Archive for August, 2009

I wanted to play along with the 365 Cards challenge for the day. They gave a sketch and you had to keep the white space…in my case tan space. This worked perfectly for a going away party that I am attending tonight. I needed a good luck card for a couple, so I didn’t want to make it too girly. I used Marrakech paper from Basic Grey. I distressed it with Brushed Corduroy Ranger ink. I added Dew Drops…are you really surprised?

Erica

Card supplies:
Stamps: GWP by The Angel Company
Ink: Brushed Corduroy by Ranger
Paper: Marrakech by Basic Grey, Paper Reflections
Accessories: Dew Drops (Cherry Choc drop)

I am such a slacker. Dani came up with this AMAZING sketch two weeks ago and hadn’t gotten around to making anything. Finally, I was able to sit down and make this.This is for a friend’s birthday. I got this awesome “stampie” (Jen‘s termanology that some of us have adopted) from Donna and I just thought it would be perfect for the idea I had when it came to this card. I was going to alter the image by either inking the edges or inking over the image since it is embossed (I know there is a name for that technique but it just isn’t coming to me right now…if you know please comment…if you don’t, still comment ), but it was just so pretty I was worried I would mess something up and I couldn’t just ink up another one at my will. I used marroon sparkly DCWV paper that is actually from last year’s Christmas stack, but you can’t tell. I love dual purpose Christmas paper! I then overlayed silver damask vellum over DCWV marroon paper and kept it in place with black brads. The ribbon is from Hy-Vee floral. Someone at my old job got flowers and when the flowers were old they were going to throw out everything and I just couldn’t see pretty ribbon going to waste like that, so I snatched it up before it landed in the trash. Finally, I had to add some of my newest favorite touches, Dew Drops. I love how Dew Drops are clearish, so depending on what color you place them on, they change colors. These became the exact color I needed once they were placed on black paper. Nifty, huh!?
So I act like I have been super busy and that is why I haven’t been stamping. Well, I have been busy with school, but honestly the biggest thing stopping me from stamping is that I am just ADDICTED to these Sookie Stackhouse novels that I am reading. I never want to put them down. I know, I need to balance better and I promise I will try.
I have been doing some things besides school and thought I would share some photos. This is (clockways from left) Naunna, Michaela, me and Amy at Michaela’s birthday party. We went out to a hibashi restaurant in a town about 30 minutes from us. We all dressed up and had a blast. We even did a little shopping.Back to school time means Rush (Recruitment) begins. This is (from left) Sarah, Candace, Amanda, Amy and me at our sorority house helping out. Tonight is the girl’s last night and I hope they do really well. I have a going away party to attend, so I will not be helping out tonight. Honestly, I barely helped yesterday. There were so many alums that I stayed out of the way and read my book. It was a win win for everyone. I got a lot of pages done and I didn’t break anything! (No Amy, Cheryl broke that cup at my feet!)Finally, Wednesday I got home after a very long school day and found these in my room. My dad works at a grocery store and found them. As he says, “I was walking down the aisle and saw a box that said Blue Moon really big on it.” Yes, he said Blue Moon. Hilarious! I might be back later today with some more projects. I am finding that I have gotten very behind on my projects due to these fabulous books. I finished number 5 and have not dared to start 6 until all of my projects are completed! Have a wonderful day!

Erica

Rebecca is our awesome hostess for this weeks Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge. Check out what she has to say!

Beth is the awesome hostess for this week’s Twilight Tuesday Challenge and here is what she has to say about the challenge:
I love music! I relate just about everything I hear in songs to something. I just breathe it in – I FEEL it! So my challenge is going to draw on that. I challenge you to think about the Saga as a whole, and then to decide in retrospect, what Edward and Bella’s song should be. It can be a song about a particular part of their relationship, or their journey as a whole. Be prepared to explain!! This IS a variation of a prior challenge, so I ask that you try and go in a different direction if you participated previously! This will take some thought before project ideas even come into play – I better go start studying my iPod now…
Challenge Portion: Choose a song. Explain why it should be theirs. Share lyrics that are particularly poignant, if you can. Create a project scrapbook layout around this song.
Comment Portion: Do you have a theme song? One that seems to have been written *just* for you? Do tell! You can go as fun or profound as you are comfortable with – it is all good!

*Warning there could be spoilers. If you have not finished the Twilight Saga, read at your own risk.

I have to be honest with you, I was scared out of my mind about this challenge. Not only did it deal with music, something I am not great with (I know, I know, I used to work at a radio station) but I had to make a scrapbook page, another thing I don’t do very often. Then I was listening to the radio and the song just came to me…and then I listened later and another second song and realized what I needed to do…I made two pages. The first is from Edward’s perspective. I used the song “She is Love” by Parachute. Some of the lyrics I liked the best were, “And I lost my faith, in my darkest days, but she makes me want to believe,” (New Moon) and “And when that world slows down, dear. And when those stars burn out, here. Oh she’lll be here, yes she’ll be here,” (their undying love that they will always be together no matter what) and finally, “She is Love, and she is all I need.” (the whole series) Originally the page was supposed to be just the purple background with the lyrics, but due to some measurement errors on my part, I added some layers which is better than what I originally wanted. I added three pictures of Edward and Bella together. I also finished off the page with the lyrics typed out on white paper and then added light purple stamped hearts.

The second page is from Bella’s POV.

Michaela’s birthday is coming up and I asked her what she wanted. She is being stubborn and the only thing she will tell me is that she wants me to make her a card. Well that is a given…but I still need to figure out the second part. (Donna, if you are reading this, if there is a cute Australian saying for friendship or birthdays I would love to know it, Michaela is Australian and I think she would get a kick out of it!) Here is what I made her:

I am also using this card for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge: 16 Candles. You were to make a birthday card using 80s colors. I think the florecents are a perfect 80s touch.
I had some retail therapy with my mom today and she saw these cute glittery flowers. Since I didn’t need anymore stamps I got some embellishments instead. I also got another set of the flowers that are in fall colors that I am sure you will be seeing soon. As soon as I put them up to pay for them Tanya, the owner of my LSS (not very local but the closest I have 35 minutes away from home) told me she had the matching paper packs. Twist my arm, I got both (well I only got one and mom bought me the other because I have the best mom ever!)! I used the Glitter Sheets for the strips on the card. They are from Petaloo. They are really sturdy sheets but I will say that I am covered in glitter right now. I feel very festive!
This has been a very stressful week. Most importantly this was my last week at the job that I have for over 4 years. Then I got the syllabus for one of my classes and I am now scared to death about the class. Oh and from the syllabus it looks like we don’t have class most Friday’s which is a plus and will save on gas, but I have been telling all the jobs I have been applying for that I have class on Friday so I couldn’t work then. I hope those couple of hours didn’t cost me a position. GRRR! Finally (this will sound silly) my shower has been beating me up. My shower wasn’t draining right so the plumber came to fix the drain and thought he would be nice and “fixed” the shower head so that it has better pressure, only now I swear it takes off a layer of skin. The shower is supposed to be relaxing but being pumelled by water is NOT relaxing. See, I have been a bit stressed, so mom and I went shopping. I had saved some money for some new clothes for the start of school. Since most of my clothes are for business, I needed to restock. I got some awesome deals and had the best time hanging out with mom and sharing Chinese at the food court.
Now I am off to read more of my book or watch some more of True Blood season 1. I am soooooo hooked to the show and books, especially the books. Have a wonderful night!

Card Supplies:
Paper: Paper Reflections, DCWV, Petaloo
Stamps: Stamping Bella
Ink: Memories, Bics, Tombos
Accessories: Petaloo

Here is the card I made using the awesome sketch Dani created for Twilight Tuesday. This is a thank you my friend asked to buy from me. (I don’t like charging her, but she insists!) I decided to use my Wysteria paper from Basic Grey. I think I made need to buy some new black embossing powder soon because I am going through it like crazy recently. My new favorite thing is to emboss on patterned paper. Next I just need to learn how to use other colors besides black!

Twilight Tuesday is back with another special Wednesday challenge, and this time, I created something for it.! This is Twilight Tuesday’s second challenge sponsored by Club Scrap. For today’s challenge, I am using the Geared Up Photo Flag book kit for an Anything But A Card challenge! You can see the kits, and shop online, at Club Scrap’s site. Geared up is perfect to showcase the men of Twilight, or the men in your life. Oh, and once you try this paper out, you will be buying every single one of their albums and products!
I made an album using the kit but twisted things up when I inserted the pages, making it more of a standard looking album instead of making look flag-like. As you can see, the top flaps are for the characters and the bottom flaps are for the actors. All of the characters have a quote on them and the actors have a couple of movies or facts listed on each of their pages. (Sorry this is going to be long, but I wanted to show you how much you could put in this album!)Carlise’s quote: “I’m Carlisle. This is my family, Emmettt and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alic, Edward and Bella.” Twilight Chapter 18, pg. 377. I also used my Artful Inkables Fictionally Inspired set for his name in the corner. (I used this set a lot for a little bit of touches here and there)Emmett’s quote: “I’ll try not to break anything.” Eclipse, Chapter 18, p. 394.Jasper’s quote: “You held out your hand, and I took it without stopping to make sense of what I was doing. For the first time in almost a century, I felt hope.” Eclipse, Chapter 13, p.301Jacob’s quote: “As long as you like me best. And you think I;m good looking – sort of. I’m prepared to be annoyingly persistent.” New Moon, Chp. 9, pg. 212Jacob wolf quote: “I kind of liked how, a lot of the time, she seemed to forget that I wasn’t completely human.” Breaking Dawn, Ch. 13. pg. 245.Edward quotes are from Fictionally Inspired by Artful Inkables and the pin is from Hot Topic. The quotes are, “If I could dream at all, it would be of you.” “Be Safe.” “Look after my heart – I’ve left it with you.”

All of the photos were from the Sexy Stars of Twilight magazine presented by US Weekly. There was such a variety in it, plus I got 7 posters! The accessories that I used are Reflections from Michael’s and some sent by Margie (thank you!!!!) The paper is from the Boys will be Boys Paper Studios pack.

Visit the Design Team and Guest Designers to see what they have created with these great kits:Beth ~ Dani ~ Eve ~ Rebecca ~ Alison

Today, I am the hostess for the Twilight Tuesday Inspiration Challenge! I can’t tell you how excited I am and I hope you all enjoy!

Breaking Dawn is my favorite book of the series, like many of you, so I was really trying to think about what I loved about the 4th book. Of course I love the romance, but that is throughout the whole series. One thing that I love about Breaking Dawn is how SM really looks into Jacob, especially his relationship with his new pack, especially Leah.

“It would be interesting, at the very least, and strange, too, to have Leah as a companion – as a friend. We were going to get under each other’s skin a lot, that was for sure. She wouldn’t be one to let me wallow, but I thought that was a good thing. I’d probably need someone to kick my butt now and then. But when it came right down to it, she was really the only friend who had any chance of understanding what I was going through now.” Breaking Dawn, Book 2 pg. 336

For the craft portion: Make a project using at least 2 items that you wouldn’t think normally go together. Whether it be two colors, or two different patterns or something elegant and rough, it is up to you. As far as the subject, have fun with it. Celebrate one of your unlikely friendships or an unlikely friendship in the Twilight Saga.

For the comment portion: Do you have an unlkely friendship? What makes you different but what unites you at the same time?

Here is what I came up with:I chose this topic because I wanted to go outside the box. I usually think that floral images should be bright and colorful and pastels, so I decided to go dark. So my two unlikely things are black embossing powder and a floral image. It isn’t what I normally do, but I like how it turned out. I also think that the contrast between the soft pink, bright silver and the bold black all come together nicely.

This card is for my unlikely friend Amy. Amy and I have been “sisters” for 8 years, lived together for 2 of those years and have been friends since January. I should rephrase that. We were always friends, but in January of this year is when we really started to hang out and she become the person that I call if I want someone to go to dinner with, shopping or just a good talk. Amy and I met in college and were in the same sorority house, but I was a year older and we just kind of ran in different social circles. In January we had a reunion for the house and afterward neither of us wanted to go home, so we decided to go to a movie, the rest is history. We went to Stampede together this summer, she has let me help teach in her classroom, and just last Sunday we took a road trip to see Les Mis. She is a really great friend and I am really lucky to have her around…as long as she has no limes in her hand (that’s for you Amy!)

I hope you all play along! If you need a little inspiration our Design Team has fantastic projects to display for this week’s challenge – please go and check them out!
Beth ~ Dani ~ Eve ~ Jen ~ Julie ~ Margie ~ Rebecca ~ Tonya (taking a break this week)
with Guest Designers:
Alison ~ Donna ~ Jacquie ~ Erica

Hello everyone! I am back from Vegas with money in my pocket and no ring on my finger, so all in all a very successful trip. I wanted to share some photos. Sorry, there are a lot. I have many many more on Facebook so check them out. I know some of you already have. Thank you Alison for your lovely complement!Here is me holding a pair of Michael Kors shoes. I love Project Runway and he is one of the judges, so this was a treat. Surprisingly the shoes were less than $100 but the purses were much, much more!This is the ceiling of the Bellagio lobby. I love Chihuly glass and have to see it every time I go to Vegas. It seemed even bigger this time. It was odd.Nathan Burton, comedy magician at the Flamingo. His show was really great and the two guys that were with him were absolutely fabulous. We had so much fun. Nathan Burton was on season 1 and 4 of America’s Got Talent. The back of the Luxor from the pool. I never actually got a picture of the pools, but they were awesome. We enjoyed some quiet time out there soaking our very soar muscles.The sphinx head in the middle of the Luxor. I loved this fountain and at night it was even more breathtaking. I think the photo turned out perfectly. This is in front of the Ceasar’s Forum shops. Reanna and I before the Beatles Love Cirque de Soleil show. It was so good. I can’t even begin to explain. It is one of the most amazing things these eyes have ever witnessed. I actually teared up. If you ever go to Vegas, this show is a MUST SEE! Also, check out the soundtrack because the way they set up the music was really interesting. They would make you feel safe and happy and in love and then hit you with Helter Skelter…a real shock for the system but wonderful.Me helping Tiger Tiger Woods y’all and The Golden Bear.

(Make your own caption here!)

Hope you enjoyed! I had so fun but so happy to be home and sleep in my own bed, especially with my own pillow. I should have a project done soon, but I am still very unorganized after the vacation. Have a wonderful evening!