Croppin' time...

Come and crop with Crop-n-Doodle-Do & Key Lime Crops!  CNDD crops are always a good time, so don't miss out... here are the details:

POTLUCK CROP.........JUNE 12, 2010

"Join us for our first ever Potluck Crop.  This crop will be held at KING OF KINGS CHURCH in Gardner, KS.  See the invitation below for details.  After you register I will send you an email of what we need... side dishes/salads/desserts.  You pick which one you want to bring. (there will not be specific recipe for you to bring.  You can decide the specific dish.  I will just let you know which kind of item you need to bring)  The Theme is "Tater Tot Crop".  I will provide the main dish for Lunch and Dinner.

The website is under construction so just send Maria an email at cropndoodledo@gmail.com to register.  I will send you a paypal invoice.  If you prefer to pay by check you can send your check to:  Crop-N-Doodle Do, P.O. Box 483, Spring Hill, KS  66083. (if you are going to pay by check please still send me an email to let me know you are coming)"

I'll have a small booth set up in case you run out of cardstock or eyelets :)  Not to mention all of the new stamps and mini-album kits you'll need!

If you do register to attend, please let me know!  Anyone who attends after hearing about the crop here, will be put into a drawing for a little sumpin' sumpin' from me... TAC products!

Thank ewe...

... to the wonderful few that showed up to our open house today!  It was great practice for setting up my tables for future events & crops... hoping to get quicker and quicker with set ups!  I was hoping to unload more of my samples, but at least I've got gifts ready to go when I am in need!

On to today's bit-o-goodness :)  Isn't she sweet?  This little sheep is from a vintage stamp of the month that was released some time last year.  LOVE IT!  Look...at...that...face!  

She TOTALLY makes me smile.  

:)

See?

Stamps:  Great Greetings, Mini-bet, sheep (retired)

Paper:  Bazzill mono-reds, Lilly Anna pink, DCWV green, white ultrasmooth cardstocks

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo

Other:  EK Success edger punch, pearls (Recollections), random ribbon, foam tape

Copics:  0, YG01, YG05, BV20, RV10, RV13, E57

This little sweetie is now at my friend's boutique, waiting for a good home :) 

Well, I'm off to either try to be creative, or totally veg-out and watch movies... hmmmmm....

What do you think?

Amberley Mini-book

I went to a really fun crop a couple of weeks ago put on by Crop-N-Doodle-Do, and ACTUALLY accomplished a couple of things!  CNDD's crops are awesome... they have fun giveaways, plenty of space, the food is always great, and they help you unload your stuff from your vehicle to your table! 

The crop fee is a little more than others, but they feed you (with cross your legs good desserts) and even go on an afternoon Sonic run for drinks {LOVE that rabbit pellet ice :)}, so the little extra money is TOTALLY worth it!

Ok, since I'm done pimping out CNDD, how's about having a lookie-see at one of the things I finished there?!  Yep, a mini-book of my babies!  It's really small... to give you an idea, the photos are index size... that, and you can see my fingertips in most of the photos (blech).

The base is from 7-Gypsies... it's a little chipboard matchbook, two-to-a-pack.  The only draw-back about this pre-made base is that you are not able to add much bulk AT ALL! 

Just by me adding a matted photo, a couple of accent cardstock pieces, and a decorative paper background, really pushed past the comfortable closing limits of the matchbook! 

I inked the edges with a Burnt Umber Palette pad... gave it a little more grunge look.  And I used up a ton of itty bitty scraps of Amberley Grace paper & coordinating cardstock!  Yes, this is a true scrap project :)

The pewter bookrings are from Karen Foster Designs, the eyelets are TAC's Pewter Hardware, and all of the pretty ribbon is from several of TAC's ribbon collections.

I finished it off with a sliding cardstock belly band that I embellished with a Bazzil Bitty Bloom, oyster disk, & an aqua half pearl from Michael's.  The title was done with a Signo white gel pen.

What do you think?  
I KNOW... the babies are cute :)

Blue Frog-Prince

Remember this little guy from my Copic class?  Well, I threw together this quick & easy card so I can say I accomplished something tonight!  It's missing something, but I think it's because it's a boy card & I can't add ribbons & bows & what-not :)

And maybe it isn't a boy card -boy card... the ribbon-y decked- out purple pillow & the o-so- slightly glittered crown might be givin' THAT away ;)  Still stinkin' cute!

Stamps:  Fairytale Fun, This Boy
Paper:  Sands of Time SWIC, and DCWV blue, white UltraSmooth, kraft, & black cardstocks
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Burnt Umber Palette
Other:  Copic markers, sky blue glitter gel pen, EK Success edger punch, WeR MM grommet, misc. large brad

I'll be off cropping tomorrow!  I've packed a ton of junk that I will never freakin' touch while I'm there (of course).  I really wish I was a pre-planner for that stuff... but I never know on what I'll wish to work.  Here's hoping to not throw my back out while loading the Xterra  {raising imaginary gin & tonic here}  ;)

What do you think?

Cuddly Bunny Birthday...

I had the opportunity to color a bunch of images last Saturday while I was at the Crop-N-Doodle-Do crop in Spring Hill, Kansas.  If you're near the area, you should definitely check out their events... a lot of fun, prizes, and great homemade meals {the desserts alone are cross-your-legs good ;)}

Anyhoo, this little cayootie patootie bunny was one of the images I had done.  Adorable, right?  He's from the February Stamp of the Month (SOTM) called Cuddly Critters.  If you wait until after the first, you can order it online HERE along with the Vintage SOTM.

Back to bunny.  I used my ol' 6-to-5 petal flower trick and added a clear dew drop to the center of it to add a little sumpin' sumpin' to the grosgrain bow.  Me likey :)  Me also likey the dotted line that runs on both sides of the image... it really grounded it, no?

Stamps:  Cuddly Critters, Linear Sentiments
Paper:  Pop Rockz SWIC, White UltraSmooth & Monochromatic Greens cardstocks
Ink:  Palette Noir, Sage VM
Colorant:  Prismacolors w/ mineral oil
Other:  Icicle Stickles, White & Lavender Scrapper's Floss, Flower Punch, clear dew drops, pink grosgrain, and EK Success edger punch

And who can resist that sparkly boo-tay?!

The more I use that fatty scallop punch, the more I like it!  And you can never have enough Scrapper's Floss, as far as I'm concerned :)  I colored up one of the bears from this set too, so be on the look out for him in the next couple of posts!

I'm thinking this could work for so many occasions... birthday, baby, thank you, miss you...

What do you think?

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Miss me?

Ok, so I'm over the cold, but I had a crop vendor gig yesterday, so had to prep this week.  And you DO realize this is Halloween WEEK, right?  Only SIX MORE DAYS!  Yeay!  So I may not be posting much AGAIN this week... but I still have preparations to make.


So it may surprise you to be viewing a Christmas card right now.  ;)  Well, sometimes I stare at my countless stamp sets and wait for one to jump out and scream "pick me, pick me!"  I had stamped off a bunch of images ahead of time, so I can just grab 'em... at last weekend's craft fair, I had PLENTY of time to color (dammit).  

Stamps:  Vintage Santa, Tag Tidbits, Date Disks
Paper:  Reece SWIC, Kraft, Reece & Hemmingway cardstocks
Ink:  Noir Palette
Other:  Reece Ribbon, sanding block, distresser, foam tape

I've been wanting to see this santa in an aqua coat as soon as I saw him.  I've seen some wonderful "woodland santas" with aqua or green coats and I just love it.  It tones down the image so that his face is seen more than a bright red coat!

The Date Disks fit PERFECTLY on this Reece tag... fab, isn't it?!   And the santa looks so jovial and merry... hence the sentiment in the circle.  "Be Merry Day"... kinda nice, no?

A little side note about the Crop-n-doodle-do Crop... it was an absolute blast!  Angelia & Maria, the coordinators, and all of the crop ladies were so much fun!  If you ever get a chance to attend one of their crops, don't miss it... great food, roomy crop space, goodie bags... fun fun fun.  Follow the link and then click on "Event Calendar" to find out dates.

What do you think?
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Friday quickie...

Today I'm sharing another Scrap Pile card.  Any little bit of patterned paper or cardstock that is left over from a previous creation gets thrown in, and it just keeps getting bigger!  I do tend to search through it on new projects to see if there is "just that size" of a piece, so that's keeps the pile pared down as much as possible.  :)

Stamps:  Trendy Greetings, Goodness of God (retired)
Paper:  Willoughby SWIC & Cardstock
Ink:  Burnt Umber Palette
Other:  Mega Square & Scallop square punches, paper piercer, sponge

I created the little scallop strips by inserting a cardstock strip into only part of the punch... kinda 'up, over and down' kinda thing :)

That's it for today, peeps.  I've got that craft fair Saturday & Sunday, and we are lucky enough that we can set up tonight... this allows more sleep in the morning :)  And you know I'm all about that!  Anyway, I'm sure you won't be hearing from me for a few days, and I wish I could have shared something a little more pumped up, but thems the breaks, baby ;)
 

What do you think?
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CKC, quickies and craft fairs...

How's that title grab ya'?!  Today was soooo much fun!  A few Angels and I got together and went to the CKC vendor faire and then onto a whole day of running around & shopping... what could be better?  :)  

I feel so bad for my WOSFF (web-o-sphere friend forever) Laurie & her buddy Serena... they were up at like 4am to drive from Hutchinson.  I don't think I could have done it... I am sooooooooooooo not the morning person.  ugh.  You girls rock;)

I spent way too much money on more junk I don't need, but sometimes you just have to do that.  There is something to be said about Retail Therapy... I'm just sayin'.

On to the fun stuff!  Another no-layer card today.  I tried to dress it up a little with the embossed piercing from the Scor-bug, and it does shimmer nicely in real life from the Brilliance ink & Stardust glitter pens.

Stamps:  Edge Designs, Simply Christmas (retired)
Paper:  White UltraSmooth & Kraft cardstocks
Ink:  Sky Blue & Coffee Bean Brilliance
Other:  Scor-Pal & Scor-bug, Christmas Red Stickles, Stardust glitter pens

By the way... I know it is a little short notice, but I will be a vendor at an upcoming craft fair next weekend, October 17th & 18th at Prince of Peace off of Mur-len & 143rd Street in Olathe.  So, if you are in the area and would like to see or PURCHASE ;) some of my handmade goodness, please pop in!  For more info, just shoot me an email and I'll give you the details!



AND I will be a vendor at the Crop-n-Doodle-Do crop in Spring Hill on October 24th!  There is still time to sign up, so if you need to get some scrappy time in, please come and join the fun!


What do you think?
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Paper Scrap Pile Free-For-All!

Ok, kids. It's time to have some fun at the Foster's :)

On June 6th from 10am 'til whenever (Cindy stayed until 10pm or 11pm last time!), it will be Paper Scrap Pile Madness! Last time we did this, everyone had a blast, and it really got everyone in the mode to use those scraps! Here are the details:

Please bring: a small snack to share, paper trimmer, scissors, adhesives, black ink pad, ribbons and embellishments, and cardstock (for bases & stamped images) for however many cards you want to complete. DO NOT bring ANY pattern paper!! The ONLY decorative paper or colored cardstock you may use MUST BE DUG OUT OF MY SCRAP PILE!! The only pristine-never-before-cut cardstock allowed is the stuff you bring for your bases and stamped images. I may even have a contest or two... you just never know :)

If you have a specific coloring medium you prefer, please bring that along, but I will have Palette Ink pads, punches, and stamps for you to use!

Please let me know by Friday, May 29th if you'd like to join the fun. What's the cost? IT'S FREE!! I just want to get my mountain of scraps turned into a mole hill :) We really had a great time last time, and it was so neat to see what everyone came up with by just using scraps. So if you are in the area, please join us!! I'm located in Gardner, Kansas which is about 30 miles southwest of downtown Kandsas City... I've even got a couple of people coming from Topeka and Lee's Summit, Missouri, which are about an hour away so Mapquest me!!

Just a little sumpin' sumpin'...

This is a scan of a few of the samples I made up with the goodie-bag items from the ERC crop yesterday. Patty asked the vendors to make up something to show the croppers ideas of how to use their items. My favorite creation that I gave to Patty was a little 'Boo Bag'... yep, you guessed it: I forgot to take a picture! I'm hoping my BFF snapped a pic of the table set up!

I'm not sure who the manufacturers are for most of the items, but the rub-ons are Karen Foster and there was Magic Mesh that I used as a stencil for the white paint from Pebbles, Inc.

I added the cutie pa-tootie moon-cow from An Udder Birthday stamp set, along with the White UltraSmooth card base, Bazzill Mono-Blues, and scored a few lines with the Scor-Pal... all to compliment the swirly journaling block that I turned into an image mat :)

My baby, Thor, is showcased in the center of another journaling block that I made into a photo frame (I know, I know... he IS adorable)!

The other two items, 3x3 giftie card w/ pocket envelope, was fun to make. I used the rub-ons on top of the glitter chipboard letters after painting the pattern on the paper base. For the card, I stamped the circle & star from Creative Inspiration in VersaMark and 'For You' from Memo Fun was stamped with Noir Palette. I finished it off by punching a circle and tying a bit of gingham ribbon from our Black & White Ribbon collection. The card slides down and the knot shows through the notch in the pocket.

Next time, I'll show how I took my Scrapling make-n-take and turned it into a bag tag & a scrapbook page! As for my goodie-bag samples...

What do you think?

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Rustic Double Journaling Pocket

Happy Friday! You have to love Kansas weather: 68 on Wednesday, warm Thursday morning and then cooling off, and sunny but cold today. And, yes, it is supposed to snow tonight. Good grief.

A little bit of news... I'll be a vendor at the ERC 2009 Spring Benefit Crop & Shop in Topeka on March 21st. The crop was immediately sold out, but all of the vendor booths will be open to the public for shopping! There will be many different types of vendors in addition to stamping/scrapping booths; here is a link to the list of vendors (they are also linked) in case you are interested, click here. I'll have several project kits made up, along with tons of TAC paper & cardstock packs, TAC kits, embellishments, Stickles, ribbon... on and on!

So I thought I'd share some of the classes I will be teaching the croppers. The first one will be the Mini-Meander Album that you've seen before, but using different TAC paper collections. The second one is the one I'm sharing today...

Rustic Chic Double Journaling Pocket

I really like how this turned out. It shows how versatile one pocket element can be... I've shown it on a 6x9 scrapbook page as well as a gift card holder (see below). This photo shows what we will be making in the actual class, and then the attendees can decide later how they want to use it!

Stamps: Memo Fun, Mini-Bet, Creative Inspiration (dotted star), Interact, Trendy Greetings (happy b-day)

Paper: Rustic Chic, Bazzill Mono-Reds & kraft cardstock, DCWV brown cardstock

Ink: Burnt Umber & Boudoir Blush Palettes, VersaMark

Other: Scor-Pal, sanding block, pop dots, misc. ribbon, CutterBee Bug piercer

I think the red/pink/brown color combo works for the Thor page, even though he is a boy... it doesn't come off too feminine. The dark brown and rustic feel to the paper combined with the distressing and grunginess reads as boy (to me anyway). By the way... isn't he cute?!!

You can create a double pocket by simply omitting the glue on the top edge of the pocket... two journaling tags for the price of one!! The left tag could also be used for an additional photo mat in-lieu-of journaling.

For the gift card holder, I used my original pocket design, which is a bit shorter than the others. It really should be about 3/8" wider to conceal the gift card better, but I actually like how the red on the card balances the red/pink of the designer paper.

The star was stamped and then cut out and popped up on a pop dot... just a tiny detail that really adds something to an element.

What do you think?

A few mini-journals...

Just thought I'd add a couple of slide shows to my blog... they're toward the bottom on the right-hand sidebar. Now if I could just figure out how to do video...

It is pretty chilly again tonight... good grief. Why-o-why did the little groundhog have to see his shadow? Since my computer happens to sit right next to the draftiest door in the house, I'm going to post and run to bed [well, maybe not RUN, but definitley a brisk walk] :)








Tonight I've got a couple of little altered mini-journals. They took no time at all, and are great little gifties! They went over pretty well at my last craft fair, too.

The first couple are geared toward a more tailored gift... the one without the bow would be great for a guy... well, if we could get our guys to write down for what they are grateful!!

Stamps: More Abundance

Paper: Hemingway SWIC & Winchester Cardstock

Ink: Burnt Umber Palette

Other: Juliette Ribbon, Pop Dots, mini-journal from JoAnn's

The next one was created for a gallery at Paper Wings as a tribute to our fellow Angels whose lives have been touched by breast cancer... Think Pink!









Stamps: More Abundance, Life Thoughts, Paisley Rockz

Paper: Uptown Girl, Basic Black cardstock, White UltraSmooth

Ink: Toile Pink & Noir Palettes

Other: Pop Dots, misc. ribbon, mini-journal from JoAnn's





What do you think?

A tisket, a tasket...

I've dug into the vault, people. Yep, it's true... I've got nothing new for you. But, please enjoy this little tidbit for tonight.

I created several of these little baskets for last year's craft fair, and had a single lonely one left... so I kept it :)

I found them at Michael's, and dyed them with Willow Spray Ink, which is a green color that matched perfectly with this retired Merry Wishes paper. After cutting all of the paper pieces out, I aged them with Walnut Spray Ink and a sponge.

After gluing all of the paper to the basket, I stamped the little tags (I Love Snowmen and Snow Tag - retired, & Tag Tidbits) and tied them to the handle w/ jute & Scrapper's Floss, 'lined' the inside w/ tissue paper, and voila!

Ready to be filled with candy or some other little trinket.

I hope you enjoyed a trip to the vault. And don't worry... there will be more trips to the vault over the next several days because I will be up to my eyeballs in a little double-top-secret sumpin' sumpin' for my Winger DT projects.

What did you think?

How blue...

Well... the craft fair yesterday pretty much bit the big one, so after pouting for awhile this morning, I decided to create a couple of Christmas cards to get me out of the funk. Needless to say, I'm still in a bit of a funk, but I'm two cards closer to finishing my Christmas list, right?!

The only stamping on these bad boys, is the sentiment! BUT, I did have a good time with my Big Shot (I really wish TAC still sold this!!), Sizzix Snowflake die, and the Ribbon Tag Trio from Nestabilities. I only paid a little over $8 for the snowflake (thank you JoAnn's!), and the Nestabilities set was on sale for 50% off AND free shipping (I can't remember which online store this was!!)! I've been eyeing the ribbon tags for some time now... ever since I first saw them on Debbie Olsen's (Thinking Inking) blog!

Stamps: Merry Wishes (limited edition set from TAC last year)
Paper: Toodle Loo (snowflake) cardstock, TAC basic brown & Premium White, and Bazzill Basics card base
Ink: VersaMagic Agean Blue, Burnt Umber Palette, Moonlight White Brilliance
Other: Stardust Stickles, Designer Dries Clear glue, glitter, pop dots, hydra sponge, misc. ribbon


After I had cut out the snowflake for the first one, I just hated to throw away the negative of the image, so I trimmed it up and used it for the second one (I know... you should see my scrap pile... I save everything). I used the Stickles on the 1st one and the glue/glitter on the second. The first one shows the snowflake and label popped up, however, on the second one it is the label only.

I like the dimension of the first one, but I like the look of the glitter on the second one.



What do you think?