Oh So Busy!

YIKES............on top of starting a summer school class, I'm busy with this!!  Parts and pieces all over the place.  The Big B came in when I was cranking the cardbases through the Cuddlebug.  He watched me do a couple (because come, let's face it - it really IS rather fascinating)......he asked me how many I had done at that point (about 9) AND how many more did I have left (about 18) - he walked away shaking his head and muttering something (I didn't listen closely as I believe it was a reference to my sanity). 

When I have this many cards to do - it's ALWAYS assembly-line style.  So after I've got the card design, I pull together all of the components (and ahem, sometimes THAT'S a bit of a challenge....I'm good at knowing WHAT I have - I just have a bit of a problem knowing exactly WHERE everything is....).  Next, I cut the cardbases, score them (and yes, I ALWAYS make a couple of "spares") and if dry embossing is involved, I haul out the Cuddlebug and start cranking away.  Next, I cut some of precioussssssssss B&T and CS (trying NOT to shed any tears as they will warp the paper....).  If any punched or die-cut items are needed that's next and then I start in with the stamping (including envelopes) which is followed by coloring (if any - for these cards, NO coloring is needed).  At that point, I'm putting pieces and parts together (tonight I'm focusing on star assembly [there are 2 of them] and applying foam-mountaining tape)....and THEN I'm actually ready to start putting the card together.  Once the stars assembly/foam-mounting tape application is finished, I'm hoping the layering of the banners (two of them as well) and the already-assembled stars will only take another evening......that will leave me a couple of evenings to sign the cards, put them into their envelopes (yes, those are already stamped, addressed and have had postage applied) and get them into the mail so that they can be received in time for the 4th......whew, I'm kind of pooped!!! 

If my master plan goes well, I'll post the completed cards next week - until then wish me LUCK!!

Birthdays

One of the many b-day week cards I made for Creepella (more to follow).....however THIS one captures the fun that my mom always seemed to enjoy and since this would have been her 83rd birthday, hats off to you Mom - I miss you...........

Stamps - sentiment (Impress); 3 party hats (Michael's Dollar bin)
B&T - miscellaneous "scraps"
Inks - Memento
Ribbon and gemstones - A Muse
Martha Stewart's Loopy border punch

Yes, MORE Flowers!



Ok, this will be the last of the crochet flowers for now.  Too much of anything is just too much!!

Paper flowers, crochet flowers and a wee bit of stamping........always fun, right?  The original design concept included a ribbon going along the fold-side but when I started to experiment with the ribbons I decided the card was becoming too busy AND I really wanted attention focused on those crochet flower so the stamped vine-y border was perfect (I also stamped that on the envelopes - so it was great tie-in for the card).

Stamps - PTI & CTMH

Inks - Memento

CS - CTMH

Martha Stewart Grass border punch

Cloud Die - A Muse



How About This?

Remember all of those mini-crochet flowers I made in a fit of furious crochet-frenzy?  Wellllll, here's a little something you can do with them.  Just perfect!!  Once the flowers are finished, they can be used as all sorts of embellishments.

I grabbed a couple of Marvy scalloped-circle punches and a plain circle punch, a bit of B&T paper and some coordinating CS, a circle stamp and some ink.  Oh and the cute mini heart brad too!! 

I made quite a few of these for Mother's day (little gift enclosures for little treat bags of chocolates because EVERY Mom needs a bit o' chocolate, right??).

I love it when something stitchy or hooky can be incorporated into my cards.......it's really like the planets aligning and all is right in the Universe........aaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!

Stamp - PTI
Inks - Memento & Colorbox chalks
B&T - PTI
CS - CTMH
Mini heart brad - Making Memories
Punches - Marvy

Funny Farm Greetings

We'll be celebrating Debbie's birthday soon - Happy Hour here we come!

We're so tired and worn out and beat up with the implementation of a new computer system.  We've been TRYING to deal with it for a month now............and it's just not getting better (more and more "glitches" are being found).  One thing that I'm grateful for - the very tight, very small circle of co-workers that I work with everyday are greatly wonderful.  We're really there for each other.  With the term "team" bandied about to no end, I think when you actually work in a genuine Team - it's nearly unbelievable.  We might be a strange group but somehow it all clicks. 

When I took the card in for signing, everyone wanted to know the significance (because at this point they know the "special" cards ALWAYS have a story....).  So I explained the Inspiration Point was the inside greeting (sorry, no photo but it says "Birthday Greetings from all of us at The Funny Farm").......had that for about a week and just had to let things perk in the ol' creative zone.  And then like lightening, it hit me.  My ONLY gripe - I wish there was a pig in this set (can hardly believe there isn't) - I was going to be the pig.  As it turns out Pam is the cow (because Butter is her favorite food group); Karla is the leaping lamp (because she's the youngest in our group and she's certainly the most athletic); April is the horse (because she's ALWAYS jiggling her legs and the "in progress" mouse thingy is a galloping horse); I'm the rooster (because there was no cat and wellllllll, I AM kind of bossy and as Creepella pointed out - I'm talk a lot).  When Pam saw the card and got the back story she just laughed and said, "Yes, it is just like real life  -  you're always on my back!!"  The hats also have special significance (Princess Pamela; Karla really IS a goof/jester; April is just a fun-loving gal; and I really am a tad bit Witch-like, ahem).

While this card took me hours to make, I ENJOYED every minute of it because everything fell into place, Debbie is very special annnnnnd I think she'll enjoy the humor of it all.

Stamps:  CTMH (animals); Savvy, Cats Pajamas, Michael's $-Bin (hats) & ??? (sentiment)
Cloud CS and Cloud die cut: A Muse
Green B&T paper: CTMH
Grass border punch: Martha Stewart
Ink: Memento & Colorbox Chalks
Copics & Spicas
Metallic Gift sticker: Recollections

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere.....

Greetings to the 6 followers of Kabobbing Cards.  Been away for a good long while - but I've been stamping.....a stamping fool.  Haven't taken many photos because it feels like I have to jump through about 17 hoops to set up my "studio" (aka my desk...) and I'm a lazy gal and when I'm not busy being lazy I'm t i r e d as in I don't get enough sleep because I'm busy stamping or stitching so I don't get the proper amount of sleep and then I start off in a pretty groggy state and then I spend 9 hours in front of dual monitors doing absolutely mind-numbing work and then I stumble off to class a couple of times a week to get a Major Math (a 4-letter word) headache and then finally get home to start the whole process again!

But the cool thing is whilst doing all of these little crafty things.......I do make stuff like the mini-flowers above.....AND I actually DO something with said flowers (aside from just plain admiring them in the cool little tin I received during this year's b-day week).  Alas I have no photos of the card that I made......but I will - and very soon too!!

Thanks for stopping by............catch you in a couple of days!!

For Me???

Soooooo very delighted to receive more of these cute and deceptively simple earrings. Creepella (that girl can twist wire like nobody's business) made these (and several others) to celebrate my b-day week (yes, I said WEEK - just wait until I turn 50, then we'll be talking b-day MONTH....).

And boy did I have a lovely birthday week; birthday itself AND had several opportunities to celebrate with good friends that I'm lucky to have. After receiving some very generous gift-cards, I did quite a bit of shopping and came out of my LSS with a large bag of loot AND a big grin plastered on my face.

You'd think I'd be on the path of maturity by now - but I cannot lie........I oh-so love PRESENTS!!!

More Hearts......

I can be a bit obsessive...........but only a bit. Got a little side-ways making those cute little crochet hearts - but Valentine's Day only happens once a year, what to do with even more crochet hearts??



Why make shamrocks of course, of course!!




Keep them all secured with a green rhinestone brad...

Just a little tweaking needed to make it look nice & tidy....and isn't that shamrock embossed cardstock panel just perfect to show-case the cute little green hearts??

Add a green rbbon "stem" and bit o' grass and......................

Ta-Dahhhhhhhh...........you've got yourself a rather spiffy St. Patty's Day card!!

Stamp - Stampendous

Cardstock and B&T - A Muse, CTMH, Cosmo Cricket

Ink - Momento

Shamrock embossing folder - Cuttlebug

Gemstone Brad - Making Memories

Grass Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Misc: cotton crochet thread; scrap of green ribbon

Heart on a String

YOU MADE THIS FOR KARLA??????

That's what I heard from Creepella when she saw the one that I DID make for Karla. Dejection and just a tinge of green had me punching MORE and LARGER hearts to make this one.

It's not that it's difficult to make, it's just time-consuming. I tell you I nearly poked my eye out while making the crochet mini-heart (found it and the pattern on the Attic24 blog - lovely stuff!!). Granted I was using cotton thread (the stuff you make doilies and table cloths with....) and a #10 hook (really can't see the hook part) - so basically I was crocheting by FEEL. Even under two Ott lites I really couldn't SEE what the heck I was doing.

Bottom line, Creepella was happy, Karla was happy and I was able to continue on with my V-day cards.

NO stamps!!

B&T Paper - CTMH

Marvy Heart Punch

Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink

Darling Drucilla

Creepella and I LOVE these stamps. They're pricey and they come unmounted, shipping (from Canada) is quite a lot but oh my - these are great images, they lend themselves for some fun Copic coloring and they are a hoot!!! Slightly sick, a bit twisted and definitely dark - say, that's right up our alley......

This was Creepella's main b-day card and I love every minute of making it!!

Stamps - Kraftin' Kimmie (Drucilla) and A Muse (sentiment)

Star Dream CS

White CS - CTMH

Memento Ink

Copics & Spicas

Corner punch - EK Success

Ribbon - A Muse

5-Cat Panel

The only thing that I'm disappointed with in this card - you can't see the little paw-print border that's punched through some B&T at the top. Heidi gave me this set of stamps for my b-day and I've finally used some of the stamps! Loads of different styles of cats - perfect for all of my kitty-loving friends.

Kraft CS - CTMH

Stamps - Inka-Dinka-Doo

B&T - Basic Grey

Memento and Colorbox Chalk Ink

Copics and Spicas

Ribbon - A Muse

Paw Print border punch - EK Success

Corner Rounder

Multi-Butterflies

Another fast & easy 3x3 card. The gem butterfly was a $1.00 find at Michaels and of course layering it all on Dream Star CS makes it shimmmmmer so!!

Dream Start CS

Butterfly border punch - Martha Stewart

Gem butterfly - Michaels

Baby Bug

Had to get some baby cards in the basket and I couldn't find my baby stamps (no clue where they could be) - so I fiddled around with what I have and came up with some acceptable cards. Love the cloud B&T and the little dragonfly was a lot of fun to color.

Stamps - CTMH

B&T paper - Doodlebug

Inks - Memento & Colorbox Chalk Inks

Copics

Stickles

Corner Rounder

Cardbase - Memory Box

Ribbon - Michaels

Ladybug Ladybug...

PTI did this card with zebras - while I wasn't wild about the zebras I really liked the look so I dinked around with what I had and came up with this. I knew that "ladybug" ribbon would come in handy one day!!

Stamps - CTMH (scroll background); PTI (ladybug leaves and sentiment)

Memento & PTI Inks

Ribbon - ???

Brads - Making Memories and CTMH

Black gel pen

Sooooo Much

Another card using CTMH's retired "More to Adore". Some consultants would NEVER post a card using retired items but since I'm more about the card (let's face it, I'm definitely not pushing my business), I want to use whatever I have available and am in the mood for...what can I say, I'm complicated that way!

The only thing that's stamped is the sentiment and that row of swirly flowers making a border.

Stamps - CTMH (small swirly flower); Hero Arts (sentiment)

B&T and CS - CTMH

Inks - CTMH

Stickles

Organza Ribbon - CTMH