handmade cass

I came across an old mini card I had stuck in my daughter's lunch box years ago. She had it stashed in a drawer in her dresser. And almost four years later, it's still one of my favorite coloring projects . I was still thinking about that rainbow maned unicorn (alicorn?) when I only had an hour to make a valentine card for a friend. Supplies : ink - Ranger Distress Inks (Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, and Peacock Feathers) and Lawn Fawn Premium Ink Pad (Jet Black) stamps and dies - My Favorite Things (Friendly Unicorns) markers - Arteza Everblend Markers cardstock - Neenah Classic Crest (Solar White) blending brushes - Picket Fence Studios (Life Changing Blender Brushes) other - Studio Calico Shine Spray

I have been on a foam letter sentiment kick lately. And ever since my friend (Listgirl) showed me how to make your own Thicker stickers I have had an endless supply ready to go. I bought a big package of self-adhesive glitter foam from Michael's and have been using the My Favorite Things (MFT) "Emmitt" alphabet to make these cards. This birthday card is for a friend that loves sparking pink wine. I saw the sentiment on a tote bag or a t-shirt somewhere and had to copy it. I used Ranger Distress Stains and Studio Calico Mister Huey's to make the background And this card is for my daughter's teacher at the end of the year. I cut the ombre strips from a Pipsticks quote card. Still loving my Pipsticks sticker subscription .

I made two cards this weekend that qualify for Simon Says Monday Challenge this week - Love That Technique . I needed a card for a friend that just found out she is having a baby girl. For that one I used the fussy cutting technique to cut out a dress from another part of that patterned paper. Supplies : patterned paper - Amy Tangerine, Memory Box mini clothespins twine And I also needed a birthday card, but wanted to use this "hola" stamp from an older Studio Calico set. I flipped that clear stamp over and used the back to stamp solid circles on the card - love that technique! Supplies : stamps - Studio Calico ink - Stampin' Up glitter - Wink of Stella vellum patterned card base - Michael's

The Wednesday challenge from Simon Says Stamp this week is Make It Colorful . I had started some rainbow thank you cards way back in December for my daughter's rainbow birthday party.  But time got the best of me and I had to go with a much simpler card. This was the perfect chance to finish up a project I was excited about. Supplies : washi tape - We R Memory Keepers crochet thread - Aunt Lydia's patterned paper - Amy Tangerine wood heart - Studio Calico Stickles & Glossy Accents - Ranger

I've been participating in the weekly challenges from Simon Says Stamp as a way to force me to finish some projects. And it is actually really fun! The challenges don't have stringent requirements and I have all the supplies on hand. No excuses! Instead of a card this week I decided to make a gift tag for the stencil challenge . It turned out too matchy-matchy in the end...but it's finished. I'm hoping this forced creativity will rub off so I can finish some other projects around the house. Supplies : Stencil - Simon Says Stamp Embossing Paste - Viva Mist - Studio Calico Tag Punch - Stampin' Up Crochet Thread - Aunt Lydia's

I was really glad that Craft Critique was re-launched right before the CHA Winter 2013 show, because the timing was perfect for me to attend as a reporter.  It is such a special conference for any crafter to attend - full of all the latest and greatest products, tons of inspiration and projects, and even some celebrity crafters.  Here is just a small portion of what I saw.  At CHA I made a beeline to the American Crafts booth to check out the new Amy Tangerine line " Yes Please".   LOVE the new stitching kit from the "Yes Please" line.  This set has chevrons too!  Amy was doing a make and take project, so we could test out the stitching kit.   Loved the Amy Tangerine travel kit that I have seen online.  Perfect for vacation mini books! Smitten with the colors and patterns in "Lucky Charm" from Dear Lizzy and American Crafts. My favorite color is glitter.  And I can't believe how awesome the POW glitter paper is...

I just recently got my hands on a few bottles of Mister Huey's sprays and I have to say - now I know what the fuss is about.  I resisted for a long time because I told myself that I enough "sparkle" sprays.  But that fact that these ones aren't too shiny is actually one of my favorite things about them.  Best features after one use: You don't have to spend 5 minutes shaking up the non-shiny colors (no pigment piles at the bottom).  Just a quick shake and then spray! The bottle wasn't half gone after one use - sorry Smooch Spritz but you know it's true. The non-blobby parts dried quickly.  I still need to work on those blobby parts... My orange ombre, courtesy of Mister Huey's sprays and the chevron mask from Studio Calico. One of my only complaints about the Mister Huey's sprays is lack of an all-inclusive color chart.  I literally searched for an hour before placing my online order, but alas, I managed to order two colors that are almos...