Yo ho, Yo ho, a Pirate's Life For Me!

Hello, all ye landlubbers!  If'n ye weren't on the VSN ship, did ye miss the boat?!  Were ye at the dock on time?  We had ourselves a jolly good time!  Ye still have time to play, til 8pm EST, Monday, May 23rd, so get stampin' already!  Waddya waitin' fer?!
If'n ye don't feel like partyin' on the ship and just be a lazy pirate, then, settle on down fer I've got some treasure that I found tonight!  Do ya gots yer rum to drink?  Good, let's get goin'!

The first challenge of the night was a color challenge.  That was all well and good....til I saw the color combination!  Me eyes almost went blind, the sample for the challenge was SO good!  So, I started working on me own card, and then me eyes almost went blind again!  From the brightness of me card!  Me thinks I need some sun blockers over me eyes!  Take a look for yerself!  Beware!

See, that green is BRIGHT!  Yikes!  'Ere's some details on this card:
Stamps: KSS Hibiscus, Starburst by Making Memories Great Escape; Paper: Green Galore, white, kraft; Ink: Bermuda Bay, Green Galore, So Saffron; Embellishments: Oriental Weaving embossing folder, Spellbinders, MFT Jumbo Scallop Die-namics

The second challenge was to hide somethin'.  Well, that be easy, since I'm always hiding me treasure from thieverin' scallywags.  I just have to always remember the last place I hid it!  Can you find me buried treasure?  I think the scurvy's got me and me memory's going out to sea.

You found it!  Thank ye, lad!  I've been lookin' fer that ruby bracelet!  I need to trade that in fer some spices on me next journey to the Orient.
Stamps: Do the Hula leaves and pink hibiscus; hand drawn palm tree and treasure chest; Paper: kraft, white; Ink: copics, blue and brown sponging for sky and sand, gold gel metallic pen, Creative Memories brown journaling pen, white Spica pen, red stickles

The next challenge was to make something w/ Aaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhh.  Sorry there laddy, I got carried away.  I meant, the letter "R".  We had to make a card featurin' 3 things.  So, I made a list.  I could only come up with 3 things.  Me rum, which is me favorite and I won't be sharin', so don't ask!  Me ruby broach necklace.  Again, I won't be sharin' me jewelry.  Ye might like it too much and steal it!  And me bandana.  Nothin's better than wearin' a bandana and an eye patch!  Even if ye gots both eyes a workin'!

 This one's pretty self exlanatory, so unless ye only got 1 eye, I'll not be explainin' it to ya.

This challenge was me own!  I love when I can get me fellow shipmates motivated to do a little work around me ship.  I do like a ship-shape ship, ya know.  If we hit high seas, I don't want to be losin' any freight cause it ain't been put away right!  Less money in me pocket, and that means a mean pirate be had!  Arrgghh!!!

 Me challenge was to create a "X" (criss cross) card.  I always like to bury me treasure near a natural x like two trees criss crossin', because who knows who be walkin' the beaches and mess up me x in the sand? 
Stamps: The Open Seas; Paper: The Open Seas, Ink: Printer ink, copics; Other: linen thread

Arrrrggghhh, this be the last challenge.  This treasure I be bringin' up be pretty darn boring.  Oh well.  I can still trade with the Orient.  I might get last year's spices instead of this year's spices, but that's ok!
The challenge was to use a boat image or beach image.  Whilst I love the beaches, I live fer the sea.  The best sea farin' is when it's gray and cloudy.  Not that I don't like me sun.  It's just that I don't have to squint me eyes, or sweat from the heat, or get all red and blushy because I'm sailin' me ship.  So, this is what I created.

The beads on the side are inspiration from me fellow pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow.  Hanging from his hair are several beads, and I thought to add them to this card so it's not completely boring and a deep snooze!
Stamps: The Open Seas; Paper: Basic Gray, Bordering Blue, white; Other: linen thread, Spellbinders, assorted beads.

That be it from this end of the port bow.  You might want to go starboard side to see the rest of crew and their creations.  www.splitcoaststampers.com and look up VSN Stamp Night in the forums.
Good day to ye, laddies!  Keep your eye on the main sail and the horizon, ye dirty swashbuckler!

Pirate music!

For all visitors!

I have downloaded Pirate music on here to get ready for Virtual Stamp Night this Friday and Saturday!!!!  Get your Pirate on and come play with us!!!!
www.splitcoaststampers.com
Snap to it, or ye be walkin' the plank!

CAS-ual Friday card!

Today I have zero mojo!  It's a crime!!!!  I have quite a few projects that I'm working on simultaneously, and this week, including weekend, I have not wanted to even set foot in stamp room, let alone get some work done.

So, since I have the WHOLE day stretched out in front of me w/ nothing to do, why not challenge myself?  The biggest challenge that I have are CAS cards.  Otherwise known as Clean And Simple.  To me, they lack layers, and sponging, and oodles of paper on ONE card!  They are very simple, and I am very complex.  We don't get along usually.  But, my good friend, Karolyn Loncon, is a Girl Friday for the CAS-ual Fridays Design Team.  And since she's a friend of mine, I subscribe to her blog.  Friday morning I opened her post and there was the second challenge, using buttons and twine!  Well, gee, I have both of those items!

Then, today comes, and I wasted a whole morning finishing a romance novel I downloaded.  I came down here after lunch, and decided, if I can't do something for one of my projects, I'll make a CAS card!

This is what I created:

I used my SU! bird punch for the birds and branches.  I used pink baker's twine (The Twinery) to make rosettes so that they imitate berries on the branches.  And then the buttons I used as music notes.  I didn't do so hot w/ the rest of the notes, but you get the drift!

So, there's my first CAS card in a LONG time!  Maybe I'll be inspired to make another next Friday!

Locks and Keys project

I was asked to create a piece for an artist in MA who is doing a project dealing with locks and keys.

Click here to see what I've created!  (I think I posted it here, but you can see it on the fence on her blog)
Mine is the first one posted w/ pink and green and individual hearts.

http://locksandkeysproject.blogspot.com/

Aaarrgggh!!!! The first post of VSN: Pirate Adventure!

Ahoy, there me hearties!  Tonight on the VSN Pirate Ship, we celebrated the Mini VSN!  We had 5 lively challenges, indeed! 

1: Use of fabric.  Now, when ye think of me pirate ship, what sort of fabric do ye think I 'ave?  Well, I created a card using the back of leather for sails!  Now tha's usin' me thinkin' cap!

 2: A sketch challenge.  Me fine pirating friends aboard ship challenged us to create a card based on a drawing!  Now that's like makin' a blueprint of a map, I tell ya'!  Well, 'ere's what I came up with.  And I used me favorite song too!  "Yo Ho, Yo Ho!  A Pirate's Life For Me!"

 3: Create a card using an inspirational picture.  Avast me hearties!  But, me own eyes have seen many a beautiful sunsets and many a beautiful beaches along the coasts of this country!  I took the inspiration picture and I made it me own!

 4: A color challenge.  Now, me parrot is the only animal aboard ship, you know!  And this challenge was all for Pretty Polly!  Use green, yellow, orange and a splash of blue.  Well, I wouldn't be a pirate if I followed the rules, now would I?!  I did the exact opposite!  I used blue, with a splash of yellow, green and orange!  Me parrot loved it!  Harrrr, harrr!!!!

 5: Use woodgrain.  What's me pirate ship without the wood?  Not a seaworthy ship, to be sure!  I decided to create a boardwalk instead though.  And don't get yer panties in a twist because she doesn't 'ave a head!  And no, she was not beheaded!  This 'ere is a MFT stamp, "By the Seashore".  I made her walk on the boardwalk, because her seeing eye dog 'as a hard time pawing through the sand.  Since they're up on the boardwalk, that dog can direct her right quick on the way to get down the 'walk.  ;)

{5 a: This is a different view so that you can kind of see the ripples in the water made w/ the gel pen.}

And that be the end of this short little jaunt 'round the bay!  Git your sea legs ready fer the main sail on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21!
You have until Monday, May 2 at 8pm to upload yer cards for the Mini to be eligible for the favorites gallery.
Go to www.splitcoaststampers.com for more details.

Pure Innocence Note Pads

Hi there!  Today I would like to share several note pads that I made for my husband to give to his secretaries.  He's in charge of 3 schools, therefore, he has 3 secretaries!  Lucky him!  LOL!  Maybe I could borrow one sometime!  ;)  As you all know, today was Administrative Day across the United States.  Well, my husband was actually on a math field trip to another school, so he wasn't able to celebrate today. 
He had asked me, after seeing the note pad that I made in the post below, to make him 3.  One for each secretary.  They all could be the same.  Well, they are, and then they aren't!

Here's what I mean!

 Here's the first one w/ a short name.  I was able to make it a true banner!  Did a little stitching, used several dies: MFT's spiral bound; Star nesties; Star punches; MFT's Banner die; SU! circle punch.

 And this is what I did w/ a longer name!  Same elements as the picture above!

And this is the card that will accompany the note pads, and other gifts that they may receiving.  I used Framed Greetings and the spiral bound dies from MFT.

I'm done!  Off to bed!  Whoo hoo!

Warning! Turn Sideways! {eyeroll}

Hi!  Frustrated here.  Blogger is being ridiculous, but I just wanted to show you this notepad that I made my cousin who held the Easter Egg Hunt yesterday.  I always make her something as a thank you for having us over.  This time I actually made something that she can use!  I have a bunch of those long note pads that you get in the dollar bins at Mike's, and I took one of those and created a cover for it.  So, turn your head sideways so you can get the full view.  In both of my photo editing programs, the pictures are straight up and down.  I download to Blogger and they come out sideways.  Go figure!  

This is a close up (sideways as well) of the roses and Stampendous butterfly that I won from Eva's blog during her Butterfly Blog Hop!  The roses are Kitchen Sink Stamps.  Paper is Melon Mambo dsp, Melon Mambo c/s, and Tempting Turquoise c/s, w/ the leaves punched w/ Certainly Celery c/s.
It turned out so well, and my husband liked it so much, I have to make 3 more for his secretaries for next week!  I always show him things that I make.  Like his opinion is really trusted!  LOL!  He doesn't know a stamp pad from a paper cutter!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday!  I had Easter at my house this year!  It was just easier since we're the only ones w/ kids on both sides of our families.  So everyone comes to our house and we cook like fiends!  It was great though!  The traditional ham, and the makings for ham sandwiches, cheesy potatoes, Napa Cabbage salad (ramon noodle salad), and corn chowder!  YUM!  That chowder came out beautifully!  I found the recipe on All Recipes.com while looking for crock pot recipes.  I had never had corn chowder before, but thought I would take a chance!  I'm so glad I did!  My husband and I LOVE it!  We make it quite often, just for the two of us!  The kids won't touch it w/ a 10 ft. pole!  It was a nice day though, spending the day w/ family!  And it just dawned on me that I didn't take a single picture!  Oh well!  We'll just have to have everyone over again!  LOL!

Have a GREAT week!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!!  Today I have created several projects that kept me busy all morning!  This afternoon we headed to an annual family Easter Egg Hunt!  It was so nice to see family since we haven't all been together since Christmas!  We are a close Italian family, so we all like to get together whenever we can!  And we never want to leave!!!!

My cousins hold this event each year at their house.  They hide all of the eggs, over 200, I believe.  All w/ pieces of paper equaling the amount of money that can be received!  Usually $.25, and up to a couple $5.00 eggs if you can find them!  They also cook almost all the food for like 30 of us!  All they ask us to bring are salads or desserts.  I'm the appetizer and dessert queen in my family, so I said that I would make dessert.  I decided to make cupcakes, and I made little scenes on the cupcakes.  Yeah, I think I watch WAY too much Cupcake Wars and Food Network!  LOL!

 Happy Easter!!!

Decades Swap

Hi!  Today I have a few cards to share w/ you.  I am participating in a decades swap, and I just wanted to share w/ you 3 out of 5 cards that I have completed so far.  I still have two decades to go!

Here we are w/ the Roaring 20's!  What works better than those fab Flapper Doodles from My Favorite Things?!

And how can you resist this?!  I went online to search fads, styles, culture for each decade.  For the 50's, I found blue polka dot everywhere!  I am using an image from a Crafty Secrets set.  Did a little paper piercing, but kept it simple.  This is also a layout from Card Patterns, but I didn't get my entry in on time.  Oh well!

 

 And this bathing beauty is a tribute to the 60's.  I'm sure you're sitting there thinking, HUH?!  Let me explain.  When I think about the 60's, I think about The Beach Boys.  They are my all time favorite band, EVER!  So, why not incorporate that into my creation?  So, I went through some of their songs on my playlists, and California Girls popped up.  I thought, now that would be perfect w/ this MFT set, Catch Some Rays.  So, I played around w/ the layout and different stamps, and this is what the finished product looks like. 

For the Birthday and Girl circles, I used MFT's newest stamp set Typeset Alphabet.  I took the letters and formed them into a circle on my block, lining it up w/ a nestie that I was going to use, and inked it right up.  Perfect!  So, just another versatile way to use an alphabet set!

 That's all folks!  Once I complete the other two decades, I'll share them here as well.

OH!  And I'm participating in the latest VSN (Virtual Stamp Night)!  Come and join us!  It's April 29th for the mini (kind of like an appetizer) and then May 20th and 21st for the main event!  The theme is Pirates!  And NOT the Pittsburgh Pirates either!  LOL!  It all takes place over on www.splitcoaststampers.com in the VSN thread!  I'll be there cheering everyone on!!!!  Come and hang out!  If you don't know what you do there, here's the details:  On April 29th for example, the evening festivities would start at say 6pm.  So, they post a challenge at 6 and you have 45 minutes to complete the challenge, using only what you have available.  (There will be a list of any product that you might need than you may not have).  Then, you post it, and at 7pm, another challenge is posted, you have 45 minutes to complete the challenge, post it, and then another challenge.  One right after another.  Til like 11pm.  I think that would be the last one. 

Anyway, if you're interested, go HERE to check it out!  Hope to see you scallywags there!  We'll all be on deck fer a swashbucklin' good time!  Aaaarrrrrggghhhhh!!!!!!!!

Kitchen Sink Birthday gift

Today I created a quick little birthday gift for a friend of mine who celebrated her birthday last week.  She's one of those people who appreciates the things that I make, so I don't mind making things for her.  I had told her that I was going to create 4 blocks throughout the year for her.  Seasonal blocks.  I gave her the Winter block at Christmas time, so now it's time for Spring!
I looked online to see what flowers bloom in the spring and see if I had any Kitchen Sink Stamps in that flower.  I saw tulips, and pulled out the 3 Step Bitty Tulip Bouquet.  There are two different size tulips, so it was perfect!  I utilized both sizes, one for the block and the other for the card.

 Here you can see the closeup of the pattern that I created w/ my Scor-pal.  I wanted the embossing to be subtle, so that the tulip oval panel would really shine. 

And the block!  This turned out SO cute!  If I do say so myself!  I wanted to keep it for myself!  LOL!

Details:
Tulips: 3-Lady Bug (Memento); 2-Lady Bug (stamped off); 1-Lady Bug (stamped off twice); 4-Rhubarb (Memento); 5-Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Stems/Leaves: 3-Bamboo Leaves (Memento); 2-Bamboo Leaves (stamped off); 1-New Sprout (Memento); 4-Cottage Ivy (Memento)(stamped off once on the card only).

Paper:
      Card: Cherry Cobbler (SU!), white
      Block: Marina Mist (SU!), white, green felt (MFT), Lovely Lavender (retired SU!)

Embellishments:
      Card: Scor-Pal dry embossing; brushed gold brads; oval nestabilities; Antique Linen (Ranger) Distress ink, Inkssentials Blending Tool, Inkssentials Blending Foam
      Block: SU! block; green felt (MFT); glue dots; SU! Butterflies Sizzlets