Happy Stampin' New Year, FWF!

I hope everyone has a prosperous and joy-filled 2010! I've been having a blast on the WiiFit that I actually bought for ds's Christmas (He loves those snowboarding games. Good thing, too, living in the South, that's about how close he's going to get...) but have discovered that it's not nearly as painful as I'd feared. Maybe I can make that resolution stick, even once school starts back Monday.

So, what do you fix for New Year's in your part of the world? Here, pork (we're having smoked babybacks), collards, and hoppin' John (blackeyes with rice) are requirements! I've got some cornbread and sweet potato pie, too.

Anyway, here are my offerings for the week:

Did this for the SCS sketch challenge last week. The Unity stamp is "My, What a Beautiful Tree". The cardinal is from CHF.

I also had to suddenly whip together a gift bag, so I turned to my Ippity:

 

*Sigh* I hate it when Christmas is over! DS has begged for his small tree to stay up until Epiphany. I was happy to give in.

Thanks for stopping by; y'all come back!

Here's the whole hop, just in case you missed the beginning http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Elizabeth

"Oh, my ears and whiskers! How late it's getting!" Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, ch. 1

Whew! Chasin' those Sunday Deadlines!

I hope everyone has had a lovely holiday. We certainly did! (She said as she attacked yet another serving of rice pudding...) I really should be working on getting word games ready for the new semester, so, of course, I'm making cards!

I knocked out a couple for two challenges:

Here's my Paper Hugs entry!

Should have used the bigger cupcake, but I like seeing the pp, too. The pinks are from Basic Grey.

And here's for Mojo Monday:

Stamp by Verve (Shoestring Alert! - Verve, Unity, Bella, and some others are having a big ol' sale through SCS!)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a good week!

"Hey! Unto you a child is born!"

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Why go shopping, when you could be 'hopping? What's up, FWF?

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was happy and safe! Now... it's time (at last!) for some fa, la, la, la la! If you, like me, spent this early morning in the mosh pit that is Black Friday, there's no better way to unwind than a little crafting inspiration! If you arrived here from elsewhere, be sure to catch the whole hop through the Unity blog:  our Friends with Flair hop

So, here are my projects for the week. I got three cards done after the big meal! (Well, the fronts...)
 I try to make sure a few of my holiday cards aren't green and red- my brother is red/green colorblind!

I don't know if you can see, but I did an emboss-resist using clear embossing powser and a silver Dabber. The stamps are Ippity's Kissmas and Mistletoe; I embossed the trees with silver tinsel from Ranger. I used a Martha Stewart border punch  - doilies - for the bottom and a bit of lace from The Paper Studio. I used a Spellbinder Nestie to cut the white  CS.

Gosh, I wish I was better at getting the photos of these. Maybe one of you all, whose photographs always turn out so prettily, could do a tutorial?

Here's a quickie. I did the background paper by inking up a Cuttlebug  embossing folder with silver ink. Used another Nestie to cut the white and popped on some making memories brads.

For the Splitcoast sketch challenge:

Still using that Kissmas and Mistletoe! It's such a versatile set!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Elizabeth

"After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working."

The Wind in the Willows
Ch. 1.

Hooray! It's Friday! Welcome, FWF!

I'm sooo excited! My new Kissmas and Mistletoe found my mailbox today... First, I'll get my report cards under control, then... woo-hoo! Stamping Saturday!

Here's this week's project:

This is done with "My, What a Beautiful Tree!" I played with the cracked glass technique using Distress Ink. The blue is embossed using a Cuttlebug folder. Basic Grey paper, Bazzill CS. Sentiment is SU and the scalloped circle is cut with Spellbinders. Lace is The Paper Studio.

My favorite Ippity Dude, my fifth-grader, AJ, had been planning a kids' challenge, but it'll be next week. I've got a case of bronchitis, and we need to pick up some kid-friendly blog candy.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

We Have a Winner!

Way to go, Gwen! She's got the cutest card for a 'totally random' holiday - No Socks Day! Drop me a line at egtclarke@yahoo.com to send me your address. Blog candy for you!

Here's the link to Gwen's project: http://windchimesandlilacs.blogspot.com/2009/11/random-holiday-challenge.html


A.J. has promised a kids' project challenge. I'll get it posted with my Friends With Flair project this Friday!

Woo-Hoo! It's Friday! Welcome, FWF!

Happy Friday, y'all! What a wonderful week... a break in the middle, joining the {Ippity} chicks; life's good! I'm especially excited about {Ippity}! I work on a shoestring budget - I'm a teacher in a non-union state - and this line brings Unity's quality at a price that works for me. (Those sweet sales that Unity's been having lately are working for me, too! Keep 'em coming! :) )

Oh, and while you're here, look at the entry below. We've got a challenge posted, and an {Ippity} set is the blog candy!

So, "Let the wild rumpus start!" There's no better way to start a weekend than with a Friday FWF hop!
Here's my project:

I heat-embossed using black Zing! powder Unity's "Love Ewe" sheep and sentiment. Papers are Basic Grey; cardstock is Bazzill. Stitching with DMC floss, ribbon is grossgrain (it just looks leathery in the photo.)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll come again soon!
Elizabeth

Shoestring Challenge - Win a set of {Ippity} stamps by Unity!

I've been so crazy-busy with the grade level change, that I've had exactly zero time to scrap, make cards, etc. I've so missed it - I didn't realize how much I really do love doing all of that. I'm finally caught up, and I want to celebrate! I thought I'd do that by posting a card challenge. Here goes:

OK - so I love the Christmas stuff, but, ahem, it's not Thanksgiving yet! (Yeah, you, Wally World!) What we need is a little holiday action between the two...

So - here's the challenge: Create a card for a nontraditional holiday! (I'm feeling International Talk Like a Pirate Day!) Leave a comment and a link to your project by Monday, November 13 at midnight EST. We'll post a winner on Tuesday.

Here's your incentive - I'm giving away one set of the new Ippity stamps by Unity to a random poster. These are sooo sweet! (Look below this post for their pix and descriptions.) Up for grabs is a set of Kissmas and Mistletoe, just in time to get on those cards. (I've got a design for most of my cards, but I'm tired of it already... bring on something new!)

Next week, AJ, my ten-year old, will be adding a kid's challenge!

I've been busy this weekend - here are a couple of projects, using Unity, of course!

A friend of mine just found out that she's having a girl. She's been called "Little Peanut" since we've known about her. When I saw this set, Shoestring or no, I had to have it!

For the pub call at PaperCrafts. Yes, I know I'm going to get rejected, but I'm a glutton for punishment...

Ippity is Here!

We are sooooo excited to offer Ippity, the new, affordable line from Unity Stamp Company! Since we are on the Shoestring, we've got it at the lowest available price! Better yet, if you buy three sets or more, shipping is free! (Just want one or two? Shipping's a low flat rate of $5.)

I love the quality of Unity stamps! They make a real difference in my projects. The problem has always been the price. I just can't spend $24 or $35 for a set of stamps. It doesn't fit in the budget...

All stamp sets are 1/4 sheet.

First up is Kissmas and Mistletoe. This is such a fun and fresh set, and at $12, it's a real value!

Is this cute or what? There are so many possibilities with these primitives! The detail, especially on the ewe, is the difference between cheapies and Unity stamps! The deep-etching ensures that the image will stamp clearly, every time! $12

This oh-so-useful set is called "Because of You". When I invest in a set, it's got to be good for more than one holiday, etc. Definitely a lot going on here! $15

What a great tree! Again, the deep-etching will
make coloring with my Copics a breeze and make
my colors pop!

$12

Verses for so many occasions! $15

I'm bad about trying to use computer fonts for my sentiments to save money. They're not awful, but my cards always look better when the sentiments are stamped! $15

How's that for a preview? I've still got a couple of sets to get posted...

Wow! It's been a crazy month! Got a huge shock when, in the middle of teaching fifth-grade reading, Central Office called (into my room! Egads!) to tell me that I was being reassigned to an overcrowded school just around the corner. Here's the kicker - I'm teaching kindergarten! Needless to say, I've been crazy-busy figuring out how to do that. Thanks to fab teammates and friends, it's finally getting under control, and I've got some creative downtime. This weekend - a card for my friend Jenn's Peanut-on-the-way and I've got to put some thank-you cards in the bank. With so many people being so generous lately, I'm running out!

Working on that Mojo...

Here's my submission for this week's Mojo Monday. The stamp is Penny Black and the background ink is Distress, Broken China. The Cricut did the snowflakes and the square for me. CS is Bazzill.

I love sketches! They make cardmaking so much easier, and Mojo Monday is a great place to find them!

Woo-Hoo! A freebies cruise!

Good morning!
Working on the Freebie cruise I've been planning for a week...

Digi Scrapping:

Cute kit "Recipe Book": http://www.thedailyscrapper.com/2009/issue17axn/interview_rubyrynne1.html

"My Sweet Child" kit from the French Frog:
http://www.thefrenchfrog.com/shop/
(Yes, it comes up in French. It has an English button if you can't read it.)

Another pretty kit, this in blues:
http://www.daisiecompany.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=86

A pretty quickpage from A Cherry on Top:
http://www.acherryontop.com/shop/digital/free/9000401

A fun action from Atomic Cupcake - it makes gems! (I love this store!)
http://www.atomiccupcake.com/catalog.php?cat=a&type=f

Word art and a photo cluster from Designer Digitals (Who are always very free with the freebies!)
http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/ideas/showphoto.php?photo=11051

Also from Designer Digitals, some really pretty paper:
http://www.designerdigitals.com/digital-scrapbooking/ideas/showphoto.php?photo=109835

Digi stamps:
cute kitty http://snrcardiverse.ning.com/group/modernsugarblvd/forum/topics/free-digi-image

little girl http://bee-crafty.blogspot.com/search/label/freebies

All kinds of things!
http://www.daisiecompany.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=315

Y'all have fun!

Free word art fun for paper scrappers!

Can't get much in today... BIL called, and - surprise! - they're coming to spend the night. Rats! I'm glad to see them and all, but I had a most triumphant freebie cruise planned for y'all this evening.

Still, here's what did get accomplished:

Here's a paritally-finished paper page about DS making his Tae Kwon Do school's demo team. The words are the five tenets of Tae Kwon Do. Now, when I digiscrap, I can type vertically and horizontally, but not when I paper scrap.

Wordle.net makes the coolest word art by having you type in your text then arranging it for you in a variety of shapes and colors.

Best of all, it's free, so it fits into my Shoestring budget! Here's the link:
http://www.wordle.net/

I did get in a little cardmaking today, though I had hoped to do a way-better version of the get well card below.

The butterflies came from a Making Memories set. The center was done on the Cuttlbug with a technique you can see below. Did the 'flies up with Distress Ink and Powder.

Gosh, I love playing with that stuff!

Keeping it cheap with Doodlebats and Dingbats. Found freebies, too!

Saw the cutest stamp set at Unity http://www.unitystampco.com/stamps/1117-UK324A_Cuter_than_Most.

Fun possibilities, huh?

So, I wondered - how can I get the same effect for a lot less, or better yet, for free?

Doodlebats and Dingbats!









I just kind of slapped this together - I know it's not much of a card. Totally for demonstrative purposes.

These critters are from scrappinfonts.com. They're often on sale, but even when they're not, they're $3.

There are some crazy FREEBIE aliens at
http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=701
that should be fun and useful to those of us who have boys!

In both cases, the figures are blackline I colored these guys.

Oh - ran into some other Freebies today:
Kits:
From Michelle Underwood at 2Peas:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=43&thread_id=2872782
From Grainger, also at 2Peas:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/shop/lesley-grainger/86552-digikit-daisy-days-papers/?filters=digital-kits%2Fkit-price-free
From The French Frog:
http://www.thefrenchfrog.com/shop/

A template from A Cherry on Top:
http://www.acherryontop.com/shop/digital/new/45/artist/acot_ct/9005743

And don't forget - Freebies Forever
http://freebiesforever.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

A most triumphant font site...

Holy cow! I just visited http://www.dafont.com/ , and got lots and lots of oh-so-cool, new FREE fonts! They have an incredible variety - I got a pretty handwriting, a bunch of graffiti fonts, even Elvish runes! (That should spice up some or ds's projects...)

A challenge... and a good sale!

Hit my stash this week for Saturday's Penny Black challenge.

Blue and white cardstock are from Bazzill. Inked up the white with Broken China Distress Ink. Stamp is Penny Black. Rhinestones are K & Company; font is LD Vanilla, and the frame for the greeting is from 2Peas "Frame It Up". I think the PP is from The Paper Studio.

Now - on to more important things...

Unity has a Wednesday sale going lately, and it's a good one!

I just picked up this really cute stamp for a measley six

dollars, and that includes shipping! Can't wait to see what

they have this week, and I can't wait for the weekend to

put together a couple of cards with this!

French freebie!

One of my favorite sites is offering a freebie full kit! Here's the link:

http://digital-crea.fr/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=3095


I know that the site comes up in French (I leave it that way, which makes it way more fun!) but there is a language button.

Have fun!

Making Patterned Digi Paper

We went to Spartanburg last week to
Wofford College for the Panthers' training camp.
Since even the preseason tickets are crazy expensive ($61 each for the nosebleeds!) this is our only opportunity to see the home team up close and personal. It's free to watch, and there was a lot to see!

I needed some patterned paper for the left side, but I don't have any football-themed stuff. It's easy to use up your scrap budget buying kits when you only need one piece, so it was time for a little creativity.

I googled 'football play' then asked for images, and got this:

Then I layered it on top of a piece of black paper I got from a 2Peas freebie kit, then dropped the opacity of the play to 35%. Ta-daaa!

Adapting a technique to keep it fun, make it cheap.

... because that's what's it's about when you're scrappin' on a shoestring! I'm on the shoestring for my cards, too, so I'm always looking for a way to adapt the supplies I already have to work with new techniques.

On the For the Love of Paper blog, Kimberly Crawford was showing off Spellbinders' new Impressabilities. They are sooooo cool! My first instinct - hit ebay and shop. Which I did, though,

I was good and only looked.

Then I went to my stash. I've got a Cuttlebug (scored for $52 total at Hobby Lobby) and several embossing folders. Could I ink up one of those and then emboss?

The big problem - not wrecking my folders. The solution - Distress Ink!

Distress Ink doesn't dry quickly, so as long as I discipline myself to wash them before I tuck them away, they clean up just fine. I also tried with a pigment ink, and had to do some serious scrubbing and I hadn't even let it dry. So, I'll stick with the Distress. Rock on, Tim Holtz!

Here's how:

1. Cut a piece of cardstock to folder size. Put a little removable adhesive to the top.

2. Ink up one side of the folder.

3. Place cardstock on the not-inked side and press the adhesive so the paper won't move.

4. Close the folder - be careful! Once the paper touches ink, it can't wiggle inside the folder, or it'll smear big-time.

5. Emboss as usual.

You can reverse the color by inking the other side of the folder!