Howdy Lil' Partner Sweet Pea

Howdy Friends!! Hey a second post for the day. . .typically, I don't post two cards in a day but I have a few cards waiting to be posted. Shocking! LOL! I actually worked on more than one card.

Well, this cute guy is another image from the Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea Plate 2 set! There's 4 cute stamp images like this cute lil' guy in the set.

Hey, I'm 3/4 done the 3rd Twilight Book "Eclipse". Ooh, lots of interesting things going on. I really like the 3rd book. My husband thinks it's funny that it took a "young adult novel" to get me to read a book! LOL! Hey it's an easy read and the text is quite large.

My husband tried to get me to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand but oh my gosh, the book is so thick and the text so small. I couldn't even read it without squinting! LOL! I gave up 1/3 of the way. Sorry, I have tendency to want to finish a novel in one or two days or I start to lose interest. It would have taken me weeks to finish "Atlas Shrugged" . . .sorry, but I have a short attention span. My husband was disappointed that I gave up reading the book. Anybody read that book? My husband seem to think that it's a book I should read. . .he really loves that book. Should I try to read it again?

Anyway, now to my card. . .I colored Sweet Pea with my Copic Markers and layered it by mounting the top image with foam tape. Nothing much else to say about the card.

Hope you all are having a fantastic evening!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea Plate 2

Paper: DCWV designer paper, SU More Mustard, Green Galore, Cool Caribbean

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen

Accessories: SU 1 3/8 circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Making Memories ribbon, JoAnn Brad, CB embossing folder

Mini Flip Card/Album Tutorial

Hey Friends! Remember that mini flip card/album I created I few days ago? Click Here for the project

Well, I finally got around to creating the tutorial! Yipee. This sample is not all dressed up like the one I previously made because I was unsure what I wanted to do with the inside and I really wanted to post the tutorial to share with all of you. I've been telling you the last few days that I would post it and I didn't want you to think I was a liar! LOL!

Anyway. . .I'm sorry it took a few days to create the tutorial but I got a little distracted with a few life things. Arrrghh, today was an especially draining day on the telephone. I really hate those automated customer service representative on the phone. . .you know the ones that make you punch all these options then make you wait for the longest of time before a real person comes on. Well, it sucked 4 hours of my day today and by the end, I didn't get the answer I wanted to hear which frustrated me further.




To relieve stress, I actually washed the dishes! LOL!! It was an amazing cleaning day! It's funny what motivates me to clean the house. I should wait on the phone more often! LOL!

Anyway, enough complaining which I seem to do a lot lately. Sorry about that! Hey, on a brighter note, the Fed Ex guy dropped off the last two Twilight books so I will have something to stay awake for the next few nights. I can go without sleeping when I'm reading a good book. Seriously. I'm really excited to read what happens next in "Eclipse", the third Twilight book. It's beginning to get juicy!

Okay, okay, now to my project. Aww, look at little Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea jumping out of the box. . ..so cute! I colored Sweet Pea with my Copic Markers and added abit of SU Crystal Effects to parts of the image. Yeah, nothing new! LOL!


This mini flip card/album opens up like a gate fold then reveals and inner gate fold. Again, it's not decorated because I'm still deciding whether to journal or add photos.






Finally, when you open up the inner gate, it opens up to reveal the center with a panel that you can add a photo, journal or a hand written note. How fun! Anyway, scroll down and check out the tutorial. It's really easy to make. No compicated folds or crazy instructions. It's a quick and painless project!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea
Papers: SU Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, DCWV Designer Paper
Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura gel pen
Accessories: SU Crystal Effects, Fiskar scallop scissors, Coluzzle Oval template, Grosgrain Ribbon


With the tutorial below, if you want to print it, click on the drop menu that is labeled "more". It'll give you the option to print as well as save the document. You may view a full page of the tutorial by clicking on the icon to the very top right corner. It'll open up a new window with the tutorial. If you just want to enlarge directly on the blog, click on the + button or the magnifying glass! Scroll down the page by sliding the scroll bar to the right of the tutorial. Anyway, try the tutorial out when you have a chance!

Mini Flip Card-Album

Christmas Stampin All Year Long Sketch Challenge #11 (04-06-09)

Hi Friends!! It's that time again. . .Christmas Stampin All Year Long Sketch Challenge #11. Yipee. Okay. . we now have 11 Christmas cards under our belt! Not bad, not bad. Starting next month, I'll start making maybe 2 cards each week just so I'll have a few extra cards during the holidays that maybe I can sell or bundle as sets to give away as Christmas gifts. Sounds like a good plan, huh?

Stop by the Christmas Stampin All Year Long blog site and check out all the awesome cards that the talented design team created. I believe they'll inspire you to start creating your cards.

Hey. . remember I said I was going to create a tutorial for the "flip card/mini album" that I created the other day. . .well, I'll try to work on it today. Hopefully, I'll be able to post the tutorial by tomorrow morning.

Anyway, just a little bit about my card. Do you see the fairy image? Well, it's an image from The Greeting Farm and her name is "Fairy Chloe". Isn't she adorable? You're like what fairy has red wings? Mine does! LOL! She's special. . .she's a special Christmas fairy. Actually, Fairy Chloe can be made to fit any occasion, including Christmas!

I colored the image with my Copic Markers. . you can't see it but I also added sparkles to her hair, wings and dress using Sakura Stardust gel pen. You can only see when the light hits at a certain angle.

Do you see Fairy Chloe's head? Well it's 3D because I had tried to put lipstick on her lips on the original stamped image and well, she ended up looking like she just bit some one's neck like a vampire . . .all bloody and such. Argghh! Not good for a fairy to have bloody looking lips! So much for the liptstick idea! LOL!

The Christmas tree in the background is not of my creation! I'm not that good! LOL!. . .it's a scrapbook embellishment by Jolee's Boutique. Isn't it pretty?

Anyway, hope you'll play along this week!! Stop by Christmas Stampin All Year Long and say "hello"!! Encourage the ladies there. . .your comments will be greatly appreciated!

Hope you all have a fantastic week!

Card Details:

Stamp: The Greeting Farm Fairy Chloe

Paper: Me and My Big Ideas designer paper, SU Green Galore, Real Red

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Stardust gel pen, Sakura white gel pen

Accessories: Jolee's Boutique, Fiskar Scallop Scissors, SU 1 3/8 circle punch, SU Scallop circle punch, sentiment sticker (?)

Pink Cat Studo Sweet Pea and March 2009 Sketch Compilation

Hello Friends! Happy Sunday to you all. Below I added "March 2009's Compilation of Sketches". . . go check it out! There was a time when I would compile all the sketches I created for each month and post it. I did that for the first year that I started creating sketches then I got lazy. I'm going to try to compile all of them and hopefully, finish them in a week or two. I have 2 years worth of sketches to compile. I'll post them as I finish them and they'll be located on my left side bar when I'm done. I've been really lazy about a lot of things. . . .one of which is creating tutorials.

I don't know. . .there was a time when I would go to bed thinking about the next tutorial I would create the next day. I really had a blast doing these tutorials but in the last year or so, I started to realize that I was doing them at the expense of other things.

Creating written or video tutorials can take hours at times to complete, from taking the pictures, uploading the photos, watermarking them, writing the written instructions, uploading to blogger. . .sometimes video tutorials would take longer because a lot of editing has to be done to create a short video.

Unfortunately, as time went on, I realized I did these tutorial at the expense of my family time and personal endeavors. I'm not sure what motivated me to spend so many hours creating these tutorials. One reason was I actually love sharing them. I would get excited about a project and I wanted you all to try it out. It would be much easier if I was able to show you in person but oh, well. . that is not the way the world turns in blog land. LOL!

Anyway. . .after a while, I started to burn out. . .I wanted to do other things and spend time with my family. . .something had to go! LOL! Now, I only create tutorials when I can actually find the time without sacrificing other things. I hope you are not greatly disappointed that I no longer create tutorials regularly. I still want to do them but I can no longer do them like I did in the past. That's not true, I can but I don't want to. LOL! I want to spend time with my family more.

Just a little info on this card. How many of you have the Copic Airbrush system? Well, I've had it for over a year and have never even opened the box. Yesterday, I decided to try it out. It was quite interesting . . .the results are really pretty but you can achieve the same results by layering your colors as I did to my oval background on this card I made.

I still need a bit of practice with the airbrush system. Hopefully, I'll get the hang of it and I'll show you the results in future cards!!

This image is from the Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea Dress Up set that was released in March. Isn't he a cutie or what? Do you see the wire works for the antenna. Well, I had added it after I had accidentally cut the antenna when I was trying to cut around it. Rather than starting over, I decided to add the wires and buttons. I hate starting over on anything! LOL!

Anyway, stop by Pink Cat Studio and grab this cute stamp set!! It's a very versatile stamp set. .

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday and don't forget to scroll down and check out my compilation of March's sketches. I'll continue to post the compilations for each month daily until I'm done with all of them!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea Dress Up

Paper: DCWV designer paper, SU Cardstock (not sure what colors)

Ink: Copic markers

Accessories: Stickles, CTMH buttons, Fiskar scallop scissors, grosgrain ribbon, basic basic ribbon, SU Wireworks, Colorbok sentiment stickers and metal tag, Office Depot swirl clip, CB embossing folder

With the tutorial below, if you want to print it, click on the drop menu that is labeled "more". It'll give you the option to print as well as save the document. You may view a full page of the tutorial by clicking on the icon to the very top right corner. It'll open up a new window with the tutorial. If you just want to enlarge directly on the blog, click on the + button or the magnifying glass! Scroll down the page by sliding the scroll bar to the right of the tutorial. Anyway, try the tutorial out when you have a chance!

March Sketches 2009

Stampin Up Fifth Avenue Floral

Hiya Friends!! Look. . .I created a card using a Stampin Up stamp! That's a cause for celebration! Why? Because I haven't been using my Stampin Up stamps often these days. Just too many stamps to use. . .but my goal is to use my Stampin Up stamps at least once or twice a week!

I think the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set is the only one in the new catalog that I felt I MUST have. I love this set and can't wait to use it on my projects. Hey, if you want to buy it from my SU online website, you can shop online: Click Here

I know. . .I'm sorry for pitching a sale but other than two or three people buying from my online website each month, I'm debating whether it's worth paying for. I'm also hobby status right now and no longer have regular customers. . .I think I may need to give up being a demonstrator.

I don't want to give it up because I may find time to be active again but at the same time, I can't be meeting my $300 quota each quarter on my own. Anyway, if you need something from SU and you don't have a regular demonstrator. . .help me out for the time being until I can return to active status. LOL!

Gosh, I've been busy for the past few days. Something is always coming up. It's those unplanned things that sort of get in the way.

Yesterday my husband and I decided to hang out at the casino resort near our home. It's called "the Pechanga Resort and Casino". I only lost a $100 . . "only"? LOL! Yeah I know, any money lost is bad but actually, I've lost more than that in the past when we we're in Vegas. I'm much smarter now. . .I don't continue if I'm at my "$100 loss threshold"

When I mean a $100 loss, I mean money that I had actually put in to those dumb slot machines. It's not including all the money I actually won and fed back into the machine! At one point, I was ahead by $200 but my greediness had me glued to the chair feeding the machines until I lost my own money. Arggh! If I was smart I should have walked away when I gained $200 but I wanted to win the progressive. Dumb? Yeah, I am but I'd like to think that maybe, I'll win the progressive. . .or anything more than just $10 at a time.

Anyway, I better start discussing my card. . .LOL! I can chat about anything, lemme' tell yah. Thank goodness for Facebook. Lot's of nonsense talk going on there! LOL!

I colored my images with Copic Marker, cut them out and layered them. I decided to use a non-SU designer paper because I still had a bit of scrap of desinger paper from the project I made on my last post. I then added a bit of Stickles. . .that's about it!

Are you hating all my bright yellow and orange cards? Too much brightness for you. . like "whoa"! LOL! I don't know what is going on with me but I've been wanting to use all these bright colors . . .typically, I don't like them but lately they've been calling me. . ."Maria, Maria. . . "

Anyway, hope you all have a fantastic day. I'll see if I can visit your blogs some time today!!

Card Details:

Stamp set: SU Fifth Evenue Floral

Paper: DCWV designer paper, SU Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red

Ink: Copic markers, SU Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Stickles Glitter, SU Large Oval Punch, Making Memories Ribbon, SU Ticket Corner Punch, JoAnn brads

PCS Challenge

Hello Stampin' and Craftin' Friends! Wow, it's Friday already! Unbelievable! Time sure flies! It's amazing. Pink Cat Studio has a challenge in progress. . .here are the deets:

Design team member Mariska has come up with a really fun card making challenge! We've made the deadline several weeks away so if anyone wants to use the Sweet Pea stamps there will be plenty of time to make your card once you receive your new stamps. Have fun!!

The Either / Or / Or And Challenge

The challenge means you have to make two choices:

What kind of card are you going to make:

There are two happy occasions to celebrate at Pink Cat Studio this month. The first one you already know... we've gotten ourselves a little one!! The second is that Pink Cat Studio celebrates its fourth year this month!! Both of these occasions deserve a card but which one to use for the challenge .YOU DECIDE!!

1. Create EITHER a birthday card OR a card to celebrate a new baby

2. Either layer your image and/or use stitches: You can use one of these techniques or both, that's up to you, as long as one of them is used. With the layering of an image it means stamping your image several times and cutting out little parts to pop up on your image. You can do this with all kinds of materials like pop up glue, foam cubes or pop up glue dots. It's really making 3D cards with your stamps.

Please visit Mariska's blog to see photos of how she did the layering in her challenge card. When stitching your card, you can use a machine or by hand, you can do straight lines or you can embroider, just use REAL stitches please.

3. Use 3D layers with your stamped image AND/OR use stitches

Date the challenge ends: Monday, April 20th, 5 pm EST

Requirements: A Pink Cat Studio stamp must be used as the main stamp on the card. It is okay to use stamps from other companies as well. To be eligible for the prize you must leave a comment on the Pink Cat Studio blog post. In your comment provide a link to your card. Your card can either be displayed on your blog or in an online gallery.

You may enter only 1 project for this challenge. If you have questions about this challenge, please post them as a comment on this PCS post.

Prize: This contest will be judged by the design team. Since this is Mariska’s challenge, she will select her 3 favorite cards and then the DT will vote for a winner. On April 22nd, the winner will be announced on the PCS blog. The winner will receive a grab bag of Pink Cat Studio stamps. Some cards from the challenge may be displayed on the PCS blog.

Wow, that was a mouthful! LOL! Lots of information to absorb but be sure to play along! It's actually quite an easy challenge. I decided to just do the "3D" part of the challenge and create a birthday card/mini album.

My card/mini album actually started off as a gate fold card but I really wanted to do something different. I'm a little bored with my cards. As I was creating the gate fold, I decided to add additional panels to the card and my card suddenly evolved into a card/mini album.

Because the card/mini album evolved rather than my following a set of instructions, I didn't create a tutorial. I'll try to make one sometime before the end of the week and share it with you.

I colored Pink Cat Studio's Sweet Pea with my Copic Markers and layered the images using foam tape to give them a 3D effect.

Here is the card/album opened up. You can probably create it on your own by just looking at it but for those who needs instructions and cutting dimensions, I'll create a tutorial. Stop by maybe Sunday . . .I'll try to do the tutorial by then. It'll depend how busy I am this weekend.

As you can see, the card opens up with the extra inner panel. You can say it's like a double gate fold card.

Here is the inner aspect of the card/mini album. If you want, you can add photos and do some journaling. I was going to add photos but I didn't want to cover up the pretty designer paper! LOL! How silly is that?

If you want this to be just a card, you can write a note on the center panel.

Here is one side of the panel. . both sides are exactly the same; therefore, I'm just showing one side. I decided to create a pocket and a book marker. On the other side, a journaling panel. I'm planning to add photos later.

Anyway, be sure to drop by the Pink Cat Studio Blog and play along. Good luck!!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea Plate 2, Prima Marketing Inc., Scrappy Cat, Inkadinkado

Paper: DCWV and K&CO designer paper, SU Only Orange, Purely Pomegranate

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura gel pen, Versafine Ink, SU Purely Pomegranate

Accessories: Book Mark tassel, Accucut pocket die, Round Corner Punch, Stickles Glitter, ribbon (?), Darice rhinestone, Fiskar scallop scissors, Coluzzle Oval Tempalte

The Greeting Farm Fairy Tink

Hi Friends!! I decided to create another card using the Greeting Farm "Fairy Tink" and using my current favorite color combo yellow/blue/green. Did you know. . .in the past I did not like yellow on my cards but lately, I've been using it on many of my cards. Not sure why. . .it's like I'm drawn to it. . . it doesn't mean I like it but I seem to reach for it anyway.

Remember yesterday I was thinking of returning to college to obtain a second Bachelors degree. I was looking at the different "emphasis" at the Univ of California art's program and there was a list of specialization. I, initially, was thinking of specializing in "graphic art" but after I reviewed the list, I decided that maybe "photography" would be something I would be more interested in.

Oh, gosh. . .the more I think about it, the more excited I become. Although 2/3D art design or graphic art would be fun, I don't think I can find a job . . .I can draw and may learn to draw better but I'm not "gifted" naturally. But, photography would be something I can do. . .I can be a freelance photographer or even open my own studio.

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself but honestly, if you don't "dream big", it won't happen. I was always a believer of dreaming big and although you may not accomplish the end goal , even half way is still fulfilling. We'll see how things go. . .it may not happen but the more I think about it, the more I want it to happen.

Anyway. . just a little bit about my card. I colored "Fairy Tink" with my Copic Markers. You can't see it but there's shimmers on her hair, dress and wings using Sakura Stardust gel pen.

I think I'll start being more creative with my cards. . . .adding more scenary but I have a tendency to be lazy and just want to finish up the card as quickly as possible.

I decided to work on the inside again, adding designer paper, panel and a mini envelope with an insert.

Here is the sentiment inside the envelope. It's a great way to add a message to the card. It's kinda fun opening up the envelope with a hidden message.

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic day and don't forget to stop by the Greeting Farm and check out their fabulous stamps and products.

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm "Fairy Tink", MFT (sentiment)

Paper: MME designer paper, SU Cool Caribbean, Yoyo Yellow, Certainly Celery

Ink: Copic Markers, SU Tempting Turquoise, Sakura Stardust gel pen, Sakura gel pen

Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, Fiskar scallop scissors, Coluzzle Oval Template, SU mini envelope template

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The Greeting Farm's Never Ever Stamp Release

Hello Friends! Today is my official start date as a designer at the Greeting Farm and to kick off the day, I created card using an image of their new stamp release of the "Never Ever" stamp set. It's available for purchase so stop by the Greeting Farm store and get'em while they're hot! LOL! Check out the Greeting Farm's blog to check out the new releases for April. Be sure to stop by and check out the rest of the awesome work by the the Greeting Farms design team. The links are located to my left side bar!!

Honestly, any of the Greeting Farm's images are super fun to color and this one is no exception. I have so much fun coloring and layering the hair especially. You can't really see it in the photo but the front of her hair is popped up a bit to give the face a bit of depth.

I was going to post this card earlier but I had to head out the door to visit the UC Riverside campus again. It's about a 45 minute drive and I actually was going to apply for classes but I found out that the deadline for applications was last night. Boo-hoo.

Hey, I'm thinking of returning to school to get my Master's Degree in something or maybe another Bachelors . . .maybe a Bachelors in Graphic Art or some art major. What do you think? I have a Bachelors in Nursing but I want to do something in the "arts". I've always wanted an occupation where I could be more "creative" but back when I decided to get my degree in Nursing, I was thinking more of the "financial". . aka MONEY but now that I'm older, something more true to my heart is something I would prefer to do.

I was thinking that it would probably take me a little over 2 years to complete another Bachelors because I've already completed most of the core requirements from my other bachelors degree. I mean that's not too bad and I might as well do it while I still can. Are you in a stage in your life where you want to do something different in your life. . .more out of desire rather than necessity?

Sometimes I feel that life is too short to "think" about things. . .you know what I mean. I don't know, I can't do it right now because I'm a bit too late for this semester but maybe I can do it in the next semester. I still have time to really think about it.

Anyway, enough of my chit-chat. I colored the image (I don't know what her name is) with my Copic Markers. . .and again added a bit of Stickles and Crystal Effects. That's basically it.

I decided to work on the inside a bit. I created a mini envelope and added a little insert inside where you can stamp a sentiment or write a little note.

I was going to design the inside further but I got lazy. I'm going to start working on the inside of my cards from now on because I need to REALLY get rid of my scrap designer papers and cardstock. The best way I feel to do it other than creating a scrapbook layout is to dress up the inside of my cards. What do you think?

Anyway, be sure to stop by the Greeting Farm and check out the new stamps released today! They're really cute!!

Card Details:

Stamps: The Greeting Farm Never Ever

Paper: SU Parisian Summer, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron

Ink: Copic Markers, Sakura Gel Pen, Tim Holtz distress ink, SU Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Office Depot swirl clip, grosgrain ribbon, Making Memories Daisy Brads, SU envelope template, Stickles, SU Crystal Effects