BUILD A BLOSSOM MOJO 179

My card today was inspired by the Mojo Monday's Week 179 Sketch.  Well, I guess I should say that it is "sorta" inspired by the sketch.  I exercised some liberty with the sketch.  But that's what it's all about, isn't it?  Sketches were designed to springboard our creativity.  Plus, I knew this sketch would be perfect to use with my Build a Blossom stamp set and punch.  I purchased this set about a month ago but hadn't taken the time to ink it up.  I must say that I'm pleased with the outcome. 

So, here's the story behind the card.  It was designed for a woman I've never met - Julie.  I truly hope she likes it.   I attend church services with her husband's cousin, Robin.  Robin had asked me if I would send Julie a card to cheer her up.  Currently, Julie is fighting breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.  I was told she really appreciates receiving cards and carries them with her to look at during her chemo treatments.  Can I let you in on a secret?  I've never designed and sent a card to someone I've never met.  Let me tell you, it feels really good.  For reasons I can't explain, I wanted this card to be a little special.  I really wanted to pay attention to detail.  I hope Julie knows that even though we've never met, I still hold her close in thoughts and prayers.  I just hope my card reflects that.

That's it for me today.  Thanks for peeking in on me!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I challenge you to bless a stranger with a handmade card.  Who knows?  You may just make his or her day.

FAST & FABULOUS FAUX SILK

I saw this technique on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator's website and decided to try it for myself.  I can't believe how easy it is to create this beautiful, soft effect.  The added texture over your stamped image just makes you want to reach out and touch it.  Every time I go into a store I can't help but reach out and touch the textures of the fabric and run my fingers over the fine details of jewelry.  I'm sure I drive the salespeople crazy but I can't help myself.  Do you do that too?

This is one of the cards the ladies in my Technique Lover's class created this past week.  I think the vintage look of this card was voted one of their favorites : ) It makes me happy to hear my customers say, "Oh, this is definitely my favorite project."  KWIM?

Here's a close up look at the distressed edges.  It kind of reminds me of vintage lace.  There's virtually little work to achieving this look.  Just take a 1" piece of cardstock and punch one side with Stampin' Up!'s eyelet border punch, run your cardstock through the crimper back and forth and use your bone folder to smooth out the crimping.  Don't run your bone folder over the crimped edge too much.  You'll still want to see some of the crimped detail.  (Using your bone folder will help break down the fibers in the cardstock.)  Next, use your fingernails to rough up the edges and after a short while the fibers in the cardstock will separate giving it a distressed look.

Thanks for peeking in on me today.  I really do enjoy when you stop by to visit me and your lovely comments put me over the moon happy!  Be sure to check back later this week.  I have a card to show you using the lastest Mojo Monday sketch challenge!

BUH-BYE WINTER

This is going to be the last "winter" project I post until later this year.  I'm am so "over" the winter season.  It seems a little strange to post this card when in reality we're experiencing 60 degree weather here in Ohio.  Oh, and guess who is loving it?  Me, of course.  Don't be jealous.  This is Ohio and the weather is subject to change at any given drop of a hat.  No complaining here though.  I'll take the beautiful weather even if it's only for a little while.  I think it gives a person the hope that spring is just around the corner.

I CASed this card from Michele Zindorf.  You can view her original card here.  You just have to love this brayer technique.  It looks so difficult to achieve, but with a little patience, a brayer and a post-it note or two, you can create a beautiful landscape in virtually no time.

SPRING FLING RETREAT

I have no projects to share with you tonight.  However, I just wanted to let all you scrapbook enthusiasts and paper crafters in on a great, affordable scrapbook retreat weekend.  I've attended this fun-filled retreat for the last two years and had an awesome time. 

WHAT:        Spring Scrapbook Fling - A Friday through Sunday weekend dedicated to scrapbooking and fellowship.  Make new friends or bring along your best buddy.
     
WHERE:       Scioto Hills Christian Camp
                    1009 Martin Road
                    Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694
                    www.sciotohills.com

WHEN:        May 13, 14 & 15, 2011

COST:        $85.00 per person includes:
***Room (2 nights - 2-3 people per room)
***Cropping available all hours - day or night
***Meals - Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast
***Snacks and beverages available while cropping


If you're interested in more information about this wonderful weekend scrapbook retreat, please feel free to contact me at l_burkitt@yahoo.com.  I'd be glad to share all the details with you along with the registration information.  I'm not affiliated with this retreat.  I'm just a guest that's had a blast the last two years I've attended.  This retreat is not sponsored by any company.  It's simply a group of people who gather together to share their love of scrapbooking and paper crafting.

SPINNER TREAT CUP CARD

As promised, here is one of the cards created during my class last week.  It's a treat holder using Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Treat Cups.  I saw a video tutorial for this type of card on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website.  The card shown in the video was a sunflower.  I tweaked my card a bit and came up with a Valentine themed card.

The circle stamped with "love you" is a wheel with a hole punched from the side of the circle.  It allows the recipient to get the candy out without tearing into the card.  Here's how it works.  Simply turn or "spin" the dial so that the punched out circle is exposed and.................................................

There you have it!  An easy way to get to the candy without destroying all the hard work you put into creating your beautiful card!  What a clever idea!  And, if for some reason, you pour one or two or three too many pieces of candy into the treat cup, you could just eat them!  No need to put the candy back in the bag.  Plus, after cleverly designing and assembling this card, you deserve your own treat!  That's all for me today.  I hope you have enjoyed this cute little Valentine project.  Thanks for peeking in on me.  Your visits mean so much!

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FLAMINGO LOVE FOR THE PAPER PLAYERS

I know I said I'd post cards from my last card class and I will.  The pictures have been uploaded to my computer and need some editing.  In the meantime, I thought I would show you a Valentine card I created this evening.  (Yes, I know - I'm NOT watching the Super Bowl. Gasp!)  The images are from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini set called Valentine Defined.  I've laid out my Valentine stamps on my craft space and have vowed not to use any other sets until I've used all my Valentine sets.  I'm so bad about impulsively buying holiday themed sets and (sigh) not using them.  Ugh!  Do any of you ever do that or am I the only one?  This card was created for the Paper Players Challenge this week.  The theme for this week is "Love is in the Air".  Would you like to play along?  You have until Friday, February 11th at 12:00 Midnight to play.  Check out the Paper Players challenges here.

Okay, so on to the card. 

I have to admit that just adhering my images to a "naked" piece of card stock scares me a bit at the moment.  I've been on a kick of embossing every card base I create lately.  So to calm my "embossing folder" withdrawal, I stamped the Bashful Blue card base with the heart flower do-hickeys (the long stems with the heart images at the tops) and then sponged around the edges.  (Sorry it looks gray instead of blue.  Night time photography during the winter is not such a good thing.)  I still think it's missing something though.

That's it for me this evening.  Thanks for peeking in on me.  Sorry for the long period of no posts.  I've got more posts ready to go.  So, please bare with me.....I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

LITTLE KNOWN FACTS

I'm very, very bad.  I received this Stylish Blogger Award some time ago.  The sad thing is that I don't remember who sent it to me.  Ugh!  Just one of the side effects that goes with getting older - so frustrating!

Anyway, I'm suppose to share 8 random things about myself and then pass this award on to 8 different people.  I'm not sure I could pick just 8 people, so feel free to scoop up this award for yourself.  Okay, here are 8 random facts about me.............

1. My favorite snack are Gummy Bears.  I absolutely love those little things but not all gummies are created equal.  Jelly Belly and Brach's make the best ones!
2. I play piano.  I've been playing for over 31 years, but I have an EXTREMELY hard time playing in public - major stage fright.  It makes me physically ill to play in public.  However, I have played piano for several weddings.  Go figure????
3. I'm the third of four siblings.  My little sister if fourteen years younger than me.  My brothers are twenty-one years and eighteen years older than her.  Despite the age difference, she's my best friend.
4. I live in a testosterone sea with my husband, son and dog.  Yes, even my dog is a boy.
5. I love vacation.  I don't have an itinerary when I'm on vacation.  I like to be spur of the moment and see where the days take me.  I think it's more adventuresome that way.
6. I'm an insomniac.  I average about 2-3 hours of sleep each night.
7. I'm a morning person.  I wake up around 5:15 a.m. on week days (work days).  Most weekends I wake up between 4:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.  I love having the wee hours of the morning to myself sipping on my half pot of coffee.
8. I'm only one of two women in my workplace.  I work for a County highway department and am surrounded by men - twenty-two of them to be exact.                           

Okay, that's some random facts about me.  I hope you enjoyed them.  I'm not a very exciting person.  (Smile!)

Have a great weekend and thanks for peeking in on me!  I'll be back soon with cards from my last card class.