Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Woo hoo, my first online sale!

I had my first online sale yesterday.  Someone purchased 7 of my cards from my Ebay shop!  I've been listing cards in both my Ebay and Etsy shops and waiting to see if someone would find me.

If you'd like to see what I have for sale, you can go to either of my shops.

My Ebay store is called "teojax-crafts", you can find it HERE.
My Etsy store is called "teojax", you can find it HERE.

The card prices and shipping are the same on both sites.  I wasn't sure which would be the best place to sell my items, so I chose both.  I also have links on the side bar here on my blog, so you can click on them any time and see what I've added.

For now, any sales I have will go towards Mateo's school trip to Italy next spring.  He's doing some fund raising, along with his classmates that are also going, but this mama's got to do some fund raising as well, to make up the difference, lol.  Ciao!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Family & Friends: School's out for Summer!



Friday was the last day of school for the boys.  I made them let me take a "last day of the year" photo.  It was a little like pulling teeth, but I finally got one shot that was halfway decent.  (The sun was in Jaxon's eyes, so he wasn't too happy about it.)

You can see from the garage panels how much the boys have grown, probably about an inch (or more) for each of them.  Mateo's now taller than both Chico & I and I'm sure Jaxon will pass us in no time.

The boys have a week to hang out, then they start their six week summer program at CBAP.  Mateo will be a volunteer again this year and Jaxon will be a participant.  You have to be at least 14 to volunteer, so Jaxon has a couple years to go.  I'm excited to hear about all of the fun activities they get to do this year.  Here's to a great summer!

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

You make my World go 'Round

I was searching through some boxes in my craft room the other day and ran across more cards I haven't shared here.  Geez, I'm beginning to realize just how many cards I've made over the years.  This was a fun one from a couple years ago.


This paper was part of the "Dream Pop" paper pack.  It was a really bright and fun paper pack introduced for National Scrapbooking month back in May 2013.  The stamp set called "Pinwheel" was the Stamp of the Month that same month.  

This was a super fun stamp set.  It could be used with any paper pack, just by stamping the pinwheel wheels in any color combination that suits your needs.  For this card I was inspired by a very talented fellow CTMH Consultant named Allisa Chilton.  I love all of  her cards!


The "wheels" of the pinwheel were stamped in Cotton Candy, SunsetHoney inks and coordinated very well with this fun paper pattern.  I added a little bit of foam tape between the pinwheel layers to add more dimension.  I put them together with a large white brad and added a bright colored stir stick (which I found in the break room at work, shhh...).

This is the now retired "Pinwheel" set (which coordinated with CTMH's "Artiste" Cricut Cartridge).  This set really reminds me of summertime.


I hope you enjoyed this card.  Please visit again.

SUPPLIES:
Paper: Dream Pop (retired), Honey & White Daisy CS
Stamps: S1305 Pinwheel (retired)
Embellishments: White Daisy Brad (retired), Stir Stick (non CTMH)
Other: Cricut Artiste Cartridge, White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Hello tweety...

What?  No, it's not a post about Tweety Bird, it's actually the name of the stamp set I used on this card.  I've been working on some ideas for cards for my upcoming card classes, but they're not ready for photos yet.

In the mean time, I thought I'd continue to post some older cards that I haven't shown in the past.  Even though the stamp sets and/or paper may not be available on some of my older cards, I thought they may still inspire you if you're a card maker.  Or if not, maybe it will inspire you to visit my Etsy or Ebay shops.  Can you say shameless plug?  hee hee


This is a card I made a couple years ago with a great paper pack called "Claire".  I had fun with this paper and did an entire card class with it.  The different patterns in this paper pack made it pretty easy to create some nice cards.  This stamp set was fun one too.  I loved the birdcage when I saw it and knew I had to use it.  These "Center Step" cards are great for a long, narrow stamped image.  You can see a sample of another "Center Step" card I made recently HERE.  


When I stamped the birdcage, I used the "rock n' roll" stamping technique.  In case you're unfamiliar with that technique, you stamp the image in a base color and then before stamping that image on your paper, you roll the edges of the stamp in a different ink color (usually darker), then stamp your paper.  If you look closely you can see that I stamped the entire birdcage in Sunset Ink and then rolled the edges in Hollyhock Ink.  It's subtle on this image, but is a pretty effect.  

I also did all of the stamping on the Colonial White paper on the center of the card, then ran that piece of cardstock thru my embossing machine giving it some texture.  After that, I stamped the bird image in Outdoor Denim ink, cut it out and adhered it to the birdcage image.  

I used the Close to My Heart exclusive "Art Philosophy" Cricut Cartridge for the shape the main sentiment is stamped on.  I have all of the CTMH Cricut Cartridges, but I have to say Art Philosophy is still my favorite.  There are approximately 700 different images on this cartridge.  Amazing!  The nice thing about the cartridges is the fact that Close to My Heart has many stamp sets that coordinate with shapes on the different cartridges.  It makes it even more fun to create!  See all of the different images available on Art Philosophy HERE.


I added a piece of Colonial White cardstock to the inside of the card to make it easier to write your special message.  The stamped row of birds is a nice surprise for the recipient too.  

This is the stamp set I used on this card.  Along with the great sentiment on the the front of my card, you can see it also includes a few other sentiments and a lovely vine design.  As I mentioned before, it's called "Hello Tweety" and unfortunately it is a retired set.


Well, thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you've enjoyed my card and maybe were inspired to do something creative today.  :)


SUPPLIES:
Paper: Claire (retired), Outdoor DenimColonial White CS
Stamps: B1420 Hello Tweety (retired)
Embellishments: Outdoor Denim & White Baker's Twine (retired)
Other: Cricut Art Philosophy CartridgeMicro-tip scissorsColonial White Cards & Envelopes Value Pack

Thursday, June 4, 2015

"Oh-So Grateful" mini album

One of the requirements for the "Patfinding" paper swap I participated in a few months ago was to use the Close to My Heart Designer Creations Paper Bags in a creative way.  I decided to create a mini-album with them.


Isn't that cute?  The paper bags come in 4 different colors.  I used the Lagoon Paper Bags because they complimented the Pathfinding papers so well,  I only used 3 of the 12 bags that come in a package.  What a deal.  


I stapled the 3 bags together with the CTMH Mini-Stapler.  And for added decoration I punched two holes in the spine area, wound some Metallic Baker's Twine through and tied a bow.  I used the Pathfinding Compliments for the cover and the embellishing inside.  The chipboard pieces were perfect for this album, adding just the right amount of texture and cuteness.


The bags have a little flap on one side, so I folded that inside itself and glued it down.  I cut a piece of cardstock that coordinates with the Pathfinding papers to fit inside each pocket.  I also used more of the chipboard Pathfinding Compliments as little "pull tabs" to pull the inserts out easily.  These inserts would be a great space for more photos or journaling.

On the inside pages of the album I added either cardstock or Pathfinding paper (or both) as photo or journaling mats.  I also added more of the chipboard pieces here and there.  They sure are cute.  Here's a look at the inside pages and their different pull-outs and flaps.





Isn't that fun?  





I just love that cute fox.  The only stamping in the album is the "Live in the Moment" image above the fox.  Stamping wasn't really necessary, I just felt like I wanted a little something in that spot.  The image came from the "Lifetime of Happiness" stamp set, which I used on a card in an earlier post HERE.

Well, thank you for getting through the photo overload with me.  If this is something you'd like to make, I have listed the supplies below with links to my CTMH website.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks for visiting and please come again.


SUPPLIES:
Inks: Chocolate
Other: Lagoon Designer Creations Paper Bags, Mini Stapler, Hole Punch

Monday, June 1, 2015

Through stormy seas...

Here's an oldie but goodie.  I made this card when the CTMH "Tommy" paper was available.  It's a great nautical paper.  When I saw saw the stamp set that came with the "Tommy Workshop on the Go", I knew I had to have it.  I loved the sentiment and thought it would be a wonderful masculine card (maybe Anniversary card?) for my monthly card workshop.


I stamped the large sentiment and the two nautical map images in Outdoor Denim ink, then stamped the bottom of the large sentiment again in Cranberry ink on a scrap of cardstock.  I cut out the word "Together" from the cranberry stamping and adhered it to the main image to highlight that word.  I also stamped the anchor on a piece of scrap cardstock and cut it out to hang it from the Cranberry baker's twine.  Isn't it cute?



I like to add a stamp to the inside of a card if there's one that coordinates, so it's extra special for the recipient.  This set had a cute sailboat and a wave design, so I used those inside.  You can see it in the side view of the card above.

Here's a look at the "Tommy" Workshop on the Go (now retired).

I hope you enjoyed my throwback card today.  If you have any questions, please let me know by using the "Contact Me" area on my side bar.  

** Note: And as I've mentioned in my previous posts, I'm also listing some of my cards for sale in both my Etsy shop and my Ebay shop.  You can find the links on the sidebar of this blog.  For the next few months the sales will go towards the cost of a school trip to Italy my 15 year old son will be taking next Spring.  Every little bit helps, right? **

SUPPLIES:
Paper: Tommy (retired), Honey, Outdoor Denim & White Daisy CS
Stamps: Tommy WOTG Stamp set (retired)
Embellishments: Cranberry Baker's Twine (retired)