Cards For "Day of Card Making"

Well, I've been up since 4am. I'm going to be gone today for about 5 hours for a card making day at a friends house. Each person brings 2 types of cards and enough for each person to make 2 of that card. Mine are Valentine and Masculine. And we each bring a dish. I made a double batch of Creamy Cheesy Potato Soup with crackers. There will be 8 "stations" so I think I'll be coming home with 32 cards. I can't wait to see what the other girls will make. Mine are basic stamping but some of the girls are really advanced stampers.

The cards are all done with Stampin Up Supplies. The Love card is a gate fold card using the new set Filled With Love and the Pattern Of Love Designer Paper. I used Pretty In Pink satin ribbon on one and Real Red Polka-Dot ribbon on the other(I like the polka-dot one better). Also used textured real red and regular pretty in pink cardstock. Real Red ink and some glitter on the heart.
On the Train card I used now discontinued Kiwi Kiss Designer paper(I love this color and was so sad to see it go), basic black and whisper white card stock. The button is corduroy in Kiwi Kiss with black hemp tied to it. It gives it a nice texture to the card. The ribbon is also striped Kiwi Kiss. Used jet black Stazon ink. Hope they will like them. They look much better in person!

Hope you have time today to be creative and most of all stamp!

Till my next post...take care and have a wonderful day,
Shirley

Tumbled Tile Coaster Sets

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. We had all our family with the exception of my niece Jessica and her family. Boy is there still a pile of gifts waiting to be opened by my Great Nephew. :0)

I made a couple of coaster sets as gifts this year. I used stazon ink and then baked at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. Made the box to match the colors and with a little clear cello wrap and bow Voila! I really wished they had turned out better but I will definitely be making more of these.

As always, I hope you find time to be creative and most importantly time to stamp!

Till my next post....
Shirley

Cooking class at the Wellness Forum: Delicious Healthy Cookies

What a fun class it was. We paired up to make different cookies. We were short one person so I worked alone. We were able to sample each cookie and then take some home. Here is a picture of some of the cookies we made. (sorry the first picture is so off color and the second one I couldn't figure out why it printed sideways..oops!) We did one "experiment" cookie which we ate all of them! LOL

I can't believe that Christmas is in a few days. I just haven't felt too "Christmasy" this year. I didn't decorate this year either. Next year for sure! I think as soon as everyone arrives, we start opening gifts and eating all the good food we will be having then it will hit me. :0) (it better!)

Well, I still have two stamping projects to finish by Wednesday morning so I better get on the stick!

As always, I wish you time to be creative and time to stamp!

Till my next post...
Shirley

Week 39

Well, its been a while since my last post. It has been a very busy couple of weeks. My niece will be coming down tonight for the weekend to make cards, Christmas candy and gifts. It should be fun. I am still behind around here but with the schedule I've made for myself I should have everything done and ready for the holidays by Friday the 17th! And Saturday the 18th Lee and I are hosting our first make your own pizza and game day. Hopefully my brother and his family will be able to make it. My Mom and sister will be here for sure. Its a hoot playing the game Farkel with my Mom. She always wins and Lee takes all kinds of chances. So daring...LOL! It would be nice to have one Saturday a month for family fun. Time to make a tradition. Plus my niece Natalie is growing so fast...Lee and I are missing a lot! :0)

Hope you enjoy this funny card I made for my brother David. I keep forgetting to post his weekly card. I'm sending this along with some supplies he uses to make his morning protein shake. Well 39 weeks down...what will my next card be for him?

Until my next post I wish you time to be creative and most of all time to stamp!

Happy Stamping,
Shirley

10 Things I'm Thankful For

Tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I've gotten many email forwards with each friend listing what 10 things they are thankful for. Some really good lists I may add! So I thought about what my list would include...sure it seems like you have to put, faith, family and friends on the list but then I really sat and thought about. So here is my list from 10 to the number 1 thing I am thankful for:

10: Books...no computer screen, kindle, no book on tape just the feel of the pages and the way it transports me to another world, or fuels my creativity, or helps me cook the most delicious dish. And talk about books, is there anything better than a trip to the library. The quiet calm and endless possibilities to check out. It is one of my favorite places to go.

9. My senses...there is so much on the face of the earth and in the sky to please the senses! From what I see, hear,or to the taste of fresh fruit or a fresh salad topped with the smell of fresh cucumber and green onions! And my favorite smell of all peaches! Ask anyone that comes to my home...can we say peach candles! LOL And it never ceases to amaze me the sense of touch. Our hands are so amazing, they can hold the smallest most fragile item and not break it yet hands are strong enough to do the hardest tasks and repairs. And when it comes to getting hugs from my nieces and nephews is joy beyond compare.

8.All creatures...aren't they just cool. There are so many everyone has favorites. Mine are cats...but don't tell Jasper! For a dog he is love on four legs. :0) If everyone was as happy to see me as Jasper! LOL But I love birdwatching, especially the hummingbirds we have every year. Even bugs are cool. (well not flies but everything else)

7.Rubber Stamping...and this not only includes the crafting itself but all the friends I have because of it. I've met so many talented women and men and cherish each one! Rubber stamping takes me away from the mundane everyday life I lead. My life is so...well...daily. :0) I know everything I do is important, taking care of my home, Lee and Jasper. It just seems unexciting. LOL Stamping takes me out of myself, it's a calm and joyful yet exciting when I make something and it turns out just like I planed. It is such a part of my life. And can you believe it I have been stamping since September 1997!

6. The seasons...Each season has it's pluses for me but Winter is #1 in my book. How I love the snow. It makes the whole world look peaceful. (and it's the only time my yard looks as good as my neighbors! LOL) I like the fall too. I love the leaves changing colors and to walk over them they crunch like potato chips :0) Spring's soft colors and everything coming alive is nice but I love how much Lee likes the spring. I love getting out with him as the weather warms up. (lots of trips to the zoo) Summer is my least favorite..oh I don't do heat well..ahhh but my favorite pastime...swimming! Oh yeah!!! I could stay in a pool all day!

5. All this computer/media stuff...I'm thankful to have a way to keep in touch with friends and family via the internet. I love that if I need help or have question I can look it up. (no need to bother anyone)You can listen to music, watch all kinds of videos, movie trailers. And I like posting my creations and having a blog. It's cathartic and it connects me with others who have the same type blogs/interests. And it's nice to have satellite tv especially pay-per-view(I'm laughing now) but seriously , Lee and I don't get out like we use to and in the colder months we can order a movie sit back and have a quiet evening at home. So even though I'm not tech savvy I think is awesome.

4. My home. I'm so thankful to Lee who provides me with a lovely home, food to eat, clothes to wear. All my basic requirements are met and exceeded!

3. My friends...where do I begin. I'm thankful to have friends that care about me and show it in so many ways. I'm so touched by all my friends either here where I live or those precious friendships I have developed over the years via pen-pals. I have so many "stamping" friends that a card comes at least 4 times a week. And they are just like sitting down with an old friend for a cup of tea. How enjoy the letters and really getting to know them. Most of all I'm glad they like me even though I'm not perfect and can be a bit of a nut! (definitely cracked a bit! LOL)

2. My Family...oh my where to begin. I miss my Dad so much. I'm glad to have had him as my Father. My Mother is my friend and I can call her whenever I need to talk. My sister is more than a friend, she's a sounding board and a gentle reminder no matter what other people do to you, take it in stride...sometimes things don't turn out the way we want them to but it's all ok. My brother David is so  good to me and Lee. And David's wife, Barb, is more just a sister-in-law. She's a great Mom and so fun to be around! I love my niece(Jessica), nephews(Jonathon and Tyler) and great nephew(Kenny). I'm glad for the holidays so I able to see everyone. :0) Every family has their ups and downs but I wouldn't trade mine for anything.

1. Lee..as if that was a surprise! :0) I don't know where to begin to describe the how perfectly matched we are. He is so funny he is always making me laugh and he gets my sense of humor too. When I look into those perfect green eyes I feel safe, loved, needed and most of all appreciated. In the 19 years we have been married he ALWAYS says thank you for everything, his meals, helping with his care, taking care of the house and every morning when I give him his cup of coffee.It's nice to start out everyday with gratitude. And it isn't just saying thank you, he says excuse me, sorry, pardon me and the like. Treating each other like this over the 19 years has helped when big stuff comes up so we can be kind to one another. And he IS kind not just to me but towards everyone and animals. He listens to me when I'm feeling overwhelmed or sad. He's smart and a joy to be around. He is more than a husband or best friend he is my life. He has made my life worth living and has brought out the best in me. I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone else.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving ...now lets see your list!
Shirley

Busy Busy Day

What a busy day of cleaning, painting, crafting. It seems never ending thank goodness for taking breaks. I made more jr. legal pad holders and a treat box card during the breaks. :0) I got the template off of a Stampin Up Demonstrators blog for the treat box card. I can't remember now where. All I remember is her name was Melanie and she is so talented and kind enough to share the template and a how to video. There are so many videos on you tube, Splitcoast Stampers (and what about all the ones on individuals blogs) on making cards and other rubber stamped items I could make 10 things a day and still never run out of ideas! LOL

Well, this is the last break of the night. Time to make dinner. Hope you have all had a wonderful weekend and found some time to stamp and be creative.

Till my next post...Happy Stamping!

Jr. Legal Pad Holder

Good Morning! I just love mornings like this. I've been up since 5am and getting ready for the day. Since my day is filled with errands and jobs to finish around here I thought I better take time to do a stamping project before the day really gets crazy.

I saw this project under "craft fair items" on The Stamp Doc's website. I have had this scrapbook paper from Paper Pizazz for years(I love snowmen and am a sucker for anything with any cute snowmen on it...LOL) and never quite knew what to do with it but this project just called out for this paper. I love how it turned out. On her site she only uses one legal pad but I used pads from Sam's Club and they are so thin that I used 2 instead.

I used whisper white and real red paper from Stampin Up and Gelly Roll's Stardust Clear pen to add a glittery effect to the snow...and well everywhere! :0) Then I used some red gems from Elements Elements by Mark Richards. I mean can you ever have too much bling?! Then finished up with a bow using 5/8 inch satin whisper white ribbon also from Stampin Up.

I hope you will give this project a try. It is the easiest project I have ever done. It goes together so quickly. And the way you could decorate it...well..the possibilities are endless.

As always, I wish you a good day and time to stamp and be creative.

Till my next post...

Tool Box Card for Brother -week 42

Well, I keep forgetting to post the cards I have been making for my brother David who is about to turn 50. (well in 42 weeks anyway) This week I used the instructions from Splitcoast Stampers called Santa's Drawers. I used Bazzil papers in two tones of red. "screw" brads and little tool miniatures (unknown company) and some metal flashing for backboard to hold the little tools. The drawers are filled with jokes rolled up and tied with twine. Lee and I laughed our butts off reading jokes on line. I wish I could have gotten better pictures of this but the metal flashing just kept giving me a glare. One of these days I'm going to sit down and really figure out how to use my digital camera!

Hope you are all doing well and finding time to stamp and be creative.

Till my next post ...

French Foliage Thanksgiving Card

Here is the card I made with the new stamp sets in Stampin UP's holiday mini catalog called French Foliage and the saying was from Day of Gratitude set. I did the faux tear technique and for the leaves I cut out; I stamped them in a solid color (more mustard) than rolled the edges in a different color(night of navy, garden green,or eggplant envy). No two cards turned out the same. They were simple to do and I must say I love love love how they came out!

Well, now to get on the stick and finish up the rest of the cards so I can get them in the mail tomorrow. Just 20 more to go! LOL

Have a great day and hope you find some time to stamp!

Lovely Indian Summer Day

What a great day it was today. I got up and had time to myself to make some cards. Then out with the hubby shopping at the mall. He is so fun to be with. We got a wedding gift; had dinner and then home. And I was able to make a few more fall cards to send out to my Silver Stamper group. Hope you enjoy them. I have more to finish but they will have to wait till Sunday since tomorrow I'm finishing up some painting and heavy clean up. :0)

Hope you are all having a good weekend and have found some time to stamp and be creative.

Till my next post ...take care and happy stampin"

Brother's Free Standing Pop Up Card

Well, as I posted earlier that I would post the cards I made today. This card is so easy to do. I think the hardest part is deciding how to decorate it. (Also cutting out all the keys and key holes took a bit of time)

products used:

Stampin UP:
Sage Shadow cardstock, DSP from "to the nines", double stitched grosgrain 1 inch ribbon in chocolate chip, hemp twine

Other:
timber brown ink pad, pop dots, "red" heavy duty tape, fiskars hole punch

Free Standing Pop Up Card

Well, today is not only Veteran's Day but my sister's 51st birthday. I made this free standing pop up card for my sister. I got the directions off Splitcoast Stampers. It turned out to be very simple card to make. I am going to make a few more today and I'll post them as soon as I get them done.

Supplies I used:

Stampin Up;
whisper white paper and 5/8" satin ribbon, a large pearl from the pretties kit, Lovely Lilac classic ink pad, stamp from discontinued set(not sure which one)

other companies:
recollections small pearls for the butterflies, pop dots, offray lace ribbon and the solid green and print paper unknown(out of my "old" stock)

Have a great day and Happy Stampin'

Card Box Set

Here is the set of Christmas cards I made for the Black and Orange Cat Foundation's Fundraiser they are having November 6th. You can find out more information about this lovely group on there site at www.bandocats.org.

The cards look so much better in person! The box holds 10 cards and envelopes and a strip of 20 "forever" postage stamps. I just hope they will be able to make some money on them. :0)

supplies used:

Stampin Up:
Real Red and Whisper White cardstock, dazzling diamonds, 2 way glue stick, real red striped ribbon, real read classic ink pad and rubber stamp used "Dasher", snowflake embossing folder

Unknown: small red gems for centers of snowflakes and Dasher's nose

After the Storm

Like a lot of other areas we really got hit by some heavy winds and rain. I've always loved lighting and the rain...not so much the thunder. :0) But this time the wind was so strong...our house was shaking! I just sat and stamped the whole time watching out the back door as the clouds rolled on by. It seemed like it was over in no time flat. After it was over this rainbow came out at the back of our lot. It was so pretty. This picture just doesn't do it justice.

Stay posted...I'll share some of my stamping from the storm later today!

Halloween Cards

I took the easy way out on Halloween cards this year. :0) I found some cute $1.00 packs of Halloween 12 x 12 scrap-booking paper at Target along with some glitter cutouts from Micheal's which meant all I had to do was stamp a saying in the insides of the cards. I had 75 cards done in a flash. Just too many to take pictures of each one but here is a pile plus more in the box. I love sending cards in the clear cello envelopes.

Well, now to finish up stamping the rest of my 150 "Thanksgiving Turkeys". :0)

Treat Bags For Card Night

Tonight is our monthly card night. I had so much fun making my brother's treat bag I thought I would go ahead and make up some more for tonight. Hope the girls will get a kick out of them. And then again who doesn't like M&M"S!

I used crushed curry cardstock and crushed curry designer paper along with crushed curry polka-dot ribbon. The stamps are from Close To My Heart. I think they are from a set called mini trick-or-treaters. Needless to say it's a very old set of stamps. :0) I also used glue dots, stampin dimensionals, scallop punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, and the oval punch. (all punches are from Stampin Up) I used a marker in crushed curry to color the images and only use melon mambo marker to color in the cheeks. And of course the sizzix bag with scallops die.

A very quick and fun project.

Punch card and treat bag for David

How time flies! This is another card and a treat bag for my brother David's up and coming 50th birthday. I've been sending a card with a little something every week and this is week 46. His 50th will be here before he knows it! :0)

The card was made in a punch class with Connie Babbert. She is so talented and it was so much fun being in her lovely home. Her stamping room is to die for!

Anyway, here are the supplies I used. All supplies are from Stampin up this time except for the "googly eyes" on the treat bag.

Cardstocks and matching inks for highlighting were, old olive, concord crush, summer sun(discontinued), only orange, whisper white, basic black. Punches used: owl(it's the ghost just turned upside down with feet cut off), the med size oval, bird punch(leaf). I also used my spider web embossing folder and the sizzix bag with scallop bigz die

I can't wait to find other ways to use the bigz die from Sizzix. I just love my big shot die cutting machine. It is so versatile. I'll post more of the cards I have been making later today. But first...to the post office to get week #46's card out to my brother!

Have a great day.

Wiper Cards

Starting next week I will be sending my brother David a card a week for 50 weeks. That's when he will turn 50. This wiper card is the first one I will be sending. I used a discontinued Stampin Up set, whisper white and night of navy cardstock,patterned paper is from last years level 1 hostess paper pack, night of navy ink and button. The white ribbon is from Offray(Micheal's).

The cat wiper card is made with same supplies and stamp set is from the clear stamp set "Cats" from Inkadinkado.

My wish is that you enjoy the day and find time to stamp and be creative!

Owl Punch Anniversary Card(CASED)

When I saw this card I just knew I had to CASE it!!! The original card is found on Crystal's Blog "Crafting and Rambling...a place to share". She is a very talented Stampin Up Demonstrator. I even used the same card stock: Afternoon Tea along with garden green, whisper white, basic black, cherry cobbler. I changed the leaves positions a bit and used stampin dimensionals to pop up the owls. Don't you just love the bow made from the tiny hearts and added a crystal in the center(reflections). I used the signo white gel pen for the eyes. Then I stamped the Happy Anniversary(Hero Arts everyday sayings set) with Timber Brown Stazon Ink. I really think my brother and sister-in-law will like it. I am going to make many more of these cards for different occasions. I just love the owl punch. Oh and the leaves were done with the sizzlets die. Between the punches and my dies for the big shot it has opened up a whole new dimension to my card making. What did I ever do without them. :0)

Have a great day and hope you find time to stamp today!

Stationary Boxes

Here is a picture of a few the many stationary boxes I made.

I followed the directions from Stampin Up! Demo Jackie Topia. It was so nice of her to share the directions.

Step Card

Hello All!

I saw this style of card on Split Coast Stampers and had to give it a quick try. I used the retired simply sent card kit from Stampin Up.It's hard to see but the middle tag says "happy happy happy". It went together really quickly and I think I will use this to make my Christmas cards this year.

Happy Stampin!