Papertrey Ink May Blog Hop!

This month the challenge for the Papertrey Ink blog hop was to use FLOWERS!  Woohoo!  I'm so excited to actually get to play this month, (and very happy to say that I have made the transition to night shift and am no longer a walking zombie!).  Click on the blog hop image above and you can follow along with the hop or even play along too! I created two pieces for this month's hop, using my most recent PTI order!

The first is a seed packet/gift card holder.  As the school year is coming to a close, I think this will be perfect for my daughter's teacher.  Just a little reminder of seeds she has sewn this year!

The second is a button card with a fabric flower decoration.  I used some fabric scraps from my quilting stash and the Tattered Florals die from Tim Holtz to create a little layered flower.  This  could be used as a decorative element on a card, hanging in a sewing area, on a scrapbook page...no idea yet what I'm really going to do with it yet!

Well, thanks for looking!  Off to get ready for work, hope to hop along myself on breaks!

Supplies:
Seed Packet: Stamps - Papertrey Ink: Garden Variety, Year of Flowers Collection, Year of Flowers Violets; Ink - CTMH: Chocolate, Olive, Desert Sand; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic; Antique Linen Distress Ink; Die cuts - Papertrey Ink Seed Packet and Seed Packet Frame

Button Card: Stamps - Papertrey Ink: Button Boutique; Ink -  Ranger Archival Sepia, Antique Linen Distress Ink; Die cuts - Tattered Florals by Tim Holtz; Pin - CTMH Pretty Pins; Fabric - Fig Tree Quilts; Ribbon - Tim Holtz idea-ology

on a Monday

I should be asleep right now...I will be working nights the next week or so, and I really should be asleep right now.  But I'm not.  So I decided to make something.  I received my most recent order from Papertrey Ink on Saturday, and I was really looking forward to working with the goodies.  And that was a great plan, until I got onto Pinterest and random web surfing, and then...when I REALLY REALLY should be asleep, I said...let me get one card done.  So I looked about at what was going on with Monday challenges, and two really got to me.  The first, Papertrey Ink Make it Monday #16: Sympathy Cards.  NOT my thing. I always feel that I'm borrowing trouble when I have sympathy cards just sitting around.  So I passed on that one...for a moment at least.  Then I went to check out the latest installment of Grungy Monday (GM08) at Studio L3 using this Tim Holtz technique.  I was VERY interested.  As I was searching for stamps to use and pulling out the Adirondack inks, I got word that a co-worker lost his Mother yesterday.  And then, I needed a Sympathy card.  Here it is:

So now I'm off to try and catch a little sleep and say a prayer for a friend.  night!

Supplies: Stamps - Papertrey Ink (Through the Trees, Botanical Silhouettes); Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Adirondack Dye Inks (Stonewashed, Cranberry, Terra Cotta, Butterscotch); Paper - Papertrey Ink Stampers Select and American Crafts (Black)

FF#80...just beCAuSe

TGIF!!!  So happy it's the weekend!  It will be a busy one at my house, kiddo and I are headed up to Charlotte for the All Star race with a large group of people, so it will be a ton of fun!  Anywho...the point of this post today is to let you know about the latest and greatest Fashionista Friday (FF#80) at If the Shoe fits...Scrap it!  This week we are looking to see your CAS (clean and simple) inspired creations!  Here is a card set I created for the challenge:

I run out of basic cards so fast!  Usually need something quick and at the last minute that is pretty generic.  These could be used as a Thank You card, a Thinking of You card, etc.  Love the stamps I used for this one, picked them up back in February at the Stamp Scrap Art Tour when it came through Columbia.  Alrighty then...that's all I got for now...catch you later!

Supplies: all stamps - Darcie's; Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Cardstock - PTI Stamper's Select and American Crafts

crafty in the kitchen

as lately I have been way less than paper-crafty...figured I'd at least share my kitchen adventures from today!  We are headed to a cookout with friends this afternoon, and I went with the option to bring a dessert (way easier than figuring out a side dish that everyone would like...who doesn't like dessert??).  I wanted to bring something that showed I at least tried...and I had a vague memory of seeing pictures of some gorgeous Red Velvet brownies online...so I hit up google and BAM!  there they were!  I used this recipe I found at Sweet Pea's Kitchen.  And here they are (ignore the spots where i jabbed a fork in the brownies to make sure they were done!  Pics were taken as soon as I removed the divider pan, which is about 3 mins after coming out of oven):

I have to admit that we own a Perfect Brownie pan (one of those as seen on TV things).  It's a pain in the rear end to clean up, and the bottom panel leaks while baking...but it does give you 18 perfectly sized brownies (small enough they can be held in one hand and munched on, but not too big that you need a plate or feel like a glutton).  I ended up making two pans just to be sure I had enough.  I'm also going to throw in a regular pan of plain chocolate brownies for those that aren't big on cheesecake (which I find so difficult to imagine!).  Anyways...off to finish up the brownies and get ready to head out!  Oh wait...one last close up pic...try not to drool on your computer!

Random ramblings

In the wee hours of Sunday morning as I watch Harry Potter and battle insomnia!

Just placed a random stamp order with Papertreyink Ink their May release was too tempting and since I happened to be awake and online at the time of their stamp release, figured why not? Their website is definitely NoT one of my faves to order from, always have to fight with it...but eventually did get the order placed. Now we'll just wait and see how long it takes to actually get stamps in hand!

Speaking of online ordering...about three years ago I happened to get my haircut...at random...from this fab salon in Virginia (they were the first place I could get an appointment with that day) that used the most amazing hair products...and too this day...they are pretty much the only products I use on my hair. I order a few times of year from Cibu International. Let me clarify...I order my shampoo and conditioner a few times a year (and hairspray) but the remaining styling products I only order maybe once a year...their stuff lasts forever because you only need a small amount! (let me add I have never received anything from Cibu to give a favorable review...this is all from my own experience over the past three years). I placed my most recent order on Thursday...it arrived Saturday afternoon...and I'm so thrilled!

And well...one more online shopping bit for you...Fat Quarter Shop is the place to buy fabric online! I try my best to get everything from local shops...but if I want the most recent fabric releases...and quickly...that's where I shop.

Lastly...damn Harry Potter...I am so looking forward to seeing the final movie...but at the same time...I hate that the story has to end. I read all of the books...and was terribly sad to read the final pages...but had the movies to look forward to...and it's almost time for those to end. Oh well...what shall come next? (thank goodness a new season of True Blood is starting soon!)

Any who...enough randomness from me tonight...catch ya later!

FF#79...with a Primary splash!

Ahhh...so happy it's Saturday!  and so sorry that the latest Fashionista Friday challenge at If the Shoe fits wasn't up until today!  The absence of Blogger was heavily noted here at my house!  (May have even involved some yelling at computer screens...but that's neither here nor there).  This week, we at the Shoe, are asking to see your Black and White with a Primary splash creations!  You definitely need to drop in and check out the Fab DT work!  Hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!

FF#78 some Emerald inspiration!

Who doesn't love some emeralds?  Beautiful gems...amazing variations of green...and woohoo...they look gorgeous in a setting!  Heehee!  This week's Fashionista Friday at If the Shoe Fits...Scrap it!  is inspired by Emeralds!  We are challenging you to use some green!  Even better...this week's challenge is sponsored by Mo's Digital Pencil!  Mo's is offering a $15 gift coupon to one random entry!  I'm so jealous!  I adore Mo Manning's images!  Here is the sample I created for this week's challenge using the Windowbox image:

Take a few minutes, drop by the Shoe, check out the lovely creations from our DT, and consider entering in our FF#78 challenge!

Supplies: Image - Windowbox by Mo's Digital Pencil; Ink - Copic; Cardstock - Papertrey Ink and Bazzil; Pearls - Queen&Co; Ribbon - from my stash; Diamond Stickles