Monday, June 30, 2008

Me and my ice cream


Me and my ice cream
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Me thinks this card is a tad too busy...... I went totally crazy with the paper piecing business... at some point it just went to the point of no return... Maybe I'll put this thru Stamping Critique and see what can be done to savage this.

Sorry guys, I'm uber busy with month end stuff as well as audit for a fellow manager. So, this is going to be short.

To answer Heather's question about what I bought in Vegas: I got some shirts at one of the discount boutique. Also got some cheesy souvenir T-shirts for myself and family members. Most of my money went to the yummy food that's available there. We missed out on Zappos' outlet. :( But, I did put down $40 on the slots and got zero back. Boo!!!

Supplies:
Stamp by MFT
Patterned paper by Autumn Leaf

Friday, June 27, 2008

Orange flower


Orange flower
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
So, while I am waiting for my new Verve stamps to arrive. I did an oldie but goodie. I'm telling you that flower they have is so versatile, I've never had so much fun to ink the same image over and over and over and over. Talk about inking for my money's worth.

I think this weekend is the first in a while where I have nothing planned... hopefully, it'll stay that way so I can stamp more. Plus, all the new ones I brought back from Vegas. They're begging to be stamped.

Alright, better go back to the grind stone, I'm here holding down the fort once again.

Supplies:
Card by SU
Stamps by Verve Visual
Patterned Paper by Basic Grey

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Cukoo


Cukoo
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
I know birds and owls are all the range these days... so when I saw these cute owls I have to have it! I need new embellishments like I need a hole in my head, but let me tell you, it truly makes me happy.

So, anyhoo... I made this card for work's card drive, which is to be donated to either Children's hospital or Veteran hospital. I think it's cute... I'd love to get a card like that. Not that I'm tuning my own horn or anything. =P

Anyway, talking about materialism and buying more of the same thing. Well, not exactly the same. But, did you all see that Verve got new stamps? I can't help myself and bought some. So, hopefully they'll get here soon.

In other news, I got my contract and W-9 from Paper Crafts, so I'm thinking I'm getting near to be published... I'm stoked! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

4 down 1 to go, weekend is almost here!

Supplies
Card by SU
Stamp by Impress Rubber
Owl by Paper Studio

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Popsicle


popsicle
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Well, it's summer time... so it's only appropriate to have something Summer-related to show.

You know when I stamped this I was wondering when was the last time I had a Popsicle. It must be a while if I can't even remember... I do remember when I was younger, my parents would let me buy them and stock them in the fridge. That I do remember.

Anyway, I think I deserves a pop, but it'll just go directly to my waistline, so I'm kinda ok not having it...

Supplies:
Card by DCWV
Patterned Paper & 3D embellishment by Imaginisce
Ribbon by American Craft

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Have some flowers...


Get Well
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Well, right before I left for Vegas, I got my new MFT stamps. So, I can't wait to ink it up when I got back.

It was the one with the dogs... I'm personally is a cat person, but I do have a lot of friends who are dog lovers, so it's natural to get it for them. But, the more I looked at it, the more I'm thinking, the lady doesn't have to be holding leash to dogs... she can be holding whatever she wants... say, some flowers. :P

So, here she is... holding flowers. I'm trying to find a purse stamp that is in proportion to her, so she can be holding a purse. Oooh, what about shopping bags... this is so cool!!!

Supplies:
Card and Patterned Paper by DCWV
Stamp by MFT
Shadow Stamp by A Muse
Dress paper by Making Memories
Flower by Paper Studio

Monday, June 23, 2008

I'm Baaaaaaaaaack...

Well, let me tell you, 4 days in the dessert (read: Las Vegas) I'm ready to come home. While home is not cooler than the dessert and as a matter of fact the humidity can suck out the will to live. I'm glad to be home. You never realize how much you miss this stew kind of weather until your hand is always crack from being in the dry dessert and no matter how much lotion you put on, it's still bad.

Anyway, have a little braggin' to do... I went to Viva Las Vegas Stamp. Our trick is to take the Monorail and ride it to the end, then take a cab there. It worked out well, because you can always get a cab from a hotel. However, coming back wasn't so much. You call for a cab and it takes them 30 mins to get there. Guess, if you're off strip or not near a hotel they don't want to do your business. And ironically there's actually no cabs on the road outside of the touristy area. Go figure.

Anyway, this store, you walk it, it is stuffy because there's alot crammed into a tiny space, and the a/c is not cranking hard, which I can understand in Vegas. But, we're spoiled. The owner has 3 cats and 2 dogs, and his office cannot find a piece of paper around there, it's cluttered. Luckily, the stamp display isn't. You know someone had maticulously lined up the stamps nice and neat. They mostly sell their own stamps, some of them are funny, some of them you know no one would want unless is for some very very particular occasions. What they're known for is the clever sayings. So, I got alot of those. I mean, everything is alphabetized, and talk about got tons to go thru. Just to read thru them and try to find the messages is hard. But, if you need something smart-allic, you can find it there.

Here's couple of pics from the cashier's stand point (the place shapes like an L):









And here's a card I made with my new found stamps. DH just recently started to get into Hockey, and there's not a lot of Hockey stamps out there. So, here's one I made for him. :) Plus, he has Shingles and is being quarentined outside of the bedroom, so here's a constellation prize. :P



Have a cool day!

Supplies:
All stamps from Viva Las Vegas Stamps

Friday, June 13, 2008

Cheers


Cheers
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Oy, this morning turned out very very lousy. Got my car towed, got hung up on by some very rude lady, had to tell 2 employees they're violating rules and have to pay back. Talk about things hitting the fan.

I really wish I had stayed in bed or stayed home to stamp, especially when I got some new MFT stamps that are begging to be inked.

Anyway, on to the card! This is a card I made for work's volunteer thing, where we make cards for hosptial patients. Well, I hope that we can make someone happy... :)

Supplies:
Stamps by Amy Butler

p.s. I'm going on Blog-Vacay next week, to Viva Las Vegas. Woo! I'm definitely going to stop by Viva Las Vegas Stamps for their rubber buffet. So, will blog that for sure. Otherwise, no cards for the week.

Please check back for some pics! :)

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Like I was saying the other day...

... that I went to Sew Crafty for a Gocco class and there was a reporter from the local newspaper.

And here's the interview... (not with me, but you'll see me diligently putting paint on my project, and showing off my paisley design with the original that I copied from.)

Card project later.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Note cards

Last night I had so much fun at Sew Crafty. I think Houston is finally becoming cool. The owner lady is super nice and she's the cute but with an edge type of gal. More imporantly, she's my hero for quitting her day job and put it into craft and open a craft lounge type place. She really made the place a home for people to come and hang. Too cool.

Anyway, what was really the cool thing was that I finally got to play with Gocco. Don't know if you've heard of it, I have just didn't dare. It's a card making device that uses technique that are similar to screen printing. I like it alright... I think I need to play more with it. Don't worry, I'm not giving up stamping at all, but if you want the same thing same color duplicated many of times, Gocco is the way to go. In many aspect, it's like stamping, you get your image, you get your ink and you get dirty but the outcome is wonderful. But, the on flip side, it is costly, and if you're not artistic with your own image design you may not get as much out of it as the artists would (which I am drwaing challenged). But all in all, I had a blast, learned alot, and definitely am encouraged to find more neat image to print.

So now to the pics, out of the blue, I found a stack of Note Cards, I just decided to stamp some and I can put the initial on there later. Some of the color matches better than others, some of them, hmm.... not-so-much.



supplies
Stamps by Paper Salon & Hero Arts

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Pocket Shrines...

Well, small note from the last post about the Iris Folding. Jennie had mentioned that it looks great, but also look like it's a lot of work. I think the templates and diagrams scare people off more often than not. My take on that really, is that we all get scrap paper from our projects, alot of times, you sit there and think: I hate to throw that out, but what card can I put that on? (Yes, paper crafters are pack-rats in denial, haha) :P What you can start out w/ the simple, with the squares or the circle by using your scrap that's too small to do anything else with, but pretty enough you don't want to throw away. And you just make whatever project you want.

The dress, for instance, was really a stamp, and then we just do the Iris fold on the back. It is really no different than the paper piecing technique, just a few more strips involve, is all. :) So, I encourage you all to give that a shot.

Ok... today's project:
During my Blogaversary Feedback post, several of you had mentioned you'd like to see some altered things. I did an altered Alpha for my MIL, but didn't get a pic before it's at her house. So, if I stop by, I'll take a pic to show off.

In the meantime, I used to do these tins and want to share. If you're interested in doing altered tins, there are couple of the scrapbook stores that sell materials specifically for the tins size. I found some cool stuff here and here


(Now, I do want to apologize for the crappy shots, I wasn't real good w/ the camera then)



Have a good day!

Monday, June 9, 2008

Iris dress


Iris dress
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Ok, I'm a slacker and I know it... my bad... but work and life just compound and gang up on me all at once, you all know how it is. :P

Anyway, I did work on some cards this pass weekend, but my card reader decided not to work on me this morining, so no new cards to show off.

Instead, I got an oldie but goodie for you all. This is Iris Folding. In case you haven't tried it, it's pretty simple. You layer your paper one after another after another. I would say it's pretty addicting... much like anything paper crafts related. Haha...

Here's some links for you to glance about:
Basic overview
Tutorial
Templates
Design your own template
You have a great day! And hope my card reader works by tonight.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Pink Aloha


Pink Aloha
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
OMG, did you guys see the MFT's release??? They're sooo cool. I love their artwork... just to die for. What else that added to the excitement was the Release Party on SCS... OMG, there were like 153 people on that thread, and by the time you go get a drink of water the ladies answers each other and it's already another page.

I think the entire thread was like 50 pages long, and I can only keep up to pg. 41 last night and went beddy bye. Man... talk about going strong.

What else was that the release was officially at 10:30p last night, and I kept hitting refresh and nothing comes up. Or, the link was broken, or we overwhelmed the server. I'm a tad sad, because I was trying to be the first 50 people, I missed the Cupcake set. Boo!!! Oh, well, the next round.

So, let's talk about card...

I saw this paper pad that I got from Michael's, and it's supposed to be more abstract, but the flower page (which is behind the Aloha girl), I just decided that the entire page of that would be over-powering, so I matched it w/ the adjacent page that was in the pad. It's cool... I like it.... :)

That said, I myself would like to be on a trip to Hawaii, alas, I have no such luck. But instead, I'm going to Vegas... so counting down 10 days. W00t!

Supplies:
Card by DCWV
Patterned Paper by MAMBI
Stamps by Stampendous

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

I know I'm a slacker...


Here comes the bride
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
I know, I know... past couple of days I was just swamped with work. That happens when month end happens and the next begins... story of my work life.

Anyway, I am on A Muse's mailing list and got the list of stamps on clearance. There were a few I've been eyeing on, and this is a great opportunity to buy, buy, buy... Too bad, a couple that I had really wanted wasn't available, but that's ok...

This bride is one of them. I just love her, and have to just ink immediately. Sadly, while I was making this card, I realize that I don't know anybody that's getting married, oh well... good for just in case.

Anyway, I'm going to have to play with her a little more... thinking that I can do bridesmaids too... haven't quite decided yet. In the mean time, I'm looking for a groom for her... if you know of any, let me know. :)

Don't forget the Amusapoolooza is going on soon... so check their site for more contest and goody.

Another cool website I want to direct you guys too, is the Copic people. I personally don't own or use any Copics but I'm sure you've seen alot of stampers done some marvelous work with them. So, go check them out too.

Supplies:
Card and Patterned Paper by DCWV
Bride stamp by A Muse
Word stamp by SU
Pearl by Hero Arts
Ribbon by Michaels

Monday, June 2, 2008

Xmas already?


Reindeer Noel
Originally uploaded by Patty_kins
Ha! I know, I know, it's nowhere near Xmas, and here's a Xmas card... that's crazy!

Well, if it makes you feel any better, it's about 94 degrees and feels like 101 with the humidity. So, there we go... that's my justification on an early Xmas card. :)

Did you girls get to see Sex and the City this weekend? OMG, I had so much fun. There were ladies all dressed up to the movies and made me feel very under-dressed. But, it was very fun to see everyone makes such an event out of it. Anyway, hope you had fun if you went, if you're not a fan, you're missing much. :P

Supplies:
Card by DCWV
Patterned Paper by K*Co.
Rubon by Making Memories
Stamp by ATS