so cool...

I'm home in California where its warm enough to wear short sleeves.  Meanwhile, my friends on the east coast are dealing with a snow storm.  Hoping that they're all safe and warm...I think they're fine, especially since I saw a bunch of Facebook photos of enjoying a snow day:)  This card will be submitted to the Paper Smooches SPARKS Anything Goes challenge, and is completely and totally  inspired by Paper Smooches Design Team member Pamela Ho's card, seen here.

I think I'd have to spend endless years at the craft table to develop the skills, precision, and style that Pamela has.  She's crazy talented! I made my own mask to make two little notches to serve as talk bubble stems.  I love how Pamela flipped the sky and land so that white space is available for the talk bubble sentiment. When I did the same, the little critters were able to have a nice convo.  Brrr-fect and so cool!

That's it!  Thanks for stopping by:)

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches Chilly Chums
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Tim Holtz (peacock feathers)
Other: patterned paper

dare to be you in 2014

I'm a bit rusty here since I haven't blogged in a while, but I felt compelled to stretch out my creative muscles and do some crafting today.  After all, it is the beginning of the new year -- time to recommit ourselves to our passions and set our intentions for the year ahead.

I can't even count how many conversations I've had with friends lately about how we want to just follow our dreams...for once.  Many of us have experienced several bouts of professional burnout and personal challenges, and many of us have drifted far from the hobbies and interests that bring us true happiness.  So, this card is dedicated to my late 30 and 40-something friends who are contemplating or are at the verge of taking a leap.  I've got your back and so does the universe:)

This card is also dedicated to Paulina of Pretty Pink Posh.  I just had to craft today because this is the last craft dash hosted by Pretty Pink Posh.  This saddens me -- the Craft Dash was one of the first challenges I entered and its format is perfect for a scatterbrained person like me -- yet I completely support our generous hostess Paulina on her decision.  She has taken a creative leap herself and is following her dreams.  Congratulations to Paulina on all of her success..her Etsy shop looks fantastic!  What an inspiration!  2014 looks like it'll be a great year for Pretty Pink Posh.

Note: I finished this card with 38 seconds to spare.  Honestly, I think the only reason I was able to finish in time is because I'm spending the week at my sister's house.  She has 10x as many crafting supplies as me...including that super-awesome and fast automatic die-cutting machine.   No more cranking, just flip a switch?!  Saving up for my own now!  Oh, and the washi tape is a little nod to the first Craft Dash I entered (see here).

Happy New Year!  May 2014 bring you much love and laughter...and the little push you might need to follow your own  dreams:)

***EDITED TO ADD: I just saw that CAS-ual Friday's challenge is called "In a Word", and so I'm linking up this card to their challenge as well.  The words on my card pretty much sum up my 2014 resolutions as well as my hopes for everyone.

Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Bubble Talk; Verve Make a Statement and Dare to Be
Dies: Mama Elephant Inline Letters; Papertrey Ink Bubble Talk; Verve Make a Statement
Inks: Memento (tuxedo black); Stampin' Up (melon mambo); Tim Holtz Distress Ink (peacock feathers)
Other: washi tape

purple onion designs - more sweets & treats

It got a little crazy in my kitchen when I was working on my projects for Purple Onion Designs...cookies, cake, hot chocolate, and wine were involved:)

First up, I used the Coffee & Tea set to make this little tag for what I was hoping would be fluffy peppermint marshmallows.  This is what I get for not paying attention to my stand mixer...I completely overwhipped my homemade confection and ended up making peppermint taffy instead of marshmallows.  Um...they still tasted good though:)

Next, I showcased the little gingerbread man from Merry Thoughts for tags on cookie packages.  The cookies were almost too big to fit in my white lunch bags.  I think anyone would be happy to get such a yummy gift.  So easy to put together, too.

Up next -- a set of wine glass tags since we want to make sure we know which glass is ours, right?  No need to buy those metal charms, these will do just fine.  Plus, they're cute and colorful.  A perfect addition to little get together over a bottle of wine.

Lastly, I made a 6" round carrot cake from leftover batter from a previous baking gig.  I decorated it with Holiday Border Tapes adhered to a couple cakepop sticks.  I thought the dimensions of the border tapes would work really well with a small round cake.  My housemates appreciated it and devoured the cake.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  Thanks for stopping by!

purple onion designs - holiday sweets and treats

I had a lot of fun using stamps from Purple Onion Designs to make decorations and packaging for some baked goods.  The stamp images are so cute and whimsical, they just make me happy:)  First up, I baked red velvet cupcakes that are great on any day, but the striking red makes them even better for holiday gift-giving and celebrations.  The cupcake toppers were made with Merry Thoughts, a fun set containing a combination of wintery images and sentiments.

I also made almond tea cookies aka Mexican Wedding cookies.  I have made these cookies for baby and wedding showers, but I love making them around the holidays because they look like snowballs.  The simple sign was made using Merry Thoughts.

Finally, snowball cookies in a bag with a cute little snowman in the front, using Winterberry and Winter Wishes! sentiment set.

Baking orders have picked up and I'm excited to be in the kitchen and get to work...though when you enjoy something this much, it really doesn't feel like work.  So thankful that I have the cute Purple Onion Designs to play around with.  They really do elevate a simple treat into something super sweet:)

Check out Purple Onion Designs' holiday sale going on right now.  All stamps are 25% until December 10th.  Yes ya'll, ALL!

Thanks for stopping by.

owl I want for Christmas...

Oh, how I love puns!!!  And, oh how I love the movie Love Actually!!!  And, so does my friend Gary, who asked me to make Christmas cards for him this year.  When I saw Lawn Fawn's Winter Owl, I just *knew* this would be perfect for him.

See, Gary is a Mariah Carey fan, and not your average fan who enjoys one of her tunes from time to time.  Gary owns her piano books, has been to her concerts, and even had a Mariah (or Gariah) -themed birthday party one year.  We all had to prepare Mariah songs to sing at a karaoke spot.  Memorable!

When I showed Gary this stamp set, he said he loved it.  He then proceeded to ask me if I could make his Christmas cards have Mariah Carey on them with her arm extended, on which the winter owl would be perched.  I said no...that this would have to do.

This card will be submitted to Lawnscaping Challenge, where we had to incorporate polka dots into our project.  Thanks for taking a look!

Supplies:
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Into the Woods, Winter Owl
Inks: Versafine (onyx black)
Dies: Lawn Fawn Winter Owl
Other: Lawn Fawn Into the Woods, Peace Joy Love, kraft paper

sparkle and shine

It's been a while since I've made any cards, the reason which I'll blog about another day.  All I know is that I have a bunch of thank you/you're amazing cards that I need to make to show my gratitude.  Happy to be back in the groove of things and to be participating in CASology's challenge where we have to incorporate the key word "bell" into a card.  Here's mine:

I used one of my favorite holiday stamp sets: Winter Wonderland by Mama Elephant.  The sentiments stamp out soooo clearly and sharply.  And, I didn't even think you could strike a balance between cute and classy, but Mama Elephant figured it out.

I *think* those are bells on deers antlers?  My roommate says they're ornaments, but I looked really closely and the bell images have the tiny little notches on the bottom...you know, the holes in the bells that let you hear them ring.  Bells or ornaments...I'm going with bells.

Hope everyone is doing well.  Thank you for stopping by.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Winter Wonderland, No Peeking
Inks: Mama Elephant (ocean, winter); Versamark (onyx black)
Other: Wink of Stella glitter brush (clear)

holiday cupcake boxes

Here's a quick post to showcase these cute little cupcake boxes I made that feature the Holiday Border Tape Set from Purple Onion Designs.

I used the holiday sentiment borders to serve as bands around the little boxes.   And they really are little...just the right size to hold a mini cupcake.  I sprinkled a few sequins in there just for a size reference.

I've been asked to make favors for weddings and showers; these borders can work for holiday themed favors.  I think party guests would be so happy to take one of these home.

Thanks for stopping by!  Check out all the goodies at Purple Onion Designs.  Their holiday stamps are so much fun!  And, if you want some inspiration, check out the design team's creations on the Purple Onion Design blog.