Deconstructed Sketch - 1 Sketch 2 Ways

I am very excited to get to stamp once again after being away for the holidays. This week I was itching to make something from my new favorite sketch site The Deconstructed Sketch. I first started making the dress form card and thought, "Oh My Goodness, same ol' same ol' for me". It's a new year and I want to break out of my old stamping habits. My tastes are changing and I wanted something cleaner and much brighter so I made the Make a Cake card using brighter colors. Both cards were made using Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kits. The kits are so fun and easy to use. 

Ahh, now to the laundry - at least I will be enjoying Downton Abbey as I fold:)

Make A Cake Card

Stamps - Make A Cake

Paper - TE Key Ingredients Kit, Whisper White and Pool Party Card Stock

Ink - Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Real Read, Lucky Limeade, Stazon Black, Versamark

Accessories - Oval Dies, Red Glimmer brads, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Bakers Twine, Silver Embossing Powder

Dress Form Card

Stamps - Established Elegance, Kindness Matters

Ink - Stazon Black, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Baja Breeze

Paper - TE Key Ingredients Kit December 2012, Whisper White card stock

Accessories - Oval dies, victorian lace, vintage trinkets

New Year's Resolution to Keep Organized in 2013. - Still Plugging Away at Organization

Sometime in November, I came across a wonderful organizing blog -  A Bowl Full of Lemons. I decided to take the 14 Weeks to an Organized Home Challenge. Even though I started the challenge late, I am still plugging along to get my home organized.

Week 4  is to Organize the Home Office. I would consider the home office my Crafting Closet. It is a small walk in closet that I have turned into my crafting space. Since I have such a limited amount of space, I must constantly limit the items that I bring into it. Even though I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I limit what I purchase. I pulled most things out of this jam-packed space and re-organized it. Here are the results of my efforts. Now only if it could just stay this way.

My Crafting Closet

Ribbons Organized in pull out drawer - Do you recognize the containers? They are Swiffer boxes:)

My older style punches on an IKEA rail.

My Inks and Pens are all organized in this custom  organizer from http://storageunitsink.com/
Brads, buttons, powders and smaller embellishments are in clear containers underneath with all office supplies in boxes above

My Stamps and Big Shot dies are organized to the right of my Inks with my knitting needles and Holiday stamps tucked away on the top

I keep computer cables, dies and odd pens in these decorative boxes I found at a craft store

My Nestabilities are stacked in this box on magnetic sheets to keep them together.

8 x 11 and 6x6 Paper is organized in a pull out drawer.

I usually have a visitor of some sort 

I do have more items such as the newer punches, 12x12 paper and other embellishment storage, but since my space is so small, it is almost impossible to photograph well. 

And last but not least, the sign on my door.

I would love to see your crafting space organization or if you decide to take the organizing challenge along with me. Leave me a comment if you decide to get organized in 2013.

Happy New Year! - Our Christmas Cards

Happy New Year!

After a busy Christmas season and vacation, I finally have time to post. Woo Hoo! Hopefully, I can begin to stamp again next week. 

This year I once again created our family's Christmas cards using My Digital Studio.

I love how easy and quick the program is to use and how I can customize the colors to match my photos. Best of all, I was left with plenty of time to spend with my family making happy holiday memories.

Hats - What I have been up to.

About a month ago I knitted a few hats as a gift for my friend. After seeing the hats both of my kids put in their requests for hats. I am still quite a beginner when it comes to knitting, but I love to work on projects when I am waiting for the kids either at school or sporting events. I pick projects that I can pick up and put down easily without too much counting. 

Here is barney modeling a hat that I made for Megan (unavailable for photo). Isn't he a natural model? This is a waffle pattern I downloaded from Ravelry, a fabulous knitting website. 

He is too cute!

Here is a Seaman's cap that Jake requested. He likes to wear a beanie during his FNL games.  I also downloaded this pattern from Ravelry. Now it's time to make a hat for ME!

Retro Sketch - Thank You

Here is another thank you card today made with my October 2011 Key Elements Kit. I can't believe it's taken me a year to use these items and I am just loving the paper. I wanted a clean card for this recipient and I found a great sketch at Retro Sketches. I have definitely bookmarked this great sketch site. Now that I have my thank you notes completed, I am gettin' out of the closet but there are more cards to make tomorrow.

Paper - SU Whisper White card stock, Sunbeam card stock, Crate Paper Farmhouse
Stamp/Ink - None - I used My Digital Studio for the sentiment and printed on Whisper White Card stock.
Accessories - Red ribbon and fabric button

Deconstructed Thank You

Ahh finally a chance to use some of my older papers. I created this Thank You card using a sketch from Deconstructed Sketches and A Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kit from October 2011.   I just love this paper and the wonderful colors of all the accessories.

Now on to more stamping...

Paper - TE Yam, Hilary card stock, Crate Paper Farmhouse, SU Very Vanilla
Ink - Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso
Stamp - Full of Life
Accessories - Pumpkin Mum Trim, ribbon, brads

Oh Boy! A Birthday - Mojo Monday

This week I needed to make another boy's birthday card. I looked to Mojo Monday for this layout and tried my new stash of paper Simple Stories "Take a Hike". I bought this paper specifically for masculine cards

I love this layout, it's quick but has great interest with all the different lengths of paper.

Stamp - Afterthoughts
Ink - Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Paper - Early Espresso, Other Yellow and Blue (not from SU, I forgot the names), Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Accessories - Circle dies, burlap fiber, dimensionals