Thank you~

Hi~

Well, I have been deep in mass producing Thank You cards for my son. His birthday was on the 10th and he had a birthday party on Sunday with his travel ball teammates as well as a few others he has met through other baseball teams he has been on.  So it only seemed appropriate to make a simple baseball thank you card.  It's pretty much all the boy talks and reads about even in the off season.

The key to mass producing is quick and simple in design. I was also determined to use up some scraps. Other than the card base, everything else was from my leftover pile. Yay...still no dent was made. Boo!

Here is one of many and the rest are still in "production" as I type this.

 I started with a Blackboard Card base, and added my patterned paper onto a panel of Brown Kraft Cardstock.  I used the same Kraft to cut out the Thank You from My Creative Time.  The baseball is one that is in my files from the Silhouette Store. 

It's a work in progress that I hope is complete by the time this goes live! :-)

Nice and flat for mailing! 

This is the month for giving thanks, my son has a lot to be grateful for...friends and family that are far who could not be here yet showered him with gifts, a wonderful baseball team that makes him feel like family, and the opportunity do what he loves 9 months out of the year!

I know you see a lot of baseball cards on here, but it's our love!  I love that I have the opportunity to make something special for all those in our son's life that share the same passion. It's why we do what we do. Right now we are missing it! If you missed yesterday's post, click here. I actually share some "personal" photos. My son got to meet  a Pro baseball player.  A day we will always remember!

Thank you for letting me share what I am working on!  Many of you know I have been struggling with balance lately! Still working on that and finding my mojo!

I am sharing at: Simply Create Too: Thank You, The Sisterhood of Crafters: Thank-ful, Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Have a Terrific Tuesday~

~Tammy~

TKJ#198 Sketch Challenge

Hello Friends,

Today we have a sketch for you at The Kraft Journal. I kept it pretty simple and followed it pretty closely.  A little over a month ago we had the privilege of meeting Miami Marlins Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia when they were in town playing our beloved Washington Nationals.  Mr. Saltalamacchi actually arranged for our tickets through a friend of ours even though we are HUGE Nats fans. He is a class act. He invited us to come to their dugout and meet him. He knows my husband is in the military and wanted to thank him for his service. What an honor! We love baseball, and there is enough baseball love to go around!!!

I made a card to show him our appreciation, and my husband also gave him a military coin. He was so appreciative and so down to earth and he spent a lot of time with us visiting and encouraging my son to always be positive in the game and to remember it was about having fun. He really took an interest in our family and did not seem put out or rushed to get back to the clubhouse.

It was a day we will always remember!  

I started with a base made from Blackboard Stock Paper.  I layered my card with patterned paper from DCWV Citrus Stack and bright yellow cardstock to coordinate with the Maimi Marlins focal image. Following the sketch, I added a blue banner down the center.  I then wrapped the card with Orange Baker's Twine several times and finished it in a bow. Lastly I added the oval focal image to the center to complete the card. 

Here is the sketch

Please be sure to head over to the The Kraft Journal to check out the projects by the other talented ladies.  We hope to see your Sketch creations in the gallery this week for your chance to be featured on our "Feature me Friday" post as well as be entered to win a $15.00 gift voucher from The Kraft Outlet store.

Here are some pictures from our special day!

 He signed my son's catchers mitt!

As if that was exciting enough to meet Jarrod...my son met the local sports newscaster.

We are missing baseball right now. Both playing and going to National games. Come on Spring!

Have a GREAT week!

~Tammy~

Fall Treats Gift Basket {Trendy Twine}

Good Saturday Morning! 

I have a little Fall gift basket to share with you this morning that I made for the Trendy Twine Blog featuring some awesome Orange Truffle Trendy Twine.

I put together a little gift basket that has some yummy apple butter that I picked up at a local pumpkin patch. I added a piece of fall patterned paper to the top to dress it up and wrapped a piece of Orange Truffle Trendy Twine before placing it in my basket surrounded by yummy Hershey Kisses and Rolos. I also added a cute orange pumpkin scrubby behind the jar. 

For the bag topper, I die-cut a large label using one of my Spellbinders dies from patterned paper.  The turkey is from a file in the Silhouette Store. I gave Mr. Turkey a little twine bow. :-) Rather than use the face that came with the file, I used a face from Peachy Keen Stamps Critter Faces. Sometimes it's just faster to stamp a face than paper piece. :-)

The pumpkins, Sign and Sentiment are all from Jaded Blossom. As you can see, that sign is just adorbs trimmed in that awesome Orange Truffle Trendy Twine.

Why don't you check out our current Fall Foliage Challenge and play along with us. You can read about it here.  It's an awesome way to win some more Trendy Twine! Yay! Now who doesn't want that???

Check out the other places where we share our projects .....

Trendy Twine Blog- HERE

and the

Trendy Twine Facebook page- HERE

Don't forget to visit the

Store - HERE

I am also sharing at Die Cuttin' Divas - Let's Talk Turkey, Allsorts Challenge - Anything But A Card, Jaded Blossom - Thankful, Decorate to Celebrate - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.

I hope you have enjoyed my project and have a Super Fall  Saturday!

~Tammy~

Candy Cane Chickie Christmas Treat Packaging {DeNami Design}

Good Friday Morning!

I have a Sweet Treat to share with you using one of DeNami Design New Release stamps Candy Cane Chickie. I think it's a cutie....how about you?

Here is my project:

 I used the CB400 Clear Boutique Boxes that come 10 to a pack that DeNami sells. I filled them with Red and Silver Hershey Kisses!  I added a length of red grosgrain ribbon around the box vertically and secured with hot glue.  Next I used a Tim Holtz snowflake Rosette die to create my focal point for the treats.

The real treat is our new friend Candy Cane Chickie which I stamped inside a snowflake. After I colored him in with Copics, I used the Quickie Glue Pen to add Blue Ice Glitter to his hat and the edges of the snowflake to give it some winter shimmer. Once dry he was secured to the center of the rosette and added to the treats. 

 There you have it....ready for gift giving this season. They are inexpensive to create...and easy to mass produce. 

Be sure to check out the new release ~ HERE

Be sure to follow and like DeNami Facebook Page HERE!

Find DeNami Design on Flickr HERE!

More inspiration on Pinterest HERE!

Thanks for stopping by and have a Fantastic Friday!

~Tammy~

Watch Us Wednesday-Chipboard {The Kraft Journal}

Hello Friends,

I am over on The Kraft Journal blog doing a product spotlight on Chipboard.

I made two different cards for you showing two different uses, but the possibilities are endless. These are just two examples.

Here is a Christmas card I made where I used the chipboard to die-cut the tree, and then I cut the tree again from patterned paper.

I started by using a piece of the Small Precut Chipboard The Kraft Outlet sells and running it through my die-cutting machine using a Sizzix Tree die.  

 Next I printed some green gingham checked paper using the Buff Ivory cardstock. I waited a few minutes to make sure it was dry and I cut a piece to run through my die-cutting machine using the same die once more.  Next I adhered the patterned paper to the top of the chipboard piece.  This is a great way to create your own chipboard images. To give a vintage look, I inked the edges of the tree using Vintage Photo distress ink. 

I repeated the same process for the snowflakes, and I layered them on top of the other adding a brown button laced with Natural Hemp Cord.  I then stamped a greeting from My Pink Stamper Christmas Wishes onto a Scalloped Grungy Prim Tag.  I added patterned paper to the Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock base adding some vintage crochet lace trim to the top. Lastly, all I had to do was add the Chipboard tree image to the center adding the snowflakes and Scalloped Grungy Prim Tag to the middle of the card.

For my next card, I took another piece of the Small Precut Chipboard and placed it inside an embossing folder to create a sturdy background. I took the embossed piece and ran it through a stitched rectangle die to give it a nice finishing touch. 

All that was left was to layer and assemble the card. I just used pieces from my scrap pile to complete this baseball birthday card. For the baseball, I used a file I had already purchased from the Silhouette Store. 

I hope I have given you a few ideas for using chipboard in your projects.  It's also a good base to create good and sturdy tags which is perfect with the upcoming holidays. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

~Tammy~

Happy Birthday Slugger

Good Morning!

Happy Birthday to my little slugger...the one you have heard me refer to as short stack. If you are a Mother, you can relate that birthdays have a way of making you wish you could make time stand still. In my case, in a blink of an eye I went from a diaper bag to a baseball bag...it seriously seems like it happened overnight. 

Well, as I stated in my post on Friday, I've been struggling to find a new balance in my life, and I didn't think I was going to get a card made for my son, but I did. He really pulled at my heart strings when he signed his friends card and said..."I really love that baseball player you used"...so after he went to bed, I sat at my desk and found a sketch and made the boy a card! Laundry, reports, and what the heck I am making for the bake sale will just have to wait...

The ribbon he picked out on one of the many craft store trips he has been dragged to and asked if I would make him a card one day using it. I didn't buy it that day, but I got it on another trip. So I hope he remembers and is surprised. 

The sentiment is from Jaded Blossom Go Team.

The Glove and Ball is from PTI 7th Inning Stretch

Player - Silhouette Store

I used the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches for inspiration.

Here is an action shot of the birthday boy.

I hope you have a GREAT day!

~Tammy~

Happy Thanksgiving Card {Trendy Twine sneak peek}

Good Morning Friends!

I hope you are staying warm and toasty this fall day!  Here is my sneak peek, but please head over to the Trendy Twine Blog to see my full card.

 Here is a look at the awesome Orange Truffle I used today.

Hope you have a Super Saturday!

~Tammy~

Wanna Sketch All Star Birthday

Hello Friends~

Well, my little guy needed a birthday card for a friend...his poor mama is seriously struggling creatively.  Not sure I am happy with the end result.  Normally, paper crafting is my therapy, but right now, I am just in a place where that isn't even helping, but I know I'll get there....just need some time. 

I feel sad for my little man. His birthday is Monday, and I am not sure his own mama will be able to get a chance to make him a card. Pretty sad. Actually, he doesn't really care as long as his friends have cards. 

Now, I know you didn't come here for this gloom and doom, but it explains my lack of posting and blog hopping lately. I am not normally in a funk, but I have good reason, and a lot on my plate on top of it all, but it all works out and will all fall into place. Just have to find my new balance. :-)

Here is my card...I had some input from the short stack. He requested three different shades of blue for the stamped numbers. I used Chipped Sapphire distress ink for the Navy, and I wasn't happy at first, but I think it's growing on me.

I started with a Brown Kraft Cardstock onto which I added my patterned paper.  I took a strip of navy cardstock and added to the lower  portion of the card front topping with a star die-cut border.  Next I added the stamped background adding a die-cut baseball player which was cut using my cameo from a file purchased in the Silhouette store. To add dimension, I cut the image first using chipboard and then cardstock and layered them together. I added a star to the player's helmet using leftovers from the border.

I stamped the sentiment from PTI - 7th Inning Stretch onto a banner, and added it to the upper right corner of the focal piece. Lastly a few sequins and a leftover star was added to complete the card.

Inspiration was found at: Wanna Sketch #21.

Thanks for putting up with me today and stopping by! :-)

~Tammy~

Bringing You Tidings of Joy {DeNami Design}

Hello Friends!

DeNami Design released some new stamps last month, and I am here today to share a complimenting tag and card combination using two of the new stamps just released.

I started by using a stitched scallop circle die and creating a shaped card using a butter yellow cardstock. I then took white cardstock and die-cut a circle onto which I stamped the Eskimo Friends image directly to the center using Tuxedo Black Momento Ink. Once the ink dried, I colored the image with Copic markers.   I drew lines under the image using the Quickie Glue Pen, and added Blue Ice Glitter which is a quick way to add a little snow scene.  I added little glitter touches to the image to give a little more sparkle and shine.  Lastly all that I had to do, was stamp the Tidings of Joy sentiment just above the stamped image and add to the scallop circle card base.

I followed the same process for the tag, just adding a hole at the top for my ribbon which I embellished with yellow and white twine.

You can find all the new products in the new release HERE!

Be sure to follow and like DeNami Facebook Page HERE!

Find DeNami Design on Flickr HERE!

More inspiration on Pinterest HERE!

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

~Tammy~

Trendy Twine November Challenge ~ Fall Foliage

Good Morning!

**This project earned Top 3 Winner at Craftin' Desert Divas on 11/9/14 and Top Honors at Decorate To Celebrate on 11/12/14**

{This is my 2nd post of the day, for The Kraft Journal Critter Challenge post click here.  It's a cutie}

Welcome to the November Challenge with Trendy Twine!  Our theme this month is Fall Foliage  - Autumn or Thanksgiving theme, foliage, & Trendy Twine. We would like to see your Fall creations using Trendy Twine! (No other brands of baker's twine) Please use hemp, jute, or embroidery thread only if you do not currently own Trendy Twine. Better yet you can head over to the store here and pick up some today!

I am also VERY EXCITED today because Lesley has asked me to stay on with Trendy Twine! Yay! She has such amazing twine and products and I am happy to be able to continue working with them. She also asked my other Trendy Twine Little Sisters to join, so it's a GREAT day!  We are happy to join such an amazing talented team.

Now onto my project I made based on the theme!

 I started by cutting a French Fry box using Brown Kraft Card Stock.  I trimmed the box using Thanksgiving Orange Truffle Trendy Twine.  I cut a pilgrim hat using a Silhouette File and I gave it a trimming with the featured twine before adding it to the center of the packaging.

I added my sweets inside a treat bag and gathered at the top using more yummy Thanksgiving Orange Truffle Trendy Twine to tie it off embellishing with some brown jingle bells and a stamped Manila Tag.  The greeting and die-cut leaf come from My Creative Time A Thankful Heart Stamp Set.

I would LOVE to see you play along with us! Don't forget to check out the Trendy Twine Blog! There is always amazing inspiration by those talented gals! 

Deadline is: 11:59 pm, Monday, November 24th. 

Prize:

I am sharing at Craftin' Desert Divas - Use Orange and Brown, Crafting Musketeers - Anything But A Card, Hiding in My Craft Room - Fall Colors, Pumpkin Spice - Anything Fall, Decorate To Celebrate - Anything Goes

I hope you enjoyed my project! Thank you for visiting with me! 

~Tammy~

Fawned Wishes {The Kraft Journal #196 Critters}

Hello and Good Monday Morning to you!

We have a new challenge at The Kraft Journal this week, and I have to admit I had a hard time deciding what to create for it because it's a fun one. There were so many things I wanted to do, but I finally decided on using my Cricut to cut this adorable Fawn.

I cut the fawn using Light Kraft Cover Weight, Brown Kraft Cover Weight, and Blackboard Stock Paper.  The cardstocks at The Kraft Outlet cut very well with all electronic machines. I then used Brown Kraft Cover Weight cardstock to create an A2 card base.  I cut a circle and a wavy circle using My Creative Time Bunch of Circle Dies out of patterned paper from my scrap stash.  I then added them to the left of the card front trimming off the excess.

Next I took a length of the dyed Butter Biased Tape leftover from this project and wrapped it around the top of the card front and tied in a bow embellishing with a flower.  Last, I stamped the Fawned Wishes sentiment from Wilson Designs in the lower right corner with Vintage Sepia Ink adding a stamped mushroom also from the same set and enamel dots for a finishing touch.

Please be sure to head over to the The Kraft Journal to check out the projects by the other talented ladies.  We hope to see your "Critter" creations in the gallery this week for your chance to be featured on our "Feature me Friday" post as well as be entered to win a $15.00 gift voucher from The Kraft Outlet store.

Thank you for stopping by today!

~Tammy~

Paper Sweeties November Inspiration Challenge #25

Hello Friends!

Can you believe we are rolling towards the end of the year?  I blinked and 2014 just flashed by. Wow! Since it's the start of a new month, it means it's time for a new inspiration challenge at Paper Sweeties.  This month the theme is Holiday Joy!

I started this card by adding a piece of argyle print patterned paper down the center of a piece of red graph patterned paper onto which I added to my white card base.

The wreath from the Paper Sweeties set Noel was stamped in Tide Pool ink to the center of a circle tag die-cut.  I stamped the bow onto textured red patterned paper and fussy cut and added to the bottom of the wreath.  A sentiment from Paper Sweeties Make The Season Bright stamp collection was added to the center in Pure Poppy ink. 

Finishing touches include a fussy bow, button, twine and pearl stick pins.

We hope you have a chance to get crafty and play along this month. If you don't have any Paper Sweeties stamps, just check out the free digital images that are available for download!!

Please be sure to stop by my teammates to see what they have to inspire your creative juices!

Amber Kroening

Annette Witherspoon

  Char Cundy

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kerin Sylvester

Larissa Heskett 

 Lisa Elton

Lysa Rohrer

Maria Patrick

Michelle Bala

Mynnette Kitchen

Nancy Penir

Tammy Hobbs

November Guest Designer:  Jill Norwood

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Funny note, when I was working on this card, we lost power in our area, and I was determined to finish the card while my hot glue was still warm. Needless to say, it's not as easy to see what you are doing in the dark. For the love of Paper! **

I am also sharing at The Pink Elephant - Anything goes, 3 Girl Jam - Christmas/Holiday with Ribbon.

Thank you for your visit! Have a Blessed day!

~Tammy~

Happy Halloween!

Hello Friends!

Happy Halloween!

Just wanted to drop in and say I know I have not been blogging as much as I would like, but sometimes life has a way of limiting our time, so I thought I would share some Halloween Projects from the distant past and not so! :-)

Have a GREAT DAY! Please be safe tonight! 

~Tammy~