New Pink Persimmon stamps + giveaway!

Check out the new vintage stamps by Pink Persimmon - Antiquated Collection. Plus they're having a draw for some of these new sets! Draw ends Monday, November 21st at 5pm Pacific Time, so be sure to visit their blog and leave a comment! Here's one of my favourites:

November Crafty Wishlist!

Guess what? I bought a house! Yay!!! This means I can make it my own, decorate it with all these ideas I've had in my head and, naturally, plan out a crafty space! I'll share some pics of my work in progress over the next few months.

This also means I have to be more careful with my crafty $$. This month I'm planning to visit friends in the US, so I'm hoping to place some orders with PaperTrey Ink and A Muse Studio. And maybe 2Peas, also. Hmm. PLUS, I want to get the new PWCO stamps! Eek! Seems like it's gonna add up and that I'll have to set priorities, which is a good thing. Oh, and did I mention I'll be going to Seattle - aka stamp heaven?! Uh oh...this isn't looking so good! LOL

I'll be editing this post later with my wishlist so I can trim it down.

*smooches*!

New PaperWorks Co stamps!

Paperworks Co has released new cute animal stamps and sentiments! Check out the PWCO blog for more details on the special new release deal, on until Mon Nov 7th!

Here's the Forest Critters Collection + Sentiments:


And the Barnyard Buddies + Sentiments!

Fellow blogger's blog candy!

Corinne's cleaning out her craft room and has a bunch of goodies she wants to giveaway! Take a look:
Rinne's Craft Room ReDo Blog Candy

Baking & Thrift-Store-Hunting

I made some min Guinness chocolate cupcakes for a St Paddy's day party. They were a hit! At one point my friend called me so that she could point out who had made these lil cupcakes and the girl shouted "Shut the front door! These are *fabulous*!" I was happy she enjoyed them so much and happy she didn't swear. ;-) So, my friend Tami has renamed these the "Shut the Front Door" cupcakes. Tami's sister owns a gorgeous women's boutique clothing store with fabulous pieces. She held an open house/sale recently and Tami asked if I could make those mini cupcakes and so I did!

I also made some mini blood orange cheesecakes, but they didn't turn out as the mini Oreo cheesecakes I've made before; I think the mini cupcake liners were too small and so there wasn't enough cheesecake filling in them.

Chocolate Stout Cake

Recipe source: Smitten Kitchen

Note: to make the mini cupcakes, I baked them for 15 mins.

~*~*~*~

Blood Orange Mini Cheesecakes

Recipe source: Kraft

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

12-ish Nilla wafer cookies
juice & zest of 1 blood orange

Heat oven to 350°F.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended.
Place 1 cookie on the bottom of each of 12 paper-lined muffin cups.
Pour cream cheese mixture into each cup.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Cool & refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

~*~*~*~

I went to my favourite thrift store today; I love trying to find interesting pieces to repurpose. I found 2 big, wooden pillars to hold candles I'd like to paint white. I'd love to make these music sheet pillar candles featured on Purple Onion Designs to then place on top of them. I also found some vintage hankies with interesting patterns and a tea cup & saucer with birds! The vintage hankies I want to use as a background on a scrapbook layout and I'm not sure what else. I *love* these hankie wedding invites by Bird & Banner. *swoon*! And I love tea & birdies so I was pleased to pick up these 2 pieces.


Thanks for stopping by!

German St Paddy's Day Bday

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here's my square card that I made for the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz! The theme is St. Patrick's Day. I also followed PaperWorks Co's Sunday Sketch #73.


Now, my Father's bday is today, but he's German so I always have fun throwing in some Irish into his bday. I took the Celtic heart from WMS's Celtic Heritage set to create my lucky shamrock. :-) This was my first time 'playing' with Basic Grey's Marjolaine collection. The cute, central image is a stamp from PaperWork's Co's Rachelle Anne Miller's collection. The sentiment is computer-generated and tis Happy Birthday in German.



Now, hopefully you waltzed over from Jen Shears Designs' blog. And your next waltz is over to Create.Share.Inspire. Be sure to check out all the other waltzers taking part in the WMS Friends Blog Waltz! You'll need to register for the WMS forum in order to see the Waltz forum thread *here*.

Thanks for waltzing by!

::Supplies::

Stamps: A Surprise Cheer (PaperWorks Co with Rachelle Anne Miller), Celtic Heritage (WaltzingMouse Stamps)
Paper: Coffee Cake; double-sided paper (Marjolaine - Basic Grey), Simply Smooth white (Prism)
Ink: Landscape (Palette), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Copic markers (E00, 33, 47, 49, 71, G0000, 94, R0000, RV29, YG03)
Embellishments & tools: Petite Oval - Large die(Spellbinders Nestabilities S4-138), Green Agate glitter (Martha Stewart), sewing machine, pop dots, ribbon (stash)

Get Well Wishes

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by today. I made this card for my friend's grandmother who's in the hospital. I know she's on the mend, but I also know she's itching to get home and back to her routine. The sketch is from PaperWorks Co's Sunday Sketch #70.

I just got my box o' goodies from PWCO with the new A Day in the Life of Abigail C. stamps and some new Basic Grey collections, including Hopscotch which I used here. I paperpieced Abigail's clothes using Hopscotch papers.

Thanks for looking!

::Supplies::

Stamps: He Loves Me? (A Day in the Life of Abigail C. - PaperWorks Co)
Paper: Hopscotch Collection (Basic Grey), white & blue from stash
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Copic markers
Embellishments & tools: Labels Seventeen (Spellbinders Nestabilities), popdots, lace (stash)

Wendy's Hearts

Hope everyone had a lovely St Valentine's Day! Mine got off to a wonderful start when my favourite band announced the release of their new album for today! Woo hoo! Super duper excited about that!

Here's a card I made at my Stampin' Up friend Wendy's house. She's a small, hobby demo and she demo'd this card to us. I'm sharing this as part of PaperWorks Co's Sunday Sketch challenge on the blog, which was to use a heart or several hearts! I used a two-way glue pen around the 3 big hearts and added fine glitter.

Thanks to Bella for this sketch and thanks for looking!

::Supplies::

Stamps: Wonderful Words & I {heart} Hearts (both Stampin Up)

Paper: not sure...I'll have to ask my friend!

Ink & embellies: chocolate, dazzling diamonds (both SU)

bébé Sophie

I made this card for a coworker's newborn cutie pie. I also followed this PaperWorks Co Recipe by Alice:

• a circle
• a bow
• 2 flowers

I used my hand-held Making Memories notch die tool with the tiny hole to punch 'eyelets' around the scalloped circle.

Thanks for looking!

::Supplies::

Stamps: stork (Anna Griffin/All Night Media)
Paper: Playground (A Walk in the Park collection - Echo Park Paper Co), Simply Smooth white (Prism)
Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Embellishments & tools: Fruit Punch Stickles, Mega Circle & Giga Scalloped Circle punches (Marvy Uchida), Making Memories notch die punch, popdots, Prima flowers, pink Divine Twine, Swiss Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Wisteria for Aynsley

I made this card for a coworker who had a rough day the other day, so several of us pitched in to get her a bottle of wine and I said I'd make her a card. The sketch is from the PaperWorks Co Sunday Sketch #65 and inspired by a MoxieFab 'Tuesday Trigger' challenge inspiration photo.

I also made some rolled paper flowers. You may find the SplitcoastStampers tutorial *here*.

Thanks for looking!

*Blessings*!

::Supplies::

Stamps: Pom (Basic Grey - Wisteria Collection), Vintage Damask Background (Purple Onion Designs)
Paper: Wisteria collection; Fountain & Garden Patio (Basic Grey), purple & grey (stash)
Ink: Eggplant Envy & Night of Navy (SU!), Hint of Pesto (VersaMagic), Frost White (Colorbox),
Embellishments & tools: Purple Stickles, Threading Water (Fiskars border punch)

WaltzingMouse Stamps Blog Waltz!

Here's my 6" X 6" card that I made for the January WaltzingMouse Stamps Blog Waltz. The theme is St. Valentine's/Love. I also followed last week's PaperWorks Co's "recipe" which was to use:

• 3 papers (all Echo Park Paper Co)
• 3 embellishments (ribbon, Dew Drops & my pin embellie)
  
• 1 animal (truth be told, I actually have 3!)

I chose this cute Rachelle Anne Miller/PaperWorks Co friendship image & sentiment set to make a Valentine's card for a friend. I wanted to emphasize the 'heart' in the sentiment, so I reached for the Celtic heart in WaltzingMouse's Celtic Heritage set.

I am blessed to have friends who are near and some who are far. I think I'll mail this one to one of my long-distance pals.

Thanks for looking! And be sure to check out all the other bloggers taking part in the WMS Blog Waltz! You'll need to register for the WMS forum in order to see the Waltz forum thread *here*.

::Supplies::

Stamps: Side by Side (PaperWorks Co with Rachelle Anne Miller), Celtic Heritage (WaltzingMouse Stamps)
Paper: Pathway; double-sided red & striped paper (A Walk in the Park collection by Echo Park Paper Co), Blue Sky; clouds (Sweet Summertime Collection by Echo Park Paper Co), smooth white (Prism)
Ink: Rhubarb Stalk & Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic Markers, Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Embellishments & tools: : Labels Seventeen die and Classic Scalloped Heart (both Spellbinders Nestabilities), baker's twine (raffit.com), pop-dots, button, Prima flower, pin, Dew Drops (Robin's Nest), Alcohol Inks (Ranger), ribbon (stasg)

You Compute Me

Just a quick post to share this cute card I made for PaperWorks Co's Sunday Sketch #64, using SEI's brand-spanking new "With All my Heart" collection. I won this collection & the coordinating sparkly chipboards off of the SEI blog, while Leah l'Orange was guest hosting. Thanks again, Leah & SEI!!! :-)

::Supplies::

Stamps: Jam Tinheart - Tinherat Family Collection (PaperWorks Co)
Paper: With All My Heart collection (SEI) (3 different papers), smooth white (Prism)
Ink: VersaMark, Vintage Sepia (VersaFine)
Embellishments & tools: white embossing powder, Burgundy Stickles, pop-dots, ribbon (stash), Mega Circle & Giga Scalloped Circle punches (Marvy Uchida), white Uni-Ball gel pen

Cletic Bluebird Love

I finally got to play with my Bluebird set from Artistic Outpost! I made this using the Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge #29. I also pulled out the Very Vintage Labels No. 4 & Celtic Heritage stamp sets (both by WaltzingMouse Stamps).

I cut a strip of tissue paper and folded it to make a ruffled 'ribbon' which I then sewed on to my teal cardstock. I started sewing around the teal onto the brown cardstock, but the machine kinda broke down (ie I can't remember how to replace the empty bobbin on this ole' thing *lol*), so I did some faux-stitching with my white gel pen.

Thanks for looking!

::Supplies::

Stamps: Bluebird (Artistic Outpost set), Very Vintage Labels No. 4 (WaltzingMouse Stamps), Celtic Heritage (WMS)
Paper: tissue paper, Pomegranate (Bazzill), blue & brown from stash, smooth white (Prism)
Ink: VersaMark, Vintage Sepia (VersaFine), Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Embellishments & tools: : Labels Four die (S4-190; Spellbinders Nestabilities), sewing machine, white gel pen (Uni-Ball), baker's twine (raffit.com), pop-dots, garnet embossing powder, button

Magical * Snow *

I made this card for a PaperWorks Co Recipe challenge (1 image + 2 brads + 2 buttons) & the "11th Day of Christmas" Daily Dare challenge hosted by Waltzingmouse Stamps & featuring snowflakes.

Here's another *super* cute image by the talented illustrator Rachelle Anne Miller (for PaperWorks Co). I used the masking technique so that the "A Magical Christmas" image appeared within the "Very Vintage Labels No. 4" image. I also then only inked up one of the snowflakes and then stamped it 3 times around my image.

This was my first time 'playing' with my new Basic Grey "Snowflakes" embossing folder!!! I *heart* Basic Grey, in case you haven't noticed, and was so excited when they announced at CHA-Summer that they were coming out with Sizzix embossing folders! After I embossed my aqua paper, I rubbed my Frost White inkpad across to highlight the snowflakes a bit.

I covered 2 buttons with Martha Stewart Garnet glitter and the snowflake brads came from my LSS.

Thanks for looking!

::Supplies::

• Stamps: A Magical Christmas (PaperWorks Co with Rachelle Anne Miller), Very Vintage Lables No. 4 (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
• Paper: Pomegranate & Thunder (Bazzill), Prism Simply Smooth white cardstock, aqua (stash)
• Ink: Frost White (Colorbox), Rhubarb Stalk & Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic Markers (B0000, B29, BG000, BG10, BG72, BG75, E0000, E00, E29, E33, E47, E49, E71, R0000, R20, R89, RV14)
• Embellishments & tools: Burgundy & Star Dust Stickles, snowflake brads, buttons, Nestabilities Labels 4 die, popdots, Garnet glitter (Martha Stewart), tulle ribbon, Basic Grey/Sizzix Snowflakes embossing folder

St Valentine's Day Stamps!

There are new PaperWorks Co/Rachelle Anne Miller St Valentine's Day stamps being released this Friday via a blog hop! Here are the details that I copied from the PWCO blog:

When: Friday, Jan 7th, 2011 @ 9AM MST

Style: Blog Hop

What’s there to see: STAMPS, PROJECTS, IDEAS, AND of course PRIZES!!!!

PRIZE: 6 stamps (1 from each new release) will be randomly given out to commenters throughout the hop.

Since we’re going to be doing a hop, and here are the links you need to go hop around:

PWCO BLOG – kick off…
Alice
Carisa
Steph J
Kerri
Cabio
Peggy
PWCO BLOG