Easiest Card Ever...Thank You Graphics Fairy

Seriously, it took me longer to write this post than to make the card. Also seriously, with resources like The Graphics Fairy, my stamps are feeling seriously neglected. Seriously! I'm still having fun w/ my bag o diecuts but I printed this out earlier to maximize the use of my Avery clear label paper ( when I print stuff, I try to fill up as much space as possible). 

Print image from The Graphics Fairy here. I printed mine on clear label paper and adhered to a cream cardstock scrap or you could print directly on paper. Mounted on black and cream scrap, another cream scrap, and Halloween paper scrap. Adhere to card w/ coordinating Halloween paper panel. I usually cut my own cards (5x7) so always have the ends left over. Cut one to fit the width of the patterned paper, tore the edges..it's what I do...added a black border sticker. Done.

Thank you Karen, The Amazing Graphics Fairy!

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How I Spent World Card Making Day

Well not the whole day. I did venture out to Goodwill, and ended up at the Dollar Tree for some of those glitter skulls I've seen around blogland:

which I put on top of some candle holders I made earlier and put on my mantel with on of my skully plates. Then I went through my Halloween stuff and got rid of some things and did some decorating. Here's something I did BB ( before blogging):

It's just acrylic paint on outdoor canvas (the kind you use for seat cushions, pillows etc.). I drew the ghosts and bats freehand several years ago. But then I did make some Halloween cards. It was card making day after all. I also realized I'm addicted to the K&Co line. I hadn't really thought about it until I started blogging and realized how much of their stuff I use. I bought this package of diecuts  in August:

174 Pieces!!! And the photo looks like it's uploading right, but then flips. Oh well

Generally I'm not a whimsical person, but these were fun and although I'm getting more "serious" in my Halloween decor, Halloween's a time for fun and whimsy so I went with that for some Halloween cards. I actually kept these pretty simple because they will be mailed and the post office and I disagree on embellishments!

Can't see it in the pic but these diecuts have glitter already on them! Added an orange rhinestone nose

I've since added black rhinestones to the owl's eyes

The spider is a leftover from some stuff I'd printed on Avery clear label paper

I decorated this pumpkin die with separate eyeball diecuts from the pack

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Tomorrow's World Card Making Day and Some Cards & Tags

Fun Facts ( courtesy of the World Cardmaking Day website...yes, there's a website for that)

• Today, card making is a worldwide hobby, especially popular in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• 1 in 6 U.S. households participates in making cards
• 86% of scrapbookers also create handmade cards
• 92% of paper crafters create cards more than any other type of project
• The top occasions/themes for making cards are
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • Birthdays
  • winter holidays (Christmas, New Year’s, etc.)
  • thank you
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Mother’s Day
• Card makers prefer stamps and rub-ons for use on their holiday handmade cards
• 73% of card makers use their computer in part or all of their design

I've always done creative stuff but my first foray into the formal craft world was cards. It started when I went to a store with a friend who was trying to explain embossing powder to me. I later went back and proceeded to mistakenly buy glitter (powdery stuff in small bottles...who knew) and felt like a complete idiot when I went back again to complain it didn't work and the lovely woman who'd obviously experienced this before,politely explained my mistake. Nevermind.

Fast forward to today where I have a dresser drawer full of stamps, have migrated to buying clear cling stamps that go on acrylic blocks ( easier storage and some argue better for the environment), have expanded my crafts repertoire well beyond cards but use stamps in a lot of things, have a collection of paper that's probably a fire hazard, plus the increased array of scrapbooking embellishments and now a Cricut Expression well...you get the idea. But cards are still a true love and from October through December especially, I am in high card mode!

So if you've never made a card, World Card Making Day is a great time to start. Most likely your local stamp or scrapbooking store will have something going or look out for "Make and Takes" and Stampin Up demonstrators are always willing to teach you! Or you could look here: http://www.worldcardmakingday.com/celebrate/participating_retailers.html

Here are some cards and  tags I've made as part of the inventory for my first craft fair: (ironically, no stamps)

K&Co "Life's Journey" Collection

I can still bust some stash and found some tag shaped cards I'd picked up on clearance somewhere for $1 for a package of 2. I cut them at the fold to make two tags from one card, cut selected pieces from the above sheet of paper, got out my stash of self ahesive scrapbook borders (also K&Co) and my bin o scraps and went to town!

I had some chairs I'd cut out using my Cricut and a chair image from The Graphics Fairy  I printed out on a transparency , so I made these cards:

Go forth and make cards!

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Stashbusting September Project #13: Last Project?

Welcome to those stopping in from :




I know tomorrow's  TODAY's the last day but I don't know if I'll finish anything tonight so this may or may not be the last Stashbusting September project. There may also be NO posts on Friday because as soon as I'm done with work, I will be running around Michaels and JoAnns like a Survivor contestant who's just been dropped off at a grocery store.

Just kidding. It hasn't been bad. Mr. Chocolate would say it's because the producers of "Hoarders" have our address and will be here soon. He'll probably hide my car keys on Friday.

In the meantime, I made this for a birthday gift, from my stash:

Chain and findings from Michaels; black onyx beads from Scottsdale Bead Supply

Half, ok 3/4 of the time I'm making jewelry I only have a general idea of what I'm going to use so I lay out what I think I'll use and then take it from there.

Stuff I thought I'd use

I literally just folder the chain in half and attached a jump ring to two links on either end. Attached the toggle clasp with another jump ring.

Bad pic, but cute locket w/ butterfly motif. It opens and is a little mirror 

Attached "Global Nomad" charm, put onyx and silver beads on head pin, made wire wrapped loop and attached all to center links of chain:

This goes with the card I posted last night so being a good stashbuster, I used a recycled box , a scrap piece of brown kraft paper I crumpled up to make it look textured, and scraps from the paper I used in the card which I cut into circles, crumpled up and made into a poppy. Added a paper flower, button and rhinestone:

One way to use scraps is to decorate the envelope to match your card

Linking Up At: 

Lovely and Delicious!

I was cruising through my blog reader this morning, waiting for my morning mocha to jumpstart my brain, and I came across these!

peanut butter chocolOTT cupcakes

at "A Latte with Ott A".

Ott, A, somehow manages to rhyme or incorporate  her name into every post which I totally love, and if you've never visited her blog then let's correct that now OK because she has the recipe for these lovelies posted over there.

She did these to celebrate her 2nd Wedding Anniversary but they are perfect for any occasion don't you think? And they match her current blog design which is all decked out in sunflowers.

I'm a Bad Blogger, And "Hoo's Birthday" card

Recently two wonderfully kind people, Melissa from Those Northern Skies and Ashley from Life After the Aisle, have surprised me with blog awards. I really appreciate that anyone thinks I'm worthy of these and try to do my best to pass them on timely but boy have I been bad about these!And continuing being a bad blogger ( shame shame shame) I'm going to combine the two. Ssshhh don't tell the blog award people!

Melissa passed on the Ms. Bright Side award to me (thank you!)

 and Ashley gave me the One Lovely Blog award ( thank you too!)

The combined rules are:
1. List the top ten things that make me happy.
2. Share with my favourite bloggers and ask them to do the same.
3. Link the blogs I choose and link the blogs of the people who gave it to me.
4. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
5. Pay it forward to 15 other lovely bloggers.


Top 10 Things That Make Me Happy (not in order of importance ) 


1.)    Chocolate ( that was a given right? )
2.)    Family and friends 
3.)    Mexican Food
4.)    Sweater and boot weather! Love clear crisp Fall days
5.)    Finding new blogs with amazing creative people like the ones who gave me this award 
6.)    Random acts of kindness
7.)    Starbucks iced mochas all year long
8.)    Creating
9.)    Stashbusting
10.) The end of Stashbusting :)

In the "paying it forward" part, (also something I really really love and believe in) since I have to limit it to 15 blogs, here goes, but it's hard because I follow so many amazing blogs. And if I happen to pick you and you're a blog that doesn't do awards, no worries...I know several don't and  I won't cry...too much...just kidding...totally understand. 

1. Get Craftin'
2. A Little Knick Knack 
3. Christine & Co
4. Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings
5. Closet Crafter
6. Envirocraftiness
7. Langes Fädchen, Faules Mädchen 
8. Netty's Craftings 
9. Paisley Passions
10. Polish The Stars
11. Rook No. 17
12. Scrapping With Sherry
13. Something From Cassie
14. Southern Scraps
15. Tracy's Trinkets and Treasures

Oh yes..and a card ( reminder...World Card Making Day is October 2! More here) 

"Hoo's Birthday Is It"

• Cricut "Sentimentals" cart for owl tag
• Judi Kins Mica Gloss (copper) smeared on panel behind owl
• K&CO scrapbook borders ( copper / teal) 
• DCWV "Indian Summer" Fall Stack ( from last year...I'm stashbusting!) patterned paper
• Purple cardstock

Signs Of Things To Come

Stashbusting September is winding down....Day 28 and haven't stepped foot in a Goodwill, Michaels or JoAnn's or my local addiction, The Paper Zone. Friday Friday Friday!

I have decided to try my hand at my first craft fair in November so I've started working on some things for that. Win win 'cause they're from my stash! I am planning on doing a variety of things since I can't seem to stick with making just one thing. So I'll be making some cards, decorative boxes, pillows, decorations, decor items etc. I started with a collection of these little signs that I thought were fun. What do you all think?

The sign w/ the crazy lady says "My Whole Life Is One Of Those Days"

It's A Queen Thing

 

The Mumster ( aka my Mommy) sent me a supply of bling for my birthday