So, I think Accents & Elements is one of the more underrated items in the entire Stampin' Up! catalog... I just can't get enough of them! And as a designer, these tins full of various images are super fun to create. I think the girls I work with would agree. :)

Anyway, I broke out one of the new A&E kits and made a card with it. Super fast and super easy. And can I just say that I love LOVE the name tag image!

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I've had a few questions recently about my craft area... Um, it's a mess. I tend to work in chaos. In fact, a lot of the time, I just create with and use whatever is out on my desk. I have a lot of unfinished things, but I also go back and re-use elements that were never adhered to the finished projects. I sort of find it a challenge to use already pre-cut card stock.

"Hmm... What can I do with this long strip of red card stock?"

It's like playing a game, ya know?

We have these Stampin' Days at work that are organized by the HR department and the girls who design projects for different events. Everyone in the entire company gets to make a couple cards and everything is pre-cut and ready to just be put together. It's really fun! I love seeing all the new hires starting out to stamp. So fun!

So the cards are pre-designed, but for the life of me I just can't make the card that's already prepared! I have to shake things up a bit. It's that challenge thing! I'm limited to only the things that were provided, and the tools are limited to usually just scissors and adhesive. Sometimes there's a punch, but not always.

I'm not the only one who makes a different card, too. A lot of the art department will make one of the pre-designed cards, and then one that's their own creation. I LOVE seeing what everyone makes!

How can you do this, too? Some of you out there are Stampin' Up! demonstrators and you've likely more than once come home with pre-cut scraps and leftovers from workshops and stamp camps. Break those pieces out and see what else you can make! It's a challenge, but it's so fun!

So Grateful - All supplies from Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa card stock; Messenger Accents & Elements; Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain; button.

Hi all!

Thought I might try another Valentine's Day card. Can't have enough of these, right? :) For some reason, I just love Cocoa, Guava, and Blossom together... such pretty colors! I can't get enough of them so I had to use them on this card.

I think I'm in a Cocoa-Guava-Blossom phase. Do you go through color combo phases, too? I remember two summers ago, I was in an Olive-Coral-Apricot phase (inspired by this card), and then last summer it was Pomegranate-Wasabi-Pumpkin-Sky phase (see it here and here).

I've also been known to just stick with the same colors for weeks at a time. ;)

A few weeks ago, we had our annual Winter Celebration at work. This year, we had it at the Grand America Hotel and it was gorgeous!

Our Events Department did such a great job and everyone I talked with was so impressed. :) It was a Black & White Gala, so it was so much fun to see everyone all dressed up in black and white.

Anyway, everyone was given a photo ticket to have their photo taken. I used mine on a group photo with some of the girls in my department and on my team. We are so cute!



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As a follow-up to my last entry, I'm feeling much better now. Still a bit congested and foggy in the head, but all in all, I'm nearly at 100%. Thanks for all your well wishes and comments. :)

Hi everyone! Just wanted to say thanks for all the great comments on yesterday's card, and all the wonderful suggestions. I'll have to look into those different types of needles and other sewing tools.

Also, thought I'd just let ya'll know that I'll be incommunicado (sp?) for a couple days. I've been a bit sick (actually I'm on my phone while waiting for my prescriptions at the pharmacy) and I've got a couple crazy days at work ahead of me (catching up from missing today because I was at home sick).

Anyhow, just thanks for being patient with me. :)

Oh, I think they're about done with my drugs...

Hi all!

This week's card was inspired by... well, I'll just let you watch the video.

Anyway, just the first part of the card took nearly 15 minutes! Normally I wouldn't spend so much time on just one thing for a card, but it was the first time I'd tried doing anything like that so I didn't know how long it would take. I think if I do it again, I'll probably be a bit faster because I'll already know what to do. At least I hope I would faster.

Ribbon Flower - All supplies from Stampin' Up! Polka Dot background stamp; Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, and Naturals White card stock; Sago Shadow ink; Pretty in Pink and Basic Gray taffeta ribbon; paper piercer and mat pack.

This is a another card from the December issue of Cards Magazine. I'll have a real update later tonight, but for now, here's another card! :)

Noel - Soft Sky and Purely Pomegranate card stock, brads: Stampin' Up!; patterned paper: Scenic Route; ribbon, stickers: American Crafts; sewing machine and thread.

This card was in the December issue of Cards Magazine. Just thought I'd share it here! (I was trying out a white background when I took this picture back in July... Can you believe they work that far in advance? Craziness!)

:)

Birthday Wishes - textured card stock: Bazzill; Old Olive, Soft Sky and Blue Bayou card stock, Circle of Friendship stamp set, chipboard, 1-3/8" and 1/2" circle punches, clear button, ribbon: Stampin' Up!; patterned paper: Scenic Route; stamping ink: StazOn; sewing machine and thread.

Made a little trip to my Mazda dealership tonight and... brought home a new car!

I turned in my leased 2005 Mazda3s for a newer 2008 Mazda3s Touring! Yep, I got the same car, but better: it's black! I've always wanted a black car, but when I got my previous car everyone talked me out of it (black cars are hotter in the summer, dirt shows more on the paint, etc.), but this time I was all, "I DON'T CARE! I WANT BLACK!"

Plus, it's super spy sexy. I can indulge my secret spy fantasies while I sit behind tinted windows and drive down twisty European roads. Why yes, I'll accept the super secret mission... Do I get Michael Vartan as a co-pilot? ;)

So, I got it in black with leather interior... oh, so luxurious. It's a sweet little ride that's perfect for just me. :)

I'll have to post pictures when I have a chance. I have to take it in to the dealership to have a rear spoiler added (my old Mazda3 had a spoiler, but this one doesn't and looks... naked). Plus, I've yet to have the windows tinted. Until then, its not quite spy material, and I want to wait to take pictures until he (yes, the car is a he) is fully equipped and ready for high-speed car chases. ;)

Until then... Zoom-zoom!

(Oh, and by the way, I shamelessly borrowed the above pictures from the Mazda website).

Good morning!

This week's card features a little bit of blender penning (is that a word?). A few people asked about blender pens, and really, this is all I use them for... to color in outlined images. How do you use blender pens? We all want to know.

In other news, I'm going to the One Republic concert! I won the tickets off the radio and I'm super excited! I have go and pick them up today.

How did I win? The DJ played a mash-up and had people call in and tell them who the artists were. Well, there I was, driving to my card club, at a stoplight. Ehhh, why not. Got out my iPhone, googled the song name and presto! Billy Idol and Justine Timberlake.

Then I was the tenth caller! Yeah! I {heart} my iPhone. :)

Thanks... I Needed That - All supplies from Stampin' Up! Kraft, Basic Gray, and Whisper White card stock; Fun & Fast Notes stamp set; StazOn ink; Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, and Pumpkin Pie inks; Regal Rose wide grosgrain; Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin'.

So, I realized after I made and uploaded this video that there are MANY other uses for grid paper. How do you use grid paper? :)

Tonight was my first card club outside of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. Even though I resigned as a demonstrator, my club girls wanted to continue. So, we did. :)

This month was all about American Crafts Thickers. Each person took home her own pack at the end of the night. Anyway, these are the projects we made. Supplies are listed at the bottom.

i {heart} u - Kraft card stock, Pretty in Pink grosgrain: Stampin' Up!; Thickers, patterned paper: American Crafts.

Thanks - Basic Black card stock: Stampin' Up!; patterned paper, Thickers, ribbon, felt flower, brad: American Crafts.

Flower - Bazzill Bling card stock: Bazzill; felt flowers: Stampin' Up!; brad: American Crafts.

I like this card because it's not really just masculine or just feminine. I dig that. :)

Also, who knew that Stampin' Up!'s ABC Lower Alphabet set would go so well with the retired Straight Up Alphabet & Numbers? It's awesome, that's what I say.

Although, I wish alphabet stamps were easier, ya know? Not so unpredictable. Granted, all stamps are somewhat unpredictable, but alphas are especially unpredictable. I mean, they're so little! And it's just hard to judge where it's going. Plus, sometimes a girl is too lazy to dig out her Stamp-a-ma-jig from underneath the PILES of crap stuff on her craft desk. Oh, well!

But HOLY CRAP, Batman! Don't you love the colors in Jersey Shore papers? I {heart} these papers a bit too much. :)

Who else loves orange? Roll call!

Count on You - All supplies from Stampin' Up! ABC Alphabet, Straight Up Alphabet & Numbers, and Take a Number wheel; Take Note rubons; Jersey Shore Designer Series Paper; Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, and Bashful Blue card stock; Wild Wasabi double stitched grosgrain; metal edged tag; Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, and VersaMark inks.

We had a fire drill yesterday at work. On one of the coldest days we've had in a while. At least it felt like the coldest day while we were outside waiting for the word to go back inside the building.

"Huddle for warmth! Take turns on the outside like penguins!"



Annie is our safety person in our area so she got to wear her stylish bright orange vest. I particularly like the fact that she's wearing the cutest coat ever with black heels and then... an orange vest! Ha ha! Annie, we love you, you know that, right?

Last I heard it was only a drill. There was no smoke as far as I know. On a positive note, no one tried to take the elevator. ;)

I got an email today (hey Sandi!) asking me what are my top 5 things to buy for a crafter eager to step up their card making skills. After mulling it over, I realized that nearly all of the things on my "top 5" were tools of some sort. So, let's talk tools. :)

When I was in college working on my graphic design degree there was an aspect to every project that always had to be perfect: craftsmanship. Craftsman is defined as "one who creates or performs with skill or dexterity especially in the manual arts." In my design courses, craftsmanship meant making sure that all our presentation boards were cut neatly, that there was no glue or adhesive showing... basically that everything looked neat and tidy.

In relation to card making and scrapbooking, craftsmanship is so important! I can't stress this enough! And one of the major things that will either help or hurt you is your craftsmanship.

Are your scissors sharp? Do you carefully cut your ribbon so there is no fraying? Does your card stock crack when you fold it? Are your cuts straight? Are there pop dots or dimensionals showing? Is your card stock adhered straight?

Some styles of paper crafting allow for a slightly less strict craftsmanship (shabby chic, distressed, etc). However, simple cards (which I assume you like since you're here at my blog reading this) should be simple and clean. When your creation has such a straight forward approach, your craftsmanship has to be impeccable. It's simply more noticeable.

A lot of this comes down to the tools you are using (or not using). Here are my top five tools to always have out in your crafting space. No hiding these things in drawers!

1. Sharp scissors - I actually have 5 sets of scissors on my desk. Granted, two of them are the same scissors (I should really throw out the gummed up and neglected pair). Anyway, get yourself some awesome scissors. Sharp, precise scissors are a ribbon lover's best friend. Try Stampin' Up!'s Craft and Paper Scissors. They are awesome.

Also, designate which scissors are for ribbon and which are for card stock and paper. Paper and card stock is very hard on scissors and can dull them quickly, but you need super sharp scissors to make great cuts in ribbon. Try tying a piece of ribbon around your scissors' handle to remind you they are only for either card stock or ribbon.

2. Bone folder - A bone folder is multipurpose. You can either score your card stock with a ruler and bone folder, and you can use it to flatten the crease after folding it over. Seriously, a nice fold is the first sign of an experienced crafter.

3. Sharp paper trimmer - Find a paper trimmer you absolutely love and can depend on. Nothing screams a sloppy card like uneven edges and none perpendicular corners. I love my Tabletop Paper Cutter from Stampin' Up! Tonic also makes a similar model. One of my co-workers, Lauren aka X-acto, uses an x-acto knife for all her cutting. Not for the faint of heart, but she's in total control of getting a straight cut.

4. Various adhesives - Always have the following three adhesives on hand: tape runner of some sort (think Tombow Mono or SNAIL), liquid glue (I love Tombow Mono Multi Glue... That's the Tombow Multipurpose Glue for all you SU! demos out there), and a three-dimensional foam adhesive (I use Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Dimensionals or Scotch Foam Mounting Tape).

5. Grid paper - I'm not sure if other companies out there have a similar product, but Stampin' Up!'s grid paper is awesome! It's both scratch paper and ruler. I keep my pad of grid paper right on top of my cutting mat and that's my permanent workspace. It's the white grid you see on all my videos.

Anyhow, I hope that was helpful. It's always a good idea to check up on your craftsmanship and make sure you're doing your best... in other words, let your perfectionist side show a bit. ;)

What are your top 5 essentials?

Flower - Friend By Definition background stamp, Flower Fusion felt flowers, clear button, Purely Pomegranate card stock and ink: Stampin' Up!; patterned paper: Scenic Route; staples and embroidery floss.

This was a special request from someone over at YouTube. She wanted easy Valentine's Day cards she could make for her daughter to give to the other children in her school class. This is what I came up with. :)

This card would be super easy to duplicate and make a ton of. Just work it like an assembly line... do one step at a time and then assemble. It can be done so much faster that way.

So, here's the video. BTW, I came to a decision on the voiceover thing. I'll do voiceovers if I need to explain something extensive, but if it's super easy (like today's card), I'll use captions. :)

Thanks for letting me know what you all think. I truly appreciate it.

Oh, and I forgot to note in the video that the heart stamp is from the older Stampin' Up! set Simply Said. Enjoy!

Hi all! these pages were actually created a couple weeks ago. For the past couple years, we've given my mom a scrapbook calendar for Christmas. Anyhow, these are my three pages this year. :)

Be sure to click on them to see them bigger.

Gotta run... I'm making Kathy's breadsticks again. Hopefully they'll turn out even better than the first time I made them (which was pretty good, but not quite like Kathy makes them). :)

Halloween - Basic Black card stock, white gel pen, paper piercer and template: Stampin' Up!; chipboard letters: American Crafts; random ribbon from Target gift wrapping aisle; patterned paper: Scenic Route.

Nana's Kids - Pen, Felt and foam letters: American Crafts; patterned paper: Scenic Route.

Playing Games - Small brads, Whisper White and Basic Gray card stock: Stampin' Up!; ribbon, flowers, vinyl letters, rubons, large brad: American Crafts.

Answering some questions left at You Tube and here at my blog.

Links mentioned in video:
Jessie & Pasha
Jamie & Hok

NOTE: When I talk about Stampin' Up!, I am not officially representing the company. I'm just telling you what I think and from my perspective. Thanks!