Couch Day?

While I still had my Wisteria paper out from my previous projects (see this post), I figured I’d use it to make a card for the FTL103 sketch.

I’m not quite sure what a couch day is – probably different things to different people. But to me it spoke to the comfort of having a friend over, sitting and chatting on my sofa (are you reading this, Lisette?), which I haven’t had for a while since my sofa has been covered with stuff for what seems like forever. See, my crafting has taken over my entire living/dining room. No longer is my (used-to-be) dining room table the only place I craft; the coffee table is my secondary spot, where my Big Shot now sits, surrounded by more stuff. Gotta do something about that so I can have friends over again!

Anyhow, I was so happy with the way this came out that I made another one, exactly the same but with different paper for a different feel. This one uses paper from the BG Nook and Pantry pad.
I used Papertrey’s On My Couch set for both, and added a little shading (hard to see here) with my Copic markers.

There’s nothing good on TV tonight, so maybe I’ll do a little straightening up. Maybe.

IHP August DT Challenge – Get Organized!

This month the i {heart} papers Design Team was challenged to create or alter something organizational. As crafters, we all have lots of I know my table (where normal people would eat, but I craft) is overrun with it. However, my bedroom is also full of stuff. My desk (with my computer) is in there, and my bedside table is always overflowing with books and, well, stuff!

Long ago, in a galaxy far away – oh, wait – different story. Anyway, several years ago I bought a wooden desk organizer at Ikea and have had it on my desk holding various forms of, ummm, stuff. It was a nice, finished wood piece, but I always meant to decorate it. Never did. You know how that goes. Well, now was my chance! I looked through my 12x12 paper collections (this thing is big!) and found the BG Wisteria Collection Pack that I had bought when it first came out. The colors spoke to me. And I realized that they spoke to me because they were the SAME COLORS as my bedroom! And this is what that desk organizer looks like now:

Forgive the creative Photoshop treatment. The sucker was too big to really fit in my light tent.

I only covered the 4 outer sides. It seemed a waste of time, energy and paper to try to line the insides, which wouldn’t be seen much anyway. The two sides have the same large-scale print, and the back has a different coordinating paper from the collection. You’ll have to trust me on that. I used Royal Coat clear decoupage finish to adhere the paper to the box. I like it much better than Mod Podge. I had to patch the paper on the front and back, because the thing is about 13” wide. That’s kinda why I used the striped paper on the front – makes it harder to see the seam.

But I couldn’t just stop there. I also have a (huge and growing) collection of Crystal Light containers of all shapes and sizes that I’ve been saving for some kind of organizational purpose. Or something. They begged to be covered with more of this yummy paper. Et voilá! (or is it voilà? – I’m accent-challenged)

These are 2 containers, the newer oval kind, covered and attached to each other with i {heart} papers’ very own i {stick} papers redline tape. Worked like a charm! I trimmed the shorter one in the front a bit so I could grab my reading glasses out of it more easily. When you’re “of a certain age,” you find yourself with multiple pairs of these drugstore beauties strategically placed (lost) all over your house. At least I’ll be able to find one pair!

You’ll see that not only did I make use of many of the papers in the collection, but I also used some of the adhesive embellishments (um, stickers) from the pack; the plaque and letters on the box are from the collection. So is the circle border piece on the larger cup. The cute little bee on the shorter cup has some Stardust Stickles on its wings.

I had a lot of fun with this! Hope it gives you some ideas. Oh, and Kate still has (as of the moment of this writing) 2 of the Wisteria Collection Packs in the store. Just sayin’.

Now go check out what the rest of the Design Team did with this challenge:

Cathleen
Deb
Gretchen
Kendra
Loretta
Lori
Lynn
Megan
Tracy
Kate

Enjoy!

did somebody say…

You know how sometimes you can look at a sketch for inspiration and nothing comes to you? And then you look at the same sketch and POW!, it just jumps right out at you. That’s how it was with the FTL102 sketch on the clean&simple stamping blog. I looked at it all week, and then tonight it just hit me. So here it is:

Now look at the sketch and tell me how I, the queen of martinis, missed that until today:

 

I wish I could remember where I got this stamp. I went through a phase where I bought every martini-related stamp I could get my hands on. This is unmounted rubber, so I have no idea who makes it. The olives are just made with punches.

Anyhow, I suddenly have the urge for a drink. See ya!

Purple Fuzzy Monster

I had such a great time in Chicago this past week at CHA. Sure, it’s fun seeing all the new lines and products coming out (and getting free samples), but for me the best part is seeing all the old and new friends that I’ve made through this wonderful world of paper crafting. I wish we didn’t have to wait for these events to get together!

Anyway, while walking the show floor with the i {heart} papers gang, Jannie Ho (creator of Chicken Girl Design stamps) and I stopped at the Our Craft Lounge booth where she was introduced to Sparkly Fluff. I got a sudden inspiration to use one of her monster images with some Sparkly Fluff, and it was the first thing I stamped when I got home. I present to you the Purple Fuzzy Monster. How cute is that?!!!

Here’s a closeup of the monster:

The image is from one of her first sets, Silly Monsters, which is available (and on sale!) in clear stamps, since it was before her line went digital. I colored it with Copic markers before applying the Sparkly Fluff, and added large drops of Glossy Accents to the eyes. I used black cardstock as a base and to mat all the layers. The patterned papers are from S.E.I.’s Black Orchid and Bridgeport lines. I used the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge #291 for the layout. 

I have a vague memory from early childhood of being afraid of a Fuzzy Monster. Or maybe it was my brother. It was many, many moons ago, and you know how memories get warped over time. Anyhow, I don’t think anyone could have nightmares from this cute fella!

Sweet dreams!