maria's craft room

Ahhhhh....Saturday!

Hi there!  Aren't Saturday mornings fabulous?  Doesn't matter the weather, as long as I'm not supposed to be anywhere I'm happy! 

Here's a quick little card to share...I had fun with the Primas, huh?  I challenged myself to use embellishments located in a specific spot in my craft room.  It's been a while since I've made it to my Primas and stickles and now I just might be hooked again:) 

Thanks so much for stopping by - hope you have a great day!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey tea dye duo and dark chocolate; Cardstock:  Papertrey vanilla cream and kraft; Stamps:  Papertrey simple little things; Other:  Primas, stickles, Fiskars border punch and October Afternoon paper

Loonie Stampers Challenge #48: Christmas In July

Hi there!  Happy Friday - it's LSC time again!  This week was my pick and I decided to really mess with you all by picking a Christmas in July theme.  Oh you should have seen the blistering (but good-humored) email that Wendy sent me in response!  Such fun:)  And yeah...this graphic is a little lacking, no?  It's because I made it!!!  Thank goodness it'll be only a few more weeks and our resident expert, Jewels, will be back to creating these for us.

I've had this My Mind's Eye Be Merry paper since the end of winter and I've been itching to use it.  I just think it's so cute when paired with the Merry and Bright stamps from Papertrey. 

Now go check out the other Loonies to see what they did with the challenge: 

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Play along!  Link up your creation to the comments section under any of our blogs...we love to come visit you!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey tea dye inks, ripe avocado, dark chocolate and scarlet jewel

Cardstock:  Papertrey vintage cream and spring moss

Stamps:  Papertrey Merry and Bright and Merry and Bright Additions

Other:  Papertrey ribbons, button and twine; long rectangle Nesties; sewing machine; MME paper

Mojo Monday #94

Hi there!  Thought I'd try my hand at the latest Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  Sorry to blog and run but I can't be late for work!  Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Until next time...M

Supplies:  October Afternoon papers, Papertrey cardstock, stamps and ink

It's All About Me Today

Hi there!  I'm laughing...it's not all about me today...oh who am I kidding?!  Yes it is...it's my birthday!  And so I'm sending out this little happy hello to all of you.  Hope your day is filled with a bit of the happiness I'm feeling right now.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey

Cardstock:  Papertrey and SU

Stamps:  Papertrey

Other:  sewing machine, Prima blossom, My Mind's Eye paper, Papertrey button and twine

Created By Courtney Challenge #40: Buttons!

Hi there!  Time for the next CBC challenge (remember, we're bi-weekly now) and this time the challenge is to use buttons.  How cool is that?!?  So much fun...hope you can join us;)

Check out what the other Challenge Chicks created:

Courtney    Dani    Holly    Kim   Sparkle    Risa 

Play along with us!  If you leave a link to your creation in the comments section under Courtney' s blog  you may be eligible to win a prize :)  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

All supplies Papertrey except for Nesties and Nicole rhinestones that I colored with Copics.

 

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #11

Hi there!  It's Monday again already, can you believe it?!?  My toes are dragging this morning:)  Check out that gorgeous inspiration photo Dawn McVey provided for the latest RSCC.   And yes, I'm still in the party mood - doesn't this card remind you of a ruffled skirt?

I am actually pretty proud of myself for sticking with just the colors in the challenge.  I'd better be careful, though.  I could strain my shoulder patting myself on the back!!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey true black and SU going gray

Cardstock:  SU going gray, Papertrey pure poppy, raspberry fizz and new leaf

Stamps:  Papertrey polka dot basics and fresh alphabet

Other:  Papertrey twill, Fiskars border punch 

Use It Challenge #17

Hi there!  Hope your weekend is going well:)  Today I thought I'd try a new challenge - Use It.  These challenges are designed for the crafter who is hoarding supplies, afraid to cut into new papers and up to their eyeballs in scraps.  Ummm...hello?  That's ME!

So this week's challenge is to use your newest papers, at least one button, your sewing machine and you must put a name on the card.    Ok...my newest paper order contained Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon.  I also got into the spirit of the challenge by dusting off my flower punches and digging out some old Bella's baubles.  Whoo it's been ages since I used those things!  (And I just had to have them, you know.  Sheesh.)  So I've been a very bad friend and not caught up with my friend Fran in eons.  She's on my list...must do lunch soon so I can finally give her her birthday present.  Ummm...her birthday was in March.  Ouch!  I hope she likes this card...the colors remind me of how she blends colors and shades in her scrapping.  And see the flower?  I did what everyone seems to be doing these days...crumpled each layer and then dragged a vanilla cream inkpad over them.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Ink:  Papertrey; Cardstock:  SU and Papertrey; Stamps:  Papertrey;  Paper:  Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon; Button and twine Papertrey; flower punches Marvy, Bella's baubles

Independence Day

Hi there!  Happy Independence Day to all of my fellow Americans.  In honor of the holiday I made this little card...I was trying for a vintage or homespun look.  Not sure I achieved that, but I did play with some new supplies and that's always fun:) 

I've always loved July 4th because my birthday is just around the corner.  (Not too self-centered, am I?  lol)  When I was little my Uncle Dan convinced me that all of the fireworks shows were early birthday presents for me.  Ummm...yeah...I didn't believe that one for too long, thank goodness!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Ink:  Papertrey

Cardstock:  Papertrey and SU

Stamps:  Papertrey

Other:  Papertrey buttons and twine, white silk ribbon from my stash, SU distressing tool  

Loonie Stampers Challenge #47

Hi there!  TGIF!  This week's LSC was all Dee - from the choice of the colors to the creation of the graphic.  She did such a great job with the graphic, don't you think?!?  Ok, if I'm being honest with you, I have to share that I gave Dee quite a razzing over this color selection.  And then I tried making something with it and wouldn't you know I had fun?  Darn.  Dang.  Shoot. {imagine other word choices there...just keeping it PG!} 

So my local radio station was playing Lionel Ritchie's song All Night Long while I sat at my desk trying to come up with something.  And then he sang that line with the phrase 'fiesta forever'.  Bam!  Instead of July 4th I channeled the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.  Have a margarita on me, girls!  I even  remembered to salt the rim:)

Now go check out the other Loonies to see what they did with the challenge: 

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Play along!  Link up your creation to the comments section under any of our blogs...we love to come visit you!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey dark chocolate

Cardstock:  Papertrey select white

Stamps:  Papertrey A Day at the Beach, Background Basics Retro, and It's a Celebration

Other:  Copics, Nesties, Prisma glitter (Papertrey) and some cool Webster's trim

Feel Better

Hi there!  Just a quickie post...I'll be back later today with a ton more pics to share and all the supply lists.  I made a pile of get well-ish cards last night and they turned out pretty cute.  Here's a teaser...love October Afternoon papers!  Thanks so much for stopping by:)

Until next time...M

Elephants For Lisa...or Doggie Dental Central?

Hi there!  Happy Tuesday to you...hope you're doing well.  And no, no need to adjust your monitor.  I did voluntarily use purple in these cards!!!  I made this set for another of my brunch girlfriends; she loves elephants:)  In fact, I bought this SU set just for the elephant so that I could eventually make something for Lisa.  And I paired the image with that sentiment on purpose...kinda tongue-in-cheek.  Elephants never forget!  Hah!  I crack myself up, at least. 

And would you believe that I've had to take Deuce to the vet four times in the month of June?  Leg problems, allergy problems, reaction to medication and now...an abscessed tooth! 

When I left the house yesterday he was fine.  When I returned from work he looked like this first picture.  I immediately thought 'abscess!'.   I also thought of a few choice words because I never budget for four vet visits in one month!!!  We got him into the vet within a couple of hours and we were even able to have him seen by our absolute favorite doctor in the practice.   It turns out that it's no big deal...treat with antibiotics and hope that's the end of it.  Well...I woke up this morning to find this pitiful thing next to me:

The entire side of his face is now swollen!  Yikes!  My poor little guy.  I think there's some homemade chicken and rice coming his way tonight:) 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey true black and SU elegant eggplant

Cardstock:  Papertrey select white

Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye

Stamps:  SU (argh...it's a baby set...forget the name...sorry), Papertrey Everyday Classics (sentiment)

Other:  Labels Three nesties, Papertrey spring rain buttons, SU silver cording

Pink Ribbons

Hi there!  Hope you had a good weekend...I did.  One of the things I did was have brunch with my girlfriends.  There are four of us in the group, we originally met through work, and we've been brunching (is that a term?) together for over ten years.  We share our news with each other, seek support, gain advice...it's everything you could ever hope for in a bunch of friends.  And we're all so different from each other!  And yet...very alike, too.  Well, one of us - Kathi - is in training for her third Breast Cancer 3-Day walk.  This one is even more special than the first two because

this time Kathi is walking for herself.  I can happily say that she caught her cancer early and has been successful in her battle.  Perhaps more of us should get a baseline mammogram at 35?  That's how they caught it for Kathi at 40.  (Or was it 41?  I try to mentally block out scary things and having a friend so young get cancer...well...it's scary.)

Anyhow, I surprised Kathi with a little package of these polka-dotted notecards yesterday and she loved them so much she asked me to make a pile of them that she can use as thank yous,  Variety being the spice of life I also threw in some minor variations.  Hope she likes them!

The cards are pretty simple - I used the Labels One Nesties to cut the focal pieces (Papertrey and MME papers), stamped the ribbon image and sentiment from MFT and then colored with Copics.  I did try to add a teeny bit of interest by swiping the edges of the focal piece with that new chai tea dye ink from Papertrey.  And that's it!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Loonie Stampers Challenge #46: Saffron and White

Hi there!  TGIF, right?:)  This week's LSC is Regan's pick and because she's been so enamored of her new saffron comforter set she picked this!  So use saffron (or any yellow) and white to make your own patterned paper.  It's not as easy as you'd think!  Oh - I'm changing up the theme on the blog-o.  Still not certain I'm loving this hammock thing up top but it'll do for now:)  Next up is to do a new self-portrait.  Ugh.

 

 

So you see I went with bees.  Considering I have a family of wood-boring ones living in my mailbox post I'll just say that this card is dedicated to them.  Yep - found that little gem out yesterday when I went to get the mail.  Little scary for me. 

Now go check out the other Loonies to see what they did with the challenge: 

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Play along!  Link up your creation to the comments section under any of our blogs...we love to come visit you!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  all supplies from Papertrey except for circle Nesties, piercing tool and white gel pen.

Papertrey Blog Hop Summer Style

Hi there!  It's Papertrey blog hop time again and this month the challenge is to be inspired by summer.  Whatever it is that says 'summer' to you:)  So...you know me.  I went diving into my baseball photos.  Baseball...as American as apple pie...bingo!

 

 

 

I used some of the new bitty block paper and dug out some oldies - My Punny Valentine and Limitless Labels.  And the sentiment?  That's Mailbox Greetings:) 

And here's my inspiration photo.  Yep - that's how I went with red, green and cream.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I can't wait to see what everyone else created:)

Until next time...M

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #10

Hi there!  How pretty is the latest color challenge combo from Dawn Mcvey?  Pinks and browns...I just couldn't miss out on this one:)

And it's the day before Friday, too.  What's not to like?!?  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey

Cardstock:  Papertrey and SU

Stamps:  Papertrey

Other:  Fiskars punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU ribbon

Bold and Bright

Hi there!  Here's a quick little card for today - I challenged myself to only work from the scraps pile on my desk.  Luckily I had some stamped images in there:)  And hey...for me this is a bold and bright combo!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink Papertrey, Stamps Papertrey and Penny Black, Cardstock Papertrey, Nesties, Copics, piercing tool and May Arts ribbon

Gift Bags And Cards

Hi there...it's the start of a new week:)  Hope you're doing well.  All is finally calming down around these parts so I thought I'd take a few minutes this morning to share the cards and bags I put together for the twins' birthday.  They just turned two and my sister had their party last week...we sat outside and had a picnic under a tree.  Poor Grace was suffering from allergies and not quite herself but Jack was in rare form and had a blast opening most of the gifts.  (We bought each of them a classic Disney DVD.)  I kept everything simple on the designs on purpose so that my sister could reuse the gift bags. 

Yeah...not the best staging I've ever done in a photo but you get the idea.  And yes, that is a binder clip sticking out on the side.  I had to get the cards to stay in place somehow!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink, cardstock, stamps, buttons and twill ribbon all Papertrey; ric rac by Wrights, bag by Nichole and papers are My Mind's Eye

Loonie Stampers Challenge #45: So Nice I Did It Twice

 Hi there.  Happy Friday to you...it's time for the next LSC and this week it was Char's turn.  Don't you just love this color combo?  I do...so much so that I did two cards for this week!!

Here's version #1...I went graphic on you.  I finally used all the circles in Shapes By Design (thought that would never happen).  And  here's version #2:

Look familiar?  Yeah...copied my Tuesday design and added a little bird.  Soooo....guess what happened last night?  We let Deuce out to potty @ midnight and he had a little accident on the wet grass.  We have an appointment this morning to confirm, but we think he tore through the main ligament in one of his back legs.  DH had let him out and was the one to hear the screams.  Consequently he's a bit of a mess.  I'm just lucky I didn't hear the screaming, too.  The crying and whimpering were bad enough for me.  Welcome to the weekend! 

Go check out the other Loonies to see what they did with the challenge.  Bet they're in a better mood than I am!

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Play along!  Link up your creation to the comments section under any of our blogs...we love to come visit you!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Everything Papertrey except for SU and Hero Arts buttons, May Arts dotted ribbon, Copics and SU markers, Kaiser bling, circle and long rectangle Nesties and SU 1 3/8 inch circle punch.

CBC Challenge #39: A Day Late and a Dollar Short!

Hi there...major blushing going on here.  So you know how we CBC Chicks postponed our challenges for a while?  Ummm...they started up again.  Yesterday.  Yep.  Sigh.  My apologies to Courtney and the other Chicks.   Well, this week is a color challenge and can you believe it contains purple?!?  Argh.  I managed to get through with just the tiniest touches:)

Now check out what the other Challenge Chicks created (on time!):

Courtney    Dani    Holly    Kim   Sparkle    Risa 

Play along with us!  If you leave a link to your creation in the comments section under Courtney' s blog  you'll be eligible to win a prize :)  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies: Ink, Cardstock, Paper, Stamps, Button, Ribbon and Twine:  all Papertrey

Other:  long rectangle Nesties and Copics

Loonie Stampers Challenge #44

  Hi there!  Happy Friday to you:)  Isn't this week's graphic cool?  Jewels made it, of course...and it was her pick this week, too.  She taunted us all by picking lavender moon!  Ugh - purple!  Of course, I was a chicken and used it sparingly.  But I did use it!

I made a square card today (4.25") and broke out the Day at the Beach set from Papertrey.  I had to do something quick because...yes...I did spend hours reading the third book in the Twilight series last night.  I'm so hooked.  Go check out the other Loonies to see what they did with the challenge:

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Play along!  Link up your creation to the comments section under any of our blogs...we love to come visit you!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:

Ink:  Papertrey true black, lavender moon, lemon tart and aqua mist

Cardstock:  Papertrey select white and aqua mist; SU barely banana

Stamps:  Papertrey A Day at the Beach

Other:  May arts ribbon and oval Nesties