Paper Trufflez

You are my anchor . . .

I've been so busy . . . I hadn't made a card for our 26th wedding anniversary, which was this week.  I had 5 minutes to bust one out before he whisked me away to dinner at one of our favorite local places Wednesday evening.

I have to admit that on most of the cards I make for him, I have a tendency to use my own hand-writing, even if I have a stamp that says what I want to say.  I'm not really sure why I do that . . .

Used some of my favorite punches and some scraps of patterned papers.  Funny, but I usually agonize for a long time over cards I make for him.  I didn't have time to agonize this go-around! *chuckle*

I felt quite brilliant over the results! *arms wrapped 'round self*  Mebbe I'll do the same thing next year--wait until the last possible minute.  *more chuckling*

Well, it's a cuttin' and kittin' frenzy here at the Palace as I prep for my classes this weekend--gonna be fun!  And, to top it off, I get to spend some time with my girl, Ellen, too!  Yippeeee!!!

Hope your weekend is fabby, too!

 

 

Supplies:  Patterned papers from the Limey Rickey Collection by Basic Grey; Anchor Punch by Martha Stewart; Heart punches both by Fiskars.

Thank you for everything

Made this a few weeks ago and meant to share, but haven't had time to blah blah blaaaaahg.  Dove into my stash of pretty patterned papers and had a great time messin' around.  Guess what?  I used the same stamp as I did HERE and HERE, and HERE, and HERE.   Cool, yeah?! *grin*

And, no; I didn't drag out the sewing machine.  That's an old retired Hero Arts zig zag stitch stamp that I adore and refuse to part with. FREAKIN' BRILLIANT!!!

I loved this this gal Amy's layout over on 2 Peas: seems like just yesterday and decided I should try it!  In hindsight, I think I should have used higher contrasting papers, but I still like it quite muchly.

I'm cuttin' and kittin' for my classes this weekend at Impress -- I just love the designs I'm gonna be sharing in class!!!  *bouncing*

Happy day to ya'!

Stamp Credits:  Leaf Frond II, Thank you for everything by A Muse Artstamps + zig zag stitch (retired) by Hero Arts; Chocolate Pearl Stickers by A Muse; Patterned Paper from Frond Collection by Memory Box Co.,; Paper Flowers by Prima; Antique Copper Mini Brads by Making Memories; Ink:  Jumbo Java Versamagic by Tsukineko

Bonjour Tag

I've been having fun practicing my collage skills with a lean towards a minimalist approach.   All the pretty patterned papers out there make it so much FUN!  I can't seem to get enough of all the 6x6" paper pads out there.  How 'bout you? I mixed 5 (FIVE!!!) patterns here successfully!  These are from Pink Paislee's 365 Degrees Collection, which has an awesome European feel to it.  Until I can actually get to Europe, this is the next best thing.  LOL!

I like that this design kinda projects an "old world" aura, but I wouldn't necessarily classify it as "vintage".  Does that makes any sense?

Leaf Frond II is a pretty versatile stamp--I love that it can take center stage or serve as a supporting image, depending on what you're doing.  I went easy on the sponging--just wanted gentle hints of aging on this design.  And, to keep that same "feeling" going, I used antique copper mini brads.  Can't get enough of those. Every time I spy a pack, I snag 'em cuz they go with so many of my projects.

It's so good to PLAY!  Sometimes, I think I get so caught up in honing my skills in one particular style, that I forget how playing with other styles generates more creative energy, leads to more ideas, enables you to see more possibilities than you originally thought.  It refreshes and liberates, UKWIM?  More importantly, just playing, for the sake of playing, makes the soul happy.  Well, it makes my soul happy, anyway. *grin*

So, what are YOU playing around with these days, that's sparkin' ya' to that "happy soul" feelin'?

Stamp Credits:  Leaf Frond II, Bonjour, Queen Anne's Lace by A Muse Artstamps; Sky Blue 4 bar note card by A Muse; Patterned Paper: All from 365 Degrees 6x6" Collection by Pink Paislee; Ink:  Memento London Fog, Sand, and Rich Cocoa by Tsukineko; Antique Copper Mini Brads by Making Memories; Red Hemp; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; Fiskars Scallop Border Punch

Mod Hello Flower

 

OK.  I'll admit it.  I'm hoarding this grey polka dotted paper by October Afternoon.  It's just  . . . perfect in every way.  You can use a teeny bit of it, or a lot of it and it looks lovely either way.  I only used a smidge of it here. *LOVE*  I would totally buy a 24 sheet package of just this grey polka dotted paper.  Then, I would use it with abandon, knowing I have gobs more left.  Yup.  I would.

See my little butterfly punched out of text patterned paper?  So cute! What is it about text that has always appealed to me since, well, pretty much ever?  I used to buy old books at the goodwill store and tear out the pages and use those. And then scrapbook companies started producing them in heavier weight paper, card stock, yadda yadda.  Talk about making my wildest dreams come true!  I find them irresistible.  I'd buy a 24 sheet package of that stuff, too.

This super fun graphic flower stamp makes me so happy--it comes with a "center" image, of dots within a ring of dots, mounted on the side of the block.  I stamped that in grey, to echo the polka dotted paper I knew I was going to use.  This is a layout I could use over and over and over again!

Hope you had a marvelous weekend--the Mr. went out to sea and came back with crabs.  YAY!!!  We ate like kings, I tell ya'!

Stamp credits: Stem & leaves, graphic flower by Impress Rubber Stamps, Hello by A Muse Artstamps; Patterned Papers all by October Afternoon; Fresh Ink in Strawberry, Provincial Grey, and Pear by Impress Rubber Stamps; Butterfly Punch by EK Success; Scallop Border Punch by Fiskars

Story problem of the day:

If you're sliding down the ocean on a jet ski and the wheel falls off, will it still take the same amount of pancakes to cover a dog house if your arm is 10 ft. long?

Hi, friend

Can you believe it's Friday already??!!! Don't know 'bout ya'all, but I need life to slow down to a snail's pace. *snarf*  Actually, tho, despite my snarfing, I am entirely serious about that.

Aren't these li'l puffy flower stickers cute?  They're from K & Co.'s Poppyseed Collection.  They fit perfectly atop the Eucalyptus.  This made me very bouncy.  *grin*  I decided to paper piece Snail's shell with a little bitty scrap of patterned paper laying nearby, and felt very smug that I had found a good use for it instead of tossing it.

I'm still quite fond of grey, which I used to stamp the Eucalyptus over the Chiffon Purple paper--suppose it's not a very "summery" color combo, but, I just fell in love with the color scheme of this particular collection:

I don't have any of this paper yet, but I do think it's been out for awhile.  So pretty!  All I have right now are the little puffy flower stickers.  I am going to use them all up.  I am not going to hoard them.  I'm going to make a batch of cards like the one above and use them all up.  I am.

I AM!!!

So quit rollin' yer eyeballs at me!

Happy Friday to ya'!  Slow down, take it easy . . .

Credits:  All stamp images, Chiffon Purple 4 Bar Note Card, Lime Peel Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon by A Muse Artstamps; Ink:  Fresh Ink (Provincial Grey) by Impress; Corner Chomper (Rounder) by WR Memory Keepers; Poppyseed Pillow Flower Stickers by K & Co.

Keep calm. Ride on.

I love this bike.  I don't ride.  'Cuz I don't have a bike.  But . . . I still love.this.bike.  L.O.V.E. (!!!)

The bike was retired in wood-mount, and resurrected this summer in A Muse's Vintage Clear Set. I really like when retired images *I* especially liked get resurrected.  If I reigned supreme, none of my favorites would ever be retired.  Ever.  It is all part of my grand master plan to take over the world.

 

This was one of the 4 out of 5 approved designs from last Sunday's yoga pants+cuppa+rubbah session. It was also a design "of least resistance".  Meaning:  Came together in 5 minutes.  The others?  Well, let's not go there, shall we?! ppppfffffftttttttt!!!

Credits:  All images, Sky Blue 4 bar note card by A Muse Artstamps; Wavy dotted Line border punch by EK Success; Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink

Thinking of you, paper pieced collage . . . of sorts . . .

I'm often late to the party . . . bide my time . . . ponder . . . and sometimes, I never arrive at all. *quietly chuckling*

I know that not every "thing" is for everybody. Couple that with being a stubborn wretch; if everybody's stampeding "that way", you'll often find me heading in the opposite direction.

But not in this case.  I have resisted Washi Tape involuntarily.  It's fun stuff.  Cool.  Pretty.  But, how to choose among the banquet of delicious yummy-ness that is Washi Tape? It's one of those I-must-have-it-all kinda paper crafty goodness.  Not just a handful of colors or patterns.  I want ALL of it.  Yikes! 

When I was teaching down in Sacramento, I squealed to find some at Stephanie's Paper Garden Boutique.  Trembling fingers, I reached out to grasp one package.  Into my shopping basket it went.  I tried to distract myself with some Brilliance Dew Drops I didn't yet possess, eyes darting furtively back to the display of Washi pretties . . . I was mesmerized . . . the magnetic pull proved to be too strong, in a "resistance is futile" kinda way . . . I meandered back, fighting the urge to knock anyone in my path outta' the way . . .

Two more packages jumped into my basket.

The end.

Note:  This was very fun to make--I haven't done anything collage-like in a long, loooooong time; I'm rusty! But man did I ever have a ball.  There was a lotta' bouncin' goin' on, I tell ya'!  *wink*

Credits:  Stamp image by Impress Rubber Stamps; Copic Markers, Patterned Papers (mix of different collections) by Basic Grey; Brilliance Graphite Black Ink; Washi Tape

Birch Forest at dusk

Yesterday afternoon:  Yoga pants, cuppa, and stampin'.  Experimentation>dissatisfaction>multiple attempts>multiple failures>eventual successes . . .  Total yield? 4 out of 5 finished designs approved; #5 remains undecided . . . Not the most "productive" session ever, but not bad . . . Heck, take what ya' can get, right?! *chuckle*

Anyway, due to the repetition of the trees, I think this design meets Jennie's A Muse Lounge Challenge #19: Stick to the Pattern!

The Birch Forest is one of those images I actually illustrated that made the cut for the A Muse Holiday/A-muse-a-palooza release this year.  It has a trio of leaves mounted on the end of the block so you can add them, if you wish, making it a great year-round image! I went "sans leaves" for this design and like the effect over the multi-colored Big Block.

Happy Monday to ya'!

Credits:  Stamp images all by A Muse Artstamps; Oatmeal Card stock by Astro Converters; Colorbox Fluid Chalk Inks; Versamark Watermark Ink

Be Happy! (AMC19)

A Muse Lounge Challenge #19: Stick to the Pattern!

Jennie always posts such marvelous challenges for us each month in the Lounge--if you wanna play, click on the link above.

I haven't played a challenge in forever--I don't usually have time, and then when I do, it takes me a long LOOOOOONG time to develop something I'm pleased with.  I'm not sure why.  This was inspired by some of Carole's "happy" creations!  Thanks, Carole! *smooch*

Tonight we're going to the Mr.'s 30 year class reunion!  AHS class reunions always coincide with the annual Anacortes Arts Festival, which draws thousands of attendees from around the world.  All of downtown is blocked off to accommodate all the artisan booths.  And, usually, this time of year, it's sunny and hot--we're talkin upper 80's and sometimes 90's, but for whatever odd reason today, it is dreary and pouring rain.  A similar festival, considerably smaller, occurs in Coupeville the following weekend.  Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?  Yeaaaaaaah . . .  FAIR FOOD!!!

Credits:  All images by A Muse Artstamps; Sheer Polka Dot Ribbon by A Muse; Black Pearl Stickers by A Muse; Sage 4 bar note card by A Muse; EK Success Paper Shaper Flower Punch; Martha Stewart Tag Punch; Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black

Ya' made the list . . . ;)

Inside:  "Ya' made the 'nice' list!"

This idea was tickling me yesterday afternoon.  But, we were in imminent danger of having no clean underwear. So, a girl's gotta stick to priorities in such extreme situations, savvy? *chortle*

I finally abandoned the madness of matching socks--or I should say, "attempting" to match socks.  It is a daunting task.  Needless to say . . . I don't care much for socks . . .

Anyhoo, if you know me, then you know what was goin' on when I finished this guy--lots of bouncing, and then arms wrapped 'round self and deep chortling.  

Note to self:  Do it again. 

Credits: All stamp images by A Muse Artstamps