Painted greetings

I have really wanted to paint stuff lately. I currently have three (yes, 3) old wooden doors on my front porch that are just begging to be sanded and painted and, well, I can't give away the surprise of their future yet :) I used pages out of an old book, roughly applied a layer of white acrylic paint to them and stamped on them once dry. I couldn't be done without flourishes and ink distressing, that's just how I roll.

I've never used paint on my cards before and was kinda disappointed with how the sentiment seems to get eaten by the paint, like it just got sucked into it or something. I know it was completely dry before I stamped on it, maybe next time I'll try a diffrent kind of paint.

Pretty in pink for Mother's Day

I've been working on Mother's Day cards for the bazaar that's coming up. I actually got the inspiration for this one from a Christmas card that I made years ago. I love chocolate brown with pink!!

get more info on this stamp set or purchase it HERE This set has been used, abused, and used some more. You know how sometimes you are so thankful that you bought something? Like it's a member of the family or something? Well, that's this set. SERIOUSLY. No jokes here. Hands down-----> BEST SET EVER. This set is retiring, BTW, get it before it's gone!

get more info or purchase this frame punch HERE Stampin' Up! has these great flat punches (which I'm in love with!!) that store in my drawers so easily! This punch even has coordinating stamp sets for a perfect match. Check them out!!

lace & weave

I have TONS of tiny little paper scraps and it just kills me that the pile is growing... at a RAPID pace! After racking my brain, I came up with weaving. Not the funest thing to do, watercoloring is still my absolute fav, but it was ok. Honestly, I'm not too keen on the outcome, but after making a few of these, I can kinda see a dent in my scrap pile.

family jewelry making

I volunteer on Mondays at a local retirement home and we do all sorts of crafts with the residents. We will be having a craft sale next month to benefit the residents "field trips". Almost every craft supply we have has been graciously donated by Michael's, HUGE shout out to them!! We have tons of beads and wire, so I took some home to have my crafty daughters help me work on making bracelets and stuff. Justus (the baby) even got in on it! He had a blast trying to reach for sisters projects, when she forgot to keep them away from the edge of the table, anyways.

Stamp sets are retiring!!

Dates: April 15-May 31, 2012 (select items available while supplies last) Details: Hundreds of stamps and accessories from the 2011-2012 catalogs are retiring, and this is your and your customers' chance to get them before they're gone. Many products are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get your orders in early!

Handmade sundress

This is my first attempt at handmade clothing. I actually got a pattern and fabric LAST SUMMER to make both my daughters dresses. Yeah... I got home, opened up with pattern, sat there for a bit, then put the pattern back into it's little envelope. They have been hibernating in a drawer ever since!

This is like an actual dress! There's a bodice piece, a mid section, and I even learned how to "gather"!

My aunt came up from Portland to help me learn how to use patterns, boy did I need her! In one day, we completed this dandy thing! I think it's adorable! The best part is the fact that she taught me how to make it fit her now and yet keep it secretly big enough for her to grow into!
Thanks aunty!

--oh, she was so excited that she wore it to school today! It's cold here, but she put on a pair of jeans and a white tee-shirt, and that dress got to be the top layer! -------------> Proud mama right here!

Altered Journal

I head to ladies retreat this afternoon!! I was packing for it and realized that I didn't have a cute journal/notebook to take, so I decided to make one! This was just a $1 spiral bound journal that I got out of the dollar bin at my local Michael's store.

I even put a little pocket in the back to keep some of my Stampin' Up! buisness cards in. Just in case I see some crafty ladies :)

One Sheet Wonder

WOOHOO! I am headed to ladies retreat with my church this weekend, and to get ready for an amazing weekend, my friend Katie and I made some cards to take. You know, anticipating making new friends who should receive them :)
We started with an 8.5x11 peice of white cardstock and began stamping the flowers EVERYWHERE!! We cut up the cardstock (I have a template for this, but will share it later) to make 10 different cards all using the marvelous background paper that we had created from the flower stamps.

These are the stamps that we used:

Awash With Flowers - Clear-Mount Stamp Set, item #120549 Price: $27.95. Click HERE to see it in the catalog

Four Frames - Clear-Mount Stamp Set, item #123442 Price: $15.95
Click HERE to see it in the catalog

Current SU Promotions

Free ink pad with every $30 purchase now until 5/5/12. You must order through me to take advantage of this offer, get ahold of me!

Book a workshop now through June and get a free pack of Designer Series Paper! Ask me how!

Neck Warmer

I have seen similar things on pinterest-
--Have you heard of it? It's like an online corkboard for all your personal favorite things! Are you on pinterest? It's completely addicting! I LOVE it!! You can see my boards here--
ANYWHO-- I had seen something similar and I have a thing for scarves. Throw in some amazing buttons and you've got yourself a fan right here! I made this while at the retirement home to sell in the craft fair they will be having later this month (all proceeds go towards outings for the residents). It is a simple crochet with fabulous velvet yarn and three great wooden buttons. Basically it's a really short scarf that you attach at the neck, nothing to hang down and get caught in the car door :)