DI-Myself

Robot Valentines

2012-01-19T21:55:00.002-08:00

Here I masked off the outer edge with Post-Its and made a mask for the robot and his balloon. The heart in his balloon is from another set. Just a little sparkle on his heart and cupcake to keep this card truly one layer.

I think this is my favorite of the bunch. Just a little edge masking, marker coloring, and a tiny but of Stickles.

This guy is much cuter in person. The heart above his head is stuck with dimensionals, so this is not totally one layer! Oops. I just thought it needed something more clearly Valentines related.

Here's my trio of cuteness. This is one of the simplest but best sets I've ever created. My students will love them, I'm sure!

Even more CAS

2012-01-19T21:55:00.000-08:00

Almost a complete case of Kristina's day 1 sketch, in a different palette. LOVE the lace background stamp.

More CAS

2012-01-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

Super simple and inspired by Jennifer's sandwiched dies idea. Again, love this background.

Clean and Simple Card Making Class

2012-01-18T23:01:00.000-08:00

I've been taking the now famous Clean and Simple Card Making Class with Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and Julie Ebersole. I'm so behind on my card making, but I'm loving the class! These cards were mostly inspired by the Day 1 sketch from Kristina.

A quick one-layered card. So super easy. I used a light grey Copic to add some dimension around the stamped image.

The class is almost over. My only regret is that I fell so far behind the days. The beauty of having lifetime class access is not lost on me :) Thanks for looking!

IMG_0316

2011-11-08T20:06:00.009-08:00

IMG_0316, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

IMG_0318

2011-11-08T20:06:00.007-08:00

IMG_0318, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

IMG_0341

2011-11-08T20:06:00.005-08:00

IMG_0341, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

IMG_0368

2011-11-08T20:06:00.003-08:00

IMG_0368, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Large Cupcake

2011-11-08T20:06:00.001-08:00

IMG_0376, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Robo Bday

2011-11-08T20:05:00.007-08:00

Robo Bday, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Fishy Bday

2011-11-08T20:05:00.005-08:00

IMG_0403, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Robot Happy Birthday

2011-11-08T20:05:00.003-08:00

Robot Happy Birthday, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Thanks Die Cut

2011-11-08T20:05:00.001-08:00

IMG_0419, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Babushka Thanks

2011-11-08T20:04:00.001-08:00

IMG_0425, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Best Cupcakes Ever

2011-08-09T01:49:00.000-07:00

Back in my carb-eating days, I'd make these cupcakes often. I still get an almost weekly text from my cousin asking me to make her some. They taste a lot like a sugar cookie, which in my opinion is awesome. They're not too sweet or complicated, and can easily be adapted to any decorations or event.
Here are some of my cupcakes using this recipe:

Baby shower, no time for cute icing :(

Birthday Tower

Treat for my students

Recipe from Marthastewart.com

Ingredients

3 cups cake flour, (not self-rising)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/4 cups sugar
5 large whole eggs plus 3 egg yolks, room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Sift together both flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium. Add whole eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add yolks, and beat until thoroughly combined. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and beating until combined after each. Beat in vanilla.
Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool 10 minutes; turn out cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely.
Please let me know if you try these! You won't be sorry!

I Finally Left My House!

2011-08-04T22:39:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day out in quite a while. I'm trying to spend lots of time at home before my summer vacation is over. I tried to stay as comfy as possible in this outfit. Nothing special, but I wanted to share my new bag! I'm in love with her. I strayed from my favorite bags and bought my first Brighton during their annual handbag trade in event a few weeks ago.

Jeans: AE Artist Crop Jean. Love them, but I ordered one size too big!

Shirt: AE Soft Drape Sunset T. Also one size too big :(

Shoes: TOMS Ash Canvas Classics. These have become my favorite non-flip flops.

Here's a better picture of my bag. It appears that Zappos is the only place you can find her online. I'm a sucker for beautiful embroidery. I also love the fact that this bag is so light and is organized well. It scares me a little that she isn't as durable as my Seatbelt Bags, but I'll just have to be extra careful with her.

Brighton Gemma

I tried a glitter gradient mani for the first time. I'm pleased with the results, and it was much easier than I anticipated. The thought of sponging the glitter seemed wasteful to me, so I just applied it to the tips with the brush, wiped the excess, and brushed it downwards. I left the bling finger totally glittery. The base color is from a company that is no longer in existence, Carolyn New York.

Carolyn New York- New York, New Year, Sinful- I Miss you

My cuticles are slowly showing signs of improvement. I'm determined that this time I will be consistent with my lotions and cuticle creams. I'm destined to have great cuticles! As always, thanks for reading and let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to hear your feedback!

I Love Konad Nail Stamps!

2011-08-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

My favorite thing about Konad stamping is that it can extend the life of your manis for at least 3 or 4 days. Since I'm impatient when it comes to my nails drying, I usually do a normal mani with basecoat, two coats of color and a topcoat like this:

2 coats OPI Cosmo-not Tonight Honey, 1 Coat OPI Hollywood Blonde

I wore this mani for 2 days. Last night I added Konad Image plate m73 and now it looks like this:

Cosmo-Not Tonight/Hollywood Blonde, Konad plate m73

Since I waited for 2 days, the polish on my nails was totally dry. This lets me scrape the image off if I make a mistake. When I stamp on slightly wet polish (even with Poshe topcoat), the image is not able to be removed without removing all the layers of polish and starting over. I like to wait at least 20 minutes to apply topcoat over my stamped images. Then you want to make sure that you have a good amount of topcoat on your brush. I like to wipe one side against the bottle so I have a large drop of it on one side. This will keep your brush from touching the image, which will reduce color dragging.
Here are some other Konad designs I've tried:

Konad plate m60

Konad plate m63, China Glaze Sea Spray

Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions or ideas about other blog posts!

Jewelry Organization

2011-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to do a quick post today that shows how I organize my jewelry. I find that I tend to forget about things if I can't see them, so this is my way of having everything displayed. If I have to take more than two seconds to find something in the morning, I won't even wear jewelry.

I got this tiered bracelet holder at Michaels. It was $14 with my 40% off coupon. I got this last year, and I'm not sure if they still have the same one. I know I've seen smaller ones recently. I like that it's soft and won't cause any scratches. I wipe it with a baby wipe to get rid of dust. There is a similar one at The Container Store right now for $12.99.

This earring holder is from The Container Store. It's on sale right now for $9.99. This will fold up if needed.

This is a cork board from Target. It keeps my necklaces tangle free and easily accessible. This cork board is going to be pimped in the very near future :) She's looking way too boring.

As always, thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any questions.

Things I Love

2011-07-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

I promise I don't like making people spend money, but I like to share my favorite things with other people! These are totally random, but I've tried and love everything I mention (most of them I've had/used for years).

Sony Shower Radio
I've had this shower radio for at least 4 years, and it's still in great shape! I've become so attached to it that I hate showering without it. Some people like to have deep thoughts in the shower. I don't. This radio plays CDs and keeps them safe from water. They also have a model that doesn't play CDs, which doesn't need its batteries changed as often. I change my batteries maybe 3 times a year. I bought mine here.

$64.84

I mostly use this shower radio with a wireless FM charger from eBay. I hook it into my iPhone and listen to my songs in the shower! So much better than our crappy local radio stations.

Electronic Catch Phrase

This is a GREAT game to play with 4 or more players. It's intense, fun, and totally brings out everyone's competitive side. People will ask you to bring it to all group functions. I bought mine at Target for $20, but you can also find them online.

Price Varies

Cows vs. Aliens

I'm addicted to this free iPhone/iPad game. It's ridiculous but fun and there aren't annoying ads popping up every ten seconds.

Free

Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism

I found this book a little over a month ago. It has literally changed my life and the way I eat. It's a little radical for most people, but the information in it is priceless. I made the mistake of buying the Kindle version of it. This is a great book to have the paperback version of because you will find yourself flipping back and forth to refer to different parts of it. I believe it is essential for anyone with children.

$20.83/$9.99 Kindle Version

Yankee Candle Wick Trimmer
You're probably wondering why you'd need a wick trimmer if you have scissors. Uh, no. This wonderful contraption will keep your fingers soot free, but, most importantly, will keep your wick trimmed to the appropriate 1/4" height. This extends the life of your candles and allows them to burn more evenly. It will also reduce the amount of soot and smoke the candle produces.

$9.99

Hello Kitty Nail Plate
I found a few pictures of Hello Kitty nails on Pinterest that I loved, so I ordered an image plate from eBay. It is by far the most challenging nail stamping I've ever done, but I love it enough to keep practicing. Here is my first attempt:

OPI Miami Beet, M71 image plate

Cheap Dresses From Ross
I'm still loving my $6.99-$12.99 dresses from Ross. They are perfect for summer. I've been pairing them with my cropped denim jacket from Ann Taylor Loft. I've recently seen this jacket in the sale section of the store!

Blurry, I know.

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of these products. I'd love to hear how you end up liking them. Thanks for reading!

Nail Update

2011-07-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

If my multiple posts a day are getting to be too much for some of you, don't fret! In the next couple weeks I'll go back to posting occasionally. Being off all summer gives me way too much time to do fun stuff and share it with you all.

This is not a good nail pic, but I'm going to post it for two reasons. 1. I LOVE this color. 2. It should serve as a good reference point for a new nail treatment I'm trying. My cuticles are out of control, so I'm going to see if regular application of CND Cuticle Eraser will tame them.

Price Varies.

When bad cuticles happen to good people.

Flash shows UAN's true glowiness <3.

I used China Glaze Up All Night and a combination of Sinful Hottie and All About You on the bling finger. I topped the glitter with China Glaze Fairy dust to make it extra glittery.

Today I got something in the nail that makes me want to take this off. I'm trying to keep to my goal of only removing chipped polish, but I'm dying to try this:

I want Hello Kitty on my nails! I can't wait! I got this plate on eBay for $4.50, including shipping, and it came in one day! Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think.

Ruche Summer Resort Lookbook

2011-07-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Ruche recently released their Summer Resort lookbook. It's full of the beauty we can expect from them. What I like most about it is that they show each piece in action. I'm so guilty of buying cute things on the hanger and never wearing them because I don't know how. I'm going to use the lookbook as inspiration for future outfits. Check it out here.

If you post or share this lookbook with others, you're eligible to win a $100 Ruche Shopping Spree! Get the word out!

Most Essential Makeup Items

2011-07-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

I often get asked about my favorite beauty products, so I wanted to make a blog post that I can reference when giving suggestions. These are all products that I've personally used and that I happen to love. I do have a fairly large makeup collection, so I'm going to focus on the most essential products and tools. I'm going to link to specific brands I use, but most companies make their own version of each style of brush. I also link to Sephora's website because they have a great return policy if any product doesn't work out.

Moisturizer
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is great for my combination skin. I love that it is oil-free and dries quickly so that my face isn't too moist before applying foundation.

$24.50

Foundation/Powder
Foundation is the one thing I will always buy at a department store. Nothing ruins a look faster than the wrong foundation color.
I switch between two different foundations, depending on how much time I have to get ready. When I have more time, I apply Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 with Sigma's Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki brush or Sigma's F60 brush. I dust a setting powder all over my face to seal this foundation with a large powder brush.

$46.00

Concealer

I use MAC's Studio Finish Concealer. It can be applied with your fingers or a fluffy eye shadow brush.

16.50

When I'm in a hurry, I like MAC Studio Fix Foundation applied with a buffer brush.

$26.50

Eyes
This is where there are the most choices in any makeup brand. Primer is essential for any eye shadow look. It makes blending easier and will keep your shadow on all day (and into the next). Too Faced Shadow Insurance is by far the best primer I've ever used. Considering the fact that it lasts well over a year, it's a great value. You only have to use a tiny drop on each eye.

For eye brushes, you'll need one all over shading brush, a flat brush for your eye lids, a fluffy brush for your crease, a pointy brush for your outer v, and a smudger brush to perfect your liner and apply shadow under the eye.

Kat Von D's True Romance and Angeles palettes are great places to start because they offer a nice assortment of colors.

$34.00

If you'd like to make your own palette, MAC is probably your best bet. I will do a post soon on which MAC shadows work best together.
Here's a great breakdown of the parts of the eye for color placement.
Mascara
My current favorite mascara is Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara. Mascara is the one thing I won't buy at a department store. This can be found at any drugstore.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I will have more posts in the near future; I didn't want this information to be overwhelming. The brushes that I included can easily be replaced with brushes from any other brand. If you bought either of the sets I recommended below, each one should have most of the brush shapes mentioned here.

Glitter Clothespins

2011-07-17T18:20:00.000-07:00

One of the first images I pinned on Pinterest was a shot of clothespins covered in glitter. I searched for a tutorial online, but was only able to find one that covered the entire clothespin in glitter. Not exactly what I wanted. I did see that they are available for purchase on etsy.com, but I, of course, opted to make them myself.

I wanted to avoid gluey fingers and uneven sides, so I decided that double-sided tape would be the best option. It worked perfectly! Here's how to make them.

Gather your materials- double-sided tape, clothespins, glitter, scissors, Aqua Net, and thick paper for putting the glitter back in the vial (I used the inside of a card).

Cut a piece of tape a little longer than the clothespin. Line it up along one side, leaving the excess hanging off the other side. Use scissors to trim the excess tape.

Pour your glitter into a long pile and press the tape side down into it. Press firmly along the entire length.

Transfer excess glitter back into the vial and give the clothespin a few strong finger flicks to get rid of extra glitter flakes.

Repeat the process using other colors. Lay the clothespins on a scrap of paper and spray with Aqua Net. The hairspray will reduce fallout and bring out the shine in your glitter.

These can easily be made into magnets or paired with a length of coordinating ribbon and used to hang pictures or art. Obviously, the same process can be applied to any size of clothespin, although you might have to do more tape trimming. You may also want to glitter both sides!
Different ways they can be used:

with magnets on the back

Thanks for visiting! Let me know what you think!

5 Minute Card

2011-07-17T13:41:00.000-07:00

I love this card, and it is by far one of the simplest cards I've ever made. One stamp and two die cuts can make something simple yet cute.

Strawberry Charlotte

2011-07-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

There was a time in the not so distant past when I ate carbs and sugar in abundance. That time has now passed, sadly, but this recipe is too amazing not to share. I made this Strawberry Charlotte for my mom's birthday a while back. It was amazingly delicious and fairly easy considering the beauty of its presentation. She sure is a show stopper.

Here is the recipe from Joy of Baking. I made it exactly as is, with the addition of the chocolate syrup drizzle. Here's how mine turned out. Not exactly like the picture, but I was pleased.

Freakin' Delicious, I promise!

If you happen to make this, please let me know how you like it! Thanks for reading!

Another Brush Set Option

2011-07-16T00:48:00.000-07:00

Sigma is another great makeup brush company. I have many individual brushes from this set, and I'm pleased with their quality. They look most like MAC brushes in comparison to other brands. My only complaint about Sigma is that they tend to bleed when washed. I've noticed the biggest problem with the duo-fiber (black and white) brush and the large black bristled brushes.

They offer a set with ($99) and without ($79) a brush roll. While the brush roll set is pricier, it may be worth it if you do a lot of traveling or want to use the roll as an organization tool.

Complete Kit, $79

Complete Kit with Brush Roll, $99

This set does not need to be supplemented with additional brushes, like the Crown set from before. It's a great way to get a variety of brushes for a great price. Keep in mind that you will only end up with one brush for each area, so you may find yourself having to wash them often. I'd suggest starting with this set and ordering multiples of your favorites once you've had some practice with them. This set really does a great job covering all the most necessary brushes.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think or if you'd like any other information. I can provide further suggestions and clarification as needed.

Crown Brush Sets

2011-07-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

After browsing through the sets on Crownbrush.us, there's really only one I would recommend based on what I know so far about their brushes. My favorite Crown brushes are from the Studio Pro line, which feels most similar to my MAC brushes. The problem is that there don't appear to be any sets from the Pro line, just the Studio line, which is visibly lower quality. That said, the only set I feel comfortable recommending is the 10 Piece Italian Badger Set. I like my Italian Badger brushes, although they're not quite as soft as the Studio Pro line.

Each brush appears to serve a great function. The only one that looks questionable to me is the foundation brush (4th from the left). The bronzer brush (2nd from right) might work well for foundation, however.

I'd supplement this set with 2 of these, one for eye crease blending and one for concealer. You will also want a flat brush for putting shadow on your lid. You may want another liner brush, since the angled brush will work for both liner and filling in eyebrows. The pointed brush (3rd from left) is good for the outer V area, but you may also want one of these.

I plan on making a "Most Essential Makeup Items" post that will include brushes in the next few days. If this doesn't work for you, you may find interest in that. Thanks for reading, and please let me know if you have any questions or other information you'd like to know.

Makeup Organization

2011-07-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

It is easy to end up with massive amounts of makeup before you realize it. A drawer full of of random products will make makeup application much more time consuming, which may discourage some people from wearing it. Here are some of the ways I've been able to keep my collection easily accessible.

My favorite way of condensing eye shadows are these palettes ($15) by MAC. They lower the price for each shadow from $14.50 to $11 and are much easier to store.

This is a silverware organizer from Home Depot. It makes it easy to organize by category and slides easily in a drawer.

I found this organizer at Target last week. I'm unsure of its intended purpose, but it is perfect for makeup storage. It was on clearance in the silverware/dishes section for $6.48.

Holds approximately 90 shadows and 18 blushes.

Face and eye brushes.

Other containers will work as well. It helps to add some type of filler to the bottom of the container, much like they do at Sephora. Here are some random containers that I've used.

Brushes stand up more easily with filler.

No Filler.

Michaels sells packages of tiny plastic beads in their floral arranging department that work perfectly for pouring into any container. I've also seen aquarium rocks, small pebbles, glass stones, and sand. Clear containers will show off whatever filler you choose.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know your thoughts or if you have any questions!

Crown Brush

2011-07-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

One of the most expensive but necessary parts of any makeup collection can be the brushes. Most large makeup companies charge anywhere from $18 to $60 for each brush, which adds up quickly. I have many MAC brushes that I love, but almost a year ago I ordered from a company that I'm just as happy with for literally a fraction of the price. Crown Brush offers an amazing variety of brushes for a much lower price than most other brands.

I made this order last fall. It cost me $55.55 including shipping, which was $7 at the time. The same brushes would easily cost over $200 from any designer brand. They are in great shape, even after repeated use and cleansing.

I am happy with all of them, but my favorites are C412, C433, IB119, BK33, C139, C217, C409, and C408. If any of those are sold out, try searching for the same keywords and something very similar should come up.

I stayed away from the pre-made brush sets because I already had many of the sizes. For someone who is just building a collection, they may be the best option.

Whatever you do, please don't use the applicators that come with makeup sets unless they happen to be full-size brushes. The quality of your makeup will immediately improve with the addition of quality brushes to your makeup collection.

A Different Direction

2011-07-12T23:54:00.000-07:00

I'm going to occasionally post my outfits and nails of the day. I'm hoping to push myself to wear more of the clothes in my closet and use as much of my enormous nail polish supply as possible. I've been inspired by so many things on Pinterest recently, and they've led me into the depths of my closet for some of the cute things I'd forgotten I had.

Here's today's outfit for my trip to the podiatrist :) My top is an old lacy shirt from Express. I bought my skirt at Ann Taylor Loft recently. You can find it here at an additional 40% off! I took my shoes off and my foot looks funny because I couldn't wear them after the foot doctor was done with me :)

Here were my nails today:

My cuticles could use some of this, but I haven't seen mine in a while. The cream polish is OPI Parlez-Vous OPI? and the bling finger is Milani Hi-Res.

Thanks for visiting and let me know what you think!

Revisiting Tile Coasters

2011-07-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Hello to my remaining and new followers. I've taken an incredibly long break from crafting, but I am going to force myself to get back into it. I'm also going to be adding a couple different topics that make me happy. Hopefully it won't be too much of a random assortment.

I'd like to repost these to start with because they are by far the most asked about project I've ever completed! They're cheap, beautiful and always well appreciated.

My complete instructions can be found here.

Here are the main steps. Gather materials:

Cut scrapbook paper about 1/4" smaller on all sides and adhere to tiles with Mod Podge and a sponge brush. Coat the paper with several layers of Mod Podge and then seal with an acrylic sealant.

Some finished examples:

Allow PLENTY of time for the sealed tiles to dry. A week or two would work best!

Maps, napkins, postcards, thick wrapping paper, etc. would also make beautiful coasters. Please let me know if you make any of these. I'd love to see your creations!

2010-08-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

I needed a last minute birthday card for a coworker and a congratulations card for a former student last night. I was pressed for time, so I decided to repeat the same design for both. I still love my Copic butterflies. They make any card special.

IMG_3869

2010-05-20T21:50:00.001-07:00

IMG_3869, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

I was going for an etched glass look here. The pictures didn't quite capture it. I used Staz-On, and then dusted it with glitter immediately. You can also trace the lines with a glue pen. The ribbon is covering the adhesive. Thanks for looking!

IMG_3900

2010-05-20T21:49:00.001-07:00

IMG_3900, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Super quick card. I love this stamp. I used a combination of markers and pencils to make the coloring process faster.

IMG_4235

2010-05-20T21:48:00.003-07:00

IMG_4235, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Here's another thank you card for my mom with an embossed background. Again, it's super simple so the background isn't covered. Thanks for looking!

IMG_4237

2010-05-20T21:48:00.001-07:00

IMG_4237, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

My mom asked me to make her some thank you cards for some of her coworkers. I wanted to try out my new embossing folders and Epic 6. I love how simple it is to emboss, so I ordered a bunch of new folders. I kept this card super simple, because I didn't want to take away from the pattern. Thanks for looking!

IMG_4257

2010-05-20T21:47:00.001-07:00

IMG_4257, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

I recently saw a set of stamps that had a stitched look. I tried to recreate the same effect here by "stitching" around the flower. Another Cards for Kids Valentine card. Thanks for looking!

Vday Banner

2010-05-20T21:46:00.003-07:00

Vday Banner, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Here's a Valentine's card for the Cards for Kids drive. I replaced her hair sticks with toothpicks. I recently bought an Epic 6 and I can't emboss enough! That's why all my recent cards are simple stamping with embossed backgrounds :) Thanks for looking!

IMG_4249

2010-05-20T21:46:00.001-07:00

IMG_4249, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Here's part of a set of cards I made for a friend quite a while ago. I love this butterfly stamp. This was before I had my Copics, so the shading isn't perfect.

Mother's Day

2010-05-20T21:44:00.001-07:00

IMG_4443, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

I love this new rose stamp! I couldn't photograph the sparkle very well, but the entire rose image is glittered. The roses are colored with Copics.

I don't have any mother's day stamps, but I figure this one is appropriate.

Thanks for looking!

More Copic Coloring

2010-03-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

Stamps by Hero Arts: CL383, 400, 124

I couldn't bear to part with the stamped panel I made a few days ago, so I turned it into a bookmark. I made two others to go along with it. They are slightly glittered, but it was lost in the picture.

Stamp by Hero Arts, CL383

Here's a magnetic bookmark I made. The top is connected to a butterfly shape on the back. The magnets keep it on the page. Super easy and fun to make.

Crazy for Copics

2010-03-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

I tried to tell myself for months that I didn't need any Copic markers. I was very successful for a while, but a few weeks ago, I found a great deal on Dick Blick's website. I ended up ordering 15, and then 26 more a couple days later. They are amazing! I had stayed away from images that required a lot of coloring, because it felt like it took forever with colored pencils. Copics make it so much quicker, and they are super easy to use. My Hero Arts butterfly stamp has been in use since I got my Copics. They were meant to be together. I can thank Jennifer McGuire for a substantial part of the money I've spent this month!

These final two don't use Copics, but this is the new starburst lace stamp from Hero Arts. It's beautiful enough to be the only image on a card!

2009-12-14T22:49:00.000-08:00

Another super terrific giveaway going on here. I would love to win this package. I've been eyeing both of these products since they came out. Check it out when you get a chance.

And one more.........Here's another giveaway for the most beautiful tape I've ever seen. I so want some.

Oh, and here are some cookies I made this weekend. My mom and I are crazy, but they are so good! It was very worth it, although we are still sleep deprived.

Homemade Ornaments

2009-11-29T20:09:00.000-08:00

Here are some Christmas ornaments my mom and I made last year. The first four were made using rubber stamps from Holly Berry House. You stamp each image multiple times, glitter, and then piece the layers together. We've always changed our ornaments each year, but these made us want to use them forever. They were well worth all the hard work. We have another batch of different Holly Berry House Stamps ornaments coming this year.

These are ornaments we made a few years ago. The snowflakes are actually paper towel/toilet paper tubes that have been sliced, flattened, painted, glittered, and glued together. The other two ornaments were from Martha Stewart kits from Michaels.

Here are the ornaments I made with my 4th graders last year. This one is mine. The idea came from Martha Stewart's website. We used the little sticker pictures they give us for each student. They worked perfectly, and the moms loved them!

Here's an idea I've been working on to make with my students this year. I've pretty much ruled it out though; there's too much detail in these for their little hands. I may make some for myself, though.

2009-11-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Check out this great blog. There is a great surprise if you end up visiting!

http://urbanswank.blogspot.com/

2009-11-18T23:45:00.001-08:00

Oops. Here's a card I made a while back that I forgot to post...........

2009-11-18T23:23:00.001-08:00

Here's a great way to brighten Christmas for kids who will have to spend this special day in the hospital. Kate McRae (of Cards for Kate fame) and her mom are hosting a donation drive for patients and families that will be spending their holidays in the hospital. You can find the details here. I know I'll be sending in lots of items. What a fun, easy way to spread the holiday spirit!

2009-11-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a banner I made for a friend's kid's birthday party. These are the in progress pictures where I was testing out color combinations; I'll post the completed project when she sends me the pics. I used a chipboard album I bought in the dollar section of Michaels, and I cut my letter and background with my Making Memories Slice. I ended up loving the results, and I'm considering making a video tutorial soon.

Patterned papers by Basic Grey, Eskimo Kisses. Hero Arts Christmas tag stamp set.

Stamps by Hero Arts, Poinsettia Bloom, Floral Plate, Dots and Flowers.

Here are two Christmas cards I entered in the Hero Arts glitter challenge for last week. I didn't have tons of time to create, but I'm happy with the results. Thanks for stopping by!

2009-11-14T17:38:00.001-08:00

Checking in really quickly to let you know about a great giveaway over at http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/2009/11/papilio-and-some-sweet-stuff-for-you.html

The drawing will be tomorrow at midnight, so you still have time to enter!

New Christmas Card

2009-10-31T21:23:00.001-07:00

Stamps by Hero Arts: Dots and Flowers, Flourish Trio, Outline Bold Flourish. Letter stickers by Making Memories.

I was inspired by a scrapbook page in the recent issue of CK. I stamped a sheet of white cardstock with three different stamps and then embossed them in clear. I then punched squares out of the images and rounded two of the corners. I pressed the edge into my embossing pad and covered it in gold embossing powder for the cap. The circles were made from 20 gauge wire and attached to the back. I chose this picture because the shadows show that they are adhered with foam dots. I wanted to keep the background on this one simple, but I have some similar ones in the works..... Thanks for looking :)

My last cards for Kate and Eric's families

2009-10-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

Here are the last of my cards for the Card for Kate and Eric card drives. I'm not sure if they'll get to Cincinnati on time, but that's ok. It was a great feeling sending these cards off today. It was such an easy but important gesture. The drive was a great way to introduce these two beautiful children to people all over the world. Their little faces are an image I will never forget. What a great experience overall!

Cards for Eric

2009-10-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a card I made for Eric's mom for the Cards for Eric Card Drive. I used the paper tearing technique from the Hero Arts blog.

2009-10-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the cards I made this weekend. I am donating them to the Cards for Gavin drive: http://www.johwey.com/2009/10/12/hope-for-gavin/

Butterfly thanks

2009-10-16T16:21:00.001-07:00

Butterfly thanks, originally uploaded by pandabear1981/ Amanda H.

Here's a quick card I made for a friend who did me a huge favor today. Something is missing from it, but I'm not sure what. I've recently realized that I would have a much easier time taking pictures of my cards if I didn't work until dark on most days :)

2009-10-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

Here's another card I made using a new Hero Arts stamp. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this when I ordered it, but I knew I liked the image. I'm so glad I ended up ordering it, because it is absolutely beautiful when it's embossed!

2009-10-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

I created a Christmas card today using one of my new favorite stamps. This stamp is such a perfect image to me. I pieced each of the ornaments separately, glittered them, and covered them in Diamond Glaze. I used Distress Ink in Broken China on the background.

New Cards

2009-10-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

Here are two new cards I made this week. One is for my mom's A.P., the other if for Eric's sister (from the Cards for Eric card drive).

2009-09-27T23:23:00.001-07:00

My last photocard for the week, but I have a feeling they will become part of my repertoire.

2009-09-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Leah and Jared's anniversary is coming up, so I tried making them this photo card. I like the way it turned out, and it's also got me thinking about new ways to improve the card. The process was very inspirational.

2009-09-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

Warning- For the next few months, prepare to see lots and lots of Christmas-related imagery. In my family, we take Christmas preparations very seriously. Here's a small preview of the oncoming festivities:

2009-09-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

Christmas is officially on my mind. This week's challenge at Hero Arts was to create a card using a technique we have recently learned. I decided to combine three- windows, shaped cards, and coloring accents to suit my purpose.

That ended up taking most of my weekend, but only because it was my first time creating this type of card. If I were to be crazy enough to mass produce them, I know I could get the time way down.

Anyway, I'm happy with the end result, but I plan on trying this again. I had to get VERY creative with my stamps, because I don't have any actual candy stamps!

Here's what I used:

The tree, message inside, and the blue "candies" are from the Merriest Wishes stamp set. (The candies are just the round part of the ornament cut in half.) The candy canes are from the Cozy Moments set. I stamped them in white Staz-On on transparency so that I could have them going both directions. The holly leaf is from a set of Christmas Tag stamps that I don't know the name of. The red and green half-circle "candies" are from the Hello Circles set, embossed in white and cut in half. The gumdrops are also from the Hello Circles set. I stamped the dotted stamp, embossed it in transparent glitter, and then cut a gumdrop shape. The door is also from the Hello Circles set. The shutters on the window are from (just a portion of) the Big Candles stamp set. The smoke is the cloud stamp from the Sky's the Limit set. The lower portion of the house is stamped with the Raindrop background in Versamark ink. The white trim is glittered with clear glitter. The "doorknobs" are also something I've recently learned- Coloring pearls with permanent pens to alter their colors. The final technique I've recently learned is how to make "windows" using transparency.

2009-09-15T22:07:00.000-07:00

K & Company paper, Hero Arts stamps: Circular Designs, Hello Circles, and Dots and Flowers. The letters are inked with DewDrop Brilliance ink. Martha Stewart punch border.

This page was a total departure for me. I never reach for most of these colors, and I surely never combine them. That's why I like the Hero Arts challenges so much. They take me out of my comfort zone, and I usually end up learning something new in the process.

I love my Big All Time Greetings Stamps!

2009-09-10T23:27:00.001-07:00

Hero Arts Heart Winged butterfly, Dots and Flowers, and Big All Time Greetings.

Inkadinkado stamp stamped repeatedly for the background, Big All Time Greeting (Hero Arts), and Dots and Flowers (HA). Translucent pearl embossing powder.

I was looking through my pics recently, and I noticed that most of my newest cards have included the Big All Time greetings clear stamp set from Hero Arts. I love that it's so impactful, and it can be casual or more elegant looking. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my most used stamp sets.

2009-09-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

I forced myself to sit down and create a scrapbook page from some of this summer's pics. I was inspired by a sketch on the Hero Arts blog.

I have finally come to the realization that there is no need to scrapbook in order. This will make the entire process much less overwhelming for me!!

New Card

2009-09-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

My mom asked me to make a couple of cards for some coworkers. I just got my new Wallpaper Flowers stamp from Hero Arts. It immediately made me think of Mexican floral embroidery, so I colored it in with my watercolor pencils. I then modified my Heart Winged Butterfly as I had seen on this website: http://thedailymarker.blogspot.com/ This is clearly the best card I've ever made, and it was so much fun to create.

I'm a Hero Arts Winner!

2009-08-16T22:41:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, Hero Arts' weekly contest asked readers to find inspiration in something on their website. I looked through EVERYTHING a few times, and was interested in the idea of making beads using my HA stamps. The ones they made were out of polymer clay, but I decided to make mine out of chipboard diecuts. I "painted" them using an ink pad, and then stamped over that in embossing ink. I custom mixed some gold embossing powder with some PearlEx Pigments. I then coated the entire "bead" with Diamond Glaze. The final step was creating a matching necklace using my three homemade beads as focal beads.

Best week ever on Hero Arts blog!

2009-07-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

Hero Arts is promising that this will be a great week on their blog. They've done a GREAT job of hooking me, and I will be checking everyday this week to see what's in store. I'm also brainstorming like crazy to think of what to submit to the weekly contest. Check it out at least once a day this week!!!!! Don't forget to subscribe to them on twitter, so you can always be in the know!

Here's the link:

http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/

Beyondpaper Challenge on the Hero Arts Blog

2009-06-17T23:11:00.001-07:00

The dolls are stamped on restaurant magnets. I used restaurants that no longer exist, so the magnets were no longer current. I stamped the magnet sheet with Staz-On, then black ink. I colored them, and then sealed them in a layer of Diamond Glaze. I can't wait to use this same idea with some of my other stamps, specifically my Japanese dolls!

Making Memories 2nd Slice Contest Entry

2009-05-31T23:31:00.000-07:00

I created another project using my Slice. I plan on giving it to one of my students. I will continue to try other paper combinations and different shapes and frames. I think this was a good start.

DIY Coasters: Wedding Favors

2009-05-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

Last month, I won a blog contest on Style Me Pretty. I've received a great response to my project idea, and quite a few people have already made the coasters for their own event. So fun!

Follow the link for the tutorial.....

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/03/30/diy-coasters/#comments

Making Memories Slice Contest Entry

2009-04-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics from my entry for the Making Memories Contest. I ran out of daylight, so these are the best I could get. I'll try and add more tomorrow!