Runnin' on Empty...

Can't you just hear that song playing now? I'm sure some of you are to young to remember the old Jackson Brown song. Ever since I made this card Friday night, I can't get it out of my head.

These stamps are from the new set by Hanna Stamps called Route 66. The set will be released this Friday, February 22nd. This isn't the main image of the set, but it was the first idea I had ~ so that's what I made. I'll have a few more samples to show you in the next few days.

Circle Writing Tip: The "Runnin' On Empty" words were made using Microsoft Word's Word Art. Here are the steps:

Go to Insert>Picture>Word Art. Select the half-circle shape with simple black letters (the third shape in the top row). In the box, shoose your font and size, then type your text and click OK. Click on your words to select them, and the Word Art tool bar will appear. Click the WordArt Shape button, and choose Circle (Curve) from the menu. The words will be all messed up. Click on your text again to select it, and go to Format>WordArt. Click the Size tab and enter the height and width (set them the same for a circle). I used 1.2" x 1.2" so I it would fit inside the punch I was using. Click the Colors and Lines tab. Under Fill, select a color for your type. Under Line, select No Line. Then click OK. (I found this tip in Simple Scrapbooks Magazine).

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Hanna Stamps (Route 66); Paper ~ Stampin' Up!; Ink ~ Palette Black, Copic Markers; Embossing Plate ~ Cuttlebug; Punches, Brads and Ribbon ~ Stampin' Up!.

My upcoming Stamp-A-Stack...

I'm having a class this week and thought I'd give a little peek at what we'll be up to. The girls will make 8 cards with matching envelopes in these two designs.

Supplies Used are all Stampin' Up!

ETA: The picture of the second card is bugging me! The pattern paper is really straight, but the angle of the photo makes it look all wonky!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Heart Day! Just thought I would share the Valentine I made for my sweetie and the little Cupcake Tag I made for my Cupcake kits ~ which were a big hit with my friends by the way! This has to be one of my very favorite stamps by Lizzie Anne Designs. It comes as a single stamp and get this ~ it's only $4.99! I love it because you can make the cupcake for any occasion ~ birthday, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc...

I hope you all have a wonderful day with the people you love!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Cupcake); Ink ~ Palette Black & Copic Markers; Embossing Plates ~ Cuttlebug (Swiss Dot & Block Hearts ~ on the card; Swirls on the tag); Punches (tag) ~ Marvy; Dies (card) ~ Nestabilities; Ribbon ~ May Arts.

Last few pages...

Well these are the last few pictures of my little chipboard book. This was such a blast to make! I can't begin to tell you how much I love my friends ~ they are so special.

All Supplies are by Doodlebug Designs.

The next few pages...

Oh my goodness! I almost forgot to post more pages today ~ what was I thinking?

Anyway, here are too more pages that make me happy. Miss Lana Sue Who, aka My Quiet Time Buddy, just constantly makes me laugh & smile. Every now and then, I will have to pick up this little book to get me through the next several months until our next retreat in August ~ CAN'T WAIT!

OK ~ here are some more pages...

I cannot believe how many people I talked to today that asked me, "When are you going to post more pictures of that cute little book?". Wow ~ people really do read my blog! This is totally cracking me up! I told you I would post more and here are 4 more pages. Gotta leave something fun for tomorrow and the next day ya know.

Outside of vacations with my family, these retreats with my girlfriends are THE BEST trips EVER! I've never laughed so much or been that sleep deprived in my life!

More tomorrow...

From Trash to Treasure...

I don't usually have an eye for trash; however, I went out to eat with my family a few months ago and saw these coasters on the table. I immediately stuffed 6 of them into my purse because I knew I could make something pretty cool with them. My husband just looked at me and rolled his eyes, but knew that I was excited about something. He stopped asking questions a long time ago. In fact when something comes up missing around the house, he usually assumes it's in my studio. He teases me because I never iron or sew unless it's for a papercrafting project. Good thing he likes to have a good laugh ~ even if it is at my expense. I guess it's a small price to pay for a supportive husband.

Stay tuned in the days ahead to see the pages of My Crazy Friends book!

Supplies Used: Doodlebug ~ paper, rub-on flowers, rub-on alphabets, ric-rac, brads, and jewels.

Rated E...Thanks!

Thanks Miss Cami! My sweet friend and fellow blogger awarded me with an Excellent Blogger Award! How nice is that? So now I have the difficult task of naming just 10 Excelllent blogs that I love to visit! So I decided that I would name blogs I love to visit that haven't been given an "E Award".

Frances Byrne ; Kendra Giles ; Debbie Fisher ; Ellen Hutson ; Michelle Wooderson ; Lisa Johnson ; Cindy Lyles ; Meridith Ethington ; Tricia Ulberg ; Lori Craig

One More Kit...

I found these ADORABLE frog cupcake papers by Wilton. That meant that I had to make some lolly pop sticks using the cute little frog from Once Upon A Time set (Lizzie Anne Designs). I just love when I find something in the store that I have a stamp to match. I get totally excited about it & then I have to make a billion of them. So guess what I've been doing in all my "spare" time ~ yes coloring cupcakes and frogs! I have enough supplies right now for 5 kits, just thought of someone else I'd like one for and now my kids are wondering why they don't have one. So I guess I'll be running back to Target for the cake mix & frosting tomorrow!

Cupcake Kits...

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about these adorable little cupcake kits!!! My wonderful friend Michelle Wooderson made these for Christmas & I couldn't wait to try them too. I originally wanted to make some for Christmas as well, but time just didn't allow. Then Lizzie Anne Designs came out with this adorable cupcake stamp and I knew I just had to do this kit for Valentine's Day! Thank you Mish for your constant inspiration and your permission to CASE the idea ~ YOU ROCK GIRLFRIEND!!!

OH ~ and did you know they made CUPID CORN? How fun is that?!!!?

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Hey Cupcake Single (Lizzie Anne Designs); Ink ~ Black Palette & Copic Markers; Punches ~ Marvy; Ribbon ~ May Arts; Embossing Plate ~ Cuttlebug; Cupcake papers & lollypop sticks ~ Wilton.

Valentine Puzzle Book...

Wooohooo! I spent yesterday and today working on this project and got it done! I'm not only happy with the end result, but I bought all the supplies less than a month ago and now it's done. I don't know about you, but I will see something in the store and just have to have it for a special project. Months (or even years) down the road, nothing gets done on the project. So this feels really good.

So which project(s) are you going to get out that have been sitting around for months or years? Find something that will get you going and make that craft item that you have had on your "To Do" list & just Get it Done!

Supplies Used: Chipboard Puzzle Pieces ~ Unknown; Paper, Chipboard Letters, Rub-ons, & stickers ~ Making Memories Love Story Collection; paint ~ white acrylic paint; Ribbon ~ Misc.

What a Face!

I wish I would do this more often! "I LOVE scrapbooking ~ why don't I just do it more?" This is the question I ask myself every time I finish a layout. Scrapbooking is how I started this wonderful paper crafting hobby. I bought this layout as a kit when I was in Las Vegas last month while visiting a friend. So it was easy peasy to just slap together ~ Gotta love that even more!

My challenge to you this week ~ get some pictures out & do something fun with them. How about a layout, a mini scrapbook, or maybe even a card with a photo on it? I've got another fun Valentine project that involves photos of the people I love. I'm working it right now & can't wait to share it with you ~ I hope to finish that up today.

Happy Sunday!

They Lived Happily Ever After...

Here is the final installment of the Once Upon A Time Story. This is a super fun set & I hope I showed you some things that would inspire you with it. I was thrilled that in the 5 projects I made, I was able to use all of the images in the stamp set. Enjoy!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Once Upon A Time & Happy Birthday); Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up!; Pattern Paper ~Heidi Grace; Dies/Punches ~ Nestabilities & Stampin' Up!; Ink ~ Palette Black & Copics; Ribbon ~ May Arts; Jewels ~ K & Co.

. . . The End

...to protect the Princess from Dragons!

And now we have Chapter 4 of our Once Upon A Time Story. Let me tell you, I was so excited to make a boy card out of a princess set ~ you just get so much more for your money!

I was searching around the internet the other day and found this cool site called Card Positioning Systems. Each week they have a new card sketch and several ideas to go along with it. It's a great place to find a little inspiration when you are totally blocked! That's where I found the card layout for this dragon card & then I decided to make it both directions ~ way fun!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Once Upon A Time, Sketched Sentiments); Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up!; Paper ~ Basic Grey; Ink ~ Palette Black & Copic Markers; Embossing Plate ~ Cuttlebug; Ribbon ~ Stampin' Up!; Staples.