Boo-lated Halloween

Yes, I know and will say it out loud...I am a bad blogger friend! As I type, I have over 200 posts sitting in my Google reader. Overwhelmed is almost the word I am looking for! :) Thanks for bearing with me, my buddies!

I have actually been doing something other than eating bon-bons, I assure you! I needed to complete over 70 invites for a Holiday Party, then 45 for a Holiday Coffee, and finally 20 for a Holiday Tea. That was all accomplished within the past few weeks. Needless-to-say, I have not had much of an opportunity to craft for myself, let alone surf the web.

With that said, on Nov 1st I felt the **need** to make a Halloween card. And since I was still Halloween in the US, why not?!

Stamps: House of Haunts (SU), Oct Word Puzzle (CTMH)
Paper: Basic Black, Only Orange, Lovely Lilac, CM patterned paper
Ink: Versamark, Black, Cat's Eye black
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Yellow Stickles, Mike's Ribbon, Cuttlebug Web Embossing Folder

During my absence, I also found out I had 3 cards published in Just Cards Holiday Cards edition! It was a fun surprise! They were all Bellas...who can resist them?!

Thanks for taking the time to visit today. My goal this weekend is to get to each of your blogs so I can leave you some love. :)

Back on this Side of the World

Alright, so I have been back for a couple of weeks now. I honestly tried to blog sooner, but as anticipated, the jet lag, work and 3 things I call "children" have been rather distracting! ;)

California was truly awesome! I hit the ground running...first stop after the airport was In & Out Burger and it was just as I (and my arteries) remembered. From there I hit Target...twice! The next few days were spent shopping, eating, shopping, seeing my friends & family, shopping, and eating. Oh, did I mention I went shopping? 5 days was certainly NOT enough time. If I only had 2 more days, the damage I could have done...

A highlight of my trip was getting to meet up with 3 other ladies I met online through SplitCoastStampers. We met up in San Francisco at the Cheesecake Factory! As with all "good" crafters, we like our cheesecake! ;) We had so much fun talking, eating and walking around the city. They humored me as I browsed in H&M and the Gap! Internet shopping is great, but there is nothing like actually being able to see the clothes in real life!

Yes, I left my heart in San Francisco, but enough about my trip! Here is the info about the card posted above I made prior to my vacation.

Stamps: 91034-X Inkadinkado

Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, More Mustard, Naturals White

Ink: Palette Noir, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol

Accessories: Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Stickles, misc black ribbon

And yes, I was WELL over the 100 Paper Project Challenge when I left, so I did buy some paper! And some ribbon...my newest obsession. Hey, it weighs less than paper so it is not as bad, right?!! ;)

Confessions of a Naughty Stamper

Oh my...I hope that blog post title does not get some strange riff-raff viewing my blog. LOL :)

Soooo...a while back I had some pictures reprinted with the intention of making cards out of them. I got the idea from an old back issue of Paper Crafts. At any rate, I had not fully intended to use them as the entire card front, but I could not bear to cut them down any more. And they came together in only 10 minutes!

Herein lies my confession: I did not use ANY INK on this card. None. Zip. Zilch.
And you know what? I am enamored with it! Curses.

Hey, at least I am using my paper! :)

Photo was taken by me in Miyajima, Japan. Paper is SU: Old Olive, Basic Black and Soft Suede. Brads are SU.

I made 5 different styles of this card with different pictures and embellishments. I will post the rest later on. :)

As a side, I am getting ready to leave for my High School reunion! I am so jazzed...a solo trip to the US, getting to see my old friends, shopping, chain restaurants, shopping, good food, shopping, In & Out Burger. Oh, did I happen to mention shopping? :)

I promise to catch up once I get back. Thanks for taking a minute to check in on me.

Paper Challenge: 12 cards made for a total of 97/100 projects complete!!

It's Against the Code...

I get it. I broke the code. I do it every single year, too! I am not sure why it happens this way...I will go ahead and admit it though...

I scrapbooked on World Cardmaking Day!

I feel so much better now. :)

The good news is that I completely finished off 18 pages in my Family Album! And...drum roll please...I am up to Dec 2007 which means 2008 is on the rapidly approaching horizon! Ah, that feels good!

So, here are a few of my creations:

Patterned Paper: Creative Memories Primary Soccer Paper Pack; Cricut Cartridges: Sports Mania, Stone Script

Patterned Paper: SU Linen Prints; Accessories: Prima Flowers, CTMH Antique Brads

Paper Challenge: 85/100 Projects Complete!!

I can smell the paper coming "home" with me from California...muhahaha!

Thanks for stopping by today! :)

Fall Invites

I have been a busy crafter this week! I was asked to make a set of invitations for a Japanese-American Friendship group. Since the theme was going to revolve around a fall progressive lunch, I knew I wanted to stick to fall colors.

I found this Washi paper a few months ago and fell in love with it! So, I built the card around the paper. I know the stamped leaf looks like it has green on it, but it is actually Navy. :) I stamped the leaf once in Summer Sun, once in Orange, then rock and rolled it in the Navy. I then took my Navy marker and ran over the leaf veins lightly. I love this SU set and was sad to see it retired out!



Stamps: Lovely Leaves & Sincere Salutations (SU)
Paper: Night of Navy, Brushed Gold, Only Orange, Washi Paper, Confetti Creme
Ink: Summer Sun, Only Orange, Night of Navy, Brillance Gold, Versamark
Accessories: Gold Brads, Gold Embossing Powder

So, now to the Paper Challenge!! I made a total of 16 invites!

I am now at 67/100 projects complete!!!

I can almost smell the paper I am going to buy when I am in US in Oct...muhahaha!!

Hope this finds you happy and healthy!

Bellarific Friday Sketch...late!

This was actually the Stamping Bella sketch for last week. I had it done, but did not get it posted! (oops!)

This card also fits the bill for our Inky One's Challenge hosted by Lou to use a color or colors we don't normally use. So, confession time...this was my first time using the SU In Colors for this year! (I know, I am dodging the tomatoes...I am such a hoarder!!). That Rich Razzleberry is gorgeous! And...I finally used my Liquid Pearls!! Sankari would be proud! She is the liquid pearl queen, you know!

Stamps: Bella's Garden
Paper: Ballet Blue, Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss, PTI White, DCWV patterned paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: CTMH Grosgrain Ribbon, Bella Charm, Stickles, SU Texturz Plate

My 7 year old LOVES to play in the sketch challenges...so she posted a creation as well! I think I have created a monster...

DH was saying he liked it better when I was not working and I must admit, I agree with his sentiment! I had a lot more time to play! I think once I get settled, things will be in a better routine around here. We can hope anyway...

How could I forget the Paper Challenge?!! LOL

51/100 projects complete!

How are you doing?? :)

Rest in Peace, Travis

I don't know Travis personally, but he meant a lot to a friend of mine. He passed away last month as a result of an AED in Afghanistan. He was 19 years young.



As I made this card, I used specific colors for a reason. The black is for his eternal peace, the brown is for Afghanistan and the utility uniform, and the red represents the blood red stripe down the Marine dress uniform.

I clear embossed the stars and the sentiment for a subtle effect. The main image is stamped/colored on watercolor paper and placed up on dimensionals.


As you view my blog today if you feel so inclined, please say a prayer or think a positive thought about our troops serving all around the world protecting our freedom.

On a lighter note, my first weeks of work are going well! I hope to get myself in a good routine so I have more time to craft and blog. Thanks for your patience as I get used to my new schedule!

As always, thank you for visiting!

Paper Challenge: 1 card completed, so 50/100 projects complete!!