My New Hobby - Dusting Off the Bernina

Arithmetic Quilt

After many years of gathering dust, my sewing machine has finally made a comeback. I took my first quilting class in October and have been steadily learning how to piece, baste, quilt and finish these quilts. Needless to say I am hooked. I have been pinning all sorts of patterns and taking additional classes to improve my skills. I have really enjoyed the process and it helps me to de-stress and relax. My only issue now is fitting all the fabric in with my paper and ink in my little crafting closet. I think I may have to officially take over the dining room:)

You can link to any of the designs here by visiting my "So Sew" board on Pinterest or clicking on the description.

Jelly Roll Jam 

Half Square Triangle Quilt - No Pattern just random piecing

Lap Size/Vintage  Arithmetic Quilt

A Few Thanks

It has been awhile since I have posted some new cards. It seems like I need to send them out right away  so I don't have time to photograph and share them on my blog. Well, I had a bit of time today and wanted to post 3 new cards. I needed quite a few Thank You cards and created the following using sketches from Deconstructing Jen and RetroSketches. I love using sketches to pull projects together quickly. A good sketch, a 6X6 coordinated paper pack and woohoo it's done!

Using sketch from Deconstructing Jen - Sketch 183

Using sketch from RetroSketches

Pulled from my stash:)

Deconstructed Sketch - Age and Wine

Today is one of my dear friend's birthday and I thought Unity's Age and Wine stamp was very appropriate for her card. We ladies like our wine:) I used the Deconstructed Sketch this week for inspiration. 

Stamps - Unity "Age and Wine", SU Daydream Medallions

Paper - whisper white, DCWV Violet Leaf

Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black, Stampin Blendabilites, Copics

Accessories - Twine, Cardboard Button

Sweet Sunday Sketch and CC486 Thank You

This month, it seems like I need a LOT of thank you cards. I combined two challenges for this Tap Tap Tap thank you. The color challenge was really difficult for me combining pear pizzazz, crisp cantaloupe, soft suede and soft sky. I tried to keep the brightest color as the focal point and used the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge for more inspiration.

Stamps - SU Tap, Tap, Tap - TAWS Good Point
Paper - crisp cantaloupe, whisper white
Ink - pear pizzazz, crisp cantaloupe, soft suede, soft sky
Accessories - wooden @, pear pizzazz bakers twine

Too Much Happy - CC486Color Challenge and Retrosketches #123

I made this card for 2 challenges today. Splitcoast Stampers color challenge using calypso coral, daffodil delight and old olive paired with this week's Retrosketches challenge. The colors were a bit odd for me so I wanted to use a lot of white space. I love the simplicity of Retrosketches challenges so I went there for inspiration.

Stamps - SU Yippee Skippy, Doodle Bug - Welcome Home
Paper - daffodil delight, whisper white, calypso coral, assorted dsp
Ink - Momento tuxedo black, daffodil delight
Assessories - pearls

Gift Card Holders

With the release of the new SU 2014-2015 Catalog, I have found some GREAT items. My favorite and one that I have already used quite a bit are the Gift Card Enclosure Packs. I used these along with another favorite stamp Tap Tap Tap, to create gift card enclosures for Jake's teachers. They are so fun and quick to create.

Once opening, there are a few layers to enjoy before seeing the gift card.

Gift Card Packs include 10 gift card holders and are priced at just $5.95 - What a deal. Click the shop bottom on the right to order your gift card enclosure packs.

A Fancy Folk Art Birthday Card

Here is a card I made for my lovely sister. This stamp set, "Fancy Folk Art" from Papertrey Ink, always makes me think of her. I wish I could be with her on her birthday and have a few refreshing beverages to celebrate, but I have to wait until this summer to see her. We will make up for lost time then.

Paper - Daffodil delight, basic black, whisper white

Designer Paper - My Minds Eye Collectable - Notable

Stamp - Fancy Folk Art - Papertrey Ink. 

A Quick Thank You

Here is a quick thank you card I made using last week's Retro Sketch. My son needed some thank you cards and I quickly made 3 of these. I used the Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit in combination with the sketch for a quick card. I love using the kits with sketches for quick and coordinated cards. The two combined makes it very easy to make something I am happy with and enjoy giving to others.

Paper and Hash Tag - Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients
Stamp - SU Just Sayin'

Washi Been Up To?

Last month our stamp group had a challenge to use Washi Tape on our cards. Here is my card inspired by Cards by Alice. You can see her beautiful Easter creation by clicking here. I was in the mood for spring so I used some bright colors for my flower. I have picked up Washi Tape more for my Erin Condren Planner than for making cards but find I use it for so many other things. I put in on my phone charger and earbuds so no one else can claim them:)

Here is a card using some washi and a cute little stamp from Unity Stamp Co. Megan used this on for her brother's birthday card.

Its Sherbert Day

When I saw this stamp from Unity Stamp Company, I HAD to get it. I paired this awesome little stamp with  this week's sketch from Retrosketches. It's a tradition here to play 50 Cent's "In Da' Club" which opens with "Go Shawty, It's your birthday.."  for my kids birthday to wake them up. Megan and Jake's birthdays are just a few weeks apart and I used the new stamp for both their cards. I just changed up the color scheme. I know they will also want this stamp for their friend's birthday cards as well. It's such a fun little set!

" Go Shawty, it's your birthday. We're going to party like it's your birthday.."

Stamps - Sherbert Day, Unity Stamps
Paper - We are Memory Keepers - Hip Hip Hooray from Tailored Expressions February Key Ingredients Kit

Masculine Valentine

It's been ages since I have post to my blog. Even though I am continuing to stamp, I haven't had the opportunity to take photos and share my projects. I am hoping that will change and that I can at least post once a week.

Here is a card I created for our stamp group. I wanted to make a card that I could give to my husband and one that didn't have the traditional valentine colors. I wanted a clean simple look but decided to give it some dimension by recessing the heart a few layers down.

Valentine's day is my son's birthday so I will be working on a card for him. I just ordered some stamps that are to arrive today and I can't wait to use them.

Paper - basic black, whisper white, daffodil delight, coastal cabana, island indigo and smoky slate
Stamps - TAWS Good Point, TAWS Iconic, Alphabet
Accessories - black brads, circle dies

Spooky Stamp Club project

Here is the spooky little tabletop/mantle decoration we created for our last stamp club. I used My Digital Studio to create the letters for this piece. Witches Brew Designer Series Paper creates a nice colorful background for this Halloween decoration. The bats and glitter spider were extras from the craft store.

Now if I can just get my little Boo kitty to leave the bats alone:)

The Boo Kitty

A Quick Retro Sketch Card

Here is a quick little card I created using this week's Retro Sketch challenge. I used some really fun paper from Echo Park to create a bright, quick Bat Mitzvah card.


Paper - Echo Park - Sweet Girl 6x6 Pad, very vanilla and blue card stock
Stamp - Shalom Sayings
Ink - Bermuda Bay
Accessories - Felt flower, leaf and yellow button.

Hello Chick - Deconstructed Sketch

Megan needed an introduction/hello card for her little sister at school so I thought I would try out this cute little chick. I used this weeks sketch from Deconstructed Sketch 111 to guide my design. I tried to keep it CAS and bright so I used the white background in lieu of designer paper. I am having so much fun trying out my new TAW sets.

Stamp - The Alley Way - Bird Brain
Ink - basic black, Copics Y11, Y15, Y18
Paper - Basic Grey Kneehigh DSP, whisper white and pink card stock.
Accessories - ribbon, circle die, scallop circle die, button, bakers twine, dimensionals

More Fun with TAWS

OK, I just had to keep stamping since it has been a while and I am having so much fun with my new TAW sets. This card is for my sister since I don't know what I would do without that woman. I started with just the sentiment and thought I needed something extra for the card although I wanted to keep it CAS. I added the "you are here" at the last minute and like how it turned out. Oooh, to have a bit more time to ink up a few more sets - but the kids and the dogs are calling.

Stamps - The Alley Way - Iconic and Good Point

Paper - SU basic gray and whisper white card stock

Ink - coastal cabana, melon mambo, summer starfruit

Sentiment from MDS

Accessories - 1" circle punch, dimensionals

TAWS Challenge

Today I thought I would enter the TAWS challenge. I have just found some really cool and fun stamps by The Alley Way stamp company and couldn't wait to ink them up. I combined two sets to create this clean and simple thank you. Mmmm with this sentiment, I think I may have to order the robot set to go with it:)

Click on over to the TAWS challenge and check out the awesome creations there.

Stamps - The Alley Way - Iconic and Good Point
Paper - SU going grey, crushed curry and whisper white card stock
Ink - crushed curry, basic black
Accessories - 1" circle punch, gold band, dimensionals

July Stamp Club

Here are the projects we completed for our July Stamp club. For this little purse favor, I used the beautiful new Eastern Elegance DSP. I just love the sophisticated palette of this paper.

Paper - Eastern Elegance DSP, smokeyslate, crushed curry and whisper white card stock
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Accessories - Pansy punch, brads, modern label punch, 1/2" circle punch, dimensionals, bakers twine, velcro

And for all our little sports girls and guys we created this bottle attachment. I think I am going to try an adult version for wine bottles that can hold some chocolate and nut mix.

Paper - Daffodil delight, real red, whisper white card stock, striped paper from MDS
Stamps - Blue Ribbon, My Digital Studio
Accessories - 1 3/8" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, red ribbon, craft sticks, dimensionals

A New Blog and a New Journey

I have just started a new blog and wanted to invite you to join if you will. It should be an interesting ride.

I am still stamping and paper crafting, but I swear I have to get my projects out the door so fast I don't have time to take pictures and blog about them. I am hoping that will all calm down this fall when the kids are back in school.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer spending time with your loved ones and creating fabulous things. 

Happy Stamping!

Tara

Birthday "Collectable"

Here is a quick birthday card I made for a friend today. With the kid's schedule these days. I NEED quick. I just love the papers from My Mind's Eye. Aren't they yummy?  It is from the 6x6 pad  -Collectable "Memorable".  I received this as part of a Taylored Expressions key ingredient kit. These kits are so fun and it is easy to pull projects together quickly with all the beautifully coordinated items. A little ribbon, flower, button and a sentiment and it is done.

Paper - My Minds Eye Collectable "Memorable", very vanilla and yellow card stock
Stamp- A Fitting Occasion
Ink - Rose Red
Accessories - ribbon, button, paper daisy, bakers twine, 1" circle punch

A Thorough Purge - Spring Cleaning the Crafting Closet

Ahhh, and here is a nice glass of wine to celebrate a ruthless purge  and sparkling condition of my crafting closet. I haven't been stamping much but have started Spring Cleaning the house. Not only is it time to spring cleaning time, but the new Stampin' Up! catalog is soon to be released and it's time to make way for some lovely new products.

So, here you can see how ruthless I really am. I may regret getting rid of some of these sets, but I know I have My Digital Studio as a backup for most of them. It does feel very good to open up some space and DUST EVERYTHING OFF. I believe this is about 42 sets, 6 wheels and not shown is a stack of paper and accessories about 12" high.

AND OOh, Aahhhh an empty shelf!

Now, I will have to make sure I don't fill this shelf up too fast. Some space will be taken up by my wood sets that I will transfer to the new wood storage boxes when they are available May 31st. I am very excited for the new storage boxes!

I am offering my customers first dibs at my stamp sets and then will donate the rest to Goodwill. What do you do with your purged crafting supplies?