baby blanket

this is the last of the baby shower posts.. at least for a while! I threw my friend a baby shower last month, but still had to finish sewing the baby blanket- here are some finished photos {finally}! Hehe, try to ignore the fact that it needs to be ironed... there is some puckering intentionally, since you need to place ties throughout the body of the blanket to keep the batting from slipping! :)

"O" for Ortiz



{directions}
Embroidery: 1. wash fabrics 2. set fabric and waste canvas in embroidery hoop 3. cross-stitch pattern onto fabric 4. place fabric in water and remove waste canvas 5. let dry
Blanket: 1. cut front and back fabrics to desired size 2. with wrong-side of fabrics facing together, sew around outside of fabric, leaving a short section open 3. turn fabrics inside out, the right-side of fabrics should now be outward 4. cut batting to size of blanket and place in between fabric layers 5. hand stitch the remainder of the edge closed 6. tie bits of doubled up thread or yarn scattered throughout the blanket, through all three layers- this will keep the batting from shifting over time 7. fold ribbon over edges and sew in place

{materials}
I used my own baby blanket for sizing. The fabrics are from JoAnn and the ribbon for the border is from WalMart {Offray, I think}. The floss is DMC, and the pattern for the embroidery is from an old set my mom gave me!

fall into fall

quick post! hard to tell from the lighting, but the gems are really a light orange! keep an eye out for some more of these leaf brads... I'll be using them a lot in the future ;) this is for:
:: Embellish's Polka Dot Paradise Color Challenge
:: Allsorts' #20 Autumn Days
.: materials :. {DP} makingmemories {brads} Michaels {gems} Michaels {kraft twine} Target

Party For Two

So Cuttlebug Challenges is celebrating their first birthday this month- whoohoo! I got a late start since I was honeymooning during the first two weeks of their celebrating, so I'm just catching up on all of their Be Inspired challenges now!

Firstly, we were to choose a party theme, and I went with "Party for Two." It's a play on Shania Twain featuring Billy Currington's song of that title. Also, with hubby's Army training schedules, parties aren't always the easiest to plan, and since our birthdays are in the same month, a small party with just the two of us is kinda our thing :) Exchange presents by a candlelight dinner, relax with a movie and popcorn and dessert... definitely our picture perfect birthday party, hehe :)

"Party for Two" {black, blue, touches of green... his fav colors}
Be Inspired #47: Invitations

Be Inspired #48: Card and Gift Bag



Be Inspired #49: mini-album
Followed directions for the accordion book on the scor-pal website, inspired by Cindy's. I just have to add photos once the party's done and put some twine around to close it! I'm planning on having our party before hubby deploys, then sending this book to him overseas :)



.: materials :. {ticket die} provocraft {swiss dots emboss} provocraft

Be Inspired #50: centerpieces


.: materials :. {paper} core'dinations {green ribbon} michaels {dies/emboss} provocraft {other} rest of supplies were left over from our wedding

Be Inspired #51: thank you card

who does that?! wk 2

This week, the challenge over at Unity's Bro challenge is shiny/sparkly + one DP + two buttons... here's what I came up with!

it says "Go for a SPIN with me"
It uses Laura's sketch #35 from 2 Sketches 4 You as well :)

.: materials :. {paper} DCWV, cosmo cricket, my stash {alphas} makingmemories, crystal stickers, ek success, {ribbon} offray, {stamps} unity {ink} stampcraft {buttons} dress it up, doodlebug {floss} DMC

sketchfest: thurs

here is my card for caardvark's sketchfest thursday. one day left- it's been a blast this week! only wish I had been around this weekend when it all started *sigh* anyways, it uses the colors from SPCC #16. They have a DT call going on- so check it out, join in, and maybe you'll be the next DT member! :)

.: materials :. {paper} SU! "rich razzleberry", DCWV "light blue", K&Co "sparkle" {brads} recollections {gems} JoAnn {ink} martha stewart {stamps} inkadinkado TPC studios, {stickers} those characters from cleveland inc {other} spellbinder dies

simply scrapping september cards

So today I've been up to making a bunch of cards for Simply Scrapping challenges. Go on over to their card forum and take a look! They have monthly challenges each week and chose a winner at the end of the month who gets a great prize!!

.: materials :. {cardstock} DCWV {DP} BasicGrey {ink} stampcraft {stamps} inkadinkado {alpha rubons} heidi swapp {ribbon} michaels {pearls} michaels



.: materials :. {cardstock} DCWV {kraft} Bazzill {ink} stampcraft {stamps} Hero Arts "baby feet," studio g "alphabet" {ribbon} michaels {button} doodlebug design inc {floss} DMC


.:materials:. {cardstock} my stash {DP} JoAnn {rub ons} white blossom @ $1 bin at michaels {twine} martha stewart {button} doodlebug design inc {sticker} my stash



.: materials :. {cardstock} DCWV {DP} BasicGrey {button} dress it up {floss} DMC {flowers} heidi swapp {ribbon} best value {sentiment} my computer

sketchfest: wed

So it's not my fav card ever, but I like the overall layout and think I'll tweak this to make a set... we'll see! This is using the sketch from Caardvark's Sketchfest Wednesday.

.: materials :.
{paper} Bazzill kraft, The Paper Company vellum, unknown blue
{gems} Michaels
{stamps} JustRite
{ink} Memento "paris dusk"

caardvarks sketchfest: tues

Using the Sketchfest Tuesday sketch, this is what I came up with! So upset I missed the first two days since I was away for the weekend, but I look forward to the rest of the week with Sketchfest! Below is a detailed view of the ribbon :)



.: materials :.
{papers} old scrapbook paper, best occasions
{letters} best occasions
{eyelets} makingmemories
{punch} Martha Stewart
{ribbon} Offray
{staples} office supply store

who does that?!

so Unity is starting up a fun challenge for the next couple of weeks! It's the Bro Challenge, where one of their Unity Boyz is picking the winner each week, how fun! Here's my entry for this week... the theme was a "date card" and use the colors red, black, and green! I think I'll be using this sometime before DH deploys... have a nice dinner all made up for him when he gets home :)



material list is over on my SCS gallery!

cascading ornaments

I'm still playing around with finding better lighting when photographing in the evenings... so I took another jab at the Limelight sketch again :) Little happier with the results this time!! Loving the BoBunny paper from Sarah Martina's blog candy. The colors are from SPCC Christmas Combo #2. La-La Land's challenge #5 is 3+ embellishments- I used ribbon, green/red gems, and gold pearls.

.: materials :.
paper: BoBunny {background}, Gartner Studios {gold}, the paper company {white}
ink: Memento "cottage iby"
stamp: JustRite Stampers
ribbon: Offray
gems/pearls: Michaels

snow snow snow

So the sketch at Limelight really stumped me this week! The theme was also designer paper, so I dug through my realllly old stash and found this snow paper. It pulls in colors from the dog collar from PinksPetGear, the shop for this week's EtsyInspired #53. You can't really see it from this angle, put the gems are a pretty aqua like in the collar. And the Tuesday Challenge #7 at DCRU DT blog is "any crafting medium!" I suppose the stamps & ink would count... ;)


I might put this set of 4 up on my Etsy shop {should be coming next week!}, we'll see!

.: materials :.
paper: DCWV {background}, Current {DP}, the paper company {white}
ink: Stampology
Stamp: TCP Studio
Gems: Michaels
Brad: makingmemories
Other: Shapeabilities

blessed commenting

so I have been very blessed lately with a few winning comment entries for blog candy and such. I got back from my honeymoon to find a few packages waiting for me and wanted to give a shout out to these lovely ladies :)

At Die Cuts R Us, Claudia drew my name for a lovely towel from Carole. They had to redraw a name since they didn't know I was away on honeymoon, but Carole sent me another towel anyway! How sweet is she?! I already know where this beauty is going :) Thank you!!




The amazing Sarah Martina also drew my name, and look at all the yummy goodies she sent my way! Now if only some of her creative inspiration could rub off on me too... ;) Thank you!!



And to wrap up this post, the lovely Kerry also drew my name! Another set of amazing goodies were sent to me, just take a look!! And I just LOVE that adorable card :D Thank you!!



Keep an eye out here... coming soon will be my own blog candy! Thank you to all the sweet ladies who comment here. I really appreciate it! I'm trying to come out and visit all your blogs now :)

ICSketches DT Call

Well, here goes nothing ;) ICSketches is having a DT call and here's my submission. Head on over to their blog if you wanna enter too!! I'm gearing up for Christmas already, so that's the theme of my card.

Here's their sketch...



And here's my take...



{Materials}
Paper: Core'dinations {background}, K&Co {ornament}, the paper company {white}
Ink: Memento "paris dusk"
Stamp: JustRite Stampers
Ribbon/Pearls/Gem: Michael's

More prior submits

Well, again my cards didn't get picked up {I think those that were selected were already notified and thus safe to post these} so here are the remainder of the cards that I submitted to previous calls!

Simple Balloons


Sweetie Blooms


Cherished


For Baby With Thanks {part 1}


For Baby With Thanks {part 2}


Forest Congrats

Important News @ ABC Challenge Blog

Well this week brings two announcements over at ABC Challenge Blog.
(1) From now on the ABC Challenge will be fortnightly.
(2) Due to some of the creators needing to step down, they're having a DT call! Blog about the news and post 3 cards and you could be selected as one of their new DT! Check out their blog post {here} for more details :)

Here are my three entries!!
I'm still developing "my style," I dabble in a bit of everything here and there. I like to keep it more clean and simple with fun embellishments though!



Letting the fabulous flocked paper take center stage with some simple sparkle and ribbon embellies.


Simple layers of white with added pops of colour and texture.



Amazing how three added ingredients can create such a CAS card with personality :)
start with some cardstock... + designer paper + ribbon + rub-on = fun!

eight years

9.11
September 11, 2001

We Will Never Forget

May God Bless America.
May God Bless Our Troops.

Like many of our generation, I can remember exactly where I was when I first heard the news of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers. Sitting in Pre-Calculus class, they announced a plane crashed into the North Tower, thinking it was just a freak accident. Soon after, another announcement over the loud speaker stated the South Tower had been hit. It seemed so surreal. Many were riveted to the TV {usually not allowed on} that was in the Seniors' area near the lunch room.

Hearing about the Pentagon crash and then the heroes in Pennsylvania... it was like something out of a movie. America doesn't get attacked, I mean, we're America! Who messes with us? Well, it was a testiment to our pride and lack of vigilance that those terrorists were able to get through and attack American soil.

May this day serve as a constant reminder of why we are at war. Please support our troops. May God bless them and our country. May we never forget September 11, 2001.

New format?

Hey ladies... so right now I've just been posting whatever I'm working on or whatever challenges I'm entering. I'd like to maybe create a bit more of an order to this place and was thinking about following a trend I've seen on some other blogs- theming each day of the week... for example-

:: Make-a-Wish Mondays {birthday cards}
:: Two-fer Tuesdays {two of the same card, either one simple and one fancy, or diffcolor schemes, diff sentments}
:: BasicGrey Bump-day {for Wednesdays... never liked the term "hump" day, I prefer "bump" day}
:: CuTTlebug Thursday

so either using a sentiment theme, vendor theme, technique theme, or some sort of combination of the above, or other ideas! Anyone have ideas for theme days?? Do you like it when blogs have a pattern like that? Thoughts? :)

I'm back.... kinda!

Just wanted to drop a quick post... I'm back ya'll! Well... kinda, hehe. Hubby and I have landed safely back up north after our magical *belated* honeymoon to Disney World. I loved sharing my beloved Disney with hubby, and we're already planning our next trip there! :D We'll be spending the next few days with the in-laws, then back to our place, so no new projects just yet unfortunately. I'm really itching to get back to crafting! Bought some great Disney and Sea World scrapping goodies!! And you just KNOW I saved practically everything from the trip {receipts, boxes, chopstick wrappers...} to use in our honeymoon scrapbook ;) I'm also doing a ton of Disney-realted swaps over on SCS, so I'll be using some of my newly aquired stash for that too!

Speaking of SCS, quick shout out to a different kind of swap, a ribbon swap! Ibiernat is hosting it {here} and I thought it's such a perfect way to get rid of some excess ribbon I have lying around and a great way to get some new goodies! You just sign up for whatever color you have, and you'll get a few new yards of fun ribbon in that same color! So if ribbon's your fav, head over to the swap and sign on up ;)