Surprise!

Yeah, it's me... can you freakin' believe it?!  I know. I know... I've totally been slacking.  BUT I have been very busy working... two jobs, plus TAC, plus my Hostess Club, plus planning classes that I'm going to start teaching, plus...  Oy.  I'm tired just writing all of that :)  Needless to say, my mojo has gone on a very long hiatus.  My last Hostess Club/class night didn't even have brand new stuff... nope, they were similar to projects that I had done before, but they were new to the ladies.

Have you seen the HUGE list of specials from TAC?!  Awesome grab-bag deals, stamp of the month, retiring stamp list, and more!  Just go HERE to check the specials, and then go HERE to go shopping :)

So, anyway, back to today's bit o' fabulousness.  :)  Not really... but I REALLY like using that word.

How do you like this "fluffy" girl?  You know: "I'm not fat... I'm fluffy" :)  I think she's pretty darn cute... in fact she looks more like an adult than a kid.  But how many adults still hold their teddy bears?  Wait.  Don't tell me... it might scare me a little ;)

Stamps:  Movie Night, Happy Thoughts

Paper:  Hemingway dp, Hemingway & brown cs, Neenah white cs

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Burnt Umber Palette

Other:  sheer ribbon

Copics:  BG72, BG75, BG78, E000, E00, E01, E11, E31, E35, E53, E55, E57, G85, G99, N4, N7, R32

I don't really like the black trim & socks, but my BG's bled into them too much to do anything lighter... dammit.  Maybe the colors make her look grown up instead of kiddish... I dunno.  But her skin came out just right :)

What do you think?

Did you miss me :)

Dragon Boo

This little bit o' cuteness is part of the August Stamp of the Month set Delightfully Spooky.  I put together this make-n-take for last month's Angels Inspired weekend in Kansas City... super simple, but when the image is this adorable, you don't need a lot of fluff :)

I was also asked to create samples for The Angel Company's main website to showcase this set.  You can see all of those HERE.  Just click on the photos on the right and they will enlarge.  I will tell you that on the little Dracula guy card, I used some vintage red velvet flocked wallpaper... it is soooo yummy :)

BONUS... this month Delightfully Spooky is only $10.95 with a $30 purchase!  Or you can also choose to purchase it at full price of $15.95 without a $30 purchase.

And I have to show you these wonderful new spooky & fall sets!  TAC has released the following sets early!  They will be in the Fall Inspiration Avenue magalogue, but some of us want them before that!

AND if you order Spiders are Seen this month, you will receive a Rockin' Roxie Album kit for FREE!  Just be sure to enter the special code:  AUG10... or if you email me the order, I'll enter it for you and you may take advantage of additional customer and/or Hostess benefits!
AND another great special:  The August - September Starter Kit Special
August 1 - September 30, 2010
During the months of August and September, when you sign up to be an Angel, you can purchase your Starter Kit for just $75 (retail value over $160.00)!
Just click the link below to check it out:
August - September Starter Kit Special Form


Ok... now, back to today's card :)

Stamps:  Delightfully Spooky

Paper:  Sands of Time dp, Mia's Cottage, white ultrasmooth, DCWV & Neenah cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  Bazzill Bitty Blossom, Scor-bug, white grosgrain ribbon, Cha Cha hardware

Copics:  0, BG15, BG34, BG49, E000, E00, E11, R32, W3, YG01, YG03, YG91

I've got a couple more super cute images to show you... non-Halloweenie even... so be on the look-out this week!

What do you think?

Another butterfly...

... gone vintage-y.  Sometimes I just love diggin' into my fabric & trim stash... it totally takes me back... back to WELL before I was born :)  This paper line does that for me, too, so why not put them together, right?

Stamps:  Life So Big

Paper:  Angelee SWIC, Angelee, brown, & white ultra smooth cardstocks, kraft packing paper

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  misc. lace & trim (JoAnn's), misc. & PTI buttons, EK Success edger punches, Extra Jumbo flower punch, tan & white Scrapper's Floss

Copics:  YR20, YR23, YR24,W2, V01, V06, V09, G12, G21, G24, G85

See the swirly purple paper?  That is actually one of the die-cut tags from the Angelee paper pack... 

oh-so-pretty :)  And did you know that you can get this butterfly stamp set for ONLY $3.95 with a $30 purchase?  It is a set of three... click HERE to see the whole set... good thru June!

Sorry for the short post, but I'm off to do class prep for tonight & tomorrow... More Mimi magic lid box... should be fun!  And thanks, Angelia, for making the champagne cuppie cakes... tastee!!  

What do you think?

Boot-scootin'...

Yes, my friends... it's another country-fried card!  Very fitting since the Abdallah Shrine Rodeo is coming up SOON (May 27-29)!  And even though I'm an Aide Captain's Lady, I will not be helping out... sorry Sharon S., but you are just going to have to pick on someone else during this event :)  Miss me!  Big Kiss!
(sucka)

ANYway... on to today's papercraftiness:

CA-yoot, right?  Ever since I saw Angela's pink boot, I wanted to make one :)  And look... it's not even colored with Copics this time :)  Hello, Prismacolor pencils... have you missed me?  And see the border on the burgundy mat... I Scor-bugged it after using one of Tim Holtz's new edge dies.  LOVE it.  Don't THINK I won't be getting my creep on with those bad boys!  That's what I'm talkin'-bout.

Stamps:  Cowboy Boots, Petal Pack (25% off!)
Paper:  White Ultra Smooth, Amelia & kraft cardstocks
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, VersaMark, Burnt Umber Palette
Colorant:  Prismacolor pencils w/ mineral oil & blending stumps
Other:  ribbon (HL), gems (Michael's), Scor-bug, Tim Holtz die, white gel pen

See the little round dashed cuts around the gems?  Well, originally I was going to put these cool button-type things on here, but I had already glued the panel down.  I had no idea how to get the prongs to close, so I took them off... I liked the cuts they left, though.  So I added a bit o' bling to the centers... me likey.

What do you think?

Butterfly birthday...

Happy Thursday!  It is so pretty today... far too nice to be inside (hush up, Laurie... we know I'm not an outdoorsey gal).  Maybe I should say, far too nice to be at the office :)  I've been coloring a bunch of butterflies lately, feeling Springy and all, so be prepared to see several butterfly cards in upcoming posts!

Me loves the kraft cardstock.  And you can put it with almost any color scheme, really.  I had colored these butterflies last weekend thinking that I would cut them out and use on different cards... BUT since I managed to line them up pretty good, I decided to use them together.  This is a limited edition stamp set available in May & June only!  You can check it out HERE.

The trick was to find those three colors in a paper line... yeah... good luck with that :)  I finally just ended up using Mimi paper with a splash of teal cardstock to tie them together... worked pretty good I think.  The main background panel was in my scrap pile already made up!  Yes... this is a scrap pile card... believe it or not.

Stamps:  Life So Big, Forever Friends (retired)

Paper:  Mimi (retired, but More Mimi would work!), Mimi & kraft cardstocks, misc. teal cardstock

Ink:  Tuxedo Memento, Burnt Umber Palette

Other:  EK Success edger punch, brown pearls (Michael's)

Copics:  BG72, BG78, YG01, YG05, RV13, RV14

One more card that goes into my birthday card stash... oh wait... I don't have a stash anymore!  So this is the START of my birthday card stash :)

What do you think?

Missing You...

Today's bit of crafty goodness was made with The Angel Company's (TAC) February Stamp of the Month (SOTM), Cuddly Critters.  Is that bear not the cutest?  I even gave him rosey cheeks.

I'm still trying to find some time to do a coloring video tutorial... one of these days ;)

Super simple layout... not very "me" :)  What about that crocheted trim?  "Hello, JoAnn's clearance fabric section... I think I love you".

Stamps:  Cuddly Critters, Thinking of You (Hostess Level C)

Paper:  Monochromatic greens, White UltraSmooth, & black cardstocks

Ink:  Noir Palette

Colorant:  Prismacolors w/ mineral oil blending

Other:  Lemonade Buttons & Blossoms, twine, crocheted trim (JoAnn's)

BTW... did you know that every month, TAC has a giveaway on their website?  Want a chance to win some freebies?  Just go HERE.

Well, that's it for today.  I won't be getting any crafty time in tonight... must do a bit of cleaning... if I can get Poot to put all of his junk away :)

What do you think?
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More love...

... are ya' feelin' it?  :)  It is a BRIGHT & sunny day today after the constant snowfall of yesterday... and colder than a witch's... well, you get the idea.  As I look outside the back door, I see some cute little footie prints that have made a couple of paths in the snow.  No snow angels or frolicking through the drifts... my babies aren't that crazy today ;)

Today's bit-o-love is another simple one... I DID do a more layered card that you'll see in a couple of days or so... and it's not all lovey, just in case you need a break from it :)

Stamps:  Leafy Trees, This Girl
Paper:  White UltraSmooth, Scarlet & Black cardstocks
Ink:  L'Amore Red & Noir Palettes
Colorant:  marker huffing with Tombows
Other:  Scor-Bug, WeR eyelets, EK Success edger punch



Kinda gothy... maybe.  But more guy-ish than anything, right?  No ribbon, no Stickles... just cardstock & hardware.  Easy peasy.


What do you think?
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Ghoulish gourds all in a row...

I thought I'd share another little treat project today.  How cute is this little row of pumpkins?!  It's very basic and super easy to make, and I'll be selling a few of these at an upcoming craft fair.  Sorry about the photos... it was cloudy when I snapped them.

I created a little accordian-folded divider so that the little guys wouldn't move around in the box.  May I just say:  the Scor-Pal makes crafty life so easy sometimes!  I created a template, however it is not to scale... but it is so seriously easy you can just line it up on the SP and go to town:

This box feels nice and sturdy because I have an extra side piece that folds over... this also creates a nice finished top edge.  I did trim a smidgen off of the outer piece that folds over and in so it would fit correctly.  The acetate lid is created with the same box bottom template, except omit the two outer 1" x 5-1/4" sections.  I just used a mini glue dot to secure each flap so that there would be minimal adhesive that would show.  You could also use an eyelet if you wanted a more polished appearance.

I wrapped the little pumpkins in food safe plastic before putting them into the box... this will keep them fresher and cardstock won't stick to them!  Supplies:  TAC's promotional stamp set More Bone Appetit, Penelope & kraft cardstocks, copper eyelet, acetate, and some paper ribbon raffia.



What do you think?!
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Halloweenie Project Playlist on TAC's website...

Ok, so I haven't been posting much lately, right?  Well, part of the reason is because I was busy creating these lovelies:  http://www.theangelcompany.net/PromoProjectPlaylist.html !  Click on the Fall Into Fabulous title to see the stamp specials, and click on the individual photos (including the Boo-berry one) for a closer look at the projects :)


I had an absolute blast, and these stamp sets make me want to host a Halloweenie bash even more than before!  I LOVE how the two mummy things turned out... so much fun!  I think I'll be doing several of these projects to sell at my upcoming craft fair booth... most definitely.


Thanks for looking!  And if you have any questions on recipes, etc., just email me and ask!


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Lookie at what I got in the mail...

... I can't wait to cut these bad boys out! This is a shot of the goodies I received for FREE for winning a contest & being a magalogue designer! See, TAC's motto "because being an Angel is just more fun" is so true :)

How would YOU like to get paid while having fun? What about the chance to win $100 in free stamps every month for submitting creations to TAC's demonstrator-only contests? Those are just a couple of the perks. If you are interested in more information about becoming a part of The Angel Company's family of demonstrators, please email me!!

Oh! I almost forgot... this is the last month for Double Hostess Benefits! Let me know if you'd like to book a FunShop or a Party on the Go!

Hmmmm...

First things first... TAC promotion time! Surprise boxes that retail for at least $150, are only $75 AND home office has picked several random boxes and included FREE GIFT CERTIFICATES (for T-coded stamps) valued from $50-$100... this is IN ADDITION to the box contents!!! Check it:

And here's a kicker... remember that a $75 dollar box + $25 more in purchases or sales is a $100 qualifying party which equals DOUBLE HOSTESS REWARDS!!!! Or grab a buddy and split a box AND a party AND the benefits! And now, on to the card!

I don't know that I'm really feelin' this one. I started out by using Taylor's sketch TESC77. Instead of using circles, I went with rectangles... maybe that is why it isn't working. Oh well, I'm sharing it anyway :)

I do like how the squirrel is colored... I mixed my media for the image & background: Prismacolors & mineral oil for the squirrel and watercolor crayons for the background & edges. The water-coloring looks so much better for backgrounds... more even and less work :)

Stamps: So Squirrely (August SOTM!!)

Paper: Penelope SWIC, Penelope & White UltraSmooth cardstocks, kraft packing paper (scallop rectangle)

Ink: Noir Palette

Other: Penelope Ribbon, Scor-Pal, Cloud Scissors, White Scrapper's Floss, foam tape, Giga Scallop Square punch, AquaColor crayons, misc. buttons

And do you see the little purple cardstock ruffle? I procured that idea from my WOSFF (web-o-sphere-friend-forever) Laurie... thanks, Laurie :) Just glue the top of the scallop strip above the score line and poof up the bottom... so cute.

What do you think?

Sweet Cuppie-cake...

I know that it is too late for anyone to purchase this Limited Edition ca-yootie pa-tootie TAC cuppie cake set, but last night was the first chance I had to cut it out and play with it! Just for future reference, please check the TAC specials in my sidebar every month... sometimes I just can't create any samples in time :(

Lilly Anna is such a cute paper pack... it worked perfectly to paper piece the cupcake cup! I glued the bottom directly to the white, popped the thin blue collar up on foam tape, and popped the icing on pop dots. Foam tape is thinner, and works better for small pieces, yet still gives dimension.


Stamps: Cute Curliques, Sweet Thing (NLA... how sad)

Paper: Mimi & Lilly Anna cardstocks, Lilly Anna SWIC, White UltraSmooth

Ink: VersaMark, Noir Palette

Other: Mimi ribbon, Prismacolor pencils & mineral oil, Pop Dots, Tombow White Gel Pen, foam tape


There is something yummy about Prismacolors & mineral oil. I don't know if it the theraputic aspect of blending with the stumps, or watching the waxy pencil turn translucent and transform into another shade, or what.



Or maybe the pencil blending takes me back to my college studio days { or daze?** :) }... hours upon hours spent on architectual project presentation boards {yikes}. I'm sure if I was a little more well versed with Copics I would like them more, but for now I'll cling to my Prismacolors :)


This is the first time I've used a white pen to highlight an image... I LOVE IT!! Such a minor little detail, and yet it really makes a difference. It worked great for the little pistols {stamen? whatever those little thingies are in the middle}... you know what I'm talkin' about :)


What do you think?

**btw... the 'daze' comment was in reference to all of the spray fix, adhesives, and acetone-type chemical fumes floating around studio back in the day ;)

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Hello Birdie - Four Ways...

Today, I thought I'd illustrate how different a card can feel just by a subtle change in elements. I've created four cards using the exact same base elements (card base, wine & brown strip, & sentiment) and did a little switch-a-roo with the main image & embellishments.

Stamps: Friends & Forever Friends (both available thru April 30th only!)

Cardstocks: Juliette, Kraft, & White UltraSmooth

Ink: Burnt Umber & Noir Palettes

Colorant & Technique: Prismacolor Pencils blended with mineral oil & blending stump

Other: Audrey Embellishment Jar, Dark Pink & Tan Scrapper's Floss, misc. buttons, foam tape, and Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

The first two have very subtle placement differences... simply stacking the bird/flowers above the sentiment, puts all of the 'weight' of the card to the lower right on the second one, rather than along the entire length of the bottom as in the first.

The second two cards change the card direction completely. The third card moves the flowers to form a kind of nest for the bird, while the fourth card echoes the flower placement of the first two. In both the third & fourth cards, all of the 'weight' is on the right-side of the layout.

What I did next, was take the first two versions and created a fifth card that had the placement I liked best, and used a white card base.

I switched the brown & wine strips and added a dotted line from Creative Inspiration in Noir Palette ink to tie in the image better with the base.

I wish the dotted line was a little less messy, but I guess it looks handmade, right?! :) So, which one is your favorite layout, and do you like the kraft card base or the white?

Challenge time!!!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to create a minimum of three cards using the exact same elements and just vary the placement. I'm going to see if I can get the Linky box up, but I've been having issues :)

So... What do you think?

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Try to RESIST this...

Another reminder about the 50% OFF SALE that is ending January 26th!!! The prices listed on my online store already reflect the sale price, so it makes it easy!! If you are wanting to place an order directly with me, you'll need to email it to me NO LATER than noon on THIS Wednesday the 21st so I can get it sent off before I leave for TAC's Leadership Retreat (can't wait!!).

Tic Tac Love card

Are you guys sick of the 'love' cards yet? Hope not, because I've got another one for you today :) This one was done using heat embossing resist (get the title of the post now?!) technique and spray ink, and I think it makes a really good 'guy' card.

I lined up all of the heart images from Love Doodles & Forever Family on my acrylic handle, and using VersaMark, stamped on a 3"x3" White UltraSmooth square. Then, clear Transcendence Embossing Powder was sprinkled, tapped the excess off, and heated with a Heat Tool.

I sprayed Tsukineko's Eucalyptus Walnut Ink over the upper right corner of the square and blotted off the excess with a paper towel. I repeated this step with Ranger's Denim Spray Ink in the opposite corner. The clear EP resists the ink, so the white shows through.

Then, all that is left to do is layer on top of a white & moss (Bazzill) cardstock mats, stamp the sentiment from Tag Tidbits in Starry Night Palette Ink and pop up with Pop Dots, do a little paper piercing in the lower right corner, and finally, wind some cotton cord around a Bazzill Mono-Blues card base a few times, and knot it up!

What do you think?