Happily Ever Challenged #13 - Winner announced!

Hello all!



I'm SO sorry this is late... it's been a long week and I lost track of time in my craft cave making some Valentine tags (blog post to arrive soonly)  :)



I want to thank everybody who participated. I sort of thought I'd have a bigger turn out, seeing as it was just 1-1-1-1. But perhaps that was more challenging than I had planned.



In any case, I asked my old friend random.org to come up with a number and here's on what he decided:

LOL! Perfect...for the "1-1-1-1" challenge, the #1 comes up! Karma, eh?  ;)



So, a HUGE congratulations to KIM O'CONNELL!! :) You're the grand prize winner of a beautifully wrapped $10 gift certificate to Papertrey Ink!! :)



You have until next Friday, February 4 to claim it. Simply email me at happilyevercrafter at gmail dot com with the email address to where you want the gift certificate sent.



Thanks again to all who made a card for this challenge.



If you have ideas that can be used for future challenges, I'd love to hear them. Perhaps that will draw more people to this. It's fun to see all the creations. The more, the merrier! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





 Happily Ever Yours,

 

PTI Blog Hop - January, 2011

Hello all!



Well, I thought I'd get in a last-minute creation for the January edition of the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  :)

 (Click above picture to check for details!)



I created another little book using my Cinch again (I'm loving that tool!) as a gift for my buddy Kathleen. She was kind enough to go to an art store near her to pick up some book glue and I wanted to pay back her kindness!



Seeing as this month's blog hop challenge was to use a stamp set that hasn't seen much ink, I realized it was due time to use PTI's Mat Stack 2 Collection! Paired with PTI's "Take Note" stamp set, I think it's a great combination. :)



Here's the book I created:

(Feel free to click the image for a larger version)



I feel SO fortunate that the "Note to Self" sentiment from "Take Note" fits within the boundaries of the Mat Stack 2 stamp! I wasn't sure it would and... seeing as I used Versamark for the embossing, I couldn't tell until I embossed! :)



Here's a close-up of the sentiment. I'm becoming quite fond of the black embossing!

And finally, a close-up of the little pearl accents:

I'm hoping she'll enjoy it. I know her favorite color is green so when I saw this paper from the "everyday tango" collection (My Mind's Eye), I thought it would be perfect! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!







Stamps: Take Note, Mat Stack 2 Collection (both PTI)

Ink:Versamark

Paper: Orchid Opulence (SU!); everyday tango (My Mind's Eye)

Other: Filigree black EP; Lavender Pearls (Queen & co.); Mat Stack 2 die (PTI); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Cinch (We R Memory Keepers); ATG; Dimensionals



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

You're a mean one, Mr. Cinch!

Okay, so I was going to say "The Cinch Who Stole Christmas" but that doesn't work during MLK Jr. weekend! ;)



So I finally broke open my Cinch and I can't tell you how fun it is! Well, I can tell you, but that would enable you and then you'd blame me for your credit card hating you. I'm not willing to let that happen!  ;)



Anyway, I had a lot of fun making two journals today (on my day off):

I made a prayer journal for my mom for an early birthday gift. (Well, technically it wasn't supposed to be an early birthday gift, but she came over and said, "What are you making?" just as I put on the focal title (which I created with MS Word, by the way). So what's a son to do?



Here is her journal closer:

For the paper around the chipboard (which are just report covers from Office Depot), I used my ATG. I wanted to see how well I could use paste/glue so I went to Michaels and got some Best Test Paper Cement. Oh that was a LOT of fun. NOT! I made the next notebook's cover with it but for the back cover I decided to break out my Xyron machine. SO much easier! Here it is:

I'm thinking about giving this to my best friend's girlfriend, Susie. She always treasures what I make her so I figure she may enjoy this before telling me she wants to make one too. She's my crafting protege!  ;)



These are going to be addicting so, if you'll excuse me... I need to go find some online stores that sell the wires. If you know of any, please share with me by clicking "Contact Ted" above and enabling me in return! ;)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: (for Mom's journal - MS Word); (for Susie's notebook - Take Note by PTI)

Ink: Susie's notebook - Close to Cocoal (SU!)

Paper: Georgia-Pacific (Wal-Mart cardstock) for the inside pages. For the covers of each: Everyday Tango DSP - My Mind's Eye

Other: Cinch and wires (We R Memory Keepers); ATG; Rhinestones (PTI); White Sigma pen; Best Test Paper Cement; 1.75" circle punch and 2" scallop circle punch (both EK Success)



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Mom's Birthday card (and Our Daily Bread ODBDSLC44 Challenge - Wing It)

Hello all!



If you happen to see my mom heading over to my blog to take a look at what I've created, please divert her attention. Say something like: "Hey wait! Isn't that Tom Selleck skinny dipping?!" That should do it.  ;)



For her birthday card, I wanted to create another gate fold card (have you ever gotten yourself into a positive "rut" where you want to create the same type of card over and over again?!) and I wanted it large enough to use an image I hadn't used before (from Heartfelt Creations). So, I broke out my new Scor-Pal (2nd edition) and thanks to the way that EVERY 1/4" can be scored, I was able to make a gate fold card with a full 8.5" x 11" sheet of Ocean Tides (PTI)!



Then, after I stamped the adorable "Clematis/Cottage" stamp from Heartfelt Creations, I remembered that Our Daily Bread blog is having a challenge named "Wing It" where we have to use something with wings! Well, these two little home-makers in the image DO have wings, so I figured I was safe!  ;) Go check out the challenge. You have until Thursday, January 20 to get something going there! :)



Here's the card (I had to use my hand in the picture to keep it closed!):

Now I know what you may be thinking: "Wait...this is a birthday card for your mom!? Doesn't look like you used feminine colors!" No. No, I didn't. My mom is a fan of blues and she has taken a real liking to Ocean Tides color (it's one of my favorites, too!) so I thought I'd team it up in the non-traditional combination of: Ocean Tides and Fine Linen (both PTI) with accents of Chocolate Chip (SU!). I'm pleased with how it turned out, to be quite frank with you. :)



Here's a close-up of the focal image (heat embossed, because one of my mom's favorite paper crafting techniques is heat embossing):

And here are two close-ups. One of the flower accent (in the background) and another of the embossed bottom of the panels:

I used the Bow Easy for those little bows and I think they turned out rather good if I do say so myself! :)



Here's the card "opened up":

Well, there you go... I hope my mom likes it! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Clematis/Cottage (Heartfelt Creations); Women of Life (PTI)

Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!); Versamark

Paper: Ocean Tides, Fine Linen (both PTI); Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Other: Clear Filigree EP; Cuttlebug, Textile embossing folder (both Provocraft); Ticket Corner Punch (EK Success); Bow Easy; Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon (SU!); ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Resist Embossing - Flower Medley - Hero Arts - Gate Fold Card

When I was at my local scrapbook store, I stumbled upon a Hero Arts demonstration and I learned a NEW way to do resist embossing (or embossing resist... I always forget what it's called!). I've done the technique before, but this was new in that the image I used was a "negative" image. This means that the "white space" was the actual image, while the "negative space" was the inkable image! Hero Arts has a few stamps with which this works... one of them called "Flower Medley".



I used Versamark on white paper and then used white Filligree embossing powder on it and heated it with my heat gun.



After, I then used a dauber and grabbed some ink with it and had a LOT of fun. For the stems, I used an item (that is new to me!) called Fantastix. They're like pen-shaped daubers to get into fine spaces.  :)



Here's the card I made:

And a close-up of the focal image:

And here's the card slightly opened:

I have to tell you that I LOVE making gate fold cards! It's such a unique way to make the cards and the recipient is SURE to love how it functions.



Try the emboss resist (or resist emboss) technique... you'll find it a LOT of fun!



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps:Flower Medley (Hero Arts); Butterfly Dreams (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Pale Plum, Glorious Green, Lovely Lilac (all Stampin' Up!); Versamark

Paper: Pale Plum, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White (all Stampin' Up!); True Black (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Clear and white embossing powders (Filligree); ATG



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Stamp Organization 2011

Yes, I titled this with a "2011" because who knows what it will look like in 2012... or even in March of this year! LOL Organization is one of my loves so it's an evolutionary process for me. But for now, the following system works!



Here's where I house my stamps:

These are white JetMax cubes I purchase at Michaels (always with a coupon or on sale!)  :) They are the four-drawer cubes and they hold CD cases quite well! :)



When I want to find a stamp set (say, on birthdays), I go to my master Stamp Index:

I open it up and go to "Birthdays":

Oh! "Birthday Basics" is a nice set... I'll check out that one.  :)



I go to the white binders that have all the stamp sets I own and their images and look up "Birthday Basics":

I like those sentiments...so I go to the drawer that houses "Birthday Basics":

and open it up:

Lo and behold! It's there! :)



I take it out and I'm ready to stamp!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in comments and I'll edit this post to help answer! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!


 Happily Ever Yours,

 

High Hopes Blog Hop!

Hello all!



Well, I'm excited to be able to play in my first blog hop with High Hopes Stamps! I'm not sure if you recall, but I won a prize package of some High Hopes stamps and Tina from HH spoiled me... I LOVE the quality and the images are just adorable.



I remember when I found them a year or so ago and they were wholesale only. Well, they have a small retail section so it's a joy to go shopping there!



And, now that I have some HH stamps, I can participate in their blog hop! Find the information at their blog here.



Here's the catchy little banner. Recognize the monkey? He's created by my buddy, Dustin Pike! :)

Now, without further ado... I have to show you the card with another cute monkey (available at High Hopes):

How cute is he! His sign is empty so you can put pretty much any sentiment in there (I'm all about versatility, right?!)



Here's a close-up of him:

I took careful time with my Copics, as he only deserves the best! :)



Here's a close-up of the bottom stamp. I wish I remembered the name of the company, but I saw it in my stash and it just was a perfect fit! :)

So please go check out the blog hop! There are prizes and I'm telling you that you'll LOVE the customer service that Tina provides! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Monkey Message Board (High Hopes); Fillable Frames #1 (Papertrey Ink); Monkeys on vine (from my stash)

Ink:Tuxedo Black (Memento); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Coconut Swirl (Bazzill); Taken with Teal (Stampin' Up!); Summer Sunrise (Papertrey Ink); Bright and Basics DSP (Recollections)

Other: Dimensionals; ATG; Baker's Twine (Papertrey Ink); Copics; Corner Chomper



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

Helping out Katie

If you read a few posts back on HEC, you read that I created a card for Katie Renz, a fellow crafter who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Gastric Cancer.

My faith is strong that God will provide for Katie and that He loves her more than any of us can possibly love her. He WILL take care of her.

An opportunity has come up that shows me He wants to work through us. Here are some VERY adorable images you can purchase and the proceeds will help out the Renz family.

Check out this post from Jak Heath's blog to learn more:

http://www.jakheath.com/2011/01/help-for-katie.html

If you're not sure about digi images (as they're sometimes called), they're VERY easy. You purchase them once and have them for the rest of your crafting life!  ;)  You can print them out, color them by hand, color them by computer (as you've seen me do)... there are so many possibilities!

Please click above and learn about what you can do to be one of God's soldiers in this wonderful cause.

Thank you for reading.

Happily Ever Yours,

 

Doodle Dragon Studio Challenge - Another cocoa slider! :)

How about a hot serving of Snowman Soup? :) Dustin Pike style!



Welcome to another Doodle Dragon Studio challenge. You can find out more information on this challenge here:



http://doodledragonstudio.blogspot.com/



This month's challenge is, appropriately enough... WINTER! So, wrap yourself up in your favorite scarf, grab yourself a favorite mug of something-er-rather, and look at what I did here.  :)



For those of you who have followed my blog for some time, perhaps you remember I made my secretaries some cocoa sliders. You can read that post here.



When I saw this adorable image of my snowbuddy enjoying a cocoa jacuzzi, I knew that it would be the perfect image for cocoa sliders! So, it's my hope that I have the ambition to create more cocoa sliders to warm up my secretaries, custodian, and principal this winter.



Here's the slider:

I colored the image with Photoshop Elements, adding some texture to the cup and such. :) (You can click on the image to see it larger in my gallery).



And those adorable cups in the background? Those are from Papertrey Ink's Warm Happiness Too. The sentiment is from the companion set Warm Happiness.



Since the little guy brought along his own marshmallows, I thought I better some include some for my friends! I attached a small bag of mini marshmallows to the back of the slider.

And here's what it looks like when I pull the bow...

I hope that my recipients like this little gift...



Here they are, all in their chocolaty snowy glory...

So, won't you please check out the Doodle Dragon Studio Challenge blog? There's a chance you can win your very own Dustin Pike image! :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!







Stamps: Dustin Pike image; Warm Happiness, Warm Happiness Too (both Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Rose Red, Close to Cocoa (both Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa (all Stampin' Up!)

Other: Ribbon (from stash); Photoshop Elements (Adobe); ATG; Corner Chomper; Big Bite 2; Mini marshmallows; hot cocoa packets.



 Happily Ever Yours,

 

A card for you, my followers! :)

Wow! I've recently reached 300 followers and to be quite honest, I didn't think I'd reach 30.  :)  I can't tell you how flattered and honored I am to have all of you reading my blog. It truly means a lot to me and you sure know how to inflate a man's ego! :)



So, to thank you all for this, I created a card for you all... and here it is:

A close-up of the focal sentiment (Papertrey Ink's Mat Stack 1):

And a close-up of my bow (of which I'm quite proud... thank you, Bow Easy!)  :)

And I was quite happy to break out my new Sheet Music Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink):

Overall, I'm pleased with the results (I wasn't too crazy about my sewing job, thus why you didn't get subjected to seeing it close up!).



I realize I have a responsibility to you, my faithful blog readers, to keep this blog as entertaining and hopefully inspiring. While I feel I've grown in the craft, I do realize I have a LONG way to go, and the fact that you all are followers of this blog truly motivates me to keep going. :)



Thank you so very much. :)



Thanks for looking and/or commenting!





Stamps: Mat Stack 1 Collection (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry (Stampin' Up!); Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink); Rich Razzleberry cardstock and DSP (both Stampin' Up!)

Other: Mat Stack 1 die, True Black topnotch twill, Sheet Music impression plate (all Papertrey Ink); Sew Mini (Janome); Bow Easy; ATG; Dimensionals; Cuttlebug (Provocraft)



 Happily Ever Yours,