Teacher Appreciation Week - Wednesday

While making the teacher appreciation gift packaging for the Wednesday gift, I stumbled across a really nice color combination: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, and Soft Sky. Yowza! These colors are great together!! 

Everyone can use a fun clip-on scent holder for the car, right?? The bags are tied closed with Melon Mambo Scallop Dots ribbon. Then I used 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta ribbon to tie on the tag. 
For the tag, I started by stamping (Forever with You) in black StazOn®, and die cutting the image with the Window Frames Framelits. Then I adhered a strip of Melon Mambo card stock. After punching out a layer of Soft Sky card stock with the Decorative Label punch, I wrote my greeting, and attached it to the tag with Dimensionals. A single rhinestone adds just the right amount of "bling." 

For those of you following Aaron's animal alphabet book pages, here are a few more for your classroom and/or punch art inspiration...  

Sitting on a cornflake... coo coo ca choo

Soooooo, today's card... it would be easier to say "don't ask," but I know someone will... 
This all started because Aaron brought home the most adorable project ever.  He made it at school while working on the letter Ww. As a Mom, I instantly thought, "this is a keeper for the scrapbook!" As a former kindergarten teacher I instantly thought "I have to save this in my letter Ww file." As a paper-crafter, I instantly thought "punch art!" Good grief!! 
But, seriously... who do you send a punch-art-Walrus card to??? I wanted to make this little guy so much I started to think of all sorts of stupid things (have a walrussy birthday???). Which led to thinking "I am crazy. Wait, wait wait... I am the Walrus... I have an 'I am' stamp (from last year's Convention)... yes! I will send this to my friend who is a Beatles fan." Although I'm pretty sure she's not a huge fan of this particular song - talk about "out there."

So there you have it... the reason for why you would make a punch art walrus other than for a ZOO scrapbook page. Yup, I am about as crazy as the song.   :}

It did turn out super cute though! I used an Oval Framelit to create the curved top of his head. I just ran the Chocolate Chip card stock about a third of the way through the Big Shot so it only trimmed the one end. A smaller Oval Framelit made the "snout?" out of River Rock card stock. I Spritzed the oval with a Chocolate Chip Marker and sponged the edges with River Rock ink. 

I used the Owl Builder punch to create the eyes, and the Small Oval punch to make the nose. For the tusks, I used the Petite Pennants punch to punch out two Very Vanilla triangles, and trimmed up each long side to make them thinner. 

Want to see the project that inspired all this silliness?

Adorable, right???  :}

Come to think of it, perhaps today's post was just "destined to be." After all, I did substitute teach today. ***Shout-out to Harristown Elementary as one of the nicest school buildings to sub in!  Aaaaand, the only stamp on today's card is from a Convention stamp set, and I registered for Convention 2013 today. Maybe, just maybe, I'm not so crazy after all... coo coo ca choo!

Just Because

I can not believe Sale-A-Bration is almost over! Where has the time gone???
I have a super cute card to share with you today! This card was designed by Laura for the shoebox swap I recently participated in. Can you spot the two items you can get through Sale-A-Bration?

The Basic Black card stock layer features the "chalkboard art" technique.  Click here for technique directions and another card.  I love, love, love the Hearts a Flutter Framelits for making this fun little banner!

Ok, did you find the Sale-A-Bration goodies? I chose the "just because" greeting from the Vintage Verses stamp set. And the silver Glimmer Paper is from the FREE package you can get with a $150 merchandise order. Can't order $150 by yourself right now? Grab a few friends a put your orders together! You will not only earn the free Glimmer Paper, but also enjoy our fabulous Hostess Benefits (aka - more FREE stuff)! Hurry... Sale-A-Bration ends March 22nd.  Happy shopping... and stamping!  :} 

Chalkboard Art for Valentine's Day

I really wanted to create a card using a hot trend in crafting and decorating right now -- chalkboard art... so I made one for Valentine's Day.  :} 

SMILE!! It turned out so cute!  And I was surprised at how easy this technique is. For my card, I started with Pretty in Pink card stock and a layer of Twitterpated DSP. 

To create the chalkboard background:
Start with a layer of Basic Black card stock (on this card: 4-3/4" x 3-1/2").
If you want an embossed image, stamp your image in Whisper White Craft ink, sprinkle with White Embossing Powder, and heat set with a Heat Tool (the image on this card is from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set).
Using a section of a Stamping Sponge, lightly rub / swirl some Whisper White Craft ink in random spots to create the look of eraser marks. 
Using a White Pencil, add lines or images for a hand-drawn look. 

Add stamped / die-cut images to create a focal point. Adhering some of the images with Dimensionals makes layering a breeze. And of course a bit of ribbon and bling are the perfect little details!

So what do you think? Are you ready to try some chalkboard art today?

speedy notecards

Ugh. That's my word for today :( 
I've given birth to two children. The first with an attempted epidural that turned into a sort of spinal tap, and the second was an ohmygoodness, don'tpush, Ineedadoctor, notimefordrugs, herehecomes experience. I'm quite sure I would rather go through both of those experiences again over having dental work. Yesterday at my dentist's office (thank goodness they're so nice) I had to have some things fixed. I had one teeny tiny cavity, and then I needed a repair to the filling that was coming loose on a front tooth (broke off parts of my front teeth in 2nd grade; running on cement = bad idea). So that means I had two, TWO, shots in the upper gums yesterday.  Ugh.
I spent most of the evening on the couch in my jammies feeling like my head had been hit with a hammer, so today I'm sharing cards made by those two darling children I just mentioned.  ;) 

stamp sets: Need for Speed, Sassy Salutations 

Ben(8) designed his card with the race car, and then Aaron(5) followed Ben's lead. They were making Notecards to thank those who sponsored them in a fundraising walk at school. I had Ben write the message inside: 

I didn't have the heart to correct his spelling.  :} 

My boys love papercrafting just as much as I do! Plus, it's nice to do an activity together that doesn't involve ninjas.  ;) 

When you're ordering supplies, don't forget that your little ones might like something, too. If you're worried about spending too much on the "kid stash," check out my Online-Only Clearance Rack. Several new items were just added. 

Ok, I'm off to tackle this crazy day. Ben has a doctor's appointment out of town, so I'll be getting him from school in a little bit. And when I bring him back to school, I'm finally off to the Pumpkin Patch with Aaron's class. Yay for no rain today!! Aaron has been so upset with all the rain delays. Cross your fingers that I get some good pictures!  :} 

diagonal embossed stripes

I have TWO cute Halloween projects and a fun technique to share today - woohoo!  :} 

If you've been reading for a while, you know I love texture on my paper-crafting projects. Embossing Folders are an easy way to add great texture, and I especially love when they become multi-taskers in my craft room (any Alton Brown fans out there?).  On this card, I used both the Chevron and the Stripes Embossing Folders!  :}  

All I had to do to make the diagonal embossed stripes is lay the 1-3/4" x 4-1/4" strip of More Mustard card stock at an angle inside the Embossing Folder before running it through the Big Shot - easy peasy! I like how it coordinates with the diagonal stripes on the DSP (Howlstooth & Scaringbone).  

And here's what the diagonal embossed stripes look like on a bookmark: 

A great gift for the grade school librarian, don't you think??  :} 

That pretty much wraps up my Halloween projects... did I make you want the Tricky Treats stamp set yet???  ;)  
Oh, I do have one more Halloween project to share... a freebie on my Facebook Page!  Happy Halloween!!!  :}

Happy Hallow-Wing!

Good morning! I hope you had a nice weekend. Mine was fabulous! On Saturday, we spent the day with the Cub Scouts hiking, fishing, working on achievements, etc. I took Aaron with me, and we had the most wonderful hike together while Ben was off with his den. I can't wait to share some of the pics! Sunday was such a beautiful day, and we spent our time outdoors again. My brother's family,  my parents, and my little clan spent some time at a nature center. I'm looking forward to scrapping those pics, too. 

I have the cutest Halloween card to share today. I love the cute, fun parts of Halloween - not the gory, bloody, creepy stuff - and this bat (Tricky Treats stamp set) is definitely cute!

His goofy eyes and big teeth just make me giggle. I really like the polka dot DSP (Howlstooth & Scaringbone), so I repeated the pattern using the Polka Dot Embossing Folder on the Basic Gray card stock layer. 

Some other fun details include the Rhinestone (colored with a black Sharpie), and the Striped Satin Ribbon. But my favorite little details are the "fang-bite" marks, which I made with the 1/16" Circle punch.   **TIP: use Dimensionals to adhere the "bitten" layer over a light colored card stock so that the holes are more visible. (They are much easier to see in real life, of course.) 

After such a great weekend, the rest of my week has a lot to live up to! Monday is off to a good start... I already worked with a small group of sweet 3rd-graders this morning. A teacher waiting in the hallway for some students overheard the end of our reading lesson, and asked me if I was a teacher. That made me both blush and smile. I guess I haven't completely lost my skills after being out of the classroom for so long - yay! Now, just keep your fingers crossed that this thunderstorm moves through quickly and Aaron's field trip isn't rescheduled again. Then my Monday will end happily... muddy, but still fun  :}

eeek! a Halloween card AND a card sketch!

I guess it's my lucky day - Aaron's pumpkin patch field trip was rescheduled for Monday. So far, Monday is supposed to be warmer and dryer - keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way! 
It's your lucky day too, since now I have time to share a cute Halloween card!  :}  

stamp set: Tricky Treats 

DSP: Howlstooth & Scaringbone 

Embossing Folder: Spider Web 

punches: Scallop Edge Border, Extra-Large Tag, 1/16" Circle 

accessories: Basic Black Brad, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

You might be thinking you've seen other cards I've made using this layout, and you're right! I love it for a quick, simple card. And just to get those creative juices going for the weekend, here's the sketch and a few digital examples: 

Hmmmm... I just got an idea for a Christmas card using this sketch. Off to the stamping space! Have a fabulous weekend, and as always, Happy Stamping!!  :}

creating a new border

Did you ever have one of those days that time seems to be moving in "fast forward" and you feel like you spend the whole day running to catch up? Today was kinda like that for me... just not enough hours in the day! It didn't help that I've made three trips to the Post Office in the past two days. I had some packages to mail to my downline, so I went out yesterday afternoon to the village Post Office, where at 4:02pm I learned they close at 4pm. Now, I could have driven into town to a larger Post Office, and I should have looked at ALL of the posted hours... but I didn't. Apparently, as I learned today at 11:15am, they close during part of the day for lunch. Good grief. Third trip was a charm! Between this errand, all the others, and a volunteer stop at the grade school this afternoon, I'm thinking that I have a slow leak in one of my tires - grrrr! Well, at least I have something really neat to share with you today!! 

This quick and easy Halloween card uses some of my favorites (Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Tricky Treats stamp set). The layout is simple and easy to duplicate - I made it fun and interesting with just a few details. Distressing the edges of the More Mustard card stock adds great texture, aaaand... 

check out that awesome border!!! It's stinkin' cute, and ridiculously easy. I just punched out two pieces of Tangerine Tango card stock using the Curly Label punch, cut them in half, and adhered them behind the More Mustard card stock. Easy Peasy! LOVE IT!!!!! Yes, it's these simple little moments that make me sparkle  ;)  

Well, it's time for me to get the kids ready for bed. And I'd better turn in early myself... I'm working in the school library in the morning, and then chaperoning Aaron's field trip to a pumpkin patch in the afternoon. Just wondering... why is it always cold and rainy every time I'm with a class field trip outside?  sigh
Time to break out the long-johns!  :P

shoebox swap - part 1

Do you remember that cute little Halloween treat bag I posted earlier? Well, here's an even more adorable version, designed by one of my side-lines, Laura. I think you'll agree that Laura's design is super, super cute!!

Last week, at my upline's team meeting, we had a "shoebox swap." Each of us brought a project and the supplies to make it for each team member. Laura designed this treat bag using the Ghoulish Googlies Bundle. 
The glassine bag is dry embossed using the Spider Web Embossing Folder. I love the three little strips of Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP tucked behind the tag! And well, who can resist that cute little googly eye??!! I filled the bag with some candy corn flavored M&Ms, so now it's ready to brighten someones day  :} 
I already posted the card I designed for the swap... be sure to check back throughout the week to see the other "shoebox swap" projects! Have a super day  :}

more Spider Cider

In an earlier post I shared the "spider cider" gift for Ben's teacher. Today's project is a different version of "spider cider" - a gift for Aaron's teacher: 

I used the Petite Pocket Bigz XL Die to make a simple pouch which holds cider mix and a cinnamon stick. The Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP makes decorating the pouch super easy, and of course the spider stamp (Monster Munchies) is the inspiration for the project. 

I also made a cute little 2" x 2" card to coordinate with the gift, so Aaron and I can write a simple message of thanks to his teacher.

Thanks for dropping by today! If you have a minute, head on over to my Facebook Page for a Halloween FREEBIE  :}

BOOOO!

Don't be scared... it's just a cute little witch :} She flew in to play on this card we made at my Halloween class (at the bakery).

I can't even narrow down my favorite part of this card... I love all the little details! But I guess if I absolutely had to pick only one, it would be those googly eyes! They're just so stinkin' cute  :}

The greeting and the witch are both stamped in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder. And the Lucky Limeade layer is dry embossed with the Chevron Embossing Folder. The oval tag from the Ghoulish Googlies Kit is the perfect size to tuck in between the die cut (Labels Collection Framelits) layers. 
Now, you might ask, "why heat emboss and not just stamp with black ink?" Very good question! When you want to stamp with one color of ink onto a different color of card stock, the ink color won't be "true." As in, the stamped ink color you see is influenced by the color of the card stock coming through. The black embossing powder creates a totally opaque layer on top of the card stock, so you see a "true" black. And when you want to color an outline image, it might be easier to have your stamped image embossed as a way to help "stay in the lines." 
Well, it's time to help Ben with homework and get a little work done for Scout night. I hope you have a fabulous day!!

scrappin' Halloween

When I joined Stampin' Up! five years ago, I had visions of getting all caught up on my scrapbooking. Stop laughing. It didn't happen... it's not happening... it won't happen anytime soon. I get a little more done now than I did then... thank goodness for My Digital Studio! I spend a lot of time on each scrapbook page; sometimes it takes me a week or more to finish. So cards are naturally appealing to me as something I can finish in a short amount of time. 
Since I spend a lot of time making cards, I was really happy to get a scrapbook page done for my Halloween class at the bakery. 

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use this in a new 8x8 album, or if I'm going to add this page on top of a 12x12 page. I like the new 8x8 size; it might help me get caught up on my scrapbooking a little faster  ;) 
Planning my class around the Ghoulish Googlies Bundle made choosing the colors easy (Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White). I added the Basic Gray for a little bit more contrast. 

The bat and the mummy are stamped in black StazOn ink and "fussy cut." After adhering them to the page with Dimensionals, I added the googly eyes... CUTE! 
My Big Shot got a good workout to create this page! The Spider Web Embossing Folder, Sweet Buttons Embosslit, and the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die all got to come out and play  :)

On a side note, I had a beautiful start to my morning. The boys both slept well and woke up in great moods. I successfully tried a new recipe for breakfast. And I got to sit on the deck in the sunshine drinking coffee, while chatting with my hubby. Well, chatting on the phone anyway. I was so glad to hear from him, since he was traveling all night. (Don't you just love how men don't need hotel rooms - they can just take turns driving... ugh.) Chris is traveling to Wyoming with some friends and his brother for an antelope hunt. If you have a moment, any thoughts and prayers for a safe trip would be appreciated :) 
While I'm not thrilled about his little vacation, I do hope they are successful. With the price of meat sure to go up soon due to our dry summer, it would be nice to have a freezer full of cheap meat. Hmmmm, I think a Pinterest search for antelope recipes would be a "productive" way to spend the afternoon, don't you?  ;) 

Halloween treats - yum!

Last week's stamping class at Wildflour Bakery  included three Halloween projects. All three used the Ghoulish Googlies Bundle. The easiest project was the treat bag, filled with yummy candy corn. I really like the size (3x5") of the glassine bags in the kit - just the right amount of candy! I also like that the printed tags are double-sided, which allows me to be even more creative  :}

After punching a small hole towards the top of the bag, I slipped in some 1/2" Striped Satin ribbon, tied closed with a piece of Pumpkin Pie Baker's Twine (included in the kit). 

My cute little Frankie is stamped in VersaMark ink, and heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder. Then I used Lucky Limeade and Pumpkin Pie markers to add some color.
Can you guess my favorite part of the whole project? It's those stinkin' cute googly eyes! I love the "fun factor" they add to an already "fun to receive" treat. I can't wait to show you the other two cute googlies projects!

Halloween card and project kit

Yesterday was a busy day for me, ending with a fun night presenting at the team meeting held by my upline's upline. I enjoyed demonstrating some of the new features in MDS2. 

Did you know you can get 31% off 31 digital content options and most of our print products through September 14th? With digital goods on sale and the 30-day FREE trial of the software, now is the perfect time to enter the digital designing craze and see what it's all about. 

What's on sale?
*ALL cards, photobooks, individual pages, and tags. That's right: print any photobook, board book, swatchbook, individual pages, greeting card, postcard, trifold card, or tag - all for 31% off.

*Some of our best digital content. 30 downloads and 1 content disc. Yup, that equals 31. 

Want to try out the program with a little help? If you live in the Decatur IL area, I will be teaching a digital class on September 8th. Check out my calendar of events for all the details. 

At the end of last night's meeting, we got to stamp four cards! Here's the super cute Halloween card: 

stamp set: Bootiful Occasions

ink: Basic Black Craft ink

card stock: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

DSP: Howlstooth & Scaringbone 

Embossing Folder: Spider Web 

Pumpkin Pie 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon; Black Stampin' Emboss Powder; Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

Now that you are thinking about how fun Halloween projects are, don't forget that you can get this awesome Halloween project kit - which includes the Toxic Treats stamp set! - for FREE!! 

What a fabulous deal!! All you have to do is join my team of fun stampers! You get to choose up to $125 of product, and pay only $99 +tax... you don't even have to pay shipping! Stampin' Up! has extended the offer through September 16th, so you still have time to email me (jenn.inklings@gmail.com) with any questions. And if you are local, we should probably answer them over coffee ;}

black and brown

Here are the last two crayon gifts ... 

Black & White Day 

stamp set: Need for Speed

Big Shot items: Top Note Bigz Die, Chevron Embossing Folder

Brown Day 

stamp set: Dinoroar

Ok, so technically Aaron's teacher did not have an official "brown day," but I couldn't have a bunch of leftover crayons!

This was such a fun series of projects to create... but I'm kinda glad it's over and I can move on to some Fall and Christmas projects  :}

a green anniversary

I'm posting a bit late today... such a busy one for me! I chaperoned Aaron's field trip this morning to a loud, but fun, place. The kids got to have hands on experiences in different rooms. Each room had different themes and activities, with a large indoor play area in the center. They were moving SO much, I hardly took any photos. This is my favorite, from the room filled with dress-up clothes:

The kids took turns going up on the stage and acting for us... what a bunch of "hams"! This skit is titled "Pirates in Green Bay."  ;)

On to "greener" things...
As promised, here's a mega-layered card, which I made for Aaron's bus driver:

 Her wedding anniversary is also on St. Patrick's Day, and she wanted a special card. She LOVED the cards I made for her! (click here to see the card for her sister's birthday)
 There are so many layers and details on this card... I'll just list a few:
* Poppy Parade DSP from Everyday Enchantment, a Sale-A-Bration choice
* grassy background and stem stamps from the Inspired By Nature stamp set
* the Basic Black card stock has one edge distressed, one edge border punched, and dry embossing

* the lucky four-leaf clover is made from a heart stamp in the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set
* I used the Boho Blossoms punch and a Large Pearl for the center
* I printed my sentiment onto Very Vanilla card stock before punching it out with the Large Oval punch

Even the inside of the card got the royal treatment. I used a Wild Wasbi marker to ink the sentiment from the A Word For You stamp set. Then I distressed the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock before adhering it inside. For a final loving touch, I stamped the smallest heart image from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set in Poppy Parade ink, punched it out with the Small Heart punch, and attached it with a mini Glue Dot.



After such a busy day, it would be nice to kick back and relax tomorrow... HA! Not going to happen - the kids are off from school, so it will be a noisy family day  :}  Thanks for dropping by tonight - I hope I get to sneak in a few minutes tomorrow to stamp something...

a fun day!

I've had so much fun in my craft room today! It all started yesterday when I was fooling around doing artistic research on Pinterest. I kept seeing all these great colors I wanted to play with. Sooo... I made a board called "Color Inspirations," and I've been playing around with some of the combinations. Oh my goodness, this is so fun! For those of you who have been reading for a while, you know how much I love playing with color, and how much I LOVE Stampin' Up!'s color palette. (If you'd like, you can do a search for Color Coach to get an idea.) Today's post is a card using an unusual color combo - very "outside the box" for me:

Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black - wow! 

I used two Sale-A-Bration stamp sets on this card. The images are from Fresh Vintage and the sentiment is from Elementary Elegance. You can earn your free Sale-A-Bration goodies by shopping from my website. Something you might want to add to your cart is the Paper Doily Large Sizzlit. I am sooooo loving this doily, which I trimmed down to work on this card. Here's a close-up of all the yummy details:

Like the layout on this card? I do!! It's from the Create With Connie and Mary blog - Sketch Callenge #188. And speaking of the Connie & Mary blog... guess who got picked as one of the top 3 in last week's color challenge??? ME!! Woohoo! That was a great way to start my day  :} 

Just curious... do you have a favorite color combination? How about a combo that you find hard to work with? Any combinations you'd like me to try? - just leave me a comment and I'll give it a whirl.
 

Fancy Favor Packet

I am so bummed about not going to Leadership Conference this year! It's like all of your friends going to a great party while you stay home  :(  To add insult to injury, my phone says the current temperature (as I type this) is 64 degrees in San Antonio, while it's only 3 degrees here - and we won't even talk about the wind chill! Yikes!!
So, to cheer myself up, I made something pretty  :)  I got the idea from Heather Summers, who got the idea from Missy Shipman - two amazing demonstrators. I sat right behind Missy during one of the sessions at Convention and had the best time chatting with her - she is super sweet.

Isn't this just stinkin' cute??!! I had a lot of fun making this, and I finally put ink to my Creative Elements stamp set.  I started by die cutting Island Indigo textured card stock on my Big Shot using the Fancy Favor Bigz XL die. The tiny little scallops (tucked under the strip of Timeless Portrait DSP ) are punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.

The Lucky Limeade card stock is die cut using the Two Tags Bigz die, and is the perfect size to hold a gift card (the card tucks nicely under the little slit hiding under the blossom).

Of course I had to add all kinds of pretties like Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, and Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon. I created my blossom by punching out Cherry Cobbler textured card stock (five times) with the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch on the first (largest) setting. Each layer is spritzed with a Cherry Cobbler marker and Color Spritzer Tool, crumpled, and attached with Dimensionals. Then I used an Antique Brad {LOVE these} to attach the blossom to the tag.

Soooooo.... want to know how to make the packet???  Of course you do! It's super easy-

Die cut your paper or card stock on the Fancy Favor Bigz XL die. Then you need to do some cutting on a few of the score lines. In the above photo, you can see exactly where to cut. I wrote an "X" on the pieces you will discard.

Placing the front down onto your work surface, use your Bone Folder to get crisp folds on the bottom and side flaps.

Fold the bottom flap up first, then use a strong adhesive (Multipurpose liquid or Sticky Strip) to adhere the side flaps. Then, cover the back with the remaining panel. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!!

So, I'm thinking this will be great for Valentine's Day teacher gifts!! What are you going to do with yours?  :)