Confession: I am a bad blogger.

I'm a bad blogger. I know it! I promise I'll have a card for you for Friday. There's just been SO much stuff going on that I haven't had 5 minutes of stamping time. Here's a brief summary of the last week. We had the furnace serviced before the winter. Furnace gets condemned because it has a big rusty crack in the manifold and would most likely leak carbon monoxide if it were to be turned on. We need a new furnace. Yay. (Can you sense my sarcasm yet?) Then (same day), we realize that the sump pump is going off every 2 hours or so. But it isn't raining. And we're the only ones on the block. Call the water company. They send out a dude who turns off the water at the house and listens with his fancy dancy listening machine and exclaims, "It's rippin'!", meaning that we have a main water pipe that is cracked or broken or has a hole. Now, this is the pipe that runs from the city water by the curb under the front lawn to our house. Yay. (Can you send my sarcasm now??) So we've been praising the sump pump for its ongoing efforts to fight the broken water main pipe and keep all that water out of our house. So far, so good. We've got a backup pump in case this one burns out.

So...4 furnace estimates later we finally have a new furnace. It was installed this morning. The water main is supposed to be replaced on Friday, assuming that Tropical Storm Nicole doesn't completely do us in tomorrow and kill the sump pump. Yeah...fun times here.

On a positive note, CHA deliveries are still rolling in. I just finished uploading a ton of new Zva mini roses, bling and pearls. Yummy stuff! Copic Sketch markers and Various refills are fully stocked and the swatch book is also back in stock.

I've got the upcoming MME paper lines on order already and a few more goodies up my sleeve.

We're working furiously on preparing for the Birthday Bash in October as well as getting ready for the new Chicken Girl release and Mint Motif release (2 new sets). So, it's going to be a busy, busy month! And, don't forget, the design team call for Mint Motif ends on Friday! Get your applications in! Missed my post? Read about it here.

So, forgive me for my bad blogging? It'll all be worth it! *grin*

See you Friday! Thanks for reading!

Reminder: Mint Motif Design Team Call

There's only ONE WEEK left to apply for the Mint Motif design team. Would you like to proudly display this on your blog? If so, read on!

There are 2 spots available, with a term running from November 2010 - April 2011. To apply, please tell us a little about yourself, any other teams you’re on or publications you’ve been in, and e-mail me direct links (no attachments) to your top 4 projects, showing a variety of styles/projects. Please include at least one 3D project or scrapbook page. Also include links to your blog and SCS gallery. You must also have a Facebook account, as you will be required to post on the Mint Motif FB page.

Basic Requirements:

• 4-6 projects a month, depending on whether we release 1 or 2 sets
• 4 projects during non-release months
• Uploading your project to Splitcoast Stampers (SCS) and to the Mint Motif Facebook page.

Basic Benefits:

• Receive all Mint Motif stamps released during your term
• Receive a design team supply box during release months
• Receive an i {heart} papers store discount code for use during your term

Please email your applications with all this information to dt@iheartpapers.com. Deadline to apply is October 1, midnight EST.

Good luck! I can't wait to see your entries!

Five Minute Friday: Pumpkin Candy Holder

Happy Friday! For today’s five minute project, I reached into my great vast bins of alterables and pulled out this frosted votive holder. I wrapped a piece of 1-1/2” celery silk ribbon around it and then die-cut 4 small ovals from from Large Oval Nesties. I scored them with my Scor-Buddy and then stuck them together to make this little pumpkin. The top of the pumpkin is a little scrap of the ribbon twisted and glued down with some i {stick} papers. I filled it with some leftover M&Ms from my DT Challenge project and that was it! It would make a cute little table favor for Thanksgiving or Halloween, don’t you think? And it was a FIVE minute project.

Have a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

IHP DT Challenge: Treats and Tablescapes

Hello! Today is our IHP DT Challenge day and I hope you’ll play along! If you do, be sure to let me a comment here and upload your project tagged with ihp0910 so we can all find it.

Deb challenged us to make either a treat holder type thing and/or a table decoration (place setting, etc.). I did a little of both!

First I went to Target and bought candy. That’s always a good place to start, right? While I was there I saw a little coffin tin and I thought it would make a cute gift. But, I didn’t want to alter it. So, lucky me came home and Googled “coffin template” only to find that Martha had one! DING DING! I resized hers 50% because it was WAY too big for what I wanted. I cut it out of some Spooks paper, filled it with the purchased candy and then wrapped it with some 1-1/2” White Crochet ribbon that I cut, beat up, ripped and generally abused until it looked like mummy gauze.

For the placecard I printed using BN Manson Nights (free font) onto my new Copic X-Press cardstock and then stamped in Palette Noir the graveyard tag from the new OCL set Spooky Tags. I layered that on more paper from Spooks (the black and the silver paper are both from that line).

The finishing touch was adding 2 little spiders to the coffin (also from Spooky Tags).

I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I hope you like it too! Please be sure to check out the rest of the team’s projects today:

Carolyn
Cathleen
Deb
Gretchen
Kendra
Loretta
Lori
Lynn
Megan
Tracy

CHA items are still pouring in, almost everyday so be sure to check the new section regularly and/or our Facebook page. Thanks for stopping by today!

Clean & Simple: FTL108

I loved this week’s CAS FTL 108 sketch so I decided to make this little Halloween card.  I used my Big Scalloped Circles Large and my Small Circles Nesties and layered a piece of Spooks paper across.  Then I layered a strip of white scrap and stamped the Boo from Little Boogas and spider from Spooky Tags in Palette Noir.  Then I added nice big orange/black check ribbon and some Orange Stickles to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping in today!  I’ll be back tomorrow with our monthly DT Challenge post.  Don’t forget to check out the new section of the store.  There are lots of umm…NEW things!

Five Minute Friday: Mint Motif Teacher Keychain

Happy Friday!  Are you happy it is Friday?  I sure am! 

Today’s project is super simple.   Five minutes, drying time not included.  :)

When I knew Kimberly was designing a teacher set I picked up this mini clipboard to alter.  I covered it in a scrap of Chalkstock, stamped teacher from School Basics on it in Palette New Canvas.  Then I kissed the apple onto one of the backgrounds from Very Square in Palette L’Amour Red.  I finished it off with a scrap of sheer polka dot red ribbon and added a little apple leaf that I had cut out of some Jocelyn paper.  I added some Glossy Accents to the apple and was done.

We’ve got a lot going on over here at IHP.  Mint Motif has a design team call out now (see my post here) and we’re getting ready for the October release, which has two stamp sets.  IHP also turns TWO in October so we’re busy working on a birthday celebration. 

What would you like to see?  Blog candy?  Challenges?  Store coupon?  Lots of items deeply discounted?  Let me know!

Have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping in!

Mint Motif Design Team Call

Would you like to proudly display this on your blog?  If so, read on!

There are 2 spots available, with a term running from November 2010 - April 2011. To apply, please tell us a little about yourself, any other teams you’re on or publications you’ve been in, and e-mail me direct links (no attachments) to your top 4 projects, showing a variety of styles/projects. Please include at least one 3D project or scrapbook page. Also include links to your blog and SCS gallery. You must also have a Facebook account, as you will be required to post on the Mint Motif FB page.

Please email your applications with all this information to dt@iheartpapers.com. Deadline to apply is October 1, midnight EST.

Good luck! I can't wait to see your entries!

I’ve Only Got Eyes….For….You…

Come on, now you’re singing that song, right?  It’s going to be stuck in your head ALL DAY.  You’re welcome.  :)
Here’s a cute little card using another Chicken Girl digi, Witch Eye Brew, part of this month’s September Collection.
I printed it out on Copic Heavyweight paper, colored it with my Prisma pencils and then added some Glossy Accents to the eyebalss and some Gunmetal Stickles to the cauldron.  Then I die-cut some Spooks paper with my new Crown Ovals and layered it on some more Spooks paper.  The finishing touch was all the googly eyes around the edge.  It’s kind of like a paper Beholder. 
There’s lots of things going on behind the scenes here at IHP so make sure you’re signed up for the newsletter (on the homepage).  It’ll be going out later today.  Also, join us on Facebook…the most current up to the minute updates are posted there, along with the occasional Deal of the Day, and you don’t want to miss those!
The new section is OVERFLOWING with amazing new CHA products and they just keep streaming in.  A few things have already sold out and I’m working to reorder those items so if you find something that is already gone, just click the restock notify link and you’ll get an email as soon as it is back in stock.
Thanks for popping in today!  See you again soon!

Five Minute Friday AND CGD Release Day: Autumn Greetings

Hello! Happy Friday! I know I’ve been a pretty bad blogger lately. I’ve got a good excuse though - (being buried under CHA deliveries) - have you seen the new section of the store lately?? Plus some other craziness on top of all that and today’s release just completely snuck up on me.
This is what my studio looked like 24 hours ago. Absolutely a disaster because there was some painting going on and lots of things got moved around and many of them landed in my studio as a holding place. There was not 5 inches of space to work.
Luckily it was Chicken Girl release day AND Five Minute Friday so I didn’t have to stress about a complicated card! HAHA!
So, I cleared 5 inches of space, printed out my new Scarecrow Greetings image (cleverly missing the actual scarecrow courtesy of some quick Photoshop erasing) and colored the pumpkin with some Prismacolor pencils and Orange and Olive Spica pens.
I adore the little scarecrow though so I’m going to have to do another card with the full image for you.
Here is the complete September Collection, all four images available at a discounted price of $8.50 or each one is available on its own for $2.50.
Be sure to check out the rest of the design team and see all of their projects.

Christy
Loretta
Lori
Tammy
Michele
Laura Judy

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Cupcake Birthday Wishes

Hello! Today's post is short, short, short...I'm short on time!

For this card I use Very Square and Very Square Sentiments stamped in Palette inks, cut out my Square Nesties and a cupcake dazzler. I used my Classic Scalloped Petite Borderabilities and dotted the holes with Frosted Lace Stickles. This is a very bright card but I think it’ll make a cheery birthday greeting for someone!

Thanks for stopping by! See you again soon!

Five Minute Friday: Just Lion Around

Here’s a quick little card I made using the Just Lion Around digi from the Chicken Girl August Collection, printed on Copic Heavyweight cardstock, cut out with Square Nesties and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I applied Scattered Straw Stickles to the lion and Pine Needles Stickles to the tree. The DP is from the Jocelyn collection (loved the green and orange combo) and I used a scrap of brown crochet ribbon.
Thanks for stopping in today! I’ve got to keep it brief! See you again soon!

You’re Out Of This World

Hello!  I realized that I never showed you this sample from last month’s Chicken Girl digi July Collection, called Out of this World.  Isn’t it adorable??
I printed it on Copic Heavyweight cardstock and then used my Labels One to cut it out.  I colored it with Copics and then applied Glossy Accents to the helmets.  The DP from Jocelyn is die-cut with Classic Scalloped Petite Borderabilities (are you sick of seeing me use these yet?) and wrapped with this amazing two-tone purple/green ribbon.  Depending on how the light catches it, it shows up different hues.  LOVE it.
That’s it…pretty simple.  Thanks for stopping by today!  See you again soon!  (I’m slowly getting caught up from being away so please be patient!)