Teacher/ Coworker Presents

Well, of course with Christmas right around the corner, and I had biology class until the 14 of December, time is of the essence.  Fast and easy has been my motto this year.

Here are some note pad holders for teachers with matching pens. They are made from empty stamp storage cases.  What was funny, is I had a customer buy these and she never realized they had a slip cover on them.  She bought some more so she could make these too.

Here is a photo of the inside.  There is a little calendar for 2012 I put on the inside.  The scallop envelop can hold postage stamps or a receipt. A piece of the DSP covers the ugly logo on the memo pad.  All that with one sheet of 12x12 DSP and there are still large scrap pieces.

Another super easy project was made using decor elements!  I mean it is easy to just rub on a design.  I am not kidding-getting the label off the glass block was the hardest part!  Seriously, it took me 20 minutes to get the label off. Who's bright idea at the company was it not to use rubber cement?  No, ultra super glue, heaven forbid that label ever came off the glass (oops does that sound a bit snarky?) The rest of the project took me less than 20 minutes. A little rubbing, a small set of Christmas lights and some ribbon.  Tadah...pretty holiday decoration.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!  I can't wait to see what the new year will bring!

Oh by the way, the UPS man made it to my house before Christmas.  I have new stamp sets from the mini catalog and the salebration catalog!  What a present! I hope to have samples soon.

Enjoy your holiday and be safe!

Until next time,

Rudolf With Your Nose So Bright....

Won't you thank my friends tonight?  Ok so that was almost as tacky as the joke a student taught me this week. (what do you call cheese that is not your cheese?  Nacho cheese-said slowly- not yo cheese)  See, told you it was tacky. LOL.

Any how here is my December thank you cards.  The best thing about these adorable thank you cards was I got to use the awesome red glitter paper!  I just love it!  The glitter stays on the paper!

Can you tell what punches were used?  That's right!  The cute little owl punch, the snowflake punch, and the half inch circle punch.  I made a dozen of these in no time.  Punches make card making so easy!   Try one yourself and you can see what I mean.

Until next time,

Stocking Builder Punch News

Stampin Up has just announced this morning that the Stocking Builder Punch from the Holiday Mini Catalog will not be carried over into the new catalog in July. If have wanted this adorable punch, go online and order it now.  As soon as they are sold it, it will be gone forever!  I am so glad I have mine, I absolutely love it.  Don't be sorry that you missed out.

Until next time,

Clearance Rack Blitz-DONT MISS IT!

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ORDER ONLINE NOW

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS AWESOME SALE!  As soon as I am done posting I am going shopping myself.  This is while supplies last.  You must go to my online store to take advantage of this sale.
Many of the punches are still in the current catalog, however, they are  the old fashioned "whale tail" style.  With prices like this-who cares???

Until next time,

Dear Santa

Well, it's getting closer to Christmas and my to do list is a mile long.  However, I can say I have accomplished two things already.  December Stamp Club and Human Biology.

I know, I know you all will be glad not to hear any more whining about bio class.  I managed to pull of an A.  Not bad for the girl who took Mr. Davis' high school AP class.  Mr. Davis promised anyone who tried hard wouldn't fail.  Well, guess what?  I was the one who failed despite help from her close friend who won awards for getting above and beyond an A+.  Oh well, 25 years later there must have finally been a connection.

Stamp Club was "awesome" according to the ladies.  Now I am scared.  Some projects I spend planning months in advance.  Others I know it is something I think is cool and I want to share, and sometimes I just wing it and fly by the seat of my pants.  This month was more of I wanted to share something I thought was cool and flying by the seat of my pants.

So here is our scrapbook page.  I saw an awesome card made by Jackie Topa here.  Jackie's work is amazing.  But at the last minute I didn't think I had time for everyone to punch a ton of little squares for the the fire place. So Big shot to the rescue.

I just love the Dear Santa stamp.  Of course with my friends and family, I think there should be an "I can explain" stamp to go with it.  We also used my new favorite: The Stocking Builder Punch with green and glitter red paper.  The fire is the wing of the Bird Builder Punch and the square punch is the opening of the fire place.  We aged the background paper to give it that smudged fire soot feel to it.  Of course we will have to put the fire out before Santa can come down the chimney!

Well, off to work some more on the "to do" list that seems never ending before the holidays.

Until next time,

Finals Are Finished!

Last night I finished my Human Biology finals last night.  Now to wait patiently (yeah right) for my final grade.  I am hoping for at least a B so my job will pay for it.  Unless I completely messed it up, I should be ok. 

This morning I have been cutting card stock for stamp club today. Three awesome projects I hope the ladies will like.  A 3D item, a thank you card and a scrapbook page.  After the ladies leave, I will be working on 3d projects for my husbands staff, gift bags and cookies.

It looks like it will be busy but at least it will be fun activities! 

Until next time,

Winter Wonder Land

I have wanted to CASE (copy and steal everything) this card since it was shared during convention this summer. I am so sorry I cannot remember the original designers name, no can I find my issue of Stampin Success to find her name either.  So if someone finds it and lets me know I will give credit where credit is due.

I just love the little snowmen in this set Snow Much Fun.  This card is wonderful to use up scraps of Whisper White cardstock.  There is alot of cutting which I hate to do.  I don't care how much the elementary teacher tells me to "drive the paper not the scissors", I still can't keep an even border around my objects.  Oh well, I am a good "colorer".  I guess that's why I stamp in the first place LOL.

Until next time,

Stockings Aren't Just for Christmas

Stitched Stockings and the Stocking Builder punch aren't just for Christmas.  Here is a really cute baby card we made at club in November.  Our hostess was, and still is, very pregnant.  Lucky for her, she won't have too much longer to wait.  Congratulations Barb & Will.  So I made this card with them in mind.

 Just cut off a little of the stocking & glue the cuff on.  Instant baby booties!  These could be made in pinks for a girl too.  Wouldn't that be stinkin cute?  The only stamping was the booties themselves and Hello Baby from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  All the rest was punches and Designer Series Paper and a little bit of ribbon.  Isn't the mini clothes pin a cute touch too!  I'm so glad I know someone else who is going to have a baby in the spring so I can make some more of these.

Until next time,

Stocking Gift Card Holder

I just love my Big Shot and the Holiday Mini catalog!  Some people hate to give gift cards because they don't look like much.  That can never be said again with this gift card holder! I just love EVERYTHING from the Holiday Mini Catalog. (Quick order your supplies before Jan 3, 2012- when this awesome mini catalog ends!)

I love the Forestwoods Lodge DSP, the Mini Jingle Bells, the Holiday Stocking die, and the stamp set Dear Santa!  Wouldn't you just love this stocking even before you knew it held a gift card inside???  I sure hope my family members act surprised when they get one of these.  Of course they won't know which stores I got gift cards from!

Until next time,

Quick Gift Box

I only have a minute today but here is a quick post for you.  These cute little boxes from Stampin Up are awesome for coworkers, neighbors, the paper boy, etc.

A quick swipe with a Stampin Around wheel, some retired ribbon, twine, and a quick tag made with Tags til Christmas and the Curly Label punch and you have a sweet little box to fill with candies or something small.  This particular gift was my friend who has a wicked sense of humor.  I will be making some more for our neighbors who gave us some fresh veggies from their garden.

Until next time,

Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Stamping!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Wednesday we had a snowstorm which made traveling so much fun.  Can you hear the sarcasm?  But we did make it to my mother in laws house fine since I have all wheel drive.  And like most houses my mother in law and family made WAY too much food.  We had desserts galore. A wonderful recipe that was made using a gluten free cake mix was a recipe from Paula Dean on Foodnetwork that can be found here. If you like pumpkin pie, you will LOVE THIS!

My poor mother in law had to be at work at 4:00 am for Black Friday. I felt so bad for all those retail employees.  Late Friday afternoon I did go to small dollar stores and that was it.  I knew they wouldn't be busy and I wanted to get extra goodies for the child I chose on the giving tree. I really hope the child like the goodies I bought.

Here are some stamping goodies I made that I will be making more of. I love that Stampin Up came out with all the Christmas stocking products.  My favorite things to make are Christmas cards and I have TONS of snowflakes.  I have so many that I have even been telling myself I have so many I can't possibly use them all in one holiday season. Don't tell my husband I said that! But thanks to Stampin Up I have an entire new obsession- Christmas stockings!  Here is a tag we made in club.  I am going to make a bunch more of these to put on plain paper gift bags.

Close up of tag.

The medallion was made using the Scoring tool.  My favorite tool next to the Big Shot.  Of course the Holiday Stocking was cut out with my Big Shot as well as the ornament from the Stocking Accents die.  The bling is the Dazzling Details glitter glue.  And the Cherry Cobbler ribbon from the mini catalog too. I hope all these items make it into the Big Idea & Catalog next year.  I just love them all.  The faux stitching is made with the white gel pen.

Until next time,

Fall Thank You

Here is a project from October.  I have enjoyed the Holiday Mini catalog so much. I wanted one of everything from it the moment I saw it.  I just love the hostess set from the holiday mini catalog called Warmest of Wishes!

Here is the only card our stamp club made for October. I will share other holiday projects we made later.  I love that all the stamps in this set co-ordinate with Stampin Ups wonderful punches.

Until next time,

Snowmen Before Halloween

Oct 30, 2011

So, here we are first thing in the morning of October 30th.  Right up until a day or two before we had really warm weather! My daughter wanted to be a ballerina.  The weather had been perfect for it.  Of course not on Halloween.  Oh well, what are you going to do?  She just put sweats on under her outfit.

Until next time

Click to get to my online store

Want to beat the BLACK FRIDAY rush?  Check out the specials Stampin Up is having right now!  Some discounts are for today only but most last until the Nov 30th.  Don't miss out! Go shopping right now!  I don't even care that you are still in your pj's!  After all, I'm in mine!

Until next time.

Catching Up

Or at least I am trying to.  Every week I count down how many weeks of human biology I have.  (I am down to just four more weeks of crying) Of course we only have Thanksgiving and preparing for two stamp activities within that time frame.

Here is a Halloween project I did for my club members.  I took the idea of the little treat purses I posted earlier this summer and did them again with Frightful Sights DSP. 

Aren't they the cutest little things?

My cat sleeping on my homework

Today I had I biology lab exam so of course I was studying last night.  I can get distracted by the simplest things but I got through it (and I think I did fairly well-thanks for asking).  But this is what happened when I put my book down last night.  Apparently, I am not the only one who can find biology tiresome.

I am editing some photos from the last couple of stamp clubs I have had and I will try to get them posted as soon as possible.  Between now and then if you hear sobbing, you will know it is me studying for my finals.

Until next time,

Sorry I Have Been Gone For So Long

Boy has time gone by.  I wish I could say it has flown by but it really hasn't, I just haven't had time for stamping. Boo hoo.   What's been taking all my time.  Classes!! And not stamping classes.  I started Social/Emotion Development of Young Children and Human Biology in August.  Well, I finished Soc/Emotion Dev at the end of Oct which was enough credits for me to change my certification with the state to an Ed Tech III.  Which doesn't really mean much except I have completed more school, might have a better chance of keeping my job during the next round of cut backs and I get to do billing with medicare.

Human Biology is still have another 6 weeks of school left.  Do you hear someone crying on a weekly basis and you don't know where it is coming from?  That would be me doing my homework.  At least it has gone from crying daily LOL.  My friends and family only have to hear me whine for another 6 weeks and then I will be done with the classes for this year.  The tears have been worth it so far.  My grades aren't too bad and if I pass with an 85 or higher my job will pay for it.

I am slowly giving up my craft room. (did you hear me whimper?)  My oldest son moved back home during this past summer.  My youngest son graduated high school and thought he would be going into the service in the fall.  An asthma test ended his plans for him pretty quickly.  I never let my oldest son have his room back since I had painted it and made it into a craft room.  I thought one was moving in and one was moving out. So I made them share a room for "a temporary amount of time".  Now that it seems I am stuck with them both (love you boys)  and they should have their own rooms again.  So around taking lab exams etc. I have been trying to clean things out of the downstairs closet so I can decide what is the most important stamping supplies I need.  The rest will have to go into the garage until one of them decides to move out.  At the rate I am going, shortly after Christmas the boys should have their own rooms again.

Now that you have listened to me rant and rave here is a little thank you card I made for my stamp group in Oct.  It is a 3x3 card.  I used my clear stamping block as a background stamp.  I love that it doesn't always make a consistent image.  (Maybe if I had tried harder but it wasn't the look I was going for anyways.) The flowers are from Just Believe.  One of my all time favorite stamp sets!

Hopefully it won't be so long between posts. At the very least you know I will be back in 6 weeks LOL.  I do have  a couple workshops planned before then so I should have some photos ready to post.

Until next time,

Holiday CASEs

Due to work and two classes, I don't have time to sit and play with my new toys nearly as much as I would like.  Ok, so I would have to be independently wealthy to get to play as much as I would like.....

Anyhow, I do check out some projects online.  I found great projects by Tami White and Patty Bennett recently.  They were simple and cute and fast!!!!  All the things I need if I want to play. (I'm still irritated with my coworker who said biology is sooo easy!  I may not forgive her for another 3 months! Just kidding-at least she helps me out when I need it.)

Here are my versions of super cute super easy projects.  And feel free to CASE (copy and share everything) yourself.  First is a cute Santa face. Patty used him as a 1/8" bag topper.  I decided he would make a cute tag.  I used my Big Shot and Two Tags die to cut the tag and then I used the new stamp set Dear Santa.  I think next time I will place the "to & from" a little higher and stamp "Santa" underneath so it will look like it is a gift from Santa.

Next from Patty, I CASEd a pencil topper.  I just love pencil toppers!  I love to give students pencils for the different holidays.  Especially since they can never keep their pencils for more than a day or two (grin).  So here is my pencil topper using the new stocking punch.  He is so stinkin' cute and only takes a few minutes to make.  Can you tell what his antlers are made from?  you guessed it-the snowflake punch.  A tiny piece of red glitter paper scrap will make his nose.  A small pearl makes his eye.  Tombo liquid glue is wonderful for this project.  I am warning you, it needs just the smallest line of glue around the edge.

Finally, Tammy White inspired this card.  Another super fast, easy card to make.  A little stamping, a little punching and a Big Shot and there you have it.

Some how this week, I need to take an all day Bio Lab, write a paper on stem cell research, go to Social/Emotional Development of Young Children and get ready for my stamp club on the 9th of October. It looks like it will be a fun filled week. At our club, we are going to be making awesome gift card holders with the Big Shot! The girls are going to love it!

Until next time,

FREE BIG SHOT!!!! WHAT A TREAT!

Sorry for shouting, but who wouldn't scream over getting a free Big Shot die cutting machine?!?!?!  That is Stampin Up!'s promotion is for October!  I am not tricking you about this treat!

Become a member of my team during October and you will receive a FREE BIG SHOT  (or $100 free merchandise of your choice).

You receive all the benefits and discounts for being part of  the Stampin Up family.  Join now to be a hobby demo and order things just for yourself, or join and work your business as a full time demonstrator.  The choice is yours.

Here are the details:

• Any new recruit who signs up during the promotion period will receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or $100 in Stampin' Up! products of their choice from any of our current catalogs.
• Sign up online and you will be given access to the Promotional Product Bonus order type via email approximately one hour after you sign up.
• New Recruits should ensure that their free total comes as close as possible to $100 without going over since the Promotional Product Bonus order type will not allow items beyond $100 to be added to the order.
• Those who mail in their Independent Demonstrator Application (IDA) can simply list the items they want for free on their accompanying order form.
• New recruits will have until November 30, 2011, to redeem their product bonus

Starter Kit

• New recruits may purchase the standard or Digital+ Starter Kit, and may add the Stampin' Memories, Definitely Decorative, or My Digital Studio Software Add-On for the regular add-on price.
• New recruits may substitute a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ($7.95 or less; see pages 218-219) for the Always Bird Décor Elements (p. 233) that comes standard in the Starter Kit.
• New recruits who join Stampin' Up! during this promotion are still eligible for any programs available to a new recruit, including but not limited to the Extra 10% Instant Income offer, Stampin' Start, and the opportunity to purchase a Business Booster Kit.
• As always, the demonstrator Starter Kit is only available to new recruits and not to current demonstrators.
• Starter Kit order form deadlines:
  • Mail: Monday, October 31, 2011 (received in office)
  • Online:  Monday, October 31, 2011; 11:50 PM (MT)
  
  
  
  Wouldn't you just love to join the wonderful world of stamping and get a discount on all your supplies while you are having fun?
  
  Contact me today with any questions you may have.  I would love to answer them for you.  I just know you want to be part of my stampin' team!!  Please don't keep this a secret-pass the information on to your friends as well!
  
  Until next time,
  
  Until next time,
  
  

The Perfect Man

Frankie has been seen all over the web for several years now.  He has been cards, gift bags, post it note holders you name it. So of course I had to show my new stampers how to make a Frankie.

Here are a few of the Frankie's we made at our September stamp club.  I didn't get a photo of the "Elvis" Frankie. Bummer.  (Maybe Gail will bring it to work so I can get a photo.)  Did you see the Frankie that is up front in the center.  You might think one of the gals forgot to put a mouth on it.  Or that I got carried away taking photos, I snatched the card right out of the hands of someone.  Nope!  I was told he was the perfect man-he doesn't have a mouth!  We laughed really hard at that one.  We have so much fun when the husbands aren't around. LOL  (Just kidding dear,  you know I love you and would starve without you.)

So if you want to make your own perfect man; it's super easy.  A card base and then scraps for his hair.  His eyes are just the 1",  3/4" and 1/2" circle punches.  This card is great for using up all those scraps of white, black, and olive green.

Until next time,

Spooky Spiders Are In My House

Ok, Ok, so they're not all that spooky.  They're sort of cute actually.  This is a close up of one of the spiders.  It's a Halloween card with a little bling. 

The spider eyes are rhinestones that have been colored with a permanent green maker.  Isn't that a cool little trick.  Now I can have any colored rhinestone I want.  (I have an entire bucket full of permanent markers-wide tip, skinny tip-you get the idea.)

The other part of the bling on this card is actually sprayed onto the card base.  I took some all purpose shimmer paint and mixed it with rubbing alcohol in a small travel spray bottle.  My measurements were very scientific.  I poured some alcohol into the small bottle.  Next, I took the "stem" of the sprayer and dipped it into the shimmer paint.  Stuck it into the alcohol and repeated the process a second time.  I think the scientific term I used at my stamp club was "blop".

I had bought the Frightful Sight DSP and I used it on the inside of the card.  I just love the little creepy spiders crawling all over the place.  I stamped Goblin Greetings on Whisper White cardstock and punched it with the Decorative Label punch. 

This was a fun, quick card the ladies enjoyed making at stamp club.

On a side note.  I will probably be posting only once a week for awhile.  I seem to have bitten off more than I can chew.  I am taking two classes for my job, teaching regular school during the day, adult ed once a week (Christmas cards-Yippee my favorite!)  Needless to say, my time to be at home and sit in-front of my computer is very limited.  So for a while the blog will have to come near the end of my to do list.  Should anyone ever tell you to take Human Biology online because "it's easy" is a liar! Hahaha.  Oh well, I might as well get the hard classes over with first. Right??

Until next time,

9/11 Happiness and Heartache

There lots of things that come to peoples minds when you say "Nine Eleven".  As a nation we all morn the loss of so many Americans that died that awful day 9/11/2001.  I couldn't even watch the news today.  I knew it would just break my heart. 

I went to ground zero on 9/11/09 when visiting New York.  Of course then it was only the 8th anniversary.  The city was still working on cleaning the sight.  Of course everything was fenced off, but there were memorials all over the place.  One photo I took makes me sad whenever I think about it.  I am not sure why it effected me more than all the bouquets of flowers, it just did.  I guess because in my mind, this poor boy (I assume boy by the hand-writing) was suppose to go out with his Uncle Phil.  I am sure, like all of us, things got in the way and kept them busy and kept them from getting together to have that beer.

Everyone asks "Do you remember where you were?"  Yes, I remember where I was.  I was at school (my job) trying to find out what was going on while not alarming school age children.  My husband and two boys were on their way white water rafting.  They went without me because "I couldn't possibly miss work that early in the school year!"  It was my second anniversary with my dear husband and he and my boys had a great time together.  We still have a video tape of them since I "couldn't" go.  Needless to say, now if I have a personal day,  and it is important, I take the day off.

As I said, "nine eleven" is also a time of happiness for me, personally.  Nine eleven, 1999 was the day I married a wonderful man.  We have been married for 12 years and have been together for 17.  It is hard to believe sometimes.  It seems like it can't possibly be that long.  We didn't get to be together today due to him being out of town for his job.  Oh well, at least we got to talk on the phone and he is coming home early tomorrow.

I hate to say it, I was so busy today, I didn't have time to even miss my husband.  The school years stamp club has started.  Today was our first meeting.  We had a great time.  Two Halloween cards and a birthday card.  Everything had Old Olive in it.  I will be sharing photos of the cards later. 

I do have a small share.  I made small purses.  Each one had a slip of paper with a month written on it.  Grab a random purse-and you are the hostess for that month.  Here are a few of them.  I actually remembered to take a photo before they were all chosen.  They are all made with Frightful Sight DSP, Basic Black cardstock, Old Olive cardstock, the Designer Label punch, black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, and antique brads.

Don't forget to tell people you love them tonight.

Until next time,

Do You Want $400 of FREE MDS Products???

Who doesn't, right???  Well here is your chance to enter Stampin Up's MDS Contest.


Stampin’ Up!  invites YOU to participate in our digital design contest using Stampin’ Up!’s My Digital Studio digital artwork! Let the Contest Begin!

• It’s open to all demonstrators and customers who have access to My Digital Studio in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada (excluding Quebec). Demonstrators and customers will be judged separately; ten finalists—five customers and five demonstrators—will be chosen by Stampin’ Up! judges, and the public will choose six winners--three customers and three demonstrators--via online voting.
• Submit your entry to MDSContest@stampinup.com. To enter the contest you will need to design one digital card and one single-page layout using ONLY My Digital Studio product.  Submit all samples along with your full name, address, daytime phone number, and demonstrator ID number (if applicable). Include a photo release form (if applicable).
• Finalists will receive $100 US/$125 CAN in FREE My Digital Studio digital downloads from Stampin’ Up! and winners will receive $400 US/$500 CAN in free downloads! Winnings will not be combined. For example, if you are a winner you will not get the finalists’ prize plus the winners’ prize. Winners and finalists will also receive a digital pin for their DBWS site (for demonstrators), personal blog, or Facebook page.

 You can read all the rules for this contest here.   What are you waiting for- hop on that computer and start designing! 


Until next time,

What Are Your Plans This Weekend?

Does anyone have any big plans for this Labor Day weekend?  Locally we have the Blue Hill Fair, but I don't think we are going.  My big plans are studying for Human Biology, writing a bit for The Social and Emotion Development of Young Children, cleaning my craft room which has been neglected for so long!  Last but not least making some small gifts for my stamp club members.  Our first club meeting for the school year. Yippee!  I can't wait to keep playing with all the awesome items from the Holiday Mini.  Part of  me wishes the holidays could last even longer!  Can you tell I think this is one of the best mini catalogs we have had in awhile???

Well I am off to work on projects so I can have something to share with you guys.

Until next time,

Holiday Mini Catalog 2011 Is Here!

I am SOOOO excited for the new Holiday Mini catalog! I want one of everything!  One of my favorite things is to make Christmas cards.  Of course,in the past few years, I have had to try to curb my obsession with snowflakes.  Well guess what???  Stampin Up has Christmas stocking!  Stocking stamps, coordinating punch, big shot die.  Now I can start a new obsession, collection, or whatever it is I can call it to get it in my hot little hand LOL!  So you can dowload the catalog here.

I am also in LOVE with the new tool called Simply Scored!!!  OMG as the kids say.  This is the Best invention ever.  I have seen score boards with 1/8" scoring lines, this is even better.  It has "markers" to put in place at the top to mark where you need to score.  My good friend needs to get one of these.  I love her dearly, but she is a little ruler challenged.  I say that with love-so don't think I am picking on her.  She is ok with the 1/2" and sometimes she gets the 1/4".  Now she is going to astonish her family with some fancy fold cards.  (We won't tell her family I places the markers on the Simply Scored board so she would know where to score.)

There are also awesome fall, Halloween, and even Valentine's items in the catalog too.  Like I said, I want one of everything!  I am going to have so much fun with all these new things.  (Boy, I am going to have to get my homework done first thing every night so I can go play with fun stamping stuff.)

Until next time,

Hurricane Irene

I hope everyone survived the hurricane.  We only lost power here. It was actually warm and it only rained heavily a couple times. 

Tomorrow is the first day of school for me; so tonight was the actual end of summer for me.  The kids come back on the 6th.  And then I have two classes I am taking.  My college class (Human Biology) started yesterday online.  I still haven't received any information on my student id etc to log-in with.  I called the college and got transferred to the IT dept which only had an answering machine today.  Luckily I know someone who is taking the same class so she at least told me what to read.  Chapter One-imagine that!  My other class is an onsite class with real people and lots of discussion which is way easier than biology I am sure. 

So now comes the real crazy time for our family. Hopefully we will survive the school year and I will survive college classes.  Luckily, they all end before Christmas and I wont have to take any until next year.  I guess I need to really learn time management and learn to delegate things to the older boys-cooking, laundry, dishes, scrubbing the bathroom........let's see what else do I dislike doing......

Until next time,

Be Safe

I want all my friends to be safe during Hurricane Irene.

Trishutter Card & Free Designer Series Paper From Stampin Up!

Here is a Trishutter card I made a while back and set aside.  I was cleaning and realized I hadn't taken a photo of it-let alone post anything about it.  Most trishutter cards start with a 12"x12" sheet of cardstock-which I very rarely have.  Someone online had dimensions for using 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock.  Can I find that person's website to give them credit now?   Ummm NO!  So let me know who I owe credit too if you find out.

I will share the measurements with you.  Cut a regular sheet of cardstock 5 1/2" x 10 1/2".  Stampin Up's new tool that will become available Sept 1, 2011 called Simply Scored Scoring Tool will make this project SO easy, it isn't funny!!!  (I can't wait for my customers to see this product! Can you tell I'm excited?)

scoring and cutting measurements

Holding the cardstock so the 10 1/2" side is horizontal, score at 1 3/4", 3 1/2", 7", and 8 3/4".  Next you need your cutting tool.  Now with the 5 1/2" side horizontal, cut between the two outside scoremarks at 1 1/2" and 4".  Clear as mud right?  Here is a photo for you. Click on it to englarge it.

Here it opened.  I used Paisley Petals DSP which is you can get free from Stampin Up!  Check it out here.  I stamped the verse from Word Play on Tangerine Tango cardstock with black Stazon.  I also stamped the the flower image from Four Frames on Whisper White cardstock, and colored it in with markers. The "thinking of you" is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  All of that was punched out with the decorative label punch.

And for those of you who have never seen a trishutter card-here is what the top view looks like.  A little scoring and a little cutting and you have a totally "Wow, how did you do that?" card.

Until next time,

Home From New Hampshire

My daughter and I were guests of my dear friends who took us to North Conway, NH.  We went to North Conway,  NH for the weekend.  Thank you for such a wonderful weekend you guys!

We visited such places as Story Land. I don't know how may miles we walked there but I think we went on every ride and stopped at every attraction.  I am not sure who had more fun, the two children or the three adults???  At one point, an older gentleman that ran one of the rides asked me and my best friend "Which of you two is Lucy and which is Ethel?"  I think it depends on the day.  My daughter said her favorite part of the day was meeting Cinderella, since Cinderella is her favorite princess; and the face painting.

We also went to Attatsh Mountain and went on the Alpine Slide. Basically, the Alpine Slide is taking a ski lift to the top of the mountain and riding a plastic slide on a mile long track that winds down the mountain side. 

Of course on the way home, we had to stop at Ben and Jerry's for lunch on the last day there!  They make one mean "chocolate addicts" milkshake!

Now I am waiting for Ethel to email Lucy some of the photos from this weekend so I can start scrapbooking!

Until next time,

New Toys- Yippeee!!!

There are still a few weeks of summer left, it's still 70 degrees at 9:30 at night.  I am working on September's Stamp Club projects.  A little Halloween is happening in my craft room already.

I'm also playing with my new toys from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  You guys will have to see Stampin Up!'s new scoring tool.  It is awesome-and my friend who is ruler impaired (love ya girlfriend)  will love the place markers it has! There are new Christmas stamps, punches, dies for the Big Shot, paper, embellishments.  I am as happy as a pig in mud! Here is a little sneak peek.  The tag is a template I had cut from Real Red.  I stamped in Always Artichoke.  The new stamp set is called Stitched Stockings.  It has an awesome matching punch.  Who doesn't love a punch to make everything easier?  Did you notice the little jingle bell on the ribbon?  It makes a tiny little jingle noise.  I will need to keep my cats away from those!

Until next time,

Blue Awash With Flowers

Here is a card I made for a VC Rocks challenge.  It was to used black and white and one spot of color.  I had been itching to use this set for something!  I knew right where the color would go.  I originally thought of using Real Red with the black and white.  Then I thought how that combination gets used all the time and I wanted something different.  I had Tempting Turquoise sitting on my desk from something else-so that's what I used.  The verse is from the hostess set Precious Butterflies (contact me to learn how to earn it).  Next, three black brads were used for another focal point.

After coming up with this card, I needed some cards for a swap I was participating in with fellow demonstrators.  I discovered I didn't have enough brads for 10 cards.  That's ok, any "mistake" is a chance for an alteration or another layer.  So I decided to make a black butterfly using the Big Shot.

It just goes to show it doesn't take owning "everything" in the catalog to make beautiful cards or scrapbook pages! Shhhh I won't tell your husband if you won't tell mine and we can still order all the toys we want!

Until next time,

Cute Litte Blog

Did anyone notice my blog design changed today?  Isn't that redhead just the cutest little thing with her card and computer?  If there was a huge mess all around her-it would look like me! (sort of)

I found Lena on the web purely by accident.  I found a blog template she designed and I thought it was really cute.  Once we got started it took her no time at all to come up with this little cutie making cards and scapbook pages.  There isn't any mess on her desk like mine so she must be using My Digital Studio by Stampin Up!

Let me know what you think of this new design. Comments are always welcome!

Well, it is really late here  or really early depending on how you look at it.  So goodnight all, and

Until next time,

Final VC Rocks Bloghop 2011-Punches Galore

I can't believe it is coming to the end of the summer and the end of VC Rocks!  It won't belong before the kids of the neighborhood are standing on our corner waiting for the bus.  This is our last bloghop for 2011.  "Punches Galore" says it all.  It's all about the punches.  Wasn't the project at Shari's blog wonderful?  She always has great ideas to share.

Children everywhere have new clothes for school. So that means I need a new purse.  My boys never understood why I had so many purses.  Purses always fit. Boys don't understand that saying but girls certainly do.  So here is a purse that I will be making for several occasions in September.  It even has chocolate! (You didn't expect me to go without chocolate did you?)

These purses are great.  They start with a 6"x6" square of DSP.  I had some a hostess pack that was already pre-cut to 6"x6".  Yippee, anything to save time right.  The band on the top of the purse is Very Vanilla cut 3 1/2"x1/2".  I used stamped the latch of the purse on Very Vanilla using the stamp set Four Frames and punched it out using the Decorative Label.  The flowers were colored with Certain Celery and Pretty In Pink markers.  The latch of the purse has a small piece of velcro under it for the closure.

Here is the inside of the purse holding a small Hershey bar.  The ones that come 8 per package for about $1.00.  This is going to be a gift for the ladies in my stamp club.
Most of them are teachers and  I think they will need some chocolate about the second week of school when we meet again.

My second project features the hostess set Precious Butterflies.  I just love butterflies!  I even have milkweed in my garden to help them.
I used Melon Mambo because it is so bright and cheery and we have had lots of rain lately with gray skies; so I needed a little pick me up. I stamped the background with versa mark along with the ring of butterflies on a scrap piece of paper.  I punched the ring of butterflies out with the 1 3/4" circle punch. I sprayed the circle with a combination of Frost White shimmer paint and alcohol.  It has a wonderful sheen to it that the camera has a hard time picking up.  Hopefully, if you click on the close up, it will show.

Hop on over to Diane's blog and check out the awesome project she has.  If you want to start at the beginning of the hop and see all the participants-start here at VC Rocks! blog.

Until next time,

Flower Ball (Or Should I Say Flower)

What is a girl to do on a rainy, gray, dreary day while fighting a headache?  Well, originally, I thought it was take some Excedrin, drink coffee and clean the craft room.  It turned out to be take the meds, drink coffee, spend time on the computer and then decide to try something new and use up retired supplies.

 

I have seen these flowers/flower balls online.  I got as far as making a flower.... It would take a dozen "flowers" to make an entire ball out of them.  It wasn't overly hard to make, just a lot of folds and then gluing them together. I used paper from Patterns Pack 3 which I think was a hostess gift at some point.  I thought it was great because you need to start with a square sheet of paper.  This pack of paper is 6"x6"-no cutting needed!

Don't you think these would be wonderful kissing balls for Christmas?  Nice reds and greens would be beautiful I think.  Hmmm I think I see a school project coming up.  I love when I can work paper crafting in as an occupational therapy project!  "PAPER THERAPIST" can that be my new title and could I get raise for having a title?

Well, I think I need more coffee and I need to get more Christmas paper while it is on sale at Stampin Up.  Check out the special on Designer Series Paper here.

Until next time,

Anticipation

"Anticipation, anticipation, it's making me wait..."  Ok quoting commercials from the late 70's that used Carly Simon's songs are really showing how old I am getting.  I feel tortured like those little kids waiting for the ketchup to come out of the bottle.  I keep going online to check to see if my preorder for the Holiday Mini catalog. 

Christmas cards are my all time favorite to make.  I have sooo many snowflakes it isn't funny (just don't tell my husband LOL)  This year Stampin Up has out done themselves.  Believe it or not-I didn't preorder a single snowflake!  Of course I ordered every stinkin cute Christmas stocking they have!  Plus the new tools.  Someone should call the UPS company and warn our delivery person-he may get mauled at the door.  Hmmm....he used to stop at the door and wait for me to answer it; now he barely knocks, drops the package and he is back in his truck by the time I get to the door.  This behavior started once packages from Stampin' Up started to arrive.  Maybe somebody did call and warn him.  The substitute drives always wait....

Anyhow, once that special brown box arrives, my family are on their own.  I will be lost in my craft room cutting, scoring, stamping, punching, and die cutting.  I will be working on projects for a Holiday Open House.  I might even get some cute autumn,  Halloween, and Thanksgiving ideas in there too.

Until next time,

Technology/Facebook

Today I am trying to find an easier way to get my blog linked to facebook.  Nothing overly exciting going on today.  I will be working on some projects for a potential mother/daughter workshop.  Of course it will involve chocolate.


Ok it isn't working for me at all.  I will go back to sharing the old fashion way.  So just click like on my facebook page and you will get my latest updates.

Until next time.

Monday, Monday...

Anyone remember that song?  My oh my, where has this past week gone?  I can't believe I have already started school shopping for the youngest child.  Told the middle child it would be ok even if he couldn't go into the Air Force due to asthma. Wished the oldest child Happy 21st Birthday (how the heck did that happen??)  On the same day my oldest turned 21, it was my high school class reunion. 

In between the Bucksport Bay Festival and this week, there still has been visiting family and having birthday parties.  Which brings me to this posting finally.  What do you get a six year old who is having a birthday and is going to a new school this year?  "A kid's debit card" of course.  I always thought they were called "gift cards" until my six year old enlightened me.  How could I have been so foolish not to know such things?

The one thing I do know is a "kids debit card" needs a cute package and it needs to be fast.  Fast=Big Shot.  I cut two pieces of cardstock that I had from some place that was glittery and special for a birthday.  I used the scallop square die.  I made a little pocket with the two squares and used a glitter brad for a hinge.  Used some blue ribbon for a knot.  I used a verse from the new hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.

Here is the "present" opened. Now the lucky birthday boy can go shopping and use his new debit card!

Until next time,

It Must Have Been The Heat At The Festival

All went well at the Bucksport Bay Festival.  One of the things I forgot to do, however, was take photos!!  It must have been the heat....Ok, I just plain forgot.  It was a crazy day.  When we first went down to set things up, it was raining out.  Later in the day it was so hot! I don't know how people were walking around in the sun.  I heard the tours on the ship were extremely hot too.  I am not sure I would stand in line for 30 minutes in the heat to walk on an even hotter ship.

I got to see lots of kids at my booth.  One little girl was extremely creative.  She wanted her bear to be a hobo bear.  She tore the pants and shirt.  Then the used the torn part of the shirt to make patches on the pants.  She did not put any shoes on him "because homeless bears don't have shoes". Hahaha she was priceless. Her mother was a wonderful lady who scrapbooks.  The mom  has scrapbooks of all three girls and is only a few months behind of their lives. (I know I can't believe it either-I only have a few pages of each kid done)  The mom told me how her mother had died when she was very little, so she has scrapped every part of her own daughters' lives to show them how much they are loved in case anything ever happened to her.  I almost started crying when she was telling me the story.

Besides the heat, everything was wonderful.  I got to meet some new people and catch up with others that I had not seen for while.

Until next time,

My "My Digital Studio" Class with Ellen Kemper/Bay Festival

Once again I have taken an online class with VC Rocks.  I have taken two classes using My Digital Studio with Ellen Kemper.  Her basic class had covered items I didn't know about....(big surprise there).

Then she had a second class and this time I wrote things down!!! Immediately I went to play since half the time, when I read my notes later, I don't remember what the heck they mean.  So here is what I played with.

Nothing overly fancy, but I used the alignment keys, punch options and filling them with photos. etc.  In the middle of practicing my daughter came along and wanted to know why I wasn't using a photo of her.  So of course I changed the photo I was using, then the paper I was using, blah, blah, blah.  Anything to keep her from talking when I am trying to concentrate.  (Too bad DHS frowns upon duct tape--just kidding-but I swear the only time she is quiet is when she is sleeping!)

If you come to the Bucksport Bay Festival today, I's sure she'll talk your ear off.  I will be just to the side of the Fort Knox Park Inn-the right hand side if you are standing on Main St. facing the hotel.

Until next time,

Visitor

I didn't get to post about this little guy earlier this month when he actually came to visit us.  I was sitting in the garage with the doors open, trying to do my homework.  My daughter was riding her bike in our yard. 

Something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.  When I looked over at my lilac tree something under it was looking back at me LOL.  I followed him around the house until I could get a picture of him.  What doesn't show in the photo was how hard he was breathing.  I really think this was one of those times "it was more scared of me, than I was of it!" 

I'm not really sure where he came from or where he went after his photo shoot.  A block away there is a stream, so once in awhile we do get a wild animal in our yard.  Most times though I don't have my camera with me.  We have had a doe one time and a baby deer young enough it still had it's spots.  Too bad I didn't have my camera outside on those days.  Oh well....

Until next time,

Only A Few Days Left -$99 Special With Free Gift

Here is Shelli showing some wonderful items you receive when becoming a Stampin Up demonstrator.  Doesn't that keepsake box look adorable??  You can be a hobby demo and work a little, or make Stampin Up a full time business.  It's all up to you.  Wouldn't you love to join me and the Stampin Up family today?  Contact me and I can help you get started.

Until next time,

 

Here is the last of the sympathy cards for awhile.  I absolutely love the stamp Sail Away.  This card is a clean and simple card-but it took me the longest to make.  I think I had 5 or 6 attempts to get it right.  Being so clean and simple, the smallest mistake would show.  I made 4 cards in the time it took me to make this one card.  Oh well.  I know the family receiving this card will cherish it for a long time.

I used the oval from the Oval Scallop Frame & Big Shot for a reverse masking technique. I sponged the background on, colored in the boat with a black marker and stamped the sail on a scrap piece of Whisper White card stock and raised it with dimensionals.  Stamped a verse on it and there you have it.

Until next time,

Eggplant Sympathy Card

Here is the second sympathy card I have.  I used the retired set.  I stamped the flower with white craft ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  Then stamped twice with the craft ink to give a more dimensional look.

A few pearls in the corner,  1/4" white grosgrain ribbon, and the sentiment was stamped and punched with the decorative label punch and popped up on dimensionals.

Until next time,