Happy Birthday, Dad!

Have you heard we're in for a huge snowstorm this week?  In our area outside Chicago, we are expecting about 18 inches of the white stuff Tuesday/Wednesday (although I heard that one computer model is predicting up to 34 inches!!!!) 

I guess "snow on the brain" was my inspiration for this birthday card I made for my Dad.  I like the look of this stamp, but everytime I use black ink on it I always think it looks too dark, so this time I thought I'd try a snowy look.  I like it!  In fact, I think I might have to make a couple more of these to add to my stash.  I would have done them all earlier, but I ran out of ribbon - darn, guess that means I need to go ribbon shopping!  (tee-hee!)

I'm not sure why the card looks kind of wonky in this photo.  I think I need to investigate how to take better pictures of my cards.  That might be a good project on Wednesday during the snowday it looks like we'll have.

I was hoping that this week would bring good health to our home, unfortunately, my little guy is still coughing a lot.  So, he staying home again today - my older son was so excited to go back to school today after missing three days last week.....we're so lucky that he loves school! 

I hope you and your families are all healthy and if you're in the path of this upcoming snowstorm, I hope you stay safe and warm.  Seems to me it will be the perfect time to stay inside and get inky!

recipe:  stamps:  Inkadinkado trees, Stampendous Happy Birthday; ink: Tsukineko Versamark, VersaMagic Jumbo Java; Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder; The Paper Co Kraft, Chocolate Truffle; JoAnn's ribbon

Love Bud

Attention Germs:  GO AWAY!!!!  That is all.  Thank you!

Ugh!  What a week!  It started with me getting the flu Sunday/Monday (you don't want details, trust me!)  then my little guy got it Monday & Tuesday. On Tuesday my oldest just didn't seem right, but insisted that he could go to school...so off he went.  He came home after school and looked like something the cat had dragged in (if we had a cat).  So he stayed home Wednesday, Thursday and today.  Funny thing is, though, he has something totally different from what his brother and I had.  Something is definitely going around our area, I had an email from his teacher this morning, saying that 12 of the 23 kids in his class were absent yesterday - plus the teacher!  So.....to all you germs out there....consider yourself warned...this Mommy is not happy!

Now back to our previously scheduled programming...

I love this little guy!  He's from the uber-cute Stampendous Love Buds stamp set.  How cute is he?  There's a sweet little gal in the set too, but I have to admit, with 2 little boys I don't get her inky very often.  This was the thank you note I made for my youngest son's birthday gifts.  It was really easy to put together, using LunarLana's method of background paper piecing found here.  I'll be doing this again!  How fun!  And by the way, if you've never checked out Lana's blog, you are in for a treat! 

Thought while I'm at it, I'd also tell you that I used this stamp set for Teacher's Appreciation gifts last year, too.  I decorated a pack of chewing gum using this little man.  On the heart I handwrote "I chews you".

Ok, gotta run!  Hope you're having a good day and staying warm....it's chilly in our neck of the woods!  Brrrrrr!

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  paper:  Deja Views, The Paper Co.; Stampendous Love Buds; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink; Prismacolor pencils, GooGone, Tortillons

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Cocoa Changito

My youngest son wanted to bring his little Preschool friends a little Christmas gift on the last day of school before Winter Break.  This little cocoa packet was what I came up with.  It's hard to see in this photo, but I stamped snowflakes on the glassine bags with White Stazon ink.  Inside the bag is a package of cocoa, a little baggie of marshmallows and a mini candy cane.  It was a quick and easy gift to put together - and ended up being pretty cheap, too, since I found a great sale for the cocoa, marshmallows and the candy canes.  An added bonus was that the glassine bags were given to me by a friend as samples from her work.  Woo-hoo!  I love free samples!

It's no secret that Changito is one of my favorite little buddies.  This image is perfect for the gift of cocoa!  I'll be making more of these next Christmas!  They are great for school goodie bags!

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  stamps: Stampendous Changito Snow Play, Hero Arts Winter's Butterfly; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink, White StazOn ink; Prismacolor Pencils, GooGone, Tortillons; CM Oval Cutting System; The Paper Co.; glassine bags; cocoa, mini marshmallows, mini candy canes; Offray ribbon

The Gift of "George"

Every year for my niece and nephew's birthday, we give them one dollar for every year.  I like to package them creatively and every year try to come up with something new.  Last month, my sweet niece, Alyssa, turned 11 years old (where does the time go?)  So this year, she found her eleven Georges wrapped around Hershey Nuggets.  I made it an even dozen and added a Happy Birthday message to one piece of chocolate.  I then made a box with an acetate window to hold them all.  It was a fun project.  Last year we gave her Cold Hard Cash.  I better start gathering ideas for her 12th birthday!

The funniest thing about when Alyssa opened her birthday gift, was when my sister-in-law saw the money and chocolate she jokingly said "All she's missing now is the diamonds, then she's got all of a girl's best friends!"  What Debbie didn't know at the time, was that her other gift was a pair of tiny little diamond earrings!  What fun to spoil my favorite (and only) niece!

Take time to get inky today!

recipe: paper Bo Bunny; white felt snowflake Menards; misc pink button; Westrim Crafts white snowflake sequin; Hero Arts pink bling; chocolate: Hershey's Nuggets; George:  US Mint

His song is with me....

I've been wanting a musical score stamp for quite awhile, so I really excited to add this one to my ever-expanding collection.  (side note:  I've heard it said that "collection" could be another word for "obsession" - I think that's a fair assumption when it comes to my stamp "collection"!)  I could hardly wait to get it good and inky.  This scripture stamp was the perfect accompaniment.  I didn't want to get too carried away with bling and embellishments, because I think the look of sheet music is so pretty.  So, I stuck with just a paper flower with a simple silver brad. 

This was a fun card to make and I can't wait to make sweet music with this stamp again.

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  paper: The Paper Co; stamps: Stampendous Music Score; Stampin' Up Elegant Inspirations; Hero Arts paper flowers; Marvy Scalloped Circle punch; CM circle cutting system;  Making Memories silver brad; Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink



Remember me?????

*knock*   *knock*  *knock*   Is this thing still on?  Is anyone still there?  It's me, Krissy, again.  It's been a long couple of months since I've posted anything.  Hopefully, taking the first step is the hardest, and now that I've done that I will be better about posting more often.  If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there!

Now, let's see if I remember how to do this!

One of the many "things" that has been going on in our lives has been having to say good-bye to my son's beloved Preschool teacher.  She, after much consideration, decided it was best for her family for her to leave our little preschool and head in a new career path.  Both of my boys were in her "Polar Bear" class, so this card was for her from my oldest son.  He wrote the sweetest note inside telling her how much he loved "being her little polar bear".  He also told her that the 3 bears on the card were him, her and my youngest son.  It was really a touching note from a sweet little 6 year old.

Anyway!  On the the card.  I've told you before that I have had problems combining patterned papers in the past, but this just came together 1,2,3 for me.  I was so happy!  See the white felt snowflake in the corner?  Well, you'll never believe where I got it!  Menards!  Yep, that Menards, the home improvement store.  I found a 15 foot roll of snowflake ribbon before Christmas.  The whole roll was only about $4 - it will last for quite awhile....I just snip off one snowflake at a time.  I love the way it looks with a red button layered on top of it and then a snowflake sequin and a little bling.  All that layering makes you forget that the button is round, doesn't it?

I've never sewn on my cards before, but this card made me want to.  I think it would have been the perfect touch for this one, but I was too lazy to drag out my sewing machine.  Plus - I already have enough piled on my dining room table where I craft.

Well, there I've done it!  I'm back to blogging again.  Phew!  Thanks again for hanging in there.  I'll be back soon!   I promise!

Take time to get inky today!

recipe:  paper: HOTP Blue Snowflakes and Swirls, DCWV Holiday Stack; stamp: Stampendous Polar Ride;  ink: Tsukineko Tuxedo Black; Prismacolor Pencils, Goo Gone, Tortillons; Felt Snowflake: Menards; Red misc button; Westrim Snowflake sequin; Me & My Big Ideas red bling; Crystal Stickles