Miss ChaCha

On Thursday, I had to make the decision to put ChaCha to sleep. Since her last shed, she had gone downhill really quickly. I hated to see her suffer.

Here are some pictures of ChaCha.

Poetic Artistry sketch challenge

Here's my submission for the sketch challenge over at Poetic Artistry. I made this card for a woman at work. Her son likes jelly beans and his birthday is coming up. The jar filled with jellybeans is actually only three stamps-the jar and a few different-shaped jellybean stamps. I used a masking method to make them look like they all fit in the jar.

Paper: The cardstock is just a card pack from AC Moore. The background and texture paper is a mat stack from AC Moore (I really have to start writing down the names).
Stamps: Close to My Heart
Ink: Star-spangled blue and clover meadow from CTMH
Embellishments: random ribbon from AC Moore (LOVE when they go on sale for 25-50 cents!)

Papertake Weekly sketch challenge

Here's my Papertake Weekly challenge submission:



Paper: White Daisy from CTMH and random background and texture paper from AC Moore
Stamps: House Mouse and random acrylic from AC Moore
Ink: Watermelon from CTMH and Staz-on black
Embellishments: white ribbon from AC Moore, stickles on the cupcake and crackle glass for the flames

Stamp Something challenge -- "3-D"

Two fun cards for this one...


This card is made with one of my favorite stamps. What's so 3-D? Take a close look at the whipped cream on the card. It is made with liquid applique. Fun stuff!

Paper: CTMH
Stamps: I think it's from Stampabilities
Ink: Staz-on black
Embellishments: liquid applique and liquid glass (for the cherries)

Here's my first Easter card of the year. And the 3-Dness? The bunny tail of course!

Paper: CTMH hydrangea purple and some random background and texture pad from AC Moore
Stamps: I think it's from Stampabilities
Ink: Staz-on black and hydrangea from CTMH
Embellishments: cute little puffball from JoAnn Fabrics

Cupcake Crafts sketch challenge and Created By Hand challenge -- "stripes"

Here's my submission for the sketch challenge over at Cupcake Crafts as well as the "stripes" challenge posted at Created By Hand. I totally missed the little embellishments at the bottom of the card when I sketched it out to create. Oops! This card is pretty neato because it opens where the big white stripe is. The orange stripes are actually on the inside of the card.

Paper: CTMH
Stamps: House Mouse
Ink: Staz-on (black)
Embellishments: Stickles on the cupcake and crackle glass on the flames

Arty Girlz challenge -- "butterflies"

Here is my submission for the Arty Girlz challenge. We just got these butterflies. Aren't they adorable?

Paper: True Teal from CTMH
Stamps: I found the quote at AC Moore
Ink: True Teal from CTMH
Embellishments: The butterflies are from Pier 1! I used stickles to make the butterfly trails.

CPS sketch challenge

Here's my submission for the CPS sketch challenge this week. I colored the HM stamp in with Close To My Heart markers. The mouse is done with Prismacolor pencils.

CARD RECIPE
Paper: Clover meadow green paper from CTMH and random polka dotted stuff I found on a shelf :)
Stamps: House Mouse, alphabet is from AC Moore, and numbers from CTMH
Ink: CTMH clover meadow and black staz-on
Embellishments: nada

House Mouse Monday Challenge

Here is my submission for the House Mouse challenge blog. I really like this sketch! I made a tragic stamping mistake while making this card. I was trying to use up some of my scraps and I stamped the HM image on cheap white paper...when I started coloring with my CTMH markers it pilled up and started bleeding. Ugh. So, I guess it turned out OK but nothing as nice as I had planned!

Some of my favorite things...

I'm sitting here thinking about the fact that I really go through spurts with crafting. Lately, I've been feeling kind of down and really haven't done a whole lot. Even after a crafting hiatus I tend to grab the same materials all the time. Here's my top five choices for crafting! What are your top five favorite things to use?

RHINESTONES!

XYRON STICKER MAKER!

CLOSE TO MY HEART PAPER!

LIQUID GLASS!

STICKLES!

Just Christmas and Birthday sketch challenge

I really like the Just Christmas and Birthday blog sketch this week! This card is made with a random assortment of paper... the flowers and stamped image are from my swap partner, Donna. How cute is the ribbon? I got it for $1 at Michael's! "Happy Birthday" was made on the Cricut.

Just Christmas and Birthday sketch challenge AND ABC "blue" challenge

I am totally loving this card! The paper is CTMH and a random mat stack from AC Moore. "Happy Birthday" is from the Cricut. The super fun ribbon was a steal at only $1 on the Michael's clearance rack! The stamped image is from Donna...the bubbles are done in liquid glass.

Just Christmas and Birthday sketch challenge AND Cute Card Thursday "spring" challenge

This is my favorite card of the night. The adorable little fairy is from my swap partner. The square felt piece is actually a coaster and I got 4 in a pack for $1 at Michael's. The circle with "spring" and the butterflies is just a B&T I made from random stamps and inks. Although it says "spring", I'm using it as a March birthday card.

CPS sketch challenge AND Daring Cardmaker's "fish/frog" challenge

This is a totally random card but I like it. My step dad bought me the frog stickers and I needed a boy birthday card for March. And here it is!

Valentine Gifts

You need:
2- hershey kisses
2- oval-shaped pieces of pink paper
1- 2" piece of pink curling ribbon
1- 1/2" glue dot
2- tiny wiggly eyes
1- tiny pink pompom

Trying to focus on the positive

It's really difficult to know that someone has passed away. It's even more disturbing when the person who has passed is young. A 12-year-old boy was killed this week when he fell into the road and was run over by a school bus at the middle school. Although I did not know him, it brings up a lot of feelings of loss.

So here's a list of 10 things that make me happy:

1. Books... the current series is House of Night but I plan to go back through all of the Twilight and Harry Potter novels in the next year or so.
2. My cat Sushi. Although he drives me absolutely insane sometimes, he is always happy to see me and wants my attention.
3. Rubber stamping. If you can't tell from this blog, I have a blast making cards. I've gotten away from scrapbooking lately.
4. Getting mail. Actual mail. The last few things I've gotten that were exciting were from my swap partner Donna. I got some really cool crafty stuff.
5. Getting my credit card bill. Seriously! I have it paid off and I am hella proud of it!
6. Cory. I know that he will always be there if I need him and we have fun together.
7. Chocolate.
8. Compliments from my students, other teachers or *gasp* even parents of students! Teaching can really be a thankless job sometimes. It's awesome to know that you are appreciated.
9. Going out for sushi. I love hanging at the Ichiban in Coplay. I've gotten to know the Yu family really well and the food is great.
10. The smell of Love Spell lotion. I have always loved that scent.

Cute Card Thursday challenge -- "valentine"

For this week's Cute Card Thursday challenge, I took a totally random spin. Being that I am single, I don't really need to make lovey-dovey valentines. Instead, I made my friend Pam a card. I'm totally loving it! The scan didn't come out really well, but it says "forget love. I'd rather fall in chocolate". If you click to enlarge you can see the liquid glass, crackle glass and (of course) stickles. :)

Daring Cardmakers challenge -- "heart"

Here is my submission for the Daring Cardmaker's challenge this week. I have to admit that I really thought this card stunk until I finished it. I was glad to find a use for this awesome spool of ribbon I bought forever ago. What do you think?

Just Christmas and Birthday sketch challenge

Here is my submission for the Just Christmas and Birthday blog. No offense to the blog, but I'm boycotting Christmas for awhile and focusing on birthday. Why you ask? Well, I am sure to lose my Christmas cards before Christmas rolls around again. No doubt about that!

Dutch Dare challenge -- "mosaic"

I am totally late on this challenge, but it's okay! I finally finished my mosaic card. I saw something in a magazine that reminded me that the challenge was happening. I was too late for the challenge but I still love the card (and the stickles of course).

Step Outside Your Box challenge -- "one word"

Here is my submission for the SOYB challenge, "one word". I think one of the words I need to remember the most is RELAX! The stamped image is a Bella I got from Donna in the mail a few days ago. I am soooo hooked on these stamps!