I'm a Blue Girl

For those of you who don't know me, I LOVE blue. Everything blue, from my clothes, to cars, and even to carpeting (my last house had wall-to-wall blue carpeting...so it matched everything I owned and hid stains really well!). So, I just had to change my blog template to be blue. Pretty, huh!

I just received my new Faux Ribbon set from PaperTrey, but my ability to play has been tampered by the fact that I don't have an acrylic block long enough to fit the ribbon pieces. I'm waiting for PaperTrey to get more of their gridlined blocks in stock so I can play to my hearts desire...but for now I'll just ponder the possibilities.

My birthday was a few days ago (the big 3-0!) and my wonderful hubby understood it was in his best interest to just give me some money and let me go wild. So, in a few days I shall be receiving the wonderful Cuttlebug and five embossing folders, plus a whole bunch of brads! I'm soooo excited. I've been debating on the Cuttlebug for months now, so it's really cool to be finally getting one.

Not to forget posting a new project, this is a Splitcoast challenge I did quite a few months ago. The challenge was to use a sketch containing a big circle. I actually don't have a cutting device that can spit out shapes, so I just used a bowl and then cut it by hand. I think it actually looks pretty doggone good for doing it by hand!

Materials all by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Love Matters (from the Winter Mini Catalog, keep your fingers crossed that it will be available in the new catalog released July 1st!!)

Cardstock: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Friends & Flowers Hostess Simply Scrappin' Kit, Silver Brads, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, Celery Stampin' Write Marker, Stampin' Sponges

Woah, I actually got tagged!

There's a whole lot of tagging going on in the blogging world, and it actually hit me. I was shocked! :-) I was tagged by Allison...or should I say Molly Ringwald. Check out her 7 things to see how she feels about "Pretty in Pink" and Andrew McCarthy...although Allison, I have to admit I had a crush on him too!!

7 Things about me:

1. I'd like to say I'm not a morning person, but that's not entirely true. I hate getting out of bed. Period, end of story. It doesn't matter what time of day...I don't want to get out from under my wonderful duvet AT ALL.
2. I'd secretly like to drive in a NASCAR race just once. Mostly to see all the cute boys, but also I'd like to drive that fast without getting a ticket, and wreck a car that I don't have to pay for.
3. I have my Oscar speech prepared. "I'd like to thank the Academy...for taking a chance on an unknown 30-year-old with no true acting ability or pizzazz and casting her opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. It truly is an honor." :-) Just kidding.
4. When I was in high school, I decided to get a job at Wendy's to work with some of my friends. I went through the interview, got the job, and received a schedule. I then decided I liked the food too much to know what actually goes on behind the counter, so I just didn't show up for my first shift. I never even called them to explain...I just didn't show up. Really callous of me, but pretty damn funny in the process. It's called denial, people! I don't wanna know they drop my burger and wipe it on the floor! :-)
5. I have a dog, a cat, and a guinea pig. Most people know that, but what they don't know if I absolutely cannot stand cleaning up the "deposits" after these animals. It almost makes me vomit to clean my back yard each week...so I've subtlely given that job to my husband. He doesn't do the best job on it...but at least I don't have to do it!
6. I want to be published in something. And no, I'm not a person who says, "I want to be published just once". No: I want to be published multiple times. I'm greedy. I want to be on the Design Team for PaperTreyInk because I desperately want to receive those wonderful stamp sets a month early. :-) We're already hearing how great the May 15th set is....I WANT IT NOW!!!!! Patience is NOT one of my virtues.
7. I've begun to develop a slight British accent, but it's only apparent when I'm with children in my school. It's quite sporadic though, and sometimes it comes out with a southern twist, other times sort of Jamaican, and then you'll get a Middle Eastern accent at the end. I really end up sounding like the guy on "The Simpsons"...I don't know the name of the convenient store clerk. That is my incredibly accurate British accent.

I've decided not to tag anyone else (I'm supposed to tag 7 other bloggers to post 7 things about themselves) because the tagging thing is going around so much and the women I would tag have already been tagged at least once or twice. :-) So I won't burden them with trying to come up with 7 more things, considering I had a hard time coming up with this. Not to worry...I'm sure someone else will tag everyone in the blogging world before long.

And amusingly, reading my first post, I'd like to state that I actually woke up at 6AM this morning ready to go! When I realized it was a Saturday, I forced myself to go back to sleep until 8AM. But still, that's pretty damn good for me! Now I have the whole day to do stuff! WOO HOO!

You have to love technology!

I thought it would be interesting to do the Stamping Top 50 sites, just to see where I would be. Seeing as how this blog is only a few weeks old, I didn't exactly have high hopes...especially considering two of my favs are #1 and #7: Splitcoast and AmyR's blog, respectively. Yep, I came in at 343!! We'll see how that increases over the next few weeks, as I've actually already had 250 hits on this site. I wish you all would leave comments so I know who you are! Also, send me an email if you'd like to link my site on your blog, and I'll do the same!

I haven't had many opportunities to stamp this week, as I've started another class for my Master's in Education. However, I did manage two swaps last weekend that I've sent off, and can't wait to see what I get back! The first one is for my Stampin' Up upline group, and we were supposed to do a full SU swap with a Mother's Day theme and using Designer Series paper.

I had a lot of fun doing this, as I love using Versamark to essentially "create" a craft ink. To do this, you first ink your stamp in Versamark ink, then immediately ink it again in whatever color you want (here I used Cranberry Crisp, which is unavailable in Craft Ink). Then you can use whatever you want to emboss, and I used Iridescent Ice to give it a little sparkle. I sponged the edges of the flower piece and roughed it up with the Cutter Kit from SU. And I love the Recollections DS paper from SU...so I finally used all SU stuff and had to FORCE myself to not use a PaperTrey set!

Supplies all by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks

Ink: Versamark, Cranberry Crisp, Mellow Moss

Paper: Recollections Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Cranberry Crisp

Accessories: Cream Organdy Ribbon, Cutter Kit, Stampin' Sponges, Iridescent Ice EP, Eyelets

The next swap was one I found on Splitcoast, and was a Mega ATC Technique swap. I chose to do the Glitter Window, which is a very easy way to give a unique twist to any card. To do this, all you need is white cardstock, glitter (I used Dazzling Diamonds by SU), packing tape, and a big punch (at least bigger than 1", unless you have stamps you can use that are small and precise). Stamp your image on the white cardstock, then color as usual. Punch a hole wherever you want the white image to pop through on your main piece of cardstock, then adhere the packing tape to the back of the cardstock. Adhere the white image to the back as well, then apply glitter to the front so it sticks to the packing tape. If this didn't make much sense, check out the tutorial on Splitcoast. Sometimes it makes sense in my head...and not so much on paper. :-)

Supplies all by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Doodle That, Warm Words

Paper: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Barely Banana marker, Certainly Celery marker

Accessories: Celery Grosgrain, eyelets, Color spritzer tool (barely banana marker on the barely banana paper), packing tape (obviously not Stampin' Up...hee hee), Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Them flowers are a bloomin'

Here in England, we have these amazing fields of flowers that look like goldenrods and they are blooming right now. They have a really unfortunate name...they are called Rape. Yep, that's the name! The interesting tidbit is that the flowers are produced for canola oil, and the fields are all over the place here! It's beautiful driving around though, seeing rolling hills of bright yellow blooms. I figured it would be nice to post a few pictures of the blooms that are in a field about a mile from my house. The only thing I can't stand about these fields is that the aroma is quite overpowering to me. Think of a beautiful aromatic bouquet of flowers in your house, and then multiply it by 1,000. That's the smell around these fields!

Challenges and more challenges...oh my!

I forgot how fun it can be to do the challenges on Splitcoaststampers! I actually had time yesterday and today to do the two challenges, due to the fact that the British educational system allows for almost three weeks as a "spring break" between the Spring Term and Summer Term. But, before anyone gets angry...keep in mind that we go all the way until July 20th! They break the school year up so there are nice long breaks throughout the year, and a shorter break in the summer for six or seven weeks. So I have to go back to work tomorrow...and I don't wanna go!!!





On to the cards. Yesterday's card was the "Try a New Technique" challenge, of which we had to complete a cool triangle card. It's a small card, but opens up to reveal a big inside as well. I love how mine turned out, as I finally had an opportunity to use some of my Basic Grey paper that I've been stockpiling over the last few months.

Materials:
Stamps: Green Thumb by Papertrey, Bodacious Jumbo Wheel by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Barely Banana, Whisper White by Stampin' Up!; Design Paper by Basic Grey
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Black Stazon
Accessories: Brads (embossed with Barely Banana craft ink), Blue Organdy Ribbon, Cutter kit, all by Stampin' Up!



My next card was for the Color Challenge today, featuring Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, and Whisper White. I love this combo, and it really makes the flower from the Doodle This set pop! It also was a great time for me to actually use some Stampin' Up sets, as I've been so engrossed in my Papertrey sets I've almost forgotten about the HUGE cabinet behind my table that houses all my Stampin' Up stuff. They were getting lonely. :-) I went ahead and preordered the new Papertrey set, Faux Ribbon, as well as some of the new ink pads they have recently started selling. I so love receiving boxes with craft items!! My husband might hate standing in line at the post office to receive them...but if I'm happy, doesn't that generally mean he's happy??


I did my own version of ribbon dyeing for this, as I was pressed for time. In AmyR's blog, she did a wonderful tutorial on ribbon dyeing. I did the "procrastination dyeing" job. I took a blender pen, dribbled the reinker on it, and then just colored the ribbon. It's not the best job, and the ribbon will probably be discolored shortly, but it was a quick fix for the hubby who was impatiently tapping his shoe because he wanted to leave and run errands. I'll definitely try Amy's dyeing for any future ribbon experiments.


Materials all by Stampin' Up!:
Stamps: Doodle This, Delight in Life, Fine Lace background
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Black Stazon
Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, Eyelets, Blender pen, Cool Caribbean reinker

I am not an Early Bird...

The saying is true that the early bird gets the worm. I had decided to wait a few days on getting the new Papertrey set, "Faux Ribbon", and now I'm paying for it. This set was so successful that it sold out in 36 hours!! To see some really awesome samples, check out Nichole's blog and the Papertrey site (click on Inkpad Gallery to see all the Designer samples from some great artists). I will continue to play with my other two Papertrey sets until the new one is available for purchase again. Seeing as how the girls will be unveiling a new set on the 15th of each month, I can honestly say I will be making a purchase on the 15th of every month.


And I have to support my local gals because two of the three Papertrey girls are from Cincinnati...have a cheese coney for me!!!


On a side note, my hubby and I are doing routine housecleaning and yard work today. My parents have been visiting from Cincinnati for the last two weeks, and they left yesterday. My school reopens for the summer term on Wednesday, so I'm enjoying my last two days of "freedom" before going back to the daily grind. Just a few interesting tidbits about the differences between American English and British English:

American...British
Hello...Hiya
Thanks...Cheers
Eraser...Rubber (too weird!!!!!!)
Temper...Strop
I'll call you...I'll ring you
Notebook...diary
Math...Maths (yep, it's plural!)
Flashlight...Torch
Friend...Mate

Also it's good to know that I have an accent, not them. :-)

Green Thumb

The image isn't the best...I'm still learning how to take a closeup picture of a card and translate the card into good visual "e-quality". The saying on the bottom, which was created by stamping first in Versamark and then in Cool Caribbean ink, then embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder, says "If friends were flowers, I'd pick you." How cute!

This card is from the other new Papertrey set, Green Thumb. You can see the entire set here. I really like this set, and am enjoying my relatively mild learning curve with acrylic stamps. For those who don't know about them, acrylic stamps are actually clear stamps that have a moderately sticky side that sticks to an acrylic block. To store them, you use empty CD cases, which allows for a small space in my cramped craft area. It also allows for the stamper to be even more creative with options, as I used with the flower on the right, choosing to bend the stem stamp just a little to give it character. To create the scalloped edging on the focal image, I used the Giga Scalloped punch and taped two punches together. I read how to do this on AmyR's blog, seen here. To give a cute glittery feel, I also added microbeads to the top of the planter. I posted a very unique story regarding microbeads here...which details how wonderful microbeads bounce, they blend in with their surroundings and make life a living hell.

What's even more amazing to me is the amount of stamps offered in each set! The Green Thumb set has over 35 different images, and the Butterfly Kisses set has 30!! A great way to get a bang for your buck!! Now, I'm in no way giving up my rubber stamps or straying away from Stampin' Up. I just really enjoy the change and broadening my horizons. I can't even wait to see the new set that is released at midnight tonight...check it out on Papertrey!

Materials:

Stamps- Fine Lace background by Stampin' Up!, Green Thumb by Papertrey Ink

Ink- Gable Green, Cool Caribbean, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, all by Stampin' Up!

Paper: Gable Green, Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, all by Stampin' Up!

Accessories: Brad by Making Memories; Eyelets, Cream Organdy ribbon, Versamark, Iridescent Ice EP, Microbeads, all by Stampin' Up!; Marvy Giga Scalloped Punch

Butterfly Pocket Kiss

I made this card for the Papertrey "Guest Star Stamper" contest on Nichole Heady's blog for April, using one of their two new sets to create a unique card. You can read about it here. I am really excited with how it turned out! I added Stickles to both butterflies to give it a little "pop", and secured it to the card using dimensionals. All cardstock, ink, and supplies courtesy of Stampin' Up!

Materials:

Cardstock: Cranberry Crisp, Sahara Sand, Designer Series Paper

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark

Stamps: Butterfly Kisses by Papertrey Ink

Accessories: Iridescent Ice EP, Cream Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals

I'm a blogger!

It's about time I jumped on the blog-bandwagon. A little profile:

I'm Jennifer Magreevy, currently stationed at RAF Lakenheath in England with my husband, Jason, who is in the Air Force. We have been married for 2 1/2 years, and living in England for almost 1 1/2 years. We have a dog, cat, and guinea pig. Essentially I live in a zoo. I'm currently teaching in a British primary school, which has enabled me to learn all sorts of interesting things about education, the English language, and British slang. Did you know their word for eraser is rubber? Boy did I have a hard time working that one into my regular vocabulary!

I have been scrapbooking since the late 1990's, and stamping for a few years. I became a Stampin' Up demonstrator in April 2006, and have recently been introduced to the fabulous life of acrylic stamps with Papertrey stamps...which are fast becoming my absolute favs! When I'm not teaching or stamping, I use my "spare time" to complete classes toward my Master's degree in Education. Oh, and I spend time with my husband. :-)

I hope to update with fabulous tidbits of my life in England, as well as my trials and tribulations with stamping, scrapbooking, and various other craft related fiascos. But I'm always having fun!