Keep Calm and Sip On

Hey there! I have been playing catch up here at home. I have been preparing for my State Court Interpreter Certification exam, and basically put everything on hold. For a few months. You know when you have something you WANT to do, but there is something more important you HAVE to do first? And you can't do what you want until you finish that task first? Yeah, well, I couldn't finish the "fun stuff" until I got that test out of the way. I had to study a lot, and practice. I don't have anyone here locally that can help me study, so I was on my own. In any case, the test is behind me now, and now I can get back to some of the things- like papercrafting and photography- that allow me to relax every day.

So, here is a card I made, using the first stamp I bought from Market Street Stamps. You can find it here, and you can find the Market Street Stamps blog here. 

Ok, so here is what I used. The card base is Stamper's Select Cardstock in White from Papertrey Ink. The blue cardstock (there are 5 pieces, each is cut at 1/2 an inch) is from Pacific Point from Stampin' Up. To try to get even spacing, I adhered the outside strips first and worked my way in. 

I then stamped the sentiment on a piece of white cardstock, (cut to 2 3/8") using Red Riding Hood from Stampin' Up. That piece was adhered on a piece of white cardstock, cut at 2 5/8". That was then adhered with foam squares to give the card some dimension. And that's it! Super easy. (Finished card size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".)

If you aren't familiar with Market Street Stamps, check them out. They have great prices, fast shipping and the stamps are high quality (I believe they are polymer.). And their stamps are SUPER cute!

That's it for me today, we are off to soccer practice!

Have a great day!!!

Project 52- My 3 Boybarians Weeks 1 and 2

 I missed the deadline to post my photo for the 1st week, so I am posting weeks 1 and 2 here for the Project 52 Challenge hosted by Darcy at My 3 Boybarians. However, for the sake of linking properly to THIS week's theme, the first photo is for "Made With Love".  I made this card for my youngest sister, Gabriela. She was in a pretty scary car accident early Tuesday morning. A guy ran a red light and hit her car in the side- HER side. Her car is totaled, and she is still in the hospital. She is still in quite a bit of pain, but is beginning to sound like herself. I can't wait until she is well enough to go back to the comfort of her own home. So...I made her a card. Is it an excuse to make something with paper? Maybe. It felt good not only to actually make something again this week after months of "papercrafting silence". It feels even better that she will know I made this with my own hands.

Here is the 1st week's theme: Resolutions. I had to add the text to the orange and blue binders, otherwise the photo is unedited. These are my resolutions...well, some of them...organizing our home-room by room, to get our finances in order, to use those calendars that I HAVE to have but never write in. There are a couple of other resolutions (get back in shape...I have always worked out but I stopped for several months last year...post on this blog consistently...learn how to use my camera and PSE 10 inside and out...not procrastinating...there's more- but they are realistic expectations that can and will happen)- they all revolve around being organized. In the end, when you are organized, you tend to have more time, energy, get more accomplished and it just seems to me that organized people are happier people.

Have a great day!

~Antoinette

i miss you.

I got the idea  for this card from Nichole Heady's and it also became the Mother's Day card I sent to my mom. It says Happy Mother's Day inside. I do miss her, but I put that on the front b/c while my mom was visiting she and my dog Marley bonded....something I am not sure my mom will admit. lol
(This is also another card sent to Peru that still hasn't made it down there!!)

Stamps: Chair-ished and Vintage Picnic- PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy- PTI; Chocolate Chip- SU
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Noir Black- PTI
Markers: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Real Red- SU
Other: Cuttlebug Argyle folder

Thinking of You

I made this card for one of my aunts who lives in Peru. Unfortunately it looks like it got lost in the mail, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will eventually get to her.

Stamps: Russian Dolls, Hero Arts; Asian Fusion and A Little Argyle, PTI

Cardstock: Pure Poppy, PTI; Cameo Coral, SU!

Ink: Riding Hood Red, SU; Noir Black, Palette

Other: SU markers

Thinking of You

Stamps: Background Basics: Tin Types; Fillable Frames #2- PTI
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores & Stamper's Select White- PTI
Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart- PTI
Other: Versamark, White Filigree

Birthday Wishes

Stamps: Asian Fusion, PTI
Paper: Berry Sorbet, PTI; Very Vanilla, SU!
Ink: Pink Passion, SU!; Noir Black, Palette
Other: markers- Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, SU! & Black Sharpie Fine point

Thank You So Very Much

Stamps: Delightful Dahlia (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet (PTI), Noir Black (Palette)
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Berry Sorbet
Other: White gel pen, Copics, Marvy Brush Markers

I followed Becky Oehler's card for this one, which you can see here. I haven't found a white embossing powder that works well for me (so if anyone has suggestions for this, I'd appreciate it!!). I think I may try the PTI one next.
I made this card for my best friend's father, whose own father passed away last week. Though I didn't know her Veroushka's grandfather (he lived in Nicaragua), her family has always been so good to me, like a second family.
Personally, I think this card could be used for any number of occasions, in many different colors.

Baby Boy Shirt

And here is the baby boy shirt...

Baby girl shirt

Being pregnant, and having so many friends who are pregnant right now, I was in the mood to make a few t-shirts- in the newborn size. We are not finding out the sex of the baby, so I get to make shirts for both a boy and a girl. I used PTI stamps but realized the ink I was using would wash off so I painted over the design with a paint brush. Then I added a few French knots around the neck line. Not too bad for my first try...

Thank You

Congratulations

Celebrate

Thank You

Snowman Greetings

For this snowman, I used VersaMark to emboss the outline, then colored in the scarf with a Real Red SU marker. Then I embossed the whole snowman image again. I used PTI Aqua Mist to sponge around the snowman, and added Ivory Flower Soft for the snow. Stamped Season's Greetings in Real Red from the Snow Swirled SU stamp set.

Santa is Watching

Santa was stamped in Sepia, on recycled banana paper. The red and green panels were stamped in gold text, then all 3 edges were sponged with gold ink. I added a red ribbon and adhered to the card base. Very quick and easy card to make.

Celebrate

A Superstar Surprise

About 2 weeks ago I went to one of my favorite scrapbooking stores, and waited patiently for the doors to open. You know how sometimes you see someone or something and they/it get your attention but you're not sure why? Well, this girl got my attention that morning. I thought maybe the door had just been unlocked or something. Anyway, I walked in and got what I was looking for. I hear her talking, trying to shop and not to stare- "Is she or isn't she?" She was! She- being Nichole Heady, one of the co-owners of Papertrey Ink!! Nichole is one of the many people in the PaperCraft/Stamping industry whose work I really admire. Her style is clean, simple & elegant. So, I walked up and asked her if she would mind taking a picture with me. (Of course, don't you know I am always prepared!! I always have my camera, anyone that knows me knows that.) Nichole was very nice, and we chatted for just a minute- but I have to admit I was nervous! Having lived in Las Vegas for 4 years, in Florida and even in Nashville, I have met more celebrities than I can remember so it kind of took me by surprise. I think I figured out the reason. Nichole is not a famous singer, or a superstar actress, but she is someone I look up to. As I mentioned before, it is because of her work style, I have read how the company began and because of the stamps she designs- the stamps are something I can see and use, thus creating my own style of cards. PTI also has a great design team, ladies whose work I enjoy and is at times inspiration when I have lost "it" and can't create. (I believe they call that "mojo"?? I am not sure if that makes sense, but to me, Nichole is a superstar in the papercrafting world. Take a look at her blog and see if you aren't inspired: http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/ Then follow the links (or their pictures) under the heading "Our Team- the best in the business" on the left hand side of the page to see the Design Teams' blogs.
Thanks Nichole, for being so nice, and down to earth!! Hopefully we'll run into each other again!

Note Card Set

I made this note card set for my friend Errin using this template. I will add the link later to the one Lauren made, right now I can't find it- and I am off to jury duty!

On My Couch

This set is from Papertrey Ink- On My Couch, designed by Lisa Johnson. I used Red Riding Hood for the Couch, and colored in the rest with SU! Markers. I used foam dots to give the couch a little dimension.