Since I've been on a punched flower kick, I thought I'd do a quick tutorial...

Circle Punches



1. Both kinds of flowers start with this basic template drawn on the back of the punched circle. This makes it easier to space out the individual punches.



2. Using an 1/8" punch, punch on each line. Then punch in between those punches with the 1/16" punch.

Cut Petals



1. Start with the same template drawn on the back of the punched circle.



2. Cut slightly into the center of the circle using each line as a guide. Then cut slightly to the right of each cut, making a triangular shape that will fall off creating petals.

Hope that helps! I love making these flowers.

To see how to make the faux metal using only silver embossing powder and rubber stamps, please visit splitcoaststampers for a tutorial.

This was inspired by the Limited Supply Challenge over at splitcoaststampers. I didn't include any stamping, but I still wanted to do the challenge.

:)

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Okay, so who loves their Crop-A-Dile?! I got one for Christmas from my Dad and step-mom and I'm absolutely loving it! I used to massacre eyelets, but now it's just a simple little squeeze and the eyelet is set! I love it!

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I got sidetracked from the "Christmas Break Card Fest" by a trip to visit my step-family. It was my step-brother's birthday yesterday so we went bowling (my score was a hefty 89!--watch out!) and had dinner (enchiladas YUM!).

I also received my Crumpler camera bag today (6 Million Dollar Home). It was a Christmas gift from my mom, but it arrived after Christmas. It's such a great bag. I already know I'm going to love it!

:)

I just realized I forgot to tell all of you what I got for Christmas! One of my favorite gifts was from my cousin Char. She got me The Illuminated Lettering Kit. I haven't broken it out yet, but it made me want to get out my other calligraphy supplies.

I really miss it! I haven't done any calligraphy for a while.



(Forgive me for using the phrase from the SU! stamp set Small Saying—plus, I wrote splitcoaststampers.com just because I wanted a really long word). :)

The above pen and ink were acquired in Williamsburg while I was there in November. They have a great Pewter store that sells metal quill pens. I've always wanted one, so I had to try it out.

I started doing calligraphy during my junior year in high school when I took a class with one of my buddies from the literary magazine. Leslie and I drove all the way across town once a week to attend an evening class learning italic calligraphy.

Calligraphy has to be one of the hardest things to do! There is so much precision involved. Mostly, I've given up the precision part, and just go for more whimsical styles. They don't require so much concentration and practice.



I've been trying to find another calligraphy class somewhere in the Salt Lake Valley, but haven't been able to. All the classes are taught at the community college during the day. I need something at night.

So, if any of you have a lead on a class, please let me know. I've love to get back into it.

:)

Kim asked:

"I see circle cards in magazines, and am just never sure how they do it--leave a bit to fold it on and cover up with ribbon, punch holes and tie together with the ribbon? How did you make it?"

That's just about how I did it. The above photos of the card might clear things up, but more specifically... I fold the card stock and then cut the circle out leaving a bit of the fold. Then to cover the fold, I tied a bit of ribbon around it.

Thanks for the question, Kim!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! As per tradition, I spend Christmas Eve at my grandparent's and then Christmas day at home and all the siblings (except for my sister and her family who live in Minnesota) came over.

Lots of good food, except I think my stomach is having issues with dairy products right now. Every time I drink milk or eat cheese or anything like that, I just feel awful! I'll be stepping back from the milk for a while I think.

This happened once before a few years ago. I was mostly okay, but couldn't eat ice cream! Can you believe that?! And I love ice cream! It would have it's own square in the food pyramid if I had my way. :)

Anyhow, the above card is another of my “Christmas Break Card Fest” cards. I now have 7 cards done. My goal is to complete 15 publication-worthy cards by New Year's Eve. I'm pretty sure I'll reach that. I will need to take a break to do some scrapping, however. That, and I have a few design team assignments that I'm working on.

:)

So I'm off work until after New Year's! Get the party started! I have a stack of new patterned paper that I have definite plans for. This week will be about creating tons of stuff and submitting like crazy to publications. :)

Anyhow, here's the first card to kick things off...

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Just a simple card I made for my dad and step-mom. We're getting together at their home tomorrow for our family Christmas. We get together a bit early each year so that everyone can be there. :)

Introducing the first LESS LOVED STAMP SET Challenge!

The object of this challenge is to dust off those sets that are rarely used. These are the sets that you bought, used once, and then thought, “What was I thinking?!”

Break them out and create something beautiful with them. Think of them in a different light. How can a seemingly out of style stamp set be re-energized and look contemporary and modern? What colors and techniques will make this set really shine? What will make the “not so cute” set look even better?

Maybe it's a matter of style. You're just not into the cutesy bears anymore. Work around it! Make that bear so darn cute and cuddley, I want to find the real 3D version of it to give to my niece for Christmas. It's all about presentation—that's what makes something look even better—so dress up that stamp set with fun accessories! Make it so beautiful that I want to buy it.

And then post a comment here and tell me where it's at (splitcoaststampers, twopeas, etc.)! Don't forget to tell me where to find your blog as well (if you have one). I want to see all of your creations!

Stamps by any and all companies are welcome.

AND there are prizes! Two people who take on the challenge will randomly be picked to receive a small little care package from me.

Each “Card Perfect” prize package will include:
• Small metal embellishments (brads, spirals, etc.)
• Strano Designs ribbon
• Pre-cut, pre-scored card bases created with:
Chatterbox double-sided card stock
Basic Grey card stock
Bazzill Basics textured card stock (some of my most favorite colors)
Wild Asparagus double-sided card stock
•A special little gift from me (and I'm not telling what it is—it wouldn't be a surprise if I did).

DUE DATE: December 29
(Yeah, I know it's over Christmas, but I know that some of you are taking time off work and might find yourself sitting in front of some paper and ink. Wink wink.)

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Another card using the new Polka Dots and Paisley stamp set. Enjoy!

I've been on an organizing kick recently, wanting to organize my craft space. I basically have a whole room to myself (my office). Today I focused on paper and card stock.



I found a great website for office supplies, M.O. Inc. I actually first saw M.O. in the 2005 Communication Arts Design Annual and just had to look them up. Awesome looking supplies! Well designed and useful.

So when I had the urge to organize, I knew where to go! I just love their hanging file folders and file folders. The file folders are a very thick card stock, not like the usual manila folders. And then the tabs! The plastic tabs for the hanging file folders are great! The labels they give you are perfect to wrap around the three sides of the tabs. I put the names of the colors on the top and the color family on the front surface (see photo below).

The way I'm organizing all my SU! card stock:

- By color: three colors per folder. I'll keep scraps and about 10 full sheets of each color. All leftovers (and those that don't fit) will go in my vertical paper storage.

- By color family.



I can't wait to fill these folders up!

I attended my step-sister's homecoming today. She returned from serving an LDS mission in Wisconsin. Anyhow, after church everyone gathered at my Dad and step-mom's for lunch and visiting.

I was super glad I had my camera with me because I got to take pictures of my little niece. She's nearly six months old and SO adorable!

(And I apologize for the copyright lines over the photos—I guess I'm just paranoid that some idiot will try to steal my photos. Not that a little copyright line will do much, but maybe it will remind them that it isn't theirs to take).

This card has double meaning! I am "one happy girl" because the stamp set used to make this card was absolutely FREE! Stamp Up! sent this set to all demonstrators as a thank you and gift of appreciation.

Well, gosh darn it, I feel appreciated. :)

Also, my step-sister came home from serving an LDS mission in Wisconsin for just yesterday! I haven't seen her yet, but we're getting together for a family dinner tomorrow afternoon. So I just had to make her a card!

BTW, I got this color combination from my co-worker's shirt! She was sitting across from me in a meeting and suddenly I was all, "Hmm... Sage, ruby, caramel, black and ivory..." My day planner has the colors written in the margin of my meeting notes!

I spent nearly all of today working on gifts to give to my co-workers. This year I decided to make them small calendars that they can hang up in their cubicles. It's something I've been meaning to make for myself, so I thought maybe they might enjoy it as well.



However, making 23 calendar sets was a long, arduous task! I spent a few hours designing them in Adobe Illustrator, and then had to print and cut them out. My right arm hurts bit from all the cutting, but at least it's all done.

I just have to figure out what to give to 8 more co-workers because I ran out of textured white card stock. I'll either have to make a run to the scrap store on Monday, or make something different. Hmm... I haven't decided yet.

Just a quick update with my latest page.

Imagine what my sister was thinking when she saw her son like this! Luckily, she saw the humor in it and grabbed a camera. Otherwise I never would have believed her!

And yes, that's printer ink! A whole cartridge (just in case you ever wondered about wearing it). :)

UPDATE: The photos of this page are removed for publication.

Okay, so sometimes I watch HSN. And they finally got to me last weekend. I bought the Wolfgang Puck rice cooker. Let me tell you, it's FABULOUS! I love it! I spent all weekend cooking rice and mac and cheese.

Yes, I said mac and cheese! You can cook other things besides rice in it! Perfect for those lazy days in the summer when I don't want to fire up the stove top or oven. In fact, the recipes included in the instruction manual are delish! :)

The mac and cheese was pretty good. The noodles weren't quite done, so the next time I make it, I'll cook the pasta just a bit before I add all the ingredients to the rice cooker.

I also made some rice pudding and just plain rice to keep in the fridge for quick after work meals. One recipe that I found last Friday that I really like is from the Cooking Light web site...

Chile-Cheese Rice Burritos

I saved some of it for lunch today at work and it went really well. I just packed the filling in a container, the lettuce in a little baggy, and the salsa in a little miniature Glad plastic container, and put all of it in my handy-dandy pink lunch bag (which I bought from Amazon.com). A quick heat up of the filling and a tortilla and I was in business.

Yum!

And some more yummy... This is one of the cards I have planned for my January stamp club meetings. Yes, that's meetings, as in plural! My first club has gone so well that when a few more ladies from work wanted to join but there wasn't room, I decided to start another!

Anyway, here's the card. I want to feature the color spritzer and show that it can be used in a sophisticated, subtle way. I used it here tone on tone to add depth to the chocolate chip card stock.

Even though it's December, it's time to start thinking about Mother's Day. At least in "magazine land" it is. Some paper crafting magazines have calls out for Mother's Day cards and gifts. I thought I'd start on one.

I took photos of the cutest family today. One of my friends needed some family pictures for her Christmas cards, so I got to spend part of the day with them at Murray Park. Her three boys are just adorable! Anyhow, here are a few of my favorites...

And last, but not least... The family all together (this happens to be my absolute favorite)... Hee hee...

I came across this video today and was impressed with how a 14-year-old young man can help educate his peers about internet predators. Seriously, this is a video that all parents and teenagers need to see.