CRISS CROSS CARD BOX

Check this out!! How cool is this box? My favorite part is the flower embellishment. I couldn't decide how I would decorate this box, but this flower design took shape when I started playing with some punches . . . Scallop Circle (for the backing), large and small Ovals, 5-Petal, and Boho Blossoms. All of the designer papers are from the Ginger Blossom collection, and card stock colors are Sahara Sand, Groovy Guava, and Ruby Red. The front left needs something, but I can't decide what to put there. I might have to plan a class for this box and some greeting cards to fill it! ETA: Last night, I decided to add a piece of HodgePodge Hardware to the bottom left corner of the box. I think that's just what the corner needed! I also dressed up the sides of the box by adding an embossed panel.

ONE MORE CRAYON RESIST

This one is for my weekly swap with Laura. Sure hope she doesn't check the blog before she checks her mailbox! ;-)

THE LAST MONDAY MAILER FOR APRIL

It's hard to believe that April is coming to a close! This is the last Monday Mailer that I will be sending this month. I used "Doodle This" and "Curvy Verses" stamp sets to create this card. Other SU products used include Lovely Lilac, Basic Black, and Glossy card stock, silver brads, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, silver embossing powder, Stampin' Sponges, and Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, and So Saffron Classic inks. The Crayon Resist technique was used for the white highlights on the stamped layer.

ANGRY REPORTER

I feel a kinship to this reporter! Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GzYQOTpNic&feature=related.

MY DEAR, KIND & WONDERFUL FRIEND

I was supposed to send a swap to my friend, Laura, by Monday, but I didn't get it made until tonight. That meant I would have to make something special to make up for being late. I pulled out a few items . . . Sticky Cuts Letters, Boho Blossoms punch, Afternoon Tea designer paper, Chunky Glitter, and "All Holidays" stamp set. Laura had mentioned that
she really liked this sentiment stamp but didn't have it (yet), so that was just another reason to use it! This is the card that came together, rather easily. I really like this card and hope Laura likes it, too.

ANOTHER MONDAY MAILER

Happy Monday!!! Thought I'd share the "Monday Mailer" that I will be sending out today. This one was easy peasy to make! I used "A Perfect Day" rub-ons (the white flower center and birthday greeting), created a pocket for the pull-out, and placed the large flower (Die Cut Blooms) so that it hides the message when the pull-out is in the pocket. The flower center, which I'm not exactly thrilled with, was coated with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. And, of course, I used that awesome "Afternoon Tea" designer paper!

CHEERY FRIDAY!!!

How's this for a cheery Friday post? I was up til the wee hours this a.m. adding the finishing touches to this card. Actually, the whole design was a "finishing touch" since I wasn't quite sure what to do with this fold. Ha! This card is full of bling, though! Rhinestone brad, regular brads, fun flowers, and even a piece of "Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware"! For some reason, I really want to add some ribbon, but where???? SU products used to create this card, other than those already mentioned, include East Coast Prep designer paper, "Pick a Petal" and "Stem Sayings" stamp sets, 5-Petal Flower punch, Crimper, and Boho Blossoms punch. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

FROM THE GARDEN

Okay . . . so even I can see the humor in a post on my blog referring to a garden! Even the weeds hate that they grow so well here! I wish that I had more interest in tending to flower beds and having a lot of flowers outside--I LOVE flowers--but the summer heat, bugs, slugs, and things that slither keep me indoors. So, my floral creations get tended to in the stamp room! Several hours ago, I set out to do something with the Cricut since I haven't had a chance to play with it for a while. I didn't do the actual cut design for this card--a very talented lady in the UK did that--but I took her design and added some of my own flair to it. That's one thing that I love about the internet . . . many talented people are willing to use the DesignStudio software available for the Cricut to make awesome project designs, and they share those designs at NO CHARGE! Since I still haven't read the manual for the software (or the Cricut), those talented designers in the world make it possible for me to create awesome projects! SU products used to create this card include Night of Navy, Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue, and So Saffron textured card stock, Brushed Copper card stock (love this stuff), Whisper White card stock, Accents & Elements Flower Fusion (felt flowers in the center of the So Saffron flowers), Rhinestone brads, Tag punches, "Big Pieces" and "All Holidays" stamp sets. Since there are a lot of intricate areas to be glued, I used SU's Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive. Let me just tell you . . . that glue keeps everything in place! BTW, I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss the copper watering can. ETA: Die cut cards are fun but, most of the time, it's kind of tricky finding a place to write a note/message inside the card. I decided to add a piece of designer paper to the inside of this card that easily opens to the right to reveal ample space for a handwritten message.

BITTERSWEET CARD-MAKING

Late last week, a fellow demonstrator put out a "RAK Request." In case you don't know, a RAK is a Random Act of Kindness. In the stamping world, a RAK request is when you're asked to make a special card for a special person in the midst of special circumstances, and it's a RAK because you gladly make the card, fill it with hugs, and send it on its way to someone you don't know and will, most likely, never meet. The RAK that was requested last week was for a girl named Holly who has leukemia. Holly graduated from high school last year and should be having the time of her life, but she's barely clinging to life as the leukemia is winning the battle. So, so sad!!! The demonstrator who requested the RAK is a friend of Holly's aunt, so I made two RAK's . . . one for Holly and one for her aunt. Being a little short on time and wanting to get these cards mailed ASAP, I cheated and used a fun Cuttlebug embossing folder technique. When you say your prayers, try to remember this special girl, Holly, and her family. We'll never know them or meet them, but I'm sure we can all whisper a prayer for them.

WESTERN CREATIONS

Before I get back to the taxes (can you tell I'm procrastinating), I decided to share these cards. The first one, a "flap fold," is one that I made for a good friend of mine. I had already tied the knot in the ribbon and didn't want to undo it, so there won't be a picture of the inside. The best looking part of the card is what I took a picture of, so you're not missing much. SU products used to create this card include Blue Bayou, River Rock, Vellum, and Whisper White card stock, River Rock Double-Stitched ribbon, Scallop Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, white gel pen, Rhinestone Brad, "All Holidays" and "Boho Backgrounds" stamp sets, and Western Sky designer paper. The second card is one that I made for a "Monday Mailer" swap. There are two themes for the MM swap this month - masculine and/or Summer. This card has some fun elements to it . . . the two "build-a-brads" created with the "Starstruck" stamp set, fun use of Western designer paper, and the layered stars. The largest star has been punched with a piercing tool, and I punched a small circle "washer" for the antique brad. Since this is a Father's Day card design, it needed some extra "hardware." ;-) Although I didn't have a specific plan when I started designing these cards, I think it's interesting how well the Western designer paper fit the masculine and feminine design of these two cards.

VERTICAL CARD BOX

Uncle Sam has me under his thumb to get my tax "stuff" in order, but what's a day without stamping? In case you're also devoting time for taxes today, here's a neat project to feast your eyes upon. Products used to create this box: Elegant Eggplant, Kraft, and Whisper White card stock, Rhinestone Brad, Designer Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, and "Embrace Life" stamp set.

NIFTY TRIANGLE BOX

I call this . . . Boho Bliss. The box was created with Berry Bliss designer paper, and the scallop-edged embellishment was created with SU's "Boho Backgrounds" stamp set. This box, as neat as it looks, is actually quite awkward in design. It was designed to reveal a small opening when the flap is lifted--supposedly, to slip a gift card into. I thought it seems like such a waste to have so much box for only a gift card, so I altered the design. The scallop-edged embellishment is attached with Stampin' Dimensionals at the bottom, and the top portion of the embellishment is free to hold the flap in place. When the ribbon is untied and the flap is lifted, the front panel of the box opens completely! I forgot to take a picture of the open box and didn't want to untie the bow just for that, so try to imagine it. ;-)

I'VE BEEN "CRICUT-ING"

Chirp! Chirp! There's a "Cricut" in the house, and it's been cuttin'! I recently purchased some cartridges and have been itchin' to play with them, although I haven't had a lot of time. This has been a week of VERY late nights, VERY early mornings, and a VERY tired Regina. I was looking at some silhouette stamp images in SU's mini catalog and decided to try making my own tulip silhouette. Once I got it cut, I wanted to color the flowers, so I used Pearl Ex for that. I love the shimmery, soft look of PE, but I wish the colors showed more vibrant. The fence was cut with a Sizzix die, and the sentiment is a Cricut cut. Card stock is Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Basic Black, and Pretty in Pink. I think mamaw will be pleased with this card!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

My daddy is having one of those "big 0" birthdays on Thursday, and this is the card that I made for him. I had no idea what kind of card to make this year! Normally, I use one of SU's retired sets . . . Classic Pickups or Classic Convertibles, but I wanted something different. I wanted an antique/vintage look, but where to go with that????? So, I started pulling out retired designer papers that appealed to me, and then I remembered the retired "Artifacts" stamp set that I just couldn't part with, and the card design was underway. Have you ever made a card that you weren't really sure where it's design was heading and then it surprised even you when it was complete? That's how this card was! It doesn't take long to realize that the collage design of the paper did most of the design work for me--all I did was add a couple of enhancements, which include the "cracked glass" clock face with a build-a-brad center (can you see the cracks?), distressed sentiment, and the die-cut, embossed, and distressed key. In case you're wondering, I don't have to worry that daddy will see the card before he receives it because he's out of town and won't be home until Thursday. Hee! Hee! I hope he likes his card!

"CAROUSEL NOTES" TOTE

Check this out! Doesn't that "Afternoon Tea" designer paper look gorgeous???? And to think . . . I started to not even order it, but I'm so glad I did! To make this project, I used the Carousel Notes--a new SU product that's offered in the "Occasions" mini catalog. I started by making a "bagalope" (a bag from an envelope) using one of the Chocolate Chip envelopes that are included with the Carousel Notes and then used two of the card stock, scallop-edged notes which were decorated with the designer paper. I used Chocolate Chip Poly Twill ribbon (also available in the "Occasions" mini catalog), pewter Jumbo Eyelets (love these things!), and a pewter ribbon slide/buckle from a HodgePodge Hardware kit. Now, my sister owns the hardware kit from which I borrowed the ribbon slide, and she doesn't know that I got into her stash of SU supplies. I think it's just great that she keeps them all at my house! When you make a project for the first time, you usually take note of things to remember the next time and this project was no exception. I must remember (DUH!!!) that the sides of this tote and a good portion of the scallop-edged notes are visible, so I must pay more attention to those areas the next time. I tried to take the photo so the "oopsies" wouldn't be so obvious. ;-) All in all, this is a nifty project for those Carousel Notes! As far as bags, boxes, and totes go, this was a relatively simple project!

CRAB & COMPANY BIRTHDAY

This morning, I was frantically trying to complete a birthday card for a precious little girl who just turned 2 y/o yesterday. I don't know where the time has gone, but it seems to be flying away from me . . . at warp speed! Anyway, I had in my mind how I wanted this card to look but, in my haste, I forgot to put the wiggle eyes on the card! And . . . what's worse, I accidentally smeared the glittered candle before it dried! So sorry, Madison!!! My intentions were to also make a second card to send to a special friend whom I swap cards with every Monday, but time ran out. Tonight, as I was looking at the picture I took this morning, that's when I noticed that Madison's card had no wiggle eyes. So, I picked up where I left off, and Laura's card not only has the wiggle eyes, it has the crab holding a birthday hat--a nifty after-thought!

THIS WEEK'S MONDAY MAILER

Yesterday was the last Monday to send a "non-floral" card to my "Monday Mailer" partner, and this is the card I made. Doesn't the designer paper look great???? The purses were created with the Round Tab and Oval punches. The oval punches were used again, along with the Designer Label punch, to jazz up the sentiment. Other features of this card are the scalloped edge (created with the Corner Rounder punch) and the doodle art. I know, I know . . . I'm addicted to doodling!