Birthdays are for eating cake! (TCPTUES)

Hey there papercrafting peeps! I am loopy, it's pushing 3am my time..... But I couldn't sleep, and I really am lucky that my insomnia usually gives way to a creative jag, otherwise, I'd probably never get anything done! lol;)

Anyhoo.... super excited about this sketch since I saw it! This is the sketch for TCPTUES144, check it out! I LOVE this sketch, it is too cool, great dimensions with lots of possibilities:)

Ok, the colors.... here is a convo with myself at 2am..... For arguments sake, let's say that Me#1 is the traditional me who loves blues and greens and Me#2 is the artist trying to stretch herself and become a better stamper.... ok, here goes....

CONVO WITH SELF AT 2AM

Me#1: Well, this patterned paper I want to use has navy, orange, red, yellow, green and pink in it. Hmmmm... I think I will mat the circle in navy.
Me#2: WHAT?? Blue AGAIN? Honestly, Noelle, how about orange, or pink?
Me#1: PINK??? What? I hate pink!
Me#2: Ok, yellow then....
Me#1: NO, I'm going with navy, the light background of the patterned paper needs a dark color to contrast it.
Me#2: Fine.
Me#1: And for the main panel, green.
Me#2: Green, AGAIN?? Maybe orange instead?
Me#1: NO, orange is too loud, it needs to be green.
Me #2: Honestly, fine, blue and green again, gee you are soooo creative tonight. Lemme guess, you are going to stamp the presents in Versamark?
Me #1: Hmmmmm..... well......
Me #2: AT LEAST do that in navy for more interest.
Me #1: ok.
Me#2: And make the card base in dark red...
Me#1: ok.....

So, anyway, as you can see with all this arguing with myself, it's quite possible that this card IS "too loud." I used all the colors and it is bright, but I am ok with that (I think both me's are ok with it actually....) I took a little liberty with the sketch and made those linear pieces into candles instead. I layered my cake up in ALL those fun colors. This is a GREAT stamp to try this with, if you have it. You saw me do this before here, so check it out!

DUST IT OFF!: Mini heart punch makes great flames on your birthday candles!

Well, I should really try to get some sleep. I need my strength for the weekend and week ahead! have a stellar night! :)

-Noelle:)

supply list: solid cardstock on Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White: SU!; stamps: TCP; markers: Copic & SU!; patterned paper: ki memories; heart punch: EK Success

Take a bow!

hi everyone! Just wanted to show you the cards I made for my theater students, our play is LESS than a week away! All girls in my class this year, except for one of my sons, so I figured they would get a kick out of the "bling" at the bottom of the card. I used my "faux letterpress" technique on this by brayering white ink onto the embossing folder, before I added my cardstock and ran it through my Cuttlebug. I kept these simple because I had to make 14 of them! In retrospect I wish I would have made the drama masks bigger to "fill" up the card more. Other than that I'm pretty happy with it, though. For a simple card, it's pretty cute. The sentiment was printed on my computer & then punched. Well, that's it for me today! I hope to get a couple things in during the coming week, but I fully admit I will be living, eating, breathing, and sleeping theater for the coming week. lol! 

Hope you all are doing well & have a great week! :)

-Noelle:)

DUST IT OFF!: retired Ruby Red cardstock, premade cards, word window punch

supply list: solid cardstock in Ruby Red, Basic Black, VeryVanilla and Basic Gray: SU!; brick embossing folder: Tim Holtz/Sizzix; Word Window punch: SU!/EK Success; drama masks cut from "Locker Talk" Cricut cartridge; large rhinestones: The Paper Studio; premade cards; computer for sentiment. 

featured card at Dancing In Pajamas

Hey all! Just wanted to share the good new that this card was featured over at Dancing In Pajamas! Even though I was not named "Swanky Stamper of the Month" I am still THRILLED to be showcased there because I just LOVE TCP products. Discovering all of these super-cool, smaller stamp companies has been such a treat since I started blogging. Last Spring I had no clue that The Cat's Pajamas, Verve, My Favorite Things, and more even existed! I love all the creative products that these companies provide. 

Go here to see my original post on this card, Have a stellar day! :)

-Noelle :) 

Letting Go (CTD #127 CCMC #136 FBW #140)

Hi all! Here is a pretty card for the Create With Connie and Mary sketch challenge and the Color Throwdown Challenge for this week. Once in a while a sketch and color challenge just seem to "fit" you know what I mean? That was true of these 2 for me. After I initially posted, I realized that it would also work for Flutterby Wednesday #140. That is a great challenge, the only requirement @ FBW is that your project have a butterfly, fairy or angel on it. I once had another card featured once over there, go here to see it. 

Lately I have been looking up inspirational quotes, Bible verses, etc. online. Loads of personal stress for me right now, and it helps me to have these snippets of positive/supportive words in my head to keep me going. I found this quote online and LOVED it. I was able to make it look like a stamp by messing with the fonts, etc. with it. So I guess you could say I created my own digi stamp, I've been doing that a bit lately... It's free, you should give it a go too! I also did that recently here on my inspirational sign. 

So, my card, I printed my quote out on patterned paper. I matted it in the Espresso brown and then created a larger rectangle in the Saffron color by stamping on it & then dry embossing it. Not sure that you can see the swirly stamp here, but it is on there. I also matted that in the Crumb Cake and the Espresso brown. My card front was Crumb Cake matted in Espresso again & I wrapped some ribbons around that. The circular panel is a 3 layer piece, and the stamped image was stamped in white craft ink and then I used mini sponge daubers to apply pastels over the craft ink for a soft look. I finished off the circle with some mini rhinestones around the edge. My original design plan was to have that be the card & then it just looked like there was a "hole" in the upper left hand corner visually. The butterfly image seemed to go with the theme of "letting go" for me. So I punched her out (the butterfly that is, doesn't it seem they are girls? I'm sure there are boy butterflies though..... hmmmmm;) and added a smaller punched piece for the body and a few more blue rhinestones. 

Well, I hope you like my card, please comment or follow if you can, I'd LOVE to hear from you! :)

DUST IT OFF! : that DSP, both of them are 2-4 years old. I've had my circle cutter for years, and of course there's always my trusty punches. 

supply list: solid cardstock in challenge colors, retired DSP, craft ink, pastels, Saffron inkpad, Just Believe stamp set. ribbons,  butterfly punch, large circle punch:SU!; scalloped circle die:Spellbinders; circle cutter:CM; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; mini clear and larger blue rhinestones; swirl stamp: Autumn Leaves, variety of fonts: Word for Mac.

Have a stellar day! -Noelle:)

Gift tags for kids

Hi there again! Just wanted to share some super-fun gift tags that I made for my friend's kiddos. The post below shows the baby card that will be in this fun package too. These presents are combination belated birthday/new baby presents so I decided to forego cards. But, I do know how much kids like to see their names on things, so I thought these would be a fun alternative:) Picked up this FABULOUS, bright giftwrap at my fave store in the world,
Tar-jay;) The tags were made with some Cuttlebug dies, some SU! Ice Cream Parlour paper & a variety of embellishments. When I got to Lexi's present it was too bulky to fit in the gift box I had, so I used a solid kraft gift bag, and made a panel for the front with a scrap of the wrapping paper & a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock so it would coordinate with the tag and the other presents. You could even do this with a shopping bag & scraps of patterned paper. I mean really, how many shopping bags have you got laying around? Put them to good use! Well, I hope you like my project, they could also double as bookmarks or backpack tags if you laminated them before you added the brads and paper flowers. Have a great day! :)
-Noelle :)

DUST IT OFF: Cuttlebug dies, shopping bags, and old scraps of ribbon.

Supply list: solid cardstock in Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, and Pumpkin Pie: SU!; Ice Cream Parlour DSP: SU!; paper flowers: Prima, scallop edge die: MFT; motorcycle button: Dress It Up; flocked heart brads; ribbon scraps; kraft gift bag; bright gift wrap: Target; baker's twine: Crate & Barrel; tag and letter dies: Cuttlebug; solid eyelets.  

Welcome Baby Rosie (MFTWSC5)

Hi all, I just wanted to share a quick card for a friend. My dear friend from college, Juliana, had her third child over the weekend. They named her Rosalind or "Baby Rosie" :) You know, it really doesn't matter what rough things you are going through personally. The birth of a baby is always a reason to smile:) And I also have a new nephew, Baby Brady. Hoping to get to hold him soon! :)

Like I said recently, I'm doing pretty good with my "no/minimal spending on crafts" for the new year rule. I am really working on using the old. But when I saw this bundle over at My Favorite Things, I TOTALLY admit to splurging! I don't think you can still get the bundle with all the paper, gems and extra stamps, but here is the stamp set, it's called My How You've Grown-WTG. I have a few different baby and animal sets that I use for baby cards, but I am IN LOVE with this. it just is very special, and the way the sentiments are in the set, it could also be used for a grandmother, or an older child. Too cute! 

So, I've never played along at MFT before. It didn't appear there was a linky, so i will see if getting this on Splitcoaststampers works instead. 

Not really much new technique here, I paper pieced and used Copics on the main panel. everything on the card came from this bundle except for the ribbon and button. 

Well, I hope you have a stellar day! I've got soem more goodies I'm working on, so I will "see" you all, very soon! :)

-Noelle:)

DUST IT OFF! That blue ribbon is from the dollar spot at Target SEVERAL years ago;)

supply list: stamps: MFT; patterned paper: My Mind's Eye "Tickled Pink;" denim paper: The Paper Studio; paisley paper: Anna Griffin; scalloped rectangle die: Nestabilities; pink/white ribbon: American Crafts; blue ribbon: Target Dollar Spot; button: Melody Ross; punches: EK Success; solid cardstock in Whisper White, Pear Pizazz, Baja Breeze, and Cameo Coral: SU! markers: Copic; ink: Memento black

Learning to Dance (Mojo Monday #176)

Hi there all! Snow Day here today. Not actually very much snow by Rocky Mountain standards, but boy, is is FREEZING! Something like 15 below outside and that's not even taking the wind chill into account, brrrrrrrrrrrr...... I kept thinking on this sketch over at Mojo Monday. I did the round one yesterday in some other colors, go here to see. I LOVE these Ice Cream Parlour papers from the Stampin' Up! sale-a-bration for this year! Such happy bright colors:) Just what I needed for this dreary day. I used my Sizzix embosslit to make the paper buttons, taped and then machine stitched them in place, then added a few real buttons on top and hand stitched them into place with some linen thread. Got my Verve notebook paper and sentiment stamps down first of course. Everything on my card is going along just peachy until I tried to stamp some of the Verve swirly stamps down above the buttons. UGH, I made such a mess! I tried to fix my error by turning the stamped swirls into some pen art swirls, but, let's face it, pen art is just not my thing! Anyway, I hope it doesn't look TOO awful. If everything hadn't been sewn down, I woulda ripped the whole thing apart & started over! 

Well, I hope you like my (slightly messed up) card! Have a stellar day! 

-Noelle :)