Oh, the places I go ...

I tend to lurk around the Internet in search of information and inspiration. So this is just a quick little blurb until I can get back to the addiction that is crafting.

These are just a few of the blogs and websites that I frequent:

blogs
A Bit East
Sweetpaper (my sister's blog)
Pub Calls
Cardvaarks
Card Positioning Systems (CPS)
Paper Goddess

Webbies
Basic Grey
Cord Camera
Hobby Lobby
Quickutz
Creating Keepsakes
Cards Magazine

Forums
Two Peas in a Bucket
Treasured Scrapbooking
ScrapJazz
Splitcoast Stampers

Until the next time ... happy crafting!

The Card Making Machine!

Here are some quick and easy cards that I made using some cool and colorful stuff:

• patterned paper: American Crafts
• cardstock: Bazzill, DCWV and craft supply
• circle punchs: EK Success and McGill
• Alphabet die cuts and flower petals: Quickutz

It's a scraplift!

The two cards pictured here were inspired by a layout in the May/June 2006 issue of Cards magazine (p.82). It ended up being a bit tedious: having to cut the tags in a variety of colors; matching up the ribbon; cutting the individual letters; then adhering each tag. For the look of simplicity, it was quite time consuming - for a card.

• patterned paper: Sassafras Lass
• cardstock: Bazzill Basics
• die cut alphabets: Quickutz
• die cut tags: Cuttlebug
• rubons and staples: Making Memories
• stickers: The Paper Studio
• ribbon: AMM, American Crafts, Darice, Wal-Mart, unknown

Some card making mojo!

I've been trying to make at least one card a day, but that fell apart by Wednesday. Meanwhile, enjoy this one!

• patterned paper: Basic Grey's Scarlet's Letter
• cardstock: Bazzill Basics
• ribbon: Making Memories, Joanns
• metal tag: Remember When
• ink: StazOn

Sooo many choices ...

My current craft area is threatening to take over my entire living space. As much as I love my goodies, I need to use up at least a third of it OR stop making non-essential purchases ... I'm working more on the latter. Meanwhile, my stash leaves me w/sooo many choices!

Here are some photos of some of my favorite drawers:

• the ink drawer: I'm really liking the distress ink w/my clear stamps
• the ribbon draw: my favorite embellishment
• my miscelleanous drawer: mainly for adhesives and small ink pads
• the embellishment drawer: there's something for everything here

My craft studio

I've been playing w/some of my new stuff lately. I have lots of stuff to play w/these days.

Also, I am now beginning to envision my new studio! I saw this desk (pictured here) that is incredible. I like it for its design and flexibility! Sometimes I like to stand, but sometimes I like to sit; just depends on what I am working on.

I also want lots of file space/drawers to hold all the paper and cardstock that I use so much. I have not quite decided how I want to store my ribbon. I'm thinking of a combination of spools hanging on a rod and using jars as well.

What to do w/all the tools and embellishments will be quite interesting. Of course, I could use cabinets and I like that idea best so far. I even thought of storing items in smaller storage bins in the cabinets so that if I need to pull the bin down to view the contents it will be easy enough to do that.

The really big thing that I am going to have that I do not currently have is a sewing machine! I absolutely love when I see sewing on cards and scrapbook pages. I've tried to duplicate the techinique w/stamps or a gel pen, but it's just not the same; so a sewing machine is a must have.

Enjoy this lil card that I made!

Patterned paper: American Crafts

Letter rubons, fabric Birthday sticker and flower charm: Making Memories

Ribbon: unknown

**photo borrowed from Anthro Corp. Technology Furniture

Sad, but true ...

I have been shopping again! My sister was in town and she wanted to go to Cord Camera, so how could I tell her no ... ? I only spent about $20. Lots of stuff was 50% off including some scalloped chipboard squares from Plain Jane. They were like $1.20 each. Love that.

They also had some of the new Basic Grey lines, but not in the 6x6 paper pad that I want, oh, so much! Yes, that means more spending is on the way. I am feenin for all of the new lines in the 6x6 paper pad: Perhaps, Phoebe, Scarlet Letter and Stella Ruby. I like the small paper pads because I get a sample and they shrink the patterns to the 6x6 size.

I'll have to post some pix of the craft booty - still have not unpacked it yet. And oh, my QuicKutz Zoe has arrived. Can't wait to put that to use.

To tide you over until I get the photo, I'll show you more of the monogram cards that I made for my girlfriend (she excitedly called to tell me that she received my package; and believe it or not she does not want to want to part w/them-this from the person who got on my case for not wanting to sell or give away my cards ...