It's a Girl!

You remember the sweet onesie invites I made the other day?  Well, here's the gift I made for sweet little Leyna when she makes her world debut. 

and I wrapped it up like this

If you want to see a tutorial on how I did it, head over to the May Arts blog today! 

I'm entering this in  Really Reasonable Ribbon "I've got you Babe!" challenge, too.

Clean and Simple Monday

Just want you to know I'm still here!  I'm working on a BIG project for May Arts that you will hear about soon but right now...my lips are sealed.  I have about another week of work but I promise as soon as they give the word...we'll let you in on it.

I did take a break last night to make a quick card for the CAS135 Sketch Challenge this week.  The sketch is by Jen (MissBoo) our moderator, who's been a bit under the weather.  The girl is "fussy cut" and popped up on dimensionals.

Supplies:

Paper - PTI, Girl's Paperie

Stamps - Rubbernecker Stamps Girl with Bouquet - 532-09, PTI

Ink - Memento, Copics

Accessories - sewing machine, foam dimensionals, $1 spot bling

Foodie Friday - Magic

Nothing crafty to show you today although I've been working on DT projects and had a group of ladies over tonight to work on those 60 retreat notebooks.  We burned vellum,(!) cut and punched notebook covers and tore borders.  I'll leave to your imagination what they look like after we get one put together.  We also made 60 satin ribbon flowers to adorn the covers.

I did bake a quick treat for the ladies..these bars go by many names but I haven't seen anyone use cornflake crumbs as the base.  I don't like graham cracker crumbs so many years ago I substituted corn flake crumbs and now we don't like them any other way.

See those Ghiradelli chocolate chips?  All melty and gooey...they stay that way because there's no wax in the chocolate.  The best!

Oh, go ahead...just take a bite!  You can find a printable recipe here and a link at the top of the page as well.  

I Got You Babe and a Winner

Yah!  They're finished...all 50 baby shower invites.  I'm thankful the new grandmother said that the new mama likes things simple.  She requested pink/white polka dots so here we go.........

A super BIG PINK THANK YOU to Regina, at The Cutting Cafe, who customized the template for me.  I needed to get 2 per sheet of paper instead of one AND she personalized the insert with the baby's name!! 

These need to be mailed so the embellishments had to be simple.  I couldn't resist the sweet little lacy pearls though...and they don't cause a big "bump" in the envelope.  Each card has been sponged around the edges on the outside and the inside template to add some warmth and depth.  I hand cut the banner.

Head on over to Really Reasonable Ribbon....they've got an "I Got You Babe" challenge going on. 

Supplies: 

Template - The Cutting Cafe Baby Onsesie Shaped Card

Paper - Neenah, The Paper Studio Sweet Pea Polka Pink

Ink - Versafine Pink Grapefruit

Stamps - PTI Baby Button Bits

Other - computer, pearled lace ribbon

Now....drumroll please! 

Research Randomizer Results

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set

Range: From 1 to 28 -- Unsorted

Job Status:

Set #1:

8

That person is....

Sue from Oregon said...

The story of my life...late for almost everything LOL! Congrats on your blogoversary Charlene! My the time does fly! I am so very happy to have become your friend!
August 30, 2011 10:29 PM

Congratulations, Sue!!  Thanks for posting my candy on your blog and for being a faithful follower!

WOYWW Wednesday 117 - Onesies!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  My body and brain just crashed I guess, so I went to bed very early. (age will do that to you!)  I do have a peek at the project I'm working on for WOYWW Wednesday over at Julia's Stamping Ground.  It's lovely of Julia to host a peek at busy work spaces all over the world.

Here's a peek at the 50 baby shower invitations in process.  That's 50 bases, 50 toppers and 50 inserts plus 50 trims and 50 banners!  Whew!   Our friend is having her first baby.. bet you couldn't guess it's a girl.  That jumble of white in the background is the pearl and satin trim.  I bought way too much but it was on sale 40% off so I'll put it to good use. 

Perhaps I'll put a bit in the Blogaversary Candy I'll be drawing for later today.  ;-)  What?  You didn't know I've been adding to it?  Don't know me well, do you?  LOL!

You do not see that bag of Skittles on my workspace.  I have NO idea how they got there.  ahem!

Clean and Simple Monday - Shoes

The CAS Challenge on SCS this week (CAS134) is a theme....shoes!  I have a couple of shoe stamps but decided to go through my stash of embellishments to see what I could come up with.  I found these shoe stickers I picked up for a $1 (still have one left!) on clearance and some chipboard letters I got at the Target dollar store a few years ago.    I thought it was about time I used  them!

I thought the perfect pair of shoes and a great friend are truly one of a kind! 

BTW, you still have time to get in on my blogaversary candy!

Supplies:
Paper - Neenah, Making Memories
Ink - Versafne
Stamps - Papertrey Friends Til the End
Other - chipboard letters, shoe stickers, foam dimensionals.

September Craft Challenge - A Happy Accident

There's been an accident at May Arts Ribbon...but don't worry, it's a "happy accident"!!

Want to know what happened and what you can do about it?  Head on over the May Arts blog to read all about it!  You can tell'em I sent you to help "clean up". 

I'll be MIA on the blog this weekend...I've got 50 baby invites and some DT projects in the works.  I'll show you when I'm finished!!

Don't forget about my blogaversary candy here.....You've got time to help me celebrate.

chocolate & a card...or a card & chocolate

This is the my last card for the Moxie Fab World Sketch Challenges.  I saved this Square card sketch until last because I just couldn't think of a good idea...then.....Cath had this cool photo for the Tuesday Trigger challenge, "Nice and Neutral". 

Then I saw the challenge on the Creative Belli Blog Challenge #125 to use Acetate or Vellum and I had my idea.

A bit of woodgrain, a bit of ivory, a bit of white, black, kraft and grey.   Not alot of layering as I wanted to keep it CAS to match the feel of the trigger's elegant simplicity.

My friend, Jen, alerted me that the Cards blog, Create, is having a woodgrain challenge, so entering it there as well.

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI Smokey Shadow, Kraft
Stamps : PTI Year of Flowers Mums, BB Woodgrain, Damask Designs
Ink: Versafine black, Versacolor Chateau Grey, Versamagic Gingerbread, Copic marker T4
Other: May Arts Double Faced Satin Ribbon,  detail white EP, beads, Crystal Effects


Now for the Chocolate...my friend, Sue, sent me a bunch of pictures...of desserts.  You just shouldn't do that to a friend!  It's cruel and mean and.... man...... did they look good!  So Sue, this one's for you.  My DH called them BTS Brownies.  Yes, that's what he meant!!

There's not really a recipe...I just started with a box of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix, but then.....I added about a cup of pecans, a handful of coconut, a handful of Ghiradelli chocolate chips, and a handful of butterscotch chips....oh yes, I did. 

After they were cool, I topped them with some homemade chocolate frosting I had left over from a cupcake baking session and sprinkled with more pecans. 

I think DH is right...they are BTS!!

Thrifty Gifting and a Moxie Fab World Sketch

I've got another "thrifty gifting" tutorial for you on the May Arts blog.  It's not too soon to start planning your Christmas list and with budgets a bit tighter, a handmade gift is all the more meaningful.  I've got a little gift set that any traveler on your list would love...male or female.

All the details and supply list are here.

I seem to be working backwards on the Moxie Fab World sketches!  Here's the first one which is a shaped card sketch:

I'm trying to get my Halloween cards finished and I had this little skeleton out on my desk.  I just couldn't resist that fun sentiment!

Yes, you're seeing correctly...he's was so freaked out, that now he's a little batty and everything is just a bit askew.  I still think he's Moxie Fabulous!

Don't forget about the Blogaversary Candy!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Stampin Up

Stamps: RubberneckerStamps Skeleton 474-04,  Sentiment 475-05

Ink: Versafine

Other: May Arts Ribbon, BBP Tangerine Blast bling, The Cutting Cafe Scalloped  Circle Card Template & circle shapes.

Don't forget about the Blogaversary Candy!

WOYWW116 and a Blog Candy Reminder

It's What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday  (WOYWW116) and I'm about to sell the Ethan Allen desk in workspace because it's too beautiful to be in there...and I need shelves more than I need a desk in there at this point.  Due that, my workspaces are CLEAN and boring so I thought I'd give you a look see into my flower drawer. 

It's a mess and is my agenda for a clean out.  I'm thinking I want plastic cases to sort the colors in so I don't have to dig.  What do you think?

Don't forget my Blogaversary Candy here.  Please follow the directions to keep it fair.  I've added a few surprises to it and will probably continue to do so just because I like to give more than promised...just ask my Etsy customers!  The drawing will be next Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday...off to get a quick DT project started...did I say quick, oh how I wish my mind still was!!

Teapot Tuesday and Blog Candy Alert!

My ladybug is late for the teaparty!  I think my mojo left with my energy when I was crafting up this sweet bug for fellow teapotter, Julesanne who's having extensive back surgery and needs a little cheer.  If you'd like to send Jules a card, you can find the info here at  MMTPT161.  You'll also find out why this bug is covered in daisies!

Now onto the blog candy I promised you!  I forgot that my blogaversary was this month!!  Birthdays = presents...my presents are your visits and my followers. YOUR present is Blog Candy!!

Here's what in the candy:

Papertrey Ink Boy Basics Out of This World Stamp Set

Heidi Grace School Stamp Set

I heart Papers Mint Motif Stamp Set

Pink Cat Studio Dress Up Sweet Pea Stamp Set

Petaloo Flowers

Prima Fall Flowers

Silver and white gift bags (4)

From my Etsy Store:

Kraft Envelopes (5)

Kraft bags(10 bags 5 of each size)

Glassine bags (5)

Food lined Kraft bags (2)

4" paper Doilies (10)

Manila tags (5)

May Arts Ribbons from my scrap jar (Jar not included)  Don't be fooled...there are full yards of ribbon in there!

All of this will be packaged in one of my placemat purses!

Note: this is an old photo so the notebook and candy bar are NOT included but the purse is!

Here's all you need to do....just leave me a comment and if you have a blog, post the candy with a link back to me.  If you don't have a blog that's ok, just leave a comment.  I would love it if you would follow my blog but it's not required. 

I will draw a winner on Wednesday, September 7th.

Clean and Simple Monday round 2

Had time to play in the SCS CAS133 Color Challenge today.  I love this color combo.  Kraft with primary colors...a touch of white is permitted.  I used the awesome sketch from the Moxie Fab Vertical Sketch Challenge .   I think this LO has so many possibilities.

Supplies:

Cardstock - PTI Kraft, SU RR, YY, Blue

Stamps - PTI Big Birthday Wishes

Ink - Colorbox Pigment White

Other - Detail White embossing powder, May Arts Ribbon, (yellow came from the stash), SU border punch

Shhhhh....blog candy coming tomorrow for my followers.

Clean and Simple Monday - Boo-ed

The final round of the CAS Fall DT search is underway on SCS.   As a past DT member, I can't officially play but I had to make at least one of the challenges... This last one is a phrase challenge "You've been Boo-ed".

Supplies:

Cardstock - Neenah, PTI Orange Zest, Black

Stamps - Rubbernecker Stamps - Skeleton 474-04, sentiment - 475-06

Ink - Versafine

Foodie Friday - BLT Pasta

One of our favorite restaurants is Carraba's.  Our budget doesn't allow for frequent trips but when we find a pasta dish this fabulous and this easy to prepare, eating at home is pure bliss.  Add a bottle of your favorite red wine, a loaf of crusty bread and some candlelight.  You'll have an elegant dinner on the table at a fraction of the price.  This recipe is truly company worthy. 

I found the original recipe in Food Network Magazine.  I scaled it down to serve 4 and made a few minor changes. 

My DH said he could eat this every day...me too!

You can find a link to a printable copy of the recipe at the Recipe link at the top of the page.  Let me know if you try it...I'll be right over!

Buon Appetito!!

spooky!

Have you seen the fun Cards Sketch Challenges on Moxie Fab World this week?  I'm working backwards!

This is for the Vertical Challenge...Since I'm a bit vertically challenged myself, I rather enjoyed it!  I kept things clean and simple....and spooky.

Here's the sketch:

Supply List:

Cardstock - PTI Orange Zest, Black, Halloween Prints

Stamps - PTI Spooky Sweets

Ink - Versafine

Accessories - Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch, Art Institute Black Glitter, May Arts Satin Cut Outs, small google eyes

Horizontal Vintage Style

Well, we've spent time getting the yard ready for some gusty winds but thankfully not a hurricane...this time anyway!

I popped over to Moxie Fab World this week and just got time to play along with one of the sketch challenges for Card Ideas Week.  This card is for the Horizontal Sketch Challenge...I did it by memory and didn't get the sentiment low enough.   Grrrr....

You've got until the 9/19 to play along!

WOYWW116 - Home Sweet Home

First of all, a little peek at the project I have over at the May Arts blog for our Blog Week with Our Craft Lounge. 

I had so much fun working with the OCL images.  Head over the MA blog to see how I created this little housewarming gift and what else I made to go with it.   Of course, you know we're giving stuff away there too!  Woo,Hoo!!

I wanted to show you what I keep on my workdesk.  This is the very first rubber stamp I owned.  I didn't know a thing about cleaning stamps then...can you tell?!  There's no manufacturer name on it and I love the funky shape.  I think I was making tags or something but I haven't used it since.

Head on over to Julia's for WOYWW116 to see what crafters the world over are making this week...or maybe just a busy desk or two. 

It's May Arts/ Our Craft Lounge Blog Week!!

Be sure to head over to the May Arts and Our Craft Lounge sites to see the awesome projects and win some fun prizes as well!

Teapot Tuesday - The early bird...

Sorry for the lack of a CAS Monday post...we were preparing in case Hurricane Irene decided to take a swing at us...I love the tropics but NOT hurricane season.  I'm so thankful they can more accurately predict them now.

On to my TT MMTPT160 card!  This one is headed to Barbara in Marblehead, MA.  Barbara was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer a few years ago, has had multiple surgeries to remove masses and after another recent surgery is having a difficult recovery.  She loves humorous cards, so hope this one brings a smile.

I used the fun Kittie Kit Cause a Beach Scene Master and Cause a Scene What's for Lunch  and Kittie's fabulous tutorial to create the beach scene.  My gooney beach bird is cut out and popped on dimensionals.

If you'd like to try this technique, guess what!?  Mr. Rubbernecker, aka, Dave, is having a super sale on Spellbinders and Rubbernecker Stamps!!! 

Supplies:

Cardstock - Neenah, SU Tempting Turquoise

Stamps - Rubbernecker Kittie Kits, Sentiment 504-18

Ink -

Be sure to check back in because there's another post...can you say BLOG HOP?