maria's craft room

Put Down The Kindle, Lady!

Hi there!  Hope you're doing well.  Ummm...I finished all nine Sookie Stackhouse novels in less than a week.  While working and seeing family, etc.  So do you think I have a little addiction to my Kindle?  Once the proud gift-giver, now my husband is reconsidering his choice.  See, I bought the 8 book set of novels, and wouldn't you know it's one continuous file on the Kindle download?  So I just slipped from one book to the next without any effort at all.  *snort*  Without any effort at putting up the holiday decorations, doing the laundry, dusting...you get the picture.  So now I've put the Kindle in a drawer and am making friends with my craft room and laptop again.  Uh...and my laundry room, too.  Look out girls, I'm baaack!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

All supplies Papertrey.  Colored the clear rhinestones with Copics.
 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #69

Hi there!  It's Friday...Loonie time again:)  This week was Char's pick, and I have to admit that I like this combo!  I never would have put black in there on my own, so thanks, Char:)  Let's go see what the other gals did:

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 Papertrey plus Labels 8 Nestie and unk bling

 

Hello!

Hi there!  Hope you're doing well:)  So you've noticed by now that from time to time I skip blogging for a few days, right?  This time I can credit the recent holiday for part of my lack of routine...but the real culprit is an early Christmas gift that I received from my husband.  Yes, he who can not keep a secret from me had to gift me with this item the moment it arrived at our house.  And I've fallen under this item's spell so quickly that I'm wondering whether or not it was truly a gift for me...or for my husband so that he'd have more time for himself on our computer and less clutter around the house!  What is this item that has consumed my time?!?  A Kindle!!!  Oh my gosh this thing is incredible.  It's perfect for a reader like me who usually buys paperbacks every now and again.   Right now I'm zooming through the Charlaine Harris 'Sookie Stackhouse' series.  I need to make sure that I don't spend any more money on books than I usually do...it's so stinkin' easy to download books to this thing.  It was fabulous while I was sick last week.  I just draped myself along the couch with a pillow and blanket and shopped for a new book when I finished what I had already.  For a reader like me a Kindle is like a little piece of heaven.  *happy sigh*  Ok...enough about my Kindle.  I've got to get to work!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  All Papertrey except SU butterfly die and unk ribbon scrap
 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #68

Hi there!  It's time for the next LSC and this week was Jewels' pick.  I like the colors - they remind me of a nautical theme.  And hey, it's not just any LSC Friday...it's Black Friday here in the US...and no, I've not left the house.  Are you kidding me?!?  My local shopping mall (Char, Wendy - the one we went to when you were here) is overrun with people...the local radio says that the parking lot is over 90% full (including the satellite lots!!!) and state police are assisting people with finding spots.  The traffic report is detailing all of the other shopping centers that are packed and how the highways are congested...heck no, I say!   What have I done today?  Well, I took more NyQuil last night and slept in this morning.  Ahhhh...feels good.  I can almost breathe today...maybe the antibiotic is working after all.   Now if the husband would just leave the room I can whip out the credit card and try some online shopping:)

Enough about my frustrated shopping habits!  Let's go check out what the other girls did:

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 Papertrey except gold SU cord.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Hi there!  Happy Thanksgiving!!  Before I start cooking up a storm today I thought I'd pop on and share a couple of things I've made recently.  Yeah...the pictures are pretty low quality, huh?  Well somehow the settings were changed on my camera and I don't know - yet - how to fix them!  Anyhow, the top picture is of the 'favors' I made for my little nieces and nephews.  I thought they might like a treat and I wanted to make it healthy, so I put a clementine in each bag and decorated it with a tag and bow.  I'm not seeing them today, so I popped over to see them for a little bit last night and gave them to them.  The girls liked them...the boys...well, they couldn't be torn away from their toys.  Hmmm...it really doesn't matter the age, does it?!?!

Well off the couch I go to start putting this meal together.  Slow and steady for me...I didn't tell you, but that cold I caught last Friday turned into a roaring case of bronchitis.  Lovely!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M 

Papertrey Blog Hop - Holiday Gift Tags

Hi there!  Blog hop time again:)  This month Nichole has challenged participants to create quick and easy tags to keep on hand for last minute holiday gifts.  Now that's a practical idea!  I had fun with this one...I made the tags big (3"x5") and I'll secure them to the tops of freshly baked loaves of banana bread that I'll hand deliver.  All the writing is already finished!

Can't wait to see what the other girls made...thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  {all Papertrey} Tree Trimming Trio stamp set, sweet blush/aqua mist/dark chocolate/chai inks, epoxy stickers, sweet blush ribbons and cream twine...and an old black pen and some pinking shears.

New Moon, New Cold...and a Card.

Hi there!  Hope you had a good weekend.  Did you go to see New Moon?  I did.  I liked it:)  And I came down with a cold that has settled in my chest.  Just in time for the holiday...timing is everything!   But hey...it's a short work week so no big deal.  Today's card is one that I made as a group card for our office...one of the girls got married recently.  Her 'signature' color is orange, so of course I had to work that in somehow.  And those flowers?  I used the tiniest little punch imaginable from the Flower Bunch.  It's so small that I had to use my thumb to make it work!  Speaking of work, I'd better get moving.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  everything Papertrey except SU sentiment, MME paper, Chalk Box ink, liquid pearls, The Flower Bunch punch, scor-pal 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #67: It Was A Battle!

Hi there!  TGIF...and whoa!  This is quite the color combo, no?  It is actually Wendy's week to pick the challenge but her original suggestion involving purples and the movie Twilight was vehemently overruled by a nasty mob of Edward-loving yet plum pudding and vanilla hating Loonies.  After much spirited negotiation throughout the week the compromise challenge was plum, raspberry fizz and orange zest.  I'll tell you exactly what I told the girls:  these colors together are icky poo for me.  Icky, icky poo.  And as you see, I certainly didn't use a lot of them on this card!  Still love you, Wendy!  This challenge...not so much.  But hey, New Moon comes out today.  See...there's always a silver lining:)

Take a gander at what the other girls created:

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 Papertrey except for Cuttlebug embossing strip and Copic markers
 
 

Phew! Thursday!

Hi there:)  It's been one of those weeks...but I'm very happy to share this card today.  My new Lollipop stamps arrived from Stamping Bella and I've been having fun...this one's Hannah.  Love her!  I've got to run or I'll be late for work...thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M
 

Betterfly

 

Hi there!  Here's a little something I whipped up for a friend but never mailed.  Are you like that?  Never mailing your creations?  *sigh*  Well at least I can say I shopped my scrap pile for most everything on this card:)   Oh - Liz?  Glad you're feeling better.  Yes, this card was created for you...I'm a schmuck!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  (ask me if you have questions on this one...I'm running a little late this morning:)
 

Two Minute Christmas Card

Hi there!  I was up late last night watching tv and wanted to squeeze in one more card...this is what happened.  I do some of my best work under pressure:)  And now I'm off to start the work week (yeah...we were given a late start at school today so I have a couple of extra hours this morning...amazing how I managed to waste them!).  Enjoy your Monday and thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  all Papertrey except for May Arts ribbon
 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #66

Hi there!  TGIF!  It was my turn to pick this week...do you like the colors together?  I did make things difficult on myself by accident.  Guess who doesn't have soft stone?  Luckily I do have SU going gray:)

Let's see what my fabulous Loonie sisters have created:
 

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:  Papertrey holiday tree stamp set, Papertrey cardstock as noted except for SU going gray, Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon from my stash, Papertrey fresh snow and true black inks, SU going gray ink, SU 1 3/8" punch, SU silver cord, Papertrey buttons
 

Flowers And More Flowers

 

Hi there!  Hope you're doing well:)  Did you enjoy Veterans' Day?  I didn't go to any events, but I did think often about one of our recent grads who is currently an Army Ranger.  He visited us at school not that long ago.  Holy cow he looked all grown up in his fatigues and yet it was all I could do not to cry as he was recounting to me what he could of his normal duties while in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He was home for a bit to recover from what he called "just a scrape"...he'd been injured by flying debris from a roadside bomb while doing a recon mission.  It seems like just the other day I was scolding him for not finishing a research paper on time.  He's either already deployed again or is about to deploy for another assignment in Afghanistan.  And he's only 20.  So - if you could - please say a prayer for him.  And don't be sad...he loves what he's doing and is so proud to carry on his family's tradition of military service.  I'm quite proud of him, too.

And don't forget that tomorrow is Friday...Loonie Stampers' Challenge time!  This week is my pick and I decided to take it easy on everyone and go with a color challenge.  (What...you didn't like the foil challenge?  The bling challenge? Sheesh!)  Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Colorbox chestnut roan chalk ink, Papertrey chai ink, Papertrey pure poppy and vintage cream cardstock, October Afternoon paper, SU and Copic markers, unk candy dots, Papertrey ribbon/button/twine, Marvy Uchida flower punches, Cuttlebug tag die...and yeah, I'm into faux stitching right now.  Be prepared...I have a ton of other faux stitching projects that haven't been posted yet!
 

Plans tonight?

Hi there!  Happy Monday to you...today's card was inspired by a friend of mine.  I had a great weekend...saw family and friends, enjoyed the great weather...and I can't believe it's Monday already!!!  Ahhhh!   Thanks so much for stopping by:)

Until next time...M

Supplies:  cardstock is Papertrey and SU, paper is by October Afternoon, buttons and Copics from Papertrey, bella from Stamping Bella, Labels 8 Nestie and SU tab punch
 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #65: Surprise!

Hi there!  Welcome to the Loonie Stampers birthday blog tour in honor of Charlene:)  Our girl's odometer turned over earlier this week (just kidding, Char!) and so we're having a bit of a surprise party for her.  We gave her a fake challenge and color map this week as part of our cover...hopefully we fooled her!  In addition to us Loonies, there are a bunch of friends celebrating, too.  So grab a cup of whatever you enjoy and settle in for some birthday inspiration in honor of Char:)

The Loonies:

Char   Dee   Jewels   Regan   Wendy

Fabulous Friends:

Sue Pardue   Pam Imhotz   Char Cundy   Steph Day

Ashley Newell   Carly Robertson   Dana White

Jessica Diedrich   Michelle Woerner   Krissy

Nancy McKinney   Christie Ortman

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

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Colorbox roan chalk ink, Papertrey melon berry, berry sorbet and pure poppy inks and Ranger antique linen ink; Papertrey cardstock; October Afternoon paper; Papertrey button; Marvy punches; Martha Stewart twine; May Arts ribbon; SU stamp; Nestabilities labels 8
  

 
 
 
 

Pink Christmas

Hi there!  I was feeling a little girly when I made this card this morning.  I suppose it's my way of trying to put the baseball season behind me!  Cream, pinks and brown...I think it might be a very non-traditional Christmas for me this year:)  And can you believe that I hadn't inked up this set before today?  It's Papertrey's Tree Trimming Trio and it is very quick and easy to put a card together using it.  I think I might mass-produce these...maybe.  Right now I need to scoot or I'll be late for work!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  All Papertrey:  vintage cream and berry sorbet stock, sweet blush/dark chocolate/berry sorbet inks, Tree Trimming Trio stamp set, epoxy stickers; Fiskars border punch
 

Sweet Peas

 

Hi there!  Hope your week is going well.  I spent some time the other night 'cleaning' my craft table.  Basically that means I went through my scrap heaps and played a bit.  So much fun to do and I always end up making a bunch of cards.  

Ok...so yesterday I had to run errands after work.  No big deal, really, but one of them was to go to the grocery store.  I stopped at one that I don't normally to go and since I was hungry I decided to get something that I could eat in the car as I drove on to my next stop.  I decided to treat myself and get something fun...anyhow, I ended up having a few people stare at me as I ate my treat in the car while stuck in traffic.  I ask you this:  would you stare at a woman eating jumbo shrimp cocktail in the middle of a traffic jam?  Sheesh!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M
 
 

Getting Dirty...Garden Style

Hi there!  Can you believe it's Monday already?  My eyelids are in denial, as always:)  And I have not one but two cards to share today - here's the other:

So I was playing around the other day and I paired up October Afternoon 'Farm Fresh'  patterned papers with the My Favorite Things 'Can You Dig It' stamp set.  Kind of fall-ish, kind of cheeky...all depends on how you look at them, right?!?  Oh - and the sentiment on the first card doesn't come curved...I set it up that way when I put it onto my acrylic block.  Easy peasy...sort of.  If you try this at home, be sure to practice on scrap paper before you go inking it onto the finished circle.  I wasted a few trowel images before I could get the sentiment to stick to my block while curved.

And of course I stayed up super late last night watching the Phillies in the World Series.  *Sigh*  I probably should have just gone to bed.  Darn Yankees.  Now I'm off to brew some hot tea to get me through my day.  I predict an after-work nap and pizza delivery for this evening!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  Ink - Memento rich cocoa, Ranger walnut stain, Papertrey chai; Cardstock - all Papertrey; Stamps - My Favorite Things 'Can You Dig It'; Other - Fiskars border punch, Papertrey ribbon, twine and buttons, Labels Eight and long rectangle Nesties, blue Marvy circle punch, October Afternoon paper, Copic T1 marker and QuicKutz embossing folder
 
 

Ghosts In A Bag

Hi there!  Hope your weekend is going well.  Thought I'd pop on here to share a cutesy idea I had for the Halloween gift bags for my little nieces and nephews.  I don't think I've seen this idea before...but I look at so many blogs that it's possible I'm failing to give credit somewhere.  If it's you, tough cookies.  Today's my day!   I didn't want to overload the kids with traditional candy, so I went with an assortment of individual packs of goldfish crackers, raisins, Tinkerbell fruit chews...and these 'ghosts in a bag'.  Just a bunch of large marshmallows in glassine sacks.  (No worries...their moms make them eat these in pieces so that it's not a choking hazard.)  I threw everything into decorated gift bags and off I went.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...M

Supplies:  tuxedo black Memento ink, Unity stamp, Papertrey ribbon and glassine sacks, hole punch, large marshmallows 

Loonie Stampers Challenge #64: Using Copics

 

Hi there! TGIF:)  It was Regan's turn to pick our challenge and she went with using Copic markers...fun!  I decided to go with one of my recent Bella/My Favorite Things combinations.  Of course, it goes without saying that I must speak with Em @ Stamping Bella.  She's used me yet again as her inspiration for a stamp.  Really...can't she find someone else with a cute figure and perky rear end?  (This is where Regan will spit out a little coffee while reading this.) 

Enough about me for now!  Let's go see what my Loonies created:

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:  priceless