Where have I been?!

Wow! Where have I been all week? All over, really. I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday, some friends and I went out to a restaurant in town called Cuban Pete's. The food was good, the service was bad, but we had fun. We mixed our Arbor Mist in with their non-alcoholic Sangria...yummy!!! All day long I was keeping on a look-out for the UPS lady and my Stampin' Up catalogs (what an awesome birthday present that would have been!) but she didn't arrive until Wednesday, when I was super busy with a conference I was attending and with some exciting news...I was offered my first interview for a teaching job!! Keep reading...there is more news I found out on Friday to top that! Thursday I had the conference again as well as a camp meeting and Sara and I made 150 wedding invitations at night. (It was hard squeezing in time to view the catalog!!) Friday I went on my interview, for a 2nd grade position in Closter (about 45 minutes from where I live). The interview went great, suprisingly I was very comfortable and felt well prepared to answer all questions which were asked of me. When I got home from the interview, the principal called and told me that they would like me to come in next week to teach a demo lesson!! She said they enjoyed my interview and really liked me (I was in shock, almost tears...they really liked me!! ahaha so awesome!!!) So I have been preparing a bit for that, and for my summer camp which starts Monday, I just made out my schedule for art for the first 2 weeks.

On stamping news, I did get some new awesome stamps from Stampingly Yours last night at their open house. Anna and I ordered Papertrey together, I got Butterfly Kisses and Little Lady.
They are great and so easy to use! I bought some Versamagic Chalk Ink to use with it today
and I love them. I also have these ink daubbers I got from QVC awhile ago, which have the consistency of chalk ink and are wonderful with clear stamps! Other stamps I got...new My Favorite Things(Hot Stuff, You Take the Cake, and the new Beach one), new Bellas (Chefabella, and Superbella), and A*Muse. It was a great stamp buying night! Anna got some of my favorite company orders in! I was able to try a few of the new stamps out today, but didn't take pictures yet of my cards, so I don't have any samples to share. These cards are more from what I made last weekend at the crop. The top uses a cute cafe scene, by Paper Salon. The middle uses SU! new Baroque Motifs. I like the set, just not so much how these came out...they are just okay, but I've seen some really gorgeous cards with it! Last, this uses Pick a Petal, my favorite!! Each card is a variation on the same layout.

Enjoy and have a happy weekend! Tomorrow Sara and I are finishing up the wedding invitations.

An early Celebration!

Good Evening! Today I celebrated my birthday a day early with my family. Tomorrow is the actual day, but I am going out with friends at night. My parents gave me the Stampin' Up markers which I have wanted for months! Now I am a owner of these beautiful markers! Yay! I also got a pretty ring and a special suprise that my Mom said was waiting for me on the porch. I thought she meant that our new SU! catalogs were here, but I went out to discover that a large box was there with another gift. It was a new jewlery box which she got from QVC (where else?!) and had been on waitlist for a while. It came back in stock just in time for my birthday! It is a full length jewlery box with a mirror, that has to be put together (I have to beg one of my brother's tomorrow!).
Here are some more cards that I made this weekend at the crop I went to.
Celebrate in Style Supplies:
Paper: White, River Rock, I don't remember what the red is (sorry!)
Ink: Archival Black, Purely Pomegrante
Stamps: My Favorite Things
Accessories: Stampin' Markers, Dog Tag Punch, Scallop Scissors

Veggiebella Thank You Supplies:
Paper: River Rock, White, My Mind's Eye Magnolia DP
Ink: Archival Black, Blue Bayou, Tempting Turq
Stamps: Veggiebella, Savvy Stamps Thank You
Accessories: Corner Rouner, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Scallop Scissors, Large Oval Punch, Marvy Uchida Giga Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Up' Markers

Gardenbella Thank You Supplies:
Paper: Purely Pomegrant, White, My Mind's Eye Magnolia DP
Ink: Archival Black, River Rock, Blue Bayou
Stamps: Gardenbella, Savvy Stamps Thank You
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Scallop Scissors, Large Oval Punch, Marvy Uchida Giga Scallop Oval Punch, Stampin' Up Markers

Hope I remembered all the supplies, sometimes its hard to remember when I stamped these a few days ago! Have a happy Tuesday!

Busy Weekend!

Hi! I feel like I haven't been around in awhile. I was at a crop at my local (and favorite!) scrapbook store, Stampingly Yours, in Clifton. The crop ran Friday night (4-1) and Saturday (9-10). I was there for most of the time, and got a lot of card making and stamping done! This picture above is a set of cards that Beate Johns donated to the Silent Auction we held during the crop. All proceeds from the silent auction went to our Meet-Up Group. I was the lucky winner of these cards! I was so excited because her work is beautiful and I love these A*muse stamps, especially the tractor (which I actually ordered!). Below is my donation to the silent auction, a pamper yourself paint can (very similar to Katie's bday gift) with some lotions, body wash, bubble bath, bath salts, loofah and a candle in it. I used My Favorite Things stamp set for the 'tag' on the can, as well as American Crafts paper and tons of ribbon!

I got many cards done this weekend, mostly Thank-you's for my graduation party. I liked some of them so much that I just can't send them out to people!! It is very hard sending them out and I find myself making an excuse to keep the ones I make! Below is my favorite card that I made this weekend, using my new Tinkerbella and a sentiment stamp I bought at the store this weekend. As you guessed, I can't send this one out and will probably keep it for my collection! I'll be posting more cards I made this weekend throughout the week, so watch out!! Have a sunny Sunday!
Supplies:
Paper: White, Die Cuts with a View pinkish red, Barely Banana, Blue Bayou, Certainley Celery
Ink: Archival Black, Certainly Celery, Marigold Morning, Rose Romance, Blue Bayou
Stamps: Tinkerbella, Small Sayings, Doodle This, Inky Antics sentiment
Accessories: Scallop Scissors, Dog tag punch, Brads, Daubbers, Corner Punch, Stickles

In Love Tonight...

...with quite a few things actually, to name a few...scallop scissors, bellas, Paris, Stickles, Phil Vassar (who is on my XM radio right now), Pick a Petal, Polka Dots, Sponge Daubers and Ink, and Rhinestone Brads. Whew, what a list, I am sure there are more if I give a bit more thought, but on to stamping things. I have been very busy tonight, with some swaps and with things for fun. First I finished my silent auction donation, which is a secret so I will wait till its over to post. Above here is my finished ATC for a bella swap I am in on SCS. This is a new bella, Parisbella, who reminds me of Paris, France, not Paris Hilton! I masked Parisbella and stamped the Effiel Tower behind her. The Effiel Tower and Merci are from a SU! set, Paris in the Spring.
Supplies:
Paper: Certainley Celery, Pixie Pink, Cool Carribean, White
Ink: River Rock, Black Archival Ink, Tempting Turq
Stamps: Parisbella, Paris in the Spring, Square Background(I am not sure where its from, an old Sellebration set, I think)
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Colored Pencils, Gamsol and Stumps, Rhinestone Brads (Making Memories), Corner Rounder, PP

I am also still working on Thank-You's for my Graduation party, so that is what these following 2 cards are. The first one I broke out another new bella, tinkerbella! So adorable! I also used SCS Sketch Challenge #128. It was actually hard to cut these pieces of paper, I kept having to trim, I didn't understand the directions for cutting so just started cutting till I got it right! :)
Supplies:
Paper: Marigold Morning, Lavendar Lace, Pallete O' Prints, White, Tempting Turq, Making Memories DP
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Black Archival Ink, Tempting Turq
Stamps: Tinkerbella, Small Sayings, Doodle This
Accessories: Colored Pencils, Gamsol and Stumps, Black Pen, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Scissors

And finally...I love this stamp set, Pick a Petal, which will be in the new SU! catalog! This uses SCS Sketch Challenge #126.
Supplies:
Paper: Lavendar Lace, Pallete O' Prints, Making Memories DP, Certainley Celery, Sahara Sand, White
Ink: Soft Sky, Marigold Morning, Certainley Celery, Lovely Lilac, Cool Carribean
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Looks Like Spring, Hero Arts words
Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Scissors

One last one to share...

I just had to share this last creation for the night. I was inspired by a card I saw on SCS, can be found here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/579455 where the bellas were sitting under an awning. I thought it was so cute and recreated it, like it was a French scene, drinking coffee at a cafe..tres jolie! I was also super excited about my scallop oval merci. I made this scallop all by myself with my scallop scissors, and it actually worked and looks good! Yay! Beate posted a tutorial for how to create this on her blog, found here: http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/05/30/scallop-borders-with-decorative-scissors/#comment-9601

Ce soir and think French! haha!

My Bellas are Here!!

Good evening! What a great day today was! The best part of it was that my Bellas came in the mail! I was so surprised because it didn't seem to take very long, especially since they shipped only last Friday. This is the build-a-bindah that I ordered, and I am so glad that I did because it is custom size and the protectors only fit in this binder, not the standard type. It is sooo cute! I can't wait to play with all of my new bellas and fellas!

I thought I'd share the gift I made for Katie for her birthday. I wanted to do a spa theme since we just graduated college and finished student teaching and could probably use some down time with relaxation. I picked my favorite scent from Bath and Body Works, Moonlight Path. It includes shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bubble bath, body wash, bar soap, body splash, loofah, pumice stone, bath salts, and a bubble bella door hanger. She liked it a lot, but I think I was more excited to give it to her!! Happy Birthday Katie!

Lastly, this is my latest creation that I made tonight, for a technique ATC swap I am in on SCS that my friend Michele hosts. The technique this month is Dazzling Diamond Dust. I used my new set, Pick a Petal, which was so fun! The only hard part was cutting out 36 flowers and then embossing them with Dazzling Diamonds!! I must tell you about my little problem with Embossing Powder. No matter what I am applying it to, or where, I seem to get it all over me! I just can not control the stuff and have it all over the place. Needless to say, right now I am covered with glitter. I even tried putting the clear ep in a big container to control it, but I still get it all over me, the floor and my desk. Just ask Sara, she is always there to witness it!


Supplies: (Friend ATC)

Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Glossy Cardstock, Whisper White
Ink: Tempting Turqoise, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Little Pieces, Everyday Flexible Phrases
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, SU! Eyelets, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamond Dust, Ink Daubers

Totally Inspired!

Hi! Just have to share that my Dad was a bit insulted that the card I made him for Father's Day had a rhino on it, I tried to explain that it didn't mean anything and I had just wanted to try out my new stamp set...
This card here was very much inspired by Taylor at Taylored Expressions, I was browsing her Amuse gallery, saw this and immediately pulled everything out to make it! That kind of inspiration doesn't strike often! This is for Katie's bday, which is today!
Supplies:
Paper: Marigold Morning, Cool Carribean, MME Magnolia DP, Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Cool Carribean, Certainly Celery and Basic Black
Stamps: 3 Flower Drinks by Amuse, Cheers to you by Savvy Stamps
Accessories: Marvy Uchida Giga and Mega Circle Scallop Punches, May Arts Ribbon, PP, Blender Pens, Stickles Waterfall

Off to get some last minute additions to Katie's gift!

Father's Day Creation

Hi there! So there are 2 things that I am addicted to, stamping/scrapping and makeup! Today on QVC, Bare Escentuals had a today's special value as well as tons of shows and products. I love their product line, so I've been watching today while I can. A new show starts at 10pm, only a few moments away, I'll be there! Check their stuff out if you haven't, it's really great makeup!
This is my Father's Day card for my Dad. I almost forgot to make it...I feel bad, I forgot what day tomorrow was, but luckily Katie reminded me today and I rushed home to whip something up! This is one of my newest SU! stamp sets, Zoofari, from the preview brochure. I love these animals, they just seem to so for anything! I once again used my new scallop circle punch, I just can't tear myself away! I was reading some other blogs and noticed that many include a receipe of supplies used for their cards, and I thought I might start doing that, so here it goes...
Supplies:
Paper: Buckaroo Blue, Sahara Sand, Barely Banana, MME DP, and Pallete O' Prints Paper (Certainly Celery)
Ink: Buckaroo Blue, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Stamps: Zoofari, So Very, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Polka Dots and Paisley (Dot background)
Accessories: Marvy Uchida Giga and Mega Scallop Punches, Paper Piercer (better known as PP), Ribbon, Aquapainter, Clear Embossing Powder, Corner Rounder

I never realize how much I use until I write it down! Enjoy and Happy Father's Day!

The Weekend is Here!

Yay! This week is over! I have been subbing for most of the week ( I took off Wed. for my student teaching kid's moving up ceremony) and it has been challenging, to say the least! Today was probably the worst behaved kids yet, and that is tough to say with the week I have had! Okay, enough about that, I want to enjoy my 2 days off this weekend!
I went a bit swapping crazy lately, and have to catch up because a few are due the end of this month. Today I went to check which swaps I was signed up for and thought 'what are you crazy? like you really have time!', but I did sign up for a lot!
Okay, side note...my song is on right now, "Ticks" by Brad Paisely, quick funny story...while I was in NC I got a tick on me from playing Duck Duck Goose with Lucy in the grass (yeah, last time I do that!) and I was freaked out, but managed all on my own to pick it off and then smother is it nail polish for a slow painful death, followed by a flushing down the toliet, but everyone kept singing this song to me..."I'd sure like to check you for ticks..." haha. If you haven't heard it, you've just got to! It is classic Brad Paisley!
Okay, back to my crazy swap schedule..tonight I sat down and completed my cards for the Michael's $1 stamp swap I joined. It was for card fronts only so that made it pretty simple. This cupcake stamp is a Studio G clear stamp, and if you know me, you know I just love my little cupcakes (Sara...hey cupcake!).
Tomorrow I will be at Katie's 2nd graduation party for most of the day...enjoy your weekend!!

Bellas and Punches

Some Bellas and some new scallop punches...just not together! The Crusibella card was a graduation card for my friend Katie, who is planning on buying a convertible this summer, seemed fitting! Anna let me stamp some of her bellas, and this was one of hers, but I did just order it for myself. I used my SU corner punch to make the scalloped border on the paper. I think with more practice I can get better at it, the corners came out a bit funny, but I tried to cover it up!

Finally! I played with my scallop punches, the ovals and circles! I love the look of the scallop punches with the 'stiched' paper piercing (I don't even know what to call that!) Both of these cards (above and below) use Polka Dot Posies, a retired set, but a favorite! The second card was inspired by a gal at SCS. The scallop circles really make the flower pop!

This is a card that I made for a Bella Swap. I used the SCS Sketch Challenge (#124), just turned it on it's side. This is some of my new My Mind's Eye (Everyday Tango) paper. I make the polka dots with a white pen on the Chocolate Chip cardstock. The Bellas are colored in with Watercolor Crayons and an Aquapainter. The sentiment is from "Like it a Latte". The swap cards actually have the sentiment "Friendship is Precious" but on the extras, I stamped a different saying that I need a card for!

Thanks for looking!

Bella Borrow Warm Up

I've been reading about making a quick card before you begin stamping as a sort of "warm-up" to stamping. I tried this tonight, although this did take me a little while (I think the idea is 10 minutes or less, so I definitely didn't do that!). Anna let me stamp some of her Bella images, and this is one of hers. I didn't order this one when I just placed my order, but she is sure cute! The paper is Basic Grey Perhaps, from the 6x6 pads. Love it! I am starting to make some thank you notes for my graduation party, this one is for my neighbor, who made me a beautiful turquoise bead ankle bracelet. Thanks Mary!

Tales from a Sub

Hey, what a day it's been! I subbed for a first grade class today, full of talkative and horribly behaved 6 and 7 year olds. I swear, the kids DID NOT STOP talking for the ENTIRE day! I have never encountered such rude children! As you can probably tell, I am a bit appalled at this behavior, and I wonder how their permanent teacher deals with this type of behavior every day. I even made a list on my lunch break of all the things I do not want to do in my own classroom and all of the boundaries I feel I should set beginning day one of the school year.
Onto something more pleasant...I have plans to do some stamping tonight, yay! My new scallop punches came in the mail on Saturday and I haven't gotten a chance to play yet. I'll post new creations later on...

Shout-Out to Joan

Good Evening! I was at a graduation party today for my good friend, Katie. The company was great, as was the food. They had the party catered with some awesome Italian food, yummy! I drove down to Katie's home with my good friend Joan who I haven't seen in awhile. It was so nice to reconnect and just sit in the car and talk for an hour. I really have missed her! She is a semester behind me in school, so she's still got a semester left, so we've sorta lost touch because we haven't had classes together since last fall. One thing I love about Joan is that she thinks everything I say is so funny! Well I guess at times we all say funny things, but I swear she cracks up at every word that comes out of my mouth! It's friends like her that make me smile and appreciate friendship at it's finest! Thanks Joan!
Yesterday I went back to my school I student taught at. The fifth graders had their big camping trip which I helped out at. We went rock climbing, boating, zip lining and swimming and the kids had an awesome time! Between the activity all day and the heat, I was beat at the end of the day, and barely made it to my bed before I was out!
I've been reading a lot of other people's blogs and the one thing I find that I am jealous of is how much time they are able to devote to stamping! Many people seem to find time to stamp everyday, and I wish I could find that time as well. Often when I do have time, I just don't feel motivated or inspired. I need to start setting time aside everyday just to do a little something. That will be my June resolution.


Here is a picture of my ATC book which I decorated to hold my ATC cards. This is the Stampin' Up book. At next month's meet-up, we will be decorating these books similar to this to hold our monthly ATC swap cards. Can't wait!

I confess...I bought more paper

Sara...you are bad for me! Yesterday Sara called telling me that AC Moore had all open stock paper on sale for 50% off plus some My Mind's Eye paper packs half price. So of course I made some excuse today that I had to go to AC Moore (I wrote on my list that I needed to buy glass bottles) but really I was going to check the paper out! I bought a few sheets of some gorgeous KI Memories winter paper that has a shimmery shine to it. I also got 2 My Mind's Eye paper packs, Everyday Tango and Magnolia, so now I have like 500 sheets of My Mind's Eye paper (extreme? yes. necessary? YES!) I just confessed to Sara what I bought, and she says, oh wait they didn't have Everyday Tango paper packs there yesterday!! She needs to go back, now!

I was originally planning on subbing today because I got my file reactivated in town yesterday, but then I thought, no I'll take one more day off, plus I have to do some work for my Dad, and it was a good choice since Andy hung the phone up on the sub caller this morning! (Good thing it is now automated). I guess he was annoyed that I didn't get up to answer it at 6:00 this morning. Honestly, I didn't hear it ring! (Which surprises me cause I am usually a rather light sleeper and I wonder what was going on...okay another tangent! Back to topic...)

These pages are the ones I made using the Page Kit for this month's meet-up group. The pictures are from last summer, Sara's birthday which Sara, Marta and I spent in Atlantic City at the Rainforest Cafe and at Trump Plaza (all 3 losing money!). Sara designed the kit, and about 85% of the materials used were from the kit. Of course I had to had to add some of my own supplies in too, and a bella of course!

Tonight, I'll be at Stampingly Yours for the Meet-Up Group. Stop by and say hi if you are near Clifton!

Raining Cats and Dogs!

Hello! What a rainy day today was! My Mom always says she can never clean the house on rainy days because she gets depressed by it, but I think that I am the opposite! I went on a cleaning frenzy this morning, straightening my brother's messes (and a few of my own too!) and vacuuming, getting ready for my parent's to return home from their vacation. It's always so nice to come home to a clean home after being away!

Check out this gorgeous card my friend Sara made at my house yesterday! She used the bridalpartybellas, which I haven't even used yet since ordering them (thanks for christening them for me Sar!). She colored them with...wait I just got side tracked by a lightening bug outside my window, that only means one thing, that summer is here! yay!...okay back to the subject at hand, she colored them with twinkling h2o's. I love the paisley paper she used for her background. Sara made this for a Bella swap she joined on Splitcoast, way to go Sara!
I made this card yesterday, the Good Friends are Priceless. I love this stamp from My Favorite Things and tried to take my time coloring it in, I spent about 15-20 minutes just coloring the main image, a lot of time for me! This layout is inspired by Taylor over at Taylored Expressions, she does some gorgeous work on her blog!

I am a part of a Yahoo Group dedicated to scrapping, that Anna got me involved with and these 4 elements are for a technique swap that I joined with the theme being summer. My technique was alcohol inks and distress inks which I haven't used in awhile. I forgot how much fun they are, especially the distress inks! There are endless options. The only thing using the distress inks here is the "Journey Tag", the other pieces use some alcohol inked pieces and a lot of stamping. I hope the ladies enjoy these pieces, now I just need to get them mailed out!

Tomorrow is the Meet-Up group at the store and we are finally doing ATCs! I am so excited. I need to work on one to demo at the meeting, which I will probably do tomorrow. I also have pictures from the pages I made with last month's page kit, super cute! Stay tuned!

Yay for June!

I always love the month of June, probably because it is my birthday month! I have to wait for the end of the month, but it's always worth it!

I have been on a real reading kick lately, and haven't done much scrapping or stamping. Last night Katie was over, she was up here visiting from home, so she slept over and we watched a movie and One Tree Hill episodes. She is so funny with One Tree Hill, she knows all these random facts and information about the show...I just laugh and tease her because she is so obsessed! She desperately wants to take a trip to Wilmington, NC this summer where they film the show and we are trying to make it happen!

Here are a few older cards that I have made, probably last summer. Last summer was when I was on a big alcohol ink craze. I love the look, but don't always pull them out to use. I have to do a technique swap with 3 pieces and I think my technique will be alcohol inks. I'll use these as starting points!

Happy Saturday, and enjoy the weekend!