Since I'm catching up on things these days (like RAKs), I thought I'd also do a little horn tooting and show you guys my first publications! The above card can be found on page 44 of the January/February 2012 issue of Paper Crafts. Interestingly, it was the first idea I had when I read the call for submissions. I couldn't seem to get it right though so I made and submitted a bunch of other cards instead. Then at the last minute I gave it one more try, sent it in and this was the only one to be chosen. Funny how things work...
I also had two cards published in the December 2011 issue of Cards.
Please excuse the appalling photos!! These were taken way back in April or May when my photography skills were still extremely raw (ie non-existent). I'm grateful they chose them despite the photography!
I also wanted to thank both Jen of The Sparkle Within and Jane of Create and Show for passing the Liebster Blog Award on to me. You should stop by their blogs and check them out if you haven't before. They both have lots of gorgeous cards and layouts on show!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Publications!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Very Belated RAKs
I spent a lot of time at the beginning of the month merrily scrolling through people's Christmas RAKs and thinking about how I must post mine. But have I done it yet? No. Why? Because I'm a bit useless really and not a very good bloggie friend!! I was at the point where I wondered if posting them now would be insulting but I decided I was going to post them anyway so everyone else can enjoy them too.
The first Christmas card I received was from Emily of Art From The Heart. I love the non-traditional colours of this card and the subtle touches of colour on the leaves. So sweet! (Excuse the holes in the corners of the card. I pin them to the board above my desk in the Craft Cave so I always have inspiration on hand.)
Next up are more fabulous non-traditional colours from Amy of Tsuruta Designs. Her stitching always blows me away as well as her bold and bright style.
I won some blog candy from Lindsey at Bashful Blogging and she sent it along with this sweet little mini card. How cute is that polka dotted penguin??
This card came with some stamps that I bought from Amy (again of Tsuruta Designs). She's trying to dehoard so I thought I'd be a pal and take a few items off her hands! :) More lovely stitching and polka dots on the house! Love me some polka dots!
Hope you enjoyed seeing these fabulous cards and if you haven't checked out any of these ladies' blogs then you must take a minute and do so. That's an order! :)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Rainbow Chick

Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Quince and Smoke from the Ambrosia collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Curly Bird, sentiment from Flower Framed Doodle) Purple Onion Designs
Ink: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Copics: R29, BV23
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
White Bulb

ETA: I do have extra pots of white EP - I ordered 3 after the last disaster - but no matter how many I have I still hate to spill it!
Cardstock: (White) Pacon, (Basic Black) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Lightbulb from Faith, Hope, Love...Live By It) Unity Stamp Co, (Sentiment from Giddy Bugs) Paper Smooches
Inks: (VersaMark) Tsukineko
Embossing Powder: (Seafoam White) Ranger
Punch: (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchida
Monday, January 23, 2012
Birthday Birdies


We actually managed to get some odds and ends accomplished this weekend which I feel pretty good about. We measured out several outdoor areas that need tiling and chose the tile. We also took some artwork to get framed. I had bought it in Mexico on our honeymoon last February with the intention of making my own frame for it. Fast forward to now and it was still sitting on top of our bookshelf unframed so I broke down and took it to the framers. It would probably be cheaper to do ourselves but if we haven't done it in all this time I don't foresee it happening any time soon and I'd rather get it up on the wall where it can be enjoyed. I wish I was more of a do-it-yourselfer but alas, I am not.
Card Base: Handy Hippo
Cardstock: (Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: (Waffles from Nook & Pantry collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Bird from Everyday Blessings, Sentiment & music notes from Heartsong, Background pattern from Grunge)
Inks: (VersaMark) Tsukineko, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Embossing Powder: (Clear) Ranger
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Be Whoever You Wanna Be

We took the dogs for a swim this morning but Jem was not diggin' it. Atti would swim if there were icebergs out there - as long as there's something to fetch he'll go overboard. Jem, however, is not appreciative of the chilly water and figures if we aren't going in then he sure as heck isn't either! Since he didn't get much of a swim he's bouncing off the walls now so it's off for a walk. Have a lovely evening!
Cardstock: (White, Dark Pink, Sherbet) Bazzill, (Pool Party, Regal Rose) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Hippie Chic) Market Street Stamps
Inks: (Melon Mambo, Pool Party) Stampin' Up
Punch: (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchida
Copic: RV02
Labels:
Atticus,
Encouragement,
Friendship,
Jem,
Market Street Stamps,
My Kids
Saturday, January 21, 2012
All Roads Lead To You
I'm determined not to miss anymore deadlines so I'm posting this card for the Map to Your Heart Challenge in the Moxie Fab World 3 days ahead! Whoop whoop! I had an extra copy of the Bermuda Yellow Pages Book of Maps on hand so I cut some arrows out of it and matted them on grey cardstock. I used PTI's Linen and Canvas impression plate on the turquoise cardstock for some texture. The sentiment is computer generated and the heart is a PTI die. I have one sheet of Thickers and have been hoarding them for ages but this is the year of giving my supplies their moments to shine so I finally broke them out. Love the dimension they add!
Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: Bermuda Yellow Pages Book of Maps
Impression Plate: (Linen and Canvas) PTI
Dies: (Double-ended Banner, Heart Prints) PTI
Sticker: (Daydream Thickers) American Crafts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Tiny Dots

Any big plans for your weekend? I have a growing (and long neglected) list of odds and ends to do around the house so I'm going to attempt to cross a few things off of that list. Maybe. I'm afraid the siren call of the Craft Cave may prove to be too much to resist...
ETA: Doh! I missed the Paper Players deadline!!! :(
Cardstock: (White) Gina K, (Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Flower from Cuckoo Clocks, Sentiment from April '11 KOM - Small Things Matter Most) Unity
Ink: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Punches: (1/16" hole punch) McGill, (Corner punch) Marvy Uchida
Gems: Doodlebug
Labels:
Friends With Flair,
Friendship,
Hello,
Paper Players,
Unity
So Long, Wee Memories!

Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: (Authentic, Sea Salt, Paraffin from the Origins collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Leaves from Delicate Leaf Clusters, Sentiment from With Sympathy) Hero Arts
Ink: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Early Espresso) Stampin' UP!
Dies: (Nestabilities Labels 10) Spellbinders, (Medium scallop border) PTI
Punch: (1/16" hole punch) McGill
Twine: Craft supply
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Pensive Bluebird
Less Is More is another challenge that I haven't played along with in a while so I thought I'd join in their latest - a one layer card with the subject of birds. I had a completely different card to start with but couldn't quite make it work so I started again and ended up with this which uses a pensive little bird from Paper Smooches' Forest Whimsy which I was lucky enough to win because I used the phrase "Whoop whoop" in my comment! I knew that would come in handy one of these days... :)
Cardstock: (White) Gina K
Stamps: (Bird from Forest Whimsy) Paper Smooches, (Sentiment from Everyday Sayings) Hero Arts
Ink: (Memento Tuxedo Black) Tsukineko
Copics: Y17, BG01, BG05
Little Blue Elephant

Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Bashful Blue, Night of Navy) Stampin' Up, (Grey) Craft supply
Stamps: (Elephant from Sweet Baby) PT, (Sentiment from Baby) Hero Arts
Inks: (Bashful Blue, Night of Navy) Stampin' Up
Dies: (Elephant and Double-Ended Banner) PTI, (Nestabilities Blossom) Spellbinders
Copic: B29
Buttons: Craft supply
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Framed Flower

Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI
Patterned Paper: (Cherry Cola, Lemon Drop, Fuzzy Navel, Deep Blue, Hoboken from Lime Rickey collection) Basic Grey
Stamps: (Flower and sentiment from Flower Framed Doodle) Purple Onion Designs
Ink: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Labels:
Basic Grey,
CAS-ual Fridays,
Get Well,
Purple Onion Designs
Monday, January 16, 2012
To Love and Be Loved

It's even colder today than it was yesterday - hasn't gotten out of the 50s. Brrr! Gonna have to bundle up for Monday Night BBQ!
Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Gina K, (Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Birds and sentiment from Happy Trails, Heart from Tiny Treats: Valentine) PTI
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Elegant Eggplant) Stampin' Up
Dies: (Mat Stack 3, Layerz Mat Stack 3) PTI
Punches: (Arch Lattice) Martha Stewart, (Corner Punch) Marvy Uchida
Embroidery Floss: (Deep Red) Making Memories
Labels:
A Passion for Papertrey,
Love,
PTI,
Stampin' Up,
The Play Date Cafe
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Quilted Numbers


Now I'm off to cook some good hearty comfort food for this chilly night and then snuggle up on the sofa with the boys. Have a wonderful evening!
Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Smitty's ABCs) Lawn FawnInk: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Dies: (By The Numbers, Double-Ended Banners) PTI
Punches: (1/4" hole punch) McGill
Other: (Glossy Accents) Ranger
Friday, January 13, 2012
Celebrate with Stripes


Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Black, White) Pacon
Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs
Stamp: (Bracket) Unity
Stickers: Scenic Route
Stamp: (Bracket) Unity
Stickers: Scenic Route
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Old School


Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Kraft) PTI, (Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive) Stampin' Up
Stamp: (Sentiment from My Type ) Hero Arts
Inks: (Early Espresso) Stampin' Up
Chipboard: (From The Boyfriend collection) Cosmo Cricket
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Tweet Birthday

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (Cream) Pacon, (Certainly Celery, Pool Party) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Everyday Blessings) Skipping Stones Design
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko, (Certainly Celery) Stampin' Up
Gem: Doodlebug Design
Impression Plate: (Linen & Canvas) PTI
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Musical Rainbow

And here's the view from our hotel on our trip. Any idea where we were? :)
Supplies Used:
Cardstock: (White) Bazzill, (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry) Stampin' Up
Stamps: (Music notes and sentiment from Heartsong ) Skipping Stones Design
Inks: (VersaFine Onyx Black) Tsukineko
Gem: Doodlebug Design
Twine: (Stone) The Twinery
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