They're Here!!!

I love my UPS man. He brought boxes of catalogs just for me!!!!! Well, OK, they're really for you. Stop on by and grab one .... they're $6 each. If I am not here, they will be on the porch - honor system. Just leave your $$$ under the mat and all will be well with the world.

Have a fabulous weekend!!!!!!

~Tricia

Spiffy Stationery Box

I found a link to Jackie Topa's Stationery Box (HERE) and just couldn't contain myself (pun intended). I had to make it. It's not my fault. Instead of her cute tags that she added in one of the holders, I was forced to use chocolate. Can you blame me? This stuff fits soooooo easily!




Since it's relatively tough to tell what the box is really like when it's closed, I was compelled to take an open shot, too. Now you can see the chocolate. Don't drool on your keyboard!!!




I made four cards and four notecards to go inside. The little thingy on the bottom is for notes - gotta have a spot to jot down important stuff that comes to mind while the chocolate is still fresh! I used part of a Simply Scrappin' kit to make this project - the retiring Sunshine Garden from page 164, to be specific. The awesome part is that even if you are not a scrapbooker, these kits can be easily adapted to cards and other projects. The stickers are really hefty and fun to use (and won't fall apart in your hands or stick to themselves before you're ready to use 'em!).

If you are a scrapping queen, undoubtedly you have extra things like these living in your crafting space. Now you have a great use for all the extras - a form of recycling. Ain't life grand?!

May you have joyous time Gettin' Inky today!
~Tricia

Reverse Silhouette

When I saw This Card on Julie Buhler's blog, I just had to do it. Clearly, it's not my fault! Then, when she said to try it using Upsy Daisy, I felt it my duty to play along. So here's my Reversed Silhouette Daisy. Do enjoy!



The colors I used were Basic Black and the soon-to-be-gone Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red.

Such a fun and truly WOW-ing technique. Go get inky and try one yourself!

Have a beautiful day!
~Tricia

New Catalogs Almost Here!!!!

According to my email, Mr. UPS will arrive at my doorstep sometime on Thursday. Woo-hoo!!!!! He will be bringing several boxes of catalogs, all ready to jump into the hands of my favorite customers (you!).

For those of you who are Stamp-Camp-ing on Thursday, the down side is that Mr. UPS usually arrives in the evening. You'll be done here by noon. If you're planning on staying until he gets here, please bring lunch! I promise not to tell your hubby (I love you, Patrick .... you're not reading this, right?!?!?!?!?!)

Have an inky day!
~Tricia

Little Kid

So today was a little different than normal. We rescued a goat. Yes, that's a tad odd to read, I would imagine. But he was a little one and was walking along the wrong side of the fence on FM3405 (busy road). I had to stop. There really wasn't a choice. Kind of like mom stopping for dogs when we were little. No option available.

Have you ever tried to catch a baby goat? It's interesting. They don't want to be caught (at least this one didn't). But a TxDOT guy stopped and watched while I went to tell the rancher. Then Mr. TxDOT left and the goat went down a little shelf-thing and got wedged between that, the fence, a small tree, and some brambles. I got a towel from the back of the car and covered him with it. Seems that when he tried to escape from his home, his ear was severed. Yucky looking. No ear. Lots of dried blood. By the looks of it, it happened a couple days ago. Still icky, though.

So he sat on my lap and we drove to the rancher's place around the corner (have you ever tried to drive with a scared goat on your lap?!?!?).

Not his goat. Figures. We put him in the pen anyway and one of the mommas befriended him. Of course, one of the billys head-butted him. Meanie head. The farmer let Ryan and Kristen feed the whole mess of goats, which was way exciting. Not nearly as sweet as the ones in a petting zoo! The big ones continually biffed the others out of the way, and I am surprised that none of the fence collapsed while we were standing there. Pretty entertaining!

That was our excitement for the day. What did you do?!?!?!

Cracked Glass

I think the Cracked Glass technique is quite striking, but I don't use it too often. That's the joy of Fancy-Schmancy camps. I can play with stuff I usually put off and leave in the To-Do pile. Then it gets me psyched to do it more!

This card is one we did at camp. To make it happen, you have to have Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE), which Stampin' Up! calls Glassy Glaze. Stamp your image, put VersaMark ink all over, add the Glassy Glaze, and then go emboss. Repeat until you have three (or 4) layers of glaze. You'll know you're done because the glaze will all the sudden be really really really smooth (and glassy!). Then pop it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. No kidding. The actual freezer. Once it's frozen, take your image out and crack it. No rules here, just crack it 'til you like it.

If it's still sort of gooey, stick it back in the freezer. It's gotta crack. Once you have all the cracks you want, sponge a little ink over the top (we used Creamy Caramel) and wiggle it into the cracks. Just brings 'em out a little more.



Have a great time with this project! Here's what I used: Friends 24-7, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Key Tag Punch (retiring), Bella Rose Designer Series Paper (retiring), Kiwi Kiss, Creamy Caramel, and Chocolate Chip ink and paper.

Happy inking!
~Tricia

Nice 'n Easy

Aloha and greetings to all! I love making quick and easy cards that look really spiffy. Enter Fresh Cut Notes. Ya get a package of 15 cards and envelopes for $8.95 that have been pre-flowered. Well, I don't know what else to call it. The petals have already been cut - all you have to do is punch 'em out. And, if you're into having a little tiny catalog spoiler, the new catalog will have some other AMAZING cards that are similar. That's all I can say for now!!!!!!! I LOVE being a demo and already having the new catalog in my hands. July first, here we come!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to the card. I was hanging out at (the very amazing and horridly addictive) www.splitcoaststampers.com and saw a card that someone sent through her Big Shot. WOW! I never thought of sending the Fresh Cut Notes through - what a great idea! It's hard to see the dots in this picture, but they're really there!



Do ya see 'em yet? What's that? You don't yet HAVE your OWN Big Shot?!?!?!?!?! Well, how 'bout if I help you out?! Until the 30th of June, I am offering all my customers a brand-spankin'-new Big Shot without paying tax or shipping. Such a deal! You can't get it from my online site 'cuz it's not a Stampin' Up! deal ..... it's a Tricia's Deal. Send me a note and let me know you would like one and I will make it happen. Happy day!

For the rest of the card, I used the retiring In Color Pink Pirouette. I even dyed the white taffeta ribbon to match. Feel free not to notice that I missed one end. So I am not actually perfect! The felt flowers are Flower Fusion Too (also retiring), and I am having SUCH a great time using my Square Rhinestone Brads. I like 'em more than the circles, but I don't have as many in my stash. Time to shop more.......

Have a wonderfully inky day!

~Tricia