Yay a CARD! How I missed sharing.

Hurray! I am so extremely excited to tell you I have the camera and computer situation under control. Yay!!! That says a lot since one of my Husband nicknames is Jazz the Spazz. Hmm. So many things have gone on here since I have last posted.
But first I have a Christmas card to share. I know, that has come and gone. But I feel deprived of Christmas card goodness. Along with a new camera, which Santa knew he would get choked if he didn't bring, since Santa is the one that broke my old one. I got my first sewing machine. Yep, pretty excited over that. Seems complicated, don't know if I'm the sewing type. We'll see how that adventure goes, my little mind is spinning with the possibilities.
So here is one of my Christmas cards that I am very excited to share with you.

I'm still working on the settings on my camera and the backgrounds. This camera is a bit more elaborate than my last one, so bear with me. I purchased 3 different DCWV stacks from Joann along with stamps and other loose papers. This is my first year making homemade cards to send out I needed to start my collection. I love how this card turned out. The recipe is below but basically I matted this a few times. The fancy trim with the pearls are vintage from a friend, the pointsettias are old, old Making Memories and the brads are cream colored ones that I covered with gold Stickels. That bow is Jolees and I've totally been hoarding them because I didn't buy all of the packages that Michael's had when I saw them, which I totally should have I LOVE THEM! The sentiment is Recollections gold embossed.  I made various different cards including 4 of these. I can't find the pointsettias anymore so this is definitely not one I would try to submit to Papercrafts Mag for publication. Which is my ultimate goal in life or at least 2011, or at least one of them HAHA.

 Last but certainly not least, Melissa again is having an amazing giveaway. Which I would LOVE. Here is her blog, go take a looksie http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2010/12/end-of-year-giveaway.html. She is amazingly crafty!   

Super cute giveaway!

Mellisa has the cutest snowglobe on her blog! I have no idea how she made it, even with the instructions it's beyond me! Anyway she is giving away one of them. Go here and check it out. Very talented I think, I drooled!  http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

Scissor Review

Hello out there. Still no card pictures but today I thought I would share a review of the Tim Holtz Micro Serrated Scissors By Tonic. I have to say I have tried a million different pair of scissors and I'm in LOVE with these. I have the Cutterbee yellow ones as well and I found that they get very gunky and are not as heavy duty. I do a lot of fussy cutting and these have a great micro serrated edge on one side, then you flip them over and they are smooth edged. I have very small hands and I thought this would be a problem but they are not at all. They have a soft cushion handle so they are great. In short, I would highly recommend these scissors. They have made my crafting easier. Hope this helps everyone. Until next time Amigas ;-)





Ridiculously Cute

I am so excited to share this link with you. http://inspireco.blogspot.com/ if it doesn't link because I'm still learning just click on the post title. I got it from the Live learn Craft Blog and I spent a good part of my morning looking at these amazing ideas. Let me tell you I'm Hooked. Yay Christmas Crafts.

Great Blog

Hello back again still no card :-( But working on it. All kinds of fabulous things are going on here and I can't share them, Sigh. However I have has some time to look at other blogs for inspiration. I get so excited when I see some cool work. I am always looking to learn more and I realize you really never stop learning new techniques and card crafty ladies are VERY generous to share tips. I have a list of blogs like everyone else and love looking at all of the pretty things. I have a few I'm still looking for but I found this blog from some link. I can't believe the beautiful work she does. I see she make mostly embellies but I will have fun looking at her amazing work. Here's a link. http://craftbrulee.blogspot.com/ Hope you enjoy it. Until next time amigas :-)

The Blog Gods :-(

Hi guys. Just stopped to say hi to everyone. I have been neglecting my poor little blog that I love so much lately. The blog Gods have been playing with me lately. Everytime I am planning on sharing something comes up, today we had no electricity power outage for 7 hours!! Just came on and my husband reminded me :-)On my daughter's birthday we had a mishap and my camera was dropped by a mysterious offender. HE knows who he is and he is also Santa so hopefully I get a new one for Christmas. Right before that our laptop started acting up and it's the only computer with a card reader. AAAAAAHHHH what the heck. So we've had a lot of things going on and have been having a great last few weeks, but there are always those things that you don't count on happening. Like a broken laptop and camera. I think I saved a few picts on a memory stick and will show you these from before the incident. I'm crossing my fingers.
As a family we have been really blessed, this last month my husband got baptized. Always a good thing no matter what your faith right? YAY. We have been making new goals as a family and things are really good. I feel so blessed. I am definitely not one of those ladies that says everything is perfect. We have 3 teens and TRUST ME this is NO Brady Bunch! We have struggles, debates, financial concerns, mishaps, stubborness (mostly from me) but we love each other and every step towards being a family forever makes my heart want to burst. I wouldn't want to do this crazy life thing with any others than my little monkeys.
I have been making lotsa lotsa cards. I made some save-the-date cards for my cousin, who is like my little sister. She is getting married in April YAY. I made some for Church people (lotsa babies at church) whom I really love, and I ALWAYS need birthday cards for my Family. I have 6 aunts, 2 uncles, parents, 35 first cousins and thier respective spouses and kids and most of us live within 20 miles of each other. That's just on my Mom's side, it's insane (like my Big Fat Greek Wedding) but also a great blessing.
Tomorrow I will try to upload a card that I really want to share, I am sad that I can't share my current cards but hopefully I can find a stand in for mean while. I have some Halloween cards I want to share! So thanks for my long rambling update. Until next time Amigas :-)

Oh Baby!

Hello all! Hope all is well. My week has been extra super duper busy as usual. We are counting down to the 13th Birthday Sleepover extravaganza. There are going to be 14 little girls screaming and giggling at my house this weekend. To prepare for the party I went to the laundry mat a while ago to wash some big sleeping bags because they are too big for a normal washer. I had just gotten them home and of course the puppy peed on the whole pile of them! How did she get up there? Good question. Anyone wanna switch? Just kidding (I think) LOL.
I'm also trying to get my etsy shop up and running. I have definitely been overthinking everything and I'm also married to an overthinker so we were not making any progress. Then my Aunt reminded me of the Nike slogan, "Just do it", another Duh Jasmine moment.
In honor of our new baby (AKA Demon puppy) I am sharing a baby card that I make a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago I found some seam binding in my stash. I have been seeing it all over the place and have been looking for it at stores and what do you know? I already had some. Duh!? Well let me tell you I love seam binding! Fun stuff and it's so soft and pliable. The card needed to be unisex, I think the colors came together very well. I used stamps and things I forgot I had and had never used. It was like when you find a twenty dollar bill in your coat, YAY !!!! :-) Until next time amigas.



Card Recipe: Kraft Cardstock: Recollections, Yellow cardstock: Coordinations, Patterned paper: DCWV Summer Stack, Sheep Die Cut: Martha Stewart, Baby Stamp: Martha Stewart, Pearl flowers: Making Memories, Seam binding: Martha Stewart, Border punch: Fiskars, Embossing folder: Swiss dots Provo Craft, Ranger Pop Its.

Party Invites

Hello All! Hope everyone is enjoying back to school and the (hopefully) last days of heat. Here it's been over 100 degrees. All I can say is EEEEEEEW! I'm ready for Fall for sure. My girls started school and it's always bittersweet. Not for what you would suspect. I'm not suffering from separation anxiety, remember I have teenagers. I'm just running all of the time. So I get a break from them but I am being pulled in 100 different directions with different school times, clubs, family and church obligations and a new puppy (or as I call her new pooopy). Craziness ensues! My Grandma always told us that we will rest when we die, man she was serious! I know just like the toddler years (which I loved), these times (good and tough)will FLY by and I will look back wishing I had slowed down more often.

We are planning my youngest's 13th birthday party for next week. I made these invites for her. She didn't want anything too fluffy or girlie so this is what I came up with. I'll post material later. Hope you like them. Until next time amigas ;-)
The source of my madness, introducing Lilo. She unmade the bed! Holy terror!

Oldie But Goodie for Color Combos Galore 155

Hi everybody. Today is a very very good day! Our air conditioner got repaired and didn't cost us a thousand dollars. Double Yay! So on to card world. This is a card I made for Color Combos Galore # 155. I have the same problem that I hear A LOT from other card makers. That is the problem that masculine cards are hard to make.

I used the K&Company Cut & Paste Stack. I'm telling you, when you see this stack it looks pretty boring and unassuming but I've found TONS of uses for it and it was like $5.99 at Michael's with a coupon. Well I don't know what it is about this card but I wish I could give it to myself! LOL it's my most favoritest card ever.


Card Recipe:
Base: Recollections Kraft, Beige cardstock: Coordinations Grandpa's Trunk, Patterned paper & Cars: K&Company Cut & Paste Stack, Brads: Making Memories, Ink: Ranger Distress Antique Linen & Martha Stewart Copper, Accessories: Ranger Pop It's and Ranger Glossy Accents.

Spanish Happy Birthday Cupcake

Hola Everyone, hope all is well with you all. Today I am enjoying my first full day of freedom from my kids. Not that I don't love them more than chocolate, but I'm a little bit giddy that they are in School again. I have a quick card to share, it's SWEET & simple but I think it's cute. I was so happy when I found this Stampendous Spanish Sentiments set. They are so hard to find and I prefer to give my Maternal Grandmother & a few other friends & family, cards in Spanish since that's her first language. Doesn't the cupcake make you want to gobble it up. Simple & so easy. Until next time Amigas :-)

Color Combos Galore 154

Hi everybody, hope everyone is having a great Saturday. Around here it has been a quiet Saturday of cleaning and crafting. My Favorite things, no really! This is the perfect Saturday for me. I got to make a card for Color Combos Galore 154. The colors are fun, and it was an entertaining challenge to make a card related to friendship using pink, orange, yellow and white. Here is my take, hope you like it.




Card Recipe:
White card base: Recollections, Orange polka dot paper: GCD Spring All Over, Yellow paper: Coordinations, White glitter paper: Color Bloc, Tag: Martha Stewart, Gemstone brads: Autumn Leaves, Stem Stamp: Sandylion, Ink: Versamark Embossing Ink, Versamagic Pixie Petal, Embossing Powder: Ranger Distress Peeling Paint, Daisies and ribbon: Michael's, Heart pearl: Making Memories, Punch: Monarch Butterfly Martha Stewart. Ranger Pop It's

Vintagey Goodness

Hi Around here it is has definitely been VERY relaxed compared to school time. The Twins were with Grandma & Grandpa out of state for the summer. They are back now. So all we had is my little 12 year old who is a Momma's girl and I LOVED having her around. Of course I missed my older girls, but anyone with teenagers understands that I was regenerating for future battles ;-) I know when they are older they will look back and wonder how I didn't drop them off at a fire station and speed away some times. LOL teenagers make you CRAZY!
This week madness ensued. So this week it's time for back to school, we started shopping yesterday, today was High School re-registration, tommorrow the Junior High :-(. Crowded malls, overpriced trendy things, eye rolling when I make suggestions, my wallet being drained, screaming babies at stores and getting reminded that I'm getting older. Yay!!! (Yeah that was sarcastic :-()
Well enough of the complaining, onto the card goodness. Not sure if this is considered Shabby Vintage or just Vintage, hope you like it. Until next time amigas ;-)


Card Recipe:
Card Base: Recollections, Newprint Cardstock: GCD Paris Nights, Postcard: K&Company, Doily: Wilton, Butterfly: Jolee, Pearls: Making Memories, Flowers: vintage from stash, Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Distress Stickles, Peeled Paint.

Colors Combo Galore #152

Hello, hope you all are enjoying your day. I was up till 3 am getting ready for a craft fair today. Yes, I had 1 month notice but still I procrastinated (see previous post about my bad habits haha). I wanted to have everything perfect so I checked and double checked everything. I am on about 3 hours sleep so if I sound crazy it is because I am!


But on to happier things, I have a Color Combos Galore card to share. This is for challenge 152. I love that color combo and the ladies that participate are sooo nice. I have to say it even though it's corny and I hate corny, card making ladies are just nicer ;-) Hope you like it. Right now I am off to pick my daughter up from a barbecue then off to bed. Until next time amigos.

Recipe: Patterned Paper K&Company Cut & Paste (Sooo cute), DCWV Green paper, Peeled Paint Distress Stickles on leaves, small green stems K&Company handmade collection, Wilton doily, Studio G sentiment stamp, Stampin Stuff Jeweled Gold embossing powder, Home Depot twine, tulle & pearl stand center is Joann, rhinestone heart charm is my daughter's charm bracelet that fell apart :-)

Friends Card

Hi, hope all is well with everyone out there. Today is the first day it is not 100 degrees out. That is very good since our air conditioning has been working when it feels like it lately. I couldn't make cards because nothing would stick right, use a heat gun and I couldn't use a fan, you know paper and a fan are a bad mix, Haha. But I did try, I just ended up like an episode of "I Love Lucy". Which coincidentally Jared always tells me I am just like her, except the red hair.
I also just got the the Paper Crafts Magazine Card Style Special issue. It is awesome. It helps define your style. I always was a cute and fun style card maker but I have been making vintage/elegant cards lately. Last night I was making some cute cards for a craft fair I have coming up and let me tell you I had a hard time. They didn't flow so easily anymore. Hum? Am I broken? Maybe it was just the heat, I hope.
So I have a card to share that I made a few weeks ago. My super talented friend James took some pictures of my cards for me. Isn't he awesome ?! Thanks again James. This card is a cutesy card hope you like it. I did a little stamping and used a Crafty Secrets sticker. I always have a hard time with color combos but I think this one just came together well. Hope you like it. Until next time Amigos ;-)


Card recipe: All paper is Recollections, polka dot is from their Mom's Diner Collection, Sentiment Sticker is Crafty Secrets, Flowers are Prima, Stem stamp is Sandylion, Butterfly punch is Monarch by Martha Stewart, Ink is Momento Moss green, All ribbon is Michael's.

Color Combos Galore 150

Hi, hope all is good with everyone. Around here it is HOT ! I know big shock huh, heat in Southern California. The stinky part is that that means fires, a lot of them :-(. This week I resupplied on some basics and also hit some great sales at Michael's. They are expanding thier scrap stuff all of the time and I have 2 Michael's within 15 minutes. I am dangerous when I go, and then throw a great coupon into the mix and forget about it, I'm a maniac! LOL I'll maybe show you my stuff in another post, if I haven't used it all ;-)
I entered the Color Combos Galore Challenge for the first time. I always look for inspiration from them and thought it was time I got brave. I used my favorite dress stamp. Now back to chores and errands. Hope you like it.

The Card Recipe: Kraft Base, Ivory & red are Coordinations, Small red polka dot is OLD from my stash, white is Bazzill, Brads are Making Memories, Gingham bows are Recollections, Ribbon is Michael's, Stamp is Inkadinkado, Ink is Memento Chalk Danube mixed with many others lost track, and Antique Linen.

Awesome Challenge

You know all of those fun challenge sites that there is? Well, I have my own, personal challenge. My Uncle (and best customer) buys my cards and always has these really awesome ideas for the themes and colors. This week he requested a Viking card. Yes, you did read right, a VIKING CARD!!!! I love being challenged this way. My motto is if I don't know how to make it I better figure it out. Maybe it comes from my other uncle "teaching" me to swim by throwing me in the pool. So it was literally sink or swim. But probably it is my AMAZING grandmother that never let us give up. Okay I'm gettin' mushy! Anyway not like I'm curing cancer or anything but maybe a card can bring a smile to someone's face. I love my Uncle for making me think and CHALLENGING me. I make each one with lotsa love and pride :-)

Card Recipe: Patterned paper DCWV Once upon a Time Stack, silver metallic paper Bazzill, DCWV all other cardstock, Stamp Inkadinkado "Friendship", Ribbon Michael's, Gold embossing powder Stampendous, Brads American Crafts, Ink Ranger Distress Antique linen, Tea Dye, mixed with Staz On Timber Brown.

Thanks for stopping by hope you enjoy it, until next time amigos :-)

Pretty Girl Card

Hi, I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July Holiday. My husband took some vacation time so we've been to a pow-wow, fishing and relaxing. Am I the only wife that doesn't get much done at all when the hubby is home? He is just distracting and though I love him more than chocolate, he throws me off my schedule! I'm like a 3 year old, I have to have a schedule or I get thrown into a quandary! Haha, yes I am a spaz like that. So I'm back and excited to share another card with you. Hope you like it. I would love your input, as I am still learning and would love any opportunity to improve.


The Recipe: The plaid paper is DCWV Sweet stack, Pink, beige & yellow Cardstock is Coredinations, white is DCWV, Stamp is Inkadinkado (my favorite dress stamp), Letter stickers are Martha Stewart, Buttons are recollections, Stickles w/glitter, Ribbon is American Crafts, Punch is Fiskars, Cartridge Accent Essentials.

This card is again for my favorite uncle's friend. It is more busy than what I am used to but again, I am trying to show you the cards I make that are different than usual. I like it but it does make my brain hurt a little with so much going on. Until next time amigos :-)

Craft Area- Lotsa Pics

Hello my fine friends. Just wanted to show you my craft area, I've seen lots of these recently on other blogs. Right now I am crafting in a part of our bedroom. With 3 teenagers & a BIG dog we use ALL of the space we can. Usually it is me doing my craft thing and my husband playing video games. My Aunt very generously gave me more storage stuff this weekend, YAY. This space works for now, sometimes I feel the walls getting smaller and smaller, LOL. I have to use my stash before I buy more but it's addicting. I think I'm a neat person but let me tell you it's CRAZY when I get creative. LOL then I finish, look around and think, "how did this happen ?"


This is my whole area, organized madness.


I did a good job of hiding my unhealthy obsession with ribbon, that green kermit bag is full as well as 2 of those storage boxes and all of the stuff I have out in plain view ;-)


This is under my desk/table where I store less used items. There are blank scrapbooks in the rolley case.


My desk top, an old, old little kitchen table from my single days. When I took it upstairs to use I thought Jared would think it was crazy but he didnt say anything, then I came upstairs a few nights later and he had carved our initials and a heart on the corner. Aaaaw!


This is a bed bath & beyond thingy, with my tools, glues & tape, ink pads, glitter, punches, glue gun. The storage container above has regular scissors and pens and paperclips.


This is pegboard Jared put up, and it has helped soooo much and was fairly inexpensive. We painted it and while the paint was still wet sprinkled glitter. He knows his wife. HaHa.

Love my labeler. The cardboard box has chipboard.

Telling you about this makes me think maybe I have ALOT for my space! I have overflow in the garage, such as paints, and larger bags, tissue paper. But I'm telling you it's addicting.
Thanks for staying with me it was a loooong post. Until next time amigos ;-)

Crafty Secrets Card

Hi, I so glad it's Friday! It's been a very, very busy week I made 30 Father's Day cards in 2 days! And it will be a busy weekend but that's ok. Saturday we are going to a garage sale that I was told about from one of my husband's co-workers (super nice lady :-)). I guess someone passed away and the family is selling thier stamping stuff. Am I evil for being excited about the sale? Hum, for sure I'm sad that the person passed away but excited about the stamps. Do I haggle? Will I be riddled with guilt? Hum? Maybe they loved thier stamps and will haunt them. Eeek better not think about it :-( I'm looking forward to spending Father's Day making a special dinner for my husband. He REALLY deserves it with a house full of girls and a crazy dog.

Anyway, I have another card to share. This is a card I made last week. I've been trying to make cards that are totally different than my cutesy style, also this is my first card with so much distress ink. I am very new to the distress thing, scares me a little. So this is my version of an elegant lady card. So serious huh? So maybe a card you would give an older person or a fancy person, yeah Fancy! Let me know what you think, would love your input. Until next time.



Card recipe:
Paper: Patterned- K&Company Cut & Paste (luv this pad & it was only $10 @ michaels)
Cardstock-DCWV, Card Base & Envelope- Recollections.
Stamps: Dress form- Crafty Secrets, Sentiment- Inkadinkdo
Brads: Pearl-Recollections, Metal Ivory- Artsylicious
Ink: Martha Stewart -copper Tim Holtz distress-Antique Linen and Tea Dye
Ribbon: Michael's & Lace Joann

First Card

So here it is, my first card. I decided I was overthinking the whole picture thing. Wanted everything to be perfect. Like the lighting etc. Well I got over it because I'm excited to share and get opinions on my work. Please be patient with me, I'm a blogging newbie. This is a card I made for my uncle's friend.
Card info:
The patterned paper is My Minds Eye Home Collection, white pearlized paper is Wausau Papers, Ribbon is American Crafts, Crown is Jolee's, brads are Making Memories. Stamp is G Studio Soloz, Frame is Making Memories, ink is Momento Black.

Hope I didnt miss any info, Hope you like it :-)

Funny

I was looking at stamps online and found this qoute on a Inkadinkado stamp.
" You know it was a good day if you didn't hit or bite anyone " By Nathaniel age 4. Is it still okay of you are 30 something and still consider it good? It put a smile on my face. I had one of those days :-)

Joann Fabric and Crafts Frienemy!

So I am the only one that has a love hate relationship with a store? There are soooo many examples of stores you can't live without but you wish you could right? Ahem Walmart. Though I prefer Target, yay dollar spot. Well mine is with Joann Crafts. My husband's office is just about 3 seconds from a Michael's. So the ladies know me and we are BFFs. But well let's admit it, both of the stores have different things. I love love love online shopping (like Christmas right?) but sometimes you have to go play with the pretty things. Well Joann employees are sooooo indifferent,at best, rude very frequently. I have gone there once a week (and spend too much for my own good) almost for the last year and I rarely see the same person twice. Bad sign right? I have special ordered my cricut, cuttlebug and other numerous large things and have had a hard time every time. They can't find my order, or they are distracted and chatting with other people so I have to give them my phone number 5 times (not lying). Tried to buy cricut carts and I have to wait 30 minutes to find the person with the key to them. Then when I tried to complain to the manager I was shocked to find it was a lady that was belittling one of her employees. Why oh why? So I come full circle and say, JOANN, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND YOU ARE SO MEAN TO ME :-(

Procrastination be gone!!!

I am an organizer/procrastinator, I think I do my best work last minute, but this time for my twinkies party I am turning over a new leaf. I make lists, know what I want and everthing always turns out okay but my peeps always seem to frown on this lol. Well I have the invitations stamped, almost all embossed and printed, yay me. Never been a big fan of pastels but they are growing on me. So I am patting myself on the back as we speak :-) Oh yeah Melissa a very crafty craft girl is having a fabulous give away, check out her stuff shes great great great. Heres linky http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com

Hi Cuttlebug, I love you.

So my first blog was supposed to be laid back casual, 10 random things about me. Well maybe I'm not that interesting, hmm but I can't think of 10 things anyone would like to read. Sooo maybe I'll feel fascinating tommorrow. ;-)

So to start off I must disclose I am a total cheapskate. Hate spending money on myself, don't hate spending on the kids or the hubs, just me, typical Mom huh? I'm sure you ladies know what I'm talking about. Plus with 2 teens and 1 tween I am singlehandedly stimulating the economy just on hair products!

So today I will tell you about my new gadget. My husband got me a cuttlebug about 10 days ago. I will tell you the history of me getting my Cricut another day (I don't look good in the story so it can wait, hehe). The point is I don't protest when my husband wants to buy me any scrapping goodies anymore. So I get my cuttlebug and several folders that were on sale (yay) dirt cheap. I left it on my desk for a few days, then opened the box, a few more days after that of me just looking at it and thinking you better be worth every penny green monster! Then I saw an adorable card by the talented Rae Barthel that had the swiss dots I decided to give it a try. Well let me tell you I am addicted. I am swiss dotting everything.......... yep, I would've swiss dotted the dinner napkins tonight. And the way it looks with Coredinations matted with pokie dot paper. It's just all too much! You'll see!!! Love it!!!

Soon I will share some pics of my stuff. Looking forward to making friends with this blog and giving props to all of my fellow cardmakers that are sooooo talented and so much fun to follow. Good night for now. My head is spinning, with the cuttle possiblities. Until next time amigos.