Mojo 145

I think I've come to the conclusion that I really don't like using patterned paper.  I feel like I have the hardest time with designed paper and especially if it's striped or has big flowers.  Oh well.  I know it's me.  Perhaps, I just need to attempt to use it more often to feel more comfortable with it.  Here is my submission for Mojo Monday 145:

I spent a long time on this card.  I knew what paper I wanted to use, but when it came time to add the three elements to the front, I worked and worked and worked.  I'm still not sure about it.  However, I love the colors.  Here is my recipe:

 Stamps:   Friends Never Fade, Elements of Style
Paper:     Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzaz, Chocolate Chip, Greenhouse Gala
Ink:         Peark Pizzaz, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

The flower in the oblong layer is actually the smaller stem/bud of the entire flower stamp from Friends Never Fade.  I love the way it looks all by itself.  The pineapple looking stamp is from Friends Never Fade also.  I really like the way it looks and plan on using it as much as possible. 

You'll have to let me know if you think it's too busy.  Sometimes I think it is and other times, I like it.

I hope tomorrow that I'll have a different challenge ready to be able to post.

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,


Terri

Because I Care

Happy Monday everyone.  I hope you had a wonderful weekend. 

I broke down and finally used the free stamp set I got from SU.  The "Because I Care" set.  I waited a little while before ordering my new color kit, so I was afforded the opportunity to view other cards with this stamp.  I have to say that I didn't really seem to care for it.  Don't get me wrong, I love hydrangeas.  I even have them in my yard. It's just that this image seems to be this great big snowball on the end of this little stem.  I don't know.  Oh well.  Here is my input:

I didn't use the Because I Care sentiment, I used With Sympathy from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The inside of my card I used a sentiment from God's Blessings (Retired)  I stamped the hydrangea in Rich Razzleberry in the corner.  I really like the way it turned out.  It looks much richer in person.
Here's my recipe:   

Stamps:  Because I Care, Teeny Tiny Wishes,
                 God's Blessings
Paper:     Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi, black, white, 
                 water color
Ink:         Black Staz on
Other:     Jewels (I took the prongs off and used glue  dots

That's it for me.  I think I'll go start on my Mojo Monday Card!

Have a great week!

Blessings,
Terri

My New Craft Room

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm so glad it's the weekend and it's going to be cooler, YAY!  This week I have been organizing my "new" craft room.  That is, I turned my dining room into my craft room.  I'll tell you about it and share photos after I show my card.

During Stampin' Up's recent 60% off sale, I went hog wild.  (That's a southern term for all you yankees :)  I bought a bunch of DSP, ribbon, and buttons.  There was a pack of DSP called Haiku and I fell in love with it.  It had to be older than Summer 2009, because that's when I started using Stampin' Up and it wasn't in the big catalog.  Needless to say, it is still beautiful paper.  The piece I used on this card yelled for Asian Artistry.  At least I thought so.  What do you think?

I thought the flower in the middle of the paper looked almost identical to this flower.  Or, at least, a close cousin.  The Asian Artistry set is one of my favorites.  Here is my recipe:

Stamps:   Asian Artistry
Paper:     Haiku DSP, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Black
Ink:        * Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi,
                 Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
* all of the above colors were from Stampin' Up Markers
Other:   Black Stazon, watercolor paper, stampin' dimensionals

So about that craft room....  It used to be in my basement, which is unfinished, can we say YUK!  It was dusty, dark and way far away from the rest of the house.  So, we have this big ol' dining room that no one ever uses.  I discussed it with my husband, and he thought it was a great idea to move my craft "stuff" there.  On one condition.....  the back wall had to stay the same.  Here is the back wall: (Two views)

He said he liked the "view" so he wanted to leave it as is.  It is a nice view, but I can see bookcases, etc., along that wall holding many a craft supply. :)))))))

I have a plastic storage bin to the right of the table. It holds ribbon, embellishments, and a few single stamps I bought that are non-SU. Next to it is a small personal table that I put my paper cutter on.  You might be able to see way back in the back, the top of a wing back chair and a flower arrangement.  That is still dining room stuff. I didn't want to move it to the basement.  Oh, this table was in my eat-in-kitchen. It has two leaves that lower down on each side.  I only lowered one side.  When both leaves are down, it is a 5 x 5 table.  Plenty of room!  On the other side of the table, I have my Big Shot and my collection of embossing folders.

I wanted to show you my new ink cartridge organizer.  The one on the left is my old SU circular cartridge holder.  It is currently holding ALL 30 retired colors.  The new holder I purchased from Organize More. This one holds 80 ink pads.  I really like their products.  I bought a ribbon holder.  It is currently holding punches.  See below picture!

This is paper, paper, and more paper.  I have non SU punches in this organizer (the one from Organize More.)  Most of them are MS, shhhhh....  The cabinet beneath is my buffet.  I have stamps hidden away in there.  They are my holiday stamps.  I also have a bunch of Sizzix holiday die cuts. They have GREAT deals at the Sizzix Outlet

Ahh, another storage cabinet.  My china cabinet!!  It holds my markers, watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, more embellishments, glues, tapes, etc., etc., etc.  All the little stuff. The bookcase to the left holds SU punches (and others) stamps, more stamps, and accessories.  If you look way back in the far left corner on the first shelf, you will see a stack of small colored DVD holders.  These jewels are my Spellbinders Nestabilities. To the right of my cabinet and just beneath Scarlet (I had to leave her in the dining room!) is my copier/printer and..... you guessed it, more paper!

Well, that's the "renovation" for right now.  I am in the process of unmounting my stamps and I am storing them in 6 x 9 envelopes.  I got that idea from Split Coast Stampers.  That will save a lot of room! I'll show photos when that project is finished.

Whew! That's it for me.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings, 


Terri

A New Sketch Challenge

Happy belated Tuesday!  I know I missed a post for yesterday.  I did have a card made and ready, but other events just got in the way.  You know how life is! 

I was looking through SCS submissions and ran across a sketch I fell in love with. The website is Techno Stamper.  After seeing this sketch, I knew I had to make a card using this template.  So here it is!

 

I really like the way this card turned out and I got to use the black and yellow! I am going to send this card to my niece who just had her appendix taken out.  So I'm glad this card turned out for her.  Here is the recipe:

Stamps:   Sincere Salutations, Of the Earth, Charming
Paper:     Greenhouse Gala, Daffodil Delight, white, black
Other:     Black grosgrain ribbon, scalloped corner punch

I would also like to bring to your attention (if you haven't already noticed) the bend or warped look of the back of the card (the second picture where you can see the inside).  Can you tell this is non SU paper????  This card is a 6 x 6, so I needed a 12x12 piece of white card stock and I only had some that I bought at my local craft store.  Can I say, "never again"????  This paper is supposed to be card stock, but can you see  how flimsy it is??  I am going to have to add another piece of card stock to make it sturdier.  I have to admit that Stampin' Up card stock is the strongest and best of any I have ever bought.  And I'm not just saying that because I'm a demonstrator.  It's from experience!

Well, that's all from me.  I hope you have a wonderful day!  Thanks for dropping by!

Blessings,


Terri

Mojo Monday 144

Happy Monday everyone!  I got up feeling pretty good this morning and decided to make my card first thing rather than later.  I even had to go to the Mojo website because I still had not received my email yet!  Surprise for me!

Here is my card.  I really wanted to make something yellow and black (I received my Stampin' Up Success magazine and it was all about yellow and black, but of course, Mary Fish had already used those colors for her Mojo 144.  And since she is a member of the design team.....  Need I say more?!)  So anyhow, I decided on a 4th of July Card.   Here is the recipe:

Stamps:  Red, white & blue wheel,
                Fourth of July
Ink:        Real Red, Not Quite Navy
Other:     Curly Label Punch, white dots

My card is just a little bit different than the sketch.  It seems it always is.  I didn't have enough room at the bottom to add the "jewels" so I put mine on the tab.  I think it worked out just fine!

That's it for me. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Blessings,


Terri

Epiphany with an old Mojo

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a great Thursday.  I had a great morning working on my card.  So great it fact, I had an epiphany!  Don't you just love those!  Today's blog may take a few more minutes than usual, so sit back and stay awhile.  First, here is my card:

This is a birthday card I made for my nephew's fiance.  I was looking through some old mojo sketches and decided on this one.  This is Mojo 99 from 10 August 2009!  Whoa... that was awhile back.  But the sketch is still a great one. And this Mojo is a first for me.
     Recipe:
     Paper:    Jersey Shore DSP, retired, Brilliant Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
     Ink:        Brilliant Blue
     Stamps:  Wow Flowers

I don't know about you, but it is rare that I make multiples of any of the cards I make.  They are usually one-a-kind.  And as you may know, that means alot of trial and error getting all your layers just right. (Can we say layers on this sketch!)   Needless to say, I was wasting alot of DSP and card stock attempting to get just the right size.  Soooo, here is my epiphany.  The thought finally occurred to me, "Terri, why don't you use plain old copy paper to work out your templates???"  DUH!  Can I say it again? DUH!   Now some of you may be alot smarter than me and you have already thought of this idea.  Good for you.  I just wish someone had passed it along to me alot sooner! LOL!!  But, if you're like me and have been wasting your valuable card stock, I hope this little bit of insight works for you also!

The other major thing for me today is that I bought a new camera!, YAY!  I still need to work on my lighting, but I think this camera is taking great pictures!

That's all for me tonight!  I hope you have a wonderful evening!

Blessings,


Terri

First Masculine Card (Except Father's Day!)

Hello everyone!  I am very excited about the card I made today.  Except for the card I made for Father's Day (and it was a non-stamp card), this is the first general purpose masculine card I have ever made.  I really like it!

My brother-in-law's birthday is next week, so I needed a card for him.  I actually cased this card from Mary Fisher.  She is Stampin' Up Demonstrator as well as a former SCS  Dirty Dozen.  She is currently a Pals Paper Arts Design Team member.  I really, really like her work, 
Click here  to view her website.

Here is my card. Outside and Inside views:

Here is my recipe:
Stamps:  Autumn Days, Birthday Bliss
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Sweet Pea DSP, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Earth Elements Button, Twine, punches

I changed a few items, such as the paper and the sentiment.  However, layout design and other stamp selection is hers.

 I have to admit, this card looks so much better in person.  I need a better camera for taking pictures up close.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I would appreciate any advice you could give!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Blessings,


Terri