True Friend

This is a great card to give a friend for any occasion!  I used a marigold colored card base, and used the "Top Note" die from Stampin' Up to coordinate over cream paper.  The inks are Marigold Morning and Marina Mist.  I used stamps from the 2007 SU set "True Friend" for the flower and sentiment.  For the flower, I stamped the same image two times, but slightly offset them, giving more depth to the project.  I also added a blue pearl to the center of the flower, as well as adding blue ribbon.  I inked all edges, and used pop dots for the sentiment ("A true friend is you friend").  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Flight Time

Hey, everyone!  I came up with this masculine birthday card on the fly, for a friend who wanted one for her dad.  I'm in the midst of the Northwest Paper Chase, report cards, assessment overload, and conference preparation, and of course I said "Sure, no problem" when someone told me they needed a card ASAP!  (What was I thinking???)  I was really excited though, to try this idea out since I borrowed the "Plane and Simple" set with the plane and goggles from my friend, Kate. 
I used the clock from a 2005 SU set called "Artifacts" in the background.  The sentiment is from "Plane & Simple", and it's punched using "word window", then double mounted on the oval and scallop oval.  I used two brown pearls attached to either side to give the appearance of brads.  The embossing folder is SU's Square Lattice, and the ink colors are Marina Mist and Early Espresso.  Hope you like it! ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Hydrangea

For this quick thank you card, I used the gorgeous hydrangea from the Stampin' Up hostess set "Because I Care".  I knew that I HAD to earn this set, the moment I used the stamp during a card party.  I started out with a light purple card base and rounded the corners with my Zutter Corner Rounder.  I cut a cream-colored plaque from the SU Sizzix die "Top Note", then stamped the hydrangea on it in Concord Crush.  I used the Quickie Glue Pen to add dots all over the flower (on centers), and then added SU's Dazzling Diamonds glitter to give some sparkle.
Next, I adhered a two-tone satin purple ribbon towards the bottom of the flower, then used Kraft cardstock and punched out a plaque for the sentiment "thank you".  I added some dimensionals (pop dots), as well as two pearls to add bling. I also inked all sides and corners of the card base.   ~Hoppy Crafting!

Stampin' Up Haul!

Hold onto your seats, because you won't believe what I just found!  I just hit the jackpot of sales!  Yes folks, the "deal predator" has struck again!!!  He he he!  (Can you tell I'm super excited with all the exclamation marks???) 
My friend, Kelly, and I were on the Northwest Paper Chase on Saturday, when I mentioned seeing a post of a former scrap store, that just happened to be along our route, was clearancing out the remainder of her inventory at 60% off! 
Well, she not only had the normal scrap store fare, but she was "garage sale-ing" her private collection of Stampin' Up stamps, punches, ink pads, etc., at a PHENOMENAL discount!  Let's suffice it to say, that I walked away from the store with three bags of goodies that will last me forever.  
Among my best finds....the TEN Stampin' Up punches!  Yes, they're old-style, but who really cares?  I wish they were the space-saving ones, but seriously at right around $50, TOTAL, for all TEN, I'm ecstatic!  (Those of you who know punches or Stampin' Up, the large ones all retail for around $16.95 apiece!)
Other great finds include: 100 yards of ivory grosgrain ribbon for less than $1.50, as well as other grosgrains and satins for 60% off of  25 or 50 cents; large bundle of 12x12 chipboard for less than $4; approximately 50 sheets of 12x12 white textured cardstock for under $2.50; two sets of replacement Big Shot cutting pads for under $2.50; and, an assortment of other Stampin' Up stamp sets for over 60% off of retail.  I was in total clearance Heaven, and had to stop myself before I bought everything!  Of course, I'm kicking myself that I didn't get a few other punches or stamp sets, BUT, I am quite happy with what I was able to snag.  Hopefully you all can find deals of your own soon, too!  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

"Manhattan Flower" meets "Elements of Style"

When at first I saw the Manhattan Flower embossing folder in the Stampin' Up book, I didn't even give it a second glance.  I thought "Why would I need that embossing folder?".  Then, one day, while skimming the book again (drooling and creating a new wish list), ideas started flowing, and I just HAD to have THAT folder! 
Here's one of the first cards I have made, using this folder!  After embossing it on Kraft cardstock, I gently glided the raised flowers over the Early Espresso ink pad, to give the design more definition.  Then, I took the swirly stamp from "Elements of Style", and began stamping the empty spots around the flowers, as well as adding the sentiment "Life is a matter of moments".  I added ivory satin ribbon, then adhered the whole piece to a light seaside blue card base.  Finally, I added several pieces of bling under the sentiment.  I hope you like it!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Lights! Camera! Action! Northwest Paper Chase 2011!

The 2011 Northwest Paper Chase is HERE!!!  Wow!!!  I can't believe it's that time already!  Truthfully, I've been dreaming about March's Paper Chase since last year's ended.  I love hopping from store to store and finding new treasures to use in my creations.  It's the thrill of the chase...the paper and embellishment hunt, if you will.   Scrapbooking supplies are my chocolate...my drug of choice...my passion!  I LOVE the smell and feel of new paper and glitzy embellishments!  A million ideas run through my brain as I compartmentalize exactly what each treasure could be used for.  The possibilities are truly ENDLESS!
This year, there are 18 stores in the passport, and each store has chosen a movie theme.  There is also a charm bracelet, and you can choose to collect a charm, representing each movie, at each store.  Now, buying the passport entitles you to 20% off of your purchase at any of the participating stores, and trust me, it's worth it!  Last year I was overwhelmed and went totally crazy!  This year, I budgeted, saved, and have been pretty good at pacing myself at (most of) the 8 stores from the Friday and Saturday binge.  With 10 stores to go, I can't wait to spend more time with some of my besties and peruse the racks of wonder.  On with the chase!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Trophy

Here's a fun gag gift, that I made so my husband could give one of his friends for his 30th birthday.  I cut black and pink vinyl (black to shadow the top phrase) in two banners.  The top banner says "World's Greatest", and the bottom banner says "Spooner", which I welded into the banner.  I used pink pearls along the brim of the trophy, and added diamond bling to the base.  I also used the I*Rock to attach a couple of large diamonds to the brads holding the flowers in.  I finished it off by using a pink and black polka-dotted grosgrain ribbon around the middle.

Yes, there is a story behind this crazy trophy....My husband and Sean (my friend Brenda's husband), were just getting to know each other, and decided to go out charter fishing.  Well, the two of them were SO EXCITED, that neither could sleep.  So, what do you do when you can't sleep and you have to check in at the charter dock by like 5am????  Hit the casino, of course!  These two crazy guys left our house around 8pm, gambled for a few hours near their destination, and then "spooned" (a.k.a. shared a blanket) in the vehicle and caught a quick nap before it was time to head to sea.  Every since then, the guys have joked about "spooning" and tell each other that they're the "best spooner". 

When my husband and I were brainstorming for Sean's birthday, we happened upon this trophy in the Target dollar bins.....and the rest is history!  Of course we got him a "real" gift, too, but this is hopefully one to laugh about for quite some time to come! 

~Hoppy Crafting!