My Other Pages

To make it easier to read about our trip to Ireland, I have made a page that is just for that. There is a tab above for Ireland Trip 2014 or click on the Home tab to read my other posts. I have also created a new page for My Weight Loss Journey if you are interested in that, click on the tab above.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Lace and Pearls Challenge

"Lace and Pearls"
that's the challenge this week on 
For my card I used
"Lg Filagree Heart"  (#24601) 
"Happy Anniversary"  (#9004) from
Eureka! Stamps
I started by stamping the heart with red ink onto white card stock.
I fussy cut the heart and added 
a few different sizes of pearls to the heart.
The Happy Anniversary was heat embossed with white embossing powder.
For a perfect mat I used Perfect Layers Mini Tools from
The heart and sentiment were added to the red panel with 
foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you've been inspired
 in some way.
to see all the details about the challenge,
then join in the fun and show us what you create.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

My fun card for Colin

Hello!
Are you one of Colin's fans?
Well, I am.
Colin's Mom made a facebook page, because Colin said he
didn't have any friends to come to a birthday party for him.
Little did she know that what started out being a page for family and a few friends
would go viral and sweep the nation.
Thousands of people sent cards to Colin for his birthday in March,
and this is the card I made and sent to him.
It starts out as a pretty plain looking card with
"Cool Cat with Shades" (#23902) from 
Eureka! Stamps on the front.
Then as you pull the ribbon at the top
magic happens.
 
As you pull the slider out, the cool cat turns into a 
colored image.

Pretty cool, eh?
The back of the card was blank and I wrote a message to
Colin there.
I sure hope he liked my card.
As of this writing, Colin's facebook page has
2.2 million likes.
Pretty amazing for a kid with no friends.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Come again soon.
If you're curious about how to make this kind of card,
you can find a tutorial here on 

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Monday, April 21, 2014

CAS Challenge

It's Monday and you know what that means, another challenge from
This week our theme is
"CAS" we want to see some 
"Clean and Simple" projects.
For my CAS card, I used
"Baby Zebra" (#39902) from Eureka! Stamps
Baby Zebra was stamped onto white card stock and colored with 
colored pencils and Gamsol.
I used my
 Perfect Layers Mini Tools and 
The Perfect Cutting Mat from
to cut perfect mats on my card.
Quick, easy and perfect every time.

All the details for the challenge are on 
so pop over and see how easy it is to participate.
Someone is going to win, why not you?

Thanks for stopping by today.
Come again soon.

Until then, Happy Crafting!



Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Studio Calico Color Theory Inks


Hello blog fans!
A little while ago, I posted about winning some inks
Today I have a couple more cards I made with those inks.
These are very simple cards.
I wanted to see how all the colors looks and how well they worked.
I stamped several of them onto white card stock and made a couple note cards.
I used "Filagree Border" (#57703) and
"Just a note" (#6405) from

Two very simple note cards, 
I love the colors and I love how this ink stamps.
And by the way, Studio Calico did not ask for this endorsement,
I just wanted to share these Color Theory Inks with y'all

Thanks for stopping by today.
Come again soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Easter Challenge

Hello stampers!
It's Monday, so that means it's time for another challenge from 
This weeks theme is
"Easter"
I have used
"Tulips" (# 28502) from Eureka! Stamps
"Daydreaming Bunny" (#15209) from QKR Stampede
sister company of  Eureka! Stamps

I started by stamping "Tulips" several times onto white card stock.
I colored the images with colored pencils and Gamsol.
The Bunny was done in the same way.
I then fussy cut all the tulips and the bunny.
For the background, I used a cloud template and Distress Inks.
You can find the cloud template and instructions on my friend Roxie's blog
I also inked the bottom of the background with green Distress Inks.

Once I had the background panel done, I started adding tulips in the
back most part of the scene.  These I adhered directly to the background panel.
I then added the bunny with foam tape.
The front row of tulips were then added with double layers of foam tape.
This picture shows the different layers
on the card.
I love how this card turned out.
I hope you'll hop over to the 
and see all the particulars of the challenge.
You'll also find links to other inspiration pieces from the design team.
Join in the fun and you may just be a lucky winner of some 
Eureka! Stamps digital stamps.

Thanks for stopping by today,
I hope you've been inspired in some way.
Leave a comment and come again soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!













Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Zig Zags and Roses


Hello Blog friends!
About a month or so ago, I was fortunate enough to win a set of the new
All I did was make a comment on a post on 
and I was lucky enough to have my number come up as the winner
 It's a new line and she sent me all 12 colors.
Check out these colors. 
 Are they awesome or what?  
And I have to say, I am loving them.
They stamp beautifully with nice even colors.
I found I didn't have much luck with using them with a 
blending tool, but for stamping they are great.

I made this card using a couple stamp sets I got on clearance at 
Joann's.
The flower is from the Vintage Flora set from Inkadinkadoo
The zig zags are from Fiskars Teresa Collins "Baby" set.

I used my Perfect Layers Mini Tools to cut a perfect mat 
of yellow card stock around the zig zag pattern.
I fussy cut the flowers, then adhered them to the card base with foam tape.

Follow the link to the Perfect Paper Crafting online store 
and you will be able to use my code, 
which you'll see there, to receive a discount on your purchase.

Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope you'll come again.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Ribbons and Bows Challenge

Hello blog friends!
I took a break from my design team work for a couple months.
Life was just getting too busy and I needed a break from something.
BUT, I'm back and it's time for another 
The theme of the challenge is 
"Ribbons and Bows"
I decided to use 2 images from
"Round Balloon" (#8203) and 
"Heart Balloon" (#5204)
Imagine you open an envelope and take this card out.
You think what the heck is this?
Then you open it out and  SURPRISE!!!!
It's a card in a box!
How fun is that?!?!

For my balloons I stamped the round balloon and heart balloon
images onto the back of some glitter card stock.
I then cut them out.
I made little bows with 'bakers twine' 
and glued them to each balloon as well as
 gluing a piece to hang down as the balloon string.
Each balloon was adhered to a small strip of acetate 
that was used to hold the balloon upright.
I adhered a piece of gold ribbon and a bow around the box area
with ATG tape.
For a greeting, on the back of the box, I added a layer of white card stock,
stamped the balloons onto yellow card stock,
then stamped the "Happy" from the 
"Happy Birthday" set (#22803) from 
which is sister company to 
I fussy cut the balloons and adhered them along with 
balloon strings and bows to the back of the card.

If you'd like to learn how to make a card like this, you can find a video at 
I'm sure there are other videos out there,
but this is where I learned of it and got the pattern.

I hope you have been inspired and will join the 
Ribbon and Bow challenge on the 

Thanks for stopping by today, 
come again soon.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!


Friday, April 4, 2014

Casino Crop

Hey crafty people!
Y'all know that have been on a few design teams, 
but you may not know that I help run a crafting studio.
My Happy Place is located in the City of Tonawanda, 
not too far from my home.
We have crops on most Saturdays and a few times a year
we have what we call Specialty Crops.
These crops run 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. 
and have a theme, goodies for all participants, games, prizes, food
and lots of fun.
Recently we had a "Casino Crop"
We had a lot of fun organizing and running this crop and
I think all the people who came had a great time too.
You know that saying, What happens in Vagas, stays in Vagas?
We decorated the walls at MHP with our version of that saying.
(I know there are a couple letters that look like they are missing, 
they are there, they are white and just don't show up in the picture. Sorry)

I made these little dice boxes for each cropper.
We had some goodies in each box.
The big die in the background had prizes in it for "winners" to choose from.

I had this "Roulette" scrapbook paper, so I added a spinner.
Each cropper was given an envelope of buttons,
they would choose a number and placed their 'button bet'
 and we'd spin the spinner,
if their number came up, they got the pot of buttons.

These are the scratch offs that we gave each cropper.
It was the first time I'd made them, so the scratch off area wasn't as
neat as I'd have liked them to be, but no one seemed to mind.
Everyone was a winner, prizes ranged from an extra punch on their MHP punch card
to $ off a "Crop and Craft"
We went all out with our theme, even with the food.
Above the food table were some dice.
One of the snacks "Casino Cream Cheese with Jalapeno Jelly"

Our "decked" out dinner table

"Texas Hold 'Em Turkey", "High Roller Ham" and "Call Your Bluff Beef"

"Ceasar's Palace Salad"

"Poker Chips and Dip"

To "die" for brownies

"Diced" delight cupcakes.

I hope you've enjoyed this little look at what else I do to be creative.
I love planning for our crops along with Jen and Danielle,
my "partners in crime"
We do have a lot of fun.

Thanks for stopping by,
come again soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Birthday Slider Card

Hi!  I hope your having a good day!
We seem to be having some actual spring weather here in 
Western New York, let's hope it stays!
Hope you're having some nice weather too.

Today I have a birthday slider card to show you.
I used "Heart Balloon" (#5204) from Eureka! Stamps and 
"Love You" (#10301) and "Happy Birthday" set (#22803) from 
All the papers I used were from my scrap stash.
I stamped the balloons on scraps of patterned paper
then fussy cut them.
This was a fun card to create.
I love that it slides to reveal another sentiment.


I'm entering this card in the 
of April 2, 2014

Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope you have enjoyed this post and will come again soon.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Mashed Potatoes and Crafts

Hi!  It's time for another craft tutorial at
Mashed Potatoes and Crafts
So pop over and see what this is a picture of
and find out how to make it.

Thanks for stopping by,
hope you enjoy the tutorial.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!