valentine squirrel

it's that time of year again, where i'm wishing i was able to go to CHA. i'm totally determined to go someday, somehow. but since i'm not an industry insider that day's not today.

so pushing my CHA envy aside let's get to what i can do today. make and post fun cards. and this card was so much fun to make. it's a joy fold card. which i learned how to make watching a youtube video from splitcoaststampers. i also learned how to make a shaker card that i'm going to post probably tomorrow. so much fun making those! for those of you who aren't taking advantage of all the free stuff you can learn -shame on you :) LOL!

i have to find someone who's doing a use your stash challenge and enter this card, because all of the printed paper on here is from my scrap drawer!!! which made me proud of myself, and also because of that i don't remember who the printed papers are by. the squirrel & hearts stickers comes from a sticker set that was only $0.99 cents at target, and the cupcake is from a k&co sticker set.

thanks for looking, please comment and leave questions if you have any.

blog ya later

SCAT's Red Carpet Winner!!!

Congratulations to Nancy, she is the winner of this months SCAT Red Carpet giveaway!

Nancy's favorite holiday. . .

Nancy said...

I love Easter (Resurrection Day) ...love going to sunrise service and the beautiful songs and celebration.

Nancy please leave a comment with your email address or you can send me a flickr mail HERE, and i'll email you for your shipping address.

we'll be taking a break from the red carpet for February (it's a busy month for me: my sister's birthday, valentines day, and my wedding anniversary! -2 yrs :) so i probably won't have as much time to blog) also i want to make a few changes to the way we do this giveaway and then i'll be back in March new and improved Red Carpet interview :)
I'm also considering adding a color challenge to my blog. . .as you can see lots of thought rolling around in my head.

Congrats again to Nancy!
blog ya later

Red Carpet Giveaway Reminder

sorry for the delay in posting this, i've been meaning to get it up sooner. but here we go. . .
the Dec/Jan red carpet giveaway! that i promised would be bigger than any other giveaway we've ever done at SCAT and it is. everything in the slideshow above is going to our lucky winner.
these prizes . . .
say a lot about my scrap style and the way i shop for scrapbooking items. i love to mix and match and pair items from different collections. and i love stamps, and chipboard, and ribbon, and rub ons, so i thought i'd share a few of my favorite things with you guys.

and if you want to win. . .
all you have to do is share one of your favorite things with me. what is your favorite holiday, and why?
and don't forget to check out Daniela's blog!

the contest ends this friday Jan 15th. and i'll post the winner early next week.
i hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and i'm enjoying all of the great valentines cards and things on flickr and everyone blog.

speaking of blogs . . .
if you have one please leave a link to your blog in your comment i'd love to check it out! thanks :)

thinking of you card

the idea for this card came from jennifer mcguires thinking inking class. it was a class she did last summer for two peas in a bucket, and its still available for free on youtube in case you missed it. it was an incredible class! i learned SO much. unfortunately i didn't have all of the great products she used last summer, so as my distress ink collection continues to grow i have fun going back and watching the videos and trying out the techniques.

i started with the rectangular panel in the background using just white cardstock spiced marmalade & worn lipstick distress ink. then i inked the hero arts dot flourish border stamp with versamark ink and stamped the background which left like a watermark imprint on it. (jennifer explains that in the video much better than i think i just did :) i used hero arts thinking of you messages stamp set to stamp the sentiment. for the butterfly i stamped hero arts heart winged butterfly with black colorbox pigment ink and attached it to the card with martha stewarts foam adhesive. then colored with color pencils, then used rangers glossy accents, the string is just regular white embroidery floss, and recollections pearls in black.

thanks for looking.

lucy's color challenge

i'm back! well i didn't actually go anywhere, i just haven't blogged in a looooooong time. i was on vacation for christmas and new years, and didn't do any scrapping-crazy right. but true.

i just totally rested and relaxed. but now i'm back in the swing of things. and how better to come back than by participating in a color challenge-one of my favorite things :) for more info on Lucy's challenge click HERE.





i used . . .
designer papers: making memories paperie poolside & greenhouse 6x6 paper pad.
cardstock: recollections cardstock-white
stamp: hero arts anytime messages CL129
punchs: martha stewarts 3 in 1 butterfly punch, fiskars scalloped border punch
other: ranger glossy accents, & recollections pearl stickers, Marvy white gel pen

happy new year & an update to red carpet giveaway

hello! i hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season as much as i am.
i'm planning to post a video on the december red carpet giveaway prize. which will show off all the great loot we're giving away. also it'll announce the extention to this months giveaway. the new end date will be Jan 15th, which will give me enough time to enjoy the holidays and get back to posting a little more regularly.
well that's all for now. . .see you in 2010!
Happy New Year!

SCAT's Red Carpet and SCAT's biggest GIVEAWAY ever!

it's the most wonderful time of the year! i love the holidays, and christmas has topped my favorite's list since i was a kid.
this month's Red Carpet Scrap-Star created one of the most beautiful christmas cards i've ever seen. check out the interview to learn a little bit more about Daniela's scrap-style.

how long have you been scrapbooking/cardmaking
a little more than a year

what was your last scrap purchase?
We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper

name 3 adjectives to describe your style
clean, symmetric, (with a touch of) shiny

name 3 items you cannot scrap without?
ribbon, rhinestones, embossing powder (lately)

below is one of Daniela's favorite christmas cards. what can i say there's so much about it that i love. i'm so into rhinestones right now, the background stamp is adorable. i love how she used the ribbon, and of course the traditional christmas colors really set the holiday mood. she's so talented. :)









I love this card because I love working with simple layouts, adding one or two embellishments, like rhinestones or buttons.

as promised this giveaway is going to be bigger and better than any Red Carpet giveaway so far. (not quite hard since i only started red carpet giveaway's two months ago-but that's not the point, LOL!)
stamps, ribbon, stickers, rub ons, and more! trust me when i tell you, you want to win this prize, and it's super simple. check out Daniela's blog and come back here and leave a comment telling me what your favorite holiday is and why. you have till December 30th at 12pm PST.

I'M AN AUNTIE!!!!!

i'm a little backed up on my blogging but i have good reason. . . i'm an AUNTIE :) for the first time.

woooo-hoooooo!!!!!!!!!
i'm so excited. this kid is going to be so spoiled. i only have one brother, and i don't have any kids. so this is my parents first grandchild, and my first nephew. he just got here last night. and i can't wait to get off work and get back to the hospital today!

i was planning to post the Red Carpet interview/giveaway for December today, and i may or may not have time. but it'll be up by Monday for sure.

c ya later! well i guess not see you later more like blog ya later since i don't actually SEE you guys. sooooo. . .
blog ya later!

GIVEAWAY ALERT! check this out. . .

one of my favorite bloggers, Jenn Biederman, is having a giveaway! what a great stash- hero arts & purple onion design stamps-what scrapper wouldn't want win this!

as happy as i am to share this info with all of you, i seriously hope i win. :)

check out her blog HERE for your chance at this great prize.

Red Carpet Giveaway WINNER!

one of these day's i'm going to try using one of those random number selectors that i see bloggers use to pick their winners. until then i think my system works quite well. i turn to my husband and say
"babe, pick a number between 1 & 18"
"why?"
"just because"
"what's it for?"
"to pick a winner for my blog?"
"what do i win for picking the number?"
"a happy wife,"
"11"
doesn't get more random than that! so far the system's working pretty well.

and this months Red Carpet Giveaway Winner . . .Jackie!
Jackie said...

Nancy's work is beautiful and this Thanksgiving cards is just adorable! I've been enjoying her work on the Hero Arts Flickr Group for a while.

and when i went to check out her blog i realized she'd created a card that i totally fell in love with when i saw it on flickr. this girls got talent! i hope she can put this HA stamp to good use. Jackie there's a link to email you on your blog so I'll email you to get your address.

thank you all for participating, let's all congratulate Jackie & get ready for the December Red Carpet Giveaway, since it's Christmas time i'm planning on doing a SUPER HUGE GIVEAWAY!

faux stitch mania!

ok i went nuts with a white gel pen, and had a lot of fun making this card. isn't the lil teddy bead adorable? proving my theory that those santa hat stickers can make anything Christmas-y :)

this card is what i like to call vintage shawnte-style since i didn't use any stamping on it. and i didn't start using stamps until i started cardmaking, so anytime i work without stamps it's like going back to my scrap-roots.


so what do i use when i don't use stamps? stickers, stickers, and more stickers. the teddy, santa hat, presents, and snowflakes are all stickers. (the deck the halls is actually an american crafts rub-on)i used a coluzzle to cut the circle around the teddy bear, martha stewards dimensional adhesive to pop that panel up.

thanks for looking.

lucy's color challenge

Lucy's having her first color challenge.The challenge: use the colors soft pink, aqua blue, and kraft cardstock.
I didn't have a lot of kraft cardstock, but i still wanted to participate in the challenge. I love color challenges, they're a challenge but you have so many style/technique options.


this is Lucy's first challenge, and its just for the joy of scrapping not for a prize. and it'll be open until December 1st.



I knew i wanted to make a circle card cause i'm loving my coluzzle right now. i decided to go with a tone on tone look for the background, so i used colorbox chalk ink in orchid pastel on the pink cardstock, and colorbox chalk ink in mint blue on the aqua cardstock with hero arts dot flourish border stamp. i used die cuts with a view rub on stitching on the background. i used fiskars corner rounder on a small piece of kraft cardstock to give it a label look. I used martha stewarts 3 in 1 butterfly punch, and recollections rhinestones on the the butterflies. the flower is a colorbok chipboard flower (that i got in the sale bin at Michael's for $1) then used a marvy white gel pen to do faux stitching on the label and around the base of the card. the thanks stamp is from hero arts trees, birds and messages set.

i had a lot of fun making this card, i'm so glad lucy started doing challenges i look forward to her next color challenge, thank you so much for looking :)

the greatest inspiration

i get so inspired looking at the cards and scrapbook pages of some of my favorite bloggers. their work is so amazing, it makes me feel, well-honestly, like an amateur.
although it's always fun looking at blogs (plus a great way to get an idea when you can't think of what you want to do) i always feel better about the finished card when it's my brain-child, not a scraplift. it's authentic, it's orignal, it's an expression of my creative talent, and that's pretty cool. but is it as amazing as some of the scrappers whose blogs i "stalk"? guess it depends on who you ask-my mom thinks my cards are the best-thank God for mothers, right? not that i think they're bad, seriously i love my work, i just know that as the years go by, the more i learn and perfect my skills i'll move to the next level in my creativity.
to test my theory, i decided to take a look back at some of the early work of a few of my favorite bloggers, and what i found was my theory was right, everybody starts somewhere and it takes time to develop your talent. and that i think is the greatest inspiration i could have received

card: basic grey indian summer collection (paper), bo bunny delilah collection (owl sticker), swirl stamp hero art's trees birds & messages set, queen & co (rhinestones), basic grey epoxy brad, & marvvy white gel pen.

Toya's November Wish List

Usually I am all about the bright colors, and funky patterns, but I must say that Basic Grey has truly surprised me with their new line "Nook n Pantry". The colors are more pastel and I wouldn't normally be so attracted to that but there is something about this line that makes me happy on the inside. I was watching a "Finally Friday" video and Kristina Werner inspired me so much. Even while she was making the card she was so excited, the "Nook and Pantry Cakes Bitsy Clear Stamp" is soooooooo cute I must have it, and of course it's sold out at Two Peas. The entire line truly speaks to me and inspires me in ways I can't even explain. So below are a few items from the Basic Grey "Nook n Pantry" line that I must have in my collection.

1. Nook n Pantry Card Kit

2. Nook n Pantry Collection Pack

3. Nook n Pantry Stitched Brads

Check it out and leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the line.

so much to learn. . .

though i've been scrapbooking for about seven years now, i've only been cardmaking for about seven months. although they have a lot in common, the more cards i make the more i see that they're worlds apart. there are so many tools and products i would have never purchased or already had and didn't use, or have learned how to use in new ways. it like falling in love with a new-old hobby all over again.


this weeks hero arts challenge was to make a card using glitter. super fun for me since i love all things shiny and sparkly. plus it gave me a change to try out two new things.
1. the coluzzle (a circle cutter by provo craft. i believe this product is now retired, it's super hard to find, if you want one i suggest looking on ebay)and 2. vellum!
my circle card has a cute little vellum window that let's you peek inside at the greeting and adorable penguin.


and because it'll make me feel better to know that i'm not the only one who feels like there's so much about this hobby i'm still learning. leave a comment letting me know what tool you've just learned to use, or a technique you've just begun using :)

SCAT's Red Carpet

Welcome to another addition of SCAT's Red Carpet! Where you're the Scrap-star and we can't wait to get the dish on you and your scrap style.

On today's red carpet we have Nancy. Her blog is so engaging, and I love her unique approach to card making. Plus I'm super jealous of her scrap space!

how long have you been scrapbooking/cardmaking
I started making cards with rubber stamps about 20 years ago. I used stamps as a teacher and a friend took me to a store called Stampa Barbara...I was immediately hooked.

what was your last scrap purchase?
I purchased the Hero Arts Four Apples set (LP125) and the Nestabilities Standard Circles large.

three adjectives that describe your style?
changeable, intuitive, imperfect

three items you cannot scrap without?
Distress inks, Hero Arts stamps, beautiful paper

I love the holiday season, and Nancy's thanksgiving card totally puts me in the mood for turkey. adorable card don't you think? It's her current favorite . . .
I just finished updating my traditional Thanksgiving card for the Hero Arts Photocard Challenge. It's my favorite for many reasons but mostly because it's one I add to and improve on each year.

Great card right! I am so inspired.
And now, for the GIVEAWAY!!! Check out Nancy's blog and come back here and leave a comment to win a Hero Arts stamp set. Contest will end November 30th at 12 midnight PST.

exciting news!

when i got home from work today my darling husband surprised me with Cricut Gypsy!!! i couldn't believe it. i'd never even mentioned to him that i wanted it. in fact i never even told him it existed, he really amazes me sometimes- actually he amazes me more often than not, you'd think i'd be used to it by now.
i'm so happy!
if you don't know what the Gypsy is, it's a portable design studio that's compatible with your cricut. you design on the Gypsy and then cut using your cricut, eliminating the need for hooking up to your computer which is totally perfect for me, since as i noted in a previous entry i'm not all that into using my computer when i scrap.

here's a video that'll explain it much better than i'd be able to. if you haven't got a gypsy yet, i totally recommend you get one. i've only had it a few hours and i'm so excited, and so happy with it.

Winner of Breast Cancer Awareness Contest

I am proud to announce the winner of the 1st Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Contest.......And the winner is......drum roll! ........Yvonne Smith. Thank you so much Yvonne for sharing your project and particpating in our 1st Breast Cancer Awareness Contest. Take a look at Yvonne's entry....It's amazing!

jolly christmas card and red carpet winner!

my "have a jolly christmas" card was made for hero arts simple holiday challenge.
using HA's jolly christmas stamps, that's also the stamp set GIVEAWAY for the oct red carpet interview!

speaking of which, the winner of the giveaway is . . .

Daniela Hendea {PurpleD} ...

I love Vanessa's style! She's one courageous stamper, never afraid to learn and try all kinds of new things. She's an inspiration to me.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
if you'd like to be interviewed on SCAT's Red Carpet, leave a comment below.

butterfly thanks

here's a card i made recently. simple right? yep it's super simple. why? -creative block.

creative block sucks. the last couple of days i've sat at my craft desk and not been inspired. so what do i do when my mind goes blank? i flip through old scrapbooks and cards i've done, and look at blogs and cards on flickr.
and even after all of that i still didn't feel that spark of inspiration that comes when i just have to scrap becuase i have so many ideas in my head that i have to get them out on paper.

so i like this card, it's cute, but just a little too simple for my taste. here's hoping i get inspired soon.
thanks for looking.