Thank you Jennifer - No More Torn Sleeves!

I have been looking for a good storage system for my clear and cling stamps.   Everyone knows Jennifer McGuire is always on top of things and wondered what exact storage she was using.  Getting a peek at the handy dandy storage drawers and tidy, neat way she keeps her stamps was like finding the proverbial "gold mine."   See Jennifer's post on April 4, 2013 here.

I traipsed over to my local Office Depot with a printout of the exact CD Sleeves she used.  I knew if it worked for Jennifer McGuire, it would definitely work for little ol' me.  Her containers are perfect for storage, however, I didn't think I wanted to pay $23 for the container to hold the CD sleeves, so I went to check on Office Depot containers.  EUREKA!

I think my Really Useful Box will work out better for me than the one Jennifer has because I can literally pick up my stamps and go. I also have fewer stamps than Jennifer McGuire.  I could not find the 11 liter box online at Office Depot, so have linked you to the company that makes it in the U.K.   I think any container  12 inches (30.48 cm) interior width will work to hold the CD sleeves.  The sleeves are just barely over 11 inches (27.94 cm) wide and about 7 1/4 inches (18.415 cm) tall.  Those conversions should be right.

Here's what my container and repackaged stamps look like now:

Repackaged clear stamps in CD binder page

Repackaged Cling stamps in CD binder page 

Labeling System: Brand name on top and Name of stamp with Stamp # on bottom

As you can see, the container is less than full for now!

Here's what I like about this container - I can take my stamps with me!

The container is a Really Useful Box - REALLY!

I just stood the container upright to take to my friend's to stamp.

Visit Jennifer McGuire to see her wonderful storage room and stamp filing system.

Find Joy Every Day

You know how you look at a card you've made and it doesn't talk back to you and say how great it is?   Well, I tore everything off and cut it into three strips which I will either make into tags, bookmarks, or scraplings.  The scrapling below is about two inches wide and five inches long.  This was a larger card I cut up.  I'm going to send this with a present next month.

I like the way the Washi tape just filled that space in and covered up a few bare spots in the paper. So did my lovely vintage lady from Hero Arts Digital Kit "The Art of Style".

Be sure to visit the Die Cut Divas' blog - remember either a birthday theme or Washi tape use.

It's NOT Scrambled Eggs this morning! - second post of the day

Who can resist the scrambles?  Not EGG SCRAMBLES.... Hero Arts Scrambles!  I just posted the photo of my card on the Flickr group and just had to come right over and talk about it... This is my girl chat line this morning.  I think I'm all over the place today.  I had a protein bar to eat for a fast breakfast and now I'm ready for something more substantial...  so on with the show before I try to eat the card.

Stampin Sue said:  Create either 
**An all white card OR
**A white, black, grey and/or silver card. Any combination of these four colors. 
No other colors allowed.
You can use any theme for either choices.

I chose an all white card because I always wanted to do one and hadn't, so this forced me to do what I promised myself to do.  I got out of my color box and into the white on white one.

Recipe:
Hero Arts Big Post Card S5665
Hero Arts Cling Zig Zag CG422 on the Darla butterfly die-cut
Cuttlebug
Memory Box die-cuts - Darla Butterfly & Vivienne Butterfly 
Darla is the bottom butterfly
Pearls - various sizes
Michaels pre-made note cards - made like a tag

A little Bugaboo for You from Me!

I downloaded some wonderful Bugaboo digital stamps to color in and just have fun.  One of the stamps that caught my eye so reminded me of spring that I had to have it. You may want it too.  LOL... yes, I guess I am an enabler.

I really do like the way the image turned out.  This is what I often strive for, but rarely attain - that's the critic in me.  The colors are vibrant and yet the image feels natural to me.  Ok, enough.  After coloring in the image, I looked at my pre-made note cards and papers, came up with a Michaels square card and a wonderful pad of 4" X 6" Vintage card stock.  Embossing the vintage scrap added just enough texture and the colors were so close to the colors in my butterfly that I knew I was in the zone, so to speak.  Adding a bit of green Washi tape and Copic colored gems was all that was needed.

Visit Bugaboo Stamps because it's the first Saturday of the month and an "Anything goes" challenge.  You could win some free Bugaboo images in the random drawing.  Don't you like the image above?  They have lots of images, more than I could ever imagine and free images every Friday.

Recipe:

Bugaboo For You From Me
Washi Tape
Cuttlebug
The Paper Studio embossing folder
Copic markers
    butterfly - Y13 & YR16
    leaves - YG61, YG63 & YG 67
    flower - BV00, BV02, BV11 & V17

April showers...

We know April showers bring May flowers, but why do I have to wait until May?  NO!  NO!  NO!

Was this card ever easy...  And how I love my three new dies... ahhhhhh

On the outside of the pre-punched note card are sitting my lovely Memory Box Darla Butterfly and Vivienne Butterfly die-cuts making a pretty fancy and dainty butterfly, so delicate and lovely.  But wait, what is the butterfly flitting about?

A beautiful Prim Poppy!

Have you ever seen poppies that looked like this though?  Well, neither had I.  Just a crazy idea that came to me because of our Die Cut Divas' challenge this month.  Use Washi tape or make something for a birthday... well, yes, I couldn't resist the urge to use Washi tape and die-cut it.  Crazy, but I rather like the difference.  Vive la difference.  How nice to see the flowers peeking out and to enjoy the full fun and sassiness of the flower inside.  

All three of these dies are just fantastic.  I've seen them on other's cards and was able to pick all three up at my local stamp shop (The Stamp Art Shoppe) when I went for a Copics get-together.  I just love these, so you will be seeing more this month.  If you are not near a shop, our sponsor for April may be able to assist you.  Check out Scottie Crafts and I'm sure they'll help you.  

Simple recipe:
Dies - 2013 Memory Box Prim Poppy, Darla Butterfly & Vivienne Butterfly

Hero Arts Anytime Messages CL129 - I thought it was perfect for a flower

Michaels dollar note-cards

A little bit of Washi can do the trick

I had the card put together, but it NEEDED something, just a little something.  I slanted some Washi tape across the right bottom corner and loved the way it seemed to bring the card alive.  I colored the large glass gem with Copic marker Lipstick Red, (R29) and placed it in the opposite corner, then, literally downsizing each gem as I leaped from corner to corner I colored, waited impatiently for each gem to dry, and popped a gem in a corner.  Washi tape is sometimes just the perfect "little bit" you need.

Try Tone's Washi Tape here.http://www.washitapes.nl/

Check out Die Cut Divas for the April challenge.  Washi tape is fun and fast and easy to remove if you make a mistake, not that I ever make a mistake... or two! :)

A great big thanks goes to Scottie Crafts for sponsoring Die Cut Divas this month. 

Thank you to 

Washi Tape
Whoopsidaisy digi stamp
Copic markers
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders Die-Cuts
The Paper Studio embossing folder

A Rather Liberal License With Deborah's Sketch

The Society of Stampaholics is at it again... the CCC...
.

April 2013 Card Chain Challenge Sign-Up!

Welcome to the April, 2013, Card Chain Challenge! 

You have to visit Deborah to see all the ways you can win, not only a WIN by receiving a wonderful card from somewhere in the world, but....... nah, I won't tell, go here!

I loved the sketch and hopefully Deborah will like my rendition of her sketch... well, you know Deborah, of course she will!

    

I had some map paper from an old Thomas Guide of California and had glued a page onto sturdy card stock.  I rummaged through my die-cuts and found a Spellbinders film strip that I have rarely used.  Blink!

It's also time for the April Die Cut Divas' challenge to either submit a project for a birthday or use Washi Tape (of course you need to use an embossing folder or die on your project to participate) on your project.  I laid down two strips of the great wiggly lined Washi tape on each side under the die and cut!  But what to put inside the cut portion???  Nothing but Y O U.  

Recipe:
Hero Arts Anytime Messages CL129  - sentiment
Cuttlebug
Spellbinders film strip
Cuttlebug Dies - Provo Craft Olivia alphabet
Washi Tape