More baseball treats

I have gotten my pictures from the cupcakes that I baked for our last baseball game. I am sure that I enjoy the decorations much more than the kids - they just want the cupcakes. I do know that the moms really enjoy the decorations and that some of them add them to the kids scrapbooks so I really make the decorations for myself and the moms.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Just Baseball stamp set; Real Red, Always Artichoke and whisper card stock; Real Red and Basic Black stampin' write markers; Chocolate Chip classic ink pad; 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches; scallop punch.

Card for my mom

I got to have mothers' day with my mom this past weekend so I can finally share the card that I made for her. I might have gone a little overboard but it is for my mom so I couldn't help myself.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Close to Coco and very vanilla card stock; Soft Sky and Close to Coco classic ink pad; 3/8" chocolate chip taffeta; pretties kit; styled silver HPH.

New Camera and crazy week!

I got a new camera!!! I think that I am getting used to it but it has taken a little time. I am finally getting around to uploading some pictures. I had to show you the treats I made for the coach pitch baseball team that we sponsor.
I take them a special treat to every game and it usually something I bake and always something that I decorate. I think that these treats turned out really cute. I made the baseball sugar cookies and then I did cello bag and topper with each players name on it. The team colors are always artichoke and whisper white. Okay so they are really green and white but I always refer to colors by the SU! name.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Just Baseball and Sporting stamp sets; Pure & Simple Upper alphabet set; Real Red, Always Artichoke and whisper card stock; Real Red and Always Artichoke classic ink pads.

Mothers Day

I spent time at the end of last week working on cards for moms. I didn't want to post them to early and let the "cat out of the bag" in case they checked here which they do from time to time. I love the clean look of a white card. I am also really in love in with the always set, it is just so beautiful. This is that card I did for my mother-in-law. I can't post the card I did for my mom yet because I am having a late mothers day with her this year.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Rough Edges alphabet set; Soft Sky, Close to Coco and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Close to Coco classic ink pad; 3/8" white taffeta; pretties kit.

Graduation

My husband asked me to make a graduation card for him. This seems like a simple request. The only problem was that when I started looking at my supplies I realized that the only graduation stamp that I have was one from the retired All Year Cheer III set. So I had to think outside of the box and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. It is very simple but I liked the results.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: All Year Cheer III stamp set; Brilliant Blue Card stock; Basic Black Textured Card stock; Brilliant Blue classic ink pad; 1 1/4" Square punch; Vintage brads and retired gold cord.

You asked for it!

I have had several request for some pictures of my trip to Paris. I took about 350 so I picked just a few. (You will really love the last one!!)

This is me in a garden across from the Musee Marmaton. Don't those flowers just make you want to sing "I love Paris in the springtime....."
This is my husband, Matt, and I with that famous tower in the background. Matt and I in front of a fountain at Versailles.
Matt and I on the bank on the Seine waiting to get on our dinner cruise. You can see a glass top boat in the background and we took a cruise on a boat similar to that and got to see Paris at sunset and all light up for the evening from the river.
Matt and I getting ready to go and see the Louvre and yes we did see the Mona Lisa.
The famous Notre Dame de Paris. I didn't have a picture of us outside here...
This is just a little flower shop on the Ile de Saint Louis and I just had to take a picture because it just looks like what you expect a flower shop to look like in Paris.
Me on the step leading up to Sacra Coeur. Matt and I did climb all the steps to view the city from the top dome and I have to say that gets my vote for the best view in Paris.
And finally - the picture that all of you will really appreciate........
Yes, I really did have to go and find a scrapbook store in Paris. They really have much of the same stuff that we have and most of their supplies were imported from the US but I did pick up a couple of scrapbook magazines in French.

I hope you like the photos. We had a wonderful time in Paris and if Matt would let me I would go back tomorrow.

Sorry it took me so long!

I thought that I was being so clever having posts ready before I left for vacation. If I had been really clever I would have had done them for at least the week I was gone and the week I got back.
I had a wonderful trip to Paris and between the jet lag and all of the little things that you have to catch up on when you are out of the country for a week it has taken me forever to get back to posting. I finally got a chance to stamps last night!
We received a gift from a couple that we met on the trip and I had to get a Thank you note out to them. I had a color challenge that I hadn't worked on from a friend so here is what I came up with:

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Carte Postale and Much Appreciated stamp sets; Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise; Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise classic ink pads; 3/4" and 1" circle punches; Fresh Favorites I buttons.

Inspired by...finger puppet?

This has to be one of the cutest finger puppets that I have every seen. And it produced a card that I love!

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Big Deal Alphabet and Pure and Simple Upper Alphabet stamp sets; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Tempting Turquoise and whisper card stock; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, and Tempting Turquoise classic ink pads; 1" circle, small oval, large oval and Photo Corner punches; Signo Gel Pen.

As soon as I saw that puppet I thought that it was cute and owls are a really popular trend right now. I also realized that it looked a little like the Big Deal Alphabet on the background. I just knew that I wanted to use paper to copy this as close as I could and I really liked the results.

Inspired by...Curtains

I found these curtains here. I liked the tones in the curtains and so decided to let them be my inspiration.
I went with the color and the stripes to make a masculine thank you card.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: So Much stamp set; Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa and very vanilla card stock; Chocolate Chip classic ink pads.

Inspired by...a blouse

This blouse from Macy's was the inspiration, The colors are really great.

The card didn't turn out as well as I would like but I do like that I used the 1/2" Circle punch and made "buttons" out of whisper white card stock.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Best Blossoms (retired) stamp set; Basic Black, Wild Wasabi and whisper card stock; Wild Wasabi classic ink pad; Whisper White craft ink; 1/2" circle punch.

Inspired by...Bedding

I found this bedding here. I liked the colors and the pillows all stacked up on the top of the bed.
So here is what I was inspired to make.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Dream Come True (retired) stamp set; Canvas and Polka Dot Background Stamps; Soft Sky, River Rock and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and River Rock classic ink pads; white taffeta ribbon.

I wasn't 100% on how this turned out but I did learn a couple of things. Since we don't have markers in the InColors and I wanted to have stripes that were in Soft Sky and River Rock I had to come up with something. I used the sponge daubers and ink refills to make really juicy sponge daubers and then I used those to transfer the ink to the stamp.

What doesn't show well in the photo but looks much better in real life is that I stamped "Merci" in Soft Sky on the ribbon and it turned out really well but I guess is too light to show well in the photo.

Off to France....

I will be gone for a little while. My husband and I are taking a trip to Paris!! (I know, I am jealous of myself.) We leave for France on Wednesday but I will be busy getting ready to leave etc...

I have learned how to schedule posts so I have gotten some posts together to upload every couple of days while I am gone. We will be back on the 23rd and I hope not to be too jet lagged.

My next several post are all inspired by pictures I found on websites that I like to visit. Have fun while I am gone and I look forward to reading your comments when I get back.

Arte y Pico Award

Vickie from Stamping Ever After has nominated me for this award, Thanks Vickie!!
Here are the rules for the award: You pick five blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language. List the names of the people you chose to receive the award on your blog and link to their blogs. Then go comment on one of their posts to notify them that you have given them this award and link to the post on your blog. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of the person who gave them the award and link to their blog. The Award-winner and the one who has given the award have to show the link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

Choosing just five blogs to pass on this award is going to be tough since there are so many great blogs I visit and there are several people who have gotten this award in the last few days. Stop by and visit these great blogs:

Jill - Ink Genious

Debbie - Debbi's Design

Jana - Stamp on This

Marilyn - Stamp with Marilyn

Kathleen - Stamp Journey

Inspiration really is everywhere

I found some cute tissue paper at Target for a birthday party my husband and I went to last week. As I took a look at the paper I realized that it would make a really cute card. So I took the color inspiration and the circle motif from the tissue paper and came up with this card. I think that it would be a really fun party invite. I really liked how it turned out and I used all Bold Bright colors and for a girl who usually goes for more earthy or subtle tones that is different for me. Where do you find inspiration for your cards?
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Calendar Cues, Little Pieces, and So Much stamp sets; Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, YoYo Yellow and whisper card stock; Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, and YoYo Yellow classic ink pads; 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches; bold brights brads.

Want a new background for free?

Check out this blog where you can get a free background and instructions on how to install it.

Working on my new stuff...

I just have to add a comment about my last post. I had a couple of people comment and couple of people e-mail me about the "paper" in that card. I have to confess: that must have been the one thing that I did right when stamping that card because the "paper" is something that I stamped. I used the All Around Argyle stamp set that is now retired. This was also the card that really taught me how to use my stamp-a-ma-jig (if you don't have one it is a must have stamping tool).

I have been working on some items with my new stuff and I am learning about the supplies that I haven't worked with before. I wanted to try some of the fun chunky glitter. I love the little stamp in the Bursting with Joy stamp set that has a heart with swirls underneath it. I decided to use that idea and make it bigger. I like the chunky glitter, it is easier to clean up than the really fine glitter.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Bursting with Joy set; basic black card stock; ; 3/8" White taffeta; Chunky Essentials glitter; On Board Accents

I really like the effect that I got on the bird for this card. I covered the whole stamp in Soft Sky ink and then I took the sponge daubers and inked the Close to Coco around the edge of the bird.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Close to Coco and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Close to Coco classic ink pad; 3/8" Chocolate Chip taffeta; Photo corner punch.

What was I thinking?

One thing that I love about blogging is that I take pictures of all of my projects. I didn't do that before I started this. I looked back to see the few projects that I had scanned or taken pictures of before and it just made me think of how much my crafting has changed. I made this card a few years ago and I remember thinking of it at the time was great and I look at it now and think - well, that is interesting...why did I do that?
I do love that I have this card because it is a snapshot of where I have been and I love having this blog because it is a growing scrapbook of where I am going.
So, how about you? Anyone look back and wonder what was I thinking?

Always

My new stamps are cut and mounted and I just had to make something. I decided that it was the perfect chance to leave my husband a card for no reason at all. I had been wanting this set for a while now and I finally got it! I hope that you like it and I am going to have to go back to playing with my new stuff - I am sure that I will have more to post next week with the new sets.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip classic ink pad; 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

It's Here!

I guess all that I needed to do was post that I couldn't stand the wait. About 15 minutes after I posted the box arrived and my new goodies were here. A few new stamps sets -
and some fun accessories -

I am off to play with the new stuff. I just don't always know where to begin.....

Waiting is the worst

I have a package of SU! goodies that should be delivered today but they still are not here. UPS is usually her by 11:00 and still no goodies.... anyone else hate waiting? I will have to wait, I wanted to post today after my new stuff arrives so I hope that it is soon so I can make something fun to share with you all.

Need an Envelope?

When you make a card that is not a standard size sometimes you have to make your own envelope. When you use the double sided designer series paper you get really cute envelopes that have that extra surprise when you open them up.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Carte Postale stamp set; Bashful Blue and whisper card stock; Old Olive classic ink pad; Old Olive Poly-Twill Ribbon; Summer Picnic DSP; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

There is a simple formula to make an envelope - so if you are ready to use a little math...

To determine the size of paper you need for the envelope:
Take the height of the card times 2 1/2 and that will give you the height of the envelope paper. Take the width of the card and add 1 1/4" that gives you the width of the envelope paper.
For example a 3" x 4" card would need a pieces of paper cut to 7 1/2" (3" x 2 1/2=7 1/2") by 5 1/4" (4" + 1 1/4"=5 1/4")

To determine where to score the envelope:
Score 1/2" in along both long sides of the paper you have cut for the envelope.
Subtract 1 1/4" from the height, this is the first score line across the width of the paper. (using the 3" x 4" card example that would mean that you would subtract 1 1/4
from 3 and you would have a score mark at 1 3/4")
The second score line across the width of the paper is the height of the card plus the width to the first score line plus 1/4". ( for the 3" x 4" card that would mean 3"+1 3/4"+ 1/4" and you would put your second score at 5")

Once all of your score marks are done you can cut our the four corner rectangles and then I like to round the corners because I think that it makes the envelope look more finished. Here is a picture of what the "unfinished envelope would look like and the measurements for our 3" x 4" card example as well as placement of the sticky strip. This isn't pretty but it is what I store in my idea book so that I can remember the "formula" when I need to make an envelope.

Births and Birthdays

I was having a little technical difficulty yesterday - maybe it was operator error, not really sure. I seem to be having better luck today but I have two cards ready for you since I didn't get one posted yesterday.

The first one is my attempt at a more masculine card. I know it has ribbon but I have a hard time leaving the frills off so this was the least frilly I could make a birthday card.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Eat Cake stamp set; Kraft, Basic Black Ruby Red and whisper card stock; Basic Black, Ruby Red, and Sahara Sand Stampin' Write Markers; black gingham ribbon.

I also struggle sometimes having a baby card be too "girl" so I tried to make this one not so "girl". I just love the wild wasabi, it is my favorite green. I find that I reach for it quite a bit and I realized that I hadn't posted many projects using it.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Nursery Necessities stamp set; Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and whisper card stock; Wild Wasabi and So Saffron classic ink pads ;Beachfront ribbon originals; Wild Wasabi double stitched ribbon; scallop punch; 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle punch.

Blast from the past

Sometimes I like to pull out an old set. There a hundreds and hundreds of wonderful stamps in the Stampin' Up! catalog but sometimes I pull out a stamp that isn't in the catalog anymore. If Stampin' Up! kept all of the wonderful sets they ever made in the catalog it would just get too huge - so that is why the retire sets. I love that when sets are retired because it means that there are great new sets coming but I still love some of my old sets. I made a card today using all retired sets.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Delight in Life and All Year Cheer I stamp sets; Simple Stripes BG Stamp; Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana and whisper card stock; Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, and Barely Banana classic ink pads; 1/4 white grosgrain; blender pen.

I guess the moral of the story is -if you see a set that you REALLY want you might want to get it now because who knows how much longer it will be available. The current mini catalog has products that available to order until May 31st. The only way to know for sure that you can get the set that you want from the occasions mini catalog is to order it before the end of May.

When it was cute - make it smaller.

I did a card several weeks ago that had this same theme. I needed a quick gift card for a Thank you and with a few changes came up with this cute little 3" x 3" card and envelope. I think that when a card looks cute it may look really cute smaller - why is that? They do say that the best things come in small packages.
I also love to stamp on the envelope! I think that when you add a little hand stamped touch to the outside it gets people ready for the artwork inside!

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Tart & Tangy and Everyday Flexible Phrases stamp sets; Old Olive, Real Red and whisper card stock; Old Olive and Real Red Stampin' Write markers; red gingham ribbon; olive poly twill ribbon; scallop, 1/16 and 1 1/4 circle punches.

I also realized that I hadn't ever posted this card that I made weeks ago to take to the regional meeting and swap. I thought that I would share it with you all as well. I think everyone should have this cute little Tart & Tangy stamp set it is just so cherry.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Tart & Tangy and Much appreciated stamp sets; Old Olive, Real Red and whisper card stock; Old Olive and Real Red Stampin' Write markers; Old Olive and Real Red classic ink pads; red gingham ribbon; olive poly twill ribbon;1 3/8 and 1 1/4 circle punches; ribbon slide from styled silver hardware.

Sympathy

We got news today that one of our friends' grandmothers passed away. I made a sympathy card to send to him and his family. This is one of those times when I really like to be able to craft something special. I hope that when I send a card like this the family knows just how much they mean to us. I know that when I have had family members pass away the cards from friends and family really did bring a bright moment especially those that were handmade.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Heartfelt Thanks stamp set; Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum and Very Vanilla card stock; Perfect Plum classic ink pads; Perfect Plum and Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Markers; 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

Seeing Spots

I was feeling like some dry embossing. I just hadn't done that in a while so here is what I came up with. I love to use a contrasting ink to sponge over a dry embossed image to really make it pop. The colors are a little off in this photo but the effect is really pretty in real life. I hope you like it.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Seeing Spots stamp set; Chocolate Chip, Close to Coca and Barely Banana card stock; Chocolate Chip, Close to Coca and Barely Banana classic ink pads; Seeing Spots classy brass template; Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon; 1 3/8", 1 1/4" and 3/4" circle punches; sponges.

Mon Amie

There was a color challenge on splitcoast a few weeks ago and I hadn't had a chance to try it. The combo was Basic Black, River Rock, and Very Vanilla. It is a really simple but really elegant color combo and I love the was it made a really elegant card.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Carte Postale stamp set; Basic Black, River Rock and Very Vanilla card stock; Basic Black and River Rock classic ink pad; 1/4" Black grosgrain; Slot punch.

Miss Me?

Sorry I disappeared for about a week but I was blessed with a fun little bout of the flu. I hope that the rest of you can avoid the bug. I really did start to feel better Monday night but I just haven't really pushed myself to move too quickly for the last couple of days. I will try to get some new projects posted very soon, as you can imagine, I haven't done much of anything in the past several days.

So Much Fun!

We made this cute 4"x4" card at regional meeting and I really love how the fold that we used makes a little pocket inside.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: So Much and Fundamental Phrases stamp sets; Kraft, Real Red, Soft Sky and Textured So Saffron card stock; Basic Black classic ink pad; White SatzOn ink pad; pewter jumbo eyelet.

Here is my version of the card using the beautiful Ginger Blossom DSP and I just love the In Color line for 07-08. I did an outside and inside picture so that you can see how a little gift card could fit inside.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: True Friend stamp set; Very Vanilla card stock; Purely Pomegranate and Groovy Guava classic ink pads; River Rock, Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon.

Inspired by SU! Regional

Here is another project that we did at the SU! regional meeting in Tulsa. How cute to make a really quick pocket card by sealing an envelope and cutting an 1" off the top? I loved the look and it came together really quickly.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Live Your Dream stamp set; Soft Sky card stock; Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, and Groovy Guava classic ink pads; Medium Kraft envelope, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, White circle aluminum metal edge tag, Afternoon Tea DSP, 3/16 corner rounder and 1/8 circle punch.

Here is the project that this sample inspired me to make.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: So Much & Tres Chic stamp sets; Almost Amethyst card stock; Almost Amethyst classic ink pad; Medium White envelope, White Taffeta ribbon, Almost Amethyst Prints DSP, Pretties Kit and corner rounder punch.

A tiny sample from Tulsa regional meeting

I had such a great time at the Stampin' Up! Regional meeting in Tulsa this past weekend. My brain is on overload!! I got a ton of great ideas and I have to take the time to filter it all and it will take me a few weeks to post all the info. I don't have a ton of time today but I have to start sharing some of what we did. This was a cute thank you card that they had us do for one of our stamp times. I really like the clean lines of this card and I will have to work on some cards that use this layout as the inspiration.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Live Your Dream stamp set; Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi and Very Vanilla card stock; Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, and Groovy Guava classic ink pads; Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, small rhinestone brad from Pretties kit, and 3/16 corner rounder punch.

I made someone’s day!

Laura passed the you make my day award onto me! How cool is that? I have to say that she has an awesome blog and I am really pleased that I made her list.
SO - Here is who I am passing the award to.

Check out the Triangle Box Tutorial over at Mocha Memories it will make your day!
Sharon has a great set of projects and they use one of the new papers coming out in the Occasions mini-catalog.
Britta took the embrace life flowers to a whole new level.
More fun from the Occasions mini can be found on Beate's blog.
and finally
Leslie has a beautiful example of what can be done to make a really beautiful card with water coloring and an interesting cut.

Then these recipients do the the following. If you already have this award don’t worry about passing it on, just display it proudly:)
1) Write a post with links to 5 blogs you find of interest and that inspire you.
2) Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3) Display the logo “You Make My Day”
4) Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news

"Love" to scrapbook

I make a lot of cards but I also love to scrapbook and I think this page turned out really well . I hope that you all like the layout and I am just really loving this paper. I am headed to the Regional meeting in tomorrow and I will not have a chance to post until Monday. I am sure that I will get some great ideas and some great projects to post next week.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Jumbo Outline Alphabet stamp set; Close to Coca, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White card stock; Purely Pomegranate classic ink pad; Close to Coca Stampin' Write Marker; Pretty in Pink 1/4"grosgrain, light pink gingham ribbon, Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper.

Berry Bliss

I had a crazy day yesterday, sorry no post. I have been very busy getting ready for the Stampin' Up! Regional meeting in Tulsa OK. I am getting really excited about spending time with other stampers and getting great ideas. Regional meetings are always high energy events. I did get some more Stampin' done today and spent a lot of time working on swaps to take to Tulsa. I made a card for my friend Diana who will be presenting at the meeting. I used the berry bliss designer series paper and I just love the colors and the patterns in this paper.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Happy Everything stamp set; Close to Coca, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White card stock; Purely Pomegranate and Close to Coca classic ink pads; White and Pretty in Pink 1/4"grosgrain, Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon., Berry Bliss Designer Series Paper.

I love this paper so much I am working on a 6x6 scrapbook page to swap at regionals using it. I will have to post that tomorrow.