Melanie Joy

My oldest grand daughter turned 12 today. Twelve years ago as she entered the world I caught her - I was helping her father deliver her - mine were the first hands to touch her. It was one of the greatest joys of my life. Melanie is a joy in many many ways! she is very smart, a very talented artist, sensitive and beautiful. She is home schooled, a Girl Scout! (yeah cookies for Grandma). She loves dance, ANY kind of junk food! and her cat, Marshmallow : ). She wants to be a missionary to Russia when she grows up so she is learning to speak Russian (along with French and Latin). What she does NOT like is pink or purple so I created this card for her using colors she loves.

Happy Birthday Mellie I love you a google times infinity!

Grandma

My Cup overflows

On the PapercraftMagazine message board this week I was the "Challenge Hostess" I challenged my friends to create a card, layout or altered item using a cup in their design. I am offering a BIG prize for the winner of the drawing *wink*.

Here are two cards I created for the challenge. I particularly wanted my friend, Heidi to see the one with the plate embossing! blush!! she is my embossing idol. I hope you enjoy seeing my cards and I hope because of Jesus your "cup overflows" with blessings as mine does.

(((Hugs))) Patti

CPS104 card challenge

Here is my card for the CPS card sketch challenge. This is sketch #104. I have been LOVING the sketch challenges! almost as much as my new love for Papertrey Ink products. Papertrey is the sponsor for this weeks challenge.

All the solid cardstock is by "Stampin' Up", both patterned papers are by "Karen Foster Designs". I cut the little bird from the patterned paper and inked the edges a little using SU ink. : ) My sentiment is a rub on by "One Heart One Mind". The inside of the card says: "soon!" I made this card for my sister-in-law who is battling cancer.

Have a great day!! Patti

Happy Birthday Janice : )

Toot Toot!! Today is "fluffnstuff's" birthday! I sent you a card in the snail mail, Janice but here is another one just in case yours doesn't get there today!

Happy Birthday friend.

Patti

Spirelli Thank you card

I created this super! easy card - using my "Thanks" Cuttlebug embossing folder, my Stampin' Up scallop punch and a little swatch of some ribbon I bought at Michael's. The real treasure of this card is in the delicate flower center. I used a Spirelli that my friend "karenirene" gave me. She is a talented papercrafter. She introduced me to this beautiful paper art. I have since been given a Spirelli punch and a "how-to" book by another generous friend "gloworm"!! : ) Spirelli art is very easy but as you can see the outcome is elegant and intricate!

I punched out the scallop so that the Spirelli - which is mounted on the inside of the card on top shows through. Easy! and elegant.

Thank you for looking!

Patti

Happy Birthday Son!

Today is my youngest son's 31st birthday : ) I love him just a little more than he loves Golf!! and that is saying a lot! Happy Birthday Jeremy : )

Sewing Kit - instructions:

Oops I didn't realize Lisa wanted me to post the instructions. So here goes - and I did go ahead and add a few other kit "faces" so you can get your creative juices flowing!

The kits are all constructed the same - simply decorated differently on the front. Here are the instructions for the blue/with brown flower kit:

Bashful Blue card stock from the Soft Subtle collection

Bigz Top Note Stampin' Up exclusive Sizzix die

Scallop hand punch or the Circles, Scallop #2 die by Sizzix as the small scallop is almost exactly the same size

flowers were cut on my Cricut using the "Basic George" cartridge. Sizes are 1" and 1.5"

cut one 2.75 x .254" strip of coordinating cardstock (emboss if desired)

one - brad for closure

one - purchased pocketbook sewing kit

Simply place your cardstock in your Sizzix die cutting tool and cut a Top Note. Stamp the design and/or sentiment of your choice on the right side of the Top Note. Score the note in the middle of the shorter length from peak to peak. Fold in half and press fold with your bone folder. Open the Top Note and lay your sewing kit on the inside right. Glue the 2.75 x .25" strip of paper down vertically so that your sewing kit can easily slip in and out but it will not be able to slip out the top or bottom. Close the Top Note and punch a small hole in the very center of the point. This is where you will place your brad for closure.

Please check out Lisa's great blog and while you are at it leave her some feedback on all her great work!!

I Love! my Big Shot!! which was a Christmas gift from my good friends at Organized Chaos - my LSS. And I just fell in love with Stampin' Ups new exclusive Sizzix dies. This little sewing kit was made with the "Bigz Top Note" It was super easy to make!. I think Lisa has posted some others that I made on her blog - check it out : )

To make the flowers on most of these I used my Cricut machine (love that thing!) - but on the pink one I used a purchased felt flower. I also used a couple of miscellaneous stamps. You can do yours any way you like! Try one they are easy peasy!!

I'm working on a couple of other ideas using this Bigz Top Note so check back again! : )

TYFL Patti

Trying my hand at Vintage

I created this card for a challenge posted on the Papercrafts message board. We try to have weekly challenges - each week someone else takes a turn as the hostess : ) The challenge was to create a background on a card using a common household item.

I used an old CD. I think this turned out neat - sort of like the sentiment from Ecclesiastes I used that says: "To everything there is a season...." The new and the old are represented on this card.

Pictured here is the card with a bow in the upper right hand corner but at the suggestion of my Vintage mentor : ) Sue "weedsgalore" I removed the bow. She suggested the card didn't "need" it and underneath that bow is a beautiful botanical paper so I have removed the bow and I agree it looks better.

My friends suggested I submit this card for a publication. I have NO idea! how to do that but I may look into it. What do you think??

Patti

When life gives you lemons...

Here is a fun little card I created for my friend, Cheryl's "Black & Yellow" card swap. I thought it would be a great way to deal with those "lemons" that life sometimes tosses our way.

I used Doodlebug patterned papers, solid card stock by Stampin' Up. The inside paper was embossed with "Bloom Dots" a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The "lemon puss" is a great image from Viva Las Vegas Stamps. The inside and outside images were computer generated.

Thanks for Looking!! and I hope you are able to make" lemonade" from any lemons you are dealing with today : )

Patti

Hello my name is Vicky,

I'm here with my friend Patti to invite you to visit our other friend, Lisa's, blog. She is giving away a whole-lotta Blog Candy!! Check it out!! and tell her Vicky sent you!

(((Hugs))) and good luck

House Mouse Challenge #25

I have posted a picture of the sketch that is to be the guideline for this week's House Mouse Monday challenge. There is a sponsor this week woo hoo that means a prize : ) If you click on the challenge sketch to the right it will take you to the web site of a company called "2 Red Bananas : )

For my challenge card this week I used the "Spotlight technique". I did a double spotlight on this one. The larger circle is very lightly colored and then the small circle is brightly colored. I wanted to show a progression in the light. Perhaps I should have done it in the reverse of this leaving the small circle in the shadow and as your perspective broadens it gets brighter LOL too philosophical? oh well! I hope you enjoy this card. I did enjoy creating it! Have a wonderful day and please stop by the House Mouse Monday blog to see what my fellow Mouse lovers did with this week's challenge.

I would like to mention my friend Heidi who is the sweet friend who gave me this House Mouse image. It was my very first House Mouse stamp and it was the one that made me fall in love with HM! Thank you again, Heidi. : )

Patti

Hello Young Lovers

My darling DH and I want to wish all of you a VERY Happy Valentines Day!! We hope you get to spend it with one who loves you to pieces and makes you laugh!!

Bob and Patti

p.s. do you like our dancin' duds??

House Mouse Challenge #24

For this challenge I made a birthday card for my sister, Beverly. I don't think she ever checks my blog but I may have to remove it from my blog later because I don't want her to see her card before her May birthday! Bev loves lime green! and she loves quilting! and loves House Mouse!! so I combined it all to make her a special card.

I sewed the fabric squares on my sewing machine. Each little square is just over 1/2" (she'll really understand how much I love her when she sees this teeny quilt!!). I ran the yellow strip of paper in the center through my "Happy Birthday" Cuttlebug embossing plate and I added some sparkle to the straight pins and thimbles with a glitter pen, though the sparkle doesn't show up. The sentiment is from The Angel Company.

Thank you for looking. : )

Patti

Pretty in Pink

Here is another card that I created largely using scraps. I am a saver! I love saving even the smallest pieces of my favorite patterned paper so when I can use them like on this card I feel like I'm justified for all the file cabinets stuffed full of paper scraps that I have. heeheehee I am not a paper addict! LOL

Scraplings!

Here are a couple of little cuties I created using scraps from my craft room. This was another challenge by my friends on the Papercrafts mesage board. Scraplings are little cards that measure 1.25 x 4.24" they can be used on a card or scrapbook page or as a gift card or any time you want to give a little note. They are really fast and easy to do and they help use up some of the "tons" of scraps we cannot seem to let go of! I used a scrapling on one of my cards that I posted earlier this year if you'd like to take a peek at that one you'll see it here.

Thank you for looking! : ) Patti

What's cooking??

Here is a fun card I created for a challenge on the Papercrafts Magazine message board. I created it using on of my favorite line of stamps called "Bella" from stampingbella. This one is called "chefabella". The patterned paper is by Bo bunny "BlushDot". I used a Cuttlebug folder called "Swiss Dots". The word "Love" is an embellishment I made for one of the first Card Candy swaps I was ever in. I LOVE Card Candy! one of these days I will post all the creations of card candy I have made. This yummy stuff is addicting! And for the ribbon I just used a plain Jane satin ribbon but selected a wide width because I have been inspired by all the lovely LARGE ribbons I've been seeing on cards lately.

Thanks for looking!

Friends 'Til The End Challenge

Today is Day 9 of the fantastic celebration at Papertrey Ink. My card was created for my best friend! : )

I used solid cardstock by Stampin' Up. The brown background paper is by "Frances Meyer, Inc." I used "Floral Fantasy" Cuttlebug folder to emboss the center strip of peach card stock. The image is actually stamped on a little card. I used two images, one "Love Is" by The Angel Company, and the other - a French writing stamp (company unknown) I stamped over the flower using "Masking Magic". If you want to know more about this technique just let me know I'll be thrilled to help!

Because the mini card on the front of this card didn't want to stay closed nicely I used a magnetic snap by "Basic Grey" to keep it closed. These little snaps are just sweet! The YUMMY satin ribbon is by American Crafts. I love this ribbon it is two sided the reverse is brown.

Thank you for looking and best of luck to my fellow Papertrey lovers!!

Patti

PTI Card Challenge day 7

Here is a card I created for the Papertrey Ink anniversary challenge. If you have not done so check out this Amazing company and the incredible products they sell. Good luck to my fellow Papertrey addicts : )

The challenge today was to create a card using the sketch PTI assigned. Here is my version of this challenge. I used soild cardstock from both Bazzil and Stampin' Up, Patterened paper from Close to My Heart. The image "GrillaFella" is from my Sistah, Emily at StampinBella. And I used my Twill Alphabet stickers from All My Memories. These are really cute stickers they are actually printed on twill fabric.

Thank you for looking and wish me luck! the prize for this challenge is amazing!!

Patti

House Mouse Challenge #23

This will be my first time for entering one of my cards in the House Mouse challenge. I have tried hard to decide if I should submit this card. I will just say it isn't may best effort LOL but as many challenges it took me longer than any other card I have made this year!

This challenge was ..... challenging for me as I do not own a Valentine related HM stamp. I created this card using an image I received from my good friend, Jenny. I love the image!! and the card actually looks pretty good in real life but the camera.... oh well for what it is worth here it is! : ) no more excuses! heeheehee

I wanted to create a masculine-ish card because I will give it to my darling for Valentines Day. I used Stampin' up papers for the solid card stock and a little scrap of an unknown company for the printed paper. I stamped conversation hearts all over the brown and pink paper - though the picture doesn't show them. I also embossed the printed strip of paper with the "Heart Blocks" Cuttlebug embossing folder. The satin ribbon is by "American Crafts" and the resin flower is by "All my Memories". I colored just a couple of the hearts with a blush colored pencil and I colored our furry friends with chalk. The "I Love You!" sentiment is by The Angel Company. Thank you for looking and please come back I promise I'll do better next time! : )

Patti

It's in the Bag

I seem to be hooked on black/white and yellow right now so it was a natural for me to grab these fun papers when creating my bag for the "It's in the Bag Challenge" hosted by Nicole Heady at Papertrey Ink. I haven't been blogging very long but Nicole's blog was the first blog I ever visited! and it has remained my all time favorite!. Nicole challenged her readers to create alter or decorate a bag of any kind. This is my entry - if you have time please create a bag of your own and submit it for her challenge - she is offering a spectacular prize!!

For this challenge I used a plain yellow lunch bag, some solid card stock from Stampin Up. Printed paper from Doodlebug Design's, Inc., clear and amber rhinestones from K C & Company, a satin ribbon by "Offray". Notice the little shoe I attached to my bag top because what bag would be complete without a pair of matching shoes! : )

Thank you for Looking Patti

Is this January?

I know it is February : ) I forgot to pull off the first page of the calendar when I took this picture today. I created this nifty card/calendar for Christy's "Spring Toss" as well. I've been assigned 5 ladies to send something with a "Spring" theme to. I only had a couple of these calendars so I will send some of the ladies this card and some of the ladies the gum holder. I wanted to keep back one of the calendars so I could make a card for my dear ol' Dad!! So Dad, if you are lurking you'll be getting a sneak peek at your next weeks card. : )

I had been wondering why I bought these mini calendars from my NSLSS (not-so-local-scrapbook-store) : ) It is a wonderful store about 1.5 hours from me. As the New Year drew close and I had still not used them I began to think I'd wasted the whole .50 cents they cost me heeheehee.

This card is 4.25 x 9.25" and fits into a standard business envelope. I used a couple of little darlings by House Mouse. The "Sweet" sentiment is from The Angel Company, The delicious black and white papers are from Doodlebug Designs, Inc. I used a Sizzix die "Top Note" to cut out the image - which by the way - I do not own the stamp, my friend GeminiJen, in Indiana stamped off some and sent them to me - simply because she is a peach!: ) . I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed making them. : )

Some Fun

Over at the Papercrafts site I joined a "Spring Toss" hosted by Christy. Here are some gum holders I created to send to a couple of the ladies I'm assigned to "toss" to. : )

They were fun and real easy to do. I just laid the gum down on my paper and measured where the cutting and folding needed to be. Easy smeasy!!

Happy 16th Birthday

Patrick! I miss you I hope you get your card in time!! BIG (((((Hugs))))) from us.