Blog Makeover...

Hey, everyone!!! I will be back to checking all of your blogs this week. I wanted to let everyone know that I FINALLY got my blog customized with my own creations using My Digital Studio. The background is Designer Paper, Ribbon, and Flowers from the Sweet Pea digi kit from SU, as is the Header, adding punches and buttons from Button Latte. This was much harder than I thought it would be, but that was because I don't have any photo editting software loaded at the moment, whew, never do it without that! I hope you like the look. I am happy with it. Now that I know how to do it, I will get it just how I want it, and will probably decorate it with MDS often!

Just For You, Neighbor!

I am LOVIN' the NEW SaleABration (SAB) brochure! I sat down to play with some of the items I preordered, and came up with this bright and cheerful card! Here in NC, we are experiencing COLD like we don't usually have (in the teens) and I just need a bit of Summer, so I chose some bright colors! This little house set is so cute! It comes with 3 houses, 3 different roofs, a few trees, and a cloud (which also makes nice bushes between the houses). I am going with the Clear Mount option from now on, so that is what this set is, but it is also available in Wood Mount. I stamped these using the In Colors, and punched with the 1 1/4" square, and layered on 1 3/8" squares. I LOVE the new DSP from SAB to go with this set, it's called Welcome Neighbor!

Here's a close shot of the ribbon, my hardware, and the paper! I really like this one, these colors will be sorely missed when they head out! I fall in love with the In Colors every time, though!

CS -- Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink -- Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, and Whisper White Craft

DSP -- Welcome Neighbor (SAB)

Punches -- 1 1/4", 1 3/8" Square, Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle

Accessories -- Styled Silver HodgePodge Hardware, Bermuda Bay ribbon

Beautiful Wings...

This was a really quick card, it took 5 minutes or less to throw together! I simply folded some Kraft cardstock, and glued a black layer in the center. Then I ran some of the In Colors through my Big Shot with the NEW Beautiful Wings Embosslit and stick those on some Whisper White cardstock. I added a loop of matching In Color, Polka Dot ribbon behind the coordinating butterfly and stuck that layer over the black with Dimensionals. Stamped (friend to friend) in Basic Black and pierced the corners using the Mat Pack and a Paper Piercer.

CS -- Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay.
Ink -- Basic Black
Stamps -- Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories -- Big Shot, Embosslit, Ribbon, Mat Pack/Piercer

This card (like most) are SUO. Sorry about the dark pic, I tend to remember to take pics at night, when lighting is horrible. As part of my New Years Resolution, I will work on that!

See you all soon! Happy Stampin'!

One more Paper Bow!

I cannot remember the name of this retired paper, but it's beautiful. It made a great bow! I will try to get back to cards, and off these bows ASAP ☺

Happy Stampin'

My January Club Projects....

Hey, friends! It's great to be back in the blogging loop! The holidays were wonderful, and I enjoyed them immensely, but am glad to be back to the routine of everyday life! My Jan hostess club theme was 'Be My Valentine'. I generally focus on a Holiday coming up the next month so my club members have time to plan and order for it. This card is our 'Man' card for Valentine's Day! I used the NEW set from the Occasions Mini, called I (Heart) Hearts. I am the proud new owner of ALL the SU Clear Blocks and am blown away by their beauty and quality! So, I have this set in the Clear Mount. This is a wonderful heart set! The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

CS--Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink -- Read Red, Soft Suede
Punches -- Modern Label, Word Window, 1/4" Circle, 1 1/4" Square
Stamps -- I (Heart) Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes

I like including a 3D item, gift, or package idea at each meeting. This month we did paper bows made of out Designer Series Paper. They were a huge hit! They are easy to make, and seeing how you can make 24 large ones out of a $9.95 pack of DSP, you can't even buy NICE bows for that price at the store! This tutorial is on SCS. However, it is only for the large size. I created the small size by switching from 6x12 paper to 3x6, and making my cuts at 1/2" instead of 1". It worked well, but is a little harder to hold together before using the brads. I cannot wait to make more of these! This particular DSP is retired, it is called Bella Rose.

And this little one was lots of fun! These are the NEW Hugs Notes from the Occasions Mini. The Whisper White CS is already cut into the scalloped rectangle! They sell in packs of 20 for $4.95! What a deal! I think I will buy extra packs to use as focal points on card fronts when I am too lazy to pull out my Big Shot ☺ The vase is the Ornament Punch, with the bottom point cut off.

CS -- Real Red, Hug Notes, DSP from a retired Hostess Pack, Whisper White

Ink -- Read Red, Garden Green (marker)

Stamps -- I (Heart) Hearts

Punches -- Ornament, Heart to Heart

-- Dimensional -- under the checkered heart

I hope you all enjoy these! I loved making them, and my club seemed to really enjoy these projects! I love Valentine's Day!

My Christmas Girls...

I keep meaning to get this up and share a pic of my girls with all my blogging friends. Tara, 3, on left, Chloe, 5, on right, dressed for a Preshool Christmas party. We had a great holiday season and hope that each of you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Washer Pendant Necklaces...

These AMAZING necklaces were a Technique featured on Splitcoaststampers. These are made with Steel washers from the hardware store. I have made several different sizes and find that larger ones are more eye catching and elegant, whereas the smaller sizes are great for casual. This one is made with a 2" washer, it is just under 2" in diameter. I LOVE making these. This one was made for my SIL for Christmas, I loved it so much, I made 4 just like it for other gifts, and of course, one for me! The B/W paper is from my stash, no idea the origin or brand. Sorry! The red gemstones are from Hero Arts. I started by tracing the washer shape and center hole onto the backside of the paper, then cut it with paper snips. I used Aleens tacky glue to adhere the paper to the washer. That set almost instantly. Then I set the gemstones, and sanded all of the edges for a finished look. The entire front of the washer is covered in a very thick coat of Crystal Effects, which I had to force myself to patiently wait almost a day for it to dry well. I created the necklace with black leather cording and a jewelry clasp. This is definitely my favorite!

As much as I love the first one, I love this one, too! This one is much smaller, it's about 1 3/8" in diameter. I didn't have to cut this one at all! The outside circle is the 1 3/8" circle punch, and the inside is 1/2" punch! Needless to say, this size is much easier and quicker to make. I searched through my DSP stash and found this pattern in the Fall Flowers pack a couple catalogs back. I prefer sweat suits and jeans/long t's in the winter, so I wanted a casual necklace for my favorite grey sweats! My green leather cording matches the paper perfectly! This one you could wear all the time, I really like it! This one is MINE!

Unfortunately, most of my other pendants got boxed and wrapped before I took pictures. I made over 10 for Christmas, but no worries, more will be made soon, and I promise to take pictures! I plan to make keychains, and ceiling fan pulls for the girls rooms as well!