My Insanity quilt

Hello again! I was at a quilting retreat last week and worked for three straight days on this miniature paper pieced quilt.

I started this quilt several years ago at a class I took at the Mid-Atlantic quilt festival. The class was taught by George and Virgina Siciliano. The actual name of the quilt is "Glow in the Dark". There are 24 blocks, each with 36 pieces in them, making a grand total of 1008 pieces. The kicker is that this quilt is only 18" square! That's why I named it "Insanity." I thought I would go crazy piecing all those tiny little pieces, but I was determined, and I finished it right at the end of the retreat. It really feels good to finished a UFO (Unfinished Object)!  It's going to be hung in my craft area, where I can be inspired each day, and know that ANYTHING is possible! haha

Using my Cameo to Make Cards

Hello! Wow! It's been almost a month since I've posted! October has been a very busy month around here - vacation in the Smoky Mountains, visiting with grandkids and more.

I have to take a moment here and sing the praises of my Silhouette Cameo and the Silhouette software that comes with it. The possibilities with this machine are ENDLESS! It's almost mind-boggling to think of all the things you can make with it. I haven't even touched the surface yet. I have made vinyl sayings for the walls in my home, templates to cut out and use for applique (in quilting), made banners for birthday parties, stencils for quilting, and now am using cut files to make cards! I just love this machine! I did upgrade to the Designer edition last year during a sale and use alot of the functions that provides.

I have been having fun using Lettering Delights cut files to make cards. I have invested ALOT of money into stamps for cardmaking, but am now finding out that I also enjoy making cards with cut files - especially for my grandchildren. I love the dimension the cut images give to a card! Lettering Delights has so many cute images, and they are pretty inexpensive if you pick them up on sale or with a coupon code. I follow a blog called Under a Cherry Tree, and have learned alot from Jin about cutting with my Cameo. Jin is part of the LD design team and has lots of examples using their files.

Another source I have learned alot about my Cameo from is Kerri Bradford's site. I have taken most of her Silhouette online classes and learned TONS from them. I am excited about a new class she is offering that starts November 4th. This class, Hello There, is specifically about using your Cameo to make cards. Can't wait!


Here are a couple cards I've made recently using LD cut files. The first one is a case of this one on Jin's site, but with using a different character, different background paper, and a different font.

Cut Files Used:
 LD Owl Goes Hoo and Ghost goes Boo
LD Polka Stripe Halloween Type Alpha
LD I love Candy Corn
LD Frankly Friends (Background paper)

 This card is for my granddaughter for her 9 month birthday. I traced a cat image in my software and made the cut file. The card base was print and cut with the little banner added. The cat was cut out of cardstock and applied with foam dots on the front.

 This is the inside of the card. Sophie's "color" is purple and I decided to figure out how to make a pop-up card in my software, It took me a few tries, but I finally figured it out.

 Cut Files Used:
LD Frankly Friends (Background paper)

The last card is a birthday card for my grandson. He is into monkeys right now, and I knew the Knit Wits cut files from LD would make a great card.

Cut Files used:
LD Knit Wits in School - monkey
LD Knit Wits Alphabet

Hope you enjoyed these cards! I love learning new things and there's LOTS to learn with my Cameo! have a great day!  Susan :)

New Flair buttons up in Etsy shop!

Hello! I have been making flair, or flat back button sets for my Etsy shop. It's like eating candy - the more I make, the more I think of to make - just can't seem to stop. These flair buttons are used alot nowadays on scrapbook pages, mini albums and in jewelry. You can get them with a flat back, a sew-on back, or as a magnet. Here are some pictures of the sets I've made and put in my Etsy shop. You can go to my Etsy shop by clicking on the tag on the right of this post or by going here.

Back to School buttons

 Banner Day Buttons

Flower Buttons

 Merry Monster Buttons

 Owl Buttons

 Princess/Heroine Buttons

Robot Buttons

 Seashore Buttons

Aren't they just the cutest things you've ever seen?? Well, maybe not the cutest, but aren't they cute? I just love making them and using them on my scrapbook projects. If you like them, check them out in my Etsy shop - thanks for looking!

Papertrey September Blog Hop Challenge

Hello! This month the Papertrey blog hop is all about creating or stamping wreaths. You can read all about it on Nicole's blog here.
 

I have a couple wreath stamp sets from Papertrey - "Wreath for all Seasons" and the "Birds and Blooms" Anniversary set, but I decided to create my wreath using the tiny little leaves in Mini Blooms.

 I began gluing each tiny little leaf to the base, and built up the layers. I debated whether to add berries to the wreath, and finally decided to use red sequins. I dyed some seam binding with a Copic marker for the bow, and added a little Tiny Tag cut out of wood veneer with a sentiment from Mixed Messages.

 I love how it turned out - so much dimension. Not sure I would go to all the trouble of cutting, stamping, and adhering all those leaves again, but I'm glad I did this one. Hope you enjoy it and the rest of the blog!

Mighty Oak Cards using Cork

Hello! I purchased the Mighty Oak stamp set and coverplate from Papertrey and have finally gotten around to playing with it. I wanted to try cutting the coverplate out of cork. I made the first card using only the cork leaves, and the second card using the negative of the cork and the cork trunk. I just love all the dimension and texture cork brings to these cards! One note about using this coverplate with cork - handle the negative diecut gently - it's pretty fragile around the edges.

Card 1 using just cork leaves.

Card Two using negative of coverplate, cork trunk and stamped leaves.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments!  Thanks for dropping by! 

Papertrey Stamp Sets for Sale!

Hello! I am cleaning house (specifically my stamping room) and have the following stamp sets for sale. Some sets have slight staining, as you can see in the pictures - should not affect stamping though. A couple sets have a sentiment or so missing and that's noted on the picture. Click on the picture for a larger image. Some of the sets are in the original cd case packaging, some are in the Tim Holtz style packaging (although I usually use Hobby Lobby sleeves). Shipping is $2.00 per set, with $1 for each additional set ordered - within the U.S. I will work with you on shipping outside the U.S. Let me know if you have any questions.

Alpha Blocks $20

 Background Basics: Gingham $10

 Beautiful Butterflies (only one sentiment used) in DVD case $20

 Beyond Basic Borders $15

Bird Watching - missing trail stamp $15

 Boxes, Bags & Tags $10

 Butterfly Dreams $15

 Butterfly Kisses - missing "Birthday Wishes" stamp - $15

 Delightful Doilies $20

 Everyday Button Bits in cd case $15

 Father Knows Best - $15

 Flower Garden - $15

 Garden of Life - missing "With Sympathy" stamp - $15

 Holiday Button Bits - $15

 Mailbox Greetings - $15

 Ribbon Tails: $10

 Round & Round Anniversary Set :$20

 Round Repeats: $10

 Say It with Style: $20

Simple Little Things 2008 Anniversary Set - $15

 Tags For Spring - $15

Congrats card for Kelly

Hello! I wanted to share a card I made for my daughter. She ran a half marathon (13+ miles) today up in Philadelphia PA. It was her 5th half marathon. She has done one full marathon, and will do her second one in November. She is amazing! I wanted to make a congratulations card for her and decided to use a piece of an actual PA state map as the patterned paper. I fussy cut the area of the map to include Philadelphia. I used the banner die from MFT, as well as the coordinating alphabet for the finish line banner. Then I added a sentiment from PTI's Live Love Life set that says "U rock". This sentiment was perfect because it was the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. Love it when that happens. Anyway, here is the card I made and a picture of her during and at the end of the race - still with a smile on her face!

 I used Congrats All Ways on the inside of the card.