I Give My Crafts Away

Paper Share!

2009-04-20T09:29:00.003-05:00

Who doesn't LOVE Stampin Up! Designer Series paper? I adore it, but can't seem to justify buying every single pack I really want! Lets face it, I would own them all if I could! So I thought, lets do a cardstock share, you can some of each design without breaking the bank! Please email me at alison@maxo-facto.com by May 1 with the number of shares you would like. Orders will be sent May 1 and you should recieve your shares by May 15. The cost for each share is $18 and you will recieve 1 double sided sheet of EACH design from the following sets of Stampin Up! designer series paper:

Pink Flamingo

Urban Garden

Parisian Breeze

Rockabilly

Beaded Cupcake

2009-03-26T11:08:00.003-05:00

So, I am finally getting around to doing some updating! It seems like I have just been running and running! Every day I have off from work I try to go spend time with people I don't get to see too often and then I realize its been a month since I've been on the blog! I really like to update a couple of times a week ideally, so its been a LONG time!

Here is a little birthday card I made for a workshop this weekend. To be honest, I cased this from somebody, but I don't remember where I saw it at! I know the sentiment is different from the original and I think the original used the bigger SU cupcake......

Stamps: Part Hearty
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango
Ink: Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue
Accessories: SU Red Bead Duo

Fun Bella

2009-03-03T21:38:00.002-06:00

So, I totally wasn't feeling this card while I was working on it- but I LOVE the way it turned out! My sisters' (twins) birthday is next week and I didn't want to make them both the same card, but they both like Bella a lot. So one will get this and the other will get a previous bella card I made and set aside for her. I can't get enough of this DP and I only know that its Imaginisce! I will have to head back to the scrapbook store to see if they still have it!

Stamp: GardenBella
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Imaginisce DP
Ink: Tuxedo Memento Black, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Pink Skin tone Copic
Accessories: only orange brads, Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain ribbon

Engagement Card

2009-02-26T11:37:00.002-06:00

I am in love with this color combo right now! My friend Kim is getting married to a great guy and she is very chic and sophisticated.... so I had to think for a bit for her card. She had a party at a wine bar for their engagement and I knew we couldn't truck in some sub-par creation to a place like that! She is a Stampin Up demo and she knows a last minute card when she sees it! Of course I did my hand sewing on this one too- I am just loving the way it looks! Other than the sewing the worktime on this on isn't too much! The Joy stamp is The Angel Company and then I took another swirl from a different Angel Company set and filled in the top and bottom with it. Enjoy!

Stamps: The Angel Company
Cardstock: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, scrap DP (from a year and half ago!)
Accessories: green rhinestones, Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, nestabilities large scallop circle

Hand Sewn Goodness

2009-02-21T08:08:00.002-06:00

How much fun is this card?!?! Super simple (as far as bling and layout) but not really when it comes to time- it was SO worth it though! I am veru into sewing on cards right now, but currently I do all of my sewing by hand (for fear of tearing the paper) even though we have 3 sewing machines at our house! I'm sure someday I trust the machine but for now I like to pierce my projects and then hand sew while I watch TV reruns and relax a bit after work. I stamped the center image in versamark, then pierced it with my paper piercer, and then sewed it! The centers of the smaller flowers are sewn with brown thread as well to bring it all together.

Stamps: Really Retro (sentiment), Garden Greetings

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Bordering Blue

Ink: Soft Sky

Accessories: chocolate brown satin ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Bloom Dots, brown thread, baby blue thread

On to the Next Holiday!

2009-02-16T17:38:00.003-06:00

Ok, so we are done with Valentines day and its time to move on to St. Patrick's Day right? This is another DogGoneStamps stamp (http://www.doggonestamps.com/) I love this guy! He looks so grumpy, but in such a fun way! I definitely have some friends who will get this card next month because this is what they look like with their beers when we get together! For an extra touch I used my white gel pen to make a couple of layers of "foam" on the beer :o)

Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Green Galore, Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Brads: Making Memories Green
Ribbon: white satin, Ribbon Trends
CB Folder: Spots and Dots

Baby Ellie's Mailbox

2009-02-13T21:30:00.004-06:00

My husband's sister had a little baby girl two weeks ago last Tuesday: Elizabeth Clare McCullough. She is super sweet and snuggly (even though she got tired of being passed around and I had to give her back to her Momma after awhile :o) ) Since these little mailboxes are all the rage right now I decided to do a little keepsake box for her: the tag says "Its the little things that matter".... which is true right? I covered it in Baja Breeze and then used EK Success borders (some of which are layered with chocolate chip cardstock) to make the "stripes". The E is chipboard covered in Tiara Stickles. The sentiment on the flag is A Muse and the flower sticker is EK success, but I'm not sure which line (I've been saving it awhile!) Lastly I lined the lids with taffeta brown ribbon and viola! Mailbox!

Frog Prince

2009-02-06T09:26:00.003-06:00

This is my second card for DogGoneStamps. The first thing I thought when I saw this was that this is the type of toad you don't really wanna kiss, but you also know deep down he's probably gonna turn out to be the price. So I put a little SMOOCHES sentiment with it : ) By the way- DogGoneStamps introduced a bunch of great new images last night!!! Head over there for some fun holiday and dog images!!! www.doggonestamps.com

Images: A Muse Sentiment, Toad King
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Pale Plum, retired SU DP
Ink: lots a Copics
Accessories: purple brads, bashful blue grosgrain ribbon, yellow stickles (crown)

CELINE DION!!!!!!

2009-02-03T21:24:00.003-06:00

SO- last night was the big Celine Dion concert in Tulsa, OK!!!! It was the best concert I have EVER been to- she just puts on amazing show. In have loved her since I was 9 years old when my mom died and I found some of her cassette tapes. Its terribly cliche, but its a small connection I'll always have and last night I SAW her in person. I had resigned myself to the fact that this may never happen as a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma ;-) The photo above is of the concert stage during My Heart Will Go On- I know its a terrible photo, but camera phones just aren't great. The stage had at least 9 platforms that raised and lowered- there were great light shows and of course, she is just too cool. Plus I think there was a cross-dressed dancer who I was very intrigued by because if it wasn't a man, I'm pretty sure sure she had an adrenal gland problem. She did a great mix of old and new stuff- my friend Lauren's favorite It's All Coming Back to Me Now, Alone, Because You Loved Me... she even did the R. Kelly duet I'm Your Angel- only this time with an cute teddy bear of a guy whom I'd like to believe is very upstanding unlike his predecessor.

OF COURSE, I have to have an inspiration card right? This is my Celine Dion Bella Concert Card! This is how my friends and dressed before we went to dinner at the Polo Grill for a cheese plate and salmon and creme brulee and cheescake. My poor sister was supposed to be my date, but she had the stomach flu and had to stay home, so my new mission is to find another concert- this can't be the end of Celine!

No recipe this week as I used mostly scraps and WishRak pieces. I can say that the image is WinoBella and the dress is eggplant envy covered in Diamond Dust stickles. See you later this week!

First Design Team card!!!

2009-01-31T21:57:00.002-06:00

I am so excited to be able to post my first card as a member of the DogGoneStamps Design Team! This stamp is called Hoola Hoop Girl and I just think she looks so fun! This is a card I am planning on sending my niece for her birthday. I am just so excited dig in to these stamps! Visit www.doggonestamps.com to see the rest of the fun stamps they have! They are a newer company and will be coming out with all sorts of new stuff over the next few months- so join their newletter to stay in the know! Stay tuned over the next week while I unveil more their great stamps!

Stamp: Hoola Hoop Girl (DogGoneStamps)

Paper: Washington Apple DP, riding hood red, tangerine tango

Sentiment: A Muse

Inks: Tuxedo Memento Black, Not Quite Navy (SU), Lipstick Red (Copic), Close to Cocoa (SU), Yellowish Skin Pink (Copic)

Accessories: Silver Brads, White Satin Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Dress Up Ribbon Originals (SU)

Big News Day!!!

2009-01-28T09:15:00.009-06:00

First of all- I made a Design Team! The company is called:

(http://www.doggonestamps.com/) They are brand new and the owner draws and cuts all of the stamps herself- I have a few and will be rolling out some projects using these fun, easy to color images all next week. They come easy mounted for use with acrylic blocks. I have used them with my copics and my memento pad and they make very crisp, clean, detailed images. I am very excited to see what this fun new company brings us! I will be uploading my first project tomorrow as well as introducing you to the rest of the team!

Second- One of my pals from The Paper Craft Society, Yuki, gave me this great award! What a fun way to start a day!!! I'm so excited. Thank you Yuki! I love your blog, and and look forward to checking a couple of times a week! To receive the award, I have to list 5 addictions of mine. Here goes:
1. Working out- I know, its a sickness

2. Pizza- I could eat it every day!!

3. Stickles- everything always looks better with stickles

4. Puppies- any of them, they don't even have to be mine
5. Ben and Jerrys- specifically Phish Food, but I am open to change

I will pass this award to 5 bloggers, whose blogs I love to browse.
1. Kim http://cardsandmemoriesbykim.blogspot.com/
2. Jennifer http://jennifersstamppad.blogspot.com/
3. Felicia http://stamphappyfelicia.blogspot.com/
4. Rosie http://pureflowstudios.blogspot.com/
5. Alfred http://copicart.com/

Ok, and lastly here is a little quick and easy Valentine

Its not the flashiest card, but its great as quick easy Valentine when you have to make a bunch of them! I simply ran the pieces thru the Cuttlebog with my Labels 1 Nestabilites and then glued it all together! I used Riding Hood Red and Pink Passion for my colors. The brads are SU neutrals brown. The ribbon is brown grosgrain from Hobby Lobby, and the DP is The Angle Company.

Winner!!!

2009-01-27T14:33:00.002-06:00

And the winner is:

#6 Ashley:What a pretty card! I wish I knew that the image was!

The image is actually called: Spring Party- it was from a mini-catty several years ago :o)

Send me your address at secretstamper08@yahoo.com and I will get your prizes out in the mail as soon as the ice clears from my driveway!

ALSO- I got my Stampin Up order from the new catty today! Hopefully we will have lots of new fun things to share over the next few weeks!!!

Sunshine Day

2009-01-23T12:00:00.000-06:00

Here's to another Sunny Day! That is my latest cardmaking craze I guess! My husband and I decided to go on a cruise this year and I can't get my mind off sunny days and tropics and flowers- oh my! To make the flowers, I stamped the surfboard from this set and cut the little flower accents out then colored them. Have you entered my "Guess That Stamp" game yet? See previous post for details!

Image: Do the Hula (Stampin Up), A Muse sentiment

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa

Accesories: Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Diamond Dust Stickles (flowers)

Guess this stamp set:

2009-01-18T08:01:00.002-06:00

If you can guess this stamped image: you will entered to win the Tree stamp frpm the Fairest of Them All Collection @ Snag-Em Stamps and a set of stickers from EK Success! The felt stickers coordinate to the current IN- colors and some of the tree sets in the new SU catty. Just post a comment by Sunday January 25 with your guess for the image and I'll draw a winner and announce it Monday January 26! You don't have to be right to be in the drawing- but if I draw your name and you ARE right, you'll get and extra goody from first order out of the new SU catty! I know that the first person to post may guess correctly and everyone can copy and paste, but its still fun!

Image: ????? (Sentment: A Muse)

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue, Summer Sun, Glorious Green

Accessories: Neutrals Brads, white grosgrain ribbon

2009-01-18T06:48:00.002-06:00

Its no secret- I love dogs! I have 5 or them of all shapes and sizes. They are super spoiled- they have their own bedroom, we go on walks every day we can, they go to daycare during the day:

http://www.poochesplace.com/

This picture is of my liver spotted dalmation Max- normally I don't post anything other than craft photos, but this little mailbox goodie will be his Valentine for our doggie daycare.

-I started with the little white mailbox from the $1 section at Target. I covered it in DCWV Mat stack DP (from the Pet Lover's Stack) and them used Martha Stewart's white twill tape to cover the seam on top of the box. I put three bone shaped brads all the way thru the mailbox to adorn the twill tape and also so I could use the one on the end for my closure.

-I covered the end in baja breeze cardstock (Stampin UP) and then put a paw shaped brad all the way thru the metal. I put a small piece of foam under the two brads used for the closure.

-I then stamped Pooches Place on whisper white (Stampin Up) with an alphabet from StudioG and layered in with pink pirouette and riding hood red (Stampin Up). I did the same with the A Muse sentiment on either side of the flag.

-The little hearts on the front are cut from leftover DP and applied with dimensionals.

-The ribbon around the "lids" is old olive and there are small pieces of it on the flag as well. The other ribbons on the flag are just scraps I had that coordinate well :o)

-The closure is an unused "ouchless" hair rubberband that doesn't have one of those little metal pieces on it....

-and VOILA a little treatbox to fill with goodies!

Sunny Days Will Come Again....

2009-01-14T08:15:00.005-06:00

I have convinced myself that if I wish hard enough for spring that it will actually come..... So Riley is helping me out today!

Stamp: Hammock Riley, A Muse Sentiment
CS: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Whisper White, DCWV Mat Stack DP
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), close to cocoa, green galore, more mustard, creamy caramel, summer sun, tempting turquoise
Embellishments: top note die, double stitched ribbon, bashful blue brads, dimensionals

Now I'm off to go thru my seed catalogues to decide what will go in the garden this year- I really want to try to make blueberry syrup!!!

Simple Monday

2009-01-12T08:01:00.002-06:00

Ok, We all love Changito right? Of course we do! The weather has been really odd in Oklahoma lately (when is it not?)... and I am super excited to plant my garden- so I decided to do a little tribute to spring! I used two dimensionals under the right side of the sentiment to make it pop right since it was overlapping the layers.
Stamp: Changito Bouquet
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango, Imaginisce Let's Pretend: Tea Party
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Embellishments: Old Olive ribbon, Only Orange brads

Happy Valentines Planning

2009-01-10T23:26:00.006-06:00

So I know I have been MIA for several days now and folks were about to give up hope- but don't worry I have plans to update daily this coming week with new projects. I have been working crazy 10 to 12 hour days since a week before christmas. I'm a pharmacist and cold and flu season is always a terrible time. I am off tomorrow (Sunday) and I have such big plans for catching up on emails and answering questions.....

Isnt this a great Valentine? Its a card I made for my sister-in-law. Basic techniques: piecing, piercing, and cutting. Cameo cardstock, Scenic Route Sonoma DP, K&Co cream colored cardstock, and stampin up chocolate chip for the paper base of the card. The hearts are stamped and cut out and then boosted by a dimensional. I pieced the card together and did the paper piercing on the edge and added the hardware, I think it looks so romantic and chic..................

New Bella

2008-12-28T08:12:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I got a Vera Bradley card organizer for Christmas and I decided- thats it. I am starting ahead of time and actually setting aside the good cards for specific purposes this year. I bought this bella just before Christmas and this is my first project! The cardstock is current in colors: tangerine tango, riding hood red, kiwi kiss, and the DP is Imaginisce Let's Pretend: Tea Party. The ink is old olive, pumkin pie, real red, night of navy, and close to cocoa. I used the ticket corner punch for the edges, stickles on the presentsts, only orange brads, and scraps of blue ribbon.

Another Birthday!

2008-12-21T18:32:00.002-06:00

We have another December birthday!!! We have a friend (who happens to be a guy in his late 20s) and you just have to get really creative with a card for that kind of person. I thought a robot and a funny sentiment would be the way to go! Kind of a hodge podge of stuff today- I recieved the image and the sentiment from WishRAK the sentiment is StampinUP, but I'm not sure where the image came from. I know you can get some great robots from My Favorite Things though! I don't own a gray SU marker or Copic, so I had to go Crayola on this one- but I think its really fun!!!

CASE Day

2008-12-18T19:43:00.004-06:00

OK- so we all know PickleTree right? Her real name is Amy Sheffer for those of you that don't- and she is AWESOME. She is truly an amazing stamper. I am a total PickleTree groupie and I'm not ashamed to admit it! With that, I chose to case a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) card that she sent me. Her card is the pink one with the bird- she uses all kinds of techniques and layering- its fabuless! My card is the puppy dog version. I used Ruff Day (Stampin Up), chocolate chip (cardstock, ribbon, ink), and basic black (cardstock and ink). The scallop punch is the Fiskars scallop border punch. The layering behind the puppy is done with Nestabilities by Spellbinders. For more of Amy's awesome work, visit HER blog:

http://pickledpaperdesigns.blogspot.com/search/label/cards

Country Christmas

2008-12-15T10:36:00.003-06:00

First off, its been a week since I posted- it was a very busy week of working, holiday baking, and trying to get the christmas cards done. This is an ultra simple card, but I think it suits my needs perfectly! My husband's aunt lives in the country- Olive, Oklahoma- and they have a cute little house complete with hay and horses and a barn cat- the whole package. Anyway, she gets really excited about putting her pretty garland out on the fence by their road every year at Christmastime and I have been trying to come up with a card that fit her Christmas spirit. This is what I did! There isn;t any ink used- its all embossed with red embossing powder. The stamp is a $1 stamp from Michaels and the paper is old olive and real red (my two favorite colors apparently!)

2008-12-07T00:03:00.004-06:00

These were my first stamps purchased from The Angel Company (TAC) and I LOVE them! It was hard for me to picture this Joy stamp, but I embossed it with some olive green powder and combined it with some stampin up paper (christmas scraps, old olive, and purely pomegranite)- sorry Melissa! I am off to play a bit more with these great swirlie stamps!

Wreathabella

2008-12-04T22:37:00.004-06:00

Who doesn't LOVE Bella and all of her kookie antics?!? I love this stamp (Wreathabella) which I got from the WishRak on Splitcoast, combied with some old olive and real red cardstock (Stampin Up), real red doublestiched ribbon, red dew drops (Robin's Nest), and some cute peppermint stitched ribbon from Hobby Lobby... plus I used my white gel pen for the dots and some diamond dust stickles on the bow. I love this stamp! I am looking forward to getting some new bellas I ordered for my very own any day now in the mail - and then I will color to my hearts content! *click on image for larger view*

My Brothers Birthday

2008-11-18T21:25:00.002-06:00

So, yet another birthday card! He is very into trees and wildlife and outdoors, so OregonStamper from SCS sent me some images from her Lovely As A Tree stamp set so I could make him a card!

Recipe:

paper- wild wasabi, close to cocoa, whisper white

ink- chocolate chip, versamark

stamps- swirls (The Angel Company), Lovely As a Tree (Stampin Up), and Sincere Salutations (Stampin Up)

ribbon- choclate chip grograin, and a button

To be honest, the button fell off of my coat... but I RECYCLED it to this card! (wink wink) He would appreciate that!

Another Birthday Card

2008-11-08T10:08:00.003-06:00

We have another birthday card! I am enjoying bella stamps right now :o) This is cupcakeabella with a variety of scraps from the paper box... all stampin up cardstock- not sure of the exact colors though! The ribbon is old olive and the the accessories are pink rain drops from my local scrapbook store.... I wonder who'll get this one!
Plus, check out this great blog candy: http://creativeantics.blogspot.com/2008/11/christmas-candy.html Also, check out her cards too, she has a great butterfly case up right now!

Blog Candy Links

2008-11-06T20:46:00.002-06:00

Here are some great blog candy posts folks!

http://scrapbitz.blogspot.com/

and

http://bevscrafts.blogspot.com/

I love DT blog candy! Of course..... that lowers my chances for winning if you go there.... but thats makes it fun for everyone!

Birthday Season

2008-11-06T06:38:00.002-06:00

This time of year starts birthday season around our house.... we have a few before this- but now we start having one every week or so for about 2 months! This is the start of my birthday card making so far. I used this earlier in the week for an embellishment challenge :http://sweetnsassystampers.ning.com/forum/topics/1031-embellishment-challenge My second challenge! So one of my family members will get this card sometime in the next couple of months!
Recipe list: cardstock- wild wasabi, CB textile embossing folder, basic black; ink wild wasabi (watercolored on hat and present), basic black; stamps- StampingBella, A Muse (setinement); accessories- hodgepodge hardware, scrap ribbon, stickles (present and hat). I really like the way this one turned out- this ribbon and cardstock are closer in color in real life (that didn't photo well).

Sketch Challenge

2008-11-03T19:08:00.002-06:00

Ok- so I've never participated in a challenge.... this is my first attempt! This card is for the sketch challenge: http://sweetnsassystampers.ning.com/forum/topics/1031-sketch-challenge-930 The stamp is a $1 stamp from the check-out line at Michaels- cardstock is cameo coral (Stampin Up), more mustard (Stampin Up), and some patterned paper leftover from a previous project (Hobby Lobby, I think)- ink coordinates to the cardstock- plus some ribbon scraps and whit white Uniball pen!

PinkPaisley

2008-10-30T21:52:00.002-05:00

Once again... can't get enough paisleys! This is polka dots and paisleys (Stampin Up), using the fiskars scallop border punch, old olive ribbon (stampin up), certainly celery cardstock (stampin up), and hodgepodge hardware (stampin up). This card makes me feel very girlie! Likes it time for some Ben and Jerry's and a showing of Steel Magnolias!

Happy Bird

2008-10-27T21:10:00.002-05:00

I didn't quite have the greatest day.... I didn't make the design team call I applied for- problems at work- car is broken down, so my husband and I are sharing a car (not working well)... just overall cruddy. But then I post this card and I can't help but smile at least a little. This one was a shoebox started by my friend Kim- she was doing it for a fall themed wedding, I changed the stamps. Isn't this ribbon great? The cardstock is earth elements by Stampin Up. Here's to a better tomorrow right?

Four Seasons

2008-10-26T10:48:00.004-05:00

Its my favorite stamp set again! I did a four seasons set this time.... I had trouble thinking of a summery card, so I went with the red birds.... I made sure to embellish each card, but in a different way... we've got ribbons and dew drops and cuttlebug embossing- what do you think?

Jeff's Favorite

2008-10-22T19:19:00.002-05:00

This is Jeff's favorite choice.... He likes the swirls and such : ) I love Baroque Motifs and could probably make card after card after card with that set!

Another card with Paisleys

2008-10-21T21:10:00.001-05:00

I love paisleys!!! I could use this set over and over! Once again- not too involved of a card, but sometimes I like it that way...

Favorite Card so Far

2008-10-21T20:46:00.002-05:00

This is my favorite card so far.... very simple. No crazy techniques or anything.... but it makes me happy inside. My sister in law (Katie- see previous post) and I came up with it together and I love it....

New Baby

2008-10-20T17:22:00.002-05:00

My husband's sister is having a baby girl! So of course we have to have a party and give her lots of girly stuff since her first baby was a boy. This is what I am working on for the invitations...

2008-10-18T23:30:00.002-05:00

This is a new set from the Stampin Up fall mini catalogue and I am completely in love with it!

Hiya!

2008-10-15T21:39:00.002-05:00

It was eventually going to happen right? You stamp and craft enough and you find yourself with a blog. I am excited so we'll se how it goes!