Don't Lose Your Place

Are you like me?  I go to bed to read and it doesn't take long before the book is resting on my chest or the floor.  Or if I manage to stay awake, my bookmark falls out.  Well, I have been wanting to make one of these bookmarks for a long time.  I finally got around to it with the new Blossom punch from the Occasions Mini catalog.

Ok, so I made several. And can you tell what series has been my favorite lately?  (I can't wait for the movie Hunger Games to come-I just hope they stay true to the story)  This is a fun project to make, even though there isn't a bit of stamping on it.  I used the large scallop circle punch for the base, the blossom punch for the main flower and the middle is a circle punch that was put through the big shot with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder.  I used my FREE buttons I got from the saleabration catalog. (Don't forget the saleabration catalog ends March 31, 2012)  The ribbon loops around to hold the pages tight. Now I won't lose my place.

Here is a close up of the pink flower.  It shows the center fairly well in this photo.  I think the pattern almost looks like stamen of a flower, don't you?  I know my mother is laughing hysterically since I have the dark brown thumb of the family and I can only grow weeds!  However, I have seen living flowers (just not in my yard LOL)


Until next time,

Valentine's For Grown Ups!

What do you do when you are running out of time for ideas for the monthly stamp club?  You CASE of course (copy and steal everything or copy and share everything-depending on how you look at it).  Once again I went to the world wide web.  Here is the most sophisticated lollipop holder I have ever seen.  This is certainly not the lollipop holder you send your elementary student to school with.  Well, at least not at my house.

I thought that is a Valentine with style.  Oh no, I didn't have heart lollipops.  But wait, as usual I did have some secret chocolate hidden from the kids.  I know, you are completely in shock from that statement aren't you.  Since my club ladies are family, friends and close coworkers I was willing to share with them.  All of them are over 15 so they can appreciate Good Chocolate.

Once again, the Big Shot came in super handy.  One scallop envelope in River Rock, a small piece of Paisley Petals dsp, Cherry Cobbler punched with the Fancy Flower punch, a Bitty Button with hemp twine and retired ribbon.  Of course if I had thought of this project myself with these colors I would have ordered the Old Olive satin ribbon.  Oh well.  Besides, I had chocolate, so the ladies forgave me for not having a current ribbon color.  Thank you Ladies.

Hmmm, I hope my husband doesn't get jealous that he got a basic simple card and the ladies got a "Valentine's For Grown Ups".

Until next time,

True Blue In Love

Here is another card made with the super cute set PS I Love You.  Not the traditional pink or red colors, but my relationship with my husband isn't like anyone's I know-so it works.  Just like us. 

I'm not really sure what to say about this card.  It's pretty basic.  A card base, a little DSP, a little sponging,  two hearts stamped for two people,  a simple little verse. A simple pleasure I guess.   Hhmmmm, I think I have read that someplace before.  Oh I remember now, in the title of my blog LOL.

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

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,

Uncle Sam

Here is a simple scrapbook page.  I had made it for the Fourth of July.  I figured I would put photos from the fireworks.  Well, one place canceled the fireworks due to fog and we didn't make it to the other spot.  The joys of being some what coastal.  Oh well.

This was so simple it only used 3 punches and scrap paper.  The bird punch was used for almost everything. The bird body is the mustache. The wing made the eye brows and nose.  The eyes were punched from 1/4" punch and a small star was punched from Real Red glitter paper.  I love this paper from Stampin Up!  The glitter does not fall off.

I was inspired by this page I saw last year.  I have made this little man face into a Santa face as well.  My friend Gail had an idea of stamping clock pieces near him and changing the hat, it could be a Father Time.  Hmmm, that's something to think about.  Of course, I don't know what to do with this page exactly.  I guess I will keep it blank to see if my son decides to go into the service or not.


Later this week I will be getting ready for the Bay Festival.  I am hoping lots of  people will stop by on July 30th.

Until next time,

Happy Fourth of July

Here is a card I made for the June stamp club using the stamp my dear friend/customer had ordered earlier from me.  Don't you just love friends that you have known since you were little, and at the last minute you can just say "Hey, I'm using your stamp for our club" even before they get to see it in person, let alone use it?  I know I do, thanks again Kellie, you're the best!
So I think I have to order Land of the Free from the Summer Mini Catalog before it ends August 31.  Or maybe I will just keep borrowing Kellie's.

We used Real Red and Night of Navy card stock and markers.  Night of Navy ribbon.  We punched Whisper White stars with the star punch that retired.  I will miss that punch, I don't own many 4th of July stamps (obviously) and I use it every year for celebrating Independence Day.  We also used the now retired star brads.  We also used the Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Everyone loves this technique.

I hope you have a fun and safe 4th of July!

Until next time,

Zero Calorie Birthday Cake!

Here is a card I made trying to use up some old card stock and the new hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.  The birthday cake is actually a battery operated tealight.  Zero calories!! (My kind of cake-too bad it didn't have a thick layer of dark fudge chocolate frosting!)

I used Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange and Brilliant Blue card stock;  all the colors in some striped Designer Series Paper.  The frosting and cake plate are made with the small scallop circle punch.  Rhinestones were add to the top layer of the card and to the top of the cake.

I made this as a tent card.  The Only Orange layer on the inside of the card was punched with the scallop border punch.  It serves as an edge to brace the top layer on.  This cake would have to be hand delivered or maybe mailed in a cute little cake box from the bakery!

Until next time,

Punch Swap Reveal

Here is the finished card that I made for a die cut/ punch swap on VCRocks.  I showed you a sneak peak of the background.  Here is the completed card.  I used Basic Black and Real Red cardstock for the layers, and the DSP is from the hostess pack.

The lady bug is Basic Black and Real Red.  I used circle punches and a crop-a-dial for her spots.  The flower is Daffodil Delight punched with the small oval punch with a Chocolate Chip center.

The verse if from Great Friend, punched with the small oval and the scallop oval punch for the layer.  A little grosgrain ribbon and there you have a simple sweet little card.

Until next time,

New Triple Punch

order here

This is the coolest thing ever!   A punch that has three levels to it.  It is in the Summer Mini Catalog and I can't wait for my friends to try it out!  I used it for my April thank you notes.  I punched the bottom layer in black and In Colors.  A cute little pearl in the middle.

I teased my club members is a little note that said it was a sneak peak at what was coming for May.  I hope they have as much fun with it as I do.

Until next time,

VC Rocks Challenge

A challenge on VC Rocks was to use 2+1.  Select two colors from the same color family and the third color from a different family.  Black and white were free colors.  I picked Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and So Saffron.  I embossed them with the lattice embossing folder.

Part two of the challenge was to take the 3 colors, make them into a card and using only ONE verse stamp, make the card a congratulations card or a praise card.  I used "friend" from the Just Believe set.  I punched it out with the new decorative label punch.  I also added three rhinestones for a little bit of bling.

Until next time,