Another Name Frame

This is a second Name Frame Christmas present I made for the new grandson of our best friends. Liam's room is decorated in sports and dark blues. The name of his bedding is All Star! I pulled out an old retired Stampin' Up! Scrappin' Kit Toy Box to decorate his name. I thought the plaid decorative paper in this kit worked well with his room, too! The All Star tag is "hanging" off the bat with natural hemp. I stamped the large letters with Headline Alphabet (retiring tomorrow!) I'm going to miss that alphabet! The small All Star letters were stamped with Short Order alphabet. The only ball that is stamped is the football (for some reason one wasn't in the kit!) from the retired Touchdown stamp set. I stamped the football in Really Rust on Creamy Caramel cardstock and then colored the stitches and stripes with my White gel pen.

I spent yesterday helping my hubby build wood shelves for my studio. Before I had some ugly metal ones that I will re purpose into the storage area behind my studio to hold all those items that need to be "altered" yet...like tin mailboxes, altoids-type tins, candles, etc. They will work great and be out of site. The new shelves will hold my retired collection of stamp sets and miscellaneous tools like the Cuttlebug and Bind-it-All machines. I can't wait until it is finished. It was a major pain to take everything off the shelves I had...now my stuff is just sitting around in boxes. He is painting the shelves today, so hopefully I can get my stuff back to normal tomorrow. Although I'd love to do some organizing and cataloging before I put them back, I don't think it will get done until I'm back from Leadership. And I have too many projects due before I leave to think about it now. I have a class coming in on Thursday, so it has to be cleaned up! lol!

Blogger's Challenge #27

This week's challenge was again to show something that you were inspired by and recreate it. I am chosing to use the punch animals that Meredith Burnsed posted on SCS to create a home decor item.

One of the things I made for Christmas for the new grand-nieces and nephews, were their Name Frames. This one is for Cadence. Her room is done in Red with Black Frames and a farm animal theme. Looking thru my huge stash of stamps, I found that I didn't have many farm animals...the ones I did were smaller in size than I wanted to use.

I could find nothing Meredith made for the cow, so I made him up. Since this picture was taken, I did add a tail. The body is a rectangle and I rounded the corners. The head is a small white oval and then a trimmed pink oval for the nose. Ears and horns are the slot punch. I colored the spots with a black marker. At the bottom of his legs, I colored the feet black, too, but you don't see them in this view.

I used Well-Worn Alphabet for the letters. The grass is Wild Wasabi textured paper, cut with my scissors to resemble blades of grass.

The sheep used the Circle Scallop punch and half an oval for the face and slices cut from the other half of the oval for the ears. The chick is a 1" circle and a 1/2" circle, then a 1/2" circle cut in half for the wing. The pig is a 1-3/8" circle for the body, 1" circle for the head and 1/2" circle for the nose...each layer is popped up. The fence was the Word Window punch, stamped with Weathered for a wood grain look.

It was SO much fun to make. Although Cadence is only one, I don't know how much she appreciates it right now, but her dad and grandma loved it!

2-5-7-10 Gift Boxes

I hope everyone had a very, merry Christmas! Ours went by TOO fast, of course. We try to fit SO much into those two days, but we do get to see a lot of people we only see a couple times a year. That makes it fun. My poor husband hasn't felt too well. We don't know if he ate something, or just is suffering from a bug. Today he is on the couch...hopefully he will feel better soon. The house is a wreck anyway...I can work around him and get things cleaned up.

I wanted to show you the boxes I made. These are the gift boxes that I made to hold gift cards and small objects we gave out at Christmas. It is a regular 2-5-7-10 box that I added the white scallop edge and placed a Scallop Circle on the front for the To/From tag. I cut pieces of the wrapping paper I used this year and glued to the flap of the box. I punched the holes at the top for the ribbon with my Crop-A-Dile...that makes it SO easy to go through several layers of paper. Inside was a gift card and some peppermint patties.

What craft items did you receive this year? I received Cut N Up cartridge for my Cricut machine, the Ribbon iron, a Michael's gift card, and a brand new flat plasma TV for my studio! It is already installed and I love it, because it gives SO much more space on my counter than that old TV took up!

Luckily, we don't have too many exchanges to do this year. I only had one duplicate gift and one item my son received is too small. I already purchased my wrapping paper for next year, so there is really no reason to go out today at all. Yeah! Hopefully you don't have to do too much today, either, and you can catch your breath after all the rush!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We are starting off this afternoon on our yearly trek around the city with parties and gift giving!

Safe travels everyone...

Snowman tags

Every year I make my tags for the packages under the tree. All my packages are wrapped in the same paper, and I make the tags to match. Usually I change the color of the bows so we know which gift goes to which family and to make it easy to sort them when we are ready to go. This year I made the tags different colors instead so the separate families are easy to identify.

The base snowman is actually the snow globe from Doodlecharms cut on my Cricut and set at 2". The hat is the 1-1/4 square punch, the brim is the word window punch. The snowflake punch is retired. I stamped the faces with Cold Play (retiring this month...I'm sad!) To/From is from Holiday Tag Time set. I had the narrow ribbon in my stash. I think they make my packages FUN!

Hope you are enjoying the last few days before Christmas. I need to finish one more gift and do some baking on Christmas Eve. Feeling in pretty good shape. If I have time, I'd like to make up some coaster calendars for everyone. We'll see!

Week #26 Blogger's Challenge - Moveable cards

One of my favorite things to do is make moveable cards. I've always been intrigued on getting a blank piece of cardstock to be interactive. Shaker cards were one of the first cards I saw when I started stamping! I looked at the demo's sample most of the night, I think, trying to figure out how she made it! Soon after I started stamping, I attempted to make one...I'll try to find that original card and show you...it was pretty funny! Thank heavens I've perfected the art of making shaker cards now (after doing a shaker card swap and having to make 15 of them!)

So...here is this week's Blogger's Challenge card. I used the snowman from Wishing You Cheer as the focal piece and stamped him on Very Vanilla. I cut a piece of Real Red cardstock the same size as the Vanilla and sandwiched the beads between the two pieces with foam tape and a clear window sheet. I used the Giga Scallop Oval punch for the front.

A tip on getting words the correct way on a Round Tab Punch...maybe you figured it out already. I punch the Tab and then stamp the words "Merry & Bright" on it. That way the placement is correct. I added a little red Rhinestone brad under the words for some bling.

This was a fun challenge! Hope you check out the rest of the Blogger's who participate each week.

Sets: Wishing You Cheer, Holiday Tag Team, Merry & Bright
C/S: Real Red, Glorious Green, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Dashing DSP, Clear window sheet
Inks: Black Stazon, Glorious Green, markers
Other: Non-SU Giga Scallop Oval punch, Mini beads, Rhinestone brad, Round Tab punch

Baroque Motifs coasters

You may remember that I told you I made a set of four coasters for each of my husband's employees. We gave these to them at our Holiday party last Friday. Here are pictures of the finished coasters. I think they turned out nice! I used the set Baroque Motifs and Stazon retired colors of Blazing Red and Olive. I placed them in the oven for 20 minutes on 250 and then used a light spray of Krylon Workable Fixative to seal them. I placed four felt "feet" on the bottom of each to help protect their tables. I wrapped them in Stampin' Up!'s awesome Pomegranate satin ribbon...that stuff is NICE. Everyone was pleased!

Still playing catch-up on all my Christmas projects. I have one more gift card to buy and then I'm DONE shopping and it is a Walmart. I plan to get up early and beat the traffic there tomorrow morning. Almost everything is wrapped, tags are all done. I have a few more Christmas cards to make and a couple name frames for the great niece and great nephew. All those I hope to whip out tomorrow. Yeah! I must work well under pressure...cause I've just been cranking everything out! lol!

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season! Less than a week away, now...

Peaceful Wishes

This card is one that was "rejected" by a magazine for their holiday cards submission. Funny, the other one I made (Christmas Cowboy) was accepted in last month's Rubber Stamper magazine (their last issue). I actually liked THIS card better! Who knows how they choose what to publish.

But, I am excited that I have two other cards published in the Valentine's issues of Craft N Things and Rubber Stamp Madness! I haven't seen either one in print, but I'm floating on Cloud 9! Woohoo!

This card uses some scrapbook paper from my "stash"...I don't have the manufacturer, sorry. I inked the mistletoe with Old Olive and Real Red markers and stamped on Shimmer White cardstock. Peace is from the retired set Perfect Endings (I think). I punched the Old Olive flowers (non-SU punch) and added red brads to their centers. They are popped up off the page with dimensionals. It is a square 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 finished card. Enjoy!

I'm slowly catching up...most of my cards are mailed with the Christmas letter that I wrote on Sunday. I started wrapping and tomorrow will work on making tags for the packages. Still have a few gifts to make and some gift certificates to purchase, but the rest of the gift purchasing I finished up this morning! Yeah! I'm feeling in control again!

Baroque Motif frame

Well, I SURVIVED! Oh my gosh...last night's holiday party dinner nearly put me over the edge. (Next year I'm having it catered!) I spent most of today recovering (after delivering some orders in a horrible snowstorm that hit this morning!) Hopefully tomorrow I will feel like I'm back in the Christmas spirit and get some things done (like writing my Christmas letter, mailing cards, making my tags, wrapping gifts.) I plan to finish my shopping on Monday...yeah! Just a few things left to get and then some gift certificates.

Here is another one of the projects that my Last Minute Gifts class made. The shadow box frames I purchased at the Target $ spot last year. I bought a WHOLE bunch, so still have quite a few left for gifts! I love how these turned out...easy to change the colors to fit the recipient's taste.

For the center, I stamped the medallion from Baroque Motifs twice with Versamark and then Groovy Guava ink on River Rock cardstock, applied Iridescent Ice EP and heat set....very sparkly. Then I trimmed both the medallions to get just the floral part. I mounted the two together and layered on the Scallop Circle punch, then used my Round Tab punch to form a Very Vanilla circle behind the Scallop. The Jumbo eyelet went thru all layers with my Crop A Dile (just like butter!), then I added the Rhinestone in the center of the Jumbo eyelet. The swirl in the set was stamped with Wild Wasabi on the Wild Wasabi background and the mat. I stamped Cherish in Wild Wasabi and punched with the large oval punch. All together a very nice gift, I think. Wouldn't you like to receive it?

Blogger's Challenge Week #25

This week's Blogger's Challenge was to make a Sympathy card. Since I send out a lot of Sympathy cards, my practice is to make up a dozen or so at a time. I leave the insides blank and quickly stamp the sentiment when I need one.

I love the simplicity of this design. Clean and crisp comes to mind. The flowering branch from Artfully Asian is stamped on Shimmer paper and watercolored. Faith comes from a retired set...I stamped off the left side of the stamp (it normally has the long script line on both sides of the word Faith), so it now appears as the letter f is just starting. I mounted the White Shimmer cardstock on Chocolate Chip...leaving a thin border. I've used the ticket corner punch on both layers. The So Saffron piece is stamped with Sanded background in So Saffron for a tone-on-tone look. A simple knot ribbon finishes the card. The wide Chocolate Chip satin ribbon that is ON SALE now would have looked great, but I ran out! Time for me to order more...

Check out the other Blogger's for their Sympathy card creations.

Tonight is my hubby's holiday dinner party at our house. I have things mostly ready to go. Just need to finish up some last minute cleaning (my studio!) and pull the meal together. Yesterday, I baked four Pumpkin Rolls for dessert. I didn't make them last year, and I'd forgotten how long they take me! I always try to make several when I do, because I always make a big mess. lol! They are yummy, though...and worth the effort. In previous years, I've made them for neighbors and friends...they make a nice dessert, freeze well and look good when served!

Lip Balm Directions

Lots of requests for a tutorial...but truly, I don't have the time before Christmas to do it...sorry! I'm getting ready for my husband's holiday party this weekend, then need to finish shopping, wrapping, making gifts. I know a bunch of you are in the same situation, right? Anyway...here are some directions that I used to make the lip balm holder. They really are simple to do.

Lip Balm Holder

Outside Piece 5 3/4" x 3 1/2" Score at 2 1/2" & 3 1/4"
Inside Piece 5 1/2" x 3 1/4" Score at 2 3/8" & 31/8"

Decorate the front as desired. Place 15" of ribbon between top decoration and the front of top piece to hold in place.

Temporarily place the lip balm on the inside piece (between the two score lines) and mark with a pencil the top and bottom. Then use the slit punch, making sure the straight line base is at the pencil marks. (I actually marked my slit punch on the metal so they could tell how far to go in with the punch.) Wrap a piece of decorative paper around lip balm. I put a small piece of double stick tape down the center to help secure the lip balm between the two slits.

Adhere both outside and inside pieces together. Tie to close!

Wishing You Cheer

I'm so glad I bought this set when it was on sale last month. It is a fun little set...not too small and not too big...just right! This lip balm holder was another one of the Last Minute Gifts that my class did last week. The Snowman was stamped in Basic Black and colored with markers. I added a little sparkle on the snowflakes and ground with Stickles Crystal Glitter Glue. Inside, the slit punch holds the lip balm in place. I added a little double-sided tape for extra hold. I wrapped the lip balm with Dashing Double-sided paper to obscure the writing on it. The Wishing You Cheer verse is stamped on the left and room to write a personal note on the right. Stampin' Up!'s red gingham ribbon (great for the holidays!) holds it closed. Wouldn't these be fun gifts for some special gals in your life?

Hope you are enjoying getting ready for the holidays. I'm feeling a little more in control today! Did some shopping yesterday...mainly gift certificates left to get. I have my menu set for the holiday party on Friday night. Just need to write down the ingredients I need at the store, then go out tomorrow and buy them. I finished their gifts (rats...I forgot to take a picture of them all lined up!) I made sets of 4 tile coasters using Baroque Motifs in Wild Wasabi and Purely Pomegranate...they turned out nice! I wrapped them with the Purely Pomegranate ribbon that is on SALE right now! Working with that ribbon is awesome...so easy to tie pretty bows!

Don't forget the retired accessories list is out! Get your retiring stamps and accessories now...

Coaster Calendars

This was another project we did at my Last Minute Gifts class last Thursday. And my Stamp Club will be making this project in January (don't tell the others, Pat!) These are very quick and easy to make, but look nice sitting on a desk or counter!

The base is a 2" binder clip that I altered by attaching Cutie Pie dotted paper. I added a punched flower with a mini brad in the center. The top is a 4" coaster covered on both sides with Cutie Pie double sided paper. I added the calender on a So Saffron layer, then punched the 5 petal flower twice in Purely Pomegranate and once in Wild Wasabi...cutting two of the petals off to make the leaves. The center is a button. The flower is popped up using dimensionals. Ribbons around the binder clips hold the coaster tight!

I've got a very busy week. I need to make 12 Christmas gifts by Friday, finish decorating, clean, plan a menu for Friday night's Christmas party, grocery shop, make the dinner.... Whew! I'll be glad when this week is over! I'll try to get to my Blog as much as possible. I have a couple more things to show you from the Last Minute Gifts class!

Bloggers Challenge Week #24 Watercoloring

This week's challenge was to use watercoloring. Since I had two classes this week and getting ready to leave town in about an hour, I didn't have time to design something new this morning. However, recently I saw a recipe book that Jan Tink had made and loved it! Yesterday, I made up mine smaller than hers, but used a very similar design...I figured, how can you improve on perfection?

Last night was my Last Minute Gifts class, and I made each person one of these base recipe books to finish. I covered the chipboard and used my Bind-it-All to put it together ahead of time. But, they finished by adding the coordinating paper, ribbon and stamped chef image. The only decoration inside are the tabs and recipe pages...they can choose what categories. Like Jan says, I think it is just STINKIN' CUTE and my class loved it! lol!

Voila chef is colored with Watercolor crayons to meet this challenge! Make sure to check out the other Blogger's who participate!

Friends

The last few days, I have been working on my Technique class and my Holiday Last Minute Gifts class that is tomorrow. Soon I hope to get everything photographed and share on here.

In the meantime, I made this earlier this year and thought it appropriate for today...we had 6 inches of snow dumped on us and another storm on the way! AND, it turned COLD...brrrrr!

I originally saw a card on Papercrafts that showed the snowman and penguin together...I adapted it using Stampin' Up!'s punches and stamps...changed the layout...and added some ribbon. Didn't it turn out CUTE? I'll try to recreate the recipe.

Sets: Cold Play (retiring soon!)
C/S: Real Red, Basic Black, Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Inks: Not Quite Navy, Going Gray, White Craft, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Other: 1" and 1-1/4" circle punch, Flower Bouquet punch, Small & Large Oval punches, 1/8" circle punch, Basic Black marker, Red gingham ribbon, non-SU heart punch, Liquid Glue and Dazzling Diamonds

Merry & Bright

Oh, I just can't let this Merry & Bright set go away...I love it! It is so cheery for the holidays! Plus, I love snowmen and this little one is SO cute. The size is great...fits in our circle punches so nicely. MAYBE it will be in the new catalog! I can hope, right? I included a close-up of the trio of stamps used on the medallions.

I have been wanting to do another trio box since I made the Halloween ones. This one I used the Dashing paper...so cute! Can I say again that I LOVE that paper? lol! I spray painted the lids of the nesting boxes and then wrapped the paper around the sides. I made a "ribbon" to go around the boxes and then added the dangling Merry & Bright ornaments with red gingham ribbon! Fun!

This was also my first time to make up one of the bows from DSP...so easy! I love the result. I'm challenged this year finding bows that match some snowmen paper I found on sale after Christmas last year...now I can find some DSP and make up my own...just for those special packages. I think Wintergreen should match pretty well.

The Women's Expo is over, now I'm preparing for two more classes this week. Then I am DONE and can start working on making my own holiday gifts, finish my decorating, get ready for my hubby's holiday party next weekend, write my holiday letter and mail out my Christmas cards...whew! I'm exhausted thinking about it! lol!

RETIRED list is HERE!

Wow...it is time for a new catalog already! Stampin' Up! will premiere the new Spring/Summer 2008 catalog on January 1st. But...you know BEFORE the new catty comes out, that Stampin' Up! shows the list of stamp sets that will be retiring! The stamps on this list will only be available until December 31st, then they will no longer be available.

Here is the list of retiring sets in Alphabetical order.

Here is the list of retiring sets by Page number.

Check them out...then let me know which ones are on your "must have" list. I'll be happy to place an order for you.

Today's Women's Expo was fun...everyone loved our Make & Take. (I'll bring one home with me tomorrow to show you.) I'm tired, but ready to go back in the morning and finish up!

Blogger's Challenge Week #23

Wow...these weeks are really zipping by! Seems like I just posted the last challenge! This week's challenge was to create two cards using the same stamps, but with a different point of view. This gives us the opportunity to see different ways to use the same stamps. My set of choice is Snow Flurries. The six different snowflakes in this set are so much fun to use.

The first card, I used the pointed snow flurry stamp to create a wreath. I punched a 1-1/4 size circle, then used that as a template to create the wreath around it. When I removed the punched circle, I have a uniform wreath! I went looking for a small saying that would fit in the center of the wreath, and found Very Merry in the Holiday Tag Team set. Christmas came from the All Holidays set and I did marker omit in order to just color the word "Christmas". Once again, Dashing designer paper is used...I need to make sure to order another pack today! I'm almost out of this fun paper...AND the sale ends today!

The second card I used the pointed snow flurry stamped in Soft Sky all over the background. The verse comes from Solemn Stillness and is stamped in Night of Navy Navy and then layered on Night of Navy cardstock. I wrapped the Soft Sky Double Stitch ribbon around the bottom and added a couple punched circle scallops underneath the focal point.

Be sure to check out the other Blogger's playing this week! I'm sure you will be inspired, too! I'll be at the Women's Expo most of the weekend, so will try to check in...I have a stacking box that I made for the Expo display to show you!

Peaceful Wishes

Two of my sideline demo friends are joining me in working a Women's Expo this weekend...they are expecting between 5000-7000 people to walk thru. We are hoping for lots of new leads! We've been working on our display for the past few weeks. One of things we are doing is offering a chance to win a basket of stamping goodies if they sign up to be on our email list. We've included several stamp sets, paper, ink pads and I made these two finished projects to include using one of my favorite go-to stamp sets, Peaceful Wishes. One item is a Memory book or journal, and the other is a wrapped decorated candle. Details include gold embossed words, Brushed Gold cardstock, and Stampin' Up!'s wonderful 5/8" grosgrain ribbon! That ribbon is SO easy to tie! Love it! I've wrapped up all this in a basket with cello and a BIG bow! I'd like to win it myself! lol!

I'm going to try to post the Blogger's Challenge in the morning if I get everything packed up tonight. We are setting up for the Expo tomorrow afternoon. I'll be glad when this is over! lol!

Party invitations

Every year, my husband asks me to make party invitations for his work group. We always invite them over for dinner/drinks at Christmas time to thank them for the work they've done throughout the year. Everyone brings a "white elephant gift" and we play that exchange game after dinner. I've been so busy that I'm just now getting around to doing them.

I was browsing Kristina Werner's Blog today and saw a cute card she made...perfect! I could convert it into my invitation! Hers was a round card with a bow at the top...I converted mine into a paper ornament by adding the Round Tab punch at the top and tying gold cord into a bow! I think they turned out great...can't wait until my hubby hand delivers them tomorrow to everyone!

This is the outside of the first one I did. The inside has two round layered white circles. The bottom circle holds the invite, the top circle the directions and info about the white elephant exchange.

Hmmm, I just realized there is NO stamping on this anywhere! lol! But, I love the Wintergreen Double Sided Designer Paper from Stampin' Up! The letters were cut with my Cricut and the George cartridge. My bow isn't showing up well, either...sorry!

C/S: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Wintergreen DSP

Other: Round Tab punch, Gold stretch cord, Round Coluzzle

Ginormous Flowers

Once again I am pulling out this set! I need some quick and easy birthday cards and this set and layout is so fun! Combine it with Darling Doodles designer paper and it is a WINNER! Don't forget...the Buy 3, get 1 free Designer Paper ends November 30th...make sure to EMAIL me with your order before the sale is over!

This card in Certainly Celery is cut lengthwise (4 1/4 x 11) and folded in half, then the top flap is folded back on itself. I added the Darling Doodles designer paper to this top section. The Ginormous flower is stamped with Groovy Guava on a separate piece of Whisper White and layered on Groovy Guava...I used the ticket corner on each edge. I punched a 1-1/4 circle of Certainly Celery for the center along with a stamped and punched (1") small flower...adding a mini brad in the center. When you place the layered piece on top of the base card, don't forget that you only want to adhere the left 1/2 of the layered piece...then pull to open and close! Fun!

And yes...the last thing I stamped was Happy Birthday and it is crooked...I'm going to need to see how I can fix it...grrrrrr....I just figured I'd show it to you anyway.

Supersize Snowflake

Sorry I've been neglecting my Blog a little the past week. But, after today things should be back to normal around here.

I loved this Supersize Snowflake the minute I saw it in the Holiday Mini Catalog...especially when it is a TWO for ONE stamp! You have a solid image (as shown) and an outline imagine to stamp. I have plans to stamp a few and cut them out, then hang them in my side view windows at the front door! I think it will look fun! This card is one that I designed for my Stamp Club this month. I'll be sad when it goes away at the end of November. (So...this week is your last chance to order it!)

I stamped the large solid Snowflake with Bashful blue slightly off-center and off the cardstock. I cut off "Winter Wishes" from the stamp and mounted it on the side of the wood block...this made it easy for me to stamp the saying separately using Night of Navy ink. You can see the detail using the paper piercer and mat in each corner. I also made up some Faux Diamond Dust with Ballet Blue paper and punched the Snow Blossom out of it. A little added bling with the blue brad to secure the Snow Blossom to the white cardstock. This would make a great Christmas card...pretty easy, yet it has a lot of impact! The white is layered on Night of Navy and then Bashful Blue.

Have a good evening!

Blogger's Challenge Week #22

Sorry I'm posting late...I finally finished my Display Maker projects yesterday, photographed them and MAILED them out! I'm so excited to be done. This has been a HUGE undertaking! Although I love the creation and design process...doing so many in just a few weeks is exhausting! I spent the rest of yesterday re-charging my "batteries" and anxiously watching the LSU/Arkansas game! Because we are HUGE Ohio State University fans, we were wanting LSU knocked off...and they did lose! That moves us one step closer to playing in the Championship game.

Anyway...this week's Blogger's challenge was to find something that inspires you. Again, the Pier One catalog appeared in my mailbox and I flipped through to find this awesome holiday display! To me the colors are represented by Stampin' Up!'s Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi with metallic gold accents. Very FRESH! And, have you seen the colored Christmas trees in the stores? Almost every color! I love this Turquoise tree! Hard to see in this picture, but the circles along the left all sparkle with Irridescent Ice EP, along with the garland and centers of the tree. The star is punched from Brushed Gold cardstock. It is a very unusual colored holiday card! Enjoy!

Hope you all had a very Happy Thanksgiving! Ours was wonderful...

Happy Turkey Day!

I made this card to send to my niece and nephew for Thanksgiving! I totally CASED it from someone online and for the life of me I can't find my note with their name on it to give them credit. I absolutely LOVED their idea! Too clever.

The body is done with the small oval punch and the "feathers" are made from two Scallop Circle punches from Apple Cider paper. The diamonds are individually cut in a row from the Apple Cider paper, too!

I'll be brief here...lots to do to get ready for Turkey Day tomorrow. I'm grateful to all of you checking my Blog! Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Lovely as a Tree

I am rearranging my black presentation board in preparation for a Women's Expo show I am doing in a couple weeks. I ran across this card posted on the board. Lovely as a Tree is one of my most favorite sets. I made this card for convention swap back several years ago (and my Christmas card that same year!) I can't even count the number of people who contacted me AFTER convention and asked how I made it. I'm amazed, except for the Merry Christmas greeting (which could be easily substituted), it still is current!

For this card, I stamped the tree with Black Stazon on clear acetate window sheet. I flipped it over and added touches of Liquid Glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The Night of Navy background is stippled and sponged with silver Encore ink. The top layer is Brushed Silver, cut with the oval coluzzle, and I stamped Merry Christmas with Black Stazon. At the top I punched the two holes for the black eyelets and added a bow with Silver Cord.

I think it is fun to run across old cards I've made. It is amazing to see how your style changes over the years. Since I've been stamping over six years now, I've seen a lot of trends come and go. Do you have any of your first cards sitting around?

Blog Candy Winner!

My husband chose the random number 25 to be the winner of my 40,000 hits Blog Candy! Michelle, please send me an email with your address! If I receive no response within 48 hours, I will choose another number. Thanks everyone for participating! Be looking for more coming soon!


Michelle M said...
Congratulations on 40,000 hits. You have a very inspiring blog and I love to sneak a visit now and then.I am thankful to find out that I am pregnant with my first child. I am grateful that everything is going smoothly.
November 13, 2007 4:28 PM

Today I finished my Christmas cards (I had run out of Basic Grey paper), stamped the greeting and my name on the back...all I need to do now is address them and write our Christmas letter. Yes, I'm one of those that does a letter to fill everyone in on the Babbert happenings during the year. So many of our relatives live out of town or we only see once a year, it is nice to get them caught up all at once!

Tomorrow I have free to stamp ALL day! Yeah! I'm finishing up my Display Maker work for Stampin' Up! Soon will have that task off my desk..yeah!

Lovely as a Tree ornament

Yeah, Buckeyes! Ohio State beat Michigan! Woohoo!

A few weeks ago when I posted my Challenge ornaments, I promised to find the ornament that was featured in Rubber Stamp Madness a couple years ago. I finally located it on my computer. Sorry the image is so small...this scan was made way before I started blogging! lol!

The beveled glass ornament is stamped with Ultramarine Blue Stazon on the front, turned over and applied liquid glue with Dazzling Diamonds to add a lot of sparkle. I used the large tree from Lovely as a Tree. The edges were wrapped with Sticky Strip and dipped into Blue and Silver microbeads (purchased at Pennywisearts) The ribbon is 7/8 Blue organdy and Silver metallic ribbon from Stampin' Up! (both retired, sorry!)

We'll be stamping one of these beveled ornaments at my Last Minute gifts class...don't forget to sign up!

Blogger's Challenge #21 - Color Challenge

Posting this a little early since I'll be gone all day tomorrow. This week's Friday Blogger's challenge was to use the colors of Brocade Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip. I must admit...I would never have tossed in Brocade Blue with that combination! But, I guess that is why it is called a "challenge"!

I haven't used this set, With Gratitude, very much, even though Earth Elements and the fall colors are my favorites. I like the veins that are apparent in these leaves...makes them very realistic looking. The layout of this card I borrowed from Cambria...I liked how she added the little tag up in the corner. I added the Jumbo eyelet (love them!) and ribbon in the lower left to her layout design.

The background on the Pumpkin Pie layer is stamped with the smaller leaves in this set, with Pumpkin Pie ink. Then I over stamped Sanded with Chocolate Chip. The Old Olive layer is also stamped with the smaller leaves in Old Olive, then I used my Old Olive direct-to-paper. The large leaf is stamped with Pumpkin Patch Spectrum Pad on Confetti Cream paper. I realized after I put it all together that the wide Brocade Blue ribbon would have been awesome...but it was already adhered together and I wasn't going to mess with taking it apart.

Check out the rest of the Blogger's to see what they did with this challenge! Have a great weekend!

Sets: With Gratitude, Sanded

C/S: Brocade Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Patch Spectrum pad

Other: Jumbo Eyelet, Crop-a-dile, Brocade ribbon (retired), Distressing tool, Round Tab Punch

Cracked Glass snowman

Just a quick post here...I'm still busy finishing up my Display Maker items...just a few more things to make. I'm also getting ready for my Stamp Club on Friday, plus pulling together things for a Women's Expo I'm doing the beginning of December. My mom called and wants to get her Christmas shopping done for my family TOMORROW! It has become a tradition for us to go shopping together...and it is fun, just a really busy time for me. Actually, it didn't have to be tomorrow, but between her "retired" schedule and my schedule, there was not another available day until after Thanksgiving...and she likes to be almost done by then!

This is always a fun technique...cracked glass...although it does make a mess! That Glassy Glaze embossing powder blows all over the place! We did this at my technique class last week and it always is a huge WOW! No one can believe you actually put it in the freezer and then crack it! Fun.

This is a simple card, using the Snowman from Holiday Tag Team. Great for making a lot of cards because it isn't too involved. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this little guy...he just seems to be the perfect size. Something a little different, I tied 3 knots in the ribbon before I wrapped it around the back of the Bashful Blue layer to secure...just a little extra texture on the front instead of a knot.

Don't forget to comment on the 40,000 hits post for Blog Candy! I'll be picking a winner on Sunday!

BLOG CANDY!!!! 40,000 hits!

Oh my gosh, everyone! We FLEW by 40,000 hits on my Blog! I can't believe it...thank you SO much for visiting. I hope I'm giving you lots of ideas. It is the season for being thankful, so I'm going to put together a Blog Candy package to give away! Now...to be honest...I knew I was getting close to 40,000, but I have procrastinated putting any thought into what I would give away. I promise I'll put together a sweet little package for you! Hopefully I can get a picture up tomorrow. But, in order to win this blog candy, I'd like you to post a comment about something that you are grateful for...I'll choose a random winner on Sunday, November 18th!

Here is another Star Box I made...this one a little shorter than yesterday's box. I happen to like it a little shorter. Someone asked if I would make a lid for them when I gave them away. No, I probably won't make a lid, but I will stamp some tissue paper to hang out above the box. I used Cutie Pie paper on this one (I HOPE this stays in the new catalog!) The DSP is layered onto the Saffron Cardstock...making it less bulky than the one I made yesterday. These are a LOT of fun to make!

I used Ginormous Flowers in Purely Pomegranate, punched with the 1 3/8" circle, then punched the Scallop Circle punch from Wild Wasabi, and used the Round Tab punch to make my circle for behind the Scallop punch...in the center is a little pink Rhinestone brad! Enjoy!

Dashing Star Box

I made a couple of these Star Boxes at the Retreat last weekend! I'm planning on making up several of these as packaging for gift cards this Christmas. It seems that everyone likes gift cards and that is something easy for me to get...especially when my great nieces and nephews have SO many toys I wouldn't have any idea what they already have. And the older ones always need cash/gift cards for gas, clothes, CDs, etc. I'll tuck in some homemade goodies to go with the gift card. Funny thing, both my boys put "suit" on their Christmas lists...I can tell they are getting older and out in the business world. lol!

I love our Designer Papers, especially for projects like these Star Boxes...they are a very nice heavy weight paper. This was, my first one, was layered onto base white cardstock as suggested, but the following ones I used colored cardstock as one of the layers and I actually liked that a little better...not so bulky. Too bad you can't make these bigger...it would be great for a bottle of wine if the paper size came larger than 12x12!

Again, don't forget our Pretty Paper November sale...Buy 3 paper packs and get 1 Free! I put a link up on my sidebar where you can click to see all the paper patterns!

An additional Stampin' Up! special is in honor of Dave Abbott, the General Manager of Stampin' Up! Australia, who passed away from a rare blood disease, leaving behind a wife and 3 young children. 100% of the proceeds from the stamp set, All in the Family, purchased in November will be donated to Dave Abbott Family Fund. I'm proud to be a part of a company that cares so much about their employees and customers. My personal goal is to sell at least 10 stamp sets to help. Please contact me to order your set.

Bloggers Challenge #20 - Photos or Magazines

This week's Bloggers' Challenge was to use photos or magazines on our cards. I was wondering what to do for this challenge until I remembered a technique called Faux Cloisonne...it was on an old Carol Duvall show I watched a few years ago. I had done a Technique class using it and everyone enjoyed it! (New class members be watching...we'll be doing this next month!)

So, my teddy bear from Bundle of Joy is actually cut from a piece of magazine...if you look closely, you can see the polka dots on his body from the photographed fabric. I thought the pattern paired nicely with Cutie Pie stripe DSP in the colors of Bashful Blue, Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi. (Don't forget the SALE this month on Designer Series Paper!)

Be sure to check out the other talented ladies doing this challenge by visiting their Blogs!

Sets: Bundle of Joy, Circle of Friendship

C/S: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi

Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Bashful Blue, Versamark

Other: Gold EP, 1-1/4, 1-3/8 and Scallop Circle punches, Small oval punch, paper piercing tool and mat, gold mini brads

Faux Layers Technique

Woohoo! Grey's Anatomy is on tonight! Can't wait to see it...the one show I simply CAN'T miss! But, I recorded last week's since I was gone and just remembered that I needed to watch it before tonight's show! So, today I get a DOUBLE dose of Grey's!!!

This will be a quick post...I'm still frantically working on Display items for Leadership. Any stamping time I get I am working on that assignment. I haven't even had time to photograph the things I did over my Retreat weekend!

This is another card my Techniques Class made the other night! This technique is called Faux Layers...a quick and easy way to add some depth to your card. On this card, I tore a piece of cardstock longer than my cardfront, then used the torn edge as a mask, covering the side I didn't want colored. I used a sponge with So Saffron to color. Then inked up the Paisley BG with More Mustard and stamped over the colored area...leaving the mask in place. Once removed, the "torn" edge resembles another layer on the card! I stamped the flower and tag with Blue Bayou and cut them out. The center is a Faux button...More Mustard punched with a 1/2 circle and tied with hemp!

Sets: Be Happy, Paisley BG

C/S: Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, More Mustard

Inks: So Saffron, More Mustard, Blue Bayou

Other: Natural Hemp, 1/16 punch, 1/2 circle punch, dimensionals

Summer by the Sea

As we are winding towards winter, I wanted to capture one more glimpse of summer (even though there were snow showers here yesterday!) My technique class did this card last night using a technique called Watercolor Wash. When I was looking for a beach scene type of stamp, I remembered Summer by the Sea that is on the Dormant List at Stampin' Up! Basically that means it is still available to order, but that it does not appear in the Fall/Winter catalog. I also need a Wedding card, so this one will do double duty!

To do Watercolor Wash, I scribbled 3 different colors of Watercolor Crayons (Tempting Turquoise, Apricot Appeal, Creamy Caramel) on Shimmer cardstock. You can also substitute Watercolor paper or Confetti/Naturals paper. Then I took my Aquapainter and brushed across the scribbles to soften and blend them into each other. After it dries, you stamp your image on top using Black Stazon ink and you are done! However, in this case, I wanted the man and woman to come to the foreground a little...so I did an additional step by watercoloring them in using Night of Navy, Taken with Teal, Garden Green and Creamy Caramel watercolor crayons. This makes them pop forward and the background recede. Pretty cool technique, I think! I kept the rest of the card simple with clean lines so it wouldn't detract from the stamped image.

Sets: Summer by the Sea, Warm Words

C/S: Soft Sky, Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, Shimmer White

Inks: Black Stazon

Other: Watercolor crayons, Aquapainter, Piercing tool and mat, Silver mini brads

Late Blogger's Challenge #19

Yes...I am back. Actually I returned last night, but I've been SO tired! I think I averaged about 4 hours sleep each night. We all had a WONDERFUL time, though. So much creativity in one room is very awesome.

Last Friday's challenge was to use embellishments...well, I love these little Rhinestone brads! I find I use them on almost everything I make anymore. This is a little two pocket treat purse that I made at the retreat. I used one of the Rhinestone brads in the center of the scallop on the front. These purses are SO much fun...be looking at my classes...we'll be doing one soon, I promise! Tuck in some hot chocolate and a gift card for a sweet little treat!

Not going to stay on here...I'm still recovering and have to get ready for a Technique Class tomorrow. Don't forget!!! The Designer Paper is on sale this month at Stampin' Up! Buy 3 packs get 1 free! Email me today to take advantage of this wonderful sale! I'll be featuring Designer Paper throughout the month on my Blog!

Sets: In the Spotlight
C/S: Very Vanilla, Wanted DSP
Inks: Really Rust
Other: Slot punch, Scallop Circle punch, Rhinestone brad, sponge, Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon

Off to a Stamping Retreat!!!

Well, I'm off tomorrow to a full weekend of stamping! I can hardly wait! My husband swears I took the entire studio with me...and I know, I over packed. But, I "may" need it...you know? You just never know when you need that special thing. I have an idea in my head for my Christmas cards, just need to get it on paper. Plus, I'm taking a few things to alter for Christmas gifts!

Here is the Make & Take I'm taking to the retreat for everyone to do. It is based off Patty Bennett's family album. Actually, I don't know what to call this...it is more like a Card Album, but you could use it as a scrapbook element. I think it would make a great Christmas card filled with pictures. Anyway...I know the gals will love it, cause they are major scrapbookers. You should SEE their stuff! Oh my, they do AWESOME work! Funny how the larger size of scrapbooking is harder for ME, but the smaller size of cards intimidate these gals! I guess it is just what you get used to making.

Have an AWESOME weekend! I hope to have LOTS to post when I get back late Sunday/Monday.

Oh...I hope to get the Blogger's Challenge done tomorrow morning and posted early!

Sets: Ginormous Flowers, Define your Life

C/S: Old Olive, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Fall Flowers DSP

Inks: Old Olive, Really Rust, Basic Black

Other: Mini gold brad, Soft Sky DS ribbon, 5-petal punch, Scallop circle punch, 1 and 1-1/4 circle punches, paper piercer and mat, dimensionals

Thanksgiving Turkey card

I know some of you have seen this card, but I saw it again when I was clearing out some old files today. I thought it would be appropriate for the season! I think he is awful cute and made almost entirely of small and large oval punches and 1-1/4 circle punch. The head/neck is hand cut, along with the beak and waddle.

It is kind of funny, but I made this turkey last year when I was at a stamping/scrapping retreat. The SAME retreat I'm headed off to on Thursday afternoon! I love having a whole weekend dedicated to stamping, eating, sharing and having fun! I find that I do a lot of creating while I'm there. Of course, my main goal is to work on my Christmas Cards! Yeah! I can get ahead of the season! I really need to think about what I want to make this year before I go...just to make sure I have the right supplies.

Of course, I usually end up bringing almost everything from my studio anyway! That is the only drawback about going...packing it all up and then having to unpack everything when I return on Sunday! My BFF, Annette, isn't going to be there this year and I'm sad...I always love talking with her. Since she moved away, we don't get together nearly as much as we did!

Sets: Flannel BG, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, AYCIII (retired)

C/S: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Confetti White, Summer Sun, Real Red

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Black marker

Other: Small and large oval punch, 1-1/4 circle punch

End of Season Hydrangeas

Last night listening to the news, I heard that we were going to get a heavy frost. For some freaky reason, our hydrangea bushes decided to bloom in September/October and they have been GORGEOUS! I decided at 11:30 PM to go out and cut the larger blooms and cover the rest of the bushes with sheets. However, we had such a hard frost that the sheets didn't help...the budding flowers have mostly turned brown today. So sad to see all the flowers dying off. On a happy note, the trees around here are beautiful.

So...here is a picture of the last of the season Hydrangeas I rescued. They are resting on my island in the kitchen so I can enjoy them all day long. Does anyone know how to dry them? I'd love to make a wreath from the dried blooms.

You can BARELY see the new watermark that Beth Silaika did for me because of the granite countertops (lower left corner). She offered up some Blog Candy and I won a free watermark! Woohoo! Make sure to check out her awesome site here to get your own Watermark or Banner. She is the one who did my Banner, too!

Limited Time Offer from Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! is offering 20% off the holiday stamp set, Wishing You Cheer on page 33 of the Fall & Winter Collection Book. Email me to purchase this FUN stamp set for only $11.16 (plus tax & shipping) and I'll include directions for using this set to make 2 different holiday cards! Hurry, offer expires November 3, 2007!

Exciting news!

I'm excited that I can share why I've been busy with other stamping projects the past week (and for the next couple weeks!). I've been selected by Stampin' Up! to create display items (cards, 3D items and scrapbook pages) for the Leadership 2008 convention in January! I am SO happy to get this honor! This is my second time, I also did it for Convention 2005. I hadn't planned on going to Leadership, but now that my items will be on display, I think I will go! It is being held in Palm Springs, CA...and January will be a perfect time to go there and get out of the Ohio cold, don't you think?

Oh...I also received news that I have another card in Rubber Stamper's November magazine! It is a Christmas Cowboy Kid...so make sure you check it out!

I've posted another card I created using the Holiday Harmony DSP and Hand Selected Accents & Elements die-cuts from my WCMD event. These cards do come together quickly using these elements! This one uses the Pomegranate and River Rock color DSP and the cute Naughty & Nice die-cut element! The Accents & Elements are SO much nicer to see in person than they appear in the mini catalog.

If you'd like to purchase the Holiday kit that I put together for my customers, please email me! You'll get the supplies to make 18 full cards with envelopes including:

• Full package of Holiday Harmony DSP
• Hand Selected Accents & Elements tin
• 1/2 roll of Pomegranate Double Stitch ribbon
• 18 White base cards
• 18 White envelopes
• Complete picture directions for cutting DSP
• Guidelines and pictures to make all 18 cards

You only need to stamp the holiday greetings and put them together, all other necessary images will be stamped for you. In addition, you'll have plenty of materials remaining to make at least 30-40 additional cards, just by adding base white cardstock to the designer paper and Elements! Cost is $40 plus $5.00 shipping. Available only until November 30, 2007.

Blogger's Challenge Week #18 - Designer Paper

This week's challenge was to use Designer Paper as the main focus on our card. My World Card Making Class focused entirely on using Holiday Harmony Designer Series Paper along with the Hand Selected Accents & Elements tin. (A BIG thanks to Patty Bennett for getting me started with this idea!) We made 18 cards using 1/2 pack of the DSP and only 4 sheets (of 12) of the tin. I still have TONS of paper and die-cuts left from those supplies, so I pulled them out last night to make up a few more cards...they basically took only MINUTES to put together! I love it!

There are three different pieces of DSP on this card...the middle Always Artichoke band is also part of the paper. The circle features two die-cutes...the Happy Holidays circle and the oval die-cut inside was added to the circle to cover the blank lines printed on it. The words Peace Hope Joy were stamped in Always Artichoke on the oval die-cut. The stamp is from the hostess only set, So Many Sayings. (A tip I shared with my customers is to cut this set up into individual sayings...I mounted them on dominoes. I use it SO much more this way, and it was no problem lining up the words into the oval die-cut!)

The colors in the Holiday Harmony DSP are so RICH...Purely Pomegranate, River Rock and Always Artichoke...I love this combination together. On all the WCMD cards, we used a white base card. This one I changed and used Always Artichoke as the base. Again, SIMPLE! But, I think simple is great for Christmas...since I make over 100 cards for family and friends!

Make sure to check out all the other lovely examples using Designer Paper from other Blogger's participating in this Challenge! After you see all the great ways to use Designer Series Paper, you'll be ready for Stampin' Up!'s November promotion! Buy 3 packs of DSP and get one FREE (a $9.95 value)! I know I can't wait!

Baroque Motifs

Sorry...nothing new today! I've been (and will be) working on a special, very involved, project that is taking all my stamping time! This is the card that my guests did at my catalog Open House and my Stamp Club members did a couple months ago. I borrowed and simplified the idea from Debbie Olson...thank you! I think it is a beautiful Christmas card, so wanted to pull it out and again and give it some attention now that it is closer to the holiday season.

It did get me thinking. I absolutely LOVED Baroque Motifs when it first came available as a preorder set for demos in June. I used it on my Convention cards, and did a couple classes using it. But, I don't think I've picked it up for the past couple months? I wonder why? I still like it a lot...but I guess newer sets I've purchased have taken precedence. I'm making a pact to pull out some of those sets that haven't seen daylight for a while and use them (of course, that is after I get my big project done!) lol!

Anyway...hope to post again tomorrow. Be looking...we'll be having BLOG CANDY again at 40,000 visits! Thank you for stopping by!

Sets: Baroque Motifs, Holidays & Wishes

C/S: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate

Inks: Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate

Other: Key tag punch, Ticket corner punch, mini gold brad, Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, Slot punch

Winter Merry & Bright Tag

For the past five or six years, my Creative Stamping Friends email group has put together a Christmas tag swap. Each person signs up for a letter from A to Z and the cover or back and designs a tag around that letter. Some letters, of course, are more challenging then others, so it moves you to sign up quickly! I think we set a record this year and were full within a couple days... The size of the tag must be a standard shipping tag size with hole, at least two layers and the letter should be prominently displayed on the front. We do this swap in October/early November, so it doesn't interfere with the busy holiday season AND we can display the holiday tags during the season. Many of us place them on trees, as a garland, on a binder ring, or however you choose. They are our holiday greeting card to each other!

This year I chose W for my letter. My original intent was to use the Wisemen from Holy Triptych. However, I ended up using the Snowman once again from Merry & Bright! I also used the Snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug and glittered around the edges with Dazzling Diamonds. I stamped "Winter" on cardstock vellum and wrapped the vellum around to the back of the white layer to secure. The base layer of the tag and scallop circle punch are from Soft Sky. Then I used Rose Red for a pop of color. I added a little bit of glitter to the snowman himself so he sparkles. The scallop circle is popped up with dimensionals. The ribbon is just a shade darker than Soft Sky and blends well, I think! Enjoy!

When I get my swap back, I'll be sure to share each of the tags with you. They really are NICE and I love being able to go back thru each year and see the greetings from these special online friends...many I've never met in person!

Halloween treat holder

I was talking to my downline today about Halloween school parties and ideas. I mentioned that I loved using the pink Pocket Notes as a lollipop holder for Valentine's Day. So, I thought I'd recreate the holder with black cardstock to hold a Halloween lollipop! I made the treat holder by cutting black cardstock to 2 1/2" x 7", and scoring at 3 1/4". I used the slit punch on the longer piece...coming in about 1/4" from the edge. The front flap fits under the slit.

The gray moon is the Scallop circle punch, the white ghost is the large oval trimmed with a scallop at the bottom, Frankenstein is a rectangle piece of cardstock, with black cardstock trimmed for hair...his face is drawn on. The pumpkin is from Carved and Candlelit...with the top slice off! I used the 1/8" circle punch to cut a hole in the bottom fold for the lollipop stick to fit through...the top of the lollipop fits between the two layers of black cardstock. Happy Halloween greeting is from All Holidays set.

Sets: Carved & Candlelit, All Holidays

C/S: Whisper White, Going Gray, Green Galore, Basic Black

Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Basic Black, Black marker

Other: Scallop circle punch, Large oval punch, Paper snips

Halloween mini scrapbook

I've been busy working on several Stampin' Up! projects that I can't really share yet, so I thought I'd show you a project I did last week.

Once in a while, I like to take a class at one of our local scrapbook stores. It feels good to be the "student" instead of the "teacher"! While browsing the store a couple weeks ago, I saw this upcoming class and decided to take it. She used the Bo Bunny product line. Now...my kids are grown, no grandchildren yet, so I might have to pull out some old pictures of Halloween with my kids...but I just thought it was darling! It is built on a chipboard trapezoid book and has 10 inside pages for pictures! The ribbon handles make it carry like a "purse". I had lots of fun making it.

Blogger's Challenge Week #17 Inspiration Piece

Again this week, we were to find something that inspires us to create. When I was at Target the other day, I saw this nature picture. I loved the texture and colors in it. To recreate the feeling, I used Stampin' Up!'s Autumn Fest stamp set. I did a direct to paper background using So Saffron, Sahara Sand and Basic Gray lightly. Then I used the Sanded Background over top in Basic Gray to give the texture. I stamped-off the smaller leaf several times in the background with Basic Gray. The leaf in the forefront is stamped with Craft Artichoke (my pad is VERY dark green!) and used clear embossing powder to heat set. Distressed the edges and tied the Gray taffeta ribbon with a Celebrate Life tag.

After I made this card, I thought that I would buy a window frame with 3-4 openings and make an entire series of them for the small bedroom using my Autumn Fest stamps! I love being able to use my stamps and supplies for Home Decor items. I'll share it when I get it finished!

Sets: Autumn Fest, Sanded, So Many Sayings

C/S: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Confetti Cream

Inks: So Saffron, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand

Other: Taffeta ribbon

Be sure to check out all the others' challenges this week! I love seeing what other stampers create.