Tuesday Trigger: Flower Power

I wore my hair down today (sorry, ponytail), and my haircut got good reviews at the office today. "You look more professional..." Well, dang, I should have cut this haircut sooner!

For this week's Tuesday Trigger (Flower Power), I had already die cut some flowers for the card and was just about to use them until my sister gave me another idea- sea anemones. Ah hah! What a neat spin on the Trigger photo. Sea anemones are kinda like flowers under the sea, right? I ended up punching out some suns in the colors seen on the flower pillow and stamped some sea life in the background. The white faux stitching didn't turn out as well as I would have hoped against the blue background, oh well.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackberry, Tangerine, Prussian Blue. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Chipped Sapphire
Paper: Die Cuts with a View- Stack 7 (blue)
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8
Stamps: Fiskars- Just Between Friends (sentiment), Fiskars- Flip 'N Flop (fish), The Paper Company Studio- Island Lagoon (shells)
Foam adhesive: Thermoweb
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Marvy Uchida (sun)

Wee Memories Challenge #44

I went shopping today to look for some work clothes and came back with some dresses from JCPenny (50% off), score! I found out when I got home that it's supposed to snow tonight, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to wear any of them tomorrow to work. But at least I'll be ready for spring! :)

This week's Wee Memories Challenge (#44) focused on inspiration. I looked through the new March/April 2011 Paper Crafts magazine and was inspired by the "Heart Sing" card by Sarah Jay on page 78. I used similar elements...

• Solid cardstock card base with a stamped background (I love how the Antique Linen ink left a subtle impression of the dots)
  
• Diecut label popped up on foam adhesive
• Ribbon bow
• Rhinestone gems
  
• Bird image
  

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird, Warm Red, Prussian Blue. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen and Broken China
Paper: Die Cuts with a View- Sweet Stack (blue)
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8
Stamps: Fiskars- Just Between Friends (flowers, sentiment), Studio G (hummingbird), Hero Arts- Cling Dots
Foam adhesive: Thermoweb
Ribbon: Sweet Petites from A.C. Moore
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials

CPS #206

I got some great shopping deals today!

• My ATG gun adhesive ran out, so I went to Michaels and got a 2-pack. Originally $5.99. Used A.C.Moore 55% off coupon. New price $2.70. I also got 3 small containers of buttons in the dollar bin (red, white, black...Twilight, anyone? It wasn't on purpose, I promise).
  
• Went to Tuesday Morning and bought 3 stamp sets (2 for $1.99 each, 1 for $2.99) and a Martha Stewart sticker pack for $0.99.
  

** TMI alert **

Earlier this week, I asked Meg for advice on how to prevent blisters while running, and she suggested the I find some moisture wicking socks. After making my crafty rounds this morning, I went to Sports Authority to get some athletic socks. I felt like I was in the cereal aisle at the grocery store because of all the options. No joke. Despite picking up a 3-pack of new socks ($10), I still ended up with blisters on my feet (one on each foot, matching locations) when I went out for a 4.85 mile run this afternoon. At least I didn't feel the blisters at all. Maybe I just need to give in and buy new running shoes.

** Ok, we're good **

I wanted to dive right into the paper supplies that I got from Meg and Robyn last night. This card that I made is based on CPS #206 and incorporates paper from each of the ladies (the blue is from Meg and the flowers are punched out of elephant poop paper...no, it doesn't smell bad). I couldn't resist folding an origami elephant to accompany the flowers.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird
Stamps: The Paper Company Studio- Greetings (sentiment)
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Carla Craft sakura punch, Marvy Uchida (3 inch circle)
Paper:`Die Cuts with a View- Sweet Stack (blue), g.c.d. Studios- Chianti Collection, Peekaboo (red)
Other: Black Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker

Happy Birthday to Me, Part 2

This morning, at the end of spin class, the instructor rummaged around and said "Ok, who took my shoes?" One of the ladies that was just about to leave realized that she was the culprit and gave them back. I guess she was running on auto-pilot, even though she had put her street shoes in a bag before the class started. Ha ha.

I went out with my friends Robyn and Meg for my birthday dinner. Although the wait at The Cheesecake Factory was over an hour, it was totally worth it. I got the chicken marsala and because the portion is so big, I'm happy to report that I have leftovers for tomorrow. After dinner, we went to Borders, which was having a storewide going-out-of-business sale. And then we ended up back at the house to finish our cheesecakes that we got to-go and rehashed stories from college, which, yes, are still funny the 10 billionth time. Meg got me some paper crafting supplies (candy/cupcake themed this time, instead of the tropical theme last year) and Robyn got me a cute cat coin purse and some paper made from elephant poop. Yes, there is such a thing! :)

When I was reading some blogs this afternoon, I saw Christine from ScrapTime create some fabric flowers, and I wanted to try it out for myself. I had bought some fabric last week and this was a great opportunity to use it. In the video, it looks like she's using something like a giant glue dot to get the fabric to stay put when rolling the flower together. Since I don't have that product, I just used my ATG gun and dabbed some Glossy Accents in some of the folds to keep the flower together once the adhesive dries. I guess I could have used a hot glue gun, but it has a tendency to be messy (although, that's what I used to stick the gem in the center of the flower).

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Warm Green, Blackbird
Stamps: Inkadinkado (leaves), The Paper Company Studio- Greetings (sentiment)
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Martha Stewart- Classic Butterfly
Brad: Recollections
White Gel Pen: Inkssentials
Ribbon: Sweet Petites from A.C. Moore

Happy Birthday to Me + Fall-To Layout #128

Happy birthday to meeeee. Thank you for the birthday messages through Facebook, text, phone, and even snail mail! Y'all know how much I love snail mail! See fun examples below: my sister drew/sent the one on the left and my friend Laura sent the one on the right. The lady looks so fashionable! :)I decided to take the day off work and do some fun things. First up, a haircut! The last time I had one was over a year ago. I didn't like the bulkiness at the bottom and I didn't like that it was all one length. The salon that I had gone to last time had closed, so through reading reviews on Yelp, I found another one that was nearby my house. The lady that cut my hair was really nice and gave me many tips on how to keep my 'do looking nice. For the first time in a while, I actually have bangs! Here are the before (left) and after (right) shots. What a difference, right? I guess it would have helped if I took the pictures facing the same way, but whatever...After the haircut, I went to a mall that was further away from my house. I wanted to investigate Big Lots, since I had seen many YouTube scrapbook hauls where people had good luck there. I only came out with 1 pack of paper from g.c.d. Studios. I didn't see a lot of Basic Grey or any stamps there though. Marshalls and Joann's were in that same shopping mall, but I didn't get anything in either one of those places. :/

I went home, ate lunch, and went back out to do some grocery shopping. I had my sights set on making Creamy Taco Mac and Red Velvet Cupcakes (from scratch) this afternoon. I found the Annie's Eats cupcake recipe through TasteSpotting.com (new favorite food site to browse). I haven't frosted the cupcakes yet, but I will tomorrow. I ate one as a test, and it was fabulous (it will be even more fabulous with the frosting! Frosting has that effect on desserts). As for the Creamy Taco Mac, it was yummy, definitely something I'd try again. I added one large red bell pepper in the recipe to add some texture and vegetables.Here's my take on this week's Fall-To Layout (#128). I had a white cardstock panel sitting around with floral Dear Lizzy paper, so I figured I could start with that. I broke open the package of red cardstock I got last week and ran an embossing folder over it, adhered it to a pale blue piece of cardstock and stuck the duo onto the Dear Lizzy paper. Then I worked on the label/flowers/sentiment part.
Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird, Yellow Ochre, Warm Red. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Wild Honey, Broken China.
Paper: American Crafts- Dear Lizzy (pink floral)
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug (Victoria)
Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8
Stamp: Fiskars- Just Between Friends (sentiment)
Foam adhesive: Thermoweb
Other: Brown Sharpie Ultra Fine Point marker

Birthday festivities will continue tomorrow and next week. Stay tuned. :)

Pals Paper Arts #81

I was looking for a new sketch challenge to try out tonight and found one at a site that I had never come across before (Pals Paper Arts #81). I also wanted to try running felt through my Cuttlebug because I was inspired by cards that I had seen online with DIY felt flower embellishments. The Sizzix die cut through felt like buttah! I dunno why I was surprised, since the manufacturer says the steel rule dies can cut through many things. I wanted there to be some more sparkle and visual interest in this card, so I used this opportunity to use up a bunch of my purple bling.
Card Specs:
Embossing powder: Stampendous! in white
Embossing ink: VersaMark
Punch: Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment border punch
Stamp: The Paper Company Studio- Greetings (sentiment)
Die: Sizzix- Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Flowers
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug (Victoria)
Foam adhesive: Thermoweb
Brad: Recollections

Nope, Not in Canada Today

One of my coworkers this morning: "So, Tina, did you break the plane?"

Mmmnope. The reason why I'm not in Canada right now is a little more complicated than that.

I heard from my boss that the Prince Edward Island event was receive positively, and everyone else that was supposed to make it did so safely. I'm so glad that everything worked out!

I made my sister's birthday card, but just so that I don't spoil the surprise for her, I'll show it to you after her birthday next week. I, instead, made a card built around this "love you" panel I had on my desk. I liked the idea of layering my background stamps: first, the music, and then the leaves on top of that. Check out all that glitter...BING!

Card Specs:
Ink: Colorbox chalk ink in Warm Green. Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Pumice Stone
Stamps: Inkadinkado (leaves), Stampendous (music score)
Paper: Die Cuts with a View- Citrus (butterflies)
Punch: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment border punch, Martha Stewart- Classic Butterfly
Stickers: American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas Glitter Thickers-Sparkling Cherry