Thursday, January 31, 2013

Love Is In The Air Blog Hop -

Hello Friends -
I hope you have had a great week.

Welcome to Love is in the Air Blog Hop!

I love Valentine’s Day.  Though I am not always the pink and frilly kind of girl, I love how it brightens up these dreary February days.

If you came from Melanie http://afternoonscrapper.blogspot.com/ you are in the right direction!

Here's a little Valentine that I made this week.  I am loving the pattern paper in colors of candy hearts.


 
Sentiment {Tree House Stamp Set} * - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Pattern Paper - K&Company
Chipboard Heart * - Bazzill Basics
Doily Die - Sizzix
Glitter - Martha Stewart Crafts
Ink - Tim Holtz/Ranger
Corner Rounder - Fiskers
My Stash - Seam Binding that I dyed pink, Pearls, Scallop and Ribbon Punch
 
* Available through my on-line store - here


Lluvia will be giving away a grand prize {awesome!}, all you have to do is comment on each of the designer’s blog!  The winner will be picked on February 5, please leave your e-mail address.

Hi Ladies 
Here is the grand prize I will be giving away! <3
Designers in this hop will also be elgible to win!


To continue with the Hop {if you did not start at the beginning} please go to Misses Crafty - http://sweetbirdmemories.blogspot.com

Here's the whole hop:

If I am your last stop, thank you so much for hopping with us and have a Happy Day!

Happy Valentine's Day -
Mary -

Prep Work -

Hello Friends -
I hope you are staying well!

I am in 2 Blog Hops this weekend.

Just doing a little prep work this afternoon.  I stamped many Happy Valentine's Day greetings so I can cut them out while I watch Project Runway tonight.

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog -

Hello Friends -
I hope you are had a great weekend!

Something fun came to me . . . . the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog asked me if I would like to sponsor their "It's a Man's World" challenge this week!  Of course I said YES!!

Thank you for this opportunity!

Iron Gate Followers, please be sure to visit their blog, give them some love in the comments section and let them know you came from my blog!  Thank you!

Fantabulous Cricut Followers - Welcome!  Thank you for stopping by The Tool Shed.  Please let me know that you are here.

I thought I would play along too . . . and dusted off my Cricut.  {Side note:  My daughter saw it out and was looking at the cartridge box.  She looked at me and said, "Mommy!  You can make all of these things with this machine?!"  I know what I will be using my paper stash on over the next few weeks!}



Stamps {Weathervane Stamp Set}* - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
Chicken Wire Background Stamp* - Iron Gate Stamps
Feathers - Cricut Cartridge {Straight From the Nest}
Paper - Bazzill Basics
Pattern Paper - Echo Park
Ink - Versamark and Staz-On {Jet Black}
My Stash - Black Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Black Hemp Cord, Scallop Border Punch, Cardboard

*Available through my on-line store here {www.irongatestamps.com}

Happy Day to you!
Mary -

Weathervane Stamp Set
 
Chicken Wire Background Stamp
 



Saturday, January 12, 2013

Tuesday Trigger -


Hello Friends -
I hope you are having a great weekend!

I saw this Tuesday Trigger photo on Moxie Fab World and knew that I really liked the colors.  I love blue and yellow.

Here is my take on the inspiration:



Stamps {Fortune Cookies Stamp Set}* - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
Sentiment {Birdhouse Stamp Set}* - Iron Gate Stamps
Cardstock - Bazzill Basics
Pattern Paper - Lilybee Design and Jillibean Soup
Ink - Staz-On {Jet Black}
Button - October Afternoon
Ribbon - Simplicity
My Stash - Hemp Cord, Uniball Gel Pen
* - Available through my on-line store here {www.irongatestamps.com}

I wanted to add the raspberry color of the rug but did not have the right color.  The ribbon is velvet and the backside was the perfect color!  Though I cannot get the photograph to represent what I see.

I drew the cord for the lanterns . . . yes, I practiced a few times on scrap paper.  My secret . . . I laid out the lanterns and put a small dot where I wanted the line to be for the hanger and then connected the dots.

Some day when I learn how to sew . . . I would have stitched around the edge.  That is on my list of things to do for this year!

Happy Day to you!
Mary -



Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Lunch Box Surprise . . .

Hello Friends -
I hope you are having a great day!

So, I am a sappy mom.  It's okay to laugh at me.  I am okay with it.

I put heart messages in my kids' lunch boxes every day.  Why not?  Until they tell me I am embarrassing them, I will continue.

But every once-in-awhile I change it up a bit.  Because school is tough.  And a fun surprise with a good expectation once home is worth the extra effort.  Because they are my kids.  And take away Chinese is a win-win for everyone!

Happy Day to you -
Mary -

Lunch Box Surprise

Stamp Set {Fortune Cookies}* - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
 
* Available through my on-line store here {http://www.irongatestamps.com/}

Monday, January 7, 2013

Winner Day . . . Lucky Day

Hello Friends -
I hope you had a great weekend!

So sad to see the holiday season winding down and the kids are back to school.  I really do not want things to be "back to normal" like some moms were declaring this morning.  I say:  On to the next holiday . . . my favorite . . . Valentine's Day!

I love all of the pinks and loveliness of Valentine's Day.  But I like to make different and unique projects too.  I can't wait to share with you over the next several weeks what I have going on in my craft room!

Please enjoy another sample for the Fortune Cookies Stamp Set.  It has lots of dimension with the fringed gold paper and richly dyed seam binding.  I still like to cut out by hand what I stamp.  Yes, I have machines to do it for me too.  But I like to stamp a page of images and watch TV while I cut them out . . . my own relaxation therapy!

4.25" x 4.25" Card


The Inside of the Card


Stamp Set {Fortune Cookies}* - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
Cardstock - Bazzill

Seam Binding {Red} - Hand Dyed by The Purple Muse / you can buy it through Tammy's Etsy store here: Shop The Purple Muse {http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepurplemuse/}

Ink - Staz-On {Jet Black} and Tim Holtz Distress Ink {Fired Brick}
Fringe Scissors - Martha Stewart Crafts
My Stash - Craft Knife, Recycled Gold Box

* - Available through my online store - http://www.irongatestamps.com/



And now the winner of last week's blog candy . . .
 
Random Number Generator John chose the number . . . one!
 
Congratulations:
Cute card. I love the color combination. And I especially love the paper selection for the bird.

I'm already a follower.

Melissa
scraplady202@gmail.com
 
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a Happy Day -
Mary -

Saturday, January 5, 2013

New Stamp Release Day - Fortune Cookies

Hello Friends -
I hope you are having a great day!  As the snow falls I am thinking about Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day.

Please see my new Stamp Set {Fortune Cookies} and 2 Chinese Symbols Background Stamps - why two?  I just could not pick one to have made so how about both?!  Both Background Stamps have a repeating pattern of Happy New Year!  All stamp sets are available here:  Iron Gate Stamps


Fortune Cookies


Chinese Symbols Solid
Happy New Year
Chinese Symbols Outline
Happy New Year
My great friend, Tammy, The Purple Muse found this challenge . . . how perfect at Creative Card Crew!


Happy Day to you!
Mary -




Friday, January 4, 2013

Quick, Cute and Mass Produce -

Hello Friends -
I hope you are having a productive day!

It is still busy here with the kids being out of school and more birthday celebrating with friends for my daughter.  Ice skating was on the agenda for today.

I am a bit behind on my thank yous.  I have no cards in my reserve stash!  So the mission today is - use what I have and be Quick, Cute and Mass Produce!






Card Base - Folded note cards from Die Cuts With a View {DCWV}
Card Stock - Bazzill {White}
Cupcake Felties - Darice {I saved out 3 and am using all of the rest!}
Sentiment - My Handwriting Using a Uniball Vision/Waterproof Fine Tip Pen {Black}

I know, no stamping!  Sometimes you gotta get it done!  But I will have a stamp set {or two} this spring with my handwriting . . . so exciting!!

Happy Day to you -
Mary -








Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! Blog Candy!

Hello Friends -
I hope you have had a joyful and safe holiday season!

Here we are onto another year.  What will this year bring?

Here is a little cute card my sister, Stephanie, made using my Birdhouse Stamp Set!  {Isn't it sweet?!}  Enjoy!

I am still in the giving mood . . . BLOG CANDY!  Please leave my sister some love in the form of a comment and be a follower or become one by Friday night 9 p.m. CST.  I will give away a Birdhouse Stamp Set to the lucky winner!

Happy Day to you!
Mary -



Birdhouse Stamp Set - Iron Gate Stamps {my stamp company}
Red Pattern Paper for Bird - October Afternoon
Ink - Staz-On {Jet Black} and Tim Holtz Distress Ink {Barn Door}
Stickles - Christmas Red
Her Stash - Hand dyed seam binding {Red} / {Side note . . . I dyed that for her at least 2 years ago!  I am sooooo happy she finally is using it!  Because I can dye more of it.}

Birdhouse Stamp Set