Sealed with a Kiss

***WARNING: I'm sleepy, but determined to get this done...so excuse the typos. Thanks!***

I know...I know...it's been over two weeks since my last post and for that I'm deeply apologetic. I have no excuse, but to say...NOTHING....because it would be pitiful to attempt an excuse when I don't have one worth of your time. All I can say is I appreciate your sticking with me. Now, I'm back in the saddle again and off to the races. The latest OCC Sketch Challenge really tickled my fancy. So, I knew I just had to particpate - not only is the sketch fun, but the prize is super sweet...a customer banner and watermark.

The card started off with a black base and I got the idea to use this from last weeks SCS Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC204). I love ribbon and I thought this sketch was just beggin' for some ribbon - so I obliged the card with some red satin ribbon. I used red marker to ink the kiss stamp and embossed with clear E.P. a couple of time until the finish was smooth. I found this quote by Levende Waters at Quote Garden and I thought it was very fitting...cuz I feel this way about my hubby. I know it's so sweet its nauseating (I'm making myself sick), but the truth is the truth.



Again, thanks for sticking with me and I will make it worth your time with some upcoming eye candy with some pretty interesting stories.

'til I craft again...


~Stuff Used~
Card Size: 5"x 5"; Technique: Dry Embossing; Stamp: Kiss (Stampabilities); Paper: Black (DCWV), White CS (Georgia-Pacific), Light Textured Gray CS (Hobby Lobby); Accessories: Foam Tape, Red Marker, Heat Gun, Georgia Font (Microsoft), Red Satin Ribbon (Offray), Clear E.P. (Stampendous), 1 1/2 Circle Punch (EK Success), Heart Blocks Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug)

Crafting with a Purpose

I was hoping to have had this posted this past weekend like I eluded to, but LIFE HAPPENS! So things didn’t go exactly as I planned. Go figure – plans going awry. Anyway…back to your regularly scheduled program.

I wanted a card with a general theme because this card is going to be given as part of Jen’s blog tart goodness (aka blog candy) which has a philanthropic edge to it. You can check out the details here. I encourage any and all to play…it’s even better because you’ll be crafting with a purpose.

I have been choppin’ at the bit to use this Fluffles stamp because it is so freakin’ CUTE! At first, I was having a hard time figuring out how I was going to use it, because a sentiment didn’t just jump out at me…but then it hopped out at me…get it? Grasshopper and hoppin’ – so go together. I know it’s corny, but I think it’s cute. I thought the most recent SCS Sketch (SC210) layout would fit best and I think it does. Let me know what you think.

'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Stuff Used~
Card Size: 4. 25"x 5.5"; Technique: Goo Gone (used the same way as Gamsol Magic); Stamps: Grasshopper Fluffles (Stampendous); Ink: Black (Memories); Paper: DP (DCWV), White CS (Georgia-Pacific), Purple CS (Hobby Lobby); Accessories: Foam Tape, Color Pencils (Koh-i-noor), Goo Gone, Cool Gray No. 1 Marker (Copic – C1), Blending Stumps, Buttons (Hobby Lobby), White Floss (DMC), His Name Is Honey Font (kevinandamanda.com), Crimper

In the winter, love warms the heart...

This card was inspired by three things. What are those things? Glad you asked and I'm happy to tell ya...

#1 Last week I mentioned how I finally managed to get some organization into my craft room. I wasn't completely happy with the results. Granted everything has a place, but now I've got to organize the stuff in its place. For instance, I've been struggling to find ways to store my ribbon and I think I finally found a method that's gonna work for me. I'll share pictures when I get everything labeled. How was this inspirational for me? I'm sure there's probably some logical reason behind it, but all I know is uncluttered spaces unclutter my mind. Therefore my creativity flows freely without being blocked. I know it sounds kinda corny, but if feeling this way is wrong, I don't wanna be right. LOL!

#2 I've been wanting to do a winter themed card with a "love" type sentiment. I've been coming up with the corniest sentiments. I won't share them all, but here's one for your giggling pleasure. Are you ready? Here it goes..."Baby, it’s cold outside but don’t you worry…you’ll be warm and safe within my heart."

While not as corny, now you can understand the corniest of this card, titled "Love Warms".

#3 Our Creative Corner has a sketch challenge that got my creative juices flowing. As usual, I procrastinated to long and missed the opportunity for the prize. However, it's the sketch that inspired me to give my winter themed card a go.

Believe it or not...I'm already working on another card. Shocking...I know. I hope to have it posted sometime this weekend.

'til I craft again or have something to say...

~Love Warms Details~

Card Size: 4. 25"x 5.5"; Stamps: Winter Woods (Rubber Stamped); Ink: Moonlight White (Tsukinek); Paper: Light and Dark Textured Gray CS, Textured Burgundy CS, Kraft CS (Hobby Lobby), Textured Cream paper; Accessories: Heart Punch (EK Success), Cornice Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Glitter (Doodlebug and Martha Stewart), Socially Awkward Font (kevinandamanda.com), Ribbon, Foam Tape

My creativity is finally flowing...

A couple of weeks ago, I was conversing with Michelle of Stamp and Smile and I was telling her how my craft room is a mess which I really think was stalling my creative process. I just can't think in cluttered spaces. Well over the holiday break, I got my room organized. I can actually feel the creativity flowing in the space. It's truly a beautiful thing. My craft space is by no means the way I want it (thus not picture worthy), but at least it clean and everything has a place and everything is in its place.

As soon as I was done with my space I was ready to create. I had created a birthday card inspired by the SCS Ways to Use It Challenge (WT198 - Creative Letters), but something just didn't feel right about it. I had created my own layout and patterned paper, but something was off...I think it was the color.

Then my hubby comes along and said that he liked it, but the colors were throwing him off...it didn't say, "happy". I had to agree with him. I don't know what's got into my hubby, but he has become my crafty critic (without me asking), He always has something constructive to say. I love that man!

Anyway, after looking around SCS for some inspiration, I decided to use the layout from the most recent Sketch Challenge (SC208) as I thought it fit the inner layer I had already created.

Overall, I am happy with the results. My favorite part is the bee. You can't really tell in the photo, but I used foam tape so the bee would pop off the card. The bee looks like it is hovering right over the card. Let me know what you think.

'til I craft again or have something to say...


~Stuff Used~
Card Size: 4. 3/4"x 4 5/8"; Technique: Goo Gone (used the same way as Gamsol Magic); Stamps: Bees (Stamps Happen, Inc.); Ink: Black (Memories); Paper: DP & Yellow CS (DCWV), White CS (Georgia-Pacific), Textured Black CS (Hobby Lobby), Textured Cream paper; Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig (EK Success), Brown Chalk (Craft-T), Foam Tape, Color Pencils (Koh-i-noor), Goo Gone, Blending Stumps, Button (Hobby Lobby), Black Floss (DMC), American Craft Vinyl Thickers - Sprinkles, 3/4" Circle Punch (EK Success) (only used on the inside of the card)

Happy Holidays

I felt like getting "Krafty" today and I do mean "Krafty". Today's or rather this evening's creation was born from my desire to use Kraft paper. It's something about Kraft paper that I just love. I think it has something to do with its raw, organic appeal. I tried a new technique referred to as 3D stamping. You can see it in the stamped, "Happy Holidays". Basically, it's a multi-step stamp technique that makes a stamped image look 3 dimensionally embossed.

~Recipe~

Card Size: 5"x5"; Technique: 3D Stamping, Dry Embossing, Watercoloring; Stamps: Warm & Cold (Penny Black), Happy Holidays (Visuation Design); Ink: Black (Memories); Paper: Polka Dot DP (DCWV), White CS (Georgia-Pacific), Kraft (Hobby Lobby); Accessories: Snowflakes Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Big Kick (Sizzix), Diamond Stickles (Ranger), Stamp-a-ma-jig (EK Success), Ribbon (Offray), White Chalk (Craft-T), Small Corner Rounder (EK Success), Foam Tape, Cotton Balls, Watercolor pencils, Paint brush

'til I craft again or have something to say... Happy Holidays!

It's a good thing I didn't say what...

It's a good thing that I didn't say what I would be blogging about this week, because I would be in a heap of trouble right now. Last week, I promised to be more consistent with my blog entries and I commited to at least one blog entry a week. Well, the week stops here and here's is my one entry. I don't have a craft project to share, but I do have a recipe to share and the labeling is sorta crafty (that should count for something). Anyway...it's late. Without further ado (about nothing), here is my Pièce de résistance (sounds fancy huh?)...

little bites of Heaven
I made these for a Christmas party. Apparently simple (recipe) is sometimes better. These were a hit - I brought an empty plate home.

These were so easy to make. My hubby got the recipe from a co-worker eons ago and they have been a Christmas favorite every since.







Recipe:
½ cup sugar
½ cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
2 cup Rice Krispies

Directions:
1. Mix sugar and corn syrup together in a non-stick pot, bring to a boil, and then cut from heat 2. Stir in peanut butter and Rice Krispies
3. Spoon to wax paper

Optional: You can embellish the treat however you like. I melted some Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips and drizzled over the top of half the batch.

Voila! Easy Peezy!

Signage (the sorta crafty part):
I printed the recipe title in red TwizotHmk font (Microsoft) on some Georgia-Pacific White CS. I cut it out to make a flag and wrapped it around a toothpick and secured with tape. The tent was printed in the same way. The corners were rounded. I affixed a mini artificial leaf with a glue dot to the tent. The text may be a little hard to read, but it says..."little bites of heaven...from Alberta's Kitchen"

I would like to extend a special thanks to my best bud...for threatening me (in a loving way) and to my crafty bud for that gentle nudge that inspired me to get this post done (as promised). Thanks girls! If it weren't for you, I might have denied you the pleasure of this lovely recipe. LOL! Alright...I'm outta here. Nighty Nite!

'til I craft again or have something to say (I know, I know...it better be within a week)...

Thank You and I'm not just talking about the card

Alrighty. Where do I begin? OK. Last month, my one and only blog entry is titled, "It's the first of many November Birthdays..." You may have noticed that no birthdays followed. Well, let me rephrase that. The birthdays came, but the cards didn’t follow.

By now, you all know what an awful procrastinator I am. I won’t bore you with the gory details of the past month. Why? Because there are no gory details to share. I have absolutely no good reason for the lack of postings over the last month. Those of you that have stuck with me despite me being me…I’ve gotta say THANK YOU!

I would especially like to thank Michelle. She doesn't realize it yet (she will, after she see's this ), but she has been a great inspiration for me. She always has some particularly groovy creation that's a treat for the eyes. Please check out her blog. I am especially grateful to her because she added me to her blog list which provides the last time that particular blog was updated and mine hadn't been updated in 4 weeks! Ouch! That was a kick in the pants that I needed.

I create this card as part of the Verve's Holiday Release Sketch Challenge (3 weeks ago) that I never completed. The challenge called for 5 cards in 5 days and I being who I am....you guessed it...I only did ONE!

Sorry for all the rambling, I just had to bare my soul. I think the only thing that’s going to keep me on the path of consistent blogging is to make a pledge...right here and right now. I, Alberta, hereby promise to myself and to my fellow readership that I will commit to at least one blog entry a week. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but for the procrastinator-extraordinaire this is a big deal. I need some accountability. So, if you see me slipping, call me on it…I need the support.

As always, 'til I craft again or have something to say (within a week ;)...


~Recipe~
Stamps: Foilage (K&Company), Thank You (garage sale goody), Dotted Border (Hampton Arts); Ink: Pearlescent Poppy & Rust (Tsukinek); Paper: Earth Burnt Orange & Polka Dot DP (DCWV), Textured Cream CS (Hobby Lobby), Cream CS (Georgia-Pacific); Accessories: Copper Rat Tail Cord (Hobby Lobby), Clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (Ranger), Heat Gun, Pop Dots, Sponge; Techinique: Cracked Glass

It’s the first of many November Birthdays…

It’s my mother-in-law’s (MIL) birthday this week end. Here I go again...fashioning (where this word came from...I dunno) another card at the last minute. I will have to say that I’m improving on my response time. I'm trying to leave my procrastinator-ish ways behind me. My creative juices are rolling much faster when it comes to producing a project.

Of course, it seems I do nothing without being inspired by something. I was perusing through this year's "Paper Crafts "Holiday Cards & More Issue", volume 3 and on page 72 came across a Happy Kwanzaa card by Teri Anderson. The card has such an organic quality to it - rough and rugged, but nice and simple at the same time. Something about it, just pulled at my creative heart strings. Without further ado, here's what my heart poured our for my MIL...



As always, 'til I craft again or have something to say...


~Recipe~
Ink: Black (StazOn) [for siggy on back]; Paper: Kraft CS, Textured Black CS & shade Blue CS (Hobby Lobby), White CS (Georgia-Pacific); Accessories: You All Everybody Font (kevinandamanda.com), Oyster White Semi-Opaque Acrylic Paint (Delta Ceramcoat), Vinyl Thickers (American Craft), Hemp Cord (Darice), Stapler w/staples, Nail File (used to distress paint & edges)

Happy Birthday!
I had another birthday card to do...this time was for my friend-girl. Creatively, I hit a mental road block. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had more freedom than I did with the previous two cards I did, because my audience was female.

I still couldn't get the creative juices flowing. I even had my hubby giving me ideas and he had some pretty good ones that I'll use at a later date. His ideas were more involved & time intensive and I had little time to produce (like it was the night before and 3-4 hours before my bed time). Of course, my time limit was my own fault because I am a terrible procrastinator. I'm working on it... :) Anyway, without further ado - here's my creation for my friend-girl...

The mental anguish (I exaggerate just a tad bit for some drama) was worth the effort, because she was quite happy with the card. BTW - this card was given to her on time. It was only given to her the day after her b-day because I didn't see her yesterday. Just in case you were wondering.

'til I craft again or have something to say...












~Recipe~
Stamps: Flourishes (the Paper Studio/Stampabilities); Ink: Coffee Bean (Tsukinek); Paper: Earth Burnt Orange & Earth Dirty Brown, Blue (DCWV), Cream CS (Georgia-Pacific); Accessories: Organdy Cream Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Clear/Transparent Embossing Powder (Stampendous), Heat Gun, Pop Dots, HavixHmk Font (Microsoft)

Happy Birthday Bro'

Here we go again...Another card for another man in just a matter of days. It's my hubby's brother's birthday. I have never created so many (I know...like 2 is a lot) cards for men in such a short period of time. Weird, hunh? Well, I just bit off my creative thinking for the Boss' Card I created a couple of days ago. I like how the colors work well together. Of course, this is not a card for a man unless my hubby give his "Dude Approval" stamp...which he did. Please excuse the photo as it's slightly askew.



‘til I craft again or having something to say…



~Recipe~
Stamps: Flourishes (the Paper Studio/Stampabilities); Ink: Pearlescent Rust (Tsukinek); Paper: Black & Sage (Hobby Lobby), Earth Burnt Orange (DCWV), White CS (Georgia-Pacific); Accessories: Metallic Mini Black Brads (Making Memories), Paper Piercer, Chipboard Thickers (Gift Box– American Crafts), Pop Dots, Cling Font (kevinandamanda.com)