Today was my birthday and since I don’t work Mondays and haven’t scrapped for awhile, I decided I would spend the whole day scrapbooking. I really wanted to try out my new Stampin Up! stuff so I did a few birthday cards for some upcoming birthdays, and I also finished off a mini album and did a super quick 30 minute layout.

My first Stampin Up! cards

This is my fall-back card style that I use when I have no inspiration to do anything new, but I always like how these “1/2 and 1/2 cards” turn out.  I used 2 pattered papers from October Afternoon’s Fly A Kite collection for the mats.  It was my first time using these papers, and I LOVE them.  Although the papers have a vintage feel to them, they are bright enough to match the SU Brights colour line (which is the only SU colour line I have).  I made the card bases from Early Espresso and matted the patterned paper with either a ribbon or a border-punched paper in the middle.  I used my new scalloped square Nestabilities (thanks Sherri!) for 2 of the cards, and my long scalloped rectangle Nestie for the other 2. For the square stamp I stamped the birthday stamp (SU Birthday Bakery) using a piece of tape to mask off 3 cakes while I inked the other three.  Then I removed the tape and stamped the first 3 cakes.  Then I repeated the process for the bottom 3 cakes.  For the rectangular stamps I just used the stamp as is.  The scalloped mats are Rich Razzleberry (as is the ink).  I coloured the images with an old set of SU watercolour pencils, which were given to me way back when I had never even heard of the company.  Here are some closer images of the 2 designs:

No Day for Just a Sliver

Eat Something Cute

Then I finally finished the Starbucks Card Mini Album I’ve been working on in between other projects.  This is a cute little mini made entirely of recycled Starbucks stuff.  4 of the pages are giftcards and one is a coffee sleeve.
Starbucks Card Mini Album Cover
Starbucks Card Mini Album P1-2
Starbucks Card Mini Album p3-4

Starbucks Card Mini Album p5-6
Starbucks Card Mini Album p7-8
Starbucks Card Mini Album back cover
It felt nice to finally finish up this one.  I used my Bind-it-all to bind it, and tied pretty ribbon to the edges.  I might add a few more final details, but this is pretty much how it will look when I give it to her.  I will then take it back to put the pictures in it for her in January.
As I was cleaning up my scraproom I came across a picture I wanted to scrap and I had a Sassafrass kit I had bought on Peachy Cheap back in October (the Amplify Collection 12X12 paper pad and stickers, letters, cards, etc. to match).  In less than half an hour, I knocked out this layout, which is pretty good for me. 
We Are 9 Going on 10
Obviously it’s a lot easier to scrap using all one collection, but even so, I was impressed how quickly this one came together (I’m usually a 3-4 hour per layout kinda gal).  I used my distrezz-it-all for the edges and wow- that thing makes easy work of distressing the edges!  I alos used lots of tiny attcher staples all over.  I used a piece of Bermuda Bay textured cardstock on the background (my first time using SU cs on a layout) and was amazed at how much sturdier it makes the whole layout.  I put this on a display stand without even needing a piece of cardboard behind it.  So yeah, I’m pretty much sold on Stampin Up!  Next on my list: the Subtles… gotta hold out until the new year though!
Mercy Tiara

Mercy Tiara

You may be wondering who is Mercy Tiara, and why the name? MercyTiara is an anagram of my first and middle names, Tracy Marie. I discovered this name in the 90's in grad school when we were all coming up with alter egos for one another in a lab one day. I've used it ever since, but you can call me Tracy or MercyTiara, or anything you want... just don't call me late for supper!