Grunge Paper Tags

I went grunge! Not exactly my style, but after playing around a bit, I think it could be my style - hah! Grunge paper is best described as a "discovery" ... so soft and felty and bendy. First, I set up my Distress Ink Pads in a row and went to town with sponge applicators as I inked up the background colors for the tags. Then I stamped various backgrounds and borders. The tag itself is NOT a true shipping tag (it's grunge paper)!! The reinforced hole at the top is a small circle punch of brown cardstock.

This blue and brown number uses original Sizzix Decorative Accent #2 die and Flower Layers #4. The background of the Decorative Accent was stamped with Queen Wendy Vecchi's background from Artfully Said. The gorgeous stamped lace at the bottom is from Queen Wendy Vecchi's set In Love With Art.

This background stamp is Unity Distressed Dots which is very cool look! The flower was made using Papertrey's Delightful Dahlia Die which I cut in half, then cut slits in toward the flower center, so that I could curl the petals upward. That's the bendy fun part of grunge paper! Saying is from Queen Wendy Vecchi's set Art By the Number.

This purple & green number is my fav! Background lines are from Queen Wendy Vecchi Dreams of Art. Leaves are a Sizzix die, as are the tulips. Both of these Sizzix dies are eon's old - which means they are Originals and these two particular dies are the yellow half size ones. Now aren't those purple flower centers to die for? Prima -- they KNOW flower centers! Get thee to Archivers and grab 'em up!

This yellow number has a YOUnique stamp and flower stem ... the saying is a Limited Edition wooden stamp by Stampendous and the leaves are from My Cute Stamps Nature set (stamped and cut out with scissors). Once again, I cut a flower in half so I could show off the bendy petals better!

This blue tag sports a Sizzix Original Bird, Sparrow Die. Background is Unity Aged Sheet Music stamp ... with a Unity saying from an old Kit of the Month. It's fun to cut up any stamped sentiment, and apply it "collage" style! So ... all in all ... I'm hooked on grunge ... I'm in Love With Art ... and I'm still trying to clean the ink off my fingers! :)

A Little Bit of Unity Fun

So Stella is really getting her stamping groove on now-a-days! I thought it would be fun to play with a pack of cute note cards that I picked up at the Dollar Tree (gotta love those bargains!). The scalloped cards were pre-cut, and included envelopes. Since they came in such fun, funky colors, I decided to find fun, funky papers to line the envelopes in order to tie it all together. I thought it odd that they give you such an unusual color scheme: deep red scallop note cards, blue inserts, and lime green envelopes --- are we talking funky colors or what! (I guess you gotta remember that they were only $1.00!)

But let's look at the transformation. So here are the envelopes after I lined them. Stinkin' cute! The cute little flower pot stamp is from a past Unity KOM. It just seemed logical to make a grab for Unity Stamps when I was headed for fun and funky!

I packaged the whole shebang as a gift set, clipped with a wooden clothespin and some felt flowers. Since I'm giving it as a gift, I'll leave the note cards blank (no sentiment). But since there are 7 cards total, I think I'll stamp something on the bottom of one of them (near the flower pot) and use that one to write a personal note to the recipient. Then she can have the remaining 6 note cards to use as she pleases! I love the Dollar Tree! I love gift sets! I love making something into something special!

Owl-ways In My Heart

I had a little Unity Fun today (okay -- a LOT) with the October KOM! How caaauuute is this owl?! He's a rock-star! I used some fun paper by GCB Studio called Chic BeBe (I found it at Michaels), which is an eclectic mix of double-sided yummy papers. This piece already had the cute scalopped edge, so I made good use of it!

With a teeny tiny bit of copic coloring, and smattering of sponging around the background of this little guy, I thought he was good to go! I embellished the eyes with pink shiny flat metal stickers, they came on a card much like tiny crystal embellishments do. I think I'll name him Moe. He just looks like a Moe!

The squiggles on the chocolate brown card stock at the bottom of the card, this is an old TAC stamp that I wouldn't take a million bucks for! I used PTI Snow Ink. Moe is always gonna be in my heart, I just know it. Ya wanna know sumpthin tricksy? All this started because I bought this really darn cute shoulder bag that looks like something out of the 70s, and has an applique owl on it, looks much like Moe here! I'm sending it to my nice neice who is away at college, so I needed a card to go with it. But hey -- you know me. Why make one Moe when you can have a bundle of Moe's?! AND *yes there's more* I stamped a gazillion more Moe's onto white tissue paper before packing her shoulder bag. Ahhh-More Moe! LOL

I turned some Moe's sideways on the card, and other Moe's vertical - just to be Moe Different. The fabulous green glitter chipboard hearts are by K&Company, and I embellished some of the hearts with the metal stickers (those things really ROCK). Hellow, my name is Moe!

Always In My Heart

I'll have you know we are finally at the last of the last of the notebooks! YAY! I did not procrastinate on doing 50 notebooks at all - no no no! It was fun to do 5 or 10 at a time and then sit back and marvel with satisfaction at the basket full of love! Moral of the story is this: If you are ever asked to do 50 notebooks for a group of Shriner's Ladies, say yeah! Fitting that the last bunch says "Always In My Heart" as that's how I feel about dear friend Debbie, who asked me (a year ago!) to do this project! (Emphasis on dear!)

First, I stamped a Unity Company heart with stem from the September KOM (NOT the store kit - there really are two separate and distinct kits each month). Then I stamped it again onto DP and punched out a heart using the EK Success Medium Heart Punch which coordinates perfectly with PTI's Heart Borders & Corners set. Capeesh? Topped off with a button!

If I know anything about our blogging world, it's that you all can do some serious Woo-Hoo's when a project of any size is done! Since I also have a pretty good idea of how many of you are out there, I absolutely cannot resist gathering our hearts to offer a collective Woo-Hoo for each other's freindships, encouragements, and accomplishments. Not just crafts -- our lives are busy! We all have things on our plate that we are called to do for our friends and families and co-workers and yes, even strangers! But know this -- there is NO SUCH THING as serving in obscurity. It MATTERS. God sees you doing "the thing" day in and day out. And if it's a really crazy day, one spends as many evening hours as needed. To all of you who keep doing "the thing", you're always in my heart!

Happy Funky Fall

This morning, I realized the air conditioning was still on! It's only 43 degrees and looks like it could rain for 40 days and 40 nights! But alas, I LOVE Fall. It's when I become a better me! I DIG sweaters and scarves!This girl is beginning to grow weary of notebooks (it's about time!) so I'm into doing easy peasy here ... as I hit the home stretch toward 50 of them! The sentiment and funky tree is from Unity's Setpember Store Kit, and all I did was stamp it with chocolate chip ink onto some funky K&Company paper and add a few crystals here and there.

The paisley embellishment is from a 12x12 strip of funky scrapbook page dividers by K&Company. I cut them apart and had instant funk for each tree. I think it gives a wind-swept look to the already windy tree!

Inside and back of notebooks - on SU Night of Navy cardstock, stamped with more Unity swirls using PTI Fresh Snow ink. Let the winds blow!

Coffee & Friends

More notebooks! Popular little things arn't they? Today's notebook cover is a paper-pierced coffee cup from Unity's September KOM. I don't even drink coffee (Diet Coke-aholic) but these turned out so cute it makes me want to try a sip!

After trimming with fine-tip scissors, I added some shading with a Cool Gray copic marker and that - my friends - was that! I stamped the image onto the cocoa brown designer paper to get the top of the "coffee cup steam" and then used it as a guide to adhere my cut out design. I really love the saying too!

Inside of notebooks. Hip Hop colors aren't they! Once again, paper from the Wild Raspberry collection by K&Company. Ya think I like it cuz of the name? Kay? Get it? LOL Naw - I just like it cuz I'm a paper hog! Us Wild Hogs have to stick together!

Back of notebooks, personalized after random versamark stamping. What's your perfect blend?

It's Fall Y'all

Don't you love Fall?! Today is the most beautiful Fall day here in Indiana. In keeping with the Fall theme, I'm knocking out my next 10 mini notebooks for the ladies upcoming trip to Brown County. 25 done to date, 25 more to go!Gina K'w Whimsical Autumn stamp set is simply adorable. This little squirrel almost looks like he's prancing around in the snow ... but I LIKE dots so I'm USING dots! Isn't being queen of your own scrap room the bomb?

Unity Stamp Company's September Kit SO rocks! I stamped the pumpkin on DP and cut it out with fine tip scissors, adding very little copic coloring. A real time saver when working in mass! All of the papers on these two notebooks are from the Autumn Collection by Recollections available at Michaels. SO many cute papers that coordinate, just close your eyes and grab!

"Hey Pumpkin" was computer generated before cutting into strips. "Have a Nutty Day" was also computer generated, before punching with SU nested circle punches. Let's take a look at the inside of these cute little notebooks ...

And the back is just as cute as the front! Yes, more dots. But to my credit, the leaves on the Kraft back piece is a stamp from Michaels $1 bin - So Stinkin' Fall Cute! I stamped it in Chocolate Chip ink onto the Kraft cardstock, and colored a few leaves with copics to add some color. Sometimes those $1 finds are the best!

Complete with my signature stamp ... a gift from my sister who loves me like crazy! She's mine, you can't have her.

I hope you enjoy your Fall Y'all!

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

This is my hubby on his Harley just 6 days after knee replacement surgery! And he is not just sitting pretty either ... Kevin zoomed off into the sunshine with his cane inside his saddlebag. I'm not sure if my sweet self is recovering from his surgery as well as he is!

We believe that you will never meet another set of faces on the planet that has been graced more than us! Throughout the time leading up to, during, and after surgery, a wonderful support system of family & friends showed us buckets of love. So many prayers, visits, calls, cards, emails, and help ... too numerous to count. I'd like to share a little project that Nurse Kay put together for sharing with our church family this morning.

First, I made two sets of tags. One girlie tag which represents the thoughts of yours truly, and a manly man tag that represents Hubby Harley. More tag detail later. While I was busy tag-making, a yummy Chocolate Zucchini Cake was baking in my oven. Several of our Sunday School friends have the gift of garden, and they regularly share with us. I like to say that going to church is like going to the Farmer's Market!

The recipe entitled "K&K's Knee Replacement Chocolate Zucchini Cake" is computer generated and adhered to cardstock. This is the best most moist slice of cake you will have this side of heaven! Works very well with apples too, instead of zucchini. It's a multi-seasonal recipe!

After cutting and wrapping cake slices, it was time to assemble gift bags. I used birthday party loot bags, which I have a fetish for whenever they are on sale. It's handy to have a drawer full of all shapes, sizes, and colors to use for cards, gifts, and the like. A fun tip from Mish that I enjoy is to clip bags closed with a decorated wooden clothespin, but I chose to use pretty ribbon for a tight closure on my food project. In short order, I had a basket full of goodies!

It was so much fun and more than a little humbling to distribute these thank you bags at church this morning! While some scurried to help Kevin find a seat as he trotted off on his walker, I mumbled a silent prayer for the blessing of ministry & fellowship of God's peoples, not to mention the enjoyment I had from this project after a very long week!

I used a Sizzix Scallop Tag Die, and Marvey oval and scallop punches for the stamped designs. I chose Proverbs 17:22 for my girlie tag sentiment -- part of a clear inspirational stamp set by Stampendous that I picked up a few weeks ago at Shipshewana (SHOPshewana!). The heart trees are from a past Unity KOM, and the thank you is from Papertrey's Vintage Picnic set.

"If You obey all the rules, You'll Miss all the FUN" is the perfect sentiment for my Hubby Harley's Manly Man tag! It's from The Paper Company Clear Stamp Set Playful Expressions which I scored at Michaels with a 40% off coupon! SO many good sentiments - SMILE! The tiny motorcycle (is that a dichotomy or what!) stamp is by Inkadoo and it has helped me make great wrapping paper and tissue on other projects! Have a beautiful day!

You Make My Heart Flutter

This month's Unity KOM is FABULOUS! Best investment on the planet and top notch style month after month after month. Today's card is for a 50th wedding anniversary for a very hip couple in our church. Who knew you could be so hip after being married for like-ever!

Didn't have a whole lotta time for this one, girlies! My hero husband had knee replacement surgery on Monday so my week has been a little more mixed up than usual. My cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder was already out on my desk, so I first stamped the Unity heart and colored it with copics, then I embossed it. What a pretty effect! A little bit of dotted paper compliments the "dot theme" together with a snazzy Unity "Happy Day" stamp! All cut with spellbinders rectangle dies.

Short-n-sweet and snazzy and full of Unity Hip! I'm telling ya, Unity stamps hold their own baby! No need for lotsa foo foo, if no foo foo time is available! But foo foo is ALWAYS good in MY book!

Nurse Kay Signing Out

Sister & Friend

Say to wisdom "You are my sister" and call understanding your intimate friend. Proverbs 7:4

I'm really close to my sister and our phones call each other on a regular basis! So when I read this verse, I really "got it". That's what I'm saying! "You are my sister" to wisdom and "You are my intimate friend" to understanding. Now that's what I call some mighty fine soul mates! Since we are half-way through our Summer Bible Study and Scripture Challenge, I thought this was a super duper verse.

The stamped panel is a mixture of Unity April KOM (two girls) and My Cute Stamps (flowers) and did I mention how cute they look? Colored with copics, then dotted with a white inkessentials pen. I'm going dot-crazy since my pen purchase, love it! As if there were not enough polka dots, I overstamped the entire image with PT polka dot basics (a staple in life, just get it), then I roughed up the edges of my stamped strip with an edge distresser, and bordered it with a brown cardstock scalloped panel {Fiskars Running Water Edge Punch - one of my favs}. I cut some faux ribbons from matching pink cardstock for strips underneath the computer generated scripture verse, and embellished with punched flowers & buttons.


Oh my Kitty Soul - is this not darling? Looky who worked with me on this one! Hard to say who's cuter! It's so hard to parent O'Malley with that precious face! Have you ever tried gluing and punching and coloring stuff with a furball in your lap? Sigh.

Scroll of Remembrance

Hello! How are my favorite crafters on God's green earth? Kevin & I had a bumpy start to our weekend when our family cat of 14 years went to cat heaven (click if you are a cat lover and want to see and read about our Cozy Cat), but we just clung to each other and tried to keep on going. You tend to get more attached to your mate when your kids are grown because you're all you have left within your own four walls. You young darlin' wives and moms need to remember that one day. It will happen before you know it. There are all sorts of adventures to have together. Just keep investing. Hence, we enjoyed our family cat together.

Now, the title of this post, Scroll of Remembrance, does not exactly refer to our Cozy Cat. Our first summer bible study was so much fun, and this is my chosen scripture verse for this week!

Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. Malachi 3:16.


Try to grasp what that scripture suggests. Every time we speak of the Lord with each other - face-to-face, on the phone, in the women's restroom at work, over email, on the blog - God stops to "listen and hear". Then it indicates that a secretary in the Kingdom of Heaven literally records either the occasion or perhaps the conversation itself on something called "a scroll of remembrance." I don't know about you but over the course of my life time, I want to keep that secretary writing as fast as his hand can fly across that scroll. At this very moment, an historical record is being kept of our communication in His Name. That's too much, isn't it?

Give Him plenty of stuff to write about, girlfriend!

Coral Funky Monogrammed B-Day Cards

Sara B. is having a B-day! {the "B" is not for B-day, but it works, yes?} Sara B. is my son's strong girlfriend. So I made Sara B. a gift set of monogrammed note cards. Sara B's favorite color is coral. This rockin paper is the Blue Hill Collection by Crate Paper. It really gets me that they call it Blue Hill when it oozes of these wonderful shades of coral! I'm re-naming it Coral Hill, okay?

The "S" Monograms were made with JustRite Borders and Times New Roman Font. Notice those funky squiggly lines? I was inspired by the oh-so-uber-cool squiggles on this card made by Lauren. No sense making traditional monograms traditional!

I wanted to add a little funk to these cards since Sara B. is a trendy DC gal. Thus all the polka dots and squiggles. The funky bird on the matching envelopes is from a past Unity KOM Stamp set, colored with copics to match the Coral Hill (new name!) paper collection.

More funky squiggle stamps! Are we thinking that trendy Sara B. is gonna like these Coral Funky Monograms?

Sending Cheery Thoughts

How about some cheery cards with lots of colors to make them pop and brighten someones day! Who doesn't need that these days? I mean, it has rained so much here that I'm about to build an ark! Maybe I should have stamped animals 2 by 2?! I used a smattering of fun stamps and embellishments, whatever made me smile!

A Hero Arts birdie on a branchie ... with a message circled in blue rhinestones ... makes me giddy! "You're Tweet!" I know I know -- the "T" is kinda off but then again, I think it looks kinda cute that way. I started to re-do it, but sense got the best of me. If you want a perfect card, go to Hallmark (that's what my sister always says, and I believe everything she says).

A good friend of mine is having some medical tests done this week on her ticker (i.e. heart) so I stamped this heart tree for her so she knows she is in my prayers. All of the cards use PaperTrey AquaMist Cardstock (have you tried that stuff?! Oh my heck, it is the best when it comes to heavy cardstock!), and all of the card backgrounds are stamped with PaperTrey's Polka Dot Basics.

These two sweeties were part of the April Unity KOM. What a bargain! I'm big into buttons these days, are you? I hope these Cheery Thoughts brightened your day! And that you don't have enough rain to consider building an ark ....