Copic Cabana

Looky what Sue T. got for Christmas!! I have wanted Copic markers for a year now, but haven't spent the money cos' I wanted lots off them and was to impatient to buy them in 3's. What good is 3 greens when I really need 3 reds, blues, browns oranges, yellow.... you get the picture dontcha?

The last 2 presents opened were a full set of Copic markers!! George bought me all the A Muse recommended colors and Pat, Bevy B., Jude and Margarita rounded out the bunch with another 12!!

I have had so much fun playing and experimenting. I will definitely have to check out some online tutorials, but am happy with the results so far.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a set of these markers if you like to color like me. You will find they are really pretty fool proof.

Check out my first attempts- not bad huh?

I hope all of you have had a happy and blessed Christmas and that you all received the crafting presents of your dreams. Let me know what was your best Christmas present.

Wishing you all a happy and creative 2010!!

Sue T.

Glitter Ball Fun and VIDEO!!!!

Some how a Christmas does not go buy that I am not making a "gluttony of glitter balls". (Is that like a gaggle of geese..pride of lions...?)


My tree is FILLED with them but I still end up making more. These are the BEST gifts during the holiday season. You can make them as easy or complicated as you want to. They are perfect to grab as a last minute hostess gift or that hard to buy teacher gift. 


For the last couple of years I have gone to my niece's to make glitter balls with her kids-yeah I am a great aunt- and I mean that literally I am a GREAT AUNT. Avery who is 6 is becoming quite the crafter and loves working on projects. My nephew Colin flies in from some sports video- makes an ornament and flies back to his video game- he is all boy!

Decorating them once they are done can be serious business!

But of course we all know that is the BEST part. Little girls and  packets of gems in all colors can not be seperated!


Sooooo how do you make them you ask....... here's a wee video to get you started.




Have fun making these glittery glimmery shimmery balls for yourself!!


Sue T.

Light Up Your Holidays....

 ..... with these cool switch plate ornaments. 

I went to Lowes and bought the cheapest switch plates with a large center opening. I next covered the switch plate with decorative paper using my favorite embellishment glue stick. I wrapped the paper around to the inside and taped the paper down with masking tape. I punched out the hole for the ribbon.

Cut out the center and adhere with masking tape a piece of acetate over the window. Cut the backing to fit the switch plate and punch out the opening for the ribbon.  You may decorate the inside of this piece or cut out an opening so you can see through the ornament. (I like this idea as it allows the lights on the tree to shine through.) 

Lastly embellish your switch plate. I adhere these to the front of the plate with foam tape. Add the ribbon and your switch plate ornaments are ready for gift giving.

Hope you are having fun creating this holiday season!!


Sue T.

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

like Christmas! Christmas cards that is!! I have had the last few days off from work and from sunrise to moonrise I have been feverishly completing all my commissioned cards and personal cards for the holidays. I think this is the earliest I have ever been done. Now if they get mailed off in the next week or two - WOW!!

Hope you all are starting soon on your cards. If you see a card in the pile and want a closer look leave me a comment and I will post a photo and brief instructions.

Have fun with your holiday creations!!

Sue T.

and now for something.....

....completely different. I saw this stamp set used at the last StampinUp party I went to at Judy's house. The fact that it had a matching punch sold me on it- plus Pat talking me into it!!

When i got the set home the other day I kept looking at it and looking at it. It reminded me of something but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Then it dawned on me- a vase, just cut off the bottom and bingo a cute vase!

All this goes to show ya- they aren't always Christmas stamps- look twice!!!

Have a great week!!

Sue T.

You have to crawl before.........

you can walk.

Claire our wonderful and creative StampinUp rep told us all about a stamp artist Michelle Zindorf who is a whiz with the brayer. In fact she charges $100.00/ brayer class. At first I was like, yeah she's OK, but the more I looked at her stuff I was pretty impressed. Check out her blog and tutorials at http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Here is my attempt at her style. I did not use a brayer just sponges for now but I like how it turned out and am ready to try some other techniques.

Have a good week all!

Sue T.

Good evening All!

Finally a beautiful warm sunny day with just a bit a breeze. Doesn't get much better then that huh?

I will forgive all of you if you were outside and not being creative- we have got to enjoy these days while we can.

I am heading to the Poconos at the end of the week for a crafting weekend. My long over due vacation.

Hopefully I will have some really col and different things to share with you. Plan to be working a Holiday theme.

Tonight more samples that I sent in to Memory Box. I am still waiting to hear.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sue T.

Memory Box and memories

Happy Labor Day Folks!!

I can't believe the summer is officially over! Where did it go? All I have right now are memories of it.

I will remember this summer as one of the coolest and yes rainiest ever. We only had our air conditioning on for about 2 weeks this whole summer.

I will remember this summer as the year I opened my second Endoscopy unit and had 4 state inspections scattered throughout the summer. No time off for me!!

I will try not to remember my lousy classes at the Creative Keepsake Convention But I WILL remember the best classes I ever took with Dave Brethauer from Memory Box stamps.

I applied to be a design instructor for Memory Box. I am just waiting to hear. These a just a few of the cards I sent in with my application. Wish me luck and say a prayer!!

Thanks all!!

Sue T.

More fall cards

Here are a couple more fall cards that I created. I love the pheasant card from Stampin Up. The colors appear so vibrant as if the late afternoon sun is slanting across them.

Enjoy your last Sunday for the summer!!

Sue T.

Fall into Autumn

Where did the summer go? Back in June it seemed as though it would last forever and here it is the last weekend in August.

Have to change my focus and think about all the holidays that we celebrate in the Fall. Halloween, Thanksgiving and the biggest one of all Christmas. Lots of stamping to be done. This seems to always be my most creative- to the point were I totally burn myself out by January.

I have started my autumn stamping with a couple of fall cards using a set from Stampin Up and playing with watercolor techniques learned from Dave at Memory Box and paper piecing using a new Momory Box stamp.

Let me know what you think and I promise to be a better blogger in the future. State inspections are over thank goodness.

Sue T.

New desk, New studio, Renewed Creativity

Hey everyone-

Sorry for the wait between posts. Some how life got in the way and it's 2 weeks later and I can finally sit down and blog.

What have I been doing you ask? Well, I went to the Little Spark for a Amusepalooza. I took lots of classes and think I have my Christmas cards done!! Then it was time for CKC in Valley Forge where all but one (I took 8!) were horrible. But I did spend money. I bought a desk!! It has really changed the look of my studio and is giving my creativity a much needed burst.

Last Thursday I headed down to the Queen's Ink in Maryland with Pat and Bevy B. for 2 coloring classes taught by Dave Brethauer owner of Memory Box. The first was a watercolor class and the second was a colored pencil class. Both were the BEST classes I have taken in years and years!! If you ever get a chance to see him- ya gotta take it.

Dave embodies the simple card, something you all know I am striving towards.

Have a wonderful week, stay cool and be creative.

Sue T.

THINK PINK!!

There is a 16 year gap between my eldest brother and myself and a 5 year gap between my other brother and myself. My mom was quite shocked to find herself pregnant at 42 and fighting breast cancer for the second time in 4 years. When I was born, the doctor asked my mom what did she think she had and she said- "oh doctor another baby boy." "Nope ya got a fat and sassy little girl, Florence" was his response. Well... after an entry like that who can blame my mom for never dressing me in anything other then pink!!

My mom went on to beat the cancer a second time and lived to the ripe age of 90!!These cards are for you mom!! And also for you Margarita!!

Sue T.

INTERACTIVE BIRTHDAY!!

I just had to show you all 2 birthday cards I received this year from my good buddy Bevy B. and Claire my awesome StampinUp rep. I love these cards cos' they are interactive and I would never be able to make them. Just think of the time that goes into making a card like these!! All I can say is-"they must like me!!' "they really really like me!!"

Sue T. who is off to the Little Spark in Jersey for classes and shopping!!

VIDEOS by Sue T.

This is my first attempt at a video. This is just a test. Don't laugh although I did a bit of laughing myself. Hopefully the next ones will be a bit slicker and with some good info. Let me know what you think!

Sue T.

Dyeing with my Cuttlebug

I meant die cutting in case any of you were worried....... I spent the last two days playing with my hardly used die cuts, nestabilities and embossing folders with just a pinch of stamping. The bird card will be my swap card for the Paper Craft swap at CKC at the end of July. I just made 20 of them.

Gotta say though I really like the butterfly card and am going make it in pink ( for you Margarita)

Hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend.

Sue T.

This is why I stand when stamping!!

Happy 4rth of July Everyone!!

Simplify

Claire who is my StampinUp rep has taught me something since I met her. She probably doesn't even realize it. She is teaching me to simplify my stamping. Each time I am at a party that Claire is doing she teaches us a couple of quick cards. They are alway simple yet wonderfully creative.

Even though I teach "less is more" to others, I find this concept very hard in my own stamping. My cards have to have layers, cut outs, embellishments, gems etc etc.

So when I made some card samples for Claire this week, I tried to simplify. I used the curly punch and stamp set from StampinUp for the samples.

I think we are all so busy in our lives running here and there, we need to take time to smell the roses and simplify our lives.

Sue T.