Flea Market Flip - #2

I've committed to doing a quarterly series (personal challenge) this year. For this quarter (April - June) the series is what I'm calling Flea Market Flip. The idea is to find an item at a yard sale, thrift store, even out of the trash and use it on a card.... but the item needs to be something that was not created for the purpose of cardmaking or paper-crafting.

Today's item is a calendar:

Cost: $1

Found at a local thrift store

I looked through the pages 

until I found a quote to use:

The most important thing to remember about

exercise is to start SLOWLY... and then taper off!

Of course I thought the Penny Black Chicky Work-out stamp was perfect to use with the quote...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp: Penny Black Chicky Work-out stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red CS and Paper Studio Red Gingham and Black/White Big Stripe DP

Embellishments: Paper Studio Mini Brads

Travel the World - Week 16

This is the 16th week in my Travel the World personal challenge. Each week I am randomly choosing one country (there are 195 countries in the world) and doing a little research on that country. I then select one tidbit of information about the country as inspiration for the card I make.

This week's country is...

San Marino

San Marino is a small enclave completely surrounded by Italy.

Geographically San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe, and the landlocked nation also claims to be the world’s oldest republic.

San Marino is entirely composed of hilly terrain and has no flat ground.

The only countries in the world that have a smaller land area than San Marino are: The Vatican state, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu. Thus, San Marino is the world’s fifth smallest country.

In area, the country is one-third the size of Washington, DC.

During his presidency, Abraham Lincoln was offered honorary citizenship of San Marino, which he accepted wholeheartedly.

With over 100 unique sculptures in a small area, San Marino has some very amazing works of art, the most famous of which is the Lady of Liberty located in front of the city hall.

San Marino is one of the densely populated countries in the world.

There is just 292 km (181.44 miles) of paved roads in the country.

With no public airport, no trains, and no way to approach the country via boat, you pretty much have to come through Italy to enter San Marino. They did briefly have a train line. In 1932, a train line (which involved several tunnels, due to the mountainous terrain) opened that ran from the Italian city of Rimini to San Marino. Sadly, the railway was destroyed during World War II and never rebuilt.

In 2017, San Marino received the title of ‘Least Visited Country in Europe‘, after just 60,000 international tourists ventured here.

Mount Titano is a central focal point in the country and boasts 3 peaks. Mount Titano is the highest point in the immediate area and gives San Marino the amazing views it is known for, stretching all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Each of Mount Titano’s peaks holds one of San Marino’s three towers, Guaita, Cesta, and Montale. Montale is privately owned and inaccessible to tourists, however, you can climb both Guaita and Cesta on your trip to San Marino. They boast incredible views of both the surrounding countryside and each other.

San Marino has had the highest number of female head of state than any other country.

The piadina, a thin Italian flatbread, is a common dish in San Marino. Found in specialized food stands called piadinerie, the piadina consists of thin bread filled with cheeses, meats and/or vegetables or with sweet fillings such as jam or chocolate spread.

San Marino is known for the its Torta Tre Monti (“Cake of the Three Mountains” or “Cake of the Three Towers”), a cake of layered wafers covered in chocolate depicting the Three Towers of San Marino.

The last battle in which San Marino actively participated was in 1463.

San Marino depends on Italy for its defense as the country does not have its own deference forces. They however have a small military of their own but nothing to fight in the event of a war or dispute.

During the World War I, Italy, suspended all telephone connections with San Marino, suspecting that it could harbor Austrian spies who could be given access to its new radiotelegraph station.

Electricity in San Marino is imported from Italy via electrical grid.

Despite competing in 12 summers and 7 winter Olympics, San Marino never won a medal.

I decided to let this San Marino fact be the inspiration for this week's card... San Marino is the only country in the world with more vehicles than people. There were 1263 vehicles for every 1000 people in the country in 2010.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Unity All Cylinders stamped with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Paper: Recollections Black and Ivory and SU Pacific Point CS and American Crafts DP

Embellishments: Gina Marie Designs Glitter Enamel Dots

Just a Note

I'm part of the Creative Card Chicks group on SCS. Each month one of the members sends goodies to the other members and we all make cards with the same things. Kelly H is the hostess this month. She sent us a spring-themed kit. 

Here's what was in Kelly's kit...

Image and embossed trim - Cardmaking & Papercrafting Issue #168 Image designed by Jenny Ellory

Sentiment - Cardmaking & Papercrafting #165

DSP - SU Share What You Love

SU - Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight cardstock, Enamel dot, and ribbon

Recollections Brads

Martha Stewart Butterfly (from misc. paper)

THANK YOU, Kelly! I hope you (and the other Chickies) like my card.

I cut out the image with Nestabilities Circle Dies.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing of my own that I used to make this card was some cardstock - Recollections Black for layering and SU Pear Pizzazz for the card base.

Easter Greetings

Before anything else, let me wish you a...

Happy Easter!

Whether you spend your day in church (worshiping the risen Lord), with family (eating way too much ham and scalloped potatoes), hunting Easter eggs, crafting, etc., make this day a very special day! 

Sundays are always special on my blog because Sunday is the day that I get to showcase Victorine Originals/Raisin Boat/SumMore Fun stamps. Today is no exception... so, I decided what better way to do that than by making/sharing an Easter card. 

Except... this isn't an ordinary Easter card. Certainly not! This Easter card was made using a Halloween stamp set. 

Raisin Boat Canines in Costume

See that dog stamp in the bottom left corner, the one with the bunny ears? Well... I decided he could be used on an Easter card.

Am I right?

A little bit of Easter-themed designer paper and Springtime colors and it works. The Easter eggs on my card were actually fussy-cut from the designer paper.

It's fun to think of new ways to use our stamps, getting more value for our money. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Raisin Boat Canines in Costume stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Orchid Opulence CS and DP from the DCWV Stack 8 Paper Pad

Embellishment: Brad from an unknown vendor

Have a Fabulous Birthday

I love flowers - tulips and daffodils are blooming in our town, a sure sign that Spring is here! The trees are blooming, too - but of course, they aren't flowers. LOL!

Because I like flowers so much, I really like Eyelet Outlet's Stitched Flower Brads! They also come in a mini version, which is just way too much fun, but the ones I've used on my card are the larger size.

In the close-up, you can see the stitching!

Of course a card needs more than flowers, so I also used Eyelet Outlet Fancy Long Bling for some sparkle and pizazz. I also added a tiny bit of Skinny Washi Tape for a bit of boldness. That black/white just makes things pop, in my opinion.

Eyelet Outlet Products Used:

Fancy Long Bling

Skinny Washi Tape

Stitched Flower Brads - Bright

Here's the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Eyelet Outlet Products: Fancy Long Bling, Skinny Washi Tape, and Stitched Flower Brads - Bright

Stamp Set: Penny Black Sweet Wishes stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and White and SU Lavendar Lace CS and DP from the Authentique Micro Basics Paper Pad

Dies: Spellbinders Circles

VSN From Here to There

I had the opportunity to host one of the challenges for the recent VSN (Virtual Stamping Night) on SCS. The overall theme of VSN was From Here to There and my challenge was to include a road map on your card - either in the stamp, DP, embellishment, or even an actual piece of a road map. There is a time limit for VSN cards - they must be made in one hour or less - so I've included the time it took me to make each of these cards.

I made these two cards for the challenge.

Card #1

- it took 41 minutes to make it -

Card #2

- it took 43 minutes to make it -

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used - Card #1

Stamp Set: Stamping Bella Uptown Girl Melinda Has a Map stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Real Red CS and American Crafts Amy Tan Snapshot DP

Embellishments: Recollections Enamel Hearts and a Camera Brad from an unknown vendor


Supplies Used - Card #2

Stamp Set: MFT Going Places stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Pumpkin Pie CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Gina Marie Designs Enamel Dots

Stick Your Neck Out

Thursdays on the Cre8tive Play blog are all about The Project Bin stamps. I love designing for Denise, the owner/creator of The Project Bin stamps. She is always so kind and encouraging... plus she sends me these amazing stamps to play with. What's not to love about that, right?

The newest stamp set at The Project Bin is Love Your Shellfie.

There are so many awesome sentiments in this set! It truly was a challenge to decide which one to use first.

The turtle makes progress only

when she sticks her neck out.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: The Project Bin Love Your Shellfie stamped with Memento  Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Pretty in Pink CS and Pa[er Studio Big Stripe Blue/White and Paper Studio Multi-Colored Heart DP and other paper from my scrap file

Embellishments: Heart-shaped Brads from an unknown vendors