I just wanna hug this card.... and WOYWW

Today is Take a Walk in the Park Day. (Don't believe me? Check out this LINK. *smile*)

Head over to the Let's Get Peachy blog where my card is being featured today and I'll tell you who I made this card for and where these adorable stamps and papers came from.

As for What's on Your Workspace Wednesday (WOYWW), I took a picture of not what's on my desk, but what's to the side of my desk this week. It's a sort of purgatory (if you pardon the term) for craft items. They either land here or wait patiently to go on somewhere else after here. Lol.
I have a box of chipboard items that I was considering for a DT layout, a pink box under the table with all my twine in it, the black shoe box is the new repository for my growing collection of Lawn Fawn stamps. You have to go HERE to see this new photo frame stamp. They are on their second shipment of them because it's been so popular.

Gotta go off to get dh's car serviced....

Thanks for dropping in! (On April 1st, I'll be featured on Let's Get Peachy again with a masking "how-to".... come back by.... *smile*)

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

I'm Published!

So excited to tell you, my friends, that my Queen of the Hula card is going to be on page 66 in the April/May Stampers Sampler! They gave it a full page for the All Taped Up Challenge. I'm doin' the happy dance. Thank you, Suzi Blu and Unity for the inspiring stamp.

It was a really nice weekend! I also found out that I was an honorable mention over at Wee Memories for the Lawn Fawn card I made and posted last Wednesday. I got a cool badge to put on my sidebar.

Thanks for dropping by. Just because you did, I'm going to enable you to some free digis! My friend, Spyder over in the UK just hit 500 followers so she's offering some free digis to anyone who visits her blog. You can find her at http://spyder-spyderscorner.blogspot.com/ or, even easier, just use this LINK.

Have a wonderful day. Tomorrow, I will post a design team card that I made for Let's Get Peachy. I made it for a special birthday and I'm pretty happy with it. Come back and see it!

Ta-ta for now,

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Ippity Hoppin'

Come closer.... closer....

Supplies:
Ippity: Fishy Philosophy
Paper: Tempting Turquoise & Kraft c/s (SU), White c/s (MFT)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic markers, BIC Mark-It! permanent markers
Other: Stickles (Ranger), Fish punch (EK Success), Starfish punch (Emaginations), Alpha beads, Acrylic square, Gluedots

Welcome to the weekly Ippity Blog Hop! You know the drill.... If you'd like to start at the beginning, use this LINK. If you are already hop-hop-hopping, I'll have a link at the bottom for you to proceed to the next vision of Ippity loveliness... Don't forget to leave a little love wherever you go because a random commenter will get a prize! And if you need to buy some Ippity, a link on the sidebar of the website above will help you locate your very own Ippity gal for help...

I inked up one of my favorite Ippity sets Fishy Philosophy once more because I thought it worked perfectly with a card folding technique that my friend Ericka used on a card that she sent me. I had to dissect the dimensions because I didn't have the instructions but that was the fun of it! A floating square of acrylic just screamed underwater scene to me. 


Frugal tip #57: Cut down and save your acrylic product packaging. It's a great canvas for StazOn, Ranger's alcohol inks, Sharpies and those great $1 BIC Mark-It permanent markers that Staples sells.


Thanks for dropping by...

Oh and I have some great news! A card I created with a Unity stamp will be published on p. 66 of the April/May issue of Stampers Sampler! So excited... Just had to share this with you, my friends.... I'll post a photo of it tomorrow, so please come back on by.....

Now, proceed to Emmie's blog if you're continuing on the hop....

*smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

One Word Layout

My design team layout was featured on the Let's Get Peachy site. It was a fun challenge to make a one word layout with the definition on the page somewhere. My word was VISION and I added the definition to a tag that complemented my paper. For the full description, head over to LGP! Thanks for dropping by....

*smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Unity Friends With Flair Blog Hop

I'm happy to be back in the blog hop this week. You know the drill. Check out all the Unity goodness through this LINK. And take the blog tour starting HERE (after your visit here, of course!) Look for that famous blinkie and, even though I know you are going to leave a little love on EACH blog you visit, be sure to leave a comment on the blog with the blinkie for your chance at some great Unity rubbah.

This week, I'm inking up a stamp that made me want this month's Kit of the Month Just You. This glamour girl deserves the spotlight so I made her a movie star. I think I'm going to send it to a friend who's style I admire. The sentiments are from a Unity set called Hey Chick! The set also comes with two cute birds. Check out this LINK to see for yourself.

Supplies:
Unity stamps: Just You (March '11 KOTM), Hey Chick!
Paper: Cut 'n Paste (K&Co), Kraft & black c/s (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic markers
Other: Crystal stickers (Mark Richards), Gluedots


Thanks for stopping in, now, on with the tour. If you've started at the beginning and reached me, then click HERE to head over to Nora Anne's blog to see what she has in store this week.

*smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Check out this freebie...

I don't like posting without a card to show you but, while all that lovely snow is decorating my outside,  I'm working on tomorrow's Unity Friends With Flair Blog Hop card and I have a layout I have to work on for my May 7th blog hop sponsored by  Let's Get Peachy.

So why am I here then? Because I came across a UK blogger yesterday that, in addition to lovely creations, also has great looking tutorials and a freebie! The freebie is a .jpg of a Gessoed Book Page.  Yours for the taking. Visit Kim at http://craftymakes.blogspot.com or by linking HERE.

Enjoy your day and come back tomorrow for the blog hop. A prize winner every week!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Anniversary card and WOYWW94

Hello!
Lawn Fawn has a Cute and Cuddly Challenge going right now and a set that they just released inspired me to make this cute card for my dh in honor of our 31st wedding anniversary in May (wow, I know!) I also had to use the raccoon image for a very good reason. You see...

I burn the midnight oil... sometimes the only light left on in the house is my bedside lamp. We're on the second floor and the window behind my lamp leads to a steep section of roof. One night when I was leaning over to turn off my light, my hand jerked back as if I'd been shocked. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something furry through the window. My first thought was that it was one of the noisy squirrels that has found a way into my attic. But I focused more on the fact that it seemed bigger than a squirrel and the face that was partially hidden had lots of little teeth. I realized it was a raccoon and I could only assume that either it was attracted to the light on this dismally cold winter night or that maybe it was getting some warmth from it. It still freaked me out enough that I quickly turned out the light and tried to get to sleep knowing a toothy little creature was just outside my window. Fast forward a few weeks and, again, I noticed a furry body outside the window. I'm not sure why this is happening but I'm determined to consider it cute and cuddly (I know.... rabies....) just so I can deal with it being there sometimes. So my card humanizes a raccoon and makes him lovable.

That's as close as I'm getting....

Here's the card and the photo of my What's On Your Workspace desk follows...

Supplies:
Stamps by Lawn Fawn: Critters in the Forest, Harold's ABCs, Sophie's Sentiments
Paper: green grid (Friendly Forest), flowers (The Green Stack by DCWV), Cherry Cobbler c/s (Stampin Up)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic markers

Crafty tip #57: Before cutting, use a cool gray marker (like Copic C-3) to outline your images it so that you don't wind up with a white line around them.

I'm suffering with a stealth cough that pops up every once in a while, so the mug has cranberry juice in it (I believe Vitamin C can't hurt) but it's replaced often with a hot lemon and honey tea..... The only other item that hasn't been mentioned already is the small journal on the far right. It was one of four from a Twilight set I got at Barnes & Noble. I have it out so that I'll remember to jot notes in it more often. (Speaking of Team Edward, anyone else excited for the release of the movie Water for Elephants? I just finished the book, I'm ready... *smile*)

Happy WOYWW to all!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Ippity time again...

Welcome to another Ippity blog hop.... Start HERE to get the whole tour.... Leave comments as you go and you might just end up winning some random stamp candy!

My niece just moved across the country with her husband and two young sons and I wanted to send her a pretty tri-shutter card that supported that decision. I was inspired to use the flowers and colors I saw in the latest Ippity Twisted Challenge. The sentiment from Ippity's Right Where You Should Be kinda summed it up the best. The ferns came from the same set. The butterfly fluttered over from a set called Books A' Flutter. It has a little Stickles sparkle on its wings. (I have to give a shout out to Stampin Up for these lovely papers. The sets are called Springtime Vintage and Botanical Gazette.) I just love these tri-shutter cards. I've made enough of them that it's getting easier each time. I think I heard somewhere that once you've done something 21 times, you've probably mastered it. I'm working toward that.... *smile*

When you land in the Ippity blog, there's an area on the sidebar that can link you to finding your very own Ippity representative if you're interested in any of the stamps you see.

Have fun touring!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

One card, two challenges

This tri-shutter card fits the bill for two challenges. The first is the Splitcoast Spring Challenge (I used a spring-y paper) and the second is the Clear It Out Challenge to use a button from your stash. (And this heart button has been patiently waiting to be used for a long time!)

Thanks for dropping by and I hope spring is just around the corner for you!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Let's Get Peachy - Roll 'Em Challenge

Over at Let's Get Peachy, there's a prize challenge going on. You roll three virtual dice to guide you as to how many photos, patterned papers and embellishments to use on a layout. My roll was 5-4-3. Five photos, 4 patterned papers and 3 embellishments. For the story behind my layout and the list of supplies I used (including THIS postcard stamp from Unity), hop over to the LPG blog where I'm being featured today.

Thanks for coming by!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

An added note...

WOYWW post below...

I'd like to thank Lydia at Understand Blue for blogging about the sketchbook collage that I made for The Sketchbook Project (link in the sidebar) that will be touring the country this year. She was able to see it firsthand when it made it's first stop in Austin, Texas. If you have come here on her advice, the complete sketchbook can be viewed in my blog postings from January 19th to February 8th. Enjoy and thanks for dropping by!

P.S. How can I not use this chance to alert you to a giveaway on Lawn Fawn's blog? Check them out and consider "liking" them on Facebook if you don't have enough stamps already! These are super cute.

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

WOYWW93 and another card...

Back in Florida, spending my ds' spring break here with him. So my WOYWW desk is the kitchen table. A much nicer view than at home. *smile*

(Click on this LINK if you want to know more about the What's On Your Workspace Wednesday tour.)

In my last post, I gave the link for a tutorial for a "never-ending" card. Someone remarked that it's a little like a Jacob's Ladder. You can just keep flipping it open over and over until it comes back to the beginning.  Here's a better look at the supplies. I remembered a crafty tip as I worked on this one.

Crafty tip #56: After you've put your paper through your X machine (Xyron 150), rub the surface well then use a stylus or pen to draw around the shape and open areas to make sure the extra adhesive stays on the top sheet that you remove.

I said with the last card that I went a little wacky with all the squares and rectangles but I surpassed wackiness with this card. I made it for my fil's upcoming birthday and I wanted each panel to have a different scene when it was flipped open. What took a little extra time was making the images match up on frames 2 and 3, since part of the image stays the same. You'll see. Here are the four separate frames of the card.

Supplies
Paper: La Paperie by Jen Wilson for My Minds Eye
Stamps: Happy Birthday (Stampendous), Happy Happy Happy (Unknown)
Ink: Black (Memories)

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

The Never Ending Card....

Wait til you see this.... I found a tutorial on how to make a "never-ending" card and I went a little wacky with it. I figured out all the dimensions needed to mat every square and rectangle so that I could make it pop a little more (even though this beautiful designer paper from the La Paperie pad by My Mind's Eye is fine on its own). Yeah, it took a while but I like how it turned out. I used these cute Japanese doll stamps and a pixie stamp from Stamping Bella to add a little extra interest. The "magical" sentiment is also from Stamping Bella. The "Happy Birthday" is a Stampendous stamp.

So, what you'll see in this next four frames is the same card as it is opened. Each time it is opened, a new scene appears. After the fourth opening, it loops back to the beginning and so on. It is quite the magical card. Click on the word "tutorial" above to find the directions compiled by a Stampin Up demonstrator named Dawn.

Thanks for visiting!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

A belated birthday card...

The little birdie dropped the ball. You know, the one that's supposed to whisper in my ear that a friend's birthday is coming so I can say to my friend, "A little birdie told me it was your birthday..." So, I put together a belated card that hopefully will numb the sting of being forgotten! Lol.

I'm hooked on tri-shutter cards, as you may know. (I did see a template for a "never-ending" card, so you may see of version of that come along sometime soon.) I found some glittery collage paper that suited the sentiment I wanted to use. One sheet even had this cool glittery typewriter that I cut out and used as a diecut.

Supplies
Stamps: Sentiment (It's Your Birthday - Stampin Up)
Paper: DP (Hit The Books - DCWV), Soft Suede c/s (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Vintage Photo distress ink (Ranger)
Other: Gluedots

Hope you liked it...

Thanks for dropping by!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Happy Girl Scouts Day!

Here's a cute little address book I created in honor of Girls Scout's Day. It can be accommodated for even generic use, but with this title, I thought it might be a fun project for a troop to make. Maybe there's even a badge that can be earned from this?  If you'd like step-by-step instructions for making a book of your own, go to the Let's Get Peachy blog where I'm featured today. If you want to know more about the history of the day, click on the highlighted reference above.

Thanks for dropping by!

Tomorrow, I have another card for you. *smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

What? Another sweet 16 card?

I told you that I have to make a few of them. *smile* This time I made one for today's Unity Blog Hop (which starts HERE.) All Unity stamp sets... Here are the ones I used and where you can find them (their names are linked). The sweet girl is a Suzi Blu stamp called Love Yourself. The word "sweet" is from the Cosmo Cricket set called Material Girl. The word "today" is from Fly... Free, the June '10 KOTM. And lastly, the "You simply Shine" is from a set called Shine On. The DP is from a cool glittery set called Hittin' the Books by DCWV. I left one panel blank for a handwritten note.

Enjoy the hop and when you're done looking for that prize winning blinkie, check out the UNITY website to see the new Kit of the Month and all the cool companies that Unity is co-branding with.

Happy Friday!

P.S. For those who have asked, although I've finessed it a little, the tri-shutter tutorial that I was inspired by can be found HERE. And come back on Saturday and Sunday because I've got a cute address book to show you and another tri-shutter card right comin' right behind it!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Another Sweet 16 card...

This is the year for Sweet 16 parties for my youngest son. He doesn't seem to mind that I like to make the cards that he'll give. Maybe he gets a little of the glory by association. Lol.

I wanted to give a kind of "glimmery party" look to this tri-shutter card so I used a glittery designer paper that has a large design repeat so no square is the same... I like that. I have a collection of My Favorite Things stamps which I find great for mixing and matching. (I've noted the sets used below.) An old Stampin Up number set added just the right sized numbers, too. Oh, and I left one panel blank to use for adding a personal note.

Supplies
Paper: Dress (Olivia Rose by Brenda Walton for K&Co), background (The Glitter Stack - DCWV)
Stamps: numbers (On the Edge Numbers by Stampin Up), all other images and sentiments (Who's that Birthday Girl, Time to Celebrate, Cheers, Birthday Girl- all My Favorite Things)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Copic markers
Other: Stickles (Ranger), Gluedots

On Saturday I'm posting a cute address book that I made for Let's Get Peachy. Come check it out. I'll have a link to the Peachy site for my step-by-step instructions.

On Sunday, it's another tri-shutter card, so come back then, too!

Thanks for dropping by,

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

What's On Your Workspace Wednesday 92

My desk this week shows (1) the remnants of yesterday's tri-shutter card made with Stampin Up's Forest Friends set and (2) my new toys: a pink wooden tape dispenser and eight rolls of happy tape (also known as washi tape and tissue tape). The company I got them from is called Happy Tape and you can browse their site HERE. I'm still staring them down because my muse doesn't know what to make of them yet. The wheels are starting to creak and turn....

Crafty Tips of the Day: First visit Emma's blog (you must see this card!), then skip over to this other blog because the author showcases several beautiful projects a week. I was so inspired by her picks this week, I urge you to follow this LINK and see if you agree with me. I intend to use the sketches of many she showcased. Then, there's always the Let's Get Peachy blog to visit for a little inspiration....

Be sure to check out the whole list of participants in today's WOYWW tour via Julia's blog.

Thanks for dropping in!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

Spring Retirement

A friend is retiring so I made this little tongue-in-cheek "spring" retirement tri-shutter card for her. Splitcoast has a spring challenge going on with a cool prize package, so this is my contribution. Here's the challenge LINK. And here's a LINK to my gallery over there.

I used a beautiful embossed designer paper from the Olivia Rose pad by K&Co and the new red by Stampin Up called Cherry Cobbler. Of course, I still like using SU's Kraft cardstock as the base. (When I run out, I'll have to resort to using their Crumb Cake because they don't make Kraft anymore, boo hoo.) The stamp set is the adorable Forest Friends that I got during the Sale-a-Bration event that is going on until March 31st. (If you don't have a favorite demonstrator, you can get it from my friend Brenda using this LINK.)

Frugal tip #55: Use a triangular shaped cosmetic sponge for your ink distressing. Leave it somewhere handy. It retains the ink for a long time so you can reach for it time and time again before having to re-ink it! (You can use each side for a different ink color but you may want to have several sponges if you like to use more than two colors.)

Don't forget to check out the Let's Get Peachy blog for daily inspiration, too!

One more link today. My friend Cheiron is selling all her A Muse stamps, so check out this LINK to her blog to see her list. Some are too cute to pass up!

Have a nice day!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

A new link for you...

Hi!

I'm back from my weekend with ds#1. So nice to see my boy! I didn't have time yet to create something but I hope to have something for tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's your Tip of the Day. I was checking some emails and came across a blog newsletter that informed me that their website has over 30 FREE printable vintage images. If this interests you, here is the link to Crafty Secrets.  Once there, click on "Free Printables" in the top bar.

Enjoy, hope to see you back here soon and don't forget to check out the Let's Get Peachy blog, too. My Book of Me layout was featured on Saturday!

*smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

I'm off!

I'm heading out to see ds#1 in Texas later this morning. (Yikes, my flight is at 6:30am. Guess I should go to bed! Lol.) I just wanted to send this note to whoever comes to visit. My son's frat is having a "Moms' Visiting Weekend" so I get to see my baby boy for a few days. Luckily, my mom lives near there so she's coming too.

I promise that I'll have lots of layouts and how-to projects to show you soon. I just have to coordinate it with the Let's Get Peachy site that I'm designing for. In the mean time, be sure to head over there and check out the daily posts. On Saturday, my Book of Me layout will be presented, so definitely check that out!

When I get back, I've got loads of cards to make for a variety of occasions so I'll have those coming along soon.

Thanks for coming by and have a great weekend! *smile*

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

What's On Your Workspace Wednesday 91

I've been busy working on scrapbook layouts for a new craft site (Let's Get Peachy) so I don't have a card to show you today but if you scroll down you'll see the tri-shutter cards that I have been able to squeeze in. I'm loving that kind of card fold. (I was even asked to demonstrate it at another site.... I'll let you know when that happens.) I'll post my layouts on the days that they will be highlighted on the Peachy site. In fact, this Saturday the 5th, my All About Me layout will be up, so check back. Also, check out the Peachy site. We're starting off with a challenge. Are you up for it?

Notes of interest on my desk today:

1. Wooden pegs - to be used to store my bakers twine collection. Thanks to Ciara's Jan. 26th post for her idea. I posted a better picture of a wrapped peg a few days ago.

2. My Favorite Things (MFT) stamps. I love the Who's That Girl, the a 'la Modes and the Pure Innocence lines. They're out because I used the candles and sentiment from a couple of sets for a Sweet 16 card.

3. Sneaking in the pic (top right) is a cute little set of cuddly woodland animals that I got from the Stampin' Up sale-a-bration sale. I plan on using the deer to compliment a card that also features a sentiment from MFT that says "Happy Birthday Dear". Lol.

4. Top right also is my circular file of some of the papers I have. You may remember that I set out to cut circles from every pattern paper I own to flip through when I'm creating. I haven't finished but it's a start.

5. And finally, my Page Maps mini book (these are cards that came with the book and are so helpful when making scrapbook pages), a butterfly card that a friend sent me that has folds (!) and a photo of ds#2 that didn't make it onto a recent layout, but it is a handsome one.

6. Oh, and I have the right date on my little cube-y calendar!

Have a nice WOYWW. (Click HERE if you want to see other desks of the world.)

*** I'm back with an added note that if you want to put a big smile on your face this morning, you have GOT to run over to Pam's blog to see the digi stamps she posted today! Now.... how to use them? Hmmmm.....

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)

A sweet "Sweet 16" card

***I'm on the design team for a new site called Let's Get Peachy. Follow the link to our inaugural post. We're starting with a challenge!

Now for the card of the day:

I really love using collage designer paper. This Cut N' Paste pad by K&Co is a favorite because it has lots of interesting images on each sheet. I wanted the card to convey a "sweet 16" wish so I isolated all the references to sweets for the various blocks on the tri-shutter card. I layered the three desserts so that they pop off the card. I also love My Favorite Things stamps. The set called Who's That Birthday Girl has these adorable individual number candles and the set called Birthday Girl was the source of the perfect sentiment. (Click on the names of the stamp sets to go to MFT's site.)

Thanks for dropping in!

Cindy (aka Scrapcollectr)