Have you ever...

...walked into a craft store with no intentions of buying, you are just there to peak, but something grabs eye and you just HAVE to have it?!  It happens to me all the time!  I honestly go in there just to look but there are always a couple of things that just call to me..."Katie, Katie...you know you want me!"  LOL!  Well recently I was at one of my locals and I found this sheet of DP with arrows on it and that was it!  I bought it...among a few other things.  I couldn't wait to get that piece of paper home and make a few cards out of it.

What you have here is a result of that impulse purchase (with some paper left over).  Forgive me as I don't have the brand of paper on my mind at the moment.  These two cards were so fun to make!  they are light and bright and make me feel like a kid again!

The first card is using Lawn Fawn's A Birdie Told Me stamp set and captures both sides of the DP. And don't worry, the sentiment inside the bubble isn't a expletive. :)  On the inside I wrote "TRANSLATION" and stamped the sentiment thanks underneath.  I thought this was pretty fun and enjoyed using this set.  For both cards I also busted out this older punch from Stampin' Up!  I love the arrows, they are so trendy right now and are a perfect complimentary feature to the paper.

The second card also uses a retired SU! set with these fun robots in it.  Again, I can't remember the name, but I'll try to post it later. I love that sentiment that goes with it and the little nuts and bolts on the side.  It would make a great boys birthday party ensemble if you had time time to create cupcake toppers and other stuff.

So that is about it.  Hopefully you've enjoyed today's cards and feel a little inspired yourself to do some creating, or even some impulse buying! ;)

Winter Wonderland with a twist

Hello there!  Today I wanted to share a card with you that I made for the Lawnscaping Challenge Blog.  This week's challenge was #50 (whoo-hooo Lawnscaping!)- Winter Wonderland.  Now initially I envisioned a lot of blue and white in my card, but then I though, let's give this a little twist!  I know, so exciting isn't it?!  My world probably blows you away! ;)  The point is, Valentine's Day falls in winter and can be a part of that wonderland!  So here you have my card, some winter, some love, some punny fun, some great stamps and DP.  I'll point out that I used my new set A Birdie Told Me from Lawn Fawn (and of course Frosty Friends), I can't wait to get the coordinating dies!!!

Now, I am also going to enter this in the Ribbon Carousel Blog Challenge #76.  The theme over there is Winter Spirit- goes right along with what I am doing.  The only catch there is that you have to use...wanna guess?....ribbon!!!  I have no problem with that as I love using ribbon on just about everything!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!

My New Years Resolution

OK, I might be a few weeks late, but I have finally decided on a New Years resolution.  I am going to learn how to take a *decent* photo of my cards.  You'd think that would be easy, but it isn't.  I am at work all day and never have optimal lighting to take my pictures (especially in the winter) and they never are as sharp as I'd like them to be.  I think some clean & crisp photography would really make some of these creations pop and present them in a better light.  So any ideas out there for how I might go about this?  I am going to start by looking for tips on the internet and possibly sign up for a class (in all my spare time), but I'd welcome other suggestions and recommendations.

So...onto today's cards.  Both used the color palette from this weeks Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge- Cool Shades.  They are calling these colors Royal, and it does indeed seem very much like colors that Royalty would wear.  I interpreted the pink more as a purple, not sure why, but had fun with it.  I was able to make a feel better card, utilizing PS Healthy Vibes and a flower from Spring Groves.  This isn't my usual style, so this was fun to make.  The second is a birthday card for a beloved friend of mine who is turning 59.  He is totally posh and cool, so I tried to make the little professor from Smarty Pants to match, and I think his attire is totally chic don't you?! :)  Finally of course are the sentiments from Word Salad, which I love.  I am also submitting this second card for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge- Paper Piecing! I do just love to paper piece, it is one of my fave techniques!



While I am at it, i think I'll throw my hat in the ring for the Paper Smooches Feb. guest designer spot.  I may not have a chance with these lousy pics, but I would love to do this, so have to try. :)

Just in the nick of time...

I got a chance to make another card for this weeks Lawnscaping Challenge which was super fun for me.  It is there birthday over at Lawnscaping and I love this challenge blog and Lawn Fawn stamps so I wanted very badly to participate again...and I did just in the nick of time!  I used five of my very favorite sets, but let's be real, they are all my fave, so that isn't hard!  I used Say Cheese, Critters in the Burbs, Admit One, Hats Off to You and the little stars are from Critters Ever After.  I had fun using this pastel pallet, all the DP came from the Happy Day paper pack from My Minds Eye.

Anyhoo, Happy Birthday Lawnscaping!  I love all you do!

Ode to Turtle Man

Have you ever seen the Turtle Man?  It is one of those shows on Animal Planet, that takes place in the South....the deep, deep South... where the redneck guy comes in, flashes his gap tooth grin and makes his yoddely holler before catching turtles, gators, badgers, snakes, etc., and safely removes them from your property.  It is pretty goofy and funny, especially when he whoops out, "Yeee-ye-ye-yee!" but it really is noble since he cares about the animals and wants to keep them safe. 

Now you might be thinking, "what does that have to do with anything?" Well hold up, ya'll, I bout to tell you! ;)  I have a co-worker who introduced me to this fun loving redneck show.  Her birthday is a few days away and so I went ahead and made her a birthday card that shows some appreciation for that...GRIN!  This card is from the Lawn Fawn Critters Down Under Set.  It didn't come with a turtle, so I am going to have to remedy that by purchasing the Critters in the Sea set don't you think?!  I was working with limited supplies when I made this as I was traveling but I think it turned out pretty cute despite that.  I love the October Afternoon Cakewalk paper for the background DP and the paper peiced croc. 

Post picture, I went back in and a party hat from the Hats Off To You set that I got just last week, but I didn't get a photo of it.  Consequently, I think this is a fun card to enter into the current Lawnscaping Challenge for which the category is "Lets Party!"  The reason for this category is because it is their birthday! :)

So with that I hope that both my co-worker and Lawnscaping have excellent birthdays!  The are both fantabulous!

Anything Goes

I have three cards to share with you today.  All of which are for this weeks Paper Smooches Challenge Anything Goes.  They are all different and from the new stamp sets that I got for Christmas in my stocking.  Thank you Santa, so nice of you!!!!! :)

This first one is from the Green Acres set, which is a personal fave.  I grew up in a part of Spokane called Greenacres!  This was after the TV show, I never saw it, but I sure did get a LOT of comments and questions about it since then.  Unfortunately, it isn't called that anymore, it is now the city of Spokane Valley. Anyhoo, I thought this would be the perfect set to use for my brother's birthday card!  Happy Birthday Brother, hope you enjoy!

The next two cards are using the Hot Concoctions set from Paper Smooches and both are using Cakewalk DP from October Afternoon.  I love the first one, so simple but so sweet.  The paper is perfect to call out this sweet drink!  The second is a little more formal, maybe a good Mother's Day card.  There was a little purple in the DP used for the flowers so I used purple gems in the middle as accents.

Thanks for stopping.  HOping your 2013 is going well so far!