creative Card Crew #1: Snow Day 
Sentimental Sunday #84:  Snow, Blue &/or glitter
Make it Mondays #71:  Anything Goes
Do You Stack Up (DYSU #53): Let It Snow
Critter Sketch Challenge #97:  Baby It's Cold Outside (Snowman/Snow-woman)
Stamps R Us:  Anything Goes

I think what I need to do is find a handful of challenge sites and just stick with those 5-6.   Any suggestions?

Have a great day and make it a good day for someone else too,
it'll come back to you.

Snowflake Dreams & a new vow for the New Year.

It seems that pretty much everyone has been experiencing Spring weather lately.  It was an unbelievably beautiful sunny weekend in the low 70's here, but wait.... it's January, or at least that's what the calendar says.   Granted, we rarely get snow around these parts, but I absolutely love it and I wanna see snow.  (That's easy for someone to say who doesn't have to deal with it for weeks/months on end, right?)  So for all you normally snow-laden friends, I'm glad you're all getting a reprieve from the cold, at least for now.  It sure does make it nice on the electric bill doesn't it, but I still wanna see snow! 

So snow it is.....

 

This little snowman is a new stamp I got by Inkadinkadoo, the snowflake trim is a Martha Stewart punch (that I have been trying to buy since last year and Michael's finally got them back in.)  The embossing folder is by Cuttlebug and the vellum strip with the text is a strip I cut from an old Christmas card.  The tiny bit of coloring I did is with Copics.

This stamp is from an old Stampin Up set that is new to me (thank you Ebay.)   The snowflake background was heat embossed with a glittery embossing powder and is stamped using some pretty Studio G ($1 bin) snowflake stamps I just got and some smaller snowflake stamps from Lawn Fawn.  I used Spellbinders ovals to cut the acetate and the frame and the same Cuttlebug embossing folder as in the previous card to emboss the acetate.  The "Let It Snow" stamp is another $1 bin find from last year and I used Copics.

 

Inkadinkadoo snowman again, Sizzix embossing folder, Martha Stewart snowflake punches, Stampendous for the little 'winter greetings' stamp,  'Stardust' Stickles (my favorite!) and Copics

MY new vow for the New Year...

I realized recently that I have been buying way too many craft items/supplies that I can't justify the price I paid for either because I'm only using them maybe once or twice or worse not at all!   So I vowed for the New Year that if/when I buy something I've got to use it and I have to use it accordingly.  I've devised a little formula for myself which tho' as dumb as it may be, it will make me feel a little less guilty hopefully.  My formula is simple, if I pay $10 for a stamp, then I need to use it a bare minimum of 3 times because I figure I would spend (on the very low end) $3 for a store bought card:  3 x $3= $9 so that kind of justifies the price.  Is this the dumbest thing you've heard lately or what?  Anyway, just as in this post, you will probably start seeing a lot of duplicate cards of slightly differing variations in my posts and this is why.   Is there anyone else out there as ridiculous as me that has to devise schemes to justify how much you spend on craft supplies?   Please let me know if you're out there.....(and maybe share a few of your excuses, I mean ideas.)

I'm entering this in the following challenges (I told you I was gonna start trying to enter a few challenges, now didn't I?)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Something New

For Fun Challenge- also Something New

Jellypark Friends- Old Year/New Year

Have a wonderful day and remember...

Pay it Forward, even if it has to start with you!