Gilded in Gold!!

Hello & Happy Saturday!  Do any of you have some special plans for the weekend other than staying warm that is? LOL!  Today is errand & relax day but on Sunday we have to pack all the Xmas stuff away--I have it down to a science so it doesn't take very long to do if everyone pitches in.  It's the vacuuming & dusting that takes the longest and then the house looks so bare afterwards, kinda depressing ya know!  But it's time to put everything away & PREPARE for Spring, LOL!  In my dreams right, lol?!!

Last night we ordered Domino's pizza and watched "Aliens in the Attic" with the kids--oh my that movie just cracked me up--the Grandma kicking butt at alien forces.  Oh my, I laughed so hard--the kids always think I'm a weirdo cuz' I laugh harder than them, but I can't help myself.  It's like the new "Chipmunks" movie--it just cracked me up although I have the Chipette's version of "Single Ladies" going thru my head constantly, LOL!

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NewsBitz:

-If you haven't entered for my "Laundry List" Blog Candy, you have until Sunday at midnite EST to do so!  Get the details right HERE!

-Make sure and stop by Susana's Custom Art & Card Design to check out all the new goodies she has in stock!  If you like metallics & sparkles like me, than you will love the new American Crafts Glitter Pens, Metallic Markers and Sparkle Buttons!  I LOVE EM'!!  I'm a magpie remember, lol!

-And if you're not able to get a Sharpie Poster Paint Marker like I use, American Crafts makes a pretty good white pen HERE that is fairly comparable and much, much better than the Inkssentials in my opinion--nice brite white and super easy flow!!

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Gilded Gold

This gift set I made uses the lovely "Cherry Blossom" stamp by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD--available HERE!  If you've seen the Copic "Gold" video (see video HERE or access it on my Tutorials/Templates page at top of blog) I did for the Copic Gold Bundle HERE, then you'll recognize this image that I colored and I had to use her for something special.  I created a Gold Ensemble with a card and matching frame (frame is approx.6.5x6.5")!  The dp is by Anna Griffin and the gold cs I embossed is from PTI!

I embossed her shirt and cuffs with Stewart Superior EP (the best in the biz' for fine line embossing) and then paper-pieced them on.  I added some of my new favorite Zva jewel flourishes and then added some pearls to the ends.  The bow was made with my fave Bow Easy and then I added a Petaloo Mulberry Rose (cuz' I think it looks like a cherry blossom) and then on top is a Prima Pearl Center (I love putting them in the middle of flowers or bows)!  I like my layout for this one--I wanted to kinda mimic her kimono top in the layout & am happy with the way it turned out!

I picked up a couple of these really nice unfinished frames from Michaels quite a while ago so I had to pull one out and finally use it (since I have a closet full of stuff I need to use, lol)!  I attached the same papers with Modge Podge and then added some more rhinestones, ribbon & rose and Cherry Blossom image again.  I adore how it turned out and hope you do too!

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Love Birds

I LOVE this card, the colors, the cute image, everything, hee hee!  This cute image is from I Brake For Stamps called appropriately "Love Birds"--aren't they fun?  (if you order anything from the IBFS store, make sure and use the coupon code "SAVE10SUZANNE" to save 10% off your whole order)!  I paired the image up with these FABULOUS new papers from Kaiser Craft called "Lilac Avenue" HERE--the colors are lovely, there are glitter sheets and foil sheets included in the 6x6 pack!!  I used my Mega Nestabilities Labels 8 to create the curvy border edge--just split it in half and added it and I love it!  So cute--I love this color combo I tell ya!

Have a fabulous weekend and see ya back here on Monday!!

Baby It's Cold Outside!!

Happy, Happy Friday everyone!! Yay, Yay my favorite day of the week, hee hee! And my hubby comes home tonight from a work trip--don't mind being alone but I'm just a weensy-bit of a scaredy cat at night by myself, LOL!! Plus I can't watch any of our tivoed shows when he's not here cuz' he doesn't want me to watch them w/o him!! I don't watch a ton of tv, I find that doing all my computer work in the evenings & reading I just don't get to watch most shows nowadays. But I do make time for my old standby's like HGTV, Bones, Grey's Anatomy & Chuck. (used to love CSI until Grissom left) But I started watching "Drop Dead Diva" & oh my goodness, I LOVE IT!! It's hilarious & even my hubby enjoys watching it with me--I like that there is no drama, stress or violence in it, just a good time! I just don't want to spend my evenings sitting on the edge of my chair, stressed out & then having a nightmare any more ya know--there's enough stress in the world already w/o me watching it on tv (this is why I stopped watching Lost, 24 & Heroes). I just don't enjoy them anymore and when I do have free time I want to laugh not cry, LOL!! And there seems to be such a lack of comedies on tv anymore--they're all action & drama, arghhhhh! I also Tivoed the new show "Modern Family" last nite which is supposed to be a hoot, but I haven't watched it yet so I'll let ya know :o) What's your favorite TV show on tv right now?

And if you want a good laugh, check out this YouTube video that I saw on CNN 2 nights ago! It's good clean fun & will make you chuckle out loud I promise!! Cracks me up! The link is HERE!

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NewsBitz:

-Okay, this time I have the link for ya since Tab got them up yesterday at 7 Kids College Fund. You MUST check out these fabulous new stamps from Penny Johnson right HERE--they are sooooo cute & will melt your heart I know! I want them all, hee hee!

-Susana's Custom Art & Card Design has a new Double Release coming on September 29th with images from BOTH Elisabeth Bell AND Victoria Case! To celebrate--there will be BLOG CANDY on the store blog HERE from the 26th thru the 28th, so make sure & stop by to enter (what can ya win--how about a set of each of the releases, yay!)

-Stay tuned to Pink Cat Studio's new Digi store HERE! Melissa will be releasing new images weekly--how fun, huh!!

-For those of you who subscribe to my blog & would like to have it delivered as soon as it posts (instead of late that evening or next day)--my friend Amy of Pickled Paper Designs has easy to follow directions on how to change that on your subscription if you're interested below (thanks Amy cuz' I had no clue, hee hee)!

Change your Feedblitz delivery settings from "Nightly" to "Hourly." Here's how:
- go to http://www.feedblitz.com/ and log in
- click the "subscriptions" tab
- you'll see a drop-down box in the right corner. It says "Pick One of Your Subscriptions." Choose "ScrapBitz"
- In the main portion of the page, you'll have a list of options, such as "New," "Your Subscriptions," "Restore," etc. Choose "Scheduling."
- Where it says "How often do you want FeedBlitz to check for new articles?" I expect you'll see "Nightly (using the configured time zone)" If so, use the drop-down box to change to "Hourly."
- Be sure to click the "Update Schedule" button for your change to take effect.

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Exciting News for Ya!!

I'm so excited to share some special news with you today!! Mo of Mo's Digital Pencil has put together a DT (or Dream Team as she calls us, hee hee) & she asked me to be on it!! Well, of course I had to say yes cuz' I soooo adore all her images--they really are a joy to color!

And as soon as I saw this image called "Kai in the snow" (you can make the baby a girl or boy) I had to have it. He reminds me so much of my son, who was such a lil' butterball when he was little--it just brought the sweetest memories back to me! I colored him with copics and then added the snow with my favorite Martha Stewart's "Snow Glitter" (love that stuff--I get mine at Michaels). The dp is by Paper Salon & the snowflakes are punches that I have and then I covered them w/ tacky glue & dipped them in the snow glitter & crystal glitter. That fun sentiment is from PTI's "Snowfall" set--perfect me thinks!

Here's a close-up of this lil' chubby cheeked cutie! I put some diamond glaze on his boots and that's white sparkly fluff (buy HERE) on the pom-poms & scarf fringe (so soft & fuzzy)! Love this lil' guy!

Second project is another one I did for the new Pink Cat Studio Digi Stamp store! I bought a bunch of these long notepads from the $1 spot at Michaels awhile back & they have magnets on their back so you can put 'em on the fridge! I thought this To-Do List & matching card would be perfect for lil' teacher or hostess gifts for the holidays. I used "Penguin Candy Cane Swing" & isn't he a lil' cutie? To make the notepad topper I just basically made a scored wrap for the top by measuring it out & scoring & attaching it w/ scor-tape. Very quick & easy to make!


Here's a close-up of the image--I used diamond glaze on the candy canes & then put some liquid applique (heat set so it puffs up) on his lil' elf hat!! So cute! If you haven't delved into the digi stamps yet, you really should give it a try. Melissa has very simple & easy-to-follow directions on learning how to use Digi Images right HERE on how to get started!! You'll be addicted for sure!! LOL

I'll have a quick post up for you tomorrow & then I'll see you all back here on Monday!

hugz,

Suzanne

Girly Rulz!!

Hiya friends! Whatcha' up to today? I have errands to run & some craftin' to do & laundry (not necessarily in that order, lol)--aren't I exciting! Someone made a comment the other day saying our neighborhood should be on that reality "Housewives" show & I laughed--definitely wouldn't pick me as I fly low on the radar & don't really do anything newsworthy, hee hee! I think viewers would fall asleep watchin' me in action :o) But that's okay with me, cuz' I wouldn't want to give up my privacy & peace that's for sure--no amount of money would change that! I'd always be filmed or photographed in my workout clothes or jammies, LOL--they'd be askin' does that women ever get dressed!! No, actually I do dress NICE when I'm actually outta the house, but if you're just hangin' around craftin' & doin' chores, Who the HECK cares, right? I am not too proud to wear my jammies (you've all seen my Copic videos & most were done in my jams, hee hee)--I wear them out with the dogs & to the mailbox, LOVE THEM! And Jammy days are the best I tell ya--if you haven't had one lately YOU SHOULD per Suzanne's instructions, LOL!

NewsBitz:

-WINNER of my Halloween Magnolia Gift Set is.......
Lucky "Helen of Creative Jeans"--please email me at sjdean@smartneighborhood.net with your address so I can get your goodies to you! Congrats & thanks to everyone for their lovely comments & posts!!

-I've added a few more Stampin' Up sets that I decided I really didn't need after selling most of them the other day. You can check out the new list HERE if you'd like--PayPal only please!

-Still waiting on KraftyChic to get in touch with me--You WON the "I Brake For Stamps" blog candy!! If I don't hear from you by Friday, we'll have to pick another winner!

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Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #33

So today is "Try It Out Tuesday Challenge #33" for Susana's Custom Art & Card Design and I challenged the DT to make alter or make a notebook/book cover! Of course I couldn't stop there & decided to make a matching card & 2 cute lil' purses (more on this fun technique below) that can hold a note or candy! This whole idea (projects & papers) were thought up the other night while I was in bed trying to sleep, LOL--I love it when it comes together even bettah' than I imagined! All of my dp is from Stampin' Up's new "Razzleberry Lemonade"--I love the colors & patterns in it! And the fabulous stamp is from Victoria Case for SCACD "Hearts & Hugs Series 2" line--isn't she a cutie, her name is "Aud" (after one of our fabulous DT members)! She is perfect for so many events & occasions I tell ya (and only $7)!!

I used this past week's Friday Sketcher's Sketch #66 for my card layout--a fab one indeed IMO! I used more Prima Caboodles (love them), a scroll punch, rhinestones and a Cuttlebug Embossing folder!
This is a pretty large notebook & has tabs inside too so someone can have different sections if they want--I picked them up at Target last year (of course, lots of big ones & small ones too, lol)! I covered mine with more cs & dp using my fave Scor-Tape to adhere it with so it's super durable! I used the same embellies that I used on the card--the letters are from some Sizzix dies I have & then I embossed them w/ my CB "swiss dots" folder. The entire notebook got a healthy spritz of baby's breath Shimmerz Spritz!

So I was going thru my new Spellbinders dies the other day & saw two that I knew would work perfectly to make small purses!! I used Nestabilities Labels 6 & 7 for these 2 purses! I just cut them out with my Cuttlebug using the largest die in each pack, folder them in half & added handles. For the pink one I embossed it & cut a half circle out for the handle and added a Prima flower too. The patterned one has ribbon handles, a Prima & it stays closed with a magnet. These are perfect for party favors, lunchbox notes or place settings--they can hold a note or small piece of candy. Wouldn't these be cute sitting on a table as place settings w/ nametags on them for a ladies luncheon or girls birthday party--FUN I tell ya! And easy peasy to make too!

Isn't "Aud" just the cutest? I just love her! I added diamond stickles to her sweater & purse, diamond glaze on her boots & eyes & some small rhinestones on her hairbow (and yes she's colored w/ Copics)! Cute I tell ya! And the whole set is up for sale on my Etsy shop if you're interested in it (on sidebar)!

Now make sure to stop by the store blog "Follow Your Heart" to see the rest of the DT's delightful projects today!


See ya tomorrow!

hugz,
Suzanne

Under the Sea!!

Hello & here's to another Wednesday--halfway thru the week already!! Before you know it summer will be over--yuck--I love summertime! This weekend hubby and I going to the Elton John/Billy Joel concert in DC and I cannot wait! Hubby bought me the tickets for my birthday & its sure to be an awesome show--hopefully it doesn't rain since it's outside (fingers crossed). Speaking of awesome musicians--did you watch Michael Jackson's Memorial yesterday. I watched & TRIED to get work done (not much) and didn't think I would cry but Brooke Shields talk teared me up & then how could you not be moved when his daughter got up to the mike. Oh boy, I was boo-hooing & I'm not even a crier--so tragic & so sad!


I had my own MJ tribute yesterday by playing all his music on my Ipod while I worked which I never do cuz' I like the quiet, hee hee--my favorite songs are "Billie Jean" & "Will You Be There" which Jennifer Hudson did a beautiful job singing yesterday (You Are Not Alone runs a close third--see video below, just haunting). No matter what people may think of him I love his music & think he was a wonderful humanitarian & entertainer & am sad to see him pass on!!

My projects today use the fabulous new "Underwater Adventures" stamps by CC Designs available at All That Scraps! I'm delighted to be a guest designer for them this month & was so thrilled with the new stamps I recieved. These stamps are available in a set or by themselves--aren't they gorgeous? I knew as soon as I got these that I finally had an idea for an unfinished jewelry box that's been sitting in my drawer for eons! So I decided to make a mermaid jewelry box & matching birthday card!

For both projects the dp I used is by Paper Adventures "Island Lagoon" and SU cs in groovy guava & soft sky. I embossed the soft sky cs with a CB folder and wrapped it with brown Scrapper's Floss--the sentiment tag was strung to it also. The entire card was spritzed with Shimmerz Spritz in baby's breath and the fish & her tail has diamond stickles. You can't tell from the picture but her jewels have a thick/bubble coating of diamond glaze for more texture.

This jewelry box was unfinished (got mine at Michaels a bit ago) and I painted it with acrylic paints in a pale aqua with a white-washed finish on top. I added dew drops & shells to the top & sides--lovee that if I do say so myself, lol! I added dp to the top & modgepodged the whole box and then spritzed Baby's Breath Shimmerz Spritz to the box for lots of pretty shimmer! I added some fishermen's net on top & some more fun shells.

I really love how this turned out & if you love it too, it's up for sale on my Etsy shop!! (on sidebar) Make sure and stop by All That Scraps to check out all of their fabulous stamps & products (gonna order me some new paper & goodies too)!!

Talk with ya tomorrow!

hugz,

Suzanne

Fly, Bye Butterfly!!

Happy Saturday everyone! I'll keep this super short for you today, since my Mom is visiting and we're on our way to DC for the day to go to lunch & the theater. Hope you're having a great weekend so far :o) Thanks for all your lovely comments on my first video tutorials--I will reshoot them on Sunday & upload more for ya real soon.

For today's projects I used the Lockhart stamp "Chintz Butterfly", some Smooch metallic paints and Angel Wingz Shimmerz. The lil' notepad I got from the $1 bin at Michaels and just altered it with some of this fun dp from the DCWV "Citrus" stack. Such a pretty & fun gift to give to someone!

A close-up shows the Smooch paint I used in "Azure" and "Pumpkin" and then a nice coat of Shimmerz on top! Nice and sparkly!

Did you know you can paint metal & plastic embellishments with the metallic Smooch paints? Why, yes you can, lol! I painted this butterfly charm (find more charms here) to match my image--what a fun way to dress up your plain embellies!!

Hope you enjoyed today's projects and hope you're enjoying your weekend too!

hugz,

Suzanne

Countrytime!!

Happy Saturday everyone! What's everyone up to this weekend? We have a few errands to run and then we are blissfully free---yay!! I'm going to spend some time craftin' and catching up on projects so that maybe I can actually get ahead, lol! Lots of projects & so little time....oh my! And I have a confession for you today------I am a hoarder of "alterable items", there I said it! I have an issue with picking up (many) items always with the good intention of using it--needless to say I have a cupboard full of items, lol! One of my New Year's resolutions is to actually use some of them--so keep on the lookout, ok. So, in that spirit I transformed one of my many "items" for ya today---

I have wood clipboards in many sizes in my cupboard and I really wanted to use this medium sized one. My home is kinda traditional & french country (I love french country)especially my kitchen, so I made this to match my kitchen :o) I had to use this new, fabby "Buttermilk Hen" from the new Karen Lockhart collection cuz' I love roosters & chickens! I painted the back & sides of the clipboard w/ acrylic paint and then attached this yummy dp from Chatterbox with modgepodge. After sanding the edges I inked all around with my Memento brown ink to distress it a bit. The cute hen was colored with Copics and I added a few Distress Stickles in "scattered straw" to the straw, lol!
The sentiment is from PTI's "Mailbox Greetings" and is perfect for this project. I'll probably set this on my kitchen desk but it would be great as a recipe holder too. The cool thing about these clipboards is that they came with a lil' removable stand so you can actually stand it up or hang it! I found mine at Michael's and they were under $2---great gift idea, me thinks!


My second project today uses another new stamp from Whiff of Joy's "party animal" line---I think this lil' mouse is just too cute for words! (If you're here in the states you can buy this lil' guy right here) I used this week's SCS sketch #210 for the layout which was kinda fun & made me step out of my box a little. This fun dp is from K&Co & I've had it for awhile--I love the bright colors! I paired it with matching colors from my Coredinations stash and added some fun scrolls made with this punch to the mix. The sentiment is from SU's "lots of thoughts" set and fit perfectly in this box! A few stickles and some rhinestones & its done---a really fun birthday card!

Make sure and check out Katharina's blog tomorrow for a sneak peek of the new WOJ Elisabeth Bell stamps that are coming out in February. I've seen them all & they are "adorable"--lovee them all!

I will also have some Valentine Blog Candy next week---so make sure and check back :o)

See ya on Monday!

Suzanne