Madison Mingle

Every Spring a group of Wisconsin TAC Angels organize a wonderful event called Madison Mingle. The event will draw 75 participants and every participant brings a "shoebox" project to be completed. What that means is that the end of the 3 day event you will go home with 75 completed projects!! It is a great way to make a bunch of demo samples.

Here is the project that I made for this year's event:

I call it "Thanks So Much for my ScorePal"

For this card I used DCWV cardstock blue #2. I scored the bottom with the Scor-Pal and then sanded the embossed lines with a sanding block. Since the cardstock that I used has a white core, the white shows through after sanding.

The stamp set that I used for this project is Pattern Sayings (new in the TAC Spring Supplement). I stamped "Thanks" on the white card stock, the same blue card stock, and green cardstock using Palette Noir ink. Then I cut out the Green T, a, and k. Then I cut out the Blue h, n, s. You cut them with some of the previous letter to the left on it. Then you glue the blue and green letters to the white cardstock starting with the "s" and working backwards. This creates a 3D effect as it raises the letters. After that is complete you stamp "so much" right below.

To add an interesting border to the sentiment block, I scored a 1/4" border with my Scor-Pal on the white cardstock.

Using your Crop-A-Dile you can punch 3 holes on the bottom right and set 3 eyelets. I used the eyelets from the Lilly Anna Hardware collection.

I hope you like my project. Madison Mingle is in two weeks and now I just have to prepare all of the materials for the 75 participants. I will post pictures of the others creations once I return.

Longing for Spring


With all of the cold and snow that we have had here this winter, we are longing for Spring!!! Anything spring would do right now!


Here are a few ATCs that reflect the thing I like about spring the best ... blooming flowers!

Something's Fishy

The Spring/Summer TAC Catalog has a few "retro" sets in it this year. At first they really didn't appeal to me ... but they are definitely growing on me ... especially these fish.

Here's a few cards that I made with the Something's Fishy set.

I made this card into a valentine for my husband last month. I used my new Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder. All of the fish were paper pieced with pink, white, and red card stock. "S" and "F" also paper pieced. Inside of the valentine said "since I'm hooked on you!"

This was for a swap that I did with a fellow angel Kerry. we were supposed to use one of our "new" sets ... with TAC, SU, or CTMH. I loved this card and the colors. These fish were once again paper pieced.

March is Here and so are the New TAC Specials

Now through April 30th all TAC Hostess sets and GWPs are doubled with qualifying purchases!! Contact me if you wish to host a party or place an order!

This is the cover to the new TAC Spring Supplement. There are a bunch of new and fun sets in this supplement and a great new tool the Big Bite II!!! Click HERE to see all of the new items!

These are the new Stamp of the Month and Vintage Stamps for TAC. I really like them a lot and I feel you can really do some neat things with them. Click HERE to see some more examples.

Here is an example of an ATC that I made with the goody jar! I colored it with watercolor crayons and added Primas and brads. I added a cute ribbon tied around the jar. The sentiment is from a retired TAC set "Love and Joy".

Here are a few pictures of Chase in his first play. It was called "It's a Jungle out There".





All of the kids did such a great job!!! It was a very fun day!

More pictures are available at the school website

1st Grade Play

Chase's class is putting on play this week called: "It's a Jungle out There"

I offered to help out with the costumes and organized all of the volunteers with their tasks.


Here are my creations:

Hyena Hats
I actually inherited 6 of these with pointed ears that were bats on previous years. I rounded the ears and made them stand up a bit more. We needed 8, so I created 2 more to match. Oddly enough the inner part of the ears were made with Bazzill paper.

Monkey Hats
I made these with brown hats and added rounded little ears and felt pieces to come down on the kid's heads. Another mother is making tails with a wire coat hanger in them. They should look very very cute. 8 total.

Cheetah Hats
I had a lot of fun making these hats. I made all of the spots out of back felt that I die cut on my Sizzix! Who knew that the Sizzix could make cosutmes ... LOL! I glued big Googlie eyes on the hats and then folded some of the spots to use as eyelids. Lots of hot melt glue was used on these. I found great leathery material that I used for the noses. 3 total.

Leopard Hats
Ok so these were probably the most fun to make! I had great spotted material to work with. I made 8 shawls out of it and then still had a bunch left. I covered the brims with the spotted material and then I made all of the spots on my Sizzix again! What a great tool for costume making!!! I again glued big Googlie eyes on the hats and then more spots as eyelids. I used that great leathery material agin for the noses and inner ears. 8 total.

Here is a close-up:

Chase has all of his lines memorized and has been working on this play for weeks at school. Wish him luck. I hope to have pictures of the play to post later!

TAC February Specials


This month's SOTM (Stamp of the Month) set is soo darn cute and just in time for Easter!! The Vintage set of the month is very useful for scrapbooking and altered art projects. These sets are quite a steal with any $30 purchase.

Here is a card that I made with the SOTM:

This card utilizes the Hippity Hoppity set. I made the lattice background with the Scorpal. I colored the image with Copic markers. The carrots were made 3D with orange Liquid Applique. You can let the Liquid Applique dry and then come back and heat it with an embossing gun (and it puffs!!!). Used my Scalloped circle punch as another cute accent.

TAC is also offering a special set this month. For $25.95 you get the Pop Rocks Paper set and this adorable Easter set.

All of these sets are only available in the month of February ..... please contact me today if you'd like to take advantage of these deals.

Love is in the Air .....

This weekend I made a few "Love" items.

Endless Love ATC

I made these Endless Love ATCs with Danelle Johnson's clear Love stamps. I used my Marvy Scalloped punch and circle punch. the middle is a heart shaped brad and I added a black and white polka dot grosgrain. I love how simple and plain but elegant that these look!

Tim Holtz Tag

I had so much fun creating these. This was inspired for Tim Holtz's 12 days of Tags that he did before Christmas. Mine uses the Clear Embossing resist technique. I used Tim's Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo. I used Tim's ticket stamp on the tag with Simple Bet alphabet from TAC. I also used Tim's new Grungeboard that I die cut the heart shapes out of. I then colored the grungeboard with gold ink and then smeared them with gold stickles for some extra shine. I used multi-color fibers on the top of the tag. I love how these turned out.

I whipped these cute little things up today. They are 3D with each new layer having more foam underneath. I used the "love" from Tiny Tidbits Stamp set. The hearts are Sizzix Die cuts. I added the red Grossgrain ribbon ... so very very sweet aren't they!

My New TAC Stamp Sets are HERE!!!
I have had so much fun this week indexing and mounting all of the new TAC stamps that I ordered from the new Spring /Summer TAC Catalog. My fingers have been blue from all the Blue Stazon ink!

Here are two cards that I literally just whipped up. This is a cool technique that I was inspired by on Nicole Heady's blog.

For this card I used Belle Rose Palette ink on the edges of my tiles. I stamped the hearts with my new set Floral Favorites in L'Amour Red Palette ink. I used my tag punch to punch the tag and stamped the saying from the Truly Blessed set with L'Amour Red. The eyelet is from the Cha Cha Harware collection.

For this card I used Landscape Palette ink on the edges of my tiles. I stamped the flower bunches with my new set Spring Flowers in Landscape Palette ink. I used my tag punch to punch the tag and stamped the saying from the retired Little Tidbits set with Landscape Palette ink.

Moo Cards

Have you ever heard of these? I hadn't but saw some samples and had to try it out. Essentially, it's roughly 1" x 2 3/4". Half the size of a regular business card. It's caught the attention of crafters for several months now.

Basically you stamp, alter, embellish one side of your moo card. On the back, you include pertinent information about yourself as if you were creating a "crafter's business card."

Here are some examples of some really fun moo cards:

Yesterday was such a fun day! Me and my Shackie friend Kim (hutchink) went up to Madison for the whole day ... Stamp Shopping!!!

We started at Gina K's .... it was great ... we loved her store and she was sooo nice ... we got hugs and Hershey kisses from her as we were leaving. Kim and I bought some of the latest and greatest stamps ... and got a free stamp set for buying three. I also picked up some Primas and Ribbon. Oh ... and we got these really cute hinged tins.

It was then onto Stamping Jazzy Style where the entire store was 20% off and the clearance was an extra 20%. Kim and I both got some Time Holtz stamps and some really cool things in the clearance section!

Then we went next door to the Scrapbooking store .. we looked around ... we were hoping to find Grungeboard (they were sold out) .. so we moved on.

Next it was off to the other side of Madison and the Super Joanns ... Kim had never been in one and it was fun to look through the entire store. I got some great deals and some watercolor paper.

Then it was off to Archivers. We found some great things there too. I got this great Make and Take Kit with great chipboard and flowers.

Here is a picture of all of my loot (most of which was on sale or clearance - except the Gina K stuff ... buy hey it was Gina K):

When we got home we logged onto Splitcoast Stampers where they were having a Gina K revealing party!

Here is a Card that I made for the Split Coast Sketch Challenge #2:

Here was my entry for the Sketch Challenge #1:

It was a great day!! Thanks Kim for going with me!!!

ATCs

I love ATCs ... once you start making them they are addicting ...

What are ATCs? They are "Artistic Trading Cards" that you can swap with friends. They are 2.5" x 3.5" and they are fun and quick to make!


Here are my latest that I made:

Favorite Color ATC

This was made with the recently retired Love and Joy set from TAC. We were to only use our favorite color and for this I choose purple/lilac. The dragonfly embelly is also purple.

Blue and White ATC

This was made with the not yet released March Stamp of the Month Set from TAC. We were to only use blue and white and for this. I added white brads and blue Primas along with a blue on blue polka dotted grosgrain ribbon.

Blue and White ATC

This was made with a dalmation stamp from Magenta and a polka dotted background stamp (unknown source). We were to only use black and white and for this. I added a black brad and black and white Prima along with a black grosgrain ribbon.

Winter Wonderland ATC

This was made with the TAC's Goodness of God set and the saying is from the Winter Sparkles set. I used my Marvy Scalloped Suare punch on this and added a sheer white ribbon. There are stickles on the snowflakes.

Let it Snow ATC

This was made with the my new Sizzix Die cut. I cute it out of blue and white and then pieced them together. I used the snowflake from the recently retired Bunches of Flakes stamp set. There are stickles on the diecut.

New January Specials from TAC!

The New Catalog is Here!!!

The new cattys have arrived to my house. If you would like one they are $5 and you will get a $5 coupon to use on your purchase out of the catalog ... thus making them free! If your live outside of the Rockford, IL area I can mail one to you for $4.90.

There are lots of new and fun things in the catty including NEW and FUN stamps! We now carry the ScorePal and the Bind-it-All! Two wonderful tools that every papercrafter NEEDS!

Since it is a new catalog we also have new GWPS (Gifts with Purchase - free with every $30 spent). Here are the ones in this catalog:

Please contact me via email if you would like a 2008 Spring catty today!!!

Lastly ...... I made a Scrapbook for my stepmother for Christmas. She had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Africa in September with her friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. She had a wonderful time. When I inquired about her pictures of her trip she said she didn't take her camera. I felt really really bad for her. What a great trip and no memories to keep.


I got in touch with some of her friend's Kodak Galleries and printed off pictures and got some information about who went and what they did (very general). I put together this 28 page scrapbook with pictures, very little journaling, and some wonderful quotes about mountains, friends, and journeys.

I must say this was one of my best scrapbooks yet and I put the whole thing together in under 24 hours. It was cream based with different brown patterned papers. I also did the book in 8x 8 size.

Here was her reaction when opening the Christmas Gift! Priceless!