No paper crafting today

But there was more retail therapy - the new (to me) Martha Stewart Goo punch!

And, well, I WAS in the kitchen bright and early this morning. I made a tonne of basil pesto yesterday, froze it overnight in little containers and then had to package it all this morning in Ziplocs. It is so nice in the middle of winter to be able to pop some pesto from my OWN garden into the microwave and toss with pasta. Yumm!!!! I still have LOTS of basil to process - only two of my Sweet Basil plants were done yesterday.

I also processed some raspberries (also from our garden) today. We had a lot of uneaten raspberries in our fridge since we haven't been eating them while on vacation (no lunches being packed and all) so, instead of seeing them go to waste, I boiled them up and now they are straining into juice. I don't like seeds in my jelly/jam so....cheesecloth + strainer + raspberries = juice for making jelly tomorrow.

I also saw today that Basic Grey has their challenge blog up and running again and have an awesome blog candy up for grabs. Be sure to check it out!

Speaking of blog candy, I see that my blog is now a year old. I've been gathering up some goodies and once I get the rest of the things I want to put into it, I'll be posting a little something for someone to win!

Kristy's Birthday Card and Card Set

Hi folks, as promised I am back with another card set I gave away this week. For this one I used the sketch from the August issue of Sheetload of Cards . I used papers from Stampin' Up Maine Blueberry pack that I won in the silent auction at the Crop for Cure back in May.

Basically, I used three different punches for the edges (yes, the faulty EK Success punch which will be replaced was used and I had to hand trim the scallops) and six different sentiments. Since dearly beloved's sister is a police officer, I figured I would leave half of them without little flower images so she could more easily use them for male co-workers/friends if need be.

















And this is her actual birthday card. I used the CTMH Originals Left Frame sketch and more of the Maine Blueberry paper.




Details:
finished card sizes: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
sketches: August 2009 Sheetload of Cards, CTMH Originals Left Frame
papers: Stampin Up Maine Blueberry, CTMH New England Ivy, white cardstock
inks: CTMH garden green, indian corn blue, new england ivy, key lime, heavenly blue
stamps: CTMH Just Because (D1327), TLC (D1364), From Me To You (D1247)
ribbon: blue grosgrain from stampin up
tools: cuttlebug, nestabilities small and large ovals, EK Success Border Punches Binding Edge, Scallop Diamond and Parisian.

Shout Out To Sheetload

The August 2009 issue of Sheetload of Cards is out. Have you checked it out yet? If not, then go to their site to download your issue.

They are sponsored this month by Sweet n Sassy Stamps so there are gorgeous examples in this issue.

I have already used the sketch for a card set I made for my dearly beloved's sister. That post will be coming up soon! I must say, I do find Sheetload to be a great resource when I want to make a bunch of cards with the same layout.

When the mailman doesn't deliver...

the goodies for which I have been anxiously awaiting, retail therapy is required and off I went this evening to

• Heather's Stamping Haven for my Magnolia fix - 2 Tilda's, an Edwin and a bench. Plus some seashells and a cheeky sentiment for the back of my cards. Heather's annual fund-raising event for Victim's of Violence starts August 15th through the end of the month. Check out her site or blog for details, the make and take schedule and details on the sale and a chance to win some goodies.
  
• Michael's for a new Martha Stewart Punch - Autumn Branch. Love it....it's not JUST a branch you know! Think sea creatures!!!
  
• Dollarama - for a HUGE stack of foam squares. I won't be running out for a VERY long time.
  
• Home Depot - for more driveway sealant. Dearly beloved and our neighbour FORGOT that last year they sent me to get a 5th container of the stuff when they did the driveways so when dearly beloved went to do our driveway today with just TWO .... he ran out with the car parked in the garage. SO....had to wait until it was dry to go get some more! ooooh.....men!

Ahhhh.....that felt SOOO good!

I have made a bunch of cards the last few days but have not yet had a chance to edit the photos for posting. Maybe I'll get to do that tomorrow morning.

I have to say a big thanks to Danielle - she gave me a blog award on her blog! She is so sweet! I will have to reciprocate to some of the blogs to which I subscribe! Again, maybe tomorrow morning!

Oh, and before I forget, EK Success are awesome! My Diamond Scallop Border Punch has been acting up lately...not quite punching in the middle anymore. I haven't used it THAT much - twenty Christmas cards....a few others. Not abusing it cutting nasty things. It IS the first one (among several) I bought when their new border punches came out. So I sent them an enquiry via their website asking if there was any maintenance they would recommend to get it back into tip top punching status or if they had a replacement warranty. Well the next day, I received a reply requesting the item number of the punch and my shipping address as they were going to send me a replacement! Thus, they are AWESOME!

Ta Ta for now.....tomorrow should bring a post with another set of cards I gave away this week.

.s.

Fairy Chloe

This is my second post for today. Scroll down for the first post. (edit: isn't that interesting? My earlier post is dated yesterday....hmmm, because I started writing it yesterday maybe?)

And here we have two more cards - one for my youngest niece and one for my stash! I am on a roll! I actually have a third Chloe coloured on my craft table so....we shall see what kind of card she winds up on.

The first one with the little flower embellie will go to my niece. She starts kindergarten this fall.


This one goes to my stash!!!



Here are the details:

finished size: 4.25 x 5.5 inches
sketch: Mojo Monday 98
papers: CTMH Daydream, CTMH Blush Cardstock, CTMH Sweet Leaf Cardstock, White
stamp: The Greeting Farm: Fairy Chloe
Inks: CTMH Black, Amethyst
PrismaColor Pencils: 945, 943, 997, 927, 956, 1008, 989, 911
Embellishments: ribbon from my stash, CTMH Blush Ribbon Rounds, metal flower
Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Contemporary Hearts Pendant and Nestabilities Labels 3

Charlotte Ketto is a little Offbeat

I think I have to explain this post just a little. My friend, Dorothy, asked me recently if I made doubles of my cards so that I would have a copy of every one I made. My answer "well, no, not usually". I do sometimes make multiples (usually Christmas, Sympathy, Thank You's) but they all go away. Then she asked if I had a stash of cards ....."ummm, not really. I have some sympathy cards, that's about it". And, well, I HAVE been making Christmas cards but I am still behind on how many I will need - and YES, those are multiples of the same kind.

So, this gave me pause for thought. When I stamp an image for a card and set about colouring it, I USUALLY colour a few just in case I want to do some layering -- or to pick the one I like the best (It takes me a few tries sometimes to get things blended kind of okay). It doesn't take much time to do an extra image or two.....so.

And to assemble a second card (if using the same layout and papers) well....that's even quicker. So......I have two Charlotte Ketto's for you....one with a sentiment that is going to my eldest niece for back to school.


And one without a sentiment....


FOR MY STASH!!! I now have a STASH!!! How cool is that? Okay, it's only one card but it is a start.

Here's the details:

finished size: 5x5 inches
Sketch: Stamping Bella Bellarific Friday
Papers: Basic Grey - Offbeat: Alternative, Unexpected, CTMH Indian Corn Blue Cardstock
Stamps:Charlotte Ketto from Stamping Bella,Sentiment from CTMH D1349 Be Yourself
Inks:CTMH Black, Indian Corn Blue
Prismacolor Pencils: 914, 915, 916, 927, 925, 1022, 1023
Embellishments: ribbon from my stash
Tools:Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 3

Carlos says Hi!

So here it is folks! My first project for PaperWorksCo featuring the August Papercard kit ....


and Carlos the Crab! It's a cute little 4x4 inch gatefold card that opens up to this....


Check out the blog post over on PaperWorksCo for all the details!