Thinking Inking Part Three

If you haven't been following this awesome thinking inking class from Jennifer McGuire, over at two peas, you are missing out! This week, she played with Ranger Distress Inks from Tim Holtz..... I really love those inks, I have most colors and I really wish SU would come out with some! Be sure to check out the two peas site, for pdf instructions and some great samples!

More Fantastic Freebies from Denise

Denise from Denise's scraproom created these fantastic kid at play freebies, be sure to check out her webpage for lots of freebies and more for purchase.

38 ways to use ribbon in your scrapbooking

I love the versatility of ribbon when scrapbooking. Ribbon can be used to draw focus or just add some embellishment and bling. Many of you may be looking for ways to use up all those ribbons you have stashed and I am hoping this article will give you an idea or two, to use ribbon in your scrapbooking.

1. Tie a knot in a piece of ribbon, then trim the tails at an angle (to prevent them from fraying) and use a Mini Glue Dot™ to secure the knot at the corner of a photo
2. Use the same method next to your journaling.
   
3. You can also wrap ribbon around a photo or around your page as a border, securing the ends of the ribbon to the backside of the photo or paper with tape, this will add an interesting corner to your photo or page.
   
4. You can also attach ribbon with brads (make a tiny hole through the ribbon before securing it) or even staples or clips for an artsy look.
5. Tie onto a tag, photo mat, border, or photo as an accent.
6. Use with a hole punch to make a booklet.
7. Use to secure a fold open photo frame
8. Tie it to paper clips or other fancy clips to add interest to your design
9. Staple on the edge of your photo, journal block or title
10. Places strips of ribbon behind your photo to use as a mat
11. Attach a ribbon charm and use as a long border
12. Thread through eyelets and tie as an accent
13. Tie onto a slide holder for a small picture frame
14. Tie onto each end of a metal label holder
15. Tie small bits of ribbon onto a larger piece for a unique border design
16. Stamp words and sayings or even images onto your larger ribbons and use as a title
17. Weave ribbons together like a basket to create interest and texture in your layout, use this a as a mat, a background, a border
18. Tie many ribbons around a plain spiral notebook to create an interesting journal or scrapbook
19. Use ribbon to secure several paper bags, envelopes or any other paper scraps together to create a small scrapbook
20. Tie around jump rings of small, shaped scrapbooks to spice them up a little
21. Fold and secure your ribbon with snail adhesive to make your ribbon form the letters of your scrapbook title
22. Use ribbon and your paper scraps to create an interesting journaling tag for your layout
23. Tie it to the bottom of your photo mat, to add interest and texture
24. Make small bows for your girly scrapbook pages
25. Fold thick ribbon diagonally to make your own photo corners
26. Use ribbon to create stems and leaves for your stamped flowers on your Layouts
27. Place a decorative brad in the center of small ribbon strips to make a faux flower embellishment
28. Use as a simple page border
29. Use as color blocking borders
30. Use small strips of ribbon to jazz up and add color to your chipboard shapes and letters
31. Tie a small piece to a chipboard letter to add some bling
32. Use ribbon scraps and rhinestones to create candles on birthday layout
33. Use your re-inkers or chalks to add color to your plain white ribbon, you have virtually any color at your hands
34. Stamp a decorative border onto the ribbon and use on your layout
35. Use small letter stamps to add bits of journaling to your ribbon strips, such as dates, lists or just random words pertaining to your layout like (soccer - goalie - sports - determination, etc.)
36. Set eyelets or brads through the length of the ribbon to create a funky trim for your layout
37. Use the eyelet punch to add an interesting border to your layout, mat or journal box and thread your ribbon through it to add a trim
38. Tie ribbons through buttonholes and attach with glue dots.
    

Free summer sun SVG file

Scrappin margie created this fabulous summer sun cut file, be sure to check out her blog for the great layout she used it on!

Another great tutorial on adding ribbon to your cards

Debbie, the ribbon lady shares another fantastic way to incorporate ribbons into your card making!

Ribbon and a Button

Step #1: Stamp a random background and a primary image on white cardstock. I used two different colors. Cut the background to 4" by 5 1/4". Cut the focus image into a diamond shape.

(Leaf image from Hearts In Touch: http://www.heartsintouch.com/, background image from Jennifer Obertin)

2. Cut a matching ribbon (I used white organza) into three pieces. One piece will become your tie, so make it about 5-6" long. The other two pieces measure approximately 2 1/2" and 3 1/2" (see below). Use a matching button (I actually used a clear button).

3. Thread the ends of the tie through the holes in the ribbon (I use a dental floss threader) to create a loop. Slip the cut pieces into the loop and cinch them down by pulling the ribbon ends and making a knot on the other side of the button.

If you look closely you can see that the knot and tie ends are on the opposite side of the button than the cut pieces. I realized when I was finished that the knot could have been on the OTHER side of the button too; on the SAME side as the "wings" of the bow. Either way is fine.

4. Adhere the background card to a black background, and put a black matte on the back of the focus image. Glue or tape the focus image to the background, then use some strong glue (I use E6000) to adhere the ribbon/button beneath the focus element. Add an appropriate sentiment.

You're done and you've only taken a few minutes to add a fun ribbon embellishment! Give it a try and post what you create for us to see!

Adding Ribbon to your cards

Sometimes adding ribbon to a card is REALLY simple! Debbie, the ribbon lady shared this post on cafe mom, she really has some awesome ideas!

1. Stamp a solid block stamp in a fairly light color on white cardstock.

(stamp: Moon Rose)

2. Overstamp flower image with purple ink.

(stamp: Hearts In Touch)

3. Use a corner punch to add decorative edges to the corners and add some "bling" to the centers of the flowers.

4. Prepare the other card layers as shown below. The larger is just printed cardstock. The smaller piece is textured cardstock that I scalloped with my decorative scissors. If you have a cricut you could probably cut it using that as well:

5. Cut one, two or three pieces of ribbon that are long enough to wrap around the yellow card with plenty of extra to tie a double knot or a bow. Wrap the ribbon around the card so all ribbon ends meet about 2/3 down the vertical, scalloped edge of the card (right edge). Tape the ribbon to the back of the card so it stays.

6. Tie the ribbon into a bow or a double knot. Use popdots or dimensional tape to affix the flower image atop the bow-adorned yellow card, and do the same with the yellow card atop the printed cardstock background.

7. Prepare final layer and sentiment as desired.

8. Finish layering as shown and you're done with another easy ribbon embellished card!

4 Whole tours filled!!!!

ENROLLMENT FOR THE JULY TOUR IS NOW CLOSED. APPLICATIONS FOR WAIT LIST ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.

Posted: 18 Jun 2009 06:29 PM PDT

We are not accepting any new enrollments. However, we are accepting applications for the waiting list. Simply fill out the information on the Enrollment Form.

Click on the enrollment form icon and fill in the information requested. When you reach the page for PayPal information, exit the form without paying. We will have the information needed to put you on the wait list. Please then email Diane McCornack at stampinbydiane@aol.com to tell her you submitted the form.

Once you are on the waiting list, you will be contacted if someone should drop out of the tour. You will be contacted in order of your place on the list. If you accept the spot, you will be emailed further information.

Being on the wait list does not guarantee a spot on the tour. The wait list will be used only to fill a vacated spot when a Princess is unable to fulfill her duties. No new tours will be opened regardless of the number of people on the wait list. There will still be a $15 fee if you receive a spot from the wait list.

A Free Yummy SVG

SVG cuts has done it again, with this super yummy SVG for use on your cricut with Sure Cuts a lot, be sure to stop by their website and see all the great downloads for a small fee and lots of freebies too!

Annie May Angel

Here is a card I created for the owlwhimsy design team. These digi-stamps are really incredible, aren't they? I always love what Steph comes up with and can't wait to create again. Steph is new at this, so be sure to stop by the blog and give her some hugs and enouragement!

More Thoughts of Father

I really do love this set, I am going to be sad to see it go! I used some Parisian Breeze scraps on this one (I am sad to see it go too) I added a little oval punch, with the oval all stamp set and a scalloped oval, Topped the whole thing off with some Baja Breeze Ribbon



I used my sizzzix to cut an scalloped oval for the second card, lots of Tea dye distress ink and just the top part of the sentiment stamp. To the Nines (this one is staying around!) Specialty Paper scraps




For the third card, I used a little chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, some Olive Green Staz On and some more paper scraps.

Thoughts of Father

I probably should have featured this set last week for Father's Day, but, I didnt....

I love this set. If you enjoy the coloring book aspects of stamping, you will enjoy this set too.

I made all these cards using scraps from my scrap bin, I am trying to use up all the retiring DSP.

The first card uses whisper white and Hunter Green.







This next card uses the same colors, but I threw in a little To the Nines, using my fiskars punch, I love this punch, it really looks like notebook paper, I love how the new fiskars punches are so compact too! I used my ticket corner punch to embellish the sentiment. Of course, I used my Copics to color.... I love those things!










I used some Bella Birds scraps on this one and some chocolate chip ribbon, I really love the way it came out, dont you?

A different kind of Post (Sorry this is long)

I don't usually post about things other than my scrappin and stampin, but I have got to vent somewhere and today, its gonna be here! I guess there is no better place to vent since you all can just choose to not read this and I still get to get things off my chest.

As most of you know, I am a single mother of three boys. These boys keep me laughing each and every day, but, they make me cry every day too! What you ask can these three beautiful boys do to make me cry? Let me tell you!

Last week was the first week of summer vacation. My oldest is 13, so I decided to let them stay home this summer (Easier on the pocketbook too, since my ex 50K behind in child support and summer camp is 400 a week for three boys of their age)

So, on the second day of their summer vacation, I came home from work, I wasn't even in the in the house, maybe ten minutes (I still had my uniform on) and there is a large rap on the door followed by the landlord walking in the house. (He doesn't usually do this)

Apparently, my darling little sons were throwing "bags of paint" at the house next door (also the landlord's house), which turned out to be bags filled with baking soda and vinegar, which make a nice little chemical reaction if you have never seen it. The person who called the landlord also reported that there were about 10 (which turned out to be 4) climbing on the shed next door.

After searching the yard, we found the worst part of all, FLAME THROWERS!!!!! Yep, my beloved children were tying grill lighters to aerosol cans and well, you know the rest....

Now, I am not a tall woman, at 5'3" and my 13 year old is as tall (maybe taller, I'm in denial) as I am (It's kind of funny wagging my finger at some one I have to look up to) What was my so very responsible 13 year old doing while the younger ones were engaged in flame throwing?? Apparently, you can't keep an eye on your brothers while engaged in an engrossing game of Wii Sports.

OMG, can you believe that I dont have any gray hair yet?

So, my younger brother (he's 30) had occassion to be available for staying at my house this summer (long story in and of its self) so, he came down to spend some time with his wayward nephews (Now let me tell you, 15 years ago, I would never have imagined my brother being responsible enough to watch any ones kids) but, desperate times.......

So, on Father's day, the base had an air show (It also happened to be my brother's birthday) so we all spent a nice day watching the air show and then went out to an early dinner at a chinese buffet. My middle son (yes, you don't have to tell me about the middle son theory) asked me for some of my tea (reportedly, because his was empty) I graciously shared my tea with my parched child, who returned me an empty cup.

Before I go on, let me tell you that my dad put some hot sauce on his food and said the hot sauce was a little much for him (I didnt know anything was a little hot for him) I am sure you can see where I am going with this......

Yep, my beloved middle son, gave me his cup and said, I really wasnt out of tea mom, here ya go. Not catching on just yet, I grabbed the cup from his precious little hand and took a nice big gulp of, YEP, HOT SAUCE!!!! (some combination of hot sauce, soy sauce and tea) After finishing my dad's drink, my brother's drink and starting on my dad's girlfriend's tea, my chest starts to tighten and as I start coughing like a sputtering engine, I realize this fabulous cocktail my son gave me has brought on an asthma attack....

So, on to today.... I took some time off to clean my house and get my brother moved in. I am sitting here in my own living room and the kids are playing with water balloons in the front yard (it is supposed to be 90 today). I hear a horn blow out front, followed by "GO GET YOUR MOM!" I go to the door, to find that my dear sons have decided to stop throwing balloons at eachother and substitute it for throwing them at oncoming cars. AND, the car they chose..... none other than an unmarked police car....... HOLY CRAP I AM GONNA GO GRAY!!!!!

Thanks for listening

Kreativ Blogger Award

I received this nice award from one of my fellow stamping blogging sisters, Shell! I am so honored to be picked for a blogging award, I guess someone is reading my blog afterall ;)






Here are the rules when you receive the award:
Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Link to the person who gave you the award.
List 7 things about yourself that people may find interesting.
Nominate 7 new Kreativ Bloggers.
Post links to the new nominated blogs.
Leave a comment on their blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

My Seven Things:
1. I am an Officer in the United States Air Force, where I have served for almost 20 years
2. I love to ballroom dance and would do more of it, if I could afford the lessons
3. I drink a 6 pack (at least) of diet Mt Dew every day
4. I could probably win an award for the messiest house and or car
5. I met the Love of my Life on the Yahoo Personals
6. I can't eat bananas or melons because I don't like the texture
7. I am a closet choco-holic (who isn't?)


My nominations for the award: Although these bloggers are super incredible and have probably received these awards before, They are the blogs I turn to again and again for inspiration and I must admit, it was so hard to choose only 7!

1. Becky Roberts from Inking Idaho
2. Michelle Zindorf from Freedom in Creating
3. Gretchen Barron from Inspiration in Action
4. Donna Centamore Butternut Sage Designs
5. Andrea Walford from Sunny Stampin Inc
6. Debbie from Thinking Inking
7. Scrapworld (sorry, I dont know your name, but your work is incredible!!!!)
8. Gayla O'Dell and Melissa Rogers from Mega Stampin Studio
9. Erin Blair from STARS - Sharing the Art of Rubber Stamping
10. Laurie from Tip Junkie

Oh crap, I guess, I didnt choose only 7, guess we will go with ten, hope thats not against the rules, too much! I always have been a habitual line stepper, lol

More of this week's featured set: The Free and the Brave

I am really going to miss this set, it is one of my favorites. I gave two of these sets away to lucky bloggers during the CFH (Cards For Heroes) Blog Hop last month.

I used "Land that I love" from print works as my background stamp here, its just something I have had in my stash for a while and I thought it would make a good background!

Even though this set is retiring, I promise you are going to love the new patriotic/military stamps in the new catty, I cannot wait to show you!

I committed myself to 98 cards (one for each comment left during the hop) duing the CFH blog hop, so, these six will make a good start!

Razzleberry Lemonade

I made one of these cards a few months back, when I first started with Stampin Up. I used Bella Rose of course, because it was my favorite DSP and couldnt get enough of it. Not all of my customers are stampers, some of them are scrapbookers, so I like to include cards that dont require stamps, to keep them interested. This Iris Fold would also make a great scrapbook page embellishment, dont ya think? Arent these rich colors of the Razzleberry Lemonade set, beautiful? I love how bold and rich they are and thought they would be perfect to showcase this iris fold, which uses nothing but paper, a pearl from all the pretties and a scallop circle punch! Isnt it beautiful, and it really is simple!

Featured Set: The Free and the Brave

The Free and The Brave is one of my favorite Stampin Up sets, sadly, it is retiring in just a few days. Being in the military, this set is perfect for military events such as promotion and retirement ceremonies.


This first card uses Creamy Caramel and whisper white. The first image is stamped in blue Staz on Ink, distressed with Red Staz on ink, I water colored the flag and soldier using my Stampin Pastels and aqua pen.











This card uses a depth of field like techniue to stamp the stars in several colors of blue, Bashfull Blue, Almost Navy, Night of Navy and Bordering on Blue. The cardstock was Real Red and Brilliant Blue






This one is based on a case from Split Coast Stampers, another set of stars stamped in Moonlight White and versamark, allthough, the stamp had some red color remaining on it, so the stars on the Real Red cardstock didnt quite come out clear, but more like a red tint. The soldier is also stamped with Versa mark ink, Brilliant Blue, Real red and Creamy Caramel make up the card and More Blasing Red Staz On, to stamp the sentiment.

Paper Punch Storage

Punch Storage

I have been trying to find a good way to store my punches, right now, they are taking up an entire drawer in my grandmother's old dresser. I have seen some very creative storage and I wanted to do some research to find my best option, functional, affordable and easy to look at without taking up too much space.

I found some of the following storage ideas: stampgeek utilized a gutter system to store her punches. Very economical (one of my qualifying charachteristics)

jenmaca used strap iron for her wall mounted system.
kreed32 used a closet door organizer for her punch stash

Nichole Heady from Capture the moment came up with these really creative solutions

. wooden spice rack from Stacks and Stacks

rail system from IKEA Check out Zee's solution here

storage shelves with rods from Pottery Barn

chrome drawer pulls from Restoration Hardware could be installed in orderly rows, one for each punch.

In addition to all of these creative solutions, I came up with a few more of my own:

The container store, is on of my favorites and I found several ideas there, including this one

How about this really simple, creative solution from the crafters toybox

Or, this really simple towel rack idea from Christy Nelson

Denise had her DH run with the towel rack idea and he used simple dowel rods to create this great storage, which really works in her small space!

Of course there is this previous post: where Sue Nagel, from Stampin Things has created this gorgeous storage unit for your punchies. It really is a fantastic solution, but a little out of my budget....

So, how do you store your punches? Do you have a creative, economical and funcitonal way to store your paper punches? Add a comment and tell me how you store yours.. I have a free Stampin Up Hostess set for the person who gives me the best, affordable option.

New Stampin Up Video

Check out another Stampin Up Video with Spencer Willis!

Free 4th of July Project

Check out this awesome project you can make at home for free! Click on the image to be taken to Elle's Studio for download and directions.

Cricut Ticket to Summer

Today's mama is a website with

Summertime fun isn’t limited to slip-n-slides and bike rides - long summer days lend nicely to arts and crafts and we’re looking for a little inspiration. Share your most creative Cricut project with us and your project tutorial could appear as a featured article in Expand Your Perspective. PLUS Cricut will kick in all 4 of their new cartridges (Stand and Salute, Simply Sweet, Home Decor and Jubilee) as an added bonus!

To enter to win, complete the steps below:
1. Create something fabulous and fun using your Cricut (be sure and document your project, including “how to” steps, with your camera).
2. Post your project and “how to” instructions on your blog with a link to TodaysMama.com and Cricut. Please also specify with Cricut cartridge you used to create your project.
3. Send an email to info@todaysmama.com with “Cricut” in the subject line and let us know about your project. Please include a link to your project post.
4. Don’t have a blog? No problem - simply send the information outlined in step 2 to us at info@todaysmama.com and that will act as your contest entry.

Projects will be reviewed by the Cricut and TodaysMama staffers and we’ll announce 1 winner each week in July.

Final deadline for entries is Monday July 20th - but don’t wait - we’ll pick our first winner on June 29th.

Don’t forget - you could also win a 7-Day Caribbean Cruise for Two if you find the Cricut Ticket.

Good luck!