Class Samples

Hey, everyone!

Thanks for checking out my blog today! I have my class samples done now and ready to show you. If you are interested in attending this class, it is on Tuesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. at the Memory Lane Scrapbooking store in Bedford, Indiana. You can go sign up today!

The first card here is a thank you card with a classic look to it. I love black and white cards! The pink gives an unexpected pop of color! The stamp is one that MLS store has in stock right now. I printed the sentiment from my computer but you could definitely stamp any sentiment you wanted. This is a traditional 4.25x5.5 card.

The next card I want to show you is one of my favorite sizes to make: 3x3. These cards are just the right size to accompany a gift, or hole punch the top corner and add ribbon, it can be an ornament. These are also great for a quick thank you or sweet note for someone you love. The paper and stamps are all available at the store. I added white dots with my gel pen and added my prisma glitter for more shine. Inside it reads: YOU MAKE MY HEART FLUTTER and I thought that sentiment would be great with this stamp image.

The final card we will be making at the store doesn't feature any stamps at all. I wanted to do something a little different by creating art on the outside of the card just using some heart punches and circle punch with designer paper. When you adhere it together it becomes a really pretty flower.

The inside of the card features a pocket. You could slip in some money, a gift card, phone card, small photo or a note. I added white dots to the scallop edges of the pocket for more definition. It is held closed by the white ribbon.

I really hope to see you Tuesday night at the scrapbook store! It will be fun to share how to make these cards with you!

Have a great weekend and be sure to check back tomorrow to see more cards!

Hugs,

No stamping?

Hey, everyone!

I love to create new and different cards all the time. I get bored easily if I am doing the same thing over and over, so I enjoy going to different blogs and seeing what others are making in order to inspire me to try new things and explore other options for making fun projects. I had been wanting to try making a "long" card but just didn't ever take the time to do it, so I finally just decided to go for it and here is what I came up with.
There is no stamping on this card but it was really fun to make. I used an 8"x8" base and scored at 4", so the card measures 8"x4" when closed. I had some patterned paper from my scrapbooking stash, maybe from Creative Memories, and the gold tones reminded me of the New Year! I found some strips of shiny gold paper that was in some scraps my friend Dawna didn't want anymore. Thank you, Dawna!! So I paired them together and added some of my chocolate brown shiny ribbon! Love that ribbon! To give a little more shimmer and shine I grabbed my glue pen and dotted the circles in the patterned paper and then added our Prisma Glitter. When you hold the card in your hand, the bottom section looks like it has diamond inlays in it. I love it!! It's fairly simple but sometimes that is just the kind of card you need!

My husband is good at anything he does, it seems like. He is very competitive...must be the racer inside him, but he can't even play Bingo without being very competitive! LOL I have several different hobbies, things that I truly enjoy doing, and he will often try them just to prove he can do it, too. He has no interest whatsoever in knitting, but he grabbed some of my needles one day and yarn while I was working on a project and he wanted to try. So I let him and he did really good! He wasn't interested in making anything, though, but he did want to prove he could do it. LOL Same thing with scrapbooking and stamping. I think he likes the idea of new tools, (read: TOYS) and he has to try them out. So, while I am bathing the kids upstairs, he's downstairs doing laundry (gotta love him) and he comes back up and he hands me a card. At first I was like, "Oh how sweet. He made me a card." Well that was short lived. He hadn't made ME a card, but he did make a really neat gift card holder. He took it back downstairs and stamped it for a finishing touch and I must admit, he did a really good job! He used the HIS ANGELS (retired TAC) stamp set and some Mulberry Meadow scraps I had sitting on the desk. He is so funny!!! So, here's the gift card holder he made.

I hope you will create something fun today, too, and share it with me. Tomorrow is the StampTACular Tuesday challenge and you all are in for a treat! Not only will I be sharing my project I made with some chipboard and the An 'Udder Birthday stamp set but many others are sharing, too! That's only part of it, though. Each Tuesday in January, we'll have the StampTACular Tuesday challenge with more ways to use this stamp set. You will soon see that it is much more versatile than a birthday stamp set. If you want to play along, just e-mail me or leave me a link in the comments section where I can find your project using the TAC stamp set An 'Udder Birthday. If you don't have a blog, but still want to join in the fun, feel free to e-mail me the photos and I will share them the first challenge day that follows! You may think this challenge is fun but maybe you don't have this stamp set, don't worry, it's a T-coded stamp so you can purchase it anytime from Tuesday, Jan. 6 until Monday, Jan. 26 for HALF PRICE!

Have a great day and don't forget to check back tomorrow!


Hugs,

Do you see what I see?

Hey, everyone!

Isn't it funny when two people can look at the same thing or be in the same situation and have two totally different points of view. I can have a stamp set and my friend can have the same stamp set, even with the same ink, ribbon and cardstock and leave us to our own creations and they will both be very different. I love that part of paper crafting. I don't have to make the same thing as anyone else because I see things differently. Sometimes seeing things differently can be a fun new way to create!!

I have some stamps, some are from The Angel Company and some are not. I decided I wanted to find a storage solution where I could keep those stamps separate but in the same location. I have been working and working to get all the images stamped out on a piece of cardstock that I have cut to size so it fits perfectly inside my CD cases. I come to my Spring/Summer 2008 Hostess Level A stamp set JUST GIGGLE and the first stamp I see is backwards of course, but it's also upside down. I was like, "What a cute snowman!" Then I thought about that for a second and realized there was no snowman in the Just Giggle set. I turn it around and realize it's a cute baby chick! Just for fun I grab one of my ink spots (sorry I don't know the name but it's blue!) and I stamp the image out. I punch it out with my scallop square punch (D-705). I had a gel pen that matches our ink really well and colored in his feet so it didn't show. Then I colored in his tail feathers with a black Tombow marker (F-01) and created another "arm" on the other side. I made his eyes and beak into a scarf and drew him some new eyes, nose, mouth and buttons down the front. I added some Turquoise Stickles (F-528) on the scallops and used Prisma Glitter (A-287) to give the illusion of snow and for extra bling!

Here's the stamp set, incase you aren't familiar with which one I am talking about.
Here is the gift card holder I created with it. It's really cute and now I have TWO STAMPS in ONE! I love that! I think that chicken looks great as a snowman, don't you? It is really cute in real life, but the Stickles don't photograph so well!For the sentiment, I used a GWP stamp that I received FREE with a $30 purchase from the spring/summer 2008 catalog. Here is a photo of it. I actually cut it apart so it's two pieces. I use the sentiment a lot. I am thinking of cutting apart the "H" and "B" so that I can use them to monogram things, too!

I realize those are stamps that are no longer available, but I just wanted to show you my little discovery! I would love to see what new things you come up with now! Find new ways to use your stamps and supplies to get more mileage out of them. It's funny because I was so excited that it felt like I had a new stamp and we all know how awesome it feels to get new stamps, right?

Well, tomorrow is the big day for me to announce the winner of the Blog Candy so if you haven't entered yet, please do. Remember you don't have to make a card to enter to win! You can simply tell me your favorite thing to eat or drink at Thanksgiving! I am having Thanksgiving dinner with my parents and family on Sunday so I would love to hear your favorites! Just link back to my blog from yours and you are in the drawing! No blog? No problem! Just let me know you don't have one and share your e-mail with me and I will make sure you are in, too! If you want a SECOND chance at winning, however, you can make a thank you card with someone in mind to give it to! Have a great day and go turn your stamps upside down to see what you can find! LOL

Hugs,

A couple of gifts...

Hey, everyone!

I have made a couple more projects I wanted to share with you. I hope they will inspire you! I enjoyed making both gifts and neither project took very long to make.

My daughter's teacher celebrated her birthday yesterday, so I made an acrylic post-it note holder for her to take to school. What teacher couldn't use a sticky note holder for their desk, right? It was fun to grab some school-themed supplies and start creating! The stamp is a former TAC Gift With Purchase stamp. Here's how it turned out:
My brother and his fiancee have been together for 15 months now and to celebrate he wanted me to make him a gift card holder to give to her. It was fun to make and the gift card fit like a glove! I used the Tutti Frutti paper, my circle punch and scalloped circle punch from The Angel Company. These are so easy to put together! I added a scripture after I had taken the picture but here is what the gift card holder looks like:


This gift card holder measures 4¼" x 11" and is scored at 3," 5½," and 8" along the 11" side. Just fold your score lines, and run a thin strip of adhesive along three sides of the "M" piece. I punched a section from the middle so the gift card could slide inside the center section. I rounded my corners inside but you don't have to do that. I punched a semi-circle in the center to make it easier to grab the gift card. I had various flower stamps that I used to stamp the center section. I punched a circle in the lower half of one of the pieces of Tutti Frutti paper. I punched a circle from the Gentle Beginnings paper pack and then used my scallop punch to create a frame. I adhered it into place. The left side is left blank for my brother to add a message to her. The outside sentiment is not a stamp from The Angel Company but I do not recall where I got it. Most likely it was from the $1 bin at Michael's. If you have any questions, please let me know. There are several websites I saw this gift card holder featured on but they all have the same measurements and score lines. Some do have a belly band and more embellishments, but I thought this was sufficient alone. That is the beauty of papercrafting...you make the design your own by things you choose to do or not to do.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit today. Stop by again soon! I'd love to hear from you, please leave me a comment!

Hugs,

So much to share!

Hey, everyone!

I have been as busy as a bee lately! I love to swap with other paper crafters for new ideas, fun projects to inspire me and encourage me to create even more! I only have a few more swaps to go and then I will be nearly done with swapping for the year! I have several new projects coming up that I will share more about later! It's been fun but also a little hectic trying to get things done on time. My baby boy (13 months) loves to "help" but his busy little hands are a little more help than I need sometimes, so I end up playing with him instead! LOL His laughter is contagious and I love to see his precious smile!

Okay, so let me show you a few things that I have been working on lately! This is a fun little treat bag I wanted to try and make. It's doesn't sit perfectly straight up but neither do most real pumpkins! LOL I am really pleased with how it turned out, though. I used some orange snaps on the sides, black ribbon, my TAC scallop circle punch (page 115 in the fall/winter 2008 catalog) to create my tag, a stamp from the $1 bin at Michael's and I filled it with a cellophane bag and some candy! I was inspired to make one when I saw this one from SplitCoastStampers.

I already shared with you the birthday cards I had made for a swap I am in over at Paper Wings. There's only 3 of us swapping so it makes it easier for me to do a card with a little more detail since there isn't as many to do like that. For the baby shower invitation I used my TAC stamp set HELLO BABY and a couple misc. stamps I have picked up along the way. The diaper is paper pieced and so is the blanket. I used Gentle Beginnings paper from The Angel Company and premium white cardstock, also TAC. I sponged the edges of my card in Burnt Umber palette ink. I tied a brown ribbon with a pretty sheen to it on the left side of the card. I used my TAC scalloped circle punch on this card, too. Can you tell I enjoy using it? For my final swap project I want to show you, I made a gift card holder. This is another swap I signed up for at Paper Wings. I really like the Tutti Frutti paper that we carry! It's so fun! Inside I stamped a birthday sentiment. I left a lot of the white showing inside so the gift-giver can add their own doodle dots, fun stamps or designer paper that they would like or they can simply write a short and sweet note in the white section!
Tomorrow I will share with you the fun projects we'll be making at Memory Lane Scrapbooking store in Bedford on October 9. I had a lot of fun making those projects and am eager to share them with you. I hope you'll be inspired to create something fun today, too! Please let me know if you do. I always enjoy reading your comments!

And I wanted to say HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my sweet and wonderful husband, Paul, of 8 years. We have grown a lot, learned a lot, loved a lot, and have come to lean on one another more throughout the years. We have 2 beautiful children that makes our lives complete. Here's a picture from our wedding day 8 years ago! Neither one of us had any idea what the future held for us but I am glad I have him in my life. He is my best friend and he always reminds me of how everything will just work out. His faith strengthens mine. I thank God for him.

Hugs,

Getting creative!

Hey, everyone!

I hope you all have had a chance to get creative today! My daughter and I have been hanging out today. She isn't feeling well, Javan's mamaw took him for a while and I've been cleaning!! (LOL)

I have had some time to work on a couple things here and there. I can't just sit and play like I'd like, but it's been fun to do a little at a time when I can. I thought I'd share some of our "creations" with you today.

This first photo is all the fun things Kadesia created at the book fair they had at school. I volunteered at the bookmark table and I am not even sure where that cute little gecko she decorated got off to! (LOL) She's quite the little artist!!
She drew two beautiful pictures while she was laying around. She still doesn't feel well. Poor baby! Don't you love my red hair? I do!!!
I cherish this cute little love note!
My baby girl said that since she made me something special, she wanted me to make her a special card. Who could resist a request like that? I know how much she loves butterflies, and since I was eager to play with my new Butterfly Swirls stamp set, I was happy to make this little card out of scrap cardstock, a ribbon I had in my box and these beautiful stamps! I used the Relax sentiment from the Basic Birds (T-2636) stamp set! The Get Well Soon stamp is just something I picked up at a store sometime ago.
She loved her card, especially with the butterflies on it! She could read the whole thing to me. I am so proud of her!!
This is the project I worked on a little at a time today. It was so fun and easy! I saw the video tutorial here and had to make one! I had some paper sacks leftover from when I sold Avon forever ago, and used that for the insert. How fun!! With this card, I used the Begin Blooming stamp from the My Journey (T-2617) stamp set, found in the spring/summer 2008 catalog. I colored it in with my Tombow markers. To add a little shimmer, I decorated it with Stickles. I think this will be a fun card for a birthday, or graduation, even bridal shower because of the sentiment, and it kind of is like a celebration type card. The fun part is slipping the gift card or money inside and it watching their surprise when they open the card!

Thanks for checking back today! I hope you were inspired to get creative!! If you want me to help you make this card or other projects you see here, give me a call!

Happy Paper Crafting,

Bridgett Owens

Plans

Hey, everyone!

Wow! It's so hard to believe that it's already March 1st. This year is going by as fast as the past few years have seemed to! I really have a lot of goals for this month...for this year, even! I was thinking about some goals I have made only a couple months ago. Some things I have already done, some I have started the process of meeting that goal, and a few may not happen at all.

When I think of the goals I made and already see that they aren't going to be realized, I start feeling guilty and frustrated but then I just remind myself that I can change my goals a little bit to make it easier to attain. After all, trying and working hard to meet my goals is a lot better than giving up before I really even start!

There's one particular scripture I can find great joy and encouragement in this area of my life, found in the book of Jeremiah.

29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

29:12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (NIV)

Isn't that good news? God already has dreamed of things He wants us to do. He has a plan for you and for me. It is tailor-made to fit each one of us. After all, we are all unique. Do you know what God planned for you? Have you asked Him? It's a big relief to know that as long as I follow where He leads me, I will always be right where I am supposed to be!

Well, I have just been inspired by Dawn, again. If you haven't watched her video tutorials yet, you definitely should do that. She even has them for sale on CD or DVD. They are not expensive and for the amount of instruction you receive, they are an awesome value. Go see what she inspired me to make yesterday!! Here's how mine turned out:

This was fun to make!

One more thing to share before I go! This is my baby girl in her cheerleading uniform! Go DARLINGS!!

Hope you enjoy your day!

Hugs,

Bridgett