Happy New Year!

It's New Year's Eve and I've decided to usher in 2013 with another card featuring my favorite Winter image from Stamp N Plus.  After cutting out the circle with a craft knife, I used some lacy gift wrap ribbon to form the giant snowball following the guidelines on the stamp.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils.  A Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder was used on the background.  A pompom, a large rhinestone, some silver Stickles and some red ribbon with snowflakes complete the design.  Hoping you are celebrating the New Year and making a resolution to do some papercrafting.

Happy 2013!!!  Paulette Akagi

Winner, Winner...Chicken Dinner!

The Daily Window Bag Company recently sponsored a card contest and I was one of the five runner up winners of a bag of my choice.  The contest required submissions to depict a season and be sized to fit in the windows of the Daily Window Bags.  Winners got to choose any of the bags on the website.  The bag I chose is called "8 Days a Week."    

The Stamp N Plus Scrap N image was stamped on cream colored cardstock, colored with Prismacolor pencils, the iris fold areas were cut out with a craft knife.  Iris folding was done with pumpkin theme grosgrain ribbon and the center of the sunflower was iris folded with dark brown organdy ribbon.  Skeleton leaf embellishments are parts of a recycled earring attached with brads.  A Cuttlebug embossing folder was used to emboss the background paper.  Some of the pumpkin ribbon was also used to embellish the card.  The pumpkin stamp can be ordered from Stamp N Plus by calling LuAnn at 715-271-1873.  This stamp is one of my favorite images and I have used it to enter several contests and each time I have won.

Christmas PJs

It's Christmas Eve and Patti's Kids are all dressed in their Christmas PJs and ready for Santa's arrival.  These Stamp N Plus stamps can be found HERE.  I have used the set of 4 images but the stamps can also be purchased individually.  The gifts are plastic buttons with the shanks cut off.  I also used some rhinestone stars ans holeless red beads as embellishments.

Hope you are relaxing in your Christmas PJs and ready for a visit from Old St. Nick.  Merry Christmas from Paulette Akagi!

Cookies for Santa

Christmas Eve is just one week away and this little kitty is getting ready for Santa's visit.  Kitty has baked Santa's favorite chocolate chip cookies and has a glass of milk ready too as well as a note for Jolly St. Nick.

A Cuttlebug embossing folder with rows of ornaments was used as a background.  The image is one of Patti's Kids stamps and can be found here on the SNP website.  It is F2936.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I added tiny holeless red beads to the holly and to the green die cuts that were cut from a Cuttlebug corner die.

Hope you are all as prepared for the big day as this little kitty---take time out for a milk and cookie break too.  Paulette Akagi

Santa's Helper

Santa's Helper is a Christmas ornament or a gift tag I made using a doll pattern from the internet and one of the Christmas Kitty heads from a Stamp N Plus Patti's Kids sets of 5 Christmas themed kitty heads.  Each kitty has a different face and hat.  They can be ordered as a set or as individual stamps.  I used some sparkly DCWV paper for my doll and brads, a plastic snowflake and some Stickles as embellishments.  I will be featuring these stamps in my blog postings over the next few weeks.

Time to decorate the tree & wrap the gifts.  

Paulette Akagi

Just Rolling By...

This little fellow is one of my favorite Stamp N Plus iris fold stamps.  The stamp can be found here.  Instead of folded paper, I used lace for the iris fold.  The image was colored with Prismacolor pencils.  Stickles were used to embellish the snowflakes.  A Cuttlebug embossing folder was used for the background.  Have a great week!  Paulette Akagi

A Kitty Called Evergreen

Evergreen is a Christmas ornament I made using a doll pattern from the internet and one of the Christmas Kitty heads from a Stamp N Plus Patti's Kids sets of 5 Christmas themed kitty heads.  Each kitty has a different face and hat.  They can be ordered as a set or as individual stamps.  I used some sparkly DCWV paper for my doll and brads and some Stickles as embellishments.  I will be featuring these stamps in my blog postings over the next few weeks.

Take some time out this week for some crafting.  

Paulette Akagi

Cheer Up!

I was at a stamp show in Madtown last weekend and purchased this new die.   I used a Versamark pen to moisten the Honey Blossom die cut by Memory Box and then colored the flowers with Chalk-Ah-Lot "Rose" and "Lime" powdered chalks. I used an SNP stamp and a Versamark ink pad to stamp the sentiment and then colored the sentiment with "Rose" chalk. The lace background was made with a Martha Stewart Punch All Over the Page punch. The papers are DCWV.  The sentiment is from a Stamp N Plus set that is not posted on the store website.  To order the stamp call LuAnn at 715-271-1873.

Cheer Up---it's a new week!  Paulette

Meet Snowy

Snowy is a Christmas ornament I made using a doll pattern from the internet and one of the Christmas Kitty heads from a Stamp N Plus Patti's Kids sets of 5 Christmas themed kitty heads.  Each kitty has a different face and hat.  They can be ordered as a set or as individual stamps.  I used some sparkly DCWV paper for my doll and brads and some microbeads and a rhinestone as embellishments.  I will be featuring these stamps in my blog postings over the next few weeks.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day this week.  Save some Black Friday bargains for me!  Paulette Akagi

Stamp N Plus Scrap N Wishes You a Happy Thanksgiving!

Twisted Turkey---Front

Twisted Turkey---Inside

My Thanksgiving card front: This is a "Twisted Fold Card"---you can see a video on how to make this card here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhMJl_Mh8FY&feature=relmfu. The turkey is an original design I created after researching some turkeys made using punches on Splitcoaststampers. I used a rosette die to make the fan tail, a circle punch for the head and a tiny oak leaf punch for the waddle and the head tuft. The beak and feet were free-cut. I used rhinestones dotted with a sharpie for the eyes.  The 2 layers behind the turkey were cut with Spellbinders dies.

For the inside of my Thanksgiving card I used various layers of cardstock and designer papers and a Spellbinders die and a corner rounder. The "Thanks" stamp is an SNP stamp that is part of a set of greetings that I don't think is on the SNP website.  You can order this set of sentiments by calling LuAnn at 715-271-1873.

For more Thanksgiving Greeting cards using Stamp N Plus stamps, please visit the Stamp N Plus blog.  The designers have come up with some really fabulous creations for Turkey Day.

Thanks for stopping by...come back again.  Paulette Akagi

Meet Goldie

Goldie is a Christmas ornament I made using a doll pattern from the internet and one of the Christmas Kitty heads from a Stamp N Plus Patti's Kids sets of 5 Christmas themed kitty heads.  Each kitty has a different face and hat.  They can be ordered as a set or as individual stamps.  I used some sparkly DCWV paper for my doll and brads as embellishments.  I will be featuring these stamps in my blog postings over the next few weeks.

Hats off to our veterans as we celebrate today.  Paulette Akagi

Altered Mousetraps

I'm in an altered mousetrap swap.  It was a bit difficult to wrap my head around this concept but I came up a couple pieces.  Some of the hardware was removed from the traps and then I painted them with black gesso.

I titled this one "Mouseketeer Mona."  I gave Mona  a Minnie Mouse hat.  Added a miniature mouse trap  from my stash. I added 2 cat buttons and a tiny mouse button.  I also added a cat charm.

I titled this one "Bird Song" after the papers I used from the Graphic 45 Bird Song paper pack.  The lanterns are from the Paper Dreams Factory.

Hope you like my artsy traps.    Don't forget to vote today.  Paulette                                                        

Just What I Needed!

It's Puparazzo again---this time showcasing a Thank You themed stamp duo of image and sentiment.  It's November and I wanted to continue a Thanksgiving theme.  I stamped the image and sentiment on white cardstock and then Puparazzo was stamped again on some fuzzy velour paper and cut out and paper-pieced.  A bit of "Blush" Chalk-Ah-Lot was added to the puppy's cheeks and a white Prismacolor pencil was used to accent the eyes.  The umbrella and bones were colored with Prismacolor pencils.  I used the ribbon as inspiration for choosing colors for the bones and for the matting.  While this is an all-purpose thank you card, the umbrella and raining bones would make it a perfect choice for a shower thank you.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to vote tomorrow.  Paulette

Big Bird's Backup Plan

If you have been following the presidential debates, then you know that Big Bird is in fear of losing his job.  As a result, he's put in place a backup plan.  He's going to pose as a Thanksgiving turkey.

Here's a card depicting a prototype of Big Bird's makeover.  I used a rosette die to fashion the fan tail, a circle punch for the head, a tiny oak leaf punch for the waddle and head tufts.  I free cut the beak and legs.  "Thanks!" is a Stamp N Plus stamp.  It comes on a sheet of greeting stamps.  To order call LuAnn at
715-271-1873.  I used "Fizzy" Chalk-Au-Lot as an accent to the sentiment banner edges and to highlight the edges of the circle punch.  Yellow & white baker's twine, some red flower table confetti (Michaels wedding dept.),  gold rhinestones and googlie eyes complete the design.

For more cards using a Thank You/Thanksgiving theme and Stamp N Plus' line of powdered chalks, please stop by the Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe blog.

And no matter who wins on Tuesday, rest assured that Big Bird is working on some alternate gigs.  Happy Voting!  Paulette Akagi

I've Been Published!!!

Look at me!!!  I've been published in Scott Publications "Just Steampunk" Vol. 2, p. 76.  This is a duplicate of an ATC I made for a Pick a Theme Artist Trading Card Swap on Splitcoast Stampers.

Stamp by Stampington, bird sticker by Jolee's Boutique and paper from DCWV Tattered Time pack.

So exciting to see my name and artwork in print.

Hula Kitty in Green

Here's one of my favorite Patti's Kids stamps again...this time with a Green Theme.  You can find the Hula Kitty here.

I used some tiny flowers I cut from some ribbon to make the lei and added Stickles to the centers of the flowers. The grass skirt was stamped on green paper, I cut slits to make the fringe and paper-pieced it to the skirt. Punched leaves, a prisma flower and a green rhinestone were added to the bottom corner. I added Stickles to the palm tree.

Spooky Kitty

The kitty was cut from a scrapbook border I got at a used stamp sale---it's a die-cut of a velvet-like paper. Fence and grass are die cuts also. Moon was die cut from orange cardstock and edged with "Fizz" Chalk-Ah-lot from Stamp N Plus' line of powdered chalks to give it a "glowing" effect. A brad bat completes the design. Happy Haunting!  Paulette Akagi

Under Your Spell

With Halloween just around the corner, I chose to post another Halloween card this week.  I think that with the appropriate color scheme the stamp could fill a dual purpose and also be used for Valentine's Day.  Meet Puparazzo, another Stamp N Plus stamp.  He can be purchased as the puppy by itself (F-PP89) or as the puppy and the phrase (D-FF90).  You can find the stamps HERE.

I chose some lime green paper for a background and layered the image on orange to give the design a Halloween vibe.  The spider web is some ribbon I picked up on clearance after Halloween several years ago.  Green prisma flowers with orange brad centers were added as embellies.  The image was colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  Some Stickles were added to the steam arising from the ghoul-ash.

Happy Monday.  Paulette Akagi

Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the DT of Stamp N Plus has decided to post some Pink Cards to bring attention to the cause.  This little bear is a Stamp N Plus stamp that can be found HERE.

I stamped the image on some DCWV pink patterned paper and again on some DCWV brown paper.  I cut out the bear from the brown and paper-pieced it over the pink bear.  The dark brown on the bear was colored with Prismacolor pencils.  The stamp contains the guidelines to follow to fashion the iris fold.  To eliminate bulk I used a thin foil paper in dark pink and a text weight pearlescent light pink paper and I used the papers single-ply (not folded).  Some ribbon, a butterfly brad and some rhinestone blossoms complete my design.

For more "Think Pink" cards please visit the Stamp N Plus blog.  Thank you for stopping by my blog.  Paulette Akagi

Meet Iris, the Witch

Meet Iris, the Witch.  This is a Stamp N Plus iris fold stamp that can be found HERE.  I stamped first on some gray patterned paper from the Street Lace DCWV pack.  I also stamped the image on orange paper, added some color with Prismacolor pencils to the flames and cut them out and paper-pieced them  onto the gray image.  I stamped a third time on green cardstock and colored with Prismacolor pencils, cut out the witch, and paper-pieced her onto the gray stamped image.  I cut out the kettle and iris folded with some glittery wrapping paper using the numbered pattern on the stamp.  The bubbles are green holographic stickers, and like every self-respecting witch Iris is sporting a green Stickled wart on her nose.  The green paper is from the same DCWV paper stack.  I added some Halloween motif orange ribbon and mounted everything on an orange DCWV card.

Iris is brewing up a pot of Halloween goodness.  Thanks for stopping by---and before you ask, Iris doesn't share the recipe for her witch's brew.  Enjoy your week.  Paulette Akagi

Pumpkin Season

It's officially Fall and pumpkin season.  This iris fold stamp from Stamp N Plus is one of my most favorite stamps.  I've used the stamp two times in card contests and managed to win first place each time.  I can't find the stamp in the online catalog but give LuAnn a call if you would like to order it:
715-271-1873.  I used a pumpkin motif gross grain ribbon for the pumpkin and some dark brown  ribbon for the sunflower center.  The leaves are colored with Prismacolor pencils.  I added some oak leaf brads for embellishment.

Enjoy your week.  Paulette Akagi

Autumn Leaves

I just spent a week on a bus trip to Mackinac Island,  Sault Ste. Marie and Frankenmuth, MI.  The trip included a train ride into Agawa Canyon, Canada.  The Autumn leaves were at peak color and the leaves were spectacular.  Fall is my favorite season.  The colors have inspired this card.

My card for the Leaves Challenge over on the Chalk-Ah-Lot blog. I used a Versamark pen to "color" the puppy and then went over it with a Q-tip & "Dusk" chalk-ah-lot. The leaves were cut from yellow cardstock with a die (not sure which co.). I brushed them with the Versamark pen and then colored them with "Crimson" & "Ginger" chalk-ah-lot. The basket was not folded but the edge was dusted with "Ritzy" chalk-ah-lot to give the weave some dimension. The stamp is O-IR103.  A metallic gold gel pen was used to draw in the veins on the leaves.

You can find Bonnie's card for the challenge HERE.  And Cindy's card is posted on her blog.

Visit the Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe blog for more ideas and techniques using chalk as a coloring medium.

Spend some time today enjoying the beautiful Fall colors.  Paulette Akagi

Another Variation On the Christmas Ornament

This iris fold stamp was chosen as Stamp of the Month by the Design Team of Stamp N Plus.  You can go to the blog to see other cards made with the stamp---the variations are lovely.  The stamp can be found HERE.  The stamp is F-IR083.  

I stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  I used some gold florist foil for the iris fold.   The foliage was formed by a Martha Stewart punch.   The ornament border was created with an EK Success punch.  Red rhinestones were added as berries.  A red bow was the final accent. 

Not too early to start your Christmas cards.  Iris folding is a lot easier than it looks.

Enjoy your week.  Paulette Akagi

Iris Fold Christmas Card

This iris fold stamp was chosen as Stamp of the Month by the Design Team of Stamp N Plus.  You can go to the blog to see other cards made with the stamp---the variations are lovely.  The stamp can be found HERE.  The stamp is F-IR083.

I stamped with Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  I used some gold florist foil for the iris fold.  The poinsettias are from Prisma.  The foliage was formed by a Martha Stewart punch.  I added Stickles to the flower centers and "dusted" the Stickles on the foliage.  A red bow was the final accent.

Hope you stop by the Stamp N plus blog to see what else you can do with this stamp.  Paulette

I'm King of the World

When I saw this kitty pic on Facebook, I just knew I had to make a card for the Stamp Show Card Contest.  I used some stickers by Jolee, DCWV paper and the boy in the ship's wheel is a Stampland stamp.

I just love using kitties in my art.  Paulette Akagi

Sailing Away

My friend, Sandi, and I entered several cards in the card contest at the Milwaukee Rubber Stamp Event today.  This card won a 1st place and $100 in stamp show cash.  The stamp is an iris fold stamp from Stamp N Plus and can be found HERE.  It's stamp Y-IR156.  We used a glittery white organdy ribbon to iris fold the sail.  The paper is from the DCWV Fairy Tale pack.

It's Abby Again!

Abby is my favorite Ardith Trumpy stamp from the As the Crow Flies line of stamps that Stamp N Plus debuted this month.  Abby is stamp F-AT2.  I colored her with Prismacolor pencils.  I used a Persian Motif Spellbinders die to cut the doily and left the paper in the die and used a Q-tip and "Sky" chalk by Chalk-Ah-Lot to add the pale blue to the interior of the circle.  A dear friend crocheted the flower I used as am embellishment.

Have a great Wednesday!  Paulette Akagi

NY Fashion Week

Last week was NY Fashion Week so I thought I'd share another iris fold dress.  For this one I used some swirly blue, purple and silver florist's foil for the dress.  The foil is thin and folds easily so it is very easy to work with.  The glittered flourishes are glittered chipboard die cuts by Making Memories.  This dress is a newer design and not yet on the Stamp N Plus website.  It can be ordered by calling LuAnn at 1-715-271-1873.  More iris fold stamps can be found HERE.

Hope you are having a great Monday....Paulette Akagi

It's Abby---Pretty in Pink

It's Abby again...this time she's dressed in pink.  I think she's my favorite of Stamp N Plus' new Ardith Trumpy stamps which you can find HERE.

I used the Chalk-Ah-Lot powdered chalks to color parts of the image.  I colored the dress with "Blush" and also used it on the edges of the white cardstock. A bit of "Teddy Bear" was added as ground under Abby's feet.  The rest of the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils.  The Basic Grey patterned paper was embellished with Stickles.  The butterfly and the floral piece were cut from a K & Co. scrapbook border and I added some Stickles to them too.

Hope you are having a great week!  --- Paulette Akagi

Fortune Cookie ATCs

I in a Fortune Cookie ATC swap with my Meerkat friends.  The only criteria was to use an actual fortune from a Chinese fortune cookie as the theme and as part of the design.

As we commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, my wish for you all is Good Fortune!  Paulette Akagi

Meet Lizzy

Meet Lizzy, she's bringing her new doll to school today for Show-n-Tell.  Just in case it rains and there are puddles to jump through, Lizzie is wearing her new lime green boots.  Lizzie is one of Stamp N Plus' new stamps from the As the Crow Flies line drawn by Ardith Trumpy.  You can find this stamp HERE.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I added a bit of lime baker's twine and some lacey die cuts from a Persian motif Spellbinders die.

Have a Happy Monday...Paulette Akagi

Back to School

Stamp N Plus is debuting a new line of stamps from Ardith Trumpy. The As the Crow Flies stamp line consists of images of some of the cutest little kids. The images were colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. I paper pieced a small part of the background paper on the boy's T-shirt. Spellbinder dies were used to cut the circles. Glossy Accents added a shine to the apple. Tiny seed beads were used as buttons on the girl's jacket. This card features 4 of the new stamps and they can be found HERE. Happy Tuesday---Paulette Akagi

Jane's First Day at School

Stamp N plus is debuting a new line of stamps from Ardith Trumpy. The As the Crow Flies stamp line consists of images of some of the cutest little kids. You can find these stamps HERE.  This is Jane and she's all ready for her first day of school.The images were colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS. A Tim Holtz embossing folder featuring clocks was used on the background. I used Spellbinder dies for the ovals. I added shine to the apple with some glossy accents.  Buttons were added to the upper right to balance the design.  Alice is F-AT-6 and the school supplies are K-At-7. Happy Labor Day...Love, Paulette Akagi

Blog Hop Featuring Sarah's Scribbles

It's time for another Stamp N Plus Scrap N Blog Hop.  This month the design team is featuring the Sarah's Scribbles stamps designed by LuAnn's daughter, Sarah Ali.  I chose J-SEA004 for my first card.  I stamped first on a flower pattern paper and colored the handle, rim and bottom with Prismacolors; then I stamped the image 3 more times on white cardstock.  The little fairies were colored with Prismacolor pencils and the wings were glittered up with some Stickles.  The tea cup was made glossy with some Glossy Accents and mounted on pop-dots to add dimension.  The little fairies were cut out and also popped up on pop-dots.  The white lacey medallion was cut with a Spellbinders Persian motif die.   A polka dot embossing folder was used to dry emboss the blue layer.  I added some pale blue rhinestones for added bling.
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For this second card, I call "Sunflower Sue," I used I-SEA002.   I stamped her 4 times on white cardstock and colored the images with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.  I cut out 3 of the flowers and sculpted them on a mousepad with a stylus and popped them up on Pop-Dots.  Firefly Stickles were added to the fairy wings.  The large sunflower was cut with a Spellbinders die and distressed with Ranger Antique Paper Distress ink.  The brown & white polka dot center is cut from a Spellbinder die also.  Cinnamon Stickles were brushed on the flower centers.  The braided piece under the flower border was punched by an EK Success die.

Welcome to Stamp N Plus Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

If  Tina Keller (Crafty and Green) sent you over for a visit, then you are exactly where you are meant to be. If you just happen to be visiting, then you should head over to Stamp N Plus for the beginning of this fabulous hop! 

Lu Ann will be giving away 2 free stamps and to win these you must comment on the posts of ALL the design team members and you are also invited to follow Stamp N Plus Blog and the Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe Blog.

Now it's time to visit Jackie and be sure to leave a comment for each of the designers on the team.

If you get lost along the hop here is the complete line up:

Julie Ericksen - http://julesericksen.blogspot.com

Beverly Montez- http://sugarstamper.blogspot.com/

Bonnie Irvine-http://artfuldigits.blogspot.com

Melissa Pinter-http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com/

Kathy Hering-http://khering.blogspot.com

Tina Keller (Crafty and Green)-http://craftyandgreen.blogspot.com

Paulette Akagi-http://paulettesapaper-artzy.blogspot.com/---You are HERE!

Jackie-  http://papermoments.blogspot.com/

Cindy Groh-http://cre8ivecindy.blogspot.com/

Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe-http://chalk-ah-lot.blogspot.com/

Make Mine Strawberry

Strawberry DCWV patterned paper was the inspiration for this card.  The ice cream cone is a newer Stamp N Plus stamp and not on the website.  You can order it by calling LuAnn at 715-271-1873.  The die cuts are from Spellbinder and Nellie Snellen.  I used microbeads on the ice cream and for the cherry on top.  Ribbon and some rhinestones were added as embellishments.  Stamped images were colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS.

Have an ice cream treat to celebrate this new week.  Paulette

Surf's Up!

The Hula Association of the Midwest is having a workshop in Lisle, IL in Sept.  I am donating some cards as a fundraiser for my daughter's halau.  I used some Hawaiian themed papers from a DCWV paper packs.  The photo was repurposed from the index page on the back of an Hawaiian calendar.  Flowers are from a Carl punch and leaves are cut from a Cheery Lynn die.  Stickles were added to the flower centers.

Aloha, Paulette

Phoebe and Cat at the Fence in Red

 Stamp N Plus Design Team blog is hosting a challenge using Stamp N Plus or Stamp Affair flower stamps.  I thought I'd start this week with another version of this  stamp you could use to enter our challenge.

The stamp is called "Phoebe with Kitty at Fence"  X2557 and can be found in the Patti's Kids section of the Stamp N Plus catalog.  I stamped the image with Black Stazon ink and colored with Prismacolors and OMS.  I added a bit of Stickles to Phoebe's flowers and Kitty's collar.  

The flowers framing the lower edge were stamped with a stamp from stamp set SAS-520.  The flowers were stamped twice and the top set was sculpted on a mousepad with a stylus to give them dimension and attached with pop-dots.  The leaves were paper pieced.  The circular pieces were cut with Spellbinder dies.  Stickles were added for glitz to the flowers, leaves and bird.  A red organdy ribbon was added.  Designer paper is from DCWV.

Please click on the Flower Challenge link above and check out the other DT members' flower cards.  Enter our challenge to win prizes.  Remember you must use Stamp N Plus or Stamp Affair stamps.

Have a great week...Paulette