Ghost Masking

Hello all,

I'm back today with a card I made all because of some awesome inspiration over at Nichole Heady's blog from Papertrey Ink. They had a Make it Monday video tutorial on "ghost masking".

I absolutely loved their sample and had to try it out for myself using stamps I had. I really like the way the window looks like you might be looking through frosted glass. Yeah, just stamp on some vellum and get the same result, right? Well ink sometimes doesn't ever dry on vellum, so doing this technique insures your images won't smudge.

I didn't have a good frame stamp either, so I just used one of my Nestie dies and a CTMH marker to trace around the die and create my own frame. Worked out perfectly!

Materials
Stamps: CTMH Aspiration and Card Chatter-Birthday stamp sets
Paper: CTMH dp and cs, and PTI cs
Other: CTMH inks, hemp, and ribbon, EK border punch, PTI button, Nestabilities die

Bright yellow!

Hello all! Is this yellow bright enough for you?! Yikers! Well I thought, who better to pull off such a bold color than a Ketto? She's so fun and funky that I think she's right at home with these colors. This was another card that the shop just had to have. I wonder how long it will be until someone buys it....

Happy Monday! Can't wait to watch The Voice tonight! So far, Team Blake is looking pretty good. Still totally crush on Adam though!

Materials
Stamps: Stamping Bella Ketto, PTI Lily of the Valley sentiment
Paper: Basic Grey dp, CTMH cardstock and kraft strip
Other: Copic markers, Basic Grey button, Nestibility die, PTI ribbon, CTMH ink and hemp, Memento ink

"Rotic" invites

So it was that time of year again....."Rotic" luncheon!

What is "Rotic" you ask? Well it's this fabulous word my dear friend Josie kinda invented (she makes up words a lot). Rotic is: Romantic without the "man". Get it?!

She has an annual Rotic Luncheon where she invites all of her closest girlfriends and cooks us all a fantastic multi course meal. She's an awesome chef that has worked with the likes of Tom Douglas, Holly Smith, and now works at Taste, the restaurant for the Seattle Art Museum where she's super close to becoming a Sous Chef. Needless to say, when you're invited to one of Josie's parties, you go!


This was Josie's 15th annual Rotic Luncheon! She started doing these just to let her friends know how much she appreciates and loves them. She also started them BEFORE she was formally trained. Josie was still working at Safeway (my employer as well) and worked all her way up to Assistant Store Manager before she realized that cooking was her true passion and gave it all up (serious pay cut) to go to culinary school in Scottsdale AZ.


As per tradition, or at least ever since I've been graced with a Rotic invite, I make the invitations. You might have seen the one I made for 2009 here. (I must not have taken one of last years...hmm..) Everyone said this was their favorite invites yet! Really?! But they are so simple and were a breeze to make?! I guess that is what catches peoples' eyes the most. I made them to fit in a standard A10 envelope that I also stamped on to coordinate with the invitations.



Here's a close-up of the banner detail. I have loads of old lace scraps (thank you Grandma!) and paired it with some simple hearts I cut using my CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. I stamped them using PTI and CTMH stamp sets. Sorry about photographing this one with the double image....I kept the "bad" one for myself and forgot to photograph one of the good ones before I gave them to Josie.

Materials
Stamps: CTMH Noted Backgrounds, PTI In Bloom
Paper: CTMH cardstock, vellum
Other: CTMH inks and Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, scrap lace, CB embossing folder, MM corner rounder, EK border punch, home printer

Faithful Friends

Greetings all! I'm back today with a Bella card. This was one of the images I've had colored up for awhile. Remember I mentioned a HUGE pile of colored images I had paired with dps all ready to make into cards, but lost my mojo to make them? Well here is one of the many that I finally turned into a card.

I love this Bella image. I think it's "DogwalkaBella" from Stamping Bella. Makes for great cards to send to people that have pets, or maybe lost a pet. The sentiment is from the PTI "With Sympathy--Loss of a Pet" stamp set. I just inked up the part of the sentiment I wanted to use for this card. This was also the very last of some CTMH paper pack that I've had hanging around forever. Can't remember what it was called....

Enjoy your Tuesday! It's been fabulously sunny here in the great Pacific Northwest for the last 5 days!! It's a winter miracle! These are my favorite type of winter days. And NO SNOW! Excited for another New Girl episode too. That show is soooo funny!

Materials
Stamps: DogwalkaBella-Stamping Bella, With Sympathy-Loss of a Pet-PTI, Flourish background stamp is Enjoy Life from CTMH
Paper: DP and cardstock--CTMH
Other: Copic markers, button, covered brad and inks from CTMH, Nestabilities die, foam tape, pearls also CTMH

Fun bookmarks

Hello all,

It's been a crazy-busy week for me! Since all the snow FINALLY melted at my place a week ago Friday I've had something to do every day after work. I'm exhausted! ...and my poor house is a mess! Yikes!

I was supposed to train a new Dairy Department Manager at another Safeway store today, but when I got there I found out that he called in sick! Ugh! Good thing it was the store closest to my house. And since I've already had a full cup of coffee, I decided to run a few posts for the week.

So here is one of the MANY projects I did while I was suck at home for 5 days due to the 14" of snow and ice. I recently bought the "All Booked Up" stamp set from Papertrey Ink with the matching Mat Stack die. Made for easy bookmarks that are super cute!

I'm totally in love with kraft paper! I use it on pretty much every project. So I cut out a dozen bookmarks in kraft, and a dozen in plain white. I have a lot of friends that love to read, so these will make great little gifts. They're easy to add into an envelope when I mail a card too.

Well, enjoy your Tuesday. As I was finishing this post, I got a call back from the Store Manager that she'd like me to come back and at least set their department up for the next audit. Back to work I go....

Materials

Stamps: All Booked Up-PTI

Paper: CTMH Kraft, White Daisy, and Smoothie cardstock

Other: CTMH Chocolate, Cocoa, Pear, Smoothie, Lagoon, Sunset, Juniper, and Sweet Leaf inks

Tickled Pink Challenge #16

Hello everyone. I'm back today with a Tickled Pink Challenge card. It's been a LONG time since I've used my poor, neglected Lolitas! So for today, I decided to pair up 20's Evie with my BG Curio dp. I thought they were a perfect match with the vintage feel of both. It also plays into the TPS theme of "spring" with the flowery dp and MM layered flower. I also used an OLD Mercy sketch for my layout. Oh how I miss Mercy's sketches!

Materials
Stamps: TPS 20's Evie digi, PTI Birthday Button Bits
Paper: BG Curio dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs
Other: Copics, foam tape, CB folder, EK punch, Coluzzle, MM flowers, PTI button, CTMH ink, Robin's Nest pebbles

FFF--Digital Get Down

First off.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

Hope you all had a great weekend and fabulous holiday! My weekend was very busy with work and time with friends(see more below).

My card today is for this week's Farm Fresh Friday which calls for using a digi image. I miss being a part of the TGF Critter Crew, so I used one of my favorite Marina images: Robbie the Seal. He makes me smile how happy he looks balancing all those delicious cupcakes! And speaking of things that are over, this is the VERY last of my Nook & Pantry dp. So last that I actually used the front cover of the paper pad for this!

My favorite local band, Cody Beebe and the Crooks were back home after a touring for their debut album. It was so awesome to see them again Saturday night for a huge show at the famous Crocodile Cafe. They're such a great bunch of guys that are very down to earth. Their sound is a blend of rock, blues, folk, and jazz. We're all excited for where they're headed! Check them out on iTunes and at their website!

Materials

Stamps: TGF Robbie the Seal digi, PTI Postmark

Paper: BG Nook & Pantry dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs

Other: Copics, foam tape, Nestie, Coluzzle, CTMH ink, hemp, and Splendor fabric brad, PTI buttons, Stickles

Bellariffic Friday

Another Friday, and another Bellariffic Challenge. This time Emily was gracious and left the challenge open to use/do anything! Yippee! My favorite kind of challenge! This is my favorite Bella image, especially living in the Seattle area. I played with my new PTI flower die and some felt to make the fun embellishment. I also used Sweet Sunday Sketch #112.

Girls night out tonight! So glad to get in some good chatting and food!

Materials Stamps: Latte Bella-Stamping Bella, A Muse sentiment
Paper: BG Curio dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs
Other: Copics, foam tape, PTI buttons and felt, Nestie die, Memento ink, CTMH ink, EK corner punch

Thinking of you Ruby

Hello everyone! I must say, I'm so glad I found my Mojo again! It's nice to be back in the blogging world and seeing all the amazing creations out there and absorbing tons of inspiration!

My card today is for this week's Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge #39 which asks you to include a handmade embellishment. I used my Nestie scalloped circles to create this layered flower out of my scraps. It kinda makes the card look a bit too busy, especially since I paper pieced Ruby's skirt. Noticed how I altered the stamp image too and cut off Ruby's rolling suitcase. Now it just looks like she's "thinking of you"!

Bones tonight! Can't believe there's only a couple episodes left already. :(

Materials
Stamps: SCRS Suitcase Ruby, CTMH Fringed Phrases and Intrinsic Backgrounds
Paper: BG Hello Luscious dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs
Other: Copics, foam tape, Nestie dies, BG brad, CTMH inks, CB folder, Memento ink, EK border punch

Bellariffic Friday

Good morning all! Back today with a few cards for the Bellariffic Friday challenge which is polka dots. Easy enough. I bought these adorable pixies from Stamping Bella a couple months ago when they first came out. They were just too stinkin cute to pass up! I *love* how they worked so easily to put together this quick card set. I made four of each pixie and used up some more of that darn Nook & Pantry still hanging around. I even paper pieced their dresses to use up more! Have a great weekend! I'm hoping to go down to Fremont to check out the "Hop Scotch". It's an annual scotch and beer festival. Not a fan of scotch, but I likey beer! Materials Stamps: Stamping Bella Pixies set A, sentiments are A Muse Paper: BG nook & Pantry dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs Other: Copics, CB folder, PTI buttons, CTMH ink and hemp, Memento ink

Back for a birthday wish

Wow! Almost a MONTH since my last post! Can you tell I've been in a major creative slump? Just lost my passion for a bit, but I'm back finally! It will be a gradual pace back into the swing for now. (need to catch up on coloring!) Nothing like a big PTI order to jive the Mojo again! So this lovely Flirty Anya card is for my good friend Josie. It's her "27"th birthday today! Haha! I know that's how she feels on the inside, and she's just as fun and sassy as Anya is here. We're meeting up at Grinders for food and adult beverages. Hope she likes her gift I got her. Most of the time she likes my cards more! Lol! I used this month's SFYTT for the layout. Materials Stamps: TGF Flirty Anya Paper: BG Curio, PTI kraft, CTMH cs Other: Copics, foam tape, PTI ribbon, Kaiser Craft pearls, Prima flowers, Nestie die, Memento ink

Me-eeow!

I've been meaning to share this card for awhile, but other posts kept cutting in. This is another "custom-kitty" card I made for a customer at The Sweet Spot. When she asked if I had some kitty images, I was like "um, yeah. just a 'few'". Lol! Being a proud mom to my own fur-baby, my adorable tuxedo cat named Simon, cat images are always an easy purchase for me!

Enjoy your Tuesday. Second day back after my two-week vacation. Boy! did my body ever yell at me after my first day back! I forget how physical my job is sometimes. It was nice to know everyone missed me, but it was the break I needed for sure!

Materials
Stamps: TGF Purr-fect set (retired)
Paper: CC Material Girl dp, PTI kraft and cs
Other: Copics, foam tape, Memento ink, CTMH ink, ricrac, and buttons, CB folder, Nestie Label die, EK corner punch

Bellariffic Friday

Good morning all. Day two of Creative University! So much crafty fun to be had. You definately should look into joining us next year!

I'm back today to share my card I made for the Bellariffic Friday challenge. This week was a sketch challenge. Even though I have a stack of new Bellas I bought recently, this poor PregaBella has been waiting in my colored pile for a long time. Somehow I'm always in need of a pregnancy card....must be something in the water (good thing I purify mine! Lol!) I love purple and orange together; looks so happy and bright.

Materials

Stamps: Stamping Bella-PregaBella, CTMH Fringed Phrases

Paper: BG Green at Heart dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs

Other: Copics, foam tape, Nestie, Coluzzle, Prima, AC button, Memento ink, CTMH ink, rhinestones, stitching

Street Corner Josh-SCRSC #30

Good morning everyone! Here today with a card for the Sparkle Creations challenge which calls for some paper peicing.

Now, I've had this Josh image colored up for some time and really wanted to use him, but what part to paper piece.......It didn't feel right to piece any of his clothing, especially with the city-themed BG paper I was using. *lightbulb*! There was this little scrap left from this dp chilling on my craft table, and on it was all these little tiny street signs that were perfect for piecing into Josh's street signs! Tah-dah!

I finally bought some new bobbins so I can thread some more sewing colors. Got a little sloppy with sewing around the main image. Tried to do it all in one try, but kinda lost control towards the bottom! Haha! I'll get better.

Doing my final packing for Creative University today! Can't wait to have a nice and relaxing, crafty weekend with some amazing ladies! Gotta wake up super early to be at Nona's to carpool to the airport. MUCH better that driving 7 hours to Coeur d'Alene!! Here's a view of my scenery the next few days (plus 3 inches of snow!):

Image courtesy of Nichole Lewno

Materials

Stamps: SCRS Street Corner Josh, CTMH Fringed Phrases

Paper: BG Wander dp, PTI kraft, CTMH cs

Other: Copics, foam tape, EK punch, Memento ink, CTMH ink and hemp, misc. buttons

Cupcake Cherrie-TPSC#6

Good morning everyone, and happy Valentine's Day!

Sharing a little love with this cute Cupcake Cherrie image from Tickled Pink Stamps. Using up some more of my Eva dp and this ribbon that I'm now addicted to. To stamp on my Big Pink flower, I combined every birthday sentiment from every CTMH set I had and just blocked them together on my acrylic block and stamped away. Pretty easy technique.

This birthday themed card is for this week's Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge #6. I know that the sketch is from some challenge last week, but I can't remember what....one that TPS was sponsoring but I didn't finish this card in time for it.

I hope you all have a fabby Heart Day. I sent out a few Valentines last week to spread some love.

Materials
Stamps: TPS Cupcake Cherrie, CTMH assortment of birthday sentiments from 4 different sets
Paper: BG Eva dp, CTMH cs, PTI kraft.
Other: Copics, foam tape, Stickles, CTMH ink and Big Pink, Memento ink, satin ribbon, CB folder, EK punch, Sakura gel pen

Love you, Bella

This card just came together so easy and beautifully. I love using Topiary Bella for a fun Valentine. Though the Shop passed on buying this one, it was quickly snatched up by one of my friends! I used an old Sweet Sunday sketch for the layout (#79).

My second Card Class is tonight, which means I sacrifice Bones. :( Thank goodness for online episodes!

Materials
Stamps: Stamping Bella-Topiary Bella, CTMH Fringed Phrases
Paper: BG Green at Heart dp, CTMH cs, PTI kraft
Other: Copics, foam tape, Nestie, PTI ribbon, EK punch, CTMH button, hemp and inks

I {heart} this card!

Did this turn out fabulous or what?!! I started out with this week's Farm Fresh Friday color challenge. The colors are black, turquoise, and a color of your choice. I chose my favorite new CTMH color, Sorbet, which perfectly matched this PTI ribbon and buttons I had.

I have a customer at the Sweet Spot that requested some kitty cards, so I thought using Reeta was perfect. I'm going to create some more using my old Purr-fect TGF set. I also used the Skipping Stones sketch #60. Switched the bottom panel to be behind the image instead of in front. Looked better that way.

Enjoy your Thursday! Bones is back tonight!!! And CSI! Yippee! Love that holiday break is over for all my shows.

Materials
Stamps: TGF Reeta, CTMH Thoughtful Sentiment
Paper: CTMH Lagoon and Smoothie cs, PTI cs, OA checked dp, black note paper
Other: Copics, foam tape, Memento ink, CTMH black button, ink, and waxy flax, PTI button and ribbon, EK border punch, CB folder

Another challenge combo

This was another creation I made yesterday during what was probably my last day off in awhile. My new Safeway store opens this Thursday, so it's massive panic and perfection and then straight into the Thanksgiving holiday. Nothing but 6-day work weeks for me for a while. More stamp money though!!

Can I just say that I *LOVE* the way this card turned out?! I made this for the TPS monthly sketch challenge #7, and this week's LLB challenge #22 which is a color challenge. Boy, PTI ribbon sure does make a pretty bow huh? I swapped Lilith's roses out for a snowflake brad. Now she's all set for the holidays!

Materials

Stamps: TPS Lilith, CTMH Jingle Borders

Paper: BG Jovial dp, A Muse kraft, CTMH cs

Other: Copics, foam tape, misc. brad, PTI ribbon, CTMH ink, rhinestones

Lazy Sunday

Even with an extra hour today, I still didn't get this post up until now. Haha! But I did still wake up early at 7am. I thought I "slept in" until 8am, but forgot it was daylight savings. So I've been playing all this morning while watching football, and laundry. Wish my team wasn't getting smoked by the Giants though. :(

This card was originally made to play in the Christmas Card Challenge #48 of using candy canes, but since it's Sunday, the new Christmas challenge went up. Thankfully the colors I used still works in this week's inspiration challenge! I also used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch again to play with SCRSC #17.

Materials
Stamps: SCRS Candycane Emily, CTMH Snow Flurries
Paper: BG Jovial dp, A Muse kraft, PTI cs
Other: Copics, foam tape, Nestie die, CTMH inks and button, misc. snowflake brad, EK punch, Stickles

Free Friday

Materials

Stamps: SCRS Sledding Chloe, sentiment is Savvy Stamps

Paper: BG Eskimo Kisses dp, A Muse kraft, PTI cs

Other: Copics, foam tape, EK punches, CB folder, rhinestones, Stickles, misc. button

The Critter Crew gets the day off from this week's Farm Fresh Friday, but be sure to check out TGF's blog for some serious release therapy!

I'm taking advantage of my free Friday to post this card I made for the SCRSC #17. It's an inspiration challenge. You're supposed to use the image below to spark your creativity. Well I already had this Chloe image colored up to match my Eskimo Kisses and was too tired from my cold to color something new. The red sled works though. When it came down to making a card I just kinda did my own thing. I knew I wanted to use craft paper to play of the brown wood and a snowflake or two, but I didn't really have anything specific in mind. So this is what I came up with.

Here's the inpiration photo:

Now here is the rest of my "new store" story from my post on Monday.....
I work for Safeway as a Dairy Dept. Manager and just had my 15 year anniversary. I've been at the same store the INTIRE time. Always loved the store and the people (and the 8-minute commute!)

About a month ago I was asked to be the Dairy Manager at a *new* Safeway opening on Nov. 11th. The District Manager and new Store Manager recuited me to come! This was a big deal for them to want me to help Grand Open and run a new Dairy department! I've been a little tired of my now-old-store for awhile (less hours and more work since it's a slow store) and decided that "change is good".

And boy! is it ever! It's so cool to see how a new store comes to life. All this week we've been stocking the new non-perishable product---and WOW! that's a lot when you're filling EVERYTHING!--and putting up ALL the price tags. We started hanging tags in my department, and all the shelving is starting to arrive. Even some of my "old" co-workers came with me so I'm not so alone, and I get to work with people I haven't worked with in a long time. And the commute into North Seattle isn't as bad as I thought; only 15 minutes! I'm super excited to have this experience and I'm sure I'm going to love my new store as much as my old one.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!