TSTR - Pumpkin Patch

Welcome to another fun packed Monday everyone!! Seriously, this is the only thing that I look forward to when it comes to Mondays...blah!

 

 

Today over at the Shabby Tea Room we are showing off our Pumpkins ;) Isn't this inspiration pic pretty?? Burlap is all the rage right now and having it made into pumpkins is a perfectly adorable use for it isn't it??

 

 

This weeks theme: Use Pumpkins, Burlap and/or Twine

 

For my card I started off with a kraft base and layered on some yummy chevron patterned paper. I "sewed" a piece of burlap to a piece of kraft using my Sew Easy tool and some orange twine. I layered that with a doily that I distressed and some grosgrain chocolate ribbon. To finish it off I added a panel I made using the Pumpkin Patch digi stamp (I added some of the hearts myself using DeNami's Teeny heart stamp) a little flag using sentiments from Paper Sweeties "Sweeties Wagon" set and a fluffy bow/button treatment.

 

 

This week our wonderful sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps!!

 

 

As if raising five children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the world of paper crafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. That was two years ago. Today Bugaboo Stamps is one of the leading companies in digital images, and we're still growing! From seriously snarky to sugary sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects. Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!

If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps stamps at Totally Stampalicious. And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for weekly challenges at Catch the Bug.

Our links are:
Store : http://www.bugaboostamps.com/
Catch the bug Challenge blog: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

Well, that's all for me today, hope you can join us at The Shabby tea Room this week!!

Decisions decisions decisions....

Hello everyone :)  Wow, todays post almost wasn't! Blogger was being a brat and wouldn't let me sign in....sigh. My login info is saved so I usually don't have to enter it, however, yesterday it was asking for it and then told me it was incorrect several times. I know it was right, Blogger was just needing a time out! I had to close my browser and re-open it. Tried Blogger again and low & behold...I was all signed in...seriously??? Jeeze!!!

 

Well let's get on with todays post shall we? I made this little cutie for the upcoming Halloween themed DeNami blog hop, but then got to thinking I didn't want to wait to share it...what's a girl to do?

 

Just because summer is over doesn't mean I'm done playing with my canning jar! I love my little jar and just had to fill it with some witchy goodness :)

 

The orange chevron paper started out a bright white but I toned it down with a little tan ink before attaching it to a kraft card base and layering up some yummy Halloween themed papers. I bought a set of labels at Michael's and used the DeNami Scallop Border to make a fun label for my jar, then "filled" it with seeds using the DeNami seeds/drops stamp. I wanted it to look like the seed were floating in something and the only thing I could thing of to do was to add a little grey chalk to the seed area. I finished it all up with some Prima flowers, Twinery twine and Paper Sweeties hand dyed seam binding.

Tool Talk - September 2013

Hello everyone and welcome to another fun addition of Tool Talk! If you're new here to Tool Talk, let me give you just a tiny bit of background. One day I was perusing the crafty isles at a big box store and a feeling of overwhelmedness came over me. Sooo many tools and mediums...how are we to know what they are, what they do, which one is better and why??? I immediately went home and started Tool Talk. I have special guests stop in for a visit and tell us about a favorite crafty tool or item of their choice.  If you;d like to be a guest on Tool Talk please drop me a note at "DeNamiAddict at yahoo dot com" or leave me a comment...thanks :)

 

Today we welcome our friend Amy S. back for a visit. She soooo graciously agreed (with out me having to beg too much, hehehe) to return when she found out the guest for September wasn't going to be able to be with us.

 

I met Amy through blogging about DeNami Design and she's such a sweet person, please join me in welcoming her back....

 

 

 

I am so excited to be back for another Tool Talk feature!  I’m honored, and I hope you can either share in my nerdy crafty love of today’s product or perhaps I can introduce you to your soon-to-be-favorite product!  Let’s dive on in, shall we?

Ever found yourself in a sticky situation when working with glitter glues?  Either the nozzle is too big and you end up with a huge glob of glitter glue on your project, or your project looks divine when you apply the glitter glue, but when it dries you find yourself saying, “Hey!  Where did all the glitter go?”  Most glitter glues are a mess, and their ratio of glitter to glue just doesn’t cut it once it dries.  May I now introduce you to your new best friend…

STICKLES by Ranger

I love Stickles.  Seriously.  I loooooove my Stickles!  “But, why?” you ask?  Let me tell you! 

Reason #1:  ALL THE PRETTY COLORS! 

Stickles come in a massive array of colors.  The traditional Stickles line has 48 decadent colors currently available.  It’s hard to imagine a color you might need that isn’t available.  Even if you’re looking for icy white colors, you have several to choose from (while I love them all, Stardust is my favorite).  You can download color charts HERE to keep track of what colors you own and as a color reference while you work.  Here’s what my color chart looks like:

(note: I recently bought the 6 newest colors which are not pictured, but they are included in the current downloadable chart.)

But wait!  There’s more!  Stickles also come in Tim Holtz’ Distress colors which perfectly match the Distress inks colors (they are slightly thicker with a matte finish, and the bottle has a wider nozzle).  Plus, there is a line of Ice Stickles which are bolder, chunkier glitter glues that come in larger bottles.  Plus, Ranger also makes Liquid Pearls which come in the same bottles as Stickles, but they have a pearlescent shine instead of glittery sparkle. 

Confession Time: I have an OCD love of Stickles, folks, so that means I have to own EVERY COLOR.  EVERY. SINGLE. COLOR.  My collection is ALMOST complete right now.  I have only a couple colors of Ice Stickles and Liquid Pearls left to buy, and then my collection will be complete!!!  MUAHAHAHA!

Reason #2: EASY TO USE!

 As I mentioned before, Stickles have a super fine nozzle which gives you incredible control.  Add Stickles just where you need.  You can even do super tiny dots or continue to squeeze the bottle for larger amounts.  You can even smear Stickles to cover a larger area.  Now, I know some of you skeptics may be thinking, “Doesn’t a nozzle that tiny get clogged?”  Here’s the thing…Stickles use SUPER FINE glitter, so they flow easily.  I always give them a little shake before using, too.  Now, I will admit, I did have ONE bottle that clogged.  Let me repeat:  ONE BOTTLE.  So, out of the 100+ bottles of Stickles I have owned, I had one faulty nozzle.  That’s a pretty low percentage, don’t you think?

 

Reason #3:  STICKLES GET BETTER WHEN THEY DRY!

As I mentioned before, so often with glitter glues, when they dry, you’re left thinking, “Where did it go?”  However, Stickles actually look BETTER when they are dry.  They have such gorgeous, vibrant colors, and each little bottle is chock full of tons of glittery goodness.  They have so much sparkle and shine!

Here is a close-up of Christmas Red:

 Didn’t I tell you the colors are rich and the glitter is highly concentrated? Looks even better in person!

 

Reason #4:  STICKLES ARE AFFORDABLE!

Depending upon where you buy your Stickles, they are usually between $2-3 each.  That is a DEAL!  PLUS, they last quite a while.  Sure, in the years that I’ve been addicted, I’ve had to replace some of my most loved colors (Christmas Red and Green  get quite a workout during a certain time of year, as you can imagine), but most of my Stickles are still working great!  

 

Reason #5: STICKLES ARE EASY TO STORE!

In a perfect world, Stickles can be stored upside down (easy to see the colors and keeps the glitter close to the nozzle).  However, with my life being so transient over the past 2 years, I needed mobility.  So, I bought an awesome plastic box with lid from The Container Store.  I used to store them upside down in the box, but I changed it back recently to keep them from rolling around.  I separate my Stickles by type (regular, Distress, Ice, etc…) and ROYGBIV my colors so I can easily find them.

 

The only downside to Stickles is that they do require some dry time.  The exact dry time varies based upon how much glitter glue is applied.  If you are making a project in a hurry, I understand that you don’t always have time to wait.  In those cases, I strongly recommend DeNami Design’s X-tra Fine  glitter. 

Here’s one more photo showing Stickles used on a Christmas card I made a few years ago.  Don’t the colors just POP? 

Well, I hope this will inspire you to give Stickles a try.  If you love Stickles like I do, leave a comment and let us know how you store yours!  If you’ve never tried them before, pick up a couple colors on your next shopping trip!  Play around with them, and HAVE FUN!  I think you’ll love them!

 

Thanks again, Tina, for inviting me to be a part of Tool Talk! 

TSTR - What's for dessert

Hi everyone and happy Monday! Okay, there's nothing happy about Monday's, but I'm trying to be optimistic, lol.

Today I have a little card to share with you for the new challenge that starts today at The Shabby Tea Room. "Splender Of Fall"

  Isn't today's inspiration picture yummy??? Our challenge this week is being sponsored by Crafty Secrets. They have an online store chocked full of wonderful images...elegant, fun, vintage...anything you could want. They even have some yummy freebie images :)

 

 

We are on a mission to offer you the most fabulous and largest selection of vintage and retro images from our Clear Arts Stamps to our Heartwarming Vintage Collection of Image Booklets, Creative Scraps, Stickers, Paper Pads, Cotton Scraps and kits.

We currently have over 75 themes (and growing) in our Clear Art Stamp Sets and paper artists love the detail and creative possibilities of these high quality photopolymer USA made stamps.

We are committed to high quality, great service and sharing inspiring ideas! Check out our large variety of themes from Babies, Birds, Cooking, Family, Fairies, Garden, Girlfriends to Holiday and Seasonal designs for card making, paper arts, scrapbooking and keepsakes.

This week's lucky winner will receive a copy of the Creating With Vintage Typography CD - compliments of Sandy at Crafty Secrets!

 



Rules for this weeks challenge: Use an apple theme

 

Here's what I made....

 How adorable is that little label?? Looks like it came right off a box of jello from back in the day, doesn't it? ;)  This little cooking scene is actually one of the freebies on the Crafty Secrets web site...I just love it. I paired it up with some pretty patterned paper, the little checkered border from the Paper Sweeties Borders set along with the zig-zag stitch stamp and one of the sentiments from the Sweet Sayings sets by DeNami Design. My little apples are actually wood veneer by Studio calico that I simply colored with my Copics.

I hope you enjoyed today's card and I hope to see you join in on the fun over at The Shabby Tea Room!!

The Project Corner - Kraft Gift Boxes

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY everyone :) Today I have a fun little project to share with you. Last month a sweet friend of mine had a birthday and as part of her gift I wanted to include some buttons and other little doo-dads but wanted to dress them up a little. Who wants ugly packaging....right?? I had already made a little gift bag (can bee seen here) and little baubles would just fall out so I needed something else. I had decided to use a little cellophane bag with a  pretty ribbon treatment and when I went to get a bag from my stash, I saw this....

 



Yup, we've all seen these cheap (usually just a buck) kraft boxes in various shapes and sizes in the big box crafty stores and many of us have even purchased a few with "good intentions". There it was, staring me in the face and I had a light bulb moment! It's PERFECT to hold little bits & baubles!! Now the hard part...what the heck to do to jazz it up!!

 

 

Well, I knew her crafty space was made up of  soft girly colors so pulled out some stamps, patterned papers, cardstock, ribbon and assorted doo-dads that would match then got busy!!

 

•  I started off with a piece of celery cardstock cut to size to fit around the base of the box and stamped the DeNami Gingham background on it, then edge punched it. I attached it using my ATG
• Next I marked where the bottom edge of the lid came to and using Chrystal Lacquer, I attached the gathered tulle skirt. (was purchased this way in the ribbon dept at Hobby Lobby)
• Using another edge punch, I punched out a little piece of pink cardstock for a trim accent (zig-zag) and adhered it with Chrystal Lacquer
• to finish off the base I made a little green bow. Using a brad, I attached the bow through the front of the box

 

 

 

Now it's time to work on the lid....

• I cut a piece of celery cardstock just a bit smaller than the lid stamped it using the gingham background again then punched the corners and adhered it
• I had some patterned paper with little rulers all over it so I cut them out and glued them around the lid. I made sure to use several different ones for a more eclectic look. To cover the seams and for a little fun element, I attached a few pretty buttons

I had a hard time deciding what to do to finish the lid, After much thought and sleeping on it, I decided to go with this....

• using the same gathered tulle I used on the bottom of the box, I made a little rosette. I secured the top and underside of the rosette with a punched scalloped circle
• I stamped and fussy cut some solid leaf vines and solid leaf sprigs. After a little fussing with where I wanted them, attached them to the underside of the rosette
• next I made a little sentiment flag. I cut one from the celery and a little smaller one from white cardstocks. I stamped the white flag using the DeNami polka dot background then stamped the Hugs & Kisses sentiment. After deciding where I wanted it, I adhered it to the backside of the rosette too
• using Chrystal lacquer, I attached the whole thing to the top of the box
• to finish it off I added one more button with a little twine bow

 

 Well there you have it...a pretty box made for next to nothing! $.99 for the box, $0 for scraps of cardstock, $.35 for patterned paper, $0 for ribbon scrap, $0 for buttons in stash and $2.00 for gathered tulle. That's less than $3.50!! AND it's perfect to hold little bits and bobs.  Now I need to make one for myself!!
 
I'll see you right back here on Monday :) Have a great weekend!!!

Boo!

Ohh my goodness, we went from 98 degree days to 75 degree days with nothing in between...how in the world does that happen?? I'm serious, last Thursday it was 98 degrees, humidity was so unbearable that my chest hurt (asthma was kicking my tushie) and then the very next day it was 75 with low humidity...Mother Nature is sure something, isn't she?? Well, this weather change has me in full gear for fall. Are you ready for the changing of the season?

 

Y'all know that I just LOVE making Halloween cards so I'm pretty excited for this time of year :)

 

DeNami has some of the cutest little Halloween images, don't they?? I paired up the friendly bat with the Halloween petit four set and the Frankin-chickie stamp. And seriously, if you're a Chickie lover, you can't go wrong with that little cutie!!

 

That's it for me today, but I'll be back here on Friday with a fun little project!! See you then :)

Happy Haunting - The Shabby Tea Room

Good morning and happy Monday everyone! I have to admit, this is probably the first time I've ever looked forward to a Monday, lol!! Today is my debut as the one of the new design team members over at The Shabby Tea Room! I'm still so thrilled and excited!

 

For this weeks challenge we are being sponsored by My Time Made Easy

 

My Time Made Easy™ LLC provides you with the basics for creating your own coordinating handmade cards, tags, and gift packaging in no time. It is fun, affordable, and we made it easier than ever! I have always said that it really is all about the TOTAL package. Now you can afford to create and dress up the simplest of gifts on your own, and make them appear to be that much more special. Nothing says love like something handmade.

I have to say that "nervous" didn't even cover what I was feeling when I got this assignment! Right out of the gate for my first time ever official DT assignment I was going to do something I've never done before...use digital stamps!! After checking them out and playing just a little, I realized just how easy & fun they can be!

 

Here's the inspiration picture and rules for this challenge...

Challenge rules: Use Neutrals (creams, whites, black, grey, vanilla) and twine

 

Here's the card I made...

 



 

I started out with some solid black and cream cardstocks. I made another panel using some really toned down polka dot and chevron patterned papers along with twine, lace and a black edge punched border then popped it up on the card base using foam tape. For my little tag I used the Hauntingly Homemade label set along with the Hauntingly Homemade Sentiment set from My Time Made Easy. I finished it off with a pretty little twine bow and some black rhinestones.

 

Well I hope you liked my very first design team creation! :) See, my card isn't shabby at all...you don't have to create a shabby card to join in at The Shabby Tea Room. Would love to see you enter in the fun! You have until Sunday the 22nd to join in!!

summer butterflies

Hi everyone :) and HAPPY FRIDAY!!! This week is FINALLY over, it's felt like a long one for me. Plus I've been looking forward to today because here in St. Louis we have what's called "Food Truck Friday". Once a month a fleet of different food trucks converge on a park near my home and people come by the thousands to eat, socialize and just enjoy themselves. Ohh, and we even 2 celebrities among our food trucks...The Sweet Divine and Guerrilla (Filipino fusion)! Sweet Divine won one of the game-show/reality seasons of Cupcake Wars hosted by Food Network and Guerrilla was featured on Dinners Drive-in's & Dives with Guy Fieri!! I haven't tried Guerrilla yet but let me tell you first hand, the cupcakes from Sweet Divine are HEAVENLY...I'm starting to drool just thinking about those yummy cupcakes I'm going to scarf down like an animal tonight ;)

Now that I'm starving....HAHAHA  Let's get to today's post, shall we?  I have a sweet little one layer number to show off today :)
 

Whatcha think? I started off by stamping the border at the top and bottom of a white card base. Using a light pink ink I stamped the little solid butterfly randomly from the edge of the border to the edge of the card at the top and bottom. Next I stamped several butterflies and the sentiment in the panel I created. After coloring everything in I added a TON of glitter...can you ever have enough glitter???

Stamps Used:
Mini Butterfly
Fancy Flutters set
Spring Garden set 1
Scallop Border
Hello Friend

That's it for me today. I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you here on Monday with my first card as a DT member over at The Shabby Tearoom!!

Happy happy happy!!!

Y'all are too sweet, thank you soooo much for the kind words on Monday. Being on a design team is a little goal of mine. There are 4 teams I really would like to join and the gals over at The Shabby Tea Room is one of them...I feel so blessed!!

 

I hope you give the challenges a try, just because "shabby" is in the name does not mean you have to make shabby creations...look at me, my style isn't shabby at all. I love clean, neat/symmetrical layers. :)

 

I created todays card a few weeks ago and just hadn't had time to show it yet. Today is the day!!

The picture would have been cuter had I went in search of my hubby's duck calls but his closet is too scary for me, lol, all that stinky fishing stuff and who knows what else all jammed in there...YUCK!!

 

I think the Large Chickie with the santa beard from the new North Pole set makes an adorable honorary Robinson...what do you think??

I have some exciting news!!!

Hello everyone and happy Monday! If you're looking for my Krazy for Kraft blog hop card, it's just one post down...thanks!

Well, I've been sitting on a bit of happy news for for a while and today, well, technically yesterday, I'm allowed to tell everyone!! Today I am PROUD to announce that I am one of 5 new design team members to be joining The Shabby Tea Room challenge blog On Monday, September 16th!! (insert happy dance here) Can you believe it, me...on a DT, and not just any ole' design team, but The Shabby Tea Room!?!?! There's some seriously amazing talent over there and I feel on top of the world and am so happy to finally be able to share the happy news with all of you. Your sweet comments and the encouragement I gather from them are what gave me the courage to even apply, for that, I thank all you!

To apply I was to send in a little info about myself and my blog along with a card I made based on this inspiration picture...

Here's my card I made and I turned in...

I picked up a lot of elements from the inspiration picture...color palette, clock on the table, gingham pattern, flowers, pearls and even the little circle frames on the chair cushion.

I hope I can hold my own when it comes to working with the rest of the team, I've visited their blogs and boy oh boy are they TALENTED!

The Shabby Tea Room Design Team:

Aneta - http://artisant2.blogspot.com/

 Heidi - http://mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

 Lesley - http://alwaysplayingwithpaper.blogspot.com/

Linda - http://groszeknawrzosowisku.blogspot.com/

and...ME!!!

I'm sure the next  months are going to be a whirlwind of fun and exciting times, I can't wait to get started!!

Are you crazy for kraft??

Well hello everyone and welcome to another fun and inspiration filled DeNami Design blog hop!! Today as my post title suggests, we are playing with kraft...

You should have arrived here from Lisa P's blog. How am I supposed to follow that...Jeeze!!! Well, if not, no worries, you can see the full list of participants on the DeNami blog :)

Here are the deets:

When: The blog hop starts on September 8th at 6 AM, PST. However, you have until September 9th, 2013, 11:59 pm PST, to leave comments on all the blogs (to be eligible for a prize).

  

Why: To be inspired by fun DeNami Design creations and also the chance to win mini shopping sprees on the DeNami Design website!

 

Prizes: We are giving away THREE $20 gift certificates to our website! We'll be giving away one gift certificate to a random participant (DT members not eligible) and then we'll also be giving away TWO gift certificates to TWO people who comment along the hop!

 

 I LOVE using kraft! Why you ask...well, that's an easy question to answer! I love using kraft because it literally matches well with ALL color palettes. Weather you're using reds, pinks, blues, oranges, greens, purples...you can never go wrong throwing a little (or a lot) kraft in there somewhere. I actually have "use kraft with all colors" written in the Tips & Tricks note section of my little binder I use to keep track of things here on the Addict blog. It's definitely a topic I want to discuss with y'all :)

 

I have a lot to show you so let's get started...

For this card I inked the edges of a kraft card base then set about making a panel from more  kraft cardstock. I stamped a little pattern then distressed it with 2 different colors of ink. After letting it dry I added a distressed doily and my focal point then popped it up on the kraft panel with foam tape.

 

Stamps Used:

• Single Tweety
• Birdcage
• Thank You Circle
• polka Dot background
• Classic Leaf stamp set
• Garden Accents stamp set

 

This little card was SUPER easy!! I made a tall folded kraft base and using a white gel pen added faux stitch lines. I stamped out the single petal from the solid petals set in 2 colors and fussy cut them. I stamped the little polka dot circle and punched it out to use as the center of my flower. When I put my little flowers together I only placed glue at the bottom of the petals and let the tops curl up a bit. To finish it all off I simply added some twine and yummy DeNami Strawberry Freeze glitter.

 

Stamps Used:

• Solid Petals stamp set
• Polka Dot Circle
• Thinking Of You cling

For this card I started off with a kraft base then layered on lots of goodness, lol! I had some thin cream colored paper (like what they wrap fragile stuff  in you buy at stores) and ran it through a sewing themed dry embossing folder. I highlighted the raised portions with a little tan ink and stamped the little DeNami button randomly in the same tan and some blue ink. I made a kraft die cut and stamped it with a sewing themed stamp before popping it up on the card with foam tape. I added the dress and a handful of little buttons and the little flower/bow treatment. I really debated on adding a sentiment, but in the end just left it off.

 

Stamps Used:

• glamour dress
• small solid button 

Well that's it for me today, hope you liked my take on using kraft cardstock!! Ohh, and I have a HUGE [huge for me anyway] announcement tomorrow right here on the blog!! Now off you go to visit with Deb Fischer. Another amazing talent...Can't wait to see what she has for us :)

A little of this and a little of that...

Blogger Note: I was reminded that in order to be elgiable for one of the challenges I entered, that my project can only be entered into 3 challenges, not 5....OOPPPPPS! I never even thought about my card being in too many challenges! Well, it is what it is, I'm not elgiable, but I'm still proud of myslef for acomplishing something I've never been able to do and I had fun....that's all that counts in the end isn't it? Besides, I knew I didn't have any chance of winning that particular challenge in the first place, so really, I'm okay with the bad news :)

WHEW!, that was some drama on Wednesdays post wasn't it?? I knew y'all would understand exactly why I was frustrated...us crafty gals stick together, lol ;)   I called my soon to be Daughter-in-law and told her to swing by on her way home from work one night this week and pick them up.If I see a check at some point in my life from this then I'll consider myself lucky....

 

Now for todays post!! I did something that I'm considering quite a feat. Patting myself on the back even, lol!! I always see gals entering one card into multiple projects and always wonder how they do that. I can never get things to fall into place creatively like that....well, until today that is!!

 

Here's the list of challenges I'm entering:

 

The Shabby Tea Room

 

 

Sweet Stamp Shop

 

 

Paper Sweeties

 

 

Lawnscaping Challenge

 

 

 

Jo's Scrapshack

 

 

 

Yup, you counted right...5 challenges!!

 

Hey, I'm just as astounded as you are, but the challenge Gods have aligned the stars and it all works out! Ready to see my little card? Ohh wiat, first I better tell you the rules....

• The Shabby Tea Room, Paper Sweeties & Jo's Scrapshack are pretty self explanatory, picture inspiration and sketches
• Sweet Stamp Shop is a "use what you have" challenge. They also have a sketch & inspiration picture you have the option to use if you want. But basically you can make anything you want as long as you use your stash, no fair buying anything new!!
• Lawnscaping is asking us to use our favorite things this time around. It can be paper, stamps, embellies...whatever crafty element that floats your boat ;)

 

Alright, now it's time to see my card, lol...

 

 I used the summer theme, colors and flowers from The Shabby Tea Room's picture, I used stamps and patterned papers from my stash for the Sweet Stamp Shop requirement (pic to follow...you have to show your stash), I followed the sketches provided by Jo's Scrapshack and Paper Sweeties and to finish it all off I used stamps from 4 of my favorite stamp companies (DeNami, Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop), ribbon, patterned paper, Momento inks, Copic markers and punches (drool) per Lawnscapings requirement. Can't you just hear Julie Andrews singing These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...hehehe! Not too bad though, hunh?? Ohh and for those of you "in the know" when it comes to my fave DeNami stamp, I did go back and forth about using the polka dot background, but opted for my 2nd fave, the gingham background, because it just looked better in this instance ;)

 

Here's my stash pics for The Sweet Stamp Shop:

 

Here's my collection of Paper Sweeties, Lawn Fawn & Sweet Stamp Shop stamps. Y'all have seen my DeNami collection that's almost 500 strong at this point, lol! Too much to take pictures of again, but the link is still at the top of the page under the DeNami Collections tab. Feel free to add yours too!!

My stash of patterned paper packs is slowly taking over my little rolling cart...I think I may need an intervention. At least the Sweet Stamp Shop challenge is making me use some of it up ;)

 

Well that's it for me...what a long post!!! I will see you back here on Sunday for the Krazy for Kraft blog hop hosted by DeNami and on Monday I have a super fun announcement!! Have a great and safe weekend! :)

I'm going to the chapel and I'm gonna get married...

I litterly DID go to the chapel to get married...The Little White Chapel in Vegas to be exact, lol!! Hubby and I are pretty easy going for the most part, but when you have a mother trying to run things and 2 sisters saying they should be the Maid of Honor, well, sometimes it's easier to just run a way....  ;)

 

What you're about to read comes as no surprise to me, it's how my life usually goes....

 

My son's fiance' sends me a text saying that her older sister is getting married in October and her mom wants to know if I could make shower invitations. I grudgingly reply "yes", and that I'd do them for material costs as a favor since we are practically family. I then ask all the pertinent questions concerning colors, theme, what exactly are they looking for. All I get is "her colors are peacock". (insert me shaking my head here)...sigh. I take a deep breath and suck it up and start thinking - okay, purples, blues, lime green and maybe a little charcoal or black to make it all pop. I can do do this, I got this...not a problem, I tell myself. I ask again if they have any ideas on what they'd like; cute, elegant, formal, trendy, fun...when really, all I want to do at this point is shout - "give me a freaking clue!!", lol! S. I. G. H!!!! They had no clue what they wanted and time is ticking away!

 

So, I made up a few sample shower cards and met up for lunch with my soon to be DIL and her Mom - nope, the bride to be wasn't even there, what the heck??!!??

 

I thought I had a good mix and even threw in a peacock feathered creation. Unfortunately they were all shot down. The Mom didn't like any of them...sigh. I told her once again that I had to have some idea on where to start as the possibilities were endless, I HAD to have some sort of idea on what they wanted besides colors. Well, that was a few weeks ago and I just sat the whole thing aside, I wasn't going to waste my time trying to come up with anything else

 

Then about a week ago I get a text from my soon to be DIL asking if I knew how to emboss. I replied heat & dry, I could do both. Lol, her response "???"! So I scoured the blog for an example of each, screen captured them, cropped the pic so only the card was showing, then texted them to her. Why do I go through all the work...uggg! She passed them alon to her mom. Insert crickets....didn't hear anything for almost another week. Then this past Friday I receive a text & pic from the Mom with a picture she got from the Michael's web site asking if I could make this card...

 

sample from Michael's website



I told her that I didn't own the stamps they used, I had the feather that I had shown to her previously and that I didn't have anything like the stamp they used for the background. I also told her that punching holes in the strip for the brads was a waste of time, I'd just add rhinestones instead. I whipped up a sample and texted her a pic...she LOVED it!

 Well, here's my version.....

I used an old Stampin' Up "lace" background and the large feather from the DeNami Peacock Feather set. Honestly, this does not look like a wedding shower card to me, but hey, if they like it, than that's all that counts because I finally have a design to work with!!

 

 I figure out the total cost (materials only - in paper, ink, adhesive, stamp cleaner, etc.) for 30 cards would be and text the mom to let her know and see if she still wants to do it. She asks if I have the supplies and I tell here that no, I don't have that much card stock, I would need a pack of black, white and need 18 sheets of open stock blue nor do I have enough embossing powder and would probably need to pick up a refill for my adhesive tool also. She says okay, how about if I give you half the money now? (insert blank stare here) -.- Seriously???? I'm doing her a favor, she needs them right away and she wants me to put up my own money to make the cards??? I'm feeling pretty darn insulted at that point and wouldn't be surprised if I had steam comming out of my ears! In my mind I'm running scenarios like...what, she thinks I'm going to steal her $60 and leave the country -or- does she think that I'm lying, that it shouldn't cost $2  a card and I'll never see the other half?? Anyone have any good ideas on how to slit your own wrists???? Sigh....   Again, I have no choice really, so I say yeah, that's fine. We discussed that I'd have them done over the weekend. My soon to be DIL gets wind of it and texts me that she will cover the other half, that it isn't right. I don't want her involved or to get into hot water with her mom so I tell her that no, I won't take her money. God love her, she put up a good fight, but me being the Mom-in-Law told her that I would kick her butt and she needed to respect my authority, lol! So on Saturday morning I went to Michael's for the supplies I needed. Got home and started working...Saturday passed then Sunday passed and no word from the Mom yet, I'm waiting for the 1/2 down she promised me. Late Monday morning I had them finished and texted the Mom letting her know they were ready. Her reply... "wow, that was fast". Fast?? She know I'd have them done on Monday...sigh. Insert crickets chirping again...I haven't heard another word from her...sigh!!! I seriously need a margarita (or 2 or 3)!!!

 

I'm calling my soon to be DIL today and telling her to come pick the cards up. I'm finished with the whole thing. Chalk it up to a $60 life lesson learned and just let the whole thing go. Sometimes I hate the fact that I'm a nice person when really I wish I was a bitch....just sayin.