Another Baby Card - Coloring with Pastel

Hi Everyone! This will be a short post today! I tend to yap a lot on my posts anyway which I don't think anybody read anyway! LOL! My Internet service has been crapping out off and on but the cable man will be coming over on Tuesday to fix whatever is wrong. I couldn't post or blurf yesterday and Friday because my Internet was running so slow. . .

Anyway. . .another card I made with those pre-stamped and pre-colored images I found hidden away for over two years. Again, the image was colored with pastels!! Yay to pastels. . .

I know this card is a bit on the busy side, especially the paper but it was the only desginer paper that I could find that remotely matched the colors of the image.

I bought the Fiskar border punch with the slots and I threaded a ribbon through it. I thought it was a cool way to add a ribbon.

Anyway. . .it's a busy day today so I'll cut it short! Hope y'all have a wonderful Labor Day tomorrow!!Np>

Card Details:

Stamps: unknown

Paper: DCWV Glitter Stack, cardstocks (unknown - scrap pile)

Ink: SU Pastels and markers, Sakura opaque pen

Accessories: SU Scallop Punch, Making Memories Metal sentiment, Making Memories clip, SU White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Fiskar Border punch

Baby Card - Coloring with Pastels

Hi Everyone! Okay, here's another image I found in that fat Zip lock bag with old stamped and colored images. Initially, I wasn't diggin' the fact that I colored them with pastels because well, I'm a Copic and Prismacolor snob! LOL! But after looking at the image and my coloring, I thought it actually looked okay. Now I'm glad I found these pre-colored images. It really cuts down my card making time.

Here is the card at a close up. I added that pretty flower by CTMH Just Blooms. I also love the Fiskar Border Punch. I loved it so much, I actually went to JoAnns and bought another border punch. It was on sale so hey, why not!

I also went through my scrap pile and used up a few of my older designer papers and cardstocks.

Card Details:

Stamp: Unknown

Paper: Not sure

Ink: Pastels

Accessories: Ribbon (unknown), CTMH Just Blooms, JoAnn Daisy brads, SU Photo Corner Punch, Fiskar Border Punch

Coloring with Pastels and Markers on Glossy Cardstock Tutorial - Thanksgiving Card

Hi Everyone!! This is another image that I had colored over 2 years ago, threw in a plastic bag and found after reorganizing my craft room (see the story on my previous post). Anyway. . .back then (before Copics, Prismacolor Pencils), I used to color with Pastels on "glossy cardstock". You're like, how do you do that? Actually, if you rub on the pastels really well on to glossy cardstock, it "stains" the cardstock really nicely and add shading by watercoloring with water based markers, you can actually color on glossy cardstock.

With the pumpkin images, after I had colored the images with Pastels, I went over it with "Crystal Effects". Back then, I was a big fan of using SU "Crystal Effects" to give my images an epoxy look to them.

Anyway, check out the tutorial on coloring with pastels and markers on glossy cardstock. Try it out and let me know it worked out for you. The results are a little bit more subtle than if you colored with Copic markers but it's really nice because the image results in a slight glossy appearance.

Here is a close up of the pumpkins with the SU "Crystal Effects" applied.

Card Details:

Stamp: Pumpkins (unknown), SU Happy Fall Y'all

Paper: DVWV Fall Stack, SU Only Orange, Certainly Celery, Eggplant Envy

Ink: SU Pastels, Copic markers, SU Basic Black

Accessories: Making Memories Ribbon, Marvy 3" scallop punch, 2" Circle Punch, Martha Stewart Border Punch Sakura Opaque Pen, SU Crystal Effects, SU Key Tag Punch

Birthday Card

Hi Everyone! Just taking a break from Halloween cards. . . .

When I re-organized my craft room a month ago, I found a large Zip-lock bag containing images that I had pre-stamped and a few I had colored about 2 years ago. The problem is. . .I had stamped the images on "glossy" cardstock which I cannot color with my Copic Markers. Why the heck did I do that?. In the past I colored a lot of my images (before I discovered Prismacolor Pencils, markers, and Copics) with Pastels on glossy cardstock so like a knuckle head, I thought I was doing myself a favor by stamping a lot of images on the glossy cardstock.

Please remind me not to pre-stamp my images if I can't color them within 6 months. Some new product will become popular and those images may not be useful in the future.

I've decided that I'll color the images with Pastels and see if they'll turn out okay. Coloring with pastels are less bold. . .but it looks okay. . .not as nice as Copics or Prismacolor pencils.

Anyway. . .I've decided to use one of the images that I had pre-colored 2 years ago. It appears that I had applied "Crystal Effects" to part of the image. I also decided to use a few scrap pieces from my scrap pile to complete the card.

Anyway. . .I think I'm going to work on a few more cards using the pre-colored images. I'll see what I can come up with!

Hope y'all have a wonderful Thursday!!

Tutorial on Stampin Inspirations Club Site

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I posted a video tutorial on "Stampin Inspirations Club Site". Go check it out!

Little C's Weekly Challenge #6 - Halloween Card

Hey I revamped my card. Which one do you think is better! I found these cute "orange" Prima flowers and I thought it would be a great addition. Initially, I didn't want to dress up the smaller circles because the card was already busy as it was but after I saw the Prima flowers, I wanted to add it.

Hi Everyone!! It's Jen's of Pieces of Me - Little C's Weekly Challenge #6! Yipee! Okay, I have to be honest. . .this was a tough sketch for me. Mainly because . . .well, it's very different!! I've never followed a sketch with so many circles. LOL!

I figured because I'm working on Halloween cards. . .I will make a Halloween card for this challenge! I used the Cuttlebug "Spiderweb" embossing folder that I bought from Jen's store Little C's Stamp n' Things. She has a bunch of Cuttlebug Embossing Folders. . .she has the holiday ones in her store right now so go check it out!

I am so glad I bought this embossing folder because it looks soooo cool, especially for Halloween. Boy, Cuttlebug is coming out with some really awesome embossing folders. I embossed an orange cardstock then rubbed black ink on to the raised area of the embossing using a sponge dauber.

I added a little spider button by "Dress it Up". I thought it fit nicely on the embossed web.

Anyway, try out the challenge and potentially win a prize. .. yup, Jen gives out a prize to a lucky winner!!

Card Details:

Stamp: SU Web Wishes
Paper: Orange, Black cardstock, DCWV designer paper
Ink: SU Basic Black
Accessories: Nestabilities Classic Scallop die, Marvy 2" circle punch, SU 1 1/4" circle punch, Dress it Up spider button, Halloween ribbon (Michales)

Check out the challenge cards from these fabulous and talented ladies:

Pieces of Me... - Jen
Scrapbook Mama - Ellie
BIG ideas from a little girl... Teri
Stamping Spot Studio - Jean
Life's Simple Pleasures - Malieta
Hawaiian Angels - Jodie

SU Spooky Spell Halloween Card

Hi Everyone! Darn, my froggie is crooked! Argghh! Very annoying! I was too lazy to straighten him out and retake the picture but he's straight now. Pictures are great because they help you see what you miss in real life sometimes.

Anyway. . .I'm on the roll with these Halloween cards. I had fun making this card. This card was made again with another retired Stampin Up stamp set called "Spooky Spells". I have a lot of retired stamp sets that sort of sits for months or years without being used. I didn't have time to use this stamp set last year. . .mainly because my stamp sets were so unorganized, I was too lazy to dig through them. I had reorganized all my stamp sets and had placed all my Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stamps together. Yipee. Now, it's easy to find the stamp sets I want to use.



Anyway. . .I colored the image, again, with my Copic Markers and used the same designer papers as yesterday's Halloween card.

I'll start working on my holiday cards and projects from this point on because I'm actually behind. Last year I was so behind that I had to bust my buns to catch up so I'll be proactive and start making my cards now. Are you all ready for the holidays? I can't believe how time has flown so quickly.



Card Details:

Stamps: SU Spooky Spells, Haunting Halloween
Paper: DCWV Designer Paper, SU Only Orange, Perfect Plum
Ink: Copic Markers
Accessories: Doodle Design Ink ribbon, Dress it Up buttons, SU Key Tag Punch

Love This Song - Take A Bow

I'm not a big Rihanna fan but I really love this song. Check it out! I think the lyrics are quite amusing. . .something I would probably tell someone who cheated on me. . .LOL! Anyway, just sharing.

Here's another song I love. . .it's by Justin Nozuka. - a singer from Canada. The song is "About Tonight". Check it out. . .it's pretty good. Sorry but you have to watch a short advertisement but YouTube disabled the embedding on their codes so I had to find the video somewhere else.

Happy Haunting Halloween Card

Hi Everyone! Whoa! My first Halloween card for the year. Oh my gosh, I cannot believe the holidays are around the corner and I just started on Halloween. Well, I'm way behind again. I really need to get my foot on the peddle and start churning these puppies up!

Because I had re-organized my craft stuff, I was able to dig out some of my old retired Stampin Up stamp sets and I decided to use this cute stamp set called "Just Flying By".

Stampin Up has had so many awesome stamp sets, unfortunately, they retire like this stamp set. Don't you wish they all could just be available for sale . . .like forever? LOL!

I rarely sell my retired stamp sets because I always feel that I'm going to want to use them again in the future and if I sell them, well. . .I'll regret it.

That is the reason why I have so much stuff. I want the new stuff but never want to get rid of the old stuff so . . .I accumulate a lot of craft stuff.

Anyway. . .just a little detail about my card. . .nothing much to it. I just colored the image with my Copic Markers and layered it. That's it! LOL!

Anyway, don't be surprised to see more holiday cards and projects on my blog sites. It'll be spread out throughout my 3, yes 3, blog sites so be sure to stop by all of them, okay!!

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Card Details:

Stamps: SU Just Flying By, Haunted House

Paper: SU Only Orange, Basic Black, DCWV designer paper

Ink: Copic Markers

Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, SU Key Tag Punch

Oxymoronic Post! LOL!

Hi Everyone! I'm busy creating kits for my Stampin Up club so I haven't had the time to create for this blog site. I actually made this card over a month ago when I still was with CTMH. I made this card for my club site at that time.

I have a bunch of cards that I did not post here so I'll be posting a few of them when I'm too busy to make a card. Anyway, I'm really having fun creating cards and projects with my new Stampin Up stamps and papers. I really love the new stuff! Be sure to drop by my Stampin Inspirations Club Site to view some of the stuff I'm making with Stampin Up products.


Posting this card using CTMH products is sort of oxymoronic considering I'm with Stampin Up now, don't you think? LOL!

Quite honestly I'm a stamp and craft enthusiast. . .I'm not a "brand" enthusiast, KWIM? I love any product that looks pretty but I do truly believe in Stampin Up and the quality of their products and designs.

Anyway, forgive me Stampin Up fans for posting this CTMH card. LOL! I'll be posting more of them when I get too busy to make a card considering I've already made them and have photos of them.

Hope y'all have a wonderful Friday! Whoohoo! The weekend is right around the corner. Friday is my FAVORITE Day!! What's your favorite day?

Stampin Up Start Kit for $99 Promotion - Become A Demonstrator

Click Here for the Online Application to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator

Click on "Join Stampin Up" and fill out the application

To sign up under me Enter the code: Inspirations

Hi Everyone, I don't mean to promote here but I want to get the word out. I'll try not to promote too much Stampin Up stuff on this blog but once in a while, I will because I have more readers on this blog site. . .especially, when there's a big promotion going on with Stampin Up. If you are interested in Stampin Up stuff, be sure to stop by my Stampin Inspirations Club Site. That's where I'll be posting the majority of all my Stampin Up projects and discuss the promotion and sales going on.

Wanna be part of the Stampin Up family and be part of my team?

If you sign up under me, receive a Stampin Spot Classic Ink Set in any color set of your choice. This set has a value of $22.50. You have until October 11 to sign up for the Starter Kit Special at $99. Click Here for the flyer or the photo to the right.

You may also sign up with the Full Starter Kit at $199.

New Recruit Incentive:

August 11-October 11, 2008
Join as a demonstrator with the standard $199 Starter Kit and choose one stamp set out of the Fall-Winter Sampler or Idea Book & Catalog for free.

Click on the picture to the left or click here.

Other benefits to being part of my team will include:

• A free stampin' kit each month with different projects and card ideas to help you with your workshops or card classes.




• Access to my team site where we can interact online. We'll do RAKs, Swaps, and other fun stuff to help get our creative juices flowing!!




• Access to various tutorials to help give you ideas for your workshops.




• Downline coaching to help you build your business.




• Sharing ideas with other team members.
  
  I know many people who are interested in becoming a demonstrator already have many of their own Stampin Up products and don't want the full demonstrator kit. . .well, there is a great option for you.
  
  Stampin Up has a smaller version of their starter kit at a lower price. It has less products that are included in the kit but you have the choice to choose 3 different sets of products that comes along with your business materials.
  
  This is a great way to receive a few products and receive the business forms and materials you need to start up your Stampin Up business.
  
  This promotion is a great opportunity for you to start up your business but not have to cough up a lot of money to receive the kit!! Click Here to check out the flyer.
  
  $99 Starter Kit Promotion
  
  Dates: August 11-October 11, 2008
  
  Promotion details:
  
  From August 11-October 11, potential recruits will have the option of becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator by purchasing one of three special mini Starter Kits* priced at $99.

Little C's Weekly Challenge #5 - Wrap Around Card

Hi Everyone!! It's Little C's Weekly Challenge time again! This week's challenge is to make a "Wrap Around Card" This is such a fun challenge! Wanna play and potentially win a prize. .stop by Jen of Piece's of Me blog site for more detail.

Okay, I think I could have done better with this challenge but yesterday, I felt so crappy. I think I'm coming down with a cold or something. I felt nauseous, headaches, stuffy head, shortness of breath, and fatigue. I've been trying to be proactive. . .taking vitamins and Zinc, drinking lots of water, resting, etc. I REALLY don't want to get sick. Fortunately, this morning. . .well I haven't gotten worse. . .just the same as yesterday.

When I feel better, I think I'm going to make another card. . .but this is what I came up with right now. Last night while making the card, all I wanted to do was finish it and go to bed.

Anyway, a wrap around card is basically making a card that is wrapped around - duh! LOL! You basically design a card that flows from front, inside, to the back.

I used the CC Design stamp set "Hey Chicky". You can find this stamp set a Little C's Stamp n' Things. This stamp set is so cute!! Love that "chicky"!

Here is the inside of the card. I'm sure you can create a better flow with your card. . .mine, don't flow very well. I wasn't in the mood to look for a stamp set that would work with this theme so I just pulled out a sentiment stamp set and stamped all the sentiment on to the card! LOL!

This is the back side of the card.

Well, I think I'm going to rest a little bit and see if I feel better later today. If I do, I'll make another of this "Wrap Around Card".

Check out the other challenge cards made by these talented ladies:

Scrapbook Mama - Ellie
Stamping Spot Studio - Jean
Pieces of Me... - Jen
BIG ideas from a little girl... Teri
Life's Simple Pleasures - Malieta

Tutorials Posted On My Other Blog Sites

Hi Everyone! I wanted to let you know that I posted a tutorial the "Glittered Window" technique on my Stampin Inspirations Club Site as well as a tutorial on a 4x4 Mini Tri-fold Album on Card Inspired

My Craft Space - Reorganized

Hi Everyone! Remember a month ago I had cleaned out my craft room completely and brought all my stuff into the garage. Well, the pile of stuff pictured above are all the stuff that I took out of my room and the hallway outside of my room. I put everything in plastic bags including containers, everything and anything that were in my room except for my desks. Whoa!! That's a lot of stuff, Maria!! LOL! Keep in mind, all the stuff includes EVERYTHING. . .including office supply stuff. It was a little upsetting because I just had reorganized my garage and I messed it up again.

I was going to take pictures of my room once I reorganized the garage again and show both the garage and my room but I wanted to take pictures of my room when it's at its cleanest. LOL! I returned about 60% of what you see in the garage back into my room. I left the majority of my rubber stamps that are wood mounted in the garage. My husband bought some shelves to store some of my craft stuff and I'm about 50% done reorganizing them.

The pictures are posted in the order of my craft from the entry to the left working it's way around each side of my room and ends at the wall exiting my room. My craft room is situated in the house in such a perfect place. It's located upstairs in the back, away from the other bedrooms. To get to my craft room, you walk through a long hallway and turn left into a shorter hallway. My room is right next to the laundry room and away from my kid's bedroom and our master bedroom so I can craft late at night without disturbing anyone. I also can do the laundry while I'm crafting because my craft room is right next to the laundry room. Whoohoo!

The picture above is my square craft desk that is situated smack dab in the center of my craft room. It's one of those tall scrapbooking tables that you can stand and craft on. I, typically, stand when I work on this desk but I occasionally sit on the stool when I get tired. I wish it was white but the store I bought it at carried only in this dark brown color. The desk is open on both ends so two people can craft on either side. The sides of the table have shelves to store your stuff.

The table has a pull out shelf that typically you store your paper cutter but I store my Scor-Pal in there. When I need to use my Scor-Pal, I just pull out the shelf.

I bought this table at a store called World Market and it was only $199. I mean that's a deal considering it's made with real wood not plywood or partical board. It was my Christmas present last year.

I decided to use weave containers rather than plastic containers because they were prettier. I store my brads and other embellishments inside. The containers are sturdy because they have iron framing.

This is the other side of the table where I store my "scrap" papers and cardstock.

I store my scrap cardstock and papers inside Ziplock bags and that are in a pull-out file holder. The file holder has wheels so I can actually move it around if I need it. All my scraps are organized by color.

This is the other side of the desk. Stored are my unmounted rubber stamps in binder folders, my Copic Markers, and at the bottom are all my templates and such stored in plastic file containers.

Here is another angle of my craft desk with my binders and markers. The binders are where my unmounted stamps are stored. At the bottom is where all my plastic templates are stored in plastic file storage containers.

I have only a few wood mounted rubber stamps in my craft room. I left the majority of them in the garage. I unmounted all of my Stampin Up Christmas stamps and stored them in a larger binders like this.

I also have about 6 other binders that store miscellaneous rubber stamps. Whenever I buy new Stampin Up stamp sets, I no longer mount them on wood but I automatically store them in binders unmounted.

Whenever I need to use the stamps, I mount them on acrylic blocks.

The majority of my "wood mounted" stamps are stored in the garage. I plan to unmount all of them in the future and put them in binders so I can open up some space in the garage.

This is my closet. . .it's a large double closet and I store everything else in here. What I like about it is that I can close the closet and it hides all my stuff. LOL!!

Prior to my reorganization, I had my stuff in baskets. Although they looked very pretty, they weren't very efficient as an organization system. I couldn't stack stuff so there were a lot of empty spaces. I decided to return to plastic containers because they were stackable.

This is the left side of my closet. . .stored inside the containers are primarily scrapbook stuff, ink pads, my Sizzix dies, reinkers, and other craft materials

Here are a few of my SU Stampin' Wheels. The holder is actually suppose to be used to organize spool of threads. You can find these spool organizer at your local craft store in the sewing section.

This is the right side of the closet. I store all my coloring mediums on this side and other powders like embossing powders,glitters, my tools, my ribbons, etc.

Here is a picture of one of the containers with my embossing powders inside.

In this picture, I pulled out one of the baskets out that store all my coloring mediums such as markers, pastels, watercolors.

This is a buffet that I converted into a craft station. A scrapbook store was going out of business and they had this buffet in their kitchen. They stored their coffee and stuff on this table. I bought it used and had my husband restain it and varnish it to make it look brand new. Whoohoo!! I store my envelopes and larger tools here, like my paper cutter, large punches, and other "tools".

I love this table because it's big and has very deep storage. It's also made of real wood. I bought it for $200 but I can easily see it selling well over $500 brand new because of the construction, the hardware, and because it's made out of thick maple.

This is what is on top of my craft station. I stuck my "scrap ribbons" on the iron bodice thingy that I bought a few weeks ago. Whenever I need a "scrap" ribbon, I just pull it off.

Do you see that slat board on my wall? Well, I had bought it from the scrapbook store that was going out of business for $15. In the store, they were used to display their packages of scrapbook stickers and such. My plan is to buy the hooks to hang a few packeges of my embellishments so when I need it, I can have them readily available.

Stampin Up now sells "wall art" - vinyl wall decorations called "Decor Elements" and I bought a few of them to decorate my walls. Check out the brochure here.

SU has a bunch of "word art" and this one above my computer desk is "Live Every Moment". I absolutely love it. Everyday when I'm in front of my computer, it reminds me to live every moment!! LOL!

Below it is another decor element called "Lollipop Flower". It comes in two sizes. I bought the smaller one.

Anyway. . .this is where I blog! LOL! Imagine me sitting at my desk, blogging, commenting your site, etc.! I also have my "Craft Robo" on top of my desk.

To the right of my desk is a TV that is veiwable from every angle of my room. Yeah, I watch TV when I craft. It's primarily for "noise". I don't like a quiet room. I get sleepy when the room is too quiet even when I'm crafting or on the computer.

The computer desk is actually a "craft desk". To the left is a cabinet that pulls out and this is where I store all my glues and liquid stuff such as Gamsol, art mediums, etc.

This is my "stampin station". This is where I "rubber stamp". The desk is constructed for rubber stampers. The drawers are 1" and 2" drawers that are made out of plastic to store your rubber stamps and punches.

I bought it from an online store called "Best Craft Organizer". They are a bit pricey but I tell ya', I LOVE this table. It's my favorite table. The framing is made of real wood so you don't have to worry about it cracking or breaking.

To the left of my desk is a "scrapbook paper/stamp" storage that coordinates with my table. Best Craft Organizer sells all sorts of organizing system that coordinates with one another.

Inside the 1" and 2" drawers are a few of my wood moounted rubber stamps (my favorites) and the majority of my punches. To the right of my desk, I have other smaller tools stored inside the drawers.

Again, I decorated my wall using the SU Decor Elements. This one is called "Create Definition". I absolutely LOVE it!! It defines my room! LOL! My husband says it makes my room look too "commercial". Ahhhhh, what does he know!!

To the right of my stamp table is an armoire. It was originally my daughter's computer armoire which she didn't want so I took it from her room and placed it in mine!!

Inside the armoire stores my sewing machine, bind-it all machine, Coombs binder, Zip Emate (similar to the CB machine) and all my CB dies and folders and sewing stuff.

This the wall leading out my door or to the right when you enter my craft room. Again, I decorated the wall with the SU "Decor Elements". I bought the medium size "Life is Good". It's a great reminder each and everyday when I enter and exit my craft room that life is most definitely good.

The flower Decor Elements is the large "Long Stem Silouette". It measures approximately 52 x 12".

To the left is the card display that I had bought for $20 at a garage sale. I couldn't believe it when I saw it selling for $20. I wanted one for so long but they were so expensive but it was my luck that an antique store owner was selling it at his garage sale!! I really lucked out.

The only thing I forgot to take a picture of is my shelf where I store all my cardstock. I couldn't fit the shelf in my room so it is located right outside my craft room door in the hallway leading to my craft room.

Anyway . . .it was an extremely painful experience to completely re-organize my craft room. I worked day and night to put it back together. The only thing I do recommend if you plan to completely re-organize your craft room is to remove things in your room in an organized fashion so it won't be too much work to put things back together. I made the mistake of just cleaning out my room by just throwing everything in trash bags in an unorganized fashion so when I had to put my room back together, everything was all over the place.

Well, that's it!! I'll post pictures of my organization in the garage once I'm done. Hope y'all have a wonderful day!!