This and That

Good Monday morning, friends!

I hope you had a great weekend. Bill and I had the honor of attending a wedding for some dive friends of ours on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, a lovely location - it was really nice.

I got it in my head that I wanted to create for some recent open publication calls, so I've been creating some stuff I can't really share with you right now. I've also been trying to get a head start on projects for the upcoming Waltzingmouse Stamps release. But I do have a little paper crafting something I made that I hadn't shared yet, so I thought you might like to see that today.

I used a mix of butterfly punches and dies to put together this 'catalog of specimens'. The patterned paper is from the Pixie-Licious collection from Cosmo Cricket. Home decor is always fun to make - this is for my friend's newest little one.

I also wanted to share some yummies.. I love baking with zucchini this time of the year and one new recipe I tried this summer is this Chocolate Zucchini cake.

It was delish! I can get you the recipe if you're interested - its from a raddy old cookbook my mom gave me full of zucchini recipes.

Have you visited the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog recently? Lynn introduced some new Mischief Makers this past Saturday! We've also been using some of my own card sketches, too. I've been taking a bit of a break from playing along with the group, but am still playing along! You should, too, and say hello to our new ladies!

Thanks for the visit today, I will be back with more tomorrow!

Anya

Recipe
Patterned Paper: Pixie-Licious - Cosmo Cricket
Other: Classic Butterfly Punch - Martha Stewart Crafts; Beautiful Butterflies Die - Stampin' Up!; Frame - Ikea

Fright Night

Hi there!

Back to Halloween projects today. Here's a fun little card I made using Matilda patterned paper and Ready Set Chipboard from Cosmo Cricket.

This came together super quick! The Ready Set Chipboard is fun to use.

Bill has posted some more info on his blog about TTV photography. He posted an in depth explanation of the technique that you might find interesting. Me? I'm a more visual person. Here are some more photos that he took (at one point he actually asked me if I wanted to take some pictures) so the last one is mine. Very addicting - I cannot wait to take some holiday pictures.







There are more in our gallery too.

I also wanted to let you know that I have a post today on the Lizzie Anne Designs Blog. I'd love for you to stop by!

Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Spooky Sweets - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Rustic White - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Matila - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Jet Black Archival Ink; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger Industries
Other: Double Embossed Dotted Lace punch - EK Success; Matilda Ready Set Chipboard - Cosmo Cricket; Orange Peel Stickles - Ranger Industries; sewing machine

Butterfly Cutie

Thank *goodness* it is Friday. I need a happy, sunny, stress-free, relaxing weekend (do you hear me, universe??)

I was totally inspired by Jessica Witty's post on the Paper Crafts Connection blog the other day about using phone books in your paper crafting. I thought it was a great idea seeing as 1) I love the light, tissue-paper texture of the pages, 2) I have yet to have luck finding an old book to cut up to get that vintage print look and 3) Three of them were just delivered to my porch. So I was all over the idea of using a phone book.

Here's my first project. I've only got 1,638 pages left to use.

I cut a stack of pages with the Butterfly Die from Papertrey Ink. I think I wish I would have used pages from the phone numbers, but I do like the look of these. I stapled my stacks together and then mussed them up a bit, scrunching and folding the wings. I inked the edges with Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, and Orange Zest ink.

The patterned paper is from a few different Cosmo Cricket collections, seeing the colors together made me happy.

I stitched them to a card base of Orange Zest - I feel an orange kick coming on, totally loved Carly's orange card here - and added the sentiment using K&Company stickers. Happy, happy.

I hope your weekend is great! I'm so glad you stopped in today!

Don't forget that Monday is the May Blog Waltz for WMS! I will also be sharing a sneak peek of a new product line from Prickley Pear - you won't want to miss it!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Little Lady - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Orange Zest - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: From the Material Girl, Early Bird, and Nutmeg Collections - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, True Black - Papertrey Ink
Other: Handmade Mini Alpha Embossed Stickers - K&Company; Butterfly Die - Papertrey Ink; sewing machine; stapler; phone book

Happy Birthday Butterfly

Still digging in the archives. Its getting ridiculous, I tell ya :)

Simple layout on this one - keeps the patterned paper front and center.

The patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird collection. I pulled the rest of the colors for the card from that. The butterflies are punches from Martha Stewart Crafts.

This morning the company I work for held a big Earth Day meeting, and I was the keynote speaker. I never would have thought someone would have been so excited to hear me talk about what I do, but everyone seemed interested (or at least not visibly asleep) ;) I've had public speaking experience before, but I can't say its something I would volunteer for on a regular basis. Anyway, it went well and now I'm enjoying that relaxed feeling you get after you've done something you were worked up about :)

I have a stack of stamps on my desk at home - the new WMS release!! - that are calling my name. So, really, I am going to try and stamp some tonight.

Have a good one!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Vintage Labels - Papertrey Ink; Say It With Style - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink; Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Brunch from Early Bird Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: Labels One Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Classic Butterfly, 3-in-1 Classic Butterfly punches - Martha Stewart Crafts

Bloom

Super quick today - I have been so busy! I thought when I first got back from my trip that I hardly had anything to do. But all these things keep popping up and I haven't yet had time to make it to my studio. Don't give up on me yet!

Here's another from the archives..

The tree and birds are from the Season of Friendship set from Stampin' Up! The little flowers were punched with the trio flower punch and I added a little white bit to the center. The chipboard alphabet stickers are from K&Company. I tucked my little tree into a hillside created with patterned paper from the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love collection.

The Waltzingmouse Stamps April Blog Waltz has been announced - it will be held on Saturday, April 17th. The theme is Mother's Day! Visit the WMS Blog for more details. I'm off - enjoy your night!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Season of Friendship - Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Lemon Tart, Melon Berry, White - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Relive from the Earth Love Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze - Stampin' Up!
Other: Chipboard sticker alphabet - K&Company

Eye Candy

Two quickies today - these are some other things I've put together for the craft show. I'll add the supply list later, but am in a bit of a hurry right now!

Love making these recipe books - I use the Bind-It-All to put these together:

And more notebooks.. this one is special for Teacher. I always find that someone is looking for a teacher gift..

Sorry for the abbreviated post - I will add the supplies tomorrow. Thank you for your visit and I hope you have a great evening!

#Anya

Recipe:

Vintage Apron Recipe Book
Stamps: Vintage Apron, What's Cookin'? - Lockhart Stamp Company; Recipe Box - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Sahara Sand - Stampin' Up!; Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Bundt Pan from the Nook and Pantry Collection - Basic Grey; Title Strips from the Summer Soiree Collection - Fancy Pants
Ink: True Black - Papertrey Ink
Other: Thickers - American Crafts; Effervescence border punch - Fiskars; Bind-It-All - Zutter; circle punches; vintage buttons

Teacher Notebook
Stamps: Take Note, Teacher's Apple - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Sahara Sand - Stampin' Up!
Patterned Paper: Homework and Tube Socks from The Boyfriend Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: True Black, Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink; Cardinal VersaColor - Tsukineko

Holiday Hugs

Another red and white holiday card for you today.. made very simple with more Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly!


The cute little gingerbread man is from the Waltzingmouse Stamps Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy stamp set. I stamped him in Close to Cocoa ink and added some red Stickles for buttons. The bottom edge of the red cardstock was punched with the Upper Crest border punch. The sentiment is also from the Gingerbread Joy set. The ribbon is Pure Poppy twill.

So glad you could stop by today, I didn't have a chance to get crafty this weekend, but I am hoping to tonight. Have a great evening!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy - Waltzingmouse Stamps
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Smitten Mitten from Jolly By Golly Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Close to Cocoa - Stampin' Up!
Other: Pure Poppy Twill - Papertrey Ink; Upper Crest border punch - Fiskars; Red Stickles - Ranger

Hey Pumpkin!

Hey pumpkins! ;) Last night I had some fun with the newest Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge. Still loving the feeling of fall and Halloween (it is still almost 80 degrees here in Pittsburgh, but now it feels like fall is right on our doorstep). Here is the sketch:


And here's my card!


(I love it!)

The card is 4-1/4 square, so it is a little different than the rectangle sketch.

The stamps are from the Cosmo Cricket Haunted Collection. (Have I mentioned that I have a thing for vintage Halloween?) The little pumpkin was stamped in Tangerine Tango ink onto Tangerine Tango cardstock and then cut out. His other pumpkin parts were stamped onto various colors of cardstock and then cut out. One of his eyes and his mouth are popped up. I loved the mixed-up crazy look! 'Hey Pumpkin' was stamped repeatedly in Pumpkin Pie ink onto Summer Sunrise cardstock. The background is a combo of the bat and star, stamped randomly in True Black onto Enchanted Evening. I finished it off with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

What do you think? Fun color combo too!

Well it is Wednesday, and the week is half over. I could go for a 4-day work week every week. Hope you are having a great day! See you tomorrow!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Clear acrylic stamps from the Haunted Collection - Cosmo Cricket
Cardstock: True Black, Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise - Papertrey Ink; Tangerine Tango - SU
Ink: True Black - Papertrey Ink; Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Sahara Sand - SU; Vintage Photo Distress Ink - Ranger
Other: White Signo gel pen - Uniball

Happy Place

About a month ago, I was lucky enough to win a contest on Cosmo Cricket's blog for their new patterned paper lines. (I thought I was only going to receive one, which was such a treat, but they sent all three!) Cosmo Cricket's Paper Crafting Kits are fabulous - filled with stickers, borders, and elements (journaling blocks or little phrases) in addition to their great paper. (Can you tell I'm a fan?) Anyway, here's a card I made using The Boyfriend Line.

This couldn't have been easier! I used the Driver's Ed and Study Hall papers, and the main image is from the Elements sheet. I rounded a few corners, added a little clip, and matted it on PTI Pure Poppy.

Hope you enjoy - I think I'll head for my happy place now!

Have a great night!

#Anya

Recipe:
Cardstock: Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Driver's Ed, Study Hall, Elements (The Boyfriend) - Cosmo Cricket
Other: Clip Assortment - Stampin' Up! ; corner rounder - EK Success

P.S. - Thanks for bearing with me while I was being a bad blogger. Work was goofing up my schedule and I just didn't have time. I hate that, but I'm back on track now.

I also took some time and made a few changes to the ol' blog... what do you think? I like it!