Oh Rats!!

CB - Memory Box
CS - CTMH
Stamps - Alphabet - CTMH; Cupcake - Hero Arts
Martha Stewart Punches (Mouse border, small mouse & large mouse)
Ink - Memento
Copics
Stickles

The inside sentiment says: "Sorry I missed your Birthday"

I think the card is funny - that's why I made it. However now that I'm actually LOOKING at it, I'm wondering how many people will get creeped out due to the whole rodent-theme. For me, it's just a play on words AND a great way to utilize 3 (count them - 1, 2, 3) MS punches!! Even with the whole rodent theme, I'm kind of ok with rats.......in summer school one year, Gail, Jon and I had a rat (Harley, and she was lovely) that we trained (we were in a very interesting-although-some-would-consider-geeky summer school program - we were considered "gifted".....hmmm......gifted with what I'm not certain, but I know we had fun that summer!!). So I have a soft spot for rats.....as is obvious when I think back on my first "serious" boyfriend .......OOOPS - that's a whole other RODENT story!!!

I thought it would be funny, you know "Oh Rats!!!" (I missed your b-day) and then literally have a bunch of rats running around......oh well, some of my friends are as sick as me.....they'll appreciate it!!

Hmmm, the card is pretty straight-forward, the trickiest thing....I double-punched the tails in a couple of pink CS to lend a feeling of authenticity for my two star rodents. I dabbled with the idea of putting a google eye on the larger rat, but that would have made it too cartoony - not a feel that I was going for on this card. I also considered taking a few "bites" out of the cupcake but I knew that would pretty much send everyone over the edge, so I refrained.........

Favorite Peeps

CB - Memory Box
B&T papers - CTMH
Stamps - A Muse
Ink - Memento
Copics & Spicas
Flower Brad - Making Memories

In one of Julie's AMAP classes, we used these chicks and this sentiment - one of the chicks had the mini party hat over her head (it was a b-day card).....making that reminded me how much I like these 2 stamps and I hadn't used them since Easter, 2007!! So I hunted them down, dusted them off and decided to make a non-Easter Friendship card. Just sort of a thinking of you to send to a friend type of card - everyone likes "fun mail"!!!

Wanted the colors to be bright and fun but the B&T print had to be on the smallish side since the stamps themselves are so small. The blue flower brad was the perfect accent (IRL the blue is spot-on to the blue in the B&T paper). I made the middle chicken kind of wacky with crazy feather-hair using my Orange & Peach Spicas, I also went a bit darker when I colored her with Copics. I used the fine bullet-tip of the Rich Cocoa Memento Marker and created a bit of "scratch" for the chicks to peck at.......they'd be bored otherwise!!

Hey, you know how I said I'd be sharing a few photos of my "stamping place"??? Well, I've taken a few more and I'll be posting them later. I know that I'm interested in seeing what my fellow-stampers spaces are like and what tools they use (and sometimes why), so I hope these side trips are semi-interesting and a little bit helpful!!!

The Perfect Blend

CB - Memory Box
CS - CTMH
Stamps - My Favorite Things
Inks - Memento & Papertrey Ink
Copics & Spicas
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
A Muse Ribbon
Sakura Glaze Pen

During the last Rubber Stamp Convention, there was a booth that sold a LOT of MFT stamps. I'd been eyeing their website for a while, really liked a lot of their images and was basically sitting on the fence as to WHEN to buy. I had noticed that my LSS had started to carry a very small selection of their stamps but YIKES - the price mark-up compared to the website was too scary!!! So I actually cooled my spending jets and saved my cashola in the hopes that there would be some convention "deals". Boy oh boy was a I glad that I did!! Everything that I purchased at the convention (with the exception of Magenta) was at a "deal". So I guess as much as it pains me, sometimes it actually DOES pay to wait..............sigh................

Well, it's been a few months since the Rubber Stamp Convention and I've FINALLY used one of the MFT sets!! I still like the whole pink & brown combo (even though it's probably so last year in the stamping "fashion" scene), so I thought it would work well for this set. I love those Cuttlebug embossing folders - they're so quick and easy to use and they are quite affordable and I love the variety available. Stamper's Corner carries a nice selection of the embossing folders...I just picked up the "Diamond Plate" folder, I think it'll make really great Manly Male cards (and sheesh, I have problems with coming up with ideas for them!!).....I'm pretty thrilled!!

This was a quick and easy card, there were only 5 Copic colors used and only 1 Spica!! I think all of the matting took the longest. Oh, I did have to fight a lot with the ribbon (I'm cheap so I really don't want to waste any more than I have too!!!).

Below The Bottom Shelf

Ok, I'm really NOT a spokeswoman for Ikea.....I just happen to have a few organizing items that they carry. This towel rack was actually going to be used as a towel rack but it was too long for the space and then we lost the receipt and then lost the rack itself in The Pit that's the garage......once we found it, Chef Bo-Bo Head put it up under the bottom shelf so that it was in easy reach and quite a few of the punches fit just perfectly!! Again, I put the punches that I use very frequently on the "rack of honor".....hee, hee, hee!!! Can you see the 2 Fiskars paper cutters lurking underneath? Although I have a nice heavy-duty paper cutter on my desk, I usually have "stuff" on top of it. I grab one of the Fiskars cutters - they're quick & easy (and readily available).

The Bottom Shelf

This is the bottom shelf of the shelves that are just to the left of my desk (yes, within arms reach). These are the items that I pretty much use on every card that I make. My Memento Inks are used in everything I do since I color with my Copics about 99% of the time. I have all of the Memento colors in the little Dew Drop size - depending on the stamp, I can "color" with those pointy tips. I've stored my Stickles upside down to avoid air bubbles AND to get every last drop of sparkle!! I love those little metal mini-shelves (again, another Ikea find) and as you can tell, I have a lot of adhesive items (variety is the spice of life!!). I have a good selection of brads and eyelets (I mostly use brads because I'm lazy and I don't want to drag out my Silent Setter). Love those buckets from Target too (found periodically in the Dollar Bins). And of course the remotes are right there along with the phone (when I might need to make an emergency stamping call???).

My Copics

A couple of people have asked about my stamp room. Unfortunately, it, in its entirety is nowhere near ready for an unveiling. I do have bits & pieces that I can share....so every once in a while, I'll pop in a few quick photos of my most favorite room in our home!!!

My Copics are housed in cutlery containers, yes, like you see at restaurants. I got mine at Ikea (VERY good price)....all three styles of Copics fit quite nicely (I like to see the tops of the pens). I've done a little pyramid display to show how I've sorted them by color....the first photo shows how they sit on my desk normally (yes, literally within arms reach). The Copics lying flat are the ones I used for Dee's card....I liked it well enough to make a few more to sell. I'm slowly investing in Copic Refills, currently they're in my oh-so cool orange bucket (from A Muse), and yes, it too sits on my desk along with my big paper cutter, 2 lamps, my acrylic blocks, a stack of scrap paper, 2 pencil/pen holders, a small bucket (it holds my glue sticks, Liquid Glass, stamp cleaner, 2 bottles of tacky glue, a water spritzer, a mini flash-light a few other things that have fallen below my line of sight), 5 small punches (that I use a LOT), a few of my "signature" stamps for the backs of my cards, a couple of photos of my family, a snap-ware container that holds some stamps. My desk is a battle tank. It's pretty large, EXTREMELY heavy, is nearly all metal (so it rattles and shakes when I'm getting into drawers). But it was a steal...............I purchased it at a local utility "garage sale" about 10 years ago - it's the best $25.00 I've ever spent!!!

Birthday Sprinkles

Close up of the loopy border punch all blinged out!

Stamps - Cat's Pajamas

Cardbase - Papertrey Ink

Ink - Memento

Copics & Spicas

Stickles

Ribbon - A Muse

Loopy Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Stampin' Up Punch

I'm pretty darned thrilled with the loopy border punch...I don't have the loopy corner punch - YET, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get it (AND at 40% off with a coupon). I'm set as far as the M.S. halloween punches go.....I've gotten the ones I want (yes, all of them with the 40% off coupons). I've been admiring them on my shelves (and making Creepella admire them too).

This card is for Dee....she likes cats with attitude and Sprinkles is definitely THAT!! I used 3 clear stamps, did a bit of masking and ta-dah.....the card was created. I really like Papertrey Ink cardstock - it's nice and sturdy, doesn't warp or buckle when you layer cardstock on top of it AND your horizontally folded cards will keep standing (a big deal in my book - I hate it when cards start to slide & slink open).

Cool Kitty

Cardbase - Memory Box

Stamps - Cats Pajamas

B&T - Target (dollar bin)

Inks - Memento, Colorbox & CTMH

Copics & Spicas

Textured CS - CTMH

Liquid Glass - CTMH

Marvy Punch

Stickles

I've wanted this stamp for at least a couple of years. The stamp store where I normally shop didn't carry it and actually I was relieved because come on......do I REALLY need another cat stamp. Well The Cat's Pajamas came out with a few new CLEAR sets (looks like they're converting a lot of previous designs into clear stamps)......so now I realize that Fate believes I SHOULD have this stamp!! Hee, hee, hee - can't argue with Fate!!

Some of the little touches (click on the photo, maybe you can see things better): Put Liquid Glass over the glass of lemonade, some Waterfall Stickles in her pool and used Spicas for her cool green eyes and bling on her collar. She is definitely one COOL cat.

Speaking of CATS........we saw "CATS" last week and it as wonderful - I had forgotten how much I enjoyed that show........WOW!!!

Shopping Map

Cardbase - Memory Box
Stamps - CTMH
B&T - Karen Foster Design "Treasure Map"
Ink - Memento
Copics & Spicas

As an end of summer wahoo Creepella and her friend went on a shopping excursion. It was bitter-sweet because she loves to browse/shop but she didn't have much cash (she wasn't able to get work over the summer as she had hoped - I know the economy is pretty scary right now but having it hit a teenager like that is pretty harsh....). Chef Bo Bo Head and I decided to scrounge around to come up with some cash....since she's not really a girly-girl any longer I had to make a card that would fit her personality. So this is it!! Most importantly she liked it and was thrilled with the surprise cash - they had fun (AND she brought back most of the money - my kind of girl!!).

Stressed Out!!

Stamps: Stressed Kitty - Stampin' Up; Alphabet spelling "stressed?" - CTMH
B&T - Making Memories "Chloe's Closet"; Textured CS - CTMH
Inks - Memento & Colorbox
Copics
Misc - Prima Marketing, Inc., Flower Brad (maybe Making Memories).

Greetings Everyone!! Feels like I've been away for a really LONG time....wish I could say I've been oh-so busy stamping.....but nope, I've been busy being tired. My day job absolutely sucks the LIFE out of me and while I have every good intention of getting a bit of stamping done every evening, once I park myself on the sofa to spend some time with my family, within 30 minutes I'm pretty much zonked!! Over the weekend I snuck away to my stamp room - Bob was relieved, he frets so much when we don't have anything to post.....

The card sketch is one from "Mojo Monday" (one of these days I need to set up the link...). A lot of their sketches are VERY busy, but I liked the feel of this one so I decided to try it. I'm pleased with the results. It's kind of funny - I've had this Stampin' Up set for years and I believe this is the first time I've set ink to it....the inside sentiment says "Hang In There!".....so appropriate for a lot of people that I know!!

Gail and I went to see Harry Potter at Imax this afternoon - wonderful as ever.....this is the 3rd time I've seen it at Imax and the 6th time I've seen the movie and I STILL saw something new today. Chef Bo Bo Head and I are going again next Sunday (supposedly the last day it's playing at Imax), I'm eager to see what else I "discover".

Have a great week and to everyone............HANG IN THERE!!!

Balloon Transport

B&T, Stamps, Inks - CTMH: Quikutz die-cuts (balloons & ribboned gift); Memento Marker

Now that I look at the card I've realized that AAAAAAACKKKKK.....no Sparklies!!!! Oh well, sometimes you need a toned-down card. I think the busy-ness of the B&T paper kind of side-tracked my vision.

We've been watching the "Firefly" DVDs........can't believe I missed this series when it was on - and now that I've found it (yes, we watched the movie "Serenity" too), I'm so bummed that it was only on for one season - I'm loving it.

CB - Memory Box; B&T and CS - CTMH: Flourishes & sentiment - Papertrey Ink; Martha Stewart Butterflies & Scallop punches; Memory Box & Colorbox Chalk Inks; Stickles & Spicas

FINALLY one of the photos shows the sparkliness of the Stickles!! Of course you'll have to click on the photo to see the subtle sparkle of the Spicas (on "Enjoy") but by gum I'm deeelighted you can see the butterflies sparkle. For the larger butterfly, I've punched it twice: adhered it flat to the card base and then put a bit of foam mounting tape on the 2nd butterfly to "lift" it off the card.

I love the B&T paper (of course it's been discontinued now) and the PTI flourishes add such a nice touch and continue the dainty feel all the way up the card.

Crab Surfers

CB - Memory Box; Textured CS - CTMH; Surfboard, Crab, sentiment stamps - A Muse; Sun - Hero Arts; Memento & Colorbox Chalk Inks; Copics; Stickles; Marvy circle punch

While I'm not a surfer by ANY stretch of the imagination, I do like this cool "flames" surfboard. It's fun to color and waaaaay easy to cut out. I tore the textured CS to look more like sand and I made the little crabs "pop" by decorating them with Stickles (hmmmm, wonder if they're Decorator Crabs???......). Some Stickles on the flames make the board look cool too. And what's a sun without some delicious "sunny" yellow Stickles??? Gotta love those Stickles!!

Sympathy in Blue

CB - Memory Box; B&T, ribbon, CS & ink - CTMH; Stamp - Stampendous

I let the B&T paper do most of the work.....since a panel of the B&T is the majority of the card, the ribbon and some layered textured CS was all that was needed to finish the card. One thing that worked best - wrapping the ribbon around the card, adhering it and then using just a short bit of ribbon to tie the knot and then adhering that to to the flat ribbon (used a mini glue-dot since you could nearly build a house with them......they really stick!!).

Skully Thanks!

B&T - CTMH; Stamps: Xmas tree & "thanks" - Hero Arts, Skull - Inkadinkadoo; Ribbon - A Muse; Memento Inks; Copics; Stickles & Spicas; Fiskars Scissors

Creepella's Thank You cards..................from Christmas. Yes, after unpacking more containers in my stamp room, we found them (again). She's finally sent them off. I guess it's never too late to say Thank You......it just varies on the "tacky-level".

Kind of a dark card, or funny - depends how you look at it and if you know us......then, well then it all makes sense.....sort of!!