Paper Storage

Paper storage is something that gets a lot of discussion. Probably because of the ever growing stash of it many of us have :)

This is what I have been doing since just after I started with SU (Stampin' UP!) 2 1/2 years age. It really isn't anything fancy but it works for me. I went to Staples and got 2 filing cabinets that are stacked with a counter top on top for my ink and scrap paper (that is a new addition to this system since Mom & Dad were here)

They are sorted by color family. The top is Neutrals, Bold Brights and Earth Elements. The bottom is Rich Regals, Soft Subtles, In Colors and misc (like vellum, polyshrink & window sheets) are in the back. I also have a little stash back there for Ian for when he comes looking for paper.

My 12x12 paper is in the tote I got from Michaels (shown to the left in yesterdays pic) and is divided by SU pattern paper, non SU pattern, non SU CS (cardstock) and then there are files for scraps of these (except the SU CS that goes into the 8 1/2 x 11 file.

I also have unopened packs of CS and patterned paper on the bookcase the right of my desk. Oh yes, and the file cabinets are to the left of my desk so they are easily accessible.

On to the card. This is one that I did for a sketch challenge on SCS but haven't had a chance to post it yet.

The flowers are from Both Way Blossoms, I used Regal Rose and Certainly Celery markers to ink them. For a couple of the longer ones I went above where the end of the stem would reach the bottom of the CS (make sense?) and then drew in the bottom of the stem. Just make sure the flower and leaves on the other end are clean. I used Delight in Life in Versamark in the sides and paper pierced the Regal Rose.

The inspiration for the ribbon came from Nichole Heady's card found here on her blog. I really liked the look of the ribbon but had a hard time when I went to thread the ribbon through the slits so I decided to use glue dots for mine.

I will be adding a couple more links in the next day or so but really need to get ready for tomorrow night's class first. In the meantime check out what Nicole at CompuPro Scrapbooking is up to. Exciting Stuff :)

My space and a card

Here is a pic of my space you haven't seen yet. Yesterday I took a bunch of pictures so that over the next few days I can show you more of how my space is organized, thanks again Mom. Mind you some of it I had already done - it was just hidden behind all of the other stuff :)

Angie posted on her blog asking to see other people's rooms so I though it was about time I finished the tour (btw- Angie do you mind if I post a link to your blog). I really think that we should start bugging Mom to post pictures of her room 'cause it really is the ultimate.

So, back to the above picture (you can click on the picture to make it bigger). My buttons and flowers are all in jars, my Queen & Co stuff is in that bowl on the right (Nicole had a sale), chipboard, embellishments & letters are all in baskets. My 12x12 paper is divided in the storage thing on the left and I have some page kits and more paper on each end. Tomorrow I will show my 8 1/2 x 11 paper storage and maybe ribbon.

Now onto the card-this is completly CASED (copy and share everything) but it is one that I did at a workshop and had to share 'cause I love it. The card was done by mytime on splitcoast ( I love her work), here is a link to the original (<-----click here). I didn't change anything but wanted to post it here so you can see it. I am adding a link on the right to a new blog that Angela and Eleanor started on the weekend. They will be doing swaps and challenges over there so go check them out at "Queen B" Stampers.

Also, incase you missed it check out Nicole's blog Here to see what she is doing to help out for cards for Shane.

Ok, I think I have said enough for today. Does this make up for not posting in a while? LOL!!
Have a great day! I really need to get something done before I have to pick Ian up at Pre-school :)

Pictures

I don't have any pics of cards ready for you so I am posting some other pics I have taken this week instead.

This one is of my little "Imp" playing in the high chair while I was making supper. She now loves play-doh (Daddy started that).








This is what Joe and Ian were doing while I was making supper. The neighbor with the tractor made this hill for Ian when he plowed for us.










Emma figured out how to climb on the bed in the playroom a few weeks ago so now she is there all the time. They both love to sit there and read and watch out the window (which is why there are so many finger prints on the window behind them).


Tonight I did the big blossom card with my last group so now I can tell you that it was with the faux shaving cream technique. I inked up the stamp with tempting turquoise and then used a wheel (in this case the Poinsettia jumbo wheel) to remove ink from spots on the stamp. You use kind of a twisting motion (don't wheel it) randomly all over the stamp.

I have lots of pictures of my stamp room and cards to share with you but you will have to wait until tomorrow (and the following days 'cause I don't want to post everything at once). I need some sleep and in the morning I am going to edit some pics and post here and upload some more to my SCS gallery. I also have a couple more links to add. Have you checked the ones I added last week? They are on the right.

Brown and Orange Happy Birthday

This is where the other half of the twill tape went. I also used some leftover brown waxy flax from a class (from this past trip to Moncton) to tie the Happy and Birthday on.

The horses are stamped in Chocolate Chip and sponged around the edges with Close to Cocoa. I like the look of it "uncolored" and was in kind of a time crunch when I did this. We were on our way to the B'day party and were running a tad late ;)

The paper was scraps from a class I taught at CompuPro. I think it is Wild Asparagus but if I am wrong someone please correct me. The layout was a previous sketch challenge from SCS, I'm not sure what # though. I love using these, can you tell?

Tractor Time

I made this card for my neighbor who lives on a farm and happens to have a blue tractor. The stamp set is tractor time and is one of the few retired sets I have kept. I just couldn't give it up and am so glad I didn't 'cause I like how this turned out. The patterned paper was scraps I had from taking a class (I think it was from Moncton last year) so I don't know what kind it is but it was perfect for a masculine card (which I don't do enough of).

I used chocolate chip and buckaroo blue markers(in a blender pen -ask me if you don't know how to do this and I will find the info and post it) to ink up the stamp. I sponged around the edges of all papers. For the twill tape I wanted it to be more frayed (sp?) so I took a piece of the narrow twill tape from SU, cut it in half and then kind of pulled at the ends and sides.

To see what I did with the other half of the twill tape you will have to check back in tomorrow :)

I added some links on the side a couple of days ago and am going to add a few more soon so keep your eyes there and check out those links. Also, check out my SCS Gallery as I will not always have the same cards in both places. I will put the link here soon too.

Stitched Blossom

I had to cancel class last night due to the weather and was planning on getting some stamping time in but Emma came down with the flu at supper time and was really not sleeping very well when she went up to bed so I didn't want to make too much noise up there. I did get the 2nd card for tonight's party done but will have to cut the pieces today while she naps. Good thing I work well under pressure. Eh?

I am using this card in a couple more classes but after I do I will post the directions so those of you that don't get to do it can try it out for yourselves :)

If you haven't done so yet go check out Mom's (Happy Stamper-the link is on the right), she has the information about sending cards to Shane. I am going to get a card ready for him this weekend. Hmm, maybe Ian will make one too. I'll post pics when we get them done.

Happy Valentine's Day

These are the cards Ian and I did for his class party today. He stamped all of the bugs on the front and I stamped the inside and put them together last night. This morning he signed all of them. I figured I would be lucky to get him to do his teachers but he did every single one. I am so proud :) and he is too 'cause he made them. On the back is a little bear that is holding a heart and it says hand stamped by "Ian".

Have a great day!

Too Funny!

I was just about to upload this card and decided to check my e-mail first, there was a message from "D" (you know who you are... LOL!).

This is her message:
Karen.....do you not know that I live through you!!!! When are there going to be new cards online????? If you are not making any new cards then you better make it up to me and send you mother to my house and organize my life!!! Does she have her own show on tv???? Have a great day!

I am still laughing over that e-mail and it was perfect timing 'cause I really was just about to post this.

Yes, I have been stamping. Most of what I have been doing has been for classes and partys so I didn't want to post any of those. This is one I did last night, I was in a bit of a creativity rut so I decided to print off some sketch and color challenges and this is what I came up with. The colors are blush blossom, chocolate chip and cool carribean. There is a bit of stickles in the middle of the flowers to make them stand out a bit more.

I am planning on adding a few links on the side later (hopefully today if I have time) so keep your eyes open for those and I also decided yesterday to upload my first card to Splitcoaststampers so you can now check out my gallery there (with one whole card in it!). It is under K. Thomas and I will try to figure out how to add a link here for that as well. Probably most of what I upload there will be here too but you never know :)

How's that for update? Kind of long winded I know but you asked for it "D" :-)

Oh yea, I also did my first View Master card that I am doing at a party on Friday so check back after then for a picture.

This is for Mom!

Thank You!!!!!!!

Mom and Dad were here for a couple of days and this is what Mom and I did (mostly Mom though). I am embarrased to show the before pics but I am going to so I can show what Mom did for me this weekend. Just remember that I have been really busy and that the coasters on my desk weren't there until I brought them back from Truro on Saturday :)


Are you ready?


I'm not sure I can post this :)



Ok, here you go.....



This is the before picture of my desk and shelves.









Sorry Mom I had to post this one :) We were in our pj's most of the day.













And Emma had to help of course. She loves paint already.













Here it is - the after picture. I can't believe how much bigger my space looks! I can't wait till Joe gets home tonight so I can do some stamping.







I have a picture of the closet before but we didn't get the after picture yet so I will do that later and post them because there is a huge difference in there too.

Thank you again Mom. I can't wait to get to play in my new space.

P.S. I even had room for the new things I bought at Nicole's yesterday :)

Really quick post...

to get you through the weekend :)

This is the swap card I did for Saturday. I used Polka Dots and Paisley (love it!) with whisper white and basic black cardstock. The black is stamped with the dots in white and then I tied black gingham around it and the piece with the flowers is popped up with dimensionals.

P.S. Does this card look familiar? It is the same layout as the one in the tutorial for the faux button and I just changed it to B & W.

I'm off now to type the labels for the back of my swap cards and then to bed. Hopefully I have everything, if not I am going to the right place. Right Mom?!?

What do you think..

about this for the shoebox swap? It has to have patterened paper and there are 26 (I think) participating so I had to make sure I had enough for all of them. Luckily I had 2 packs of this paper (Sarah, I think) so this is what I came up with.

Last night I changed the ribbon and used apricot and bluebird instead of the white and I think I like it better. It is a really simple card with the kissing technique. Now I just have to cut the paper for this today and pack and finish getting ready for tonight and, and, and...

I did get 4 of the 6 pocket notes done last night so just 2 more to go. I also stamped the envelopes and they look so cute.

On a different note I got an e-mail from Roberta that the February page maps are up. I haven't had time to look to see if there are any card maps but I did notice tag maps so they should be fun. Check out the Feb. page maps here.

I can't wait to get some scrapping time in so I can play with these maps. The last time Roberta and I scrapped together (a few weeks ago) she had printed some off and we both used them. A real time saver. Some other post I will talk about my scrapping goal for this year. Right now I need to go check a few more things off of my list.