kwerner color challenge #43

For the past 6 months I've been taking pictures for my blog with my Nikon Coolpix. I know that's not the greatest camera in the world, but it was never intended to be used for my blog. I just wanted something I could have in my purse and bust out at any given moment.

However, the battery charger for the good camera had been missing for awhile, and no one around here wanted to break out $60 for a new one. We just thought we would find it, and Chase did, finally! So to all of you that thought my photos were awful in the past (um me... and Ray) welcome back to better photography. You can tell a drastic difference. This is why everyone should invest in SLR.

On to crafts. I did the Kwerner color challenge again this week. Crazy colors for me. Way, way out of my comfort zone. I'm still not sure I'm crazy about the outcome, but I made it, so I'll post it.Supplies: Stamps: Buttercup stamp from Basic Grey, Occasions Collection Paper: Chocolate Chip, P. Pie, O. Olive, W. White, B Brocade, Ruby Red Ink: VersaMark, O. Olive, P. Pie, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red Accessories: Large Rectangle Nestablity, Recess Button, 3371 DMC tread, P. Pie Ribbon

out with the old and in with the new.

My friend Mary Anna and I made a quick trip to Cosmetic Market today before our book club. Ah, I love that place. Of course, while we were in the store I realized that I hadn't bought mascare in forever. I proceed to ask the girls at the store what the latest and greatest is (they always have an answer don't they?).


So tonight I am throwing away my trusty Clarins mascara (rating 8.4...yes 8.4):
And I'm saying hello to Lorac. I'll let you know how it goes. Also have some new foundation that I traded in my Bare Minerals for. So far so good. I'll give you the update soon.

twitter.

Look who added twitter to her blog. I know I'm jumping on the bandwagon, but I can't help it.

Are you on twitter?

a little card.

I haven't made a 3x3 card in forever! I was actually thinking tonight that I need to get out of the 5.5x4.25 zone. My goal over the next month is to make some interesting shaped cards. We'll see how that goes.

I am in love with Basic Grey's Urban Prairie. So cute.I also got in my SU! scallop punch. I will be honest at first I was not sold. I really thought I could get the same look with my scissors (right). It really is a nice touch, and I love using it on envelopes. It just makes everything look finished.

Stamps: Time For You
Paper: Bashful Blue (it's weird by I always start to type Baby Blue), Certainly Celery, Urban Prairie Basic Grey
Ink: VersaMagic Midnight
Accessories: Button from Recess by Basic Grey, Twine

Thanks for stopping by. I think Chase and I are headed to see our friend Jon and Ashley this spring in Chicago. If you have any most see places let me know!

CPS 104

Another challenge card! I just love everything Papertreyink. Unfortunately Chase and I are saving for road bikes, so I haven't been able to make a big splurge lately. This week CPS is featuring a layout by Nichole Heady of Paper Trey Ink, and I love the way it turned out. Here's the sketch:
I'm loving these bright colors. I also did the two things I seem to be stuck on buttons and stitching.

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Cosmo Cricket Hop Scotch and Over Easy, Yo-Yo Yellow
Ink: Glorious Green, Versamark Midnight Black
Stamps: Live Like You Mean It
Accessories: Recess buttons, White Embroidery Tread, Buck Naked Chipboard

kwerner color challenge #42

I'm a little late on posting my color challenge card. I actually got it done on time, but I ran out of time on uploading it! However, it looks like Kristina extended the deadline due to some deleted links! Works good for me!

Here's the colors:This card is really simple, but I just love it! I think I might make this with a few other colors too. I also was totally out of kiwi kiss, so I had to use certainly celery, but I used some ink to make it a little darker. I think it works.
Stamps: Basic Grey Bittersweet, Honey Bees
Die Cuts: Birds and Blooms
Paper: Really Rust, More Mustard, Certainly Celery, White
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilites, White Embossing Floss, Basic Grey Recess Buttons

More Paisley.

Here's another card I used with the same stamp set from Wednesday. This set is becoming pretty useful!
You can't tell from the picture, but I kind of created a texture over the entire card with some purple ink. For some reason the white just seemed so stark against the bright colors. I also used some Diamond Stickles to add some interest.

Stamps: Bittersweet Basic Grey, Spring Solitude
Ink: Blue Bayou, Color Box Chalk Yellow Ochre, Eggplant
Paper: White, More Mustard
Accessories: Ribbon from Joann's, Diamond Stickles

happy hellos.

It seems likely lately I've had a lot of projects on my plate. When I sat down to make this card, I just kind of went with it, and I love the way it turned out. It's really pretty simple, but I added a few details that really make it special: Paper Piercing on the white stamps, glitter, and a cute edge.
Stamps: Basic Grey Bittersweet, Lots of Thoughts
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Blue Bayou, More Mustard
Accessories: Basic Grey Recess Buttons, Threading Water punch
Ink: Craft White

more felt flowers.

Ahhh... seriouly I think I need help. I just can't stop making these, and I really have no use for a mission felt flowers. Someone help.

signs of spring.

All of the buttercups are starting to bloom on my parents farm. They are so pretty! There is something about spring that just makes me happy. Unfortunatly, I just checked the weather for this week on weather.com and it's going to be COLD. So much for that warm spell.

While I had the chance I picked a bunch of buttercups and added them to two antique store finds from this weekend.

I was crazy about this little creamer the second I saw it. It n ow has a permanent place on my sink window.
I also got this cute little milk bottle. It is about half the size of the normal one, and it works perfect for flowers. Here's to spring.

happy valentine's day chase.

Chase worked a ton this weekend out in Brentwood. So I had a lot of time to do something creative for him for Valentine's Day. I decided that I would clean/organize his office at church and get him some new fish for his aquarium (don't ask about his old fish, rest their souls).

So first thing I went to my parent's house and got two chairs that my dad used when he owned his own business.They look so nice. Chase, actually has a really great office. When he moved to this office last year one of the coolest things we did was create black dry erase boards. We pained a black square and then hung plexiglass over it. He has to use wet dry erase markers to show up, but it is really cool. It would have been really cool if I would have taken a picture with the markers in action, but I had already gotten them totally clean. I wasn't going to clean them again. :) So after organizing, things looked pretty good:My final project was refilling the fish tank. Man, that takes forever. I remember the first time Chase and I did it, we had a bucket, but I had no idea where to find a bucket at church. So I improvised and used a trashcan. I'm so glad no one saw me. My next problem was that I couldn't put fish in the aquarium for a few days, so I settled for some fake ones. Chase also had this card waiting for him. I will say, although it was a present for Chase, I loved organizing everything.

Right here would be a good place to write about how much a I love Chase, but since I know he'll never read this, I'll save you all the mushy stuff. Happy Valentine's Day Friends.

kwerner color challenge #41

Wow, I've gotten a ton of stuff done this weekend, and I even had time to squeeze in a Kwerner color challenge. I needed a masculine card, and I thought these colors would work well.
It was pretty easy to make this card, other than some embossing, you just can't add all the flowers and ribbon that you normally do. Oh, click on the color challenge image to see other participants.

Paper: Basic Black, Basic Grey, Riding Hood Red
Ribbon: White Ric Rac
Stamps: Wonderful Words, Guidelines

happy valentine's day.

It seems like this year I did not have nearly as much time to work on V-day gifts as last year. Then I remembered last year I had a whole week off at the end of January.

And that makes me thing, every Christmas I always get excited about things slowing down in January, and some how that never happens for me. How is that possible?

So, back on topic, here's what I did for this Valentine's Day. Once again I'm a felt freak these days. I hand cut some hearts, sewed on buttons, backed it with some gorgeous Basic Grey Bittersweet, add a little ribbon and that's a craft I can finish while watching LOST.
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Bittersweet Basic Grey
Ribbon: Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Felt, slit punch

Window Panes

I purchased four window panes at this little antique store in Gladeville a few weeks ago. Here's what they originally looked like:Nothing too special. They had some great chipping paint, but the color was really drab. So I painted the black, distressed them, and I'm planning to buy mirrors to go in them.

What do you think?I think that might be a little too high, but don't tell Chase I said that :).

Garage Update.

We got a ton done in a day and a half. First we painted all of the walls. Oh and did I mention our ceilings are so high!
Once those were primed then painted, we started on the floor. We had to clean it and let it dry for four hours.
Here it is! Too bad we can't walk on, and we can't drive on it for 3 days. We also broke our bookshelf so we had to be creative to make shelves. I bought four heavy duty brackets and used the long pieces from the sides of the bookshelf. It worked pretty well.

Felt Flower.

Chase and I started painting our garage this weekend. So we have been working a way. I post pictures soon. I was able to make one quick thing last night. I'm all about felt this week.

That picture is not so hot. I think I might make some more for little girls and put them on pony tail holders. Too bad my niece is too little for me to try it out with.

More Felt Art.

I decided to make some more little picture for my office. I think I like this one even better! It's a lot smaller, so I got it done while I helped my brother proof a paper. I can't wait to see it up!

I'm thinking about selling a few things on etsy soon, but we'll see if I actually get stuff made!

Felt Art.

I'm not exactly sure where I got this idea from, but I've been sewing and using felt a lot lately. I decided I needed to add some more stuff to my office at work. I'm going to do two more of these with flowers.

Also, a word of advice, if you decide to stitch this much on your paper your shoulder will be sore!



I used my Basic Grey stamps from the Bittersweet collection to add a little dimension in the background. Unfortunately, you can't really see it in my pictures. I also used my Bird and Blooms SU! die cut for the bird.