Anna Griffin Card Making

Have you tried these card kits yet??? You can find them on HSN and HOLY COW!!!! They make the nicest, most detailed cards in literally minutes! Now, the kits include perefctly coordinated little bows, but I have to confess, I prefer my Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations. I like to wrap around a card and often like the knot as opposed to a bow. You might see a few more of these in the next few posts because I just LOVE how quickly they come together. This Garden Window set is perfectly matched to the Spring Collection Lovebug

New Stamps and a Pinterest CASE

People seem to always ask... what is your inspiration... Sadly, it is new product!  I ordered a big (BIG!) box of Paper Trey Ink Stamps and I just LOVE this pretty little butterfly that also has a matching die. I wanted to use it so I went to Pinterest and found a sketch with an image about the same size. This one didn't have measurements, so I eyeballed it - I just love how the papers coordinate and that Caddy Blue Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations is a perfect match!

Sweet Needle Book

HOW FUN IS THIS!!!!  This is a one on one swap with the Marie Antoinette group and I just loved making this for my partner.  It measures 4.5 inches tall by 4 inches wide when closed.... when closed with that BEAUTIFUL blue Rumple Ribbon from the new spring collection.  I  just love how versatile this product it is.  I really use it on 90% of my projects!
Here are a few pics - but for a better look, stop by the Video.  To help secure that large piece of lace I added some buttons and a stick pin.

 Inside, I made a little pocket for some treats.  That Momma's Mesh always comes in handy for pockets.  And a isn't that rick rack HUGE!!  I liked the layering of the two.

 Here I stitched in a few pieces of felt to hold the needles and pins.  On the blue page I added a little piece of lace and I just love how pretty and simple that looks!

Happy Birthday Steph!!!

Time for a birthday girl's best wishes!!!  Hope you enjoy this BIG Beautiful Blossom and the new pretty Rumple Ribbon from the Spring Collection, and have yourself a FABULOUS day!!

 These great big roses are so flat they are perfect for cards and nothing says ' Have a Great Birthday' like Rumple Ribbon.

French Country Treat Bag

So this week, a boy made dinner for me!  Long story short - once upon a time I dated a nutcase who wouldn't let me in his home.  Since then, I don't give up the good stuff until I see the house. 

So, the current gnetleman asked me - oh so tenderly.... ummmm, when?  I said, I must see your home.  This was Sunday... he made us dinner Tuesday!  LOL

I knew he went to a lot of trouble planning and cooking so I wanted to take him a little treat ( a martini shaker - he doesn't drink them, but he makes them for me.  I rightly guessed he didn't own one....he does now!)

You know I love a decked out bag for gifts, and he was no exception.

That layer of black Momma's Mesh really helps to keep it masculine, don't ya think!  And of course a little red rumple, too!

Travelling Mini

Everyone knows I love a good swap!  And this mini is travelling around for a 7 month tour of swapping!! 

For this Your Paper Pantry swap we create the covers and give some guidelines on how to fill the pages inside.  I asked for a Marie Antoinette/Paris/Chic look. I created the cover with some of my favorite stash goodies like the felt bird cage and flat back back pearls.  Of course, I added my favorite Rumple Ribbon in Butter Cream and I Love Grunge... and it is off travelling to 7 other swappers to have the pages filled out..

 Up close and personal with those beautiful pieces of Rumple Ribbon.  This was the very last tiny scraps I had of Buttercream.  I am off to order more - you can, too.

I used a ribbon holder, flat back black pearls and some shabby ribbons I just love and since they come back to me - I will see them again!!  I covered the chipboard with pretty mulberry paper (You might remember from some baby shower goodies) and shabby flowers.

Spring Release HOP!!!

Welcome to LoveBug Creations Spring Celebrations 

New Release and Blog Hop!!

If you have floated over from Connie, then you are on the right path, but if you stumbled upon our hop and want to start with our blog hostesses, then click over to
LOVEBUG CREATIONS

Spring is a time for Easter and Mother's Day events but it also signals weddings, graduations, family reunions, and more.  LoveBug Creations has some new awesome products to unveil today for your spring celebrations.

  So do you want to add something special to your handmade projects?? If so, consider these new springtime collections for your crafting arsenal of rumple ribbon delights:

And for something different, we are releasing the beautiful Mama's Roses.  
Each rose is hand-formed and hand-dyed; each has dimensions of  2"x 2" and can be used as is or inked, painted, stickled, and more - your imagination can provide lots of possibilities for these beauties - and they are feather-light so you can create lots of projects from layouts to cards to tags to mixed media creations to 3-D creations and more and not feel there's an anchor on your project, weighing it down!

And if that isn't enough... We've got 4 NEW Mama's Mesh Colors: Kraft, Ivory, Light Blue & Light Pink!!!

Also Mama's Mesh is now being offered to buy by the yard as opposed to in collections!

So settle back as we take you on a tour of spring celebrations and invite you to visit our LBC ONLINE STORE

I made some fabric flowers for a swap with MAMA and these beautiful spring colored rumple ribbons were the perfect flower centers... and leaves.  I am just loving these shades!

To make the flowers I used a sizixx circle die and cut 6 out of a thin cream cotton.  I stamped them with a script and dyed them a touch.  Then I rolled them up and sticked them to a piece of felt to make the flower patter.  For a pretty colorful center I used a little... or a lot of rumple and an old looking button.

How about some delicious LBC Blog Candy!
LoveBug Creations is offering a $10 gift certificate to our online store and several other items as well.

What do you have to do to be a possible winner?

1.  Become a follower of each crafter (if you're not already)

2. Leave a love note at each blog spot with your contact info

3. For one extra chance to win like our Facebook Page and leave a comment at

LoveBug Creations

4. Check back on Wednesday for the announcement of the winners

The full spring line up is:

1. Kimi & Pamela: http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

2. Stephanie: http://www.stephanie-eaken.blogspot.com/

3. Dawn Mercedes: http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/

4. Connie: http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/

5.  Katie: http://www.craftykhandy.blogspot.com/

6. Tanya: http://scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com/

7.  Kristi: http://littlepapersprinkles.blogspot.com/

8.  Christine: http://scarletcalliope.wordpress.com/

9.  Kathy: http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com/ 

10. Stacey: http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

We hope you enjoyed your visit and wish you happy spring celebrations!

The next blog spot on this spring tour is Tanya

A CO HOP!!!

Welcome to the Fleurette Bloom-LoveBug Creations Co-Hop. 
If you've flown over from Dorcas, then you've joined the parade, but if you've stumbled on this hop and want to begin with the first stop, soar over to Fleurette

The pairing of LBC's fantastic rumple ribbon and other trimmings with Fleurette Bloom's outstanding SVG's and digital delights is a great way to jazz up your projects - who wants to be ho-hum? 

Not us gals.........so grab your favorite beverage and settle back for some crafting inspiration 

for just the right touch of class

OH MAN!!!! I am not a digi girl, but I just had to play with these pretty spring colors.  I picked the little critters digi stamp and coordinating papers.  And made this SUPER cool layered embellie by just fussy cutting each layer and popping it up with dots.


See that Momma's mesh peeking out there - it was just the texture and color this card needed!

Now, how about some blog candy??

Fleurette Bloom is offering a $10 gift certificate to her ONLINE STORE

 AND

LoveBug Creations is offering a $10 gift certificate to their ONLINE STORE

  

So what do you have to do to be in the running???

1.  Become a follower of each crafter (if you're not already)

2. Leave a love note at each blog spot with your contact info
3. For extra chances to win like our Facebook Pages and leave a comment at

 Fleurette Bloom Designs
and
LoveBug Creations

4. Check back on Wednesday for the announcement of the winners

The co-hop line-up:

1. Fleurette: http://fleurettebloom.blogspot.com

2. Kimi & Pamela: http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com

3. Stephanie: http://www.stephanie-eaken.blogspot.com/

4: Dawn Mercedes: http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/

5: Connie: http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/

6: Kristin: http://papercreationsbykristin.blogspot.com/

7: Dorcas: http://www.craftycardangel.com/

8: Katie: http://www.craftykhandy.blogspot.com/

9: Ilda: http://www.ilovedoingallthingscrafty.com/

10: Tanya: http://scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com/

11: Kristi: http://littlepapersprinkles.blogspot.com/

12: Chantel: http://chanscraftythings.blogspot.com.au/

13: Christine: http://www.scarletcalliope.com/

14: Kathy: http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com/ 

15: Cheryl: http://dragonflydesigns58.blogspot.com/

For your next touch of class, please visit Ilda

Pretty bags

I just love pretty gift bags.  For me, the making of the bag is part of the gift itself.  Remember the boat card from a few weeks ago - this is the gift bag that went with it.  The parents are from India, but their little bundle was born here in Chicago... so I bought him a little Cubs outfit.  Regardless of his heritage - he is a Chicago Native too.

I used a doily, which I almost never do for boys, but a baby can handle it :) Another one of those dimensional stickers.  That was layered on some paper from my stash. Then I made a super fun bow out of Momma's Mesh and secured it with some Caddy Blue Rumple Ribbon Get yours here

My Lost Shaker of Salt

I just love that Buffett song, don't you!!  If I lost a salt shaker I am pretty sure they would look something like this!!

I joined a swap on Your Paper Pantry for altered salt shakers and I am so glad I did!  I started with my Lovebug drawer of pretty and just had some fun!  The one below has some crushed rumple ribbon (I said cherished in the video... I was wrong).  I added a metal filagree piece that I love.  Next is a pretty ribbon fashioned into a flower/rosette with a paper flower in the center.  Then I hung that cool TH piece from the side.

 This one has some pretties from the holiday collection.  Merry Mesh on the bottom layer, Holiday Grunge is that beautiful purple/blue/pink rumple ribbon and some charms and prettys to bling it up.  I made a video to give you a closer look.  Hope you enjoy!  Pick up your Lovebug Goodies Here

Boats for boys!

I just love babies and parties for babies!!  My coworker and his wife are expecting their first child later this month.  As soon as I heard I started a mini, a card and organizing the office shower.  I am so happy with how this one turned out.  I don't have a lot of stickers in my stash but this one just wanted a card.  I layered some graphic 45 paper with a topnote.  I thought that top note needed something and white faux stitching really helped set it off.  Then a spell binders die layerd to make a perfect frame for that little sail boat.

I knew I needed some fabric to keep it a little softer, nothing like my favorite Rumple Ribbon in simply white to do the trick.

Mini Key Book

I needed a little book to keep track of some notes and hopefully add a few pics to later.  I used those great red #10 envelopes from a few weeks ago.  There are three envelopes folded in half with the tiniest tip of the ends cut so I have room to put the little note cards in.

All three page sets are the same, Key paper matted on the front, animal print inside, then the more open space and the little pocket on the back page.

Nothing better to use as a closure than Rumple Ribbon.  For this project the Edgy Halloween with that kind of smoky edge is about perfect.  Get yours here.

Here is the cover - with a big button to use as a 'wrap around' for the ribbon.

Here you see the front of the folded envelope (on the right with the keys and the back on the left.  Just a little pocket with a tag and a stamped key.

This is how the inside of all three sets look.  Animal on one side and just a clean stamped piece on the other.  The tabs are accessable on either side.  Everything was edged with Tea Dye.

6x6 Sunshine Challenge - Clock

I think this is the last of my cards from this challenge.  I made 21 masculine birthday cards to send to Operation Write Home.  This one features my all time favorite ribbon from Lovebug Creations.  This is the Mae color.  Hope I have inspired you to grab a pack and make a card!!

Here is the paper pack... what's left of it :)

And a sneak peek at all the cards I made

6x6 Sunshine More Bikes

I ended up with 21 total cards - all masculine birthday cards.  It felt really good to get back into the OWH swing.  Note the awesome Rumple Ribbon on this one!

Here is the paper pack... what's left of it :)

And a sneak peek at all the cards I made

6x6 Paper Pack Bikin' On

A couple more for you from my personal challenge.  This fabulous bike is from SU's Celebration's collection.

One has a little more bling than the other, but I think the On The Edge ribbon from Lovebug is just what they needed.

Here is the paper pack... what's left of it :)

And a sneak peek at all the cards I made

Happy Valentine's Day!!

As many of you know....  because I won't shut up about it... I am now part of a ning group that takes the inspiration for their projects by the life and times of Marie Antoinette.  All the pretty pink and blue and vintage French love a girl can stand!

These ladies are talented to a degree that really leaves me in AWE!  I am so honored to be allowed to swap with them.
For my first project I picked a greeting card swap... I can do a card, right?  RIGHT!  It needed to be Valentine and of course Marie Antoinette or that era.  Here is what I came up with.

I often go to this 5x5 easel size/fold when I want something special.  I like that the recipient can stand them right up and look at them for a while  I used a very dark green that was a gift from my girl friend's printer and layered a softer green on top.  That patterned paper is a mulberry piece stamped with birds flora and Parisian postage.  I wanted something to lighten up the feel.  

I layered an image I found on pinterest to the same green and used a sizzix die to frame it.

The crown is also a Sizixx die that I cut and heat embossed in gold a few times to get it to stick.

And of course, a layer of trim!  Don't you just love how the Lovebug I Love Grunge perfectly compliments this card?  Finally, I finished it off with some bling, I think Sweet Marie would approve ;)

Pretty Packages

Anybody who knows me knows I love a pretty package.  And I try to make things look especially nice when I send them on to my fellow swappers.  We often include a little treat to our partners.  Since this is my first swap with MAMA, I wanted to add a bit of Rumple Ribbon since it goes so well with the 18th century French theme.  I found a print out on Pinterest for the vintage looking ribbon spools.  I added a manilla tag to the back with details and joined the two with the wire from the ribbon rose.  I really like how that works together!

I used a the same sizzix die from the card I am swapping and the paper, also.  Don't worry - you will see the card next week!  Then I punched two holes and uses the Hugs sheer ribbon from the last blog hop to tie it all together

Here they are all wrapped up and ready for their new homes.  Hope the ladies love my Rumple Ribbon as much as I do!!  There is a video this week here

I also use the same idea to organize my own stash of Rumple Ribbon, Momma's Mesh and Sheer.  I just wind them around one of the printable spools and reattach the tab.