Crafting, snapping and sewing

Hope everyone is enjoying their spring break.  As you can see I have been a tad busy and haven't had time to blog, I have however have been crafting and then some :).

I thought I would share what I have been up to and let everyone know I am still doing my cards.  

As some may know I took a few photography classes, mostly so that I can take better pictures of my cards. However I am really enjoying it for other things as well.  Just this last weekend we went over to the beach and I took a few snap shots of the lighthouse, the jellyfish- all things Florida.   Here take a look.

Pretty neat? I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.  

So onto the next project, which of course again was only motivated to help me do a better job with my cards.  Sewing!!!  I am ashamed to say that all these years I have been crafting I could not sew a single straight line and yup it took me getting to a class to learn how.  Such a simple technique too.  Our instructor had us use foam tape to mark the machine and use as a guide  Presto Magic, by George I got it now.  Of course I couldn't stop there and went on to make a pillow, two in fact and a pair of Pajamas.  

These are for my nephew who just started playing baseball.  

and oooh, these are for my neice,  we just welcomed her to the world 3.18.  Ms. Zoey Alexis! 

Ok so lastly I did squeeze in time to make a few cards.  Here is one below of the several I made. Sorry for the not so great picture I took at night and I am still mastering those night shots.  No sketch contest, no challenge just something I threw together on my own. Hope you like, thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.  

Cupcakes right out of the oven!

Well I just couldn't wait,  I have been playing with these all day and I just think they are so flipping cute.

A couple of years ago I came across a gal by the name Claudine Hellmuth.  I am not even sure I how I came across her name, or her blog, but I did.  I remembered watching a few of her tutorials on mixed media products, and after some time I realized that she lived roughly 20 minutes away from me.  She moved shortly after my discovery, so we never had the chance to meet but I continued to follow her blog being introduced to her stamp line, as well as other great products.  And then this happened....templates for all things good. She has cupcake holders, gift card holders, Christmas villages, cards, etc.  But you really have to take a look for yourself to fully understand my excitement.  As well as her blog (I linked to above) she also has an etsy store- Claudine Hellmuth Etsy shop. This is where I got ..........................this!!!!

How cute is this?  I have been printing, cutting and formatting these all day.  There is a super cute hot air balloon cupcake holder that is sure to be on my next list.   Now I wish I could say I also made the cupcakes but I didn't.  If you live locally let me tell you about my second excitement of the day!  Its call BCupcakes.

These cupcakes are out of this world.  Shelia is the owner/operator and she has some of the best tasting cupcakes.  There is this one cupcake called the CinnaB, it has bacon in it and is my husband favorite.  I personally like the original.  So good, so so good.  They have two locations, one on fairbanks and one in Apopka-Hunt Club.  You gotta check them out! 

Well thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great week :). 

So many crafts so little time.

Hi all hope you had great week.  I had a very good week in deed but got a little busy and ran out of time to post my other cards but on a side note let me you tell you what kept me so tied up.

First as I mentioned from my last post I made several other cards from last weeks sketch challenges. I had some pre-stamped images I used for those cards and when I went rooting through my stash to gather the "stamps used for this card" I realized I had lost some stamps :(.   Lost or misplaced?   Probably both.   Regardless because of this I went mad and reorganized/cleaned up my craft room. I purged like crazy!

Due to the misplaced stamps (which two were my favorite Whipper Snapper Stamps) I got online to order replacements and winded up ordering  a few more! Of course what else did I think would happen?  LOL. Actually I really don't have a lot of stamps per se in what would be considered a fair amount in the crafters world.  So it was just about time to add some to my current collection.

So secondly here is one of cards I made. This was from last weeks My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch 163.  I made this card for my sister who is having a little girl!  Yup I am gonna be an aunt again.  Woo Hoo.

I just love this stamp.  It is Bella from WSD.  And of course this layout was fun to do too.

And here is something I have never done before, I decorated the inside of the card using a My Favorite Things dienamic.   I really like it, I may be doing more of this :).

Thirdly (yeah back to why I have been so busy he he) ,  I made these bows.

A friend of mine called me and needed the yellow bow for her daughters Birthday party.  The conversation was something like "how much do you love me, can you make this, I need it like now!"  It had been a while since I made a girls head bow, but I impressed myself.  Not only did I make the bow she needed but I made an extra one as a birthday present in about 30 minutes. 

So lastly my final crafting project that has had me busy aside from my other everyday activities....  this one is a big deal...... at least for me.........    this girl got Copic certified!!!!  Yup me,  I completed the full 8 hours and got my certificate. Can I say what a fun training too.  Lori Craig was the instructor and she was just awesome.  What a great teacher and someone who truly wants you to learn all things that is Copic.   Although I initially wanted to take the class to learn how to color better, I came away with a better understanding about the Copic's numbering system which in the end impacts how I color. I revisited the coloring technique and was also introduced  to the new Copic airbrush.  Although I don't see myself doing much of it, that thing is super cool!  So many possibilities.  

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are enjoying your Sunday Funday.  I will be back to post what I am working on today.  I promise this time :).   I'll even give you a little hint.  It involves cupcakes. 

Orange is the new orange

Hi all, so who here is over this weather?   Confirmed I am a summer girl at heart and I am ready for more beach days and sunnier days to stay.   I read that orange essential oil is really good for those dealing with the winter blues. (yes I am big on oiling :). So I thought what about the color orange too? Why not make a card with good ole bright SU Tangerine Orange. It couldn't hurt right?

I was able to play along today with Karen's Sketch from her blog "the sweetest thing" using this layout.

I kinda goofed though, I actually made three cards today and got them mixed up. After I completed this card I went back to the design and hmmm, not sure where my mind got lost.  Anyway its kinda close, I guess.  I hope you like it.  And I hope it makes you happy!  Here's to sunnier, brighter days ahead. 

Card stock: SU Tangerine and White

DP: SUSummer Smooches 

Stamps: MFT Essential Sentiment 

Dies:  Sizzix Flower Layers #4 die and MFT Upsey Daisey Leaves

Accessories:  Coffee filter, SU  Summer Smooches Brad, SU label punch, Cuttlebug Embossing Polka Dots

P.S I'll be posting more in a bit.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week. 

Love is in the air

Well one holiday down and already time to celebrate another.   This time of year I do a lot of cards as I have many  loves :).  And so last week I made a stop to the My Favorite Things Boutique  picking up a few things for crafting some Valentines Day cards. Yes I am lucky enough to live so close to the boutique but if you don't live in the area you can always shop  online on their website.  Lots of great stuff!

They also have a  blog that is full of inspiration, tutorials and technique ideas.  Sketch challenges are posted here weekly as well.

Speaking of challenges.... I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to play along with this weeks sketch challenge.  I was so excited to see the layout since I had some new goodies, but after seeing the post and some examples from other crafters, I thought to myself what heck am I going to do that is "good enough?"

Hope you all like what I came up with.  Thanks again for stopping by and have a great weekend.

Oh yeah one more thing.. so over Christmas while shopping for presents I picked up a little gift for myself.  I came across this DP pad at Marshalls, yup Marshalls of all places.  So when I got it home I looked for the name of the company or the series name of the paper on the packaging and I all saw was "DIY shop."  I thought hmmm ok well lets google it and see what is out there. Holy moly this website for Crate Paper has the cutest paper.  Check them out.

Stamps: MFT Pure Innocence Love you with all my heart, DP Paper 

Paper: SU Crumb Cake, Real Red and Coastal Cabaa

Accessories: MFT Dienamics Floating Hearts and Fishtail Flags Stax, Copics, SU Burlap Ribbon

Sweet Sunday Challenge 203

It has been so so long since I have participated in a SSSC.    Oh how I have missed Karen's great layouts. :)

While digging through my stamps, I got so excited coming across this set.  I have had it for about 6 months and could not think enough outside the box to come up with a design to showcase them.  I thought this was just so perfect with the banner similarity to the layout from this weeks challenge.

The stamp set is from My Favorite Things Stamps, pretty sure it's discontinued as I receivced from shopping there one day as a bonus for spending x amount of dollars. I generally spend x amount of dollars there too often, LOL 

There is still  plenty of time to play along, hope this "enspires" you to join in.  Deadline is the friday.  Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Switching it up.

You know what happens when you start a project and you don't finish it in a timely manner.  Answer (or just for me): it begins to take on a new form.  This card was from my Stampin Up workshop a few weeks back and originally had a whole another layout.  Because I couldn't quite remember what that was, Viola here what became of it.

I did keep with the orginial flower, again this a technique using a dryer sheet, glitter and glue and the sentiment is punched using the new ticket duo.  I think its my favorite punch right now!

Hope you like it and thanks for the quick peek :).

Fun Day in Bev's Stampin Up Studio!

Hi all,  well I am one happy girl.  I got to spend some time in Beverly's studio today.  For those of you that don't know her.....  Beverly is a Stampin Up demonstrator and  has a shabby chic studio right here in Mount Dora, Florida. It is attached to her own home that accommodates about 10-15 people to work and create at a time. Each month she holds a class having us make anywhere from 3-6 cards.  

She uses mostly newer catalogue items and always tries to teach us a new technique.  This month she showed us how to use dryer sheets, adhesive and glitter over a colored image  giving it an opaque shimmery look.

Below are three of the 6 cards we made ( I kinda didn't finish the other three). I love them all but one I really like, can you pick which one?  Which one is your favorite?  

This is the card we used the technique on.  I think it gives it a nice touch.  

psst  This is my favorite one, I kinda switched out the flowers with different ones,  I just love roses :). 

Well thanks for stopping by as soon as I get the other three done I will post shortly! 

Happy New Year! 2014

Hi all,  hope your holiday season was merry and bright!   I thoroughly enjoyed my time this holiday season, especially well over due time with the huble.  We enjoyed pretty much doing all things that make us the happiest.  We caught up with friends/family,  made a small trip out of town to the treasure coast,  attended many parties, cooked/baked great dishes and desserts, ate them, crafted, took a camera class with my new camera, ate, napped, played board games with the family, read several books, went to the movies,  had a few bonfires and I did mention we ate- LOL.

I saw a cartoon somewhere where one person was asking another what they got for Christmas and the one person replied "fat", "I got fat for Christmas."  Ha ha ha. Yup we can relate, between my family (we are Italians) and myself we did some good cooking this holiday.   My husband and I were off for roughly 2 weeks, this last week he made us go back to boot camp.  Lots of walking :)

I mentioned crafting...... I did make some cards but with there only being 4 weeks to get Christmas done and not having a good camera once again I failed at taking any pictures.  But fear not I am on a mission now with my super duper new toy.

I am however able to share a project I did over the holidays,(discloser pics taken with an iphone).  Each year my company holds a Christmas party for our clients.  And so each year decorations-table decor are an essential.  I love making the event just a bit extra special by giving them something festive and pretty to look at.  It really helps create the mood :).  I definitely think I succeeded as many people came up to me and said "wow did you make those they are so pretty."

Truth be told I had help from a few elves.  There was no way I could do 15 of these all on my own.  I actually came up with the design from something off of pinterest and then just modified to scale for our party.

I did three different versions, classic red/white, what we call  the Dr. Seuss and a blue/white in honor of our Jewish folks however those got gobbled up so fast that I didn't get a picture of the Jewish design.

Ok so  here they are...

This one actually had a snowflake on the pot base, in the next photo you will see what I am referring too.  

After completing these for our party, I decided to create a 16th one for the two people that have inspired me and my crafting-my grandparents.  They love the color purple and their house is decorated in these colors.  And oh yeah so the snowflake on this one is the same one we did use for the Dr. Seuss one above. 

They loved it!  When my grandparents retired many years ago they got into doing center pieces for  local small business's in new york that they frequented.  The business owners would keep them so busy especially around the holidays.  They were very talented and I remember at times helping them when I could. 

Anyway thanks for stopping by and I hope 2014 is a great year for you and yours :).