Prickly Pear Paperie

Kristina Werner Inspired....

2009-08-23T19:27:00.006-04:00

Hey! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty quiet and uneventful. Saturday was pretty great. I can honestly say I did not do much of anything, nor did I honestly feel like doing much of anything. I have some baby shower invitations that I have been working diligently on that I am hoping to be done by this week with, so I dabbled in those a bit. I cleaned a bit. YACK. I HATE cleaning. HATE it. Really Really....Really hate it. Its even worse when my husband is obsessed with it. It was so peaceful this morning when I woke up at 7 am. I started making my coffee, Peyton (my 2 year old) was still sleeping, Mj (my husband to be), still sleeping, YES....Ahhh....silence...my time. Coffee, desk, paper, stamps-PERFECT. Then, Mj woke up. And no sooner did he wake up, he pulls out the windex and starts cleaning the windows....and the mirrors. Then starts messing with the pool. Ugh. Now, I am sitting here, at my desk, playing with paper, while he is working up a sweat, cleaning. I am the type of person, the feels bad about this. Why? I don't know...I just am. I am trying to work on this. But...I'm not there yet. I hope your weekend was good and too full of cleaning!

Here is a card I made...it was Kristina Werner inspired. Making this card really made me realize that every person had their own specific style of paper crafting. This card is so simple. But, I just sat and stared at my paper for so long just trying to figure out what the heck to do! Its crazy. This is a cool, simple style, but different for me. I usually tend to make things so difficult or more complicated than they need to be, not that that is a good thing, but I think I am just realizing that my style is just completly different than Kristina's, but I am always so facinated with what she does.

I could have spent a little more time adhering the squares....

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you all had a really great weekend and hopefully have a great Monday. Its the first day of school here in South Florida...Whoot hoot!

Stamps: PTI Handwritten Notes
Inks: SU! Chocolate Chip
Paper: PTI Kraft, K&Co. Wild Saffron Pattern Paper
Accessories: PTI Lemon Tart Vintage Button, PTI Twine

Floral Fusion

2009-08-08T22:22:00.007-04:00

Hey! How's your Saturday? Mine's STRESSFUL! I don't know what kind of air was flowing thru my house today, but all of my boys were SO cranky! I should have just stayed out! I am glad that day is almost over and tomorrow is coming soon though! We are going on a little mini work related vacation tomorrow to Ameilia Island, FL. We are staying at Ameilia Island Plantation. All of the Pictures look GORGEOUS!! I can't wait. Mj has education seminars in the morning, while I get sit pool side! :) Should be nice.
Here is the card I made with PTI's Floral Fusion set. You could earn this at CHA for spening too much money. :) It was well worth it, because, I am offically in love! This is set is SO FANTASIC! There is just so many options. Its GRRREEEAAT! Here you are....

I was quite happy with this card! I would actually brainstorm as I was driving about how I was going to use this set. I think, at least for me, it always seems to evolve into something else as you start creating and moving things around....this time for the better.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend and week!

(All Ink/Paper PTI Unless Otherwise Noted)
Stamps: PTI Floral Fusion, PTI Beyond Basic Borders
Paper: Kraft, Spring Moss, Lavender Moon, Stampers White
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Lavender Moon, SU! Chocolate Chip, Spring Moss
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Bone Folder, Martha Stewart Twine, PTI Sweet Blush Vintage Button, dimensionals

In Bloom

2009-08-04T19:13:00.006-04:00

Hope everyone had a good day today. Mine was pretty crazy...and frustrating. Work is busy, which is good, I am absolutely not complaining, I am just trying to get everything done before I go away for a few days next week. Isn't it weird how vacations work like that? You work extra hard so you can go away, and then you work even harder to catch up when you come back? There is almost no point of taking a vacation!

I got PaperTrey's In Bloom set at CHA. Its GREAT. I need to get some Copics and try that route. That is something I haven't tried yet...weird, seeing as how that's what I do...render floor plans with markers....just never tried Copics. I've always has Prisma Colors. Enchanted Evening is such a great color. There is something really special about it, its not just an ordinary navy color and I can't put my finger on it, but take my word for it, its really great.

An angled shot....I know its not the greatest light. I totally forgot to take a picture of the card before I gave it to my MIL for her birthday. So, after she opened it at the restaurant, I said, would you mind if I took a couple of pictures? So, I did...at the dinner table...Oh well...

Thanks for checking it out!

Stamps: PTI In Bloom, PTI Hand Written Notes
Ink: Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening
Paper: Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening, Kraft
Accessories: Sewing Machine, PTI Enchanted Evening Satin Ribbon, Martha Stewart Pearls

Star Struck :)

2009-08-03T13:20:00.003-04:00

So, from my post last night, you could tell I was pretty excited about going to CHA and meeting Dawn McVey and Nichole Heady. They were so super nice! I had no idea what to say to them, even though I probably could have asked them questions all day if I had the chance! Too bad they don't live closer-I need more friends my age with the same paper passion as me. Like, why would a 30 year old rather stay home and and make cards rather than go out and have a drink? I don't know, I think there is something wrong with that picture. But I just don't care anymore-crafty things make me happy :).

Anywho, here is a picture of Nichole, Myself and Dawn. I just wanted to thank Nichole and Dawn too, for taking the time to talk to me and take the picture.

I really do appreciate it, with all of the other people you had there too. It was so super crazy in the Papertrey booth! There was barely room to walk thru there it was so popular! So, Thank you!! I have a card to post probably tomorrow with the In Bloom set the I got at CHA. What a great set. I really really really wanted the Everyday Button Bits. I know you can still get it online, BUT, I really wanted to get in my car and drive home with it that day. But, they sold out almost in the first day! Good for them!

Dawns Challenge 13

2009-08-02T18:33:00.004-04:00

I got this one in at the last minute!! I posted my photo around 6:30, running out the door to a birthday dinner....adding my text and adding my second photo later...I hope that's ok! I started the card and really wanted to be able to participate! I sort of did the one under the gun...I think I would have added more "stuff" if Mj wasn't hanging over my shoulder...watching the clock...letting me know how much time we had until we had until we had to walk out the door. Especially because I wasn't even dressed yet and he was dressing Peyton, our 2 year old! Oh well, I guess I really didn't mind TOO much! He knew how excited I was about going to CHA this weekend...and meeting Dawn and Nicole Heady...Yup...I did! It was really cool too, actually meeting the women, whose blogs you read on a daily basis! I have a photo to share too. CHA was pretty cool in general, but to be honest, it was totally worth driving the hour and a half to go to the Papertrey booth! 1. To be able to meet the Papertrey gang was AWESOME. Debbie Olson handing you a shopping list pad as you walked into the store was pretty cool and Dawn and Nicole handing you shopping bags wasn't too bad either (I was pretty "star struck!") . 2. Just being able to buy Papertrey hands on was great! I loved being able to take it home that night and making cards! I got my free stamp set for spending too much money...but hey...it was worth every penny! I blame it on my mom, she sat at the knitting table too long! Anyway...here is my quickie card...

Thanks for checking it out!

Stamps: PTI Polka Dot Basics, Cupcake Collection
Ink: PTI Melon Berry, PTI Spring Moss, SU! Red Riding Hood, SU! Basic Black
Paper: (All PTI) Melon Berry, Pure Poppy, White, Spring Moss
Accessories: Fiskers Apron Lace Punch, PTI Vintage Buttons

A Shower

2009-07-31T07:26:00.009-04:00

Holy Hannah its been a super long time since I last posted. I have been making things, just giving them away before I take a picture. I keep messing around with my blog too...I can't ever seem to get it the way I want it, oh well, keeps things changing right? I am heading to CHA tomorrow! I am soooo excited! I live only about an hour and a half from Orlando. I have been following Dawn McVey's Tweets and it makes me even more excited! I can't wait to meet all of the Papertrey gang and see all of the new products coming out..... :) Crazy the things that makes me happy..... Oh well....

A friend of mine asked me to come up with a baby shower invitation for her sister's new baby girl arrival. She wanted shabby-chic....I am not so shabby chic...but used Melissa Phillips as inspiration. I really like how the card came out....I am not sure how shabby-chic it truely is, but its not bad!

Thank for checking it out!

Stamps: SU! Short & Sweet, PTI Text Background Basics
Ink:PTI Chai and Chamomile, SU! Close to Cocoa
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist
Accessories: PTI Aqua Mist Vintage Buttons (Can you say LOVE!!), Sewing Machine, Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU! Bigz Butterflies Die, Misc. rhinstones, Sizzix Sizzlet Tag (cut smaller), PTI Linen Thread, SU! Scallop Punch, Sweet Blush Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon

Dawn's Color Challenge #9

2009-06-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey Good Morning Everyone! I finally get to participate in Dawn's Color Inspiration Challenge again this week! BUT...I have to say...WOW. This was so unbelievably hard to do. These are definitely not 3 colors I would just pick out of my stash to make a card, unless they were someone's specific color theme for an event...and still then, it would be hard to do! I started this challenge with one card and ended with another. I really wanted to make one of Dawn's rustic looking flowers-they are really cool and casual, so that what I did! Here is what I attempted...

Different and simple.

Thanks for checking it out!

Stamps: PTI Beyond Basic Borders (Hello)
Inks: PTI Chai & Chamomile, Vintage Cream
Paper: PTI True Black, Leaf Green, Vintage Cream
Accessories: Rustic Cream Thread, Vintage Button, White Gel Pen, Metal Ruler, SU! Corner Rounder

Happy Birthday!

2009-06-15T12:40:00.007-04:00

Yesterday...Happy Flag Day, was my cousin Erinn's birthday! Happy Birthday Erinn! So I made her a card...mailing it out a day late. Sorry Erinn. Her house has lots of patriotic country decor items-LOVE IT. I think its an up north thing...but I thought this card would suit her taste well. Countryish and Patriotic right?

I used PTI's new linen twine and a needle to stitch along the edges of the card to give it a little bit more of a rustic look. It was a little longer of a process, but was worth it. Here is another shot a little bit closer. I am not sure if you can tell or not, but I also used the Background Basics:Text Style in PTI Chai. I had crumpled up the Pure Poppy paper...used the Chai/Chamomile combo along the edges, then took the text in the Chai and stamped it over the crumpled up paper in Chai, actually a couple of times. It really soaks up once it dries.

Here is a shot of what I added on the inside of the card. I am really diggin' the Star prints set. I LOVE it! The fonts are really great. I know I keep saying that, but I don't care!

Thanks for looking!

Stamps: PTI Star Prints and Fancy Flourishes
Inks: SU! Not Quite Navy, Red Riding Hood, PTI Chai & Chamomile
Paper: All PTI, Kraft, Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy
Accessories: PTI Linen Rustric Cream Linen Thread, needle, PTI Vintage Buttons, Fiskers Twinkle Twinkle Punch, Paper Piercer, Edge Distressor, Pop Dots

Baseball!

2009-06-14T06:46:00.012-04:00

Ok, So...Its baseball season. Its always sports season in my house, but baseball season is my favorite. It turns out that it is my son Peyton's (he's 2) favorite too. He absorbs every move every baseball player (the Mets to be exact) makes and repeats them to a tee. He is a better slider than any 10 year old I have ever seen slide! It really is remarkable! Lets go Mets! He sees David Wright on TV and says, "Lets go David!" CRAZY!! Anyway, being baseball season, the whole family is into it, including Jaiden, the newly turned 8 year old! Not that an 8 year old can truely appreciate a homemade card so much, but hopefully mom and dad will keep it for later in life...

I had a lot of fun making this card. I was only a little bit into the stitching and Peyton knew exactly what it was! Here is another shot a little but closer....

I think the hand stitching took maybe a half hour...tops. Super easy and it really makes it look so nice. I was pretty impressed myself. I had "the vision" pop into my head a few days before as to what I wanted the card to look like and it came out exactly as I has hoped! How about the new PTI set? LOVE IT. The font is the BEST EVER. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: PTI Star Prints
Ink: SU! Not Quite Navy, PTI Chamomile & Chai
Paper: PTI Rustic White
Accessories: Needle & Red Floss, SU! Black Stamp & Write Marker, Paper Piercer

Thank you, Teacher.

2009-06-10T20:45:00.013-04:00

So, I am totally slacking getting my blog updated. I know once its done, its done, but its just like there are so many things I want to do, but so little time to do it. Anyway, I really wanted to make something special for my stepson's 5th grade teacher...she deserves it. If I had a classroom full of kids like my stepson...well...I don't think I could do it. I know, I know, it sounds horrible, but if you don't have step kids, specially ones that you don't get along with all that great....yeah....she really deserves it! So I wanted to make her a stationary kit. One that she could set notes home to the parents without having to write on a post it or something! I was walking thru Michaels one day and saw the COOLEST CUTEST new K&Company collection, I mean it was IRRESISTIBLE! So, I had to have it....(I kept the flash off for some of the pictures...won't do that again..You know, its crazy, I am looking for the "official" name of this and can't find it, but its Carolyn Gavin and it is just the CUUUUUTTTIIISSTT! Love it.
I started with Lauren Meader's Timeless Template All Boxed U p, but decided to add my own little twist. Again, sorry some of the pics are so yellow, I turned the flash off. I had some extra raw chip board from Stampin' Up! I had from an album class I had around the holidays, so I thought it was the perfect size and sturdiness for the stationary box I wanted to make.

Here is a side shot...don't mind the orange and brown dotted paper, that was on the chipboard already, I was covered that up. I did a lot of compromising as I went along! I covered the inside with the cool K&Company Paper.

Ok, so for the side pouch, I wanted to have an open/close type of flap for the envelopes, so I combined 2 of the side pockets....piece of cake.....

Heres a shot of the side done....

Now for the other side...I used the pocket template again...but sort of...just flattened it. I printed "From the Desk of...." off of the computer, stamped over it...cut...and Whala! I thought it came out pretty nice, something I think I would totally appreciate getting as a gift.
Here are the rest of the shots. Open shot.

Close up of left side...

To Open/Close.

The Cover.

So, thats it! I think if it wasn't so last minute, there would have been some things I would have done differently, but isn't that they way with everything?

Thanks for checking it out!

Stamps: K&Company Carolyn Gavin (Eco-Series)
Inks: All PTI
Papers: Design Paper (K&Co.) Solid Papers (PTI)
Accessories: Misc. Rhinstones, K&Co. Carolyn Gavin Rhinestones, PTI Linen Thread, Double Sided Super Sticky Tape (SU!), misc. eyelets, crop-a-dile, raw chip board, My Timeless Templates, computer, printer, SU! Ribbon

Dawn's Color Challenge Week 6

2009-05-20T12:53:00.011-04:00

**You definitely have to click on the photos to see closer...I didn't know they were going to be so small!!**

Welcome to my new blog! It is still under construction...so its not at full potential yet-but hopefully soon! My other blog was a typepad blog. I did a little research on HTML and all of that good stuff, figured out how to make my free blog site, how I wanted it and not just a template from their library. Every penny saved counts right? Now I just have to figure out how to get my other information onto this blog-maybe I can't, I am not sure. ANYWHO...My "first" post is for Dawn McVey's color challenge-Week 6...I missed the last couple, so was super excited to get this one done. I guess I am cutting it a little close-better late than never!

I am going to visit my cousin in North Carolina, with my mom (and Peyton of course) for the holiday weekend. My cousin sent me some pictures and asked me to make her a scrapbook. Now, one whole year later, I think I am going to finish in time to take up there with me. I think this will be the first and last scrapbook I make for someone else. If you haven't ever made a scrapbook, with someone elses pictures, it is SUPER hard to do! I didn't ever realize it until I did this, but when you are scrapbooking your own photos, you remeber what was going on at that moment, and you get inspiration to design a page....but when you have photos that you weren't there for, you can't journal them...you just have a to leave a space and its just plain hard to design a page for a photo that you have no part of, do you know what I am saying?
That was long winded, but anyway, I wanted to make my cousin a little thank you gift for having us stay with her for the weekend. So, using Dawn's color inpiration was a perfect opportunity for me to do that! Here is what I came up with...

Here is a shot of both the card and the gift

One of the just the card...

Just the gift...

And a close up of the frame...

I made some bigger versions of these for my mom and mother in law for Mother's Day. They are really fun to make and they look really great in a matted frame. Not too bad of a gift...I had all of the materials, just went to Home Goods and bought a $6 frame! I'll be posting pictures of the Mother's day versions hopefully later today.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: PTI Polkadot Basics, PTI Beyond Basic Borders, SU! Cute and Curly, SU! Season of Friendship
Inks: SU! Chocolate Chip, SU! Cameo Coral, PTI Aqua Mist, SU! White Craft
Paper: PTI Aqua Mist, PTI White, PTI Polka Dot Paper, SU! Chocolate Chip, SU! misc. retired DSP
Accessories and other stuff: Sewing machine, Big Shot, Misc. dies, SU! Heart die, SU! Sans serif alpha die, SU! hardware, SU! White 1/4" grosgrain, rhinstones, SU! Star die, SU! punches, misc. buttons

Just wanted to share a picture of Peyton...I got a new camera, Nikon D60 to be exact!! Worth EVERY PENNY!! This is a cute one....eating green and yellow M&M's at a baseball game.

RETIRED LIST ISSUED!

2008-06-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Up is releasing a new Idea Book and Catalogue in August! There are talks of a new product line, new colors, everything!! So, to prepare for new stamps and such, Stampin' Up! has issued a list of stamps that are going to be retiring and will no longer be available for purchase thru Stampin' Up!

SO-to celebrate my FRESH START and to get your hands on these stamps before the disappear, you will receive a 10% Discount on any of the stamps on the retired list!! Page numbers and stamp names are listed, so you can view the Idea Book and Catalogue . Contact me to place your order today!!

Offer only available thru Suzy Duffy, Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator until July 16th!

I'M BACK!

2008-06-17T13:02:00.001-04:00

Hey Everyone! Welcome to my blog! I have had it for a little while, but just have not had the opportunity to take advantage! I have made the decision to share my ideas, classes and crops on my blog rather than having a business website. This way, I can post WHATEVER I want! I know that I really enjoy reading other's people's blogs, whether they be about life, stamping, baking...whatever! Its just always fun to see what other people think and do with what they've got!

Its been quite some time since I have a had a workshop or class. Many people have been asking..."When's your next class?" So-this is the fresh start! I am sure most of you are not aware, that I am offically an LLC! The name of my company is Prickly Pear Scrapbooks! I am still a Stampin Up! Demonstrator-and hope to be for quite some time! You will find all events such as classes and crops posted on my blog, as well as Stampin! Up Promotions...AND...Contests! I love taking part in other blog's contests and I am so excited to have some of my own! I can't wait to get started and have a library full of projects for everyone to create and make their own!

I am still going to be issuing a monthly newsletter-so keep an eye out for June's-its a bit late, but I still have 2 weeks! Keep posted the next few days-I will be continuously adding more information as I get my FRESH START!

Thanks Pick a Petal!

2008-04-08T15:24:00.000-04:00

My first "official" post!? I am a little nervous, posting this for the world to see but I guess I better get over it fast. I needed to create simple thank you cards for Peyton's first birthday. I wanted something fast and easy, but not cheesy looking. I don't know, maybe some think its cheesy...but I don't! I really like the way this came out alot. Simple, but nice. I used SU! Pick a Petal with Sky Blue and Blue Bayou-add a little Dazzlin' Diamonds, and you've got your self a snazzy little card! I am still testing photo ops for paper...I am not sure how good this photo is, but its my first posted photo-so cut me some slack.

I posted this card on Splitcoast today too, that was my first Splitcoast post too. I have been on Splitcoast since I became a Stampin' Up Demonstrator in July of last year and have NEVER posted anything. Or commented for that matter. I'm not sure why...I guess I was afraid as to what people were going to say!

On a personal note...I am so loving this blogging thing! I love just reading other people's blogs and seeing what kind of creations they've made...or baked! Its so great! The pictures on some blogs are just amazing. I am starting to feel like a junkie. And you know I am going to be spilling my guts somewhere on down the line! Have kids? How about Step Kids? OH BOY! Do I have some stories to tell you!

My Second Post

2008-04-03T13:53:00.000-04:00

Ok, my second post. I am really getting into this blogging thing! I am trying to come up with some creative designs to make it my own. Its pretty addiciting. Lets hope that I can get a different post up everyday. I think it will just be about getting this blog up and running, but we'll see.

Here is a really great picture of my son-it was his first birthday on March 29th. He was too funny...I think he enjoyed the bath after the cake more than the cake itself!

Peyton

2008-03-14T08:41:00.000-04:00

Peyton @ 4 months...

This is by far my favorite video of him!