It's Greek to Me- Cinema Saturday with Mojo

Hi friends,
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue--- I think that's how it goes! I don't even remember, it's been a while for me :) But these are some of the things that came into play for my card for this week's...

As you can see, the challenge was to create a wedding card inspired by the movie. I was inspired by the blue & gold colors & the beautiful patterns & ornate details in the decor, especially the family's house.

Anyhoo, here's my card:

And a peek of the inside:

So here are the deets:
Something old: That "congrats" ribbon---> I've had forever!
Something new: The MS Doily lace trim punch---> luuuv
Something borrowed: I borrowed this week's MOJO Monday 112 Sketch for my layout

And Something Blue: The pattern Paper & CS

I can hear the bells--- oops, wrong movie, But you know what I mean :) Thanks for peeking today! I'm off to craft some more since I have a day off!!! Woo Hoo!!! 
Gotta Go!
 

The 411

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits- PTI
Paper: Night of Navy, Crushed Curry- SU!, White, Provence- GCD Studios
Ink: Fresh Snow- PTI 
Tools: Martha Stewart Wedding cake punch & Doily lace trim, Word window punch- SU! CB Embossing folder- Morrocan Screen

Other: Pearls, ribbon

Thankful One

Hi friends,
I made a thank you card for each of the other 3rd grade teachers who contributed to a very successful & fun goodie day at my school. Today I'm sharing the first one.

I used the beautiful paper from K&Co Tim Coffey Fall Collection. I think I've used it for every fall project I've created so far, but I can't help it. It's so beautiful :) I love the warm fall colors... sigh. We're still waiting for fall since it's still near 80 degrees here in So Cal! I usually also decorate the inside of my cards and since I've been asked for peeks at those, (who would have thunk it?) I thought I'd share. Here's the inside:

I used the EK Success embossed curve punch with PTI buttons. The stamp is Three Little Words by SU! Since I made three cards in one night, I had to keep them pretty simple. 
 
Thanks so much for peekin' in today- so thankful for your visits & for your encouraging & wonderful comments :) I'm still a young 'un ---> crafting wise, so I appreciate all of your feedback, questions, suggestions, requests, & all that good stuff!
Gotta Go!

Hello Kitty SWAP

Hi friends,
Today I'm sharing the notepads I'm sending for my Hello Kitty Swap. (Yes, there's a Hello Kitty swap!) Clearly there are lots of us who can't get enough, hee! hee! Here it is:

I used the Hello Kitty Font cart to cut out the letters & the HK image. I used white under the letters & under the HK, I used white glitter paper.

Here's a peek of the inside:

There's a pocket on the left hand side. If you stalk, I mean, follow PTI like I do, you'll recognize this as Nichole's template.

Here are all 5:

(Great Googly Moogly!!! I just noticed not all my kitties have the bow on the right!!! I have shamed the good name of Hello Kitty fan :( Sorry HK sisters, out there! I will undo my wrongs, pinky promise.
I'm also sending HK cards & digi images. I hope the ladies I'm swapping with like them :) I can't wait to see what I get!

Thanks so much for peeking at my Hello Kitty notepads. You can find the template here and if you'd like the digi images too, you can download them here:Hello Kitty Digi Images

I'm off to get ready for a new week (minus 1 day---> Thank you veterans!)
Gotta Go!

If I only had a Brain

Hi friends, 
The first Friday of every month, the teachers at my school have a "Goodie Day." This is where we bring goodies (food) to share with the rest of the teachers & set it out in the Teacher's Lounge. November is Third Grade's turn so I created a few hand scrapped decorations. Here are a couple of the decorations I created:

I thought they turned out pretty cute! I bought these mini-scarecrows at Mikes for 75% off, so they came out to like 35 cents each. 


Here's a closer peek at each one:

But guess what? They're not standing on any ordinary bale of hay- noooooooo! That bale of hay is actually a box filled with more treats! Wanna see how I did it? Here's a quickie tutorial for ya:


I used the Sizzix Box #2 Die & die cut the box out of cardstock & out of the straw paper. (BTW, I bought the straw paper at Auntie JoAnn's.)

Next, I cut out only the faces of the box from the straw paper. (Faces are the flat surfaces of a shape- my 3rd graders know this :) ... I hope 'cause it's on the test!!! :{

Adhere the pieces to the cardstock box base as shown:

Assemble your box as you normally would. I punched a hole (largest) with my Crop-a-dile on the lid where the scarecrow's stick would go through. Then I filled the box with candy corn.

I added the pumpkins to the top of the box (with craft glue dots, so I don't think those will be edible now.) But, we are talking about the teachers at my school, so you never know! The box does open, so make sure you don't glue down the top tab.


Thanks for peeking at my little scarecrows. I'm off to get all the other goodies packed & ready to go. I luuuv goodie day!
Gotta go!

Feeling a little forgetful???

Hi friends,

Dawn posted this video on her blog last Sunday & I thought it was hilarious! I thought I'd share in case you missed it.

 I'm not that old, (I don't think!)  but OMGosh I think I've been through all of these situations! I even call my students different wrong names! So embarrassing! I'm working on lots of things behind the scenes, but nothing to share today :( I'll have something for the next time! Have a good rest of the week!
Gotta Go!

This One's For Me

Hi friends,
Have you ever made a card for yourself? I haven't---> until today. I wanted to make something to remind me of what's important: "Always leave room in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, or even joyous." I'm kinda needing to remember that right now. This hobby is sooooo much more than a mere hobby to me. It is truly how I stay *somewhat* sane :) No matter what craziness is going on around me, I retreat into my crafting world & allow any creativity within me to play. While I'm doing some cardstock cuddling, I might as well add some challenges to the mix, right? So, while this card is for me, I used this week's MOJO Monday Sketch:

and this week's Cinema Saturday Challenge:

(Create something with an encouraging or uplifting sentiment.)

to make myself this card:

Here's a closer peek at the sentiment & the layered bloom.

I used my favorite PTI stamp set In Bloom. I luv, luv, luv it! The sentiment is a Teresa Collins stamp. I also used Elle's signature pink too :) raspberry fizz


Thanks so much for peeking at my card- I'm tickled pink you did :) I hope you make some time to do something that makes you happy today! How about making & giving yourself some cardstock cuddles :) and don't forget to write something uplifting and brimming with love on the inside too!

Gotta Go!

Organization: Copic Skin and Hair Colors

Hi friends,
Thanks so much for your well wishes :) I went to the doctor & I have the dreaded flu---> just not the kind that oinks (no tail growing here, Mary! ;) My grandma's "special cure-all drink" and chicken soup will have me back to myself in no time. (My hubby says I should drink slowly!---> What a brat!) 
Anyhoo, today I thought I would share the way I organize a certain section of my Copic markers. This set is specifically the colors I use for skin & hair. So here are the deets:

I found this container a while back during one of my rounds at Mike's. It was in the clearance section along the end of the crafting aisles. It is meant for storing the EK Success punches, but I bought it thinking I would find a different use for it. I do that A LOT, you know, buy now -think about what I'll do with it later. It's in my rat pack nature, I think :) This is what it looks like:

(It was $2.99)
It's a hard, plastic case with 8 compartments inside.

I own all the Copic Ciao markers, but I decided to get a separate set of sketch markers just for skin & hair colors for 2 main reasons. 1) These are the colors I use the most & 2) I didn't want to spend time searching to pull them out of my sets. This way, they were in one convenient place ready to use- no muss, no fuss. 

How did I chose these colors? Well, most of these are the colors Suzanne Dean uses & I luuuv her coloring. I stalk subscribe to her Coloring with Copics videos on YouTube. I also really luuuv Cassie's coloring (My Sweet Dreamers pal) but she hasn't posted any tutorials or videos---> hint, hint ;)

I typed out the numbers onto clear labels by group of skin or hair color & added them to the case.

Skin 1: E000, E00, E11, R20
Skin 2: (alternate skin tone) E50, E51, R20
Ethnic Skin: E25. E21, E13, E11 (I also like E33, especially for Latino skin)
Dark Brunette: E25, E49, E53, E59
Light Brunette: E25, E29, E31
Auburn: E13, E17, E18, E19
Dark Blonde: YR23, E35, Y23
Light Blonde: Y11, Y21, E97, E99
Black: C3, C5, C7, C9

This totally works for me! It's one less thing I need to look for, pull out, & putting them back is a snap.


To download Suzanne's list of colors (with colored samples :) and to see her videos, visit her blog here. Check out Cassie's blog in my sidebar under "Sweet Dreamers."

I have my "copycat" way to organize my Ciaos which I'll be sharing too, if you're interested. 

To answer Sophia's Question: Yes, it's perfectly fine to store your Copics vertically. I've been told it has something to do with how they're made. I also have Prisma markers (which are alcohol-based as well) & they sit upright too with no  problems. Water-based markers (like SU! Stampin' Write) must be stored horizontally (flat). 


Where to buy Copics: I have bought most of mine from ---> Carpe Diem because when they have sales... they have SALES! Reeealy good prices :) They're also a local store- pretty close to me, and the owner is nice :) He's let me shop in the store when they've been technically closed. But shop around & keep an eye out for any sales :)


Thanks so much for peekin' today! I'm off to confiscate all the Halloween candies my kids are hiding under their beds!
Gotta go!