Spring Flowers gifts

We have two birthday parties today. This is the gift I made for my grown-up niece, Camellia. We really don't do gifts since the kids have turned 21, but since we are going to a combined birthday party (with her step-brother who is 4)...I thought I'd give her something, too.

It is my goal to use up my leftover retired Stampin' Up! designer paper. I loved this pattern when it was in the catalog and used several packs of it. However, I found another almost full pack when I was looking today. I think I'll make up several of these Notebook/Bag/Pen combos for the craft show and take my alphabet set and ink pad with me so I can personalize it for them if they would like. I put a flower behind the C, so if someone didn't know who they were going to give it to, they could still buy it. The centers of the cut-out Looks Like Spring flower is filled with the Earth Elements beads we carried last year. I also made a matching beaded pen and tabs for the journal using the Round Tab punch. I also like a pen holder on my notebooks, so I created one using cardstock and layered it between the back of the notebook and the inside layer I stamped to cover up the ugly inside.

I'm using the card as part of the decoration for the bag. I slipped the card into a clear envelope and then adhered the envelope to the bag. Quick and easy! I really didn't even need to stamp the bag, but I already had the So Saffron ink and flower sitting out.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

My husband and I are celebrating 28 years of marriage today! Wow...has time really gone by FAST! I am very blessed to have a wonderful family...understanding husband...great kids. Both our parents have been married for 53 and 48 years respectively...they have set good examples!

So...I sat down this morning to make a card for my hubby (I know...last minute!) I thought of how he is my "one and only" love and thought of the Bronc Buster set. I added a little bit of dry embossing on the background with a Cuttlebug heart embossing folder...I used Ruby Red and scraped Craft Vanilla over top. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out...and my hubby thought it was a NEAT card! Yeah!

We have dinner reservations tonight at a nice restaurant (Martini's), but need to get home by 8:00 PM so we can watch the Ohio State/Minnesota football game. We both love watching them! Have a good weekend! It is GORGEOUS fall weather here!

Sets: Bronc Buster, Wanted, Circle of Friendship, Canvas BG

C/S: Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla

Inks: Very Vanilla Craft, Night of Navy Craft, Night of Navy Classic, Chocolate Chip

Other: Star punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1" and 1-1/4 circle punches, Antique brass brad, Dimensionals, Cutter kit distressing tool, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Week #14 Blogger's Challenge

Here is this week's Blogger's Challenge card...we were to use our Spectrum rainbow pads. It's funny. I enjoy using them, but rarely pull them out any more. There are all kinds of fun techniques to do with them. This was is a basic Resist technique. I stamped the background Tres Chic with Versamark on Glossy paper (I like using Glossy paper the best because I think you get a more vibrant look with the Spectrum rainbow pads), then used Stampin' Up's Celebration Spectrum pad with my brayer over it. The Versamark resists the ink of the Spectrum pad and you get this look. Very simple and fun.

Check out the rest of the Blogger Challenge team to see how they've used their rainbow Spectrum pads this week!

Sets: It's Your Birthday, Tres Chic BG
Inks: Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Versamark, Wild Wasabi, Celebration Spectrum pad
C/S: Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Only Orange, Glossy White
Other: More Mustard mini brads, 5 petal flower punch, Paper piercer and pad, brayer

Pick a Petal Fry Box

I woke up with a sinus migraine...seems to happen when the weather changes dramatically. We went from sunny skys yesterday to thunderstorms this morning. I just now am feeling a little better...no meds seem to help (over the counter, that is)...luckily it doesn't happen too frequently.

I have to feel up to watching Grey's Anatomy tonight! Anyone else hooked on that show! Looks like they are going to mess around with McDreamy and Meredith's relationship again this season. I'm sure going to miss Addison on this show, too!

Anyway...here is a Fry Box that my Stamp Club members did a couple months ago. I used the inspiration from a card I saw and converted it to the front of the box. I purchased the blank fry boxes at Hollo's over a year ago, but I know there are lots of patterns out there for the same thing. The petals and leaf are stamped with Classic ink on glossy paper and cut out, plus popped with some dimensionals. I used the So Swirly jumbo wheel on the background.

Merry & Bright Thank you

I made these bookmarks as thank yous for the people attending my Merry & Bright Stamp Camp on Sunday! Thanks to Patty Bennett for the cute idea! The Scallop circle piece fits over the page and the long piece goes behind the page to mark your spot. The center is one of our Jumbo eyelets! I also used the Dashing paper...so fun...in the background and on the circle! This snowman from Merry & Bright just makes me smile!

I'm still frantically working on getting my items together for the craft fair coming up. Of course, I have more ideas than I do time! So...this is short and sweet!

Hope you are having a great week!

Merry & Bright

Here is one of the cards we made at my Merry & Bright stamp camp yesterday! I tried to use the camera, but just couldn't get a good shot of it...it wanted to fall open. It is one of the Flap Fold cards I learned how to make on Technique Junkies.

The original idea for this card came from Jena Haux as her Control Freak swap. I changed out the colors and use Merry & Bright snowman as the focal point instead of the snowflake. I was surprised how well I like the Soft Sky and Basic Grey together! I also added the Rhinestone brad jewel on the snowman's cap...isn't it TOO cute? I LOVE those jewels! The snowman fits perfectly in the 1-1/4 circle punch, then layered with the 1 3/8 punch and Scallop Circle punch...I am crazy about that look! I used a Blender pen and Soft Sky pad to color in his hat and scarf. The flap behind the Snowman has a Soft Sky Designer paper layer...do you see it?

Sets: Merry & Bright, Snow Jumbo Wheel, The Snowflake Spot, Season of Joy

C/S: Basic Grey, Soft Sky, Shimmer White, Soft Sky Designer paper

Inks: Basic Grey, Blender pen

Other: Ice Rhinestone circles, Soft Sky Double Stitch ribbon, 1-1/4, 1-3/8 and Scallop Circle punches, 1/16 circle punch, Dimensionals, Only Orange marker

Cards for Victoria

I just ran across Courtney's Blog requesting cards be sent to Victoria...a young teenage girl with cancer. Her teacher has put together a project to try to get cards from all over 50 states and internationally! Since we are in the business of MAKING cards, what a wonderful project to bring someone hope and joy and let her know we care about her and are sending lots of prayers to her for good health. Spread the news...anyone can participate...it doesn't have to be a handmade card. You can read all about it here!
http://createdbycourtney.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-candy.html

Now, I happen to think teenage girl cards are tricky...to me it is just a mental block. I don't want something too "young" looking...nor something to "old" looking. I settled on this simple card with flowers...mainly because I thought she'd enjoy the GLITTER! The flowers are punched from different colors of Faux Diamond Dust. I make up 1/2 sheets at a time and keep them on standby...never know when you'll need a sparkly punch added to a card! The leaves are an old Stampin' Up! punch...I crimped the Certainly Celery paper before I punched it for a little added dimension.

I hope you'll participate by sending Victoria a card, too!

Victoria Enmon

1205 Red Bud Circle

Orange, TX 77632