More T!M

I'm back with another card for Simply Scrapbooks using Shabby French by Stamper's Anonymous.  This also uses The Girl's Paperie paper called, Green Brocade.  I was looking at a magazine and saw room with this blue and green and had to use it.  My sketch is from CPS this week. If you turn the sketch from 2S4Y upside down it looks like the CPS sketch too:)

 I also used a faux woodgrain which is this week's Ways to Use It 281 Challenge at Splitcoast.  After taking my picture I decided to add some Antique Linen Distress ink along the top to soften the edges.  It looks better now.  Sorry, I didn't want to retake the picture.

Let me give you a few details about this card.  I did the same technique of coloring the flowers and grass with copics and then misting with colorless blender and stamping.  I added a bit of smooch to the flowers, as well as, some tiny rhinestones.  My bird was stamped using Glimmer Mist.  I just sprayed right on the stamp and then stamped about 5 times on paper.  I took the best image from those.  My frame is handmade using chipboard, Labels One Nesties, Tim Holtz White Picket Fence and Rock Candy Distress Paints.  The ribbon is my own and I hope to find time to get that up for sale soon.  Crossing my fingers.X

Ok, off to run a bunch of errands. Grocery shopping with the kids and going to the Scrapbook store...kids in tow....God give me strength...(heavy sigh).

Tim Meets The Girl's

The Girl's Paperie Paper that is:)  This paper is so beautiful.  I love how all the patterns have this beautiful, elegant touch with a bit of distressing.  Shabby Chic it is!

This is my take on using my new Tim Holtz stamp set and turning it into something a bit feminine.  Typically, Tim is all grunged up.  I like to take something and use it in a different way.  So this is my version of Stamper's Anonymous stamps and their feminine side.  This set is called Shabby French.  I've never used any TH stamps and it was kind of fun.

The sad thing is that I don't get to keep this card.  It isn't even going to anyone that is special to me.  Nope...it's a bit sad, really.  I will hand this over to my new Design Team Leader at Simply Scrapbooks.  Yep!  I made the DT over there.  Simply Scrapbooks is my "local" scrapbook store.  My friend  would disagree that it is local because it's about 40 minutes away.  However, there is no other "true" scrapbook store that is as close.  To me, it is local.  I have been very busy creating for them.  That is why there has been a lack of posting since I got back from camping.  Five projects due in one week...eeks! 

Speaking of camping, I discovered that taking a vacation is actually good for my stamping "career."  On both of my trips I was able to check my email once or twice and discovered that I had been asked to be on several new Design Teams.  I am really excited about them all.  I'm going to be a bit busy though.  I will let you know more about the other 2 later this week.

Back to my card.  I used some worn lipstick distress stickles for the first time.  I kind of like that stuff.  I was afraid of it for some reason.  I used  copics to color my stamp and then misted with the colorless blender.  This gives a very watercolored appearance.  I wanted those tiny flowers to pop a bit more and that's where I put the distress stickles.  I also sprayed my paper with Perfect Pearls and water to give the paper some shimmer.  I'm not even sure you can see it in the close up, but it's really pretty.  The butterflies were sprayed too!  That flower up on the left is more sewing pattern scraps from my daughter's 4H project and I created my own tag using Labels Eleven Nestabilities.

Speaking of that, BOTH my kids get to go to State with their 4H projects.  I'm so proud of them!  They both asked me though if they would get more money for doing it.  Amazing, huh?  Well, not really.  The 4H adviser
read them a story about a girl who bought a house with her 4H money.  I'm pretty sure THAT isn't going to happen here.  It'd be nice if we could just get back all we've spent on the supplies to make the projects.  I'm pretty sure that isn't going to happen either.  You never know though....

I made this card with The Shabby Tea Room Challenge in mind.  It's a recipe this week.  One ribbon, Two buttons, Three die cuts or punches. My flower is made with the large scalloped circle die, Labels Eleven for the tag and an EK success border punch were used.

This is also for the Stamp Something Flowery Challenge.  I'm all about flowers.

I also love some of the challenges they have going on at the Moxie Fab World right now.  This is for the Card Style Shabby Chic and Vintage Challenge.  Go check it out.  It's fun!

Have a great day peeps!  It feels so good to be back to creating.  See you tomorrow!






What's In It?
Stamps: Shabby French Stamper's Anonymous
Ink: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo
Paper: The Girl's Paperie, white base
Other: mini mister, perfect pearls, copics, seam binding, kioshi buttons, labels eleven and big scalloped circle nestie, sewing machine, worn lipstick stickles, sewing pattern paper, twine, foam tape

Boy Oh Boy!

Hey All!  I'm back and popping in for a quick post.  Boy, oh boy!  I'm insanely busy.  More on that tomorrow.

Boy, oh boy my SIL gave birth to another boy while I was on vacation. Boy, oh boy FIVE boys and ONE girl.  Um... boy, oh, boy...nuff said.  This is her card.  What do you get someone who has 4 boys ages 3, 2, 11 months and 1 week????  DIAPERS:D    I imagine it might be like an assembly line.  Line em' up, wipe em' off and seal em' shut again.    In case you haven't guessed, I'm very glad for my ONE, super sweet, very active boy.

I made this card with several challenges in mind, but have managed to miss the deadline for most of them.  So, I'll list what is left.

The Pink Elephant ~Sketch77
Allsorts Challenge~ Baby/Child
Castastic Wednesday~ Inspired by Summer ( blue skies and green grass)


That's it for me today!  I will have another post tomorrow.  See you then!

3D Hanging Basket

Good Morning!  It's my last post before we head out to our annual Smokerfest camping trip.  It's not a "smoking" vacation just so you know.  I don't smoke, but Smoker is my maiden name.  A few years ago we decided to call it Smokerfest.  I can't wait to get there and RELAX and spend some time with my really fun family. 

I made a quick project this week using the 3D Challenge over at PaperCraft Planet. Make sure you head over to get the FREE Template for this hanging basket. It's only available til next Monday I believe.  This basket is for my daughter.  She did a fabulous job on her 4 H projects.  BOTH my kids did.  I am so proud of them after all that hard work.  I made my son a basket too, but it didn't turn out as well.  I had every intention of giving them these filled with some goodies yesterday.  However, the day got away from me with packing and cleaning and , well, it will have to wait til we get home.

I combined the PCP 3D challenge with 2 challenges from last week over at Splitcoast.  The 2 Stamping Forum Worlds collide!  LOL.  The Ways to Use it 278 wanted  to see Yellow.   I love this Cosmo Cricket paper.   It's so cheery.  I also made my own flower, which was the Technique Challenge 280 last Monday.  My flower is made using the leftover pattern from my daughter's sewing project.  How fun is that!  When a pattern costs about $15 you can bet I am going to use every scrap of that baby;)  The tag is my "card" that I will stick inside the basket.  Don't you hate when you use a stamp for the first time and the company mounted it crooked?  That's why "I (heart) U" is a bit wonky.

I forgot to take any pictures of the kids and their ribbons and projects when we got home.  It was a long day.  I really wanted to show you the flower accessories we made for my daughter's flip flops.  They used the leftover fabric.  They turned out cute.  I'll try to do that later. 

Ok, I'm off to try and exercise before the house gets up and we are on the road.  See you in a week or so.  I've got a few, fun announcements when I return.

Have a Happy Week!

Birdie Wishes

Happy Thursday!  I've got a card to share today that uses quite a few challenges.  This is one of those cards the took a different direction than I had planned.  I worked for hours on this.  It's one of those cards that I may never give away.  I love the end result, but I had to walk away from it yesterday.  NOTHING was working the way I wanted.  I think that is what I have to do a lot when I am creating.  Just walk away.  Take a breather.  Then come back refreshed.   Voila!  It all falls in place.  I so envy those that can just whip up a card.  Presto...just like that and it is awesome.  Not me.  I'm like that turtle from yesterday.  SLOW.   I think that crafting is the only area in my life where I am a bit anal.

This card using several of the things sitting in my reject pile.  I think that is my last, rejected, embossed bird:)  The heart is from Basic Grey Cappella collection.  The adhesive on the back of those things is awful!  It's like slime.  I removed it and adhered it with my glue gun.  That crinkled ribbon is my own.  I really hope to have that up for sale when I get back from vacation.  I think I may take the Etsy "plunge."    One thing that I have to note because I know you can't tell from the picture is that side panel. It is card stock that is wrapped in Tulle.  I love tulle lately.  This card is full of texture and layers.  So unlike anything I've been doing lately.

So here are the challenges that inspired this card:

Caardvaarks-  July Birthday Challenge
Allsorts- Love/Heart
Stamp Something- Recipe~ 1 image, 1 DP, 1 ribbon ( I technically only have one stamped image)
The Sweetest Thing Sketch
Just For Fun Color Challenge- Cream, Brown, Light Blue
Moxie Fab- Let's Do Vintage and Shabby  (my favorite!)


I should have one more post before I leave for camping.  See you tomorrow!

What's In It?
Stamps: Always, Wishful Elegance (verve)
Ink: Choc Chip Craft, Vintage Photo Distress
Paper: Cream, Pink Paislee Cupid, Prism blue
Other: MS lace punch, BG Cappella Heart, brown EP, dimensionals, crinkle ribbon, button, tulle, Sizzix die frame

A Little Help, A Little Info, A Little Crafting

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted.  I have one more vacation and then life will resume to normal I think.  I do have a few cards to share with you today.  First though, I would like to ask a favor.  My friend, Priscilla, contacted me last week asking me to spread the word about a project she is working on.  She is hosting a drive to collect scrapbook supplies/stamps for a woman who lost everything to a tornado a few weeks ago.  Near Toledo, Ohio, several families were devastated to lose their homes to a tornado that came through in the night.  One family was killed.  Priscilla is someone that I tried to raise money for about a year ago. You can read about that HERE.  She has already organized a very successful garage sale to raise money to help pay for household items for these families.

This is part of her email to me:

I'm sure you heard that on June 5th/6th we had horrible tornadoes here nearby.  We actually didn't get any damage from the storm at our house but it hit hard in my hometown and completely destroyed many homes, leaving many with absolutely nothing!  So, I was asked to organize a fundraiser and of course, I was honored and jumped at the opportunity!  I decided to have a huge garage and bake sale and asked for people to donate their unwanted items so we could sell them at the sale.  We had over 100 families donate and made a little over $5500.  It was amazing!  Now, we have been contacting the families who were affected by the storms and asking them to compile a wish list of items that they need right now, as well as items they don't think their insurance is going to cover.  It's so awesome to be able to help, even if in just a small way.  (I'm thrilled to be able to "Pay It Forward" and do something for someone else like you did for me!)

The reason I am telling you all of this is because I wanted to ask for your help!  During my conversations with many of the families it was brought to my attention that one mother had a huge scrapbooking and stamping room dedicated and full of nothing but supplies...she was one of the families who lost everything.  Scrapbooking and stamping are close to my heart and I just couldn't walk away with that information and do nothing...so what I decided to do is contact everyone I know in the scrappin' and stampin' world and ask for help!  I am asking for people to donate any scrappin' or stampin' items that they have just laying around not being used or stamp sets that have been used are retired or have made their way to the bottom of the collection...only to be forgotten about.  Having said all that...would you be interested in helping me collect items to give to this mom?  Her name is Jackie and she has three young children.  Two girls, 4th and 6th grade and one boy age 4.  My goal is to deliver five huge boxes full of cardstock, stamps, adhesives, ribbons, brads, flowers, etc...to her and hopefully help put a smile on her face for the first time in a month.  Not only did she and her family lose everything they own but across the street her in-laws lost their home and everything they own too...in fact, her in-laws are still in the hospital.

I would also love to have help spreading the word!  Any help you can spare would be greatly appreciated! 

She included photos of the area in her email.

 

So what do you say?  Do you have supplies just laying around?  I know I do.  I would love it if you could help out with this Scrapbook drive.  You can either email me ( nikkischmaltz@gmail.com ) or Priscilla
( misscill@yahoo.com ) for the address on where you can send your supplies.

If you live by me I would be happy to take the things to Toledo for you.  Just email me.  Thanks!

 One more thing.....  I recently started another blog that has simple, quick recipes.  I did this for all the busy moms out there who need ideas for surviving football or any other season.  Thought I would share that link for you.  www.vvplanb.blogspot.com  PLAN B.  Thanks to those of you who have submitted recipes.   They will eventually be showing up.  I just thought you may want to pop over for a quick look.  I will be adding recipes each day or so.

Now on to the cards:

 This card is for several challenges.   The Color Throwdown is having a big celebration for their 100th Color Combo.  The colors:  Baja Breeze, Celery, Regal Rose and Red.  This card looks way better IRL.  I also used the Stamptacular Sunday Sketch this week.

This is another card I made for our neighbor boy.  He has been feeding our turtles while we are away.  This is no small task.  They eat a LOT for 2 babies.  He has to come over twice a day to keep them full.  I love this digi image from The DigiStamp Boutique.  I used one of Practicing Creativity's sketches this week.  I'm also entering this into the Hip To Be Square Crazy Challenge.  At Stamp Something they have a recipe challenge: 1 image, 1 DP and 1 ribbon.  I definitely thing this qualifies for the Let's Do Fun and Cute Challenge over at Moxie Fab.  Don't you just want to pinch those cheeks on the turtle?  Ours are not this cute.  The inside of the card says, " You Turtley ROCK!"  I'm also entering this into today's TCP 118 challenge to use twine. 

Gotta go.  Sorry for no details.  Time is not on my side.  I should be back to regular posting after next week.  I think I will have one more card before I leave.

We are finishing up those darn 4 H projects tonight and tomorrow is "SHOW TIME."  Wish us luck!

Star Studded Birthdays!

Another Post!  I can't believe I could squeeze another one in this morning, but I really miss creating.  It is my therapy.  After having 5 kids run around here yesterday I needed some therapy:)   I also needed some boy cards to replace my dwindling stock.  The only thing I have time for right now is the CAS style of card.  So I used the colors from the Color Throwdown and the sketch over at Cas-tastic Wednesday as my inspiration.

To me, stars and  boy cards just go together.  This is also for Stamptacular Sunday's Challenge to use stars and stripes.  The stripes are the wood grain and on the tiny tag there are stripes.  I had to make two cards because I couldn't bear to add more scraps to my already overflowing pile.  I also have to tell you about my "goof up."  You will have to click the picture to see better though.  On the card on the left there is an SU star brad that I decided to emboss with brown EP.  I got too much on and the star image was buried underneath.  I didn't know what to do so I smooshed it onto my tinfoil to try and give it some type of impression and when I pulled it away the top layer came off and this funny brownish cream color remained.  I kind of liked it.  Crazy stuff when you experiment.  I finally realized that I need to just stop worrying about wasting my supplies because they never get used.  I make a LOT of mistakes.  If it doesn't work out I just end up tossing it.  The alternative is that my stuff just sits there.  After 16 years of papercrafting I have a lot of stuff.  So use it or lose it.  That's my motto now.

I also have a favor to ask.  I am taking on a new project and I need EASY, QUICK, kid friendly recipes.  Something that is crock pot oriented or can be made in 30 minutes or less.  Kind of Rachel Ray-ish.  If you have a recipe that you make for quick, evening meals and would be willing to share I would be so grateful.  I would love things that are somewhat healthy.  As you may know, I 'm not a cook.  On my left sidebar is a way to email me.  I promise to give credit if you include your name.  THANK YOU!

One last thing.  I feel it is my duty to inform those who have entertained the thought of joining 4H as activity that it is not something to be taken lightly.  It's one of those things that no one ever tells you.  Kind of like when I had a baby.  No one told me that my boobs would never be the same.   Why didn't someone at least WARN me?  Not that it would have changed the fact that I would have children, but  I think it would have been nice to know.  I kind of feel like 4H is the same thing.  No one told me how INVOLVED it would be.  How a simple project would be so time consuming and would turn our fun family evenings into BATTLES.  Yes!  We fight about these projects.  A simple " building a flower box" project is NOT that.  It is pages and pages of activities before you even begin to build something.  If you decide to do 4H...ONLY PICK ONE PROJECT PER CHILD THE FIRST YEAR.  I can not stress this enough.  I think I have ruined my kid's on wanting to do 4H ever again. However, now  I feel like I have done a bit of good in the world today by passing that information along.  You have been warned!

Now I'm off to run kids to appointment and then come back to the dreaded 4H booklets. SIGH!  The Battle of Gettysburg was mild in comparison to the battle going on here to get these projects done.  (I'm joking!  I would NEVER put down the efforts and bravery of that battle)  Just so you know, my kid is ready to battle me though... a few more vacation pictures.

Have a great Thursday!