The BRILLIANCE of buttons....

For my recent Buttons Galore & More Project, please click here!
For my JUST US GIRLS card, please click here!!!
For my Want2Scrap™ altered frame/blinged out Christmas tree, please click here!

We're in the thick of it now, friends - the CRAFTIEST time of
the year! Have you buttoned down your Christmas card design,
as of yet? I'm so glad you stopped by: I have one or two {!}
suggestions... {Imagine! Me - a suggestion, or TWELVE?}

FIRST of all, I know the BEST place to get your hands on some delightful
seasonal buttons, AND then some... {WIDEST selection, great ideas and
support... !} .... But that's not ALL.... Buttons Galore & More is hosting
a fun Holiday Card and Tag Linky party - and YOU'RE ALL INVITED!

Just to share some fun button craft ideas and invite our friends and
neighbors over to do the same - it's the seasonal thing to do! Only,
the best thing is that you don't have to press that dress, don your heels,
or even leave your palace - ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LINK WITH US!

Additionally, I was delighted to read about the Random Fun Challenge
over at Moxie Fab World! To commemorate the release of their great
special issue, 365 Days of Cards, they are collecting entries for three
different, random days, one of which is National Button Day, November
16th! OMG! How cool is THAT!?! So, I'm double dippin' in the fun!

Hope you'll play along! Would really, REALLY love to see your
button festooned Holiday cards and MORE! It means so much
when my peeps play along - I sure HOPE you can make it!

{I'll bring the dip!}

THANKS! Hope you have a MARVELOUS day!

Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - October Afternoon
Buttons AND ribbon - Buttons Galore & More
Paint and Artist Spackle - Eco Green Crafts
Glitter - Stampin' Up!
Christmas Tree Die Cut - Sizzix

When I was a kid...

...I did not understand why this photo was referred to as "the bombshell"....



But, NOW, I do.

That's my beautiful mom! Just the other day, whole family got together to celebrate her 71st birthday - and it was WONDERFUL and yes, she's still AMAZING!




I was inspired by this FANTASTIC photo of my mom, our shared appreciation for Tim Holtz {she REMEMBERS the ephemera, and I have a ball using it!}, and this OUTRAGEOUSLY fun sketch by Card Patterns....





I had to do a little tweaking to make this all work, but I was delighted where this sketch took my materials and creative flow!



Just a fun journey of wonderful memories, juicy embellishments and scrumptious materials - Yeahoooo! What a hoot! I am SO grateful to have a mom who truly inspires me - so making a card, using her, as a beautiful, classy & elegant embellishment, was great fun! Speaking of classy, I thought I'd toss "mom" into the Moxie Fab Classy & Elegant challenge!!! {Go, MOM! hee hee} She's someone I look up to, look FORWARD to talking to, and look to, for continued enlightenment and inspiration. If it weren't for her encouragement, I would have missed so many of life's treasures... If it weren't for her, I would have never been brave enough to pursue my art, and go for... something like - this:

1st place in the in the Sonoma County Fair - Yeeeeeeeeee Haaaaaawwwwwwww!

Also, if it weren't for mom, I wouldn't have MY girl, and her happy ribbon moment...!

We were AMAZED and delighted by our good results in our LARGE{-er} local fair, where the competition is SERIOUS, but the rewards are SWEET! There is some AMAZING local art and talented crafters a-plenty in our lovely county, let me tell ya! It's a HUGE honor for the little gal and me to share a piece of our recognition... Hope you don't mind - we're standing a bit taller for the big nod! Truly!

I am SO delighted that you took the time to stop by my scrappy, crafty lil' blog! Here's hoping that you're enjoying the BEST of what summer has to offer where you live and create! Have a WONDERFUL day!

Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Stampin' Up! {Embossed script}; Tim Holtz {Movie Theater ephemera}
Stamps - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Tim Holtz Embossing Ink, Dye Ink
Micro Pearls Powder - Tim Holtz/Ranger
Distress Stickles - Tim Holtz/Ranger
"Mother" die-cut - Cricut
Scallop Border - Stampin' Up!
Word Beads - Michael's
Vintage Rhinestone Buttons - My stash
Fragment - Tim Holtz
Antique Index Holder - Tim Holtz

I've got my {FISH} eye on YOU!

Always watching... ALWAYS watching!




That's the look of any well-drawn fish, in my opinion, and that's what I think is so cute about these fish by Kerrianne from WPLUS9designstudio... {Adorable!} Can't stop playing with these babies and I recently thought of a really cute & fun way to make use of these images and sentiments all in one fun, interactive card! Just for fun, I thought I'd toss this fish in with the Moxie Fab Cute & Fun Challenge!

Every good fisher-person knows that the way to win the prize is with good spinnin' action - and I couldn't agree more! The left side of the card is the "spin" side...!



On the right side is the "window" of fun! {The BUSINESS end of the card!} Check out the assortment of surprises that await the unknowing recipient of this lil' keeper......

#1) .... the bait



#2) ...the switch!



#3) ... Set the HOOK!



#4) WIN the prize! The lunker! The old Grand Dad of Lake Owonnahavu-fr-eva!




Of all the fish on the sea.... I'm hooked on all-o-you! {Who else would accept my silly humor!}

I hope you like this zany lil' card! I had a ball making it! I just kinda let those fish SWIM and let me tell ya, the water was FINE! Yee Haw! {THAT'S RIGHT!} Here's hoping that you're having some splashing good fun this weekend! Whoooopeeee!


Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - WPLUS9designstudio (all except for small letters - those are by S/U!)
Ink - Stampin' Up! & Versa Fine
Chipboard letters - Medium size - 7Gypsies; Larger size - DCWV
Chrystal Effects - Stampin' Up!
Pearlescent Water Colors - Jarquard
Spin Mechanism - My design

Baby, Baby, I loved WCMD!

It's late, but who cares! Technically, it's still World Card Making Day and this is my SECOND post of the day {gasp!}! WHAT A COOL HOLIDAY! I hope that soon it will truly be a holiday. Card makers should be festooned with jewels and presented with gifts: revered in their families and communities! WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATED!!!!! People will say this, when we walk by, "stand back ~ there goes a card maker!"

Listen, I hear the choir singing! It's A W E S O M E ! Here's another memento of the day:




Oh, a baby! A wee little adorable baby...! But that's not MY baby: that a "spam" baby! That sweet little tot came right out of the junk coupon mailer, and I picked her to celebrate this groovy challenge:



Click on the link or my earlier post for details... In the meantime, here are some baby details:



Can you even tell that baby is printed on news print! {Sweet lil' baby!} I sponged the edges of the printed image and the edges of all of these elements with white craft ink to soften it all down and give is a warm "new baby" quality... Sweet and powdery and dreamy! Loved the duck image and had to play it up with the use of a "well loved" ducky stamp by "Rubber Stampede"... I colored the ducks with chalk pencils and then added Crystal Effects with a dry brush to set the colors... Then I cropped them and glued them on top of some {*swoon!*} Tim Holtz Fragments, that had been glued to Making Memories D/P.... I thought they made magical embellishments to go with THAT BABY!



Of course, if you know of my passion for Tim's Fragments, then you'll understand why I had to throw these down when I saw this sketch for Limelight Papercraft! A totally new (to me) challenge that I've heard a few of my fave blog buddies, Ann and Sarah, design for! I was so thrilled by their use of this sketch that I decided to give it a shot.



Sweet Mandy, who runs the blog, invited ME to partake after I'd left some love for Sarah, who will be designing for them for a while! Nothing like the crafty "tap on the shoulder!" I was honored! She's got goodies and all kinds of fun over on her blog/store, so check it, if ya can!




So, at final review, I'm clearly having a "thing" with clouds! Tee hee Loving that cloud paper in the background by "My Little Shoebox"... I was trying to pull from scraps and embellishments that are "in the magic bucket" of leftovers that live near my scrap table... {trying to keep in the recycle theme of The kitchen Sink Challenge}.... Anywhoo, I had some scraps from Making Memories "Flower Patch" 6x6" pad sitting out, and I was DELIGHTED that they kind of worked with my colors and I just FORCED them the rest of the way! I really like the quilty quality of some of the swatches and these colors provided an excellent bridge from the baby image to my rad cloud paper! {*sigh!* I just loves me MY paper!}

If any of my explanation seems "vague" or you have any specific questions about my post, technique or materials, please don't hesitate to e-mail me! I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend... and between you and me {shhhhhh!} we can make EVERY DAY World Card Making Day! Yipee!

Supplies -

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Ruber Stamped
Acrylic Fragments - Tim Holtz
Ribbon - Stampin' Up!
Metal Charm - Michael's
Thread - Gutermann

Celebrating Cardmakers Across the Universe!

Happy World Card Making Day! I'm having a marvelous time! Hope you are, too! I know that some of my bloggiest bloggy friends are busy, busy, busy crafting and LAUGHING! {Oh, c'mon: I know that you are!} Crafting with friends is THE best, but if you can't do it "IRL" (*wink~KAREN!) than the blogosphere is a great way to do this fun sport: TOGETHER! I picked up this AWESOME logo from Moxie Fab World to kick things off:

I am so excited to be playing "multi-challenge" today! Especially, with some new, brand -
SPANKING, hot off the press, fabulous concepts, funny names, such great premises! Wait till you see and WHEN you do, I sure hope you'll play along, too! {That is, if you haven't already!}

Whooopeeee! Does this dog look like he's having fun? Man, I sure think so! He's the first piece of my inspiration... Let me explain:



{I am so, totally in love with this concept!} Some of the most darling bloggy personalities got together and created this new challenge, the main premise being that you use something that comes from the mail! You know JUNK! Snail spam! Card making from a very "green" perspective and I LOVE it! I have long been a saver of printed napkins, cool bottle caps, labels... you get the drill {and DON'T get me started on my mom and cup cake decorations: I'll save that for ANOTHER post!} But, anywhoo, you get the idea: recycle! Don't ya love it! One of my favorite facts about card making vs. scrapbooking is that the whole "acid free" issue and concerns of longevity are such a lessor issue, and that can really free a creative gal on up! Now, if I was the spectacular creature I so long to be, (*cough, cough, giggle, GASP!*) I'd have about fifteen cards here to illustrate my point, because I've already collected and curated over piles of crafty goods from the mail and just a lot of card maker's "salad" remnants that get leftover from projects and if taken proper care of can be used to make "card casserole..." But since most of those things are still on my work table, I'll just work on "being my best me" on my own.... Lol!




So, check out my "main character!" So funny! This is from the Wireless catalog that begins to congest my mailbox every year about this time: there is such funny stuff in there! This was a picture of some yard sculpture and I think it's hilarious. I love the gesture and fun in this great piece! Now, it has a new form of life in this card! I cut him out and pasted him on a composition from this sketch by a BRAND new challenge from "Just Us Girls!" affectionately known as J.U.G.S! Please check out Kristen's blog for all of the details: the main idea comes from a wonderful place and cause...




I flipped the sketch and decided to play with Samantha's colors one more time, as I still had major scraps left from my first entry into her challenge and since the colors were so beautiful, it seemed a shame to waste this combo, which worked so well with my little flying dog!





So, YEAH! Yeah, for WORLD CARD MAKING DAY! I'm off to link up and hopefully, get back to some more card makin' fun! Hope you've got your nose down in some fun material, too!

Supplies-

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Stampin' Up!
Sentiment Stamp - Stampin' Up!
Clouds Background Stamp - Hero Arts
Ribbon - Stampin' Up!

A Message For You:

I hope you don't take this the wrong way... This is actually a message of encouragement! Wellness! Healing!!!! But it's kind of masqueraded in a funny package. Bare with me... {it's for the Moxie Fab Home Item challenge... 'Nuff said!}:




Check out that beautiful, old fashioned hand mixer! Is that a gorgeous piece of artwork! It's from Cosmo Cricket, of course! It just takes my breath away, for some reason! I've been staring at it for weeks and then when Cath, from Moxie Fab World announced this challenge, I'm like, "oh, yeah, BABY! I'm going to take this little artifact to the DANCE!"

That's what I said to myself... And then "myself" said, "NOW WHAT!?!"

I couldn't stop thinking of the Michael Jackson song, "Beat It." Then, that made me sad. I wanted this card to be funny! But it just wasn't working. So, I thought and thought... and thought some more. I kept starring at this gorgeous Cosmo paper...



There's GREAT images on both the front and the back side of this FANTASTIC paper, and I'm having the darndest time parting with ANY of it. I used this winking gal for a fun card a ways back... but BOY is it hard to let go of paper that has just as great fun on one side as it does on the other! Doh!

I perused THOUSANDS of stamp sentiments! Old and new rub-ons, ANYTHING I could think of and then finally, I thought about the old computer. I'm such a purest with my STAMPING! This was a might scandalous for me.... but it really helped my process!



I realized, I couldn't get past this "BEAT IT!" I just couldn't let it go. So, then, how to make it funny...? But not crude funny... I was thinking of a Ferris Bueller farewell, "go on, get out of here already!" Then, for some reason, I thought this would make a great retirement card... "Go on! Retire already: beat it!" Something like that! But I couldn't make it work, logically, without chancing that it could hurt someone's feelings! Especially a retiree! {We take care of my husband's 95 year old grandmother and it's amazing how little it takes to make her angry and get her feelings hurt... sigh... What a conundrum!}

I got so caught up in the 1950's house wife, wearing pearls and sewing children's clothes, baking cakes from scratch... the whole shebang! Then I decided that no matter what, I was dumping this "ancient piece of tackle" from my stash:



Oh, gosh. So, then I'm feeling married to my materials and I still don't have a recipe to tie it all together.... Oh the SHAME! Then... a solution! Tucked in the POCKET of my imagination........



I printed, "BEAT IT! BEAT IT! GO ON AND BEAT IT" again and again, horizontally across some vanilla card stock.. and then this sentiment: "I BELIEVE IN YOU!", vertically and larger. I tucked it in a journaling pocket created for the outside of the card.... {the pocket piece is anchored by that cute lil' ribbon from American Crafts, so that the sentiment pops out but cannot be removed from the pocket!}

THEN, a sentiment for the inside:


And NOW! A card to make someone smile during a less than perfect time! Made with love and a little humor.... A perfect recipe for a SMILE! Ahhhhhhhhhh! {Now for some Laurence Welk music, pimento olives on cello frilly toothpicks while I wax the kitchen floor!}

Hee Hee

NOT!

So, friends. Thanks for exploring with me today. It was like a historical, moral and creative therapy session... Just let GO of the paper!



You guys make my day! Hope I helped make yours... a bit more ENCOURAGING!

Supplies:

C/S - Stampin' Up!
D/P - Cosmo Cricket; Making Memories
Computer Font - Julius
Ribbon - American Craft
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Thread - Guterman
Pinking Shears - (?) They are REALLY old!
Charm - Michael's

We Interrupt This Program...

... with a message from our sponsor, COFFEE! Mmmmm, mmmmm, can you taste the freshness! That first whiff of freshly ground inspiration... It's more C'WOFFEE talk, you.. me and ... Linda Richmond (!?!)... {Ga head, t'walk amongst yo-selves.... }

Here SHE is! It's the coffee lady, fueling up for more fun! She told me, she wanted to come out and play with these colors for this dynamic color combo by Scrapmaster's Paradise:


Sometimes I just swoon at the possibility of "what to do with these hunky, gorgeous colors?" It can be a tough choice, and other times... the problem just kind of solves itself... THIS was one of those cases!

This blissfully retro, coffee swillin' gal from Stampin' Up!'s Sip by Sip set, is such a peach. I *heart* her. As you may recall, she's trotted out for many cards through out my blog-dom... I just think she, and her accessories, are a lot of fun! In fact, the first time I used her for a blog-card, I spoke of Mike Meyer's fabulous character, Linda Richmond: it's hard not to channel Linda when I stamp with this gal. Reflecting on THAT, I got the idea to set her inside a TV to create another retro element and BEHOLD: I believe this now qualifies me for an entry into the MOXIE FAB household item challenge! So, be sure to tune in to that fun over with Cath and the gang from Moxie Fab! {tee heee}

I guess there's no mystery left between ya'll and my addiction to coffee.. and t'walk.. and paper crafting FUN! I'm glad. I couldn't have a nicer group of sponsors, than yourselves.... THANKS!

Supplies:

C/S - Stampin' Up!
DP - Making Memories
Stamps - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up!
Small scallop edge punch and corner rounder - Stampin' Up!
Large scallop edge punch - EK Success
Ribbon - Stampin' Up!
Brads - Michaels
Pins - My Stash
Dimensionals - S/U!
TV design - ME!

A BLOGOVER and some Christmas MOXIE!

I'm finally getting into the spirit-o-Christmas, like many of y'all... And just for kicks, I thought I'd update the old blog with a BLOG-OVER! Not exactly the "Ty Pennington" of blog updating, but this old dog did find some fun between frustrating attempts with Photoshop and two separate versions of PrintShop, e-mailing back and fourth between computers.... blah, blah, blah, BLOG-OVER! {G'bless you!}

And after choosing some pleasing new colors to compliment my graphics, I go and post CHRISTMAS cards! Woopsie! { Can you say, "color clash!" } Oh the frustrations of a color-lovin' paper crafter never cease. Well, never mind all that, because Moxie Fab World is hunting for some Christmas Spirit with a cool challenge for STAMPED Christmas images! I've included four different cards for their consideration. I hope to spread some joyful anticipation of the season, which, astonishingly enough, isn't that far off! {Please forgive my rambling, once again: too much time and too much coffee imbibed in front of this little machine....} Let me just share some holiday fun with you lovely folk:

CARD #1

A nice, warm but wintery card, to get you thinking thoughts of magical snowflakes, etc.
(All supplies by Stampin' Up!)

Card #2
A heaping helping of Christmas Cheer!
(All supplies by Stampin' Up!)

Card #3
More Christmas and a cheerful scene, highlighted by background snowflakes
stamped with a PENCIL ERASER and white craft ink!
~No extra charge for the high tech stampin' tip for the day! Hee Hee~
(All supplies, besides #2 pencil, courtesy of Stampin' Up!)

Card #4
Vintage Holiday Wishes!
Santa Photo and ADORABLE little girl courtesy of the Durenberger Family!
That's my MIL, c.1943! She sure was a doll!
(Paper flowers, D/P and sentiment - MM; C/S, ribbon, Damask and postal image stamps - Stampin' Up!; Half pearls - Martha Stewart Crafts)

So there you have it, lovely friends! I sure hope you get to put your hands to some good, old fashioned stampin' today! It sure can make a gal feel right with the world, if ya know what I mean!

Happy Father's Day, Spring Chicken!

This is one of those years my husband hits the jackpot for Father's Day, because it also lands on his birthday! Whoopee, for him... but challenging for me: he's tough to buy for and entertain on his b-day to begin with, which is rather funny! You see, he is about two months younger than I am, so between mid April and mid-June, my life if filled with remarks about me AGING and CRADLE ROBBING, etc... So I just have to wait it out until his big day: TODAY! THIS year, I had A LOT of fun making him a little card:

THAT'S RIGHT, just a sprinkling of sarcasm, 'cause he AIN'T one, any more! I've been pushing stamps and papers around for a few days, working on Father's Day and Birthday and even baby cards, but these hot colors, furnished by Kristina Werner and this weeks color challenge #55 got me REALLY digging in deep to the creative vault! I was determined to play with my NEW STAMPS that I recently purchased online from a yummy company called TweetyJill or TJ Designs! Most of you know that I'm a sucker for anything COUNTRY... & WESTERN... Yee HAW! So, when I attended a local crop recently, I couldn't wipe the drool off my stamp-lovin' chin when the "host" of the crop showed me HER recent discovery of this "Rodeo Sweethearts" stamp collection... Next stop: their website! I found MORE westerny stamps in the form of "Wild West" and "Poultry Party!" I've just been a stampin' fool, trying them all out and I was determined to include at least SOME of the images in my card for Kristina's most recent color challenge.... (Stay tuned for MORE work with these amazing stamps!)



I DID allow myself to graze on A LOT of different stamps as I got deep into this process... Sometimes I like to limit myself to a single set of stamps, but I also LOVE to dig down into the abyss of my stamp collection to allow the "story" to be properly explained by various stamps, regardless of who made them, how old or rare they are, etc. This was one of those cards. Note the chicken wire background stamp (hubba hubba!) which is long retired (DON'T ask me WHY!?! I'm just happy I got it before it went!)! The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is a groovy font that I ADORE... also long retired.. *sob* ANYWHOO, one of the reasons I "collect" to begin with, is so that when the time comes, I'll be ready! Tee Hee Once I got all inky... I just grabbed whatever stamp I needed and you know what: that ROCKS! I love letting my "inventory" get up and DANCE! This card was a ton of fun for that reason, and because I enjoyed twisting a birthday card and ignoring my usual impulse to throw in a cupcake, birthday candle, etc., I thought this would make an excellent offering for the Moxie Fab World "Gallery Idol 2009" contest that features birthday cards for this round! So, I'm off to link up with those crazy/fun gals as well! Wish me luck!




In the meantime, hope you had a fabulous weekend and a Happy Father's Day (my husband's BIRTHDAY! hee hee)! Enjoy!

Supplies:

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Stampin' Up!; TweetyJill (Rooster, barbwire, shopping list); Provo Craft ("SPRING"); All Night Media (Woodgrain)

Scallop Edge Punch - Stampin' Up!
Star and "CHICKEN" die cuts - Sizzix/Stampin' Up!
Thread - Gutermann
Stamp n' Write Markers - Stampin' Up!

Wahooo! 2 in 1, Baby!

This "going for two" is big for me! I recently saw a gal's work and she did FIVE challenges with one card! Now that's some SERIOUSLY crafty craftiness! I'm pretty excited when I can do ONE challenge at a time, so TWO is, seriously, thrilling for me! First there's the Moxie Fab GO GREEN! FIND THE VALUE IN VINTAGE challenge thing that's been somersaulting around in my brain for a while.... THEN, that crafty little minx, Dawn McVey tosses out one of the MOST challenging color schemes I've seen (unless you're making MONEY, aka: lettuce, bills, cabbage...)... So, this is wild:

Wait until you see the cute color graphic Dawn made! Here are my colors in natural light, although it's sunset, so there's a pinkness to my photos that isn't there in "professional" light. This next shot I used an "enhance" feature on my i-photo, nothing special, but it's neat to compare...








Here's a detail shot of my metal stamping! Thank goodness I still have those babies!


CHECK OUT THE GRAPHIC HERE! Moxie's challenge called for a FOR REAL hunk of vintage "something!" I racked my brains and searched and searched for just the right bit of treasure! FINALLY, I found this: wrapped up in some old business cards and memorabilia from my dear, sweet dad. My mom has been curating over small pieces of Dad's old things slowly handing them over to me in the years since my dad passed away. Sometimes I look and other times I squirrel them away in a drawer.... A drawer of treasures that one day I'll weave into some sort of family keepsake... There's the nostalgic and sad part of that, and then there is something like this guy: the WARD's MOTOR RECORD BOOK "man!" My dad ALWAYS kept a record of his millage and car care. How funny that mom should find this ANCIENT piece and save it for me! There is copyright from 1930, 1937, 1949 and 1959! I KNEW when I saw this ridiculously funny face that a vintage card would be born from this!

Supplies:

C/S - Stampin' Up!
Ink - Stampin' Up! (Craft and Classic Dye) & Staz On (Black, used on metal tag)
Embossing Powder - Stampin' Up!
Background Stamp - Stampin' Up!
Vintage Car Stamp - Tim Holtz
Metal Circle - MM
Metal Letter Stamps - Lee Valley Tools
Elastic Cord - Stretch Rite
Black and White Striped Ribbon - MM
C/S vellum - Stampin' Up!
Metal Key Charm - MM
Chipboard Letters - Heidi Swapp

So, WOW! THAT WAS REALLY FUN!!! I hope you enjoyed this post: it was a good share and a fun time for ME! Hopefully, {oh goodness...} it was good/FUN for you, too! Tee Hee

Bye now!

- Elise