Punch Pals...Beate's WSC55

Happy Sunday! I don't know about you guys, but I have been super lazy today, like embarrassingly lazy! lol! The only thing I've really *accomplished* is this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #55. Can I get a shout out and high five for Beate's return?!! I know I'm not the only one that missed her from all that I've read.

I love long cards, so I really loved this sketch. You may remember my long envelopes from this Party Hearty card and post, and since I still have lots of envelopes left and love the color palette, I decided to use them again for this card. The finished size is 9 1/4" x 4". I love the way it turned out, but I'm afraid I won't be mass-producing it for Christmas this year! lol!

I mentioned I had some fun things planned with friends yesterday, so I thought I'd share a few highlights. While waiting for them to arrive at Zoes Kitchen (which was great, especially the cherry limeade!), I happened to spot a new paper store next door, Paper Affair. How convenient!! Imagine my shock when I discovered Patty Bennett stationery!! I knew she was popular, but wow!! *Edited to add: This was just a sample showing how you could custom order items, I just thought it was too funny that it was a paper product and it had Patty's name on it!

I found a few things at Junkadoodle, which I haven't unpacked yet, but thought I would share this interesting little piece of artwork with dolls' heads that I did not buy...creepy, but interesting...


Over at White Elephant, I *really* wanted this old scale, but at $62 I just couldn't do it. Sigh. It would look so cool hanging from the ceiling...


Now for my very favorite booth at White Elephant, I would buy everything here if I could! She has great taste and great style, lots of old school stuff, but it ain't cheap.





Okay, maybe I should go try and accomplish something else. Or not. Hee! Hee! Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe
Stamps: Punch Pals, Everyday Flexible Phrases.
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Holiday Happenings DSP, Real Red & Not Quite Navy Patterns DSP.
Ink: Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Big Shot, Go Go Alphabet, Small Tag Punch, 1/8" Circle Punch, Snowburst Punch, Border Scallop Punch, Kiwi Kiss & Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Real Red Button, Vintage Silver Brad, Not Quite Navy Brads, Stapler, Dimensionals.

Organic Outlines...with sweet butterflies...

Happy Saturday! I better do some stamping this weekend because my *stash* of samples is pretty much empty now! lol! I made this card awhile back (before my new stuff arrived, lol!) using the Organic Outline stamp in the background. The sentiment is a Tim Holtz, one that I love. Aren't those butterflies sweet? They are from Jenni Bowlin, love her stuff.

Hope your holiday weekend is off to a good start! Mine is...slept in until 8:00, finished the laundry, surfed a little, and now ready for some fun stuff! I'm meeting my former 3rd grade teacher friends at Zoe's for a little lunch, then off to some of my favorite antique/furniture/junking stores...if you're in Dallas check them out...Junkadoodle, Armoires & More, and White Elephant. Then tonight I'll be out to celebrate Lori's birthday from Tuesday...I'm not sure I'll be able to handle so much fun! lol!

Thanks for stopping by and all your awesome comments lately, especially on my three cards for Kristina's color inspiration challenge below. It was really cool reading how y'all had different favorites! Hugs!

Recipe
Card size: 3 1/4" x 6 1/2"
Stamps: SU Organic Outline, Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous.
Cardstock: Old Olive, Confetti White, Pumpkin Pie, GCD Studios Blue Liberty patterned paper.
Ink: Staz-On Brown, Old Olive.
Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, Corner Rounder, Linen Thread & needle, Dimensionals, Jenni Bowlin Butterflies.

It's baaaaccckkkk...Party Hearty!

I know, I know...just one more! I made this for my bff Lori's birthday on Tuesday but wanted to wait and post it once I knew she had received it. (Ummmm, yeah, it only got mailed on Tuesday, oops!) It is based on last week's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #190, which I wasn't crazy about first, but I ended up liking the way this turned out after all. And she told me she did too! lol!

Which reminds me...remember this card from the other day I made for a co-worker? I had like 15 people sign it and maybe 3 said it was cute. The others, nada! And no one was in shock or awe or exalted jubilation or even commented on the fact that I MADE IT! Can you believe that?! lol! I told the stamp club girls that I wanted to wave it right in front of their faces and hit them over the head with it and say, "No, you don't understand, I MADE IT!!" lol!

I really just say this to be funny, of course. I know the purpose of the card was to celebrate "J" and her birthday and it's not all about me and the card I made. *wink* You guys here certainly made me feel wonderful, though, with all your comments, so thank you and big hugs to you! But all this brings me to the point...I don't think that group is going to be stampers! lol!

Non-stamping related: I was in such a hurry yesterday morning that I didn't have time to tell you how awesome it was to see my old students on Wednesday. I happened to enter the lunch room as they were starting to eat, and oh my, I was swarmed by dozens of kids in the biggest group hug you ever saw! Then they waited patiently to talk to me and hug me some more and I got to hear about their summers, etc. I was just grinning all day long. I can't tell you how special it is for me and how grateful I am that the Lord blessed me and led me down this path.

Okay, enough talk, get out there and stamp something! Is anyone else excited for the holiday weekend? What are your plans? Stamping?! I hope so! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe
Stamps: Party Hearty Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP, Bella Rose DSP, Not Quite Navy Patterns DSP. Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa. Accessories: Crystal Effects, Chunky Sprinkles Glitter, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Half Slit Punch, Coluzzle Circle Cutter, 1/8" Circle Punch, Paper Piercer & Mat, Dimensionals.

Kristina's Color Inspiration #20

Happy Thursday! I really need to say "yikes!" because I'm running way late today! I started working on a card for Kristina's Color Inspiration #20 before Stamp Club last night (we had a BLAST, thank you girls!) and then finished up afterwords. I couldn't get a card I liked, so I just kept making parts and cards! These are what I ended up with!

*edited to add: You probably figured it out, but on the card above I stamped the large image from Organic Outlines on the back side of the patterned paper and then cut them out. To put adhesive on, I ran them through that Xyron sticker maker thing, it works well for things like this.




Okay, gotta run! I'll be back later today and tonight to check y'all out and see what you've been up to on your blogs, I got behind last night! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!

Even More Party Hearty!

Okay, are you getting sick of this Party Hearty set yet?! I was so tired Tuesday night (mostly from staying up until 1 a.m. Monday night because a nap messed me up!), but I forced myself to stay awake...no naps...and make a card! A lady in the office mentioned her birthday was today, so I thought it would be nice if we had a big card for everyone to sign.

I've had these bright, fun envelopes from Tuesday Morning forever (see detail below), so I designed the card to go with. I forget what size you call this long envelope, but I measured the envelope and then made the card 9 1/4" x 4". Since we don't have Kiwi Kiss & Baja Breeze markers, I just stamped extra party hats and glued them down over red hats randomly. Pretty simple card, I hope she likes it. Since I'm based out of the admin. offices now, this will be the first time these co-workers have seen my *crafty* side! hee! hee!



We have two different schools, and we finished testing the first one Tuesday, ahead of schedule. I knew a few of those kids from teaching summer school a year ago, so it was good to see them again. Today I'm super excited because we'll be testing at my old school where I can see *my* kids, who are in the 4th and 5th grades now. Can't wait! I also have another stamp club tonight, so it's going to be a really fun day!

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe
Stamps: Party Hearty Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP, Holiday Happenings Hostess DSP. Ink: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss. Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Paper Piercer & Guide, Photo Corner Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.

More Party Hearty!

Happy Tuesday! I didn't get much...any...stamping done last night, ugh! I am having the hardest time adjusting to the new day schedule this year. I think things will get easier today when I actually start working with the kids again, yay! I was dying to go see them yesterday, but I knew my presence would be very disruptive to their current teachers, and that first day is all about establishing order, procedures, etc so I stayed in the office and worked on other stuff (boring! lol!).

I made this little card, actually 5 of them, last week and...hold on to your butts...I MAILED them out! Whoo! Hoo! I've mailed around 15 cards the last two weeks, can you believe it?! Part of my new plan, mail cards and spread cheer (instead of saving them by the thousand!). I used the new Party Hearty set and matching Celebration wheel, as well as that fabulous Sizzix Go Go Alphabet die for the "hb". Oh, and that fabulous new Curly Label punch, don't you love it too?

Have a terrific Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by and spreading the love!

Recipe
Stamps: Party Hearty, Celebration wheel. Cardstock: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP. Ink: Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa. Accessories: Curly Label punch, Bashful Blue brads, Crystal Effects, Chunky Sprinkles Glitter, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Go Go Alphabet, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Party Hearty!

Feels like I should add a "dude" after that "party hearty"...takes me back! This "Party Hearty" is another new SU set that was on my first new catalog order that I started playing around with last week. I did not have one set that was just a "birthday" set, and I was always struggling for birthday cards, pulling birthday images out of other sets or being creative like this with Full Calendar, for example. And I love that, don't get me wrong, that's one of the great things about stamps, they can be so versatile. But I love Party Hearty and the matching wheel and am so glad I got them!

Now what about those large brackets? Do you like them? I used my Big Shot with the SU exclusive Top Note Bigz die to make them. I just placed a narrow piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock across each end of the die, then ran it through the Big Shot. Since the die has that perforated edge, it makes it very easy to "cut" the brackets out, and voila, super-size brackets!

The size of the card is a 4 1/4" square. A lot of times my square cards are 5 1/4", but they use the larger envelope and take extra postage. Here's a trick that I got from her stamping royalty, Julie Ebersole, long ago (yes, I'm obsessive and found her post from October 20, 2006!) to mail your 4 1/4" square cards in a regular-size envelope: Cut a coordinating strip of cardstock to 1 1/4" x 4 1/4" and slide it into the envelope next to your card to fill the dead space. Together the two pieces make a regular 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.

You can get really creative with patterned paper or stamped images to tie the small strip of cardstock into your design. Here I punched a 1/2" hole through the entire envelope, slid the cardstock strip into the envelope, then stamped on both sides of it using the gift image. (Okay, I messed the first one up, so used the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig the second time, doh!).


And that's it! I'm off to see the wizard, no strike that, I'm off to see the children, the wonderful children at school! (You need to sing that to get the full effect in your head!) I don't know how much I'll really get to see them today, but starting tomorrow, we're taking reading assessments on all students grades 2 - 8. Then we'll score, plot, plan, etc to determine the students we'll be working with intensively to help bring them up to grade level reading. Can't wait to start working with the students again!

Hope you have a great Monday! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe
Stamps: Party Hearty
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Bella Rose DSP, Summer Picnic DSP.
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Baja Breeze.
Accessories: Circle Punches (1 3/4", 1 3/8", 1", and 1/2"), Baja Breeze Designer Button, Linen Thread, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

August Stamp Club

Happy Sunday! It took me *forever* but I finally came up with some stamp club projects yesterday...just in time as the first one meets today at 2:00! I don't know what it is but when there is a new catalog with so many new things to choose from, I have the hardest time narrowing down what to show!

This first project I totally cased from Convention (I told you I was having trouble!), but I changed the colors and accessories around to use what I had available. I like my version, though, it's a great color combo from the Holiday Treasures DSP. It has a few new goodies, like the wide Baja Breeze ribbon, the metal filigree brad, and the "u" is made from chipboard & Bella Rose DSP with the Go Go Alphabet and Big Shot.

The next project I got the idea from a recent issue of On Stage (magazine of winning contest entries for SU demonstrators), but just changed the stamps, accessories, and design a little. I used the new Upsy Daisy stamp set that's on sale this month and the new Urban Garden DSP. For the floral stamp, we'll use a technique they showed us at Convention where you stamp the image in one color (here Kiwi Kiss), then use a Blender Pen to remove some of the color (here the Kiwi Kiss on the flowers), and then use a Sponge Dauber to reapply color (here the Not Quite Navy on the flowers.) It gives a softer look and works when you don't have a marker in a certain color (like here a Kiwi Kiss marker to color the stems.)

Okay, off to finish those last-minute details! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great Sunday!

Card recipe
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Red Riding Hood, Old Olive, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP.
Ink: Old Olive, Red Riding Hood, and Chocolate Chip marker.
Accessories: Coluzzle Circle Cutter, 1/8" Circle Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Filigree Brad, Stapler, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Baja Breeze Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Border Scallop Punch, Go Go Alphabet, Big Shot.

Hinged Photo Coaster Recipe
Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Urban Garden DSP.
Ink: Versarmark, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy.
Accessories: Chipboard Coasters, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Vintage Silver Brad, Hidden Garden white rub-on, 1" Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Blender Pens, Paper Piercer & Guide, Sponge Dauber, Baja Breeze Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Sticky Strip.

Kristina's Color Inspiration #19

Happy Friday night! I realized at 9:00 that I hadn't done Kristina's Color Inspiration #19 challenge yet, and it's due at midnight! (You know how I love imposing tight, *mandatory* deadlines on myself!) So, I whipped up this simple dimple card really quickly just now (hence the inferior nightime lighting, ugh!), based on sketch this: 63 over at the Sketch This blog. Gotta love those sketches when you're on that tight deadline!

The inspiration colors were Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, and your choice for the 4th, in a small quantity. I had that scrap of Baja Breeze paper from the level 3 hostess Holiday Happenings DSP laying on my desk, so I decided to use it. Plus, I could use one of the yummy new felt flowers too! And more Go Go Alphabet, love it! I was out of SU black gingham ribbon, but found that scrap in a ribbon bag, not sure where it came from, hmmmm.

Does everyone have big plans for the weekend? Like what? Do share! I need to work on some swaps and finalize (aka come up with!) some stamp club projects for Sunday. When I said that to dh earlier, this was his response: "You have 1,600 projects in there...I see at least one come out of there everyday...just use one of those." Gotta love him!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a good night!

Recipe
Stamps: none!
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Holiday Happenings DSP.
Ink: none!
Accessories: Big Shot, Go Go Alphabet, Flower Fusion Too, Pretties Kit flower, Black Brads, Border Scallop Punch, Black Gingham Ribbon.

Kazan's Sketch #7 with Sock Monkey

Happy Friday! I'm ready for the weekend...haven't felt like that for awhile! At the same time, however, I'm ready for Monday and seeing the kids again!

I got off a little early Thursday, so I had time for a nap and then found some *energy* to stamp! I had tried for several nights to work on Kazan's Sketch #7 over at 2 Sketches 4 You, but nothing had been coming to me. I had the Top Note piece cut, but never got any farther. I had the Sock Monkey part on my desk since last month, then I saw the apple paper scrap, and since I've had *school* on my mind...ta da...an idea came to me!

Don't look too closely at the stitching around the edge, ugh! I tried to use my cheap litle sewing machine and didn't notice until finished that the thread wasn't even going through after half-ways, so I pulled the rest of the thread out and was left with just holes. I liked the empty holes okay, but they didn't show up very well, so I just used the white gel pen to make the "faux" stitches.

Don't you love the letters from the Sizzix Go Go Alphabet?! I've used them a few times now and love them! Here's the cool container it comes in and there's more empty slots in the back to store more dies in:


Okay, that's it for now! Hope you have a great Friday! Thanks for stopping by!

Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Sock Monkey, My ABCs wheel.
Cardstock: Old Olive, Confetti White, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Going Gray.
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Border Scallop Punch, Clips Assortment, Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Go Go Boots Alphabet Die, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Rub-Ons, anyone? Hidden Garden...

Happy Thursday! It's almost Friday, yahoo! I have to say first thing, thank you for all of your amazingly sweet, nice, thoughtful comments recently! I can't tell you how much I look forward to reading them, especially during this difficult, transitional, back-to-work phase! lol! So big hugs to all of you...

On to the card...I mailed this out last week to a wonderful online friend and personality (if you know her, you know what I mean!), Rose Kerry, because she organized a fabulous shoebox swap for us at Convention. She's one of the most thoughtful, generous people you'll ever meet and a total hoot to boot! Love ya, Rose!

It's another simple dimple card, but you know I like those! The base is Kraft cardstock, then I used a Chocolate Chip rub-on from the new Hidden Garden and an *r* from the On Board Loads of Letters. At Convention, we got 2 full sheets of extra rub-ons and a full sheet of chipboard letters for our Make & Take projects, which is always a nice perk!

Two random, non-stamping things:
1. Have you seen the Ped Egg? They are fabulous, I'm talking miracles here! You have to get one! They're at Target, Walgreens, etc.
2. Go see the movie Tell No One, it's so stinkin' good, very Hitchcock like!

Okay, ta-ta for now! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: All Holidays Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP. Ink: Staz-On Brown. Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Hidden Garden Rub-ons, Vintage Brad, On Board Loads of Letters.

Eastern Blooms FS80 Challenge

Happy Wednesday! Man, am I ready for the weekend or what? lol! I came home from work Tuesday very tired and grouchy! My ADD makes it very hard for me to sit in trainings all day, plus it's like 10 degrees below zero with the air-conditioning, and I'm freezing to death! I think I'm going to suggest we do some make and takes...I need to do something with my hands and be creative! lol! Okay, enough whining...sorry!

I made this card Sunday night for the Featured Stamper #80 challenge over at Splitcoast. This week the featured stamper is the super sweet and talented Jessica Rone. I chose this card of hers to copy, and I changed the colors and the stamp set. I also did not add that cute row of brads around the bottom...I tried, but the *cheapness* in me just wouldn't let me do it! I kept imagining them at the bottom of someone's trash can! I was already taking deep breaths using this much cardstock! Girlfriend is not stingy with her layers! lol! They look beautiful, though, and whoever gets this card will know they are very well loved by me! *wink*

A few details...the finished size is 4" x 9". Don't you love these colors together? I wanted to use my new hostess collection Print Patterns paper, so I looked at my SU color wheel and pulled this color combo out: Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, and Bashful Blue (it also listed Close to Cocoa which I didn't get worked in there.) That color wheel comes in handy sometimes! Also, I wanted to glue the beads on the Eastern Blooms flowers like we did on this Convention make and take, but I didn't have any beads, so I used the Bashful Blue brads instead.

Hope everyone is okay out there with these crazy storms, let us know how you're doing in your part of the country! Thanks for stopping by!

Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Eastern Blooms Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, & Not Quite Navy Print Patterns DSP. Ink: Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy. Accessories: 1" Blue Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Bashful Blue Brads, Dimensionals.

Curly Label & Top Note

Happy Tuesday! So I gave you a break yesterday from the Top Note Bigz die, but it's baaccckkkk! lol! I actually made this card for one of my bestest friends and downline Asha's birthday (which is the same day as mine-way different year though!) last week. Yes, I was way late sending her card and gift, but she always forgives me! She received it yesterday, so I'll go ahead and post it now. (You may remember her beautiful new baby Maya from here.)

Anyway, this was my first attempt using the fabulous new Curly Label stamp and punch set. Oh my word, love it!! I also used my new Celebration wheel, and I have to tell you, I just put the wheel down and rolled and it turned out perfectly in the middle like that!! Can you believe it?!

Then I used the Party Hearty set by first inking the "party" with a Chocolate Chip marker and then stamped in the oval, and it turned out perfect! Can you believe it?! Well, at this point, I was 2 for 2, so when I went to stamp the word "hearty"...I got out the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig...I figured there was no way I could get lucky 3 times!

I survived my first day back to work, thank you for your well wishes! I won't even say back to "school" yet because it's just meetings this week. It will feel like "school" next week when the kids come back. It was really weird not fixing up "my classroom" this year and even worse seeing the new teacher's stuff in "my old classroom"! lol! But the new administration seems great, lots of good stuff going on, so I'm getting really excited!

Also...note to Michelle from yesterday's post...I made those cards one night LAST WEEK from 12:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m....NOT Sunday night before I had to go back to work! lol! I was a good girl and went to bed at 11 a.m. Sunday night. Believe me, that's the earliest I've been to bed since last May! lol! And I still managed to get up at 5 a.m. and walk 2 miles on the treadmill, today too!

Okay, enough of me rambling on...I have more important meetings to get ready for! Thanks so much for stopping by! I really do love our time together! *wink*

Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Cute & Curly, Party Hearty, Celebration wheel.
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Library Clip, Curly Label Punch, Blender Pens, Dimensionals.

Flight of the Butterfly Trio & RAK

So, last Tuesday night, the night before my new catalog order arrived, I had not been feeling creative all day and had made nothing! ugh! So I gave myself another catalog challenge: to make 3 cards using the same set and the colors from the Sweet Always DSP: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Pumpkin Pie, and Chocolate Chip.

I gave myself this challenge at 12:30 a.m., and you can see how the cards got even more simple and boring as I was getting tired by the time I finished the last one at 2:30 a.m. But I would not let myself go to bed without completing the challenge, lol!

Here is the first card I made, my favorite. It's simple, but I like the ribbon charm.


This is the second card I made, pretty darned simple.


And the last one, I'm not sure what I was thinking by this point, lol! What's with the 3 little holes on the side? I think I saw that somewhere in the catalog and liked it, then I had an idea and it didn't work (can't remember what it was now!), so I just left them there. Hello, maybe I should have splurged and cut a new Pink Pirouette card! lol!


Now for a much cuter Flight of the Butterfly card, here is a wonderful belated BRAK I received from Becky Carafa. I love Becky's style, check her out at the lakeshore stamper.


Now I feel like I should start singing: Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go...! Wish me luck...and lots of caffeine...on my first day back to school!

Thanks for stopping by? Have you stamped something today?

Bella Blossoms SC189

Happy Sunday! Here's another Bella Blossom (this is it for awhile, I'll change to another set for tomorrow!) card I made for the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #189. It gave me another chance to use the Top Note Bigz die, so I couldn't resist! lol! I did break out the new GoGo Alphabet die for a project last night, it's way fun!

I used the Parisian Summer DSP, it's so pretty and girly! At first I poked holes in the plaid paper, but they didn't show up at all, so I turned it over and poked again from the back side to make them more noticable. If I had a Janome Mini, I would have sewed around the edge, sigh. lol! For the flower image, I stamped it in Bravo Burgundy craft ink, then covered with Heat & Stick Powder, heat embossed, then poured on the Dazzling Diamonds glitter. This close-up shows the sparkle better:


Did y'all catch that great night of Olympics last night? Besides Michael Phelps, obviously, it was a great night for the *old girls*...the 41 year old Dara Torres for swimming and the 38 year old Romanian marathon runner, Constantina Tomescu-Dita. Go old girls!

Okay, better dash, this old girl has lots to do! It dawned on me that I'll have to do the laundry and housework today! yikes! I got in the habit of doing those on Monday, so dh and I could enjoy a relaxing weekend. Those days are over! lol!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Bella Blossoms
Cardstock: So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Parisian Summer DSP
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, White & Vanilla craft.
Accessories: Heat & Stick Powder, Heat Gun, Dazzling Diamonds, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Paper Piercer & Guide, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Cutters Tool Kit, Dimensionals, Glue Dot.

LSC181 Think Snowman with Top Note

Happy Saturday! Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Thanks for all your super nice comments on yesterday's cards, I appreciate it! I received several questions about the Top Note Bigz die, so I thought I would show another one with a few more how-to pictures. (It's overcast today, so the pictures aren't great, sorry!)

I made this card for the Splitcoast Limited Supply Challenge 181, which was to make a card with a snowman. I love this little snowman from the SU Merry & Bright set from last year's Winter Mini Catalog and was so glad it made it into the big new catalog! I colored the snowman white by dipping a blender pen in the white craft ink, love that technique.

About the Top Note Bigz die, it is an exclusive SU design for the Big Shot Sizzix die-cutting machine. The size is approximately 3 3/4" x 4 3/4". It, along with the lots of other dies and the Big Shot machine, will be available for customers to purchase on September 2. Your local SU Demo can email you the brochure of available products if you're interested. If you don't have a SU Demo, email me and I'll be happy to send it to you.

To make the card, start with a basic card cut the tall way at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2", like this:
Then place the card on the die so that the top edge of the card is scooted a little bit down inside the die. When it comes out, you'll cut along the perforations of the scooped in part like shown in the picture. After I took the picture, I sanded the rough edges and the top curves to smooth them out a bit. The finished card size comes out to approximately 4 1/2" x 3 3/4".

That's it, easy peasy! Let me know if you have any more questions!

Oh, here's my funny from dh today...while watching the Ebby Halliday home show this morning, it says that this featured home has "surround sound" and dh's response to me: "The only surround sound you have is me jumping back and forth yelling at you." Ain't it the truth! lol!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a super weekend!

Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Merry and Bright
Cardstock: Kraft, Red Riding Hood
Ink: Staz-On Brown, Craft White
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz die, 1 3/4" Cirlce Punch, Mini Library Clip, Red Riding Hood Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Blender Pen, Dimensionals.

Bella Blossoms & Top Note Bigz Die

Happy Friday! It's my last Friday of summer vacation, can't believe it! I sure have enjoyed my stamping time! On to the cards...last night while watching the Olympics I decided to use the new Bella Blossoms set and play with the SU exclusive Top Note Bigz die that works in the Big Shot. I am so loving this thing!

I wanted to show some different ways to use the Top Note die than I showed yesterday with the chandelier card. For the above card, I used the die to make the whole card! I had seen this great idea on Debbie Olson's blog here where she did it with the Nestabilities. I was hoping it would work with the Top Note die and it did! You just place your folded card on the die, but leave the top of the card scooted down a bit inside the die, so that it doesn't cut the whole thing out. The part left on top that didn't get cut is still scored, so it opens like a regular card. Cool, huh?

For the next card below, I used the same Bella Blossom in white craft ink on Red Riding Hood, but I cut the die piece down to fit the card. So you don't have to use the whole die shape on your card, you can still show those great curvy sides. I did this so it worked perfectly for Laura's Sketch #6 over at 2 Sketches 4 You. If you haven't participated yet, run over there now and do it!! The prize this week is a Scor-It Mini with a Tote Bag!


Hope you enjoyed these today! I have lots more stamping in me that I have to get out before next Monday! lol!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Recipe Card 1
Stamps: Bella Blossoms
Cardstock: Red Riding Hood
Ink: Craft White
Accessories: Red Riding Hood Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots.

Recipe Card 2
Stamps: Bella Blossoms, All Holidays
Cardstock: Red Riding Hood, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rose DSP.
Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Border Scallop Punch, Silver HPH, Red Riding Hood Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots

Grand Soiree Trio

Happy Thursday! Thought I would show you really quickly the "fruits" of my stamping last night! The first new set I used had to be Grand Soiree, mmmmmm! I've wanted a chandelier set for so long! For this *trio* I paired it with the colors from the Parisian Summer DSP: Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, and Sahara Sand (except I never used the last two colors, oops!).

What I love about this chandelier is that it can have to so many looks. It can be elegant or French Country, as I tried to show in these cards. But, I can also see it going funky and modern, a bit Andy Warholeque even, so that will be my next attempt.

This card below is my first *elegant* version. I stamped the chandelier in Bravo Burgundy craft ink and heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. This was a push for me and my normally simple style, I just kept trying to add stuff. Of course, dh said it was "very busy", but I assured him that's what I was going for, lol!

Next, I made this card below with the addition of the Tres Chic background stamp (one I've rarely used I have to admit), which goes with it perfectly I think! I used the same Bravo Burgundy craft ink and embossed it again the same way. I wanted this one to be a *simple elegant* card.


This last card below I was trying for a *French Country* look, and I used our new exclusive Top Notes Bigz Die with the Big Shot. I used the die on the pink DSP and then again on the Chocolate chip cardstock. It's very easy to layer because it comes out with a stitched, kind of perforated border around the edge that you can cut around. The awesome Patty Bennett has some great info on the Top Note Bigz Die here. I sanded all around the edges of the paper on top to make it faded (hard to see in the picture), then I paper pierced around the edges freehand, just by eyeballing it. The chandelier is stamped in Staz-On brown. This one is simple, but I love the look.


Okay, that's it for now! Hope you like this set! I'm heading back in there to try out some more new sets and Big Shot dies! Yippee Skippee! Maybe I'll be back later today...my darned posting average fell to 6.8! Doh! How did that happen? Maybe I missed a day around Convention time?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Oh, and thanks for your comments on my post last night...so glad to hear I'm not the only who is nuts, who stays up way late, who wakes up her DH, who has control issues with snacks, and who fights off ants!! lol! Love you guys!

Have you stamped something today?

Eastern Blooms Simple Dimple

Ack! I haven't gotten around to stamping yet today! Even with my new order arriving at 9:45 this morning! Ack! I got everything put away and organized (a task in itself) then stuff kept coming up. Ack! No worries, I just got up from a nap and the nighttime is when the magic happens for me. lol! Oh my, I just really cracked myself up with that one! I'm nuts!

Anyway, here's a little simple dimple, but cute!, card so I don't screw up my weekly posting average. Did I mention when I started my summer break, my average postings were an embarrassing 2.3 times per week?! I've been trying to get the stats from Google Reader to change all summer and just last week, it went to 7.0 times per week! Whoo! Hoo! Why is it important? I don't know. Just something I decided on in my head and then obsessed over, that's just me.

Speaking of magic in the nighttime, let me suggest that you don't do this while your husband is in bed asleep:

Me: standing in the kitchen at midnight, looking for a snack in the pantry, am *surprised* to see a can of peanuts because I just finished a can of peanuts the night before. I can't resist the peanuts and was relieved that they were gone. How did they get back?

Me, shouting loudly: "Nooooo! Where did you come from?! How did you get there?!"

DH: sleeping in the bedroom right next to the kitchen, wakes up and shouts out: "Are you okay? What's wrong?!"

Me, thinking "Oh crap, that was stupid, he's really worried about me. I made it sound like someone is in the house!"

DH: shouts back, "Are there ants again?" (Every spring in Texas ants try to invade the house and I go to war.)

Man, does he know me or what? It wasn't ants, but close: peanuts. Later when I go in to bed at 3:00, he's waking up (poor guy, I always wake him up!), and I apologize again for scaring him and making it sound like someone is in the kitchen. He says, "No, I wasn't really scared. I know you're half nuts." At least he said "half" nuts. *sigh* I heart him.

Okay, enough rambling! I'm off to make something new. If I can get enough high voltage lights shining on my creations for a decent picture, I'll come back and post. If not, in the morning. Can you tell I just had a 2 hour nap? Hee! Hee!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Eastern Blooms.
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Kraft, Bella Rosa DSP.
Ink: Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Border Scallop Punch, 5/8" Brocade Blue Grosgrain Ribbon.

Organic Outlines do the Tango

Happy Tuesday! We've had some overcast weather and rain in Dallas the last few days, which we desperately need, but it's really doing a number on my sinuses, so I haven't been very creative today. Plus, I knew I better get the housework done so I'll be free to play with my new catalog order that is arriving tomorrow! Yay! Yes, I splurged on overnight shipping since I only have a few precious days left before returning to work and never having time to stamp again. lol!

I made this birthday card and mailed it out a few days ago, so thought I would go ahead and share it. I used the Organic Outlines set that I won free at Convention and the new Tangerine Tango In Color. This color and especially Pacific Point are the toughest for me to use and the ones that I have the most left of! I actually had to reorder more of the other colors, love them so much!

Oh, a funny...when I went to mail this, I checked to see if it would cost extra because the envelope was kind of thick. The worker (a really nice lady) tries to slide it through her "slot test guide" thing and it wouldn't fit, of course.

Postal worker: "What's this lump here?"

Me: "Mmmm, a rhinestone brad."

Postal worker: Stares blankly. "Mmmm, it doesn't fit. That's going to cost 40¢ extra for handling."

I just laughed. A small price to pay for a hand-crafted card with a precious rhinestone brad and several layers of dimensionals!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Recipe
Stamps: Organic Outlines, Occasions Collection hostess.
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Bella Rosa DSP.
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Rhinestone brad from Pretties Kit, 1" Circle Punch, Hidden Garden rub-on (extra from Convention), White Taffeta ribbon (dyed Tangerine Tango), Paper Piercer & Guide, Dimensionals.

Manchester 3 Challenge

What's the Manchester 3 Challenge, you ask? While watching the clock and waiting to enter my first new catalog order at 1:00 pm CST today, I decided to give myself a challenge from the new catalog. First, I needed a birthday card for my dad and second, I had to see if I could create something without using all new In Colors or Bella Rosa DSP! So, I looked at the beautiful new designer series papers (DSP) and quickly picked one, Manchester, (I LOVE the way the new catalog tells you the colors in each DSP right below it, thank you SU!) which uses Kraft, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla...perfect for a masculine birthday card.

Next, I decided I would randomly open the catalog to a page and case one of the cards on that page with the Manchester colors AND I would use my older stamp sets! Shocking, I know! lol! And I decided I would do it 3 times to make 3 cards. Fun, huh? It really was!

For the first card, I opened to page 149 and decided to copy the red card in the middle. I changed the standard size shown to a 5 1/4" square card so I could use my Full Calendar set. I also changed the scallop border in the sample to the spiral border for a more masculine feel. Go open your catalog and tell me what you think! lol!


Note: at this point I stopped to place my SU order, then I got sucked into the computer vortex for a few hours, ran errands, etc...long story short, I didn't get back to my challenge until about 7:30 pm, so my good light for photography was gone, but I carried on anyway. (*Edited to add new photos taken in the daylight the next morning!)

For the next card, I opened the catalog randomly to page 104 and decided to copy the "friend" card in the center. I wasn't sure about the size, so I guessed and made mine 3 1/4" x 6 1/2" which I think is too big because I couldn't get the little tabs on the sample to fit right on mine, so I left them off.

I used the Embrace Life set, perfect for this card and look. I didn't have the Curly Label punch yet (but I will on Wednesday, hee! hee!), so I improvised by using the Designer Label punch and turning it on its side. I liked it! I also added in Not Quite Navy for the strip under the Chocolate Chip ribbon (I had a perfect size scrap leftover from Convention make & takes!), because they used pink & darker red in their sample, so NQN was a perfect shade darker to the Baja Breeze.



Lastly, I flipped to page 35 and made the little square card on the bottom. I started with a 5 1/4" square, but it was way too big when I started assembling the card, so I cut it down to a 4" x 4" square. I think the catalog sample was even smaller, maybe a 3" x 3". Hint: Not sure what size to make your cards? Go look on page 167 of the catalog that shows the cards and envelopes and copy those sizes!

I used the Season of Joy stamp set, and I substituted the Scallop Circle punch, because I don't have the Scallop Square punch yet (but I will on Wednesday, hee! hee!). For the words, I found a white rub-on that would work from the Anchored Rub-Ons. This went together very quickly!


So that was major fun today! Do you feel like trying it? I love this color combination that I would never have put together on my own, it was great using "old" stamp sets, and I found it so easy to copy and tweak the awesome catalog samples using stuff I already had. This may be addicting! I can't wait to hear what you think and see your results when you try it! *wink*

If you haven't been to the Stampin' Up! website, go check it out! Lots of exciting things going on today: the new catalog, 15% off never-before-seen stamps, and sign-up specials! Click the links on the sidebar to take you right there and let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Birthday card recipe
Stamps: Mark the Date, Full Calendar.
Cardstock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla.
Ink: Chocolate Chip.
Accessories: Sprial Punch, Word Window Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Always Artichoke Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/8" & 1/4" Circle Punch, Vintage Brad, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Dimensionals.

Embrace Life card recipe
Stamps: Embrace Life, Define Your Life.
Cardstock: Kraft, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla.
Ink: Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Designer Label Punch, Paper Piercer & Guide, Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Ribbon, Aquapainters, Always Artichoke button.

Season of Joy card recipe
Stamps: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke.
Ink: Baja Breeze, Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Vintage Brad, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Anchored Rub-Ons, Dimensionals.