{Joshua's Valentine}

Craft Critique is having a Carnival where they show all sorts of blog posts where you can see lots of Lovely Valentine's projects! Check it out here!!! There are some great ideas!!



Ewe won't believe what my son came up with----this papercrafting momma was soooooo excited~~~

I was talking with Joshua about his Valentine's for this year and he wanted to use the folded heart that I had used for something else.

Anyway, he wanted me to make "an animal" to hold the heart---well, momma doesn't draw. And he said, NOOOOOO, you have this and this---and he started pulling out all this stuff---my oval punch, the small heart punch, google eyes, etc. And this is what we came up with!

I was pretty proud of him! There's a package of Sweet tarts on the back---of course!!




Joshua's Valentine:
Stamps: Heart Prints (PTI)
Paper: SS White, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Ink: Palette noir, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Accessories: Labels Two (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Scalloped Oval Punch (Marvy), Google eyes, Pink brad (SU!), Medium, Large heart punch (EK Success), Stickles

(PTI Sketch Challenge}

OH MY! Have you been over to Nicole Heady's blog yet? YOU HAVE TO GO!! (I'm a screamer---I admit it!) If you thought the cardstock contest was great---just wait until you see the RIBBON contest---yes, you heard it right---just go to Nichole's blog and read the challenge---then make a card using the sketch and enter the contest to win. Win what, you ask, well----wait for it---
















WOULDN'T YOU JUST LOVE THAT? 95 spools of Papertrey Ribbon!!!! All just for making a card (which I needed to do) and uploading it here---OK, I know I'll have a VERY small chance to win---but hey, I still have a chance AND I made a card that I needed to make. Here's my card based on the sketch challenge from Nichole's blog post.

I was inspired to use the gold after seeing this card on Debbie's blog. I haven't used this gold shimmer cardstock very often, but I love it and wanted to use it for this card. I started with a 5 1/4" square card of Stamper's Select White paper and cut the gold cardstock to 5 1/8". I used the ticket corner punch on all the edges. Instead of using patterned paper on the vertical strip, I decided to use sheer gold metallic ribbon.

I stamped the branch and flowers from Out on a Limb with versamark on more white paper and embossed it with gold filigree embossing powder. I attached this piece to a piece of black cardstock. I then stamped the sentiment from Out on a Limb Sentiments and embossed it as well. I cut it using one of Spellbinder's double ended tags---I just cut off one of the ends. I attached it to the ribbon with a little piece of the ribbon. Finally, I added black rhinestones to the corners and the three that were part of the original sketch.

I hate making sympathy cards and often put it off, so I'm grateful for this challenge today to get it made and in the mail. I actually needed two sympathy cards today, so I decided to just make two of the same card (do you think I can enter twice!!! SNORT![and if you know me, you know that's not too far off the mark!]).

You still have time to put together a quick card---remember----it's for RIBBON!!! DO IT NOW!!! (or don't, and I'll have a better chance!! *wink*---sort of!)

Have a great day~



PTI Sketch Challenge card:
Stamps: Out on a Limb revised edition, Out on a Limb Sentiments (PTI)
Paper: SS White, True Black, Gold Shimmer Cardstocks (PTI)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories/Tools: Sheer Gold Metallic Ribbon (PTI), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Double Ended Tags Trio (Spellbinders), Dimensionals, Ticket Corner Punch (SU!), Gold Embossing Powder (Filigree), Heat tool (Marvy), Crystal Stickers-black

{PTI Color Challenge}

Have you been to Nichole Heady's blog lately to find out what's up with PaperTrey Ink's Second Anniversary? She is having all sorts of give aways and sneak peeks of what's to come in the next year. Today she posted a color challenge---you can enter to win over $100 of cardstock just by making a card using these four colors----Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, & Ocean Tides. I made a quick card (that took me forever because Joshua is sick and I've been up and down the stairs!)

I used Heart Prints to decorate this simple card. I used all the colors above and 4 different small hearts and stamped numerous hearts. I randomly chose nine hearts to put on the front of the card. Then I cut them out (I haven't been able to find that punch---and I'm really missing it tonight!) and put them on the card with Scor-tape. I stamped XOXO from Heart Prints with Palette Noir ink and added some Tiny Twinkles from Taylored Expressions. I added the Summer Sunrise Grosgrain ribbon and a button to finish it off. Except for the constant interruptions (and the cutting part~) this was a fast little card. And now I'm entered to win all that cardstock---as much as I use this cardstock, I'd LOVE to win it!!

Thanks for stopping by--I hope you have a great Saturday. I hope to show you the Valentine's goodies that the kid's are taking to school soon!

PTI Color Challenge Valentine
Stamps: Heart Prints (PTI)
Paper: SS White Cardstock (PTI)
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, & Ocean Tides (PTI)
Accessories: Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon (PTI), Foof-a-la button, Linen thread (SU!), Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

{I heart to stamp blog candy}

.....is an amazing offer at a chance to win over $450 in stamps and prizes---YES---that's right. All you have to do is make a birthday card and send it and an envelope to a friend of Jen's who will in turn, give these cards to international students at Dallas Baptist University. You can find all the information you need to enter to win on this post. You have until January 31 to mail your card(s).

Here's the card I made. I wanted to make this pretty generic so they could use it for a girl or a boy. I hope adding the bow and scallops didn't make it too girly? What do you think?

I started out with Kraft cardstock and used Ocean Tides and Pure Poppy with it---I LOVE this color combo. I first saw it together on this card---isn't it yummy? I didn't use the Dark Chocolate with it today, but I do love Oceans Tides and Pure Poppy together. Anyway, I cut a strip of each color and glued them together. I scalloped the bottom layer with my corner rounder and pierced the pure poppy on the top and bottom. For my sentiment I used the new Fresh Alphabet for "friend" and then used the Happy Birthday sentiment from Father Knows Best. I cut that out with the largest double ended tag and used black brads to tack it on. I tied some Ocean Tides grosgrain ribbon around the paper and added some foof-a-la buttons from my stash. Quick and simple card---that may be worth $450 in amazing stamping goodness!!! ;)

Well, that's it for today---whip up a card and send it off to Dallas----you never know what could happen!

Kathleen

Jen's Blog Candy Card
Stamps: Father Knows Best, Fresh Alphabet (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Ocean Tides, Pure Poppy cardstock (PTI)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Palette Noir (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Paper Piercer and mat set, dimensionals, linen thread (SU!), Double Ended Tag set (Spellbinders), Medium Black Brads (American Crafts), Buttons (Foof-a-la), Ocean Tides grosgrain ribbon (PTI)

{PTI Blog Hop}

It's here again! The 25th of the month and time for another Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! Our challenge this month was to create a birthday card. If you aren't familiar with the PTI Blog Hop, head over here and see what it's all about.

I made three cards for this---not because I just wanted to show three cards, but I just felt inspired and kept creating! Don't worry--I'll be brief!

Here's the first:
I used Men of Life for this set---I'm never very confident with my cards for men, but this one turned out OK for me. I started out with a piece of Pure Poppy cardstock and added the rope pattern with Fresh Snow ink---love that ink!


Next, I stamped the boat image in Dark Chocolate ink on Stamper's Select White cardstock. I embossed and cut it with one of my square nestabilities dies. I stamped the plain sails on some Men of Life Patterned paper and cut them out. I used some Stampin' Up! linen thread to "hold the sail up" and then placed the sails on with dimensionals. I placed all that onto a scalloped square and raised that up on dimensionals as well.
For the sentiment, I stamped Happy Birthday from Father Knows Best and the Brother from Men of Life, embossed and cut it out with one of the Double Ended Tags from Spellbinders. Finally, I stamped the anchor in dark chocolate, punched it out with a 3/4" circle punch, and tied it on to a brad with more linen thread. This really happened pretty quickly and could easily be made for a little boy or another occasion.

This next card was quick and simple:

I used SS White as my card base and rounded the edges with a corner rounder. I stamped the gift from It's a Celebration in Summer Sunrise and Ripe Avocado. I cut the pieces out and set them aside. I used some Polka dot Parade Patterned paper and my scallop nestabilities square and the square nestabilities to make a frame for the gift. I put some Lemon Tart paper behind the gift. I tied a piece of Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon to the top of the card.

I stamped "Celebrate" from the same set in Ripe Avocado ink and finally added three Foof-a-la buttons and some linen thread for some bling! I love that present in this set---it's so versatile and can be used for numerous things!

Finally, my favorite card for the night---probably because it only took me 10 minutes! SERIOUSLY---I had to leave to go to a party and I didn't have a card (well, I had plenty cards---just not the one I wanted!! KWIM?)

I used my first piece of True Black as the base of this card---love it! I added a piece of the Black and White Basics Patterned paper. I edged it and the white strip with the Fiskars threading water punch.

I stamped the Celebrate from It's a Celebration again in Pure Poppy and cut it out with a Ribbon Tag. I tied it on with Pure Poppy satin ribbon. I had some "sweets" in black and white from Making Memories and attached them with American Crafts brads in black, white and cherry. Simple and quick! Just the way I like it!

Thanks SOOOO much for stopping by! I can't wait to see what everyone on the blog hop did! Have a great night~
Kathleen


Brother Card~
Stamps: Men of Life, Father Knows Best (PTI)
Paper: Pure Poppy, SS White, Spring Rain, Men of Life Patterned Paper (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Nestabilities, Double Ended Tag (Spellbinders), Linen Thread, 3/4" circle punch, Dimensionals (SU!), Cherry Medium Brads (American Crafts)

Celebrate Card~
Stamps: It's a Celebration (PTI)
Paper: SS White, Polka Dot Parade Patterned Paper, Lemon Tart (PTI)
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Ripe Avocado
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Foof-a-la Buttons, Linen Thread (SU!)

Black and White Card~
Stamps: It's a Celebration (PTI)
Paper: True Black, SS White, Black and White Basics Patterned Paper (PTI)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Pure Poppy Satin Ribbon (PTI), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Ribbon Tag Die (Spellbinders), "Sweets" in black and white (Making Memories), Medium brads in black, white and cherry (American Crafts)

{Guess How Much I Love You}

Here's another Valentine---one of my favorites so far. I had thought to use this sentiment from a 'non-Valentine' set--Out on a Limb Sentiments from PaperTrey Ink, for a sweet Valentine card. I love using black and red and kraft together. When I saw Debbie Olson's card here, I had to make this card. I honestly had already thought to use the black and red on this quote, but when I saw Debbie's card it sealed the deal. She's one of my stamping idols----if I had such a thing, of course! This was quick to put together. I started out with a Kraft card 4.25 x 5.5". I embossed my black piece of paper and cut out a scalloped oval in red. I stamped the sentiment on Stamper's Select White paper in two different colors and embossed and cut it using an oval nestabilities die. I tied the ribbon on, added the oval and glued the buttons on with mini glue dots.

I love this quote from Sam McBratney in his much loved children's book Guess How Much I Love You.

"I love you to the moon...and back again...."

This was the perfect sentiment for this Valentine---so, I had to give it early!!! You know, we just shouldn't wait until Valentine's Day to remind people that we love them, so I'm giving this to my love today.

You know, if you gave a Valentine this week---it would probably be OK with the recipient---then you could give another one later....I can't imagine anyone complaining that they received too many Valentines!

Have a great one~


To the moon and back:
Stamps: Out on a Limb Sentiments (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy SS White (PTI), Basic Black (SU!)
Ink: Palette Noir, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Pure Poppy, White Sheer Polka Dot (PTI), Oval & Scalloped Oval Nestabilities Dies (Spellbinders) Buttons (Foof-a-la) Red DMC thread, Dimensionals, mini glue dots (SU!)

{Snowy Morning}

This is what we woke up to this morning! Isn't it just beautiful??? I know some of you live with snow for 3 to 5 months a year, but here in Raleigh, we don't get snow like this but every few years. It is still pouring snow! I don't know how long it will last, but since we don't know if we will have anymore this winter, we took full advantage of it---and all before 9:00AM!

We found out last night that school was cancelled, so we didn't even have to get up to check....YEA!!! Here are a few pictures of our fun this morning---we held Joshua off as long as we could---until 8:16!!! Finally David and I got ready and played in the snow with Joshua!!

Joshua making snowballs for the big fight!

Letting one go---toward Dad, thank goodness!

David preparing some snowballs for a return of the same!

Joshua, after rolling in the snow~

He's starting to get cold now!! It won't be long~

Snow for Snow Cream.....hmmmmm!
Snow Cream Recipe
1 mixing bowl of fresh (white!) snow (I used two of these 8 cup Gladware containers)
3/4 c. milk
3/4-1 c. sugar (or Splenda to taste)
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well with a mixer---add Chocolate Syrup for Hannah!!
Serve immediately in front of the fire!

Oh yeah, the real deal---fresh snow cream--

Joshua, with hat head, having some snow cream---it was his "dairy" with his breakfast---hey, like I said, it doesn't snow here very often!!! :)

And, lastly, I cannot let this historic day pass without acknowledging it. I wish I had the eloquence of my husband. Politics and papercrafting/family blogs do not often go hand in hand, but please indulge me today. One of the reasons I was so excited that we didn't have school today is because I really did want to watch the Inauguration today. I didn't vote for President Obama and we likely wouldn't see eye to eye on most issues, but I can't NOT be proud of this peaceful transfer of power we get to see in our country. I am proud that our country has voted in an African American president--it's time. I will pray for and support our new president because I think that is part of my responsibility as a citizen and a Christian. So, I won't be commenting here about what's going on with this administration, but you can bet I'll be praying for strength and courage and safety for this new president and his family. I'm as proud today to be an American as I have been on January 20, 2001 or 2005. It's a good day in America----even if you aren't a democrat. Have a blessed day~