Merry Christmas!

Two days until Christmas! This year just flew by!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your day is full of love and laughter, friends and family.

Quick Update

Well, I manageed to get quite a bit accomplished on Saturday even though I haven't been feeling well lately. I caught a cold last week so I've been sniffling, sneezing, and just generally feeling weak ... great! Just in time for Christmas!

I got two batches of candy cookies made (one is for my brother for his birthday), peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and I dipped a whole bunch of pretzels in chocolate. I made the money holders (in the post below) for my son and his wife, and I wrapped the rest of the presents (except one that DH didn't bring home until yesterday afternoon).

Unfortunately I did not get any laundry done over the weekend nor did my poor dirty car get washed. But! I did mow the back yard yesterday afternoon; DH mowed the front & trimmed one of the palm trees.

So it was a very productive weekend. And now I can relax about Christmas since I'm almost ready!

Mini Envelope Money Holder

I am subscribed to Dawn's Stamping Studio and saw a mini envelope money card on her blog today. I am giving my son and his wife cash for Christmas and needed an envelope. Thank you, Dawn, for a great video!

I changed the colors and stamps. I don't have any 3x3 envies, but I do have an envelope template program on my computer so I printed them.

Recipe:
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: SU! markers (real red, old olive, pumpkin)

This weekend

Well, tomorrow promises to be a super busy day! But I am looking forward to it.

I'm going to do all my baking tomorrow and finish wrapping gifts. I have to make some bags and a gift card holder. I also am planning on getting some laundry done and my car washed. I'm going to a Christmas party tomorrow night and I do not want to drive a dirty car there!

After church and dinner on Sunday, I'll be finishing up the laundry and other household chores. I'm hoping to squeeze a few minutes in to amke cards for the Inspiration and Featured Stamper Challenges on SCS at some point during the weekend.

A busy weekend, but fun!

Another Christmas Card

I like this card, too! (although not as much as the one I posted yesterday).

The cuttlebugged panel has an oval cut-out; the center image was stamped then sponged on a piece of scrap cardstock then adhered to the back. I used Martha Stewart's branch punch for the twigs on the front and a flat back self-adhesive pearl. The frame was cut using the oval coluzzle, then glittered with Dazzling Diamonds. The base is dark forest green Making Memories card stock.

12/24/018 Update: I found the card that was the inspiration for this one - Kitty's card I am glad I found her card because I wanted to give her credit.

My Favorite Christmas Card for This Year

I love this card! I only made one but I will be making more for next year!

I saw a very similar card on Splitcoast and, I'm sorry, but I don't remember whose card it was! So, please! If you recognize the card, let me know so I can give proper credit.

I'm not sure if you can see the sparkle in the picture, but I used spray glitter (very similar to spray paint) that I got from WalMart. I found it in the craft department; this particular color is called "opal." They also had silver and gold.

Recipe:

Stampset: Paint Prints (retired), A Cardinal Christmas (sentiment)

Ink: Color Box pigment inks, Chianti & Evergreen

CS: SU! Real Red, WW, Forest Foliage

Accessories: Yellow stickles, Spray glitter, Corner rounder

I'm a bad blogger! :-(

I'm sorry it has been so long since I posted anything! I have been just as bad about posting cards to my gallery at SCS.

I have been busy getting ready for Christmas and have neglected my blog. I promise! I will take pictures soon and start posting again. I'd like to take some tonight, but I don't know that I will have time. I have a lot to do to get ready for the weekend.

We are going to be away from tomorrow morning until Sunday afternoon. We will be in Orlando tomorrow for the Performance Racing Industry show. We will be staying overnight in Orlando and then heading over to Clearwater on Saturday morning. My company's Christmas Party is going to be held at the Sand Pearl Resort on Saturday night. And then we will be coming back home Sunday morning sometime. Phew! A busy weekend!

In Color Swap Cards

This is my card for the In Color swap at SCS. This card was originally only going to be the folded Top Note die cut. But as I was putting away my copy of the card, I laid it on top of another card.

Oh my goodness! I couldn't believe the difference and how good it looked! So, I cut the back panels, layered them together, then attached the folded Top Notes die cut card.

Recipe:

CS: Kiwi Kiss, Red Riding Hood, Pink Pirouette, Bella Rosa DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel (to color the skirt)

Stamp: Winter Post, unkown sentiment

Accessories: White snowflake brad, iridescent rhinestone, Top Note die

Eastern Blooms Birthday

Today's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers was pink bedding from JC Penny. This card is my submission for the challenge.

This card sure is pink! As I was creating it, all I could think was that it was "too pink," and how could I tone it down? The Certainly Celery green didn't help much, so I decided to add a layer of Chocolate Chip. The base is also Chocolate Chip.

My granddaughter's fifth birthday is coming up soon, so this will be her card.

Recipe:

CS: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Cholocate Chip, various chalk inks

Stamps: SU! Eastern Bloom, sentiment is from a Gina K set

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch (for the leaves), Boho Blossom Punch, brads, , Fiskars texture plate

3x3 Snowman Swap Card

This is one of 6 3x3 notecards for a swap on Splitcoaststampers. I haven't sent these in yet but I will soon because they are due in mid-November!

It's a quick and simple card. The snowman was stamped on white card stock and cut out (2-1/2" x 2-1/2"). I used the ticket corner punch on the corners. The layer underneath (2-3/4" x 2-3/4") is SU! Brushed Silver. The cardstock is last year's In Color, Soft Sky. The accessories are a silver snowflake brad and light blue organza ribbon.

My Stair Step Card

Please see the post below for the link to yesterday's Technique Challenge at Splitcoaststampers. The cards in the gallery are stunning!

Recipe:

CS: Handsome Hunter, unkown DSP

Stamps: SU! Snow Swirled, Gina K's Christmas Blessings

Ink: Real Red, Handsome Hunter, Stazon Black, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, YoYo Yellow

Accessories: pink bling, clear glitter gel pen, gold brads

Today's SCS Technique Challenge

Oh my! You just HAVE to go check out today's technique challenge and the gallery at Splitcoast! The gallery of chock full of breathtaking cards! I can't wait until I have time to play with this technique, but it won't be until tomorrow at the earliest. Once I get my card finished, I will post it here.

Have a great "Rest of the Day!"

One card for my stash for coworkers

I give birthday cards to my coworkers, most of whom are men. I have such a difficult time with masculine cards, though. This is one that I made this past weekend and I really like it. I will most likely be duplicating it for upcoming family member birthdays.

Recipe:

CS: Always Artichoke, Choc Chip, DSP

Stamp: Clearly Wordsworth

Ink: Close to Cocoa

Saturday SCS Inspiration Challenge

Saturday's challenge at SCS is always an Inspiration Challenge. I chose to use the green room posted; I call this card Kiwi Kiss Room.

As I finished each step, the card just didn't look finished so I'd add another element. At first, it was only going to be the white background image layered on black & attached to the Kiwi Kiss base.

Well, that was way too plain! So I thought about adding the brads but then decided to add the prima instead. With just the flower, it was still too plain, so I decided to add the brads.

It was getting better, but it wasn't finished yet. That's when I decided to add the white layer under the black. Nope, not done yet, something was still missing. I laid the white strip across the BG image & decided to layer it with black. It called out for a layer of Kiwi Kiss -- Eureka! All it needed now was the Happy Birthday sentiment. Done!

Recipe:

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, BB, WW
Ink: BB

Stamps: I have had them for a while and I don't remember the companies.

Accessories: SU! scallop punch, brads, primas

Featured Stamper and Carolyn King's blog

Today's Featured Stamper at SCS is E3stamper and she has a fabulous gallery! It was hard to decide on one card, but this is the one I chose.

I changed the colors,the image, and embellisments but kept the layout pretty much the same. This was a very fast card to make because the image was received in an image swap and the sentiment, white flowers, and Bashful Blue teztured CS were received in a Wish RAK. So, no stamping for me on this card!

I am sending this card to the Alzheimers Care Center that is listed on Carolyn King's blog. Alzheimers is a terrible disease and the caregivers often go unthanked. If you know someone who is a caregiver, please won't you send them a card? Or, if you are blessed and don't know a caregiver, please send a card to the Center that Cammie listed.

Recipe: Image: Received in a swap CS: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue textured, WW Ink: Black Stazon Accessories: SU! rubons

Please Help Heal Devin

My co-worker's 2 YO son nearly drowned last summer. He spent several weeks in ICU at Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital in Orlando, FL before being sent home.

My co-worker, Jeremy, found out about a family in Tampa, FL who has a hyperbaric chamber that they allow people to use for free! It's their ministry and a wonderful one at that! Devin spent a month in Tampa getting treatments and he showed great improvment! Unfortunately, he was unable to stay longer and now Devin is back home. Jeremy is trying to raise enough money to buy a hyperbaric chamber for Devin and he intends to have the same ministry as the family in Tampa - allowing other folks to use the machine for free! Jeremy has a heart full of love for all his children; you can see it in his face and hear it in his voice when he talks about them.

www.helphealdevin.com is the website where you can read about Devin and the hyperbaric chamber that Jeremy wants to buy. He is asking that 25,000 people donate $1 each; there is a paypal button on the site.

Please, won't you help Devin and other people who would benefit from this?

Boho Background Gift Card Holder

I spent most of the weekend making gift card holders and this one is my favorite. Even though it has the scalloped circle and the gold bling, I think this is a masculine card.


I found the tutorial at danasdabblingstudio, scroll down until you get to her tutorial posted on August 20, 2008. It is a easy tutorial to follow and I'm sure I'll be making more of these as the holidays get closer.


The Details:

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Bella Rose DSP
Stamps: Boho Background
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Gold bling, 1-3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch

Tropical Storm Fay

The first two pictures are our backyard; they were taken earlier this afternoon while it was still raining from Tropical Storm Fay. Fortunately, at 6:30 p.m., most of the water has gone down into the ground and our yard isn't flooded anymore.

The storm rolled into Melbourne around 5 a.m. this morning and has been lingering in Northern Brevard County most of the day.




















This is our front yard. You can see the gully of water between our house and our neighbor's house.

Today's Featured Stamper at Splitcoast is Knightrone!

Today's Featured Stamper is Knightrone. She has a fabulous gallery! I chose to CASE this card:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/736662?cat=500&ppuser=61504

I kept the Christmas theme and sketch, but changed just about everything else! I stamped over the poinsettia image with the Linen BG stamp & Sahara Sand ink to give the image a bit more texture.

Recipe:
Stampsets: CTMH (for the poinsettia), Circle of Friendship, So Many Scallops, Linen BG
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, retired SU! DSP
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Basic Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories: CB embossing golder (D'Vine Swirls), Green Stickles, 1" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, scallop circle punch

You, Too, Can Be a Stampin' Up! Demo -- for ONLY $99.00!

Stampin’ Up! had created a wonderful starter kit so you can join us on our creativity journey for only $99. What a FANTASTIC deal.

Not only is this a special kit BUT you have 3 to choose from:

Stampin’ Kit
Scrappin’ Kit
Décor Elements kit

Here is info from the company…….

Becoming a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator has never been easier! From August 11 through October 11, you can choose from three different Starter Kits with three different focuses, depending on your interests—and each one is only $99!

STAMP-FOCUSED STARTER KIT
• Fun & Fast Notes stamp set
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Bold Brights® card stock assortment (8-1/2" x 11")
• Basic Black Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• SNAIL® Adhesive
• Business supplies

SCRAPBOOK-FOCUSED STARTER KIT
• Contempo Alphabet stamp set
• Petal Party Simply Scrappin’®
• Pixie Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Business supplies

HOME DÉCOR-FOCUSED STARTER KIT
• Inspired by Nature stamp set
• Décor Elements™ Chocolate Classic F
• Décor Elements Medium Chocolate Long Stem Silhouettes
• Décor Elements Applicator
• Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Business supplies

BUSINESS SUPPLIES (included in all three kit options)
Getting Started DVD, Getting Started Guide, Starter Kit Sample Sheet, Guest Invitation Postcard (100), Idea Book & Catalog (8), To My Hostess Envelope (10), Recruit Folder (5), Recruit Brochure (20), Hostess Brochure (20), Hostess Benefits Form (10), Customer Order Form (50), Holiday 2008 Mini Catalog (8; after 9/1/08)


Want even more product? Select our standard $199 Starter Kit instead and get a stamp set of your choice from the catalog for free!


Please email me at rjporter@gmail.com to find out how you can join the SU! team

Today's Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS

This is my entry for today's Featured Stamper challenge at Spiltcoast. Today's featured stamper is blondie090277 and she was a fabulous gallery! When I came across her 5 Minute Card, I knew that was the one I wanted to CASE. I changed the stampsets & color combination and left off the brads, but I kept the layout and used the same Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Stampsets: Seaside Sketches, Stitched BG

Ink: Stazon brown

Paper: Chocolate Chip, WW

Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon

Stampin' Up Promotion

Never Before Seen Promotion

From August 11 through September 30, Stampin' Up! is providing never-before-seen savings on brand-new stamp sets: 15% off select new, die-cut stamp sets from the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog--no additional purchase necessary. Select items are listed in the table below:

Item Code Pg. # Description Regular Price 15% off Price
111690 32 Snow Swirled $24.95 $21.21
111586 55 It's a Stretch $23.95 $20.36
111544 81 Putt Putt $24.95 $21.21
111626 91 Eastern Blooms $21.95 $18.66
111672 98 Pocket Silhouettes $18.95 $16.11
111710 101 Upsy Daisy $18.95 $16.11
111556 109 Under the Stars $29.95 $25.46
111644 145 Heard from the Heart $22.95 $19.51
111570 57 Contempo Alphabet $40.95 $34.81
109381 23 Felicidades Siempre* $17.95 $15.26


Email me at rjporter@gmail.com if you would like to place on order.

New Stampin' Up! catalog

Check this thread at Splitcoast for new catalog spoilers! New sets, new punches, new designer papers .... I can hardly wait to actually see the catalog for myself!

SCS Challenge Weekend!

Last week was the Dare To Get Dirty 2008 week of challenges at Splitcoast. There were quite a few challenges, but I only participated in three.
























This is my submission for RoseAnn's Flap Card challenge.

I used Handsome Hunter, Whisper White, and Close to Cocoa cardstock. The DSP is a scrap from my bin.

The stamps used were Stitched BG and Dreams Du Jour (available Aug 11, 2008). Inks used were Basic Black and Craft White.

The accessories I used were Martha Swart butterfly punch, square punch and scalloped square punch, and tiny green rhinestones.























This is my card for JulieHRR's Embrace the White Space challenge.

This is a quick, one-layer card. I used one fo the new cuttlebug embossing folders, Leafy Branch, and colored the embossed image with Stampin' Up's pastels. After setting the chalks with hairspray, I stamped the sentiment with a word from Warm Words. I also punched a butterfly with the Martha Stewart punch.
























Last, but certainly not least, this is my card for Laurie's Got Vellum? challenge.

This was a 15 minute card, from start to finish, including selecting the cardstock! I used Regal Rose as the base, then cuttlebugged a layer of vellum using the Birds and Swirls folder. I used Rose Red ink for the sentiment, which is matted on Regal Rose cardstock.

The accessories used are: dew drops, square punch, and a scalloped square punch.

Born to be Wild swap card

CS: Read Red, BB, WW
Ink: CM Black
Stampset: CTMH, SU! Linen BG
Accessories: Stickles on the flags, found the flag graphic on the internet























I made this gift set for my mother's birthday. I'll have to get the recipe and post it later; I just wanted to post the pic. :-)

Swap and Challenge Cards

Lei It On Me swap


I recently bought a pineapple brass stencil and was playing with it in my Cuttlebug. I read recently either on a blog or on SCS about coloring the CS before removing it from the stencil and I wanted to try it. I was very happy with my first try, so I decided to use this embossed image for the Lei It On Me swap. I didn’t have any ideas about the rest of the card, which came as I was putting it together.

Recipe:
CS: So Saffron, River Rock, WW, Blue Bayou DSP
Ink: Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo, Dots BG
Accessories: Sakura clear glitter gelly pen, Nestabilities, SU! Pastels




WishRAK Challenges

WishRAK on Splitcoast is holding a July 4th weekend of challenges. We are to make cards with the posted theme and use something received through WishRAK. We are also supposed to send the cards in to a volunteer; she will send the cards out to an organization that will get the cards into our troops’ hands. The intent is to supply cards the troops can send back to their loved ones. So far, I’ve only completed two challenges. But I will do more and hope to post those cards when they are done.

This is my card for the Patriotic Thank You challenge.

Recipe:
CS: Night of Navy, WW, DSP from Joannes
Ink: Night of Navy
Stamps: clear acrylic set (I don’t know the brand or name of the set)
Accessories: Designer Label Punch, Oval Punch, SU! Night of Navy robbon, adhesive stars fro Joannes

This is my card for the Female Birthday challenge (I straightened out the ribbon!)

Recipe:
CS: Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, WW
Ink: Purely Pomegranite, Cramy Caramel, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Craft White
Stamps: Studio G, Dots BG
Accessories: Purely pomegranite ribbon, Primas, brad

Tag, You're It!

I've been tagged by my friend Jaspere from Splitcoast. I'm pretty excited as this is the first time I've been tagged! So here goes:



Name 5 things that I do for myself:

1. Stamp. I love making cards and other projects.
2. Shop. I usually spend Saturday mornings shopping.
3. Attend a Hostess Club held by my upline. Unfortunately, tomorrow night is the last meeting of the current club.
.4. Computer time-spending time on SCS, American Mustangs, and reading blogs.
5. Make time for the Wish Rak group. I don't do this nearly as often as I should, but I find it relaxing to stamp images for someone else to use.



Name 5 kind things I do for friends, my children or partner:

1. Make and send cards for no reason other than to let them know I'm thinking of them.
2. Tell my husband that I love him a lot, that I am very proud of him, and that I am blessed because he is my husband.
3. Try new recipes using my husband's favorite foods.
4. Not complain (at least not too much anyway!) about how much time my husband spends in his garage.
5. Make a 12 hour trip to get together with friends from a mustang-oriented message board.



Name 5 kind things I've done for a strangers:

1. Pay the toll for the person behind me in line.
2. Donated hand made cards for a Cancer survivor walk.
3. Be conscientious about being a courteous driver.
4. Allow others to check out first even though it was my turn.
5. Offer my store discount card to someone who doesn't have one so she can get the discounted prices.





Name 5 hobbies I enjoy:

1. Making cards
2. Blogging
3. Shopping!
4. Taking pictures
5. Relaxing on the beach



Now I get to tag others. I know it takes a little time to fill out the information but it is a great way to get to know each other better and is a lot of fun. Its also a way to share blog links. Here are my 5 picks from my friends from the SCS "Swap Ho's". Have fun!

FaieeMom
http://confessionsofastamper.blogspot.com/

LauraJean:
http://www.buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Jessica (GreenDragonLady)
http://www.stampingdragon.blogspot.com/

Tammy (tlc72gal)
http://tcivello.blogspot.com/

Heather
http://heathershobby.blogspot.com/

These are my cards for the In Color swap curently going on at SCS. It is the same sketch and stampset as the card below.

I didn't have enough scraps to make six cards the saem, so I made three of each. This is the first tine I paper pieced.

Recipe:

Stamps- Flourishes' Coffee With a Friend

CS - Groovy Guava, whisper white, basic black, Ginger Blossom DSP

Ink - basic black, craft white

Accessories - dew drops

Technique - Paper Piecing

My first Flourishes set!

My first Flourishes set (Coffee With a Friend) arrived today and I just had to play with it! This card was one of those that just fall together with ease. Oh how I wish they all did that! lol

The recipe:

Stamps: Flourishes Coffee With a Friend, SU! Stitched BG

CS: Apricot Appeal, Black, Rose Red, Ginger Blossom DSP

Ink: SU! Basic Black and Craft White

Accessories: 1/8 punch (for the faux brads)

Our first anniversary

Today is our first wedding anniversary. We went out to eat this evening and that was enjoyable; we went to Olive Garden. We don't go there often because there isn't much on their menu that is on my diet (darn gluten-intolerance! lol). I had stuffed chicken marsala that was very good! He had a shrimp & pasta dish.

More SWAP cards and SCS Featured Stamper Challenge

This card is for the first Christmas in July swap that I joined on SCS. The sentiment is popped up on dimensionals

Stamps - Baroque Motifs, acrylic sentiment stamp
CS - True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp, DSP
Ink - Trye Thyme, Cranberry Crisp
Accessories - dew drops, ribbon, designer label punch, large oval punch




This is my card for the "Let Your Creativity" swap on SCS.

Stamps - Garden Silhouette, Studio G
CS - lovely Lilac, DSP rec'd in a scrap swap, vellum, Eggplant Envy
Ink - Eggplant Envy (ink and marker), Handsome Hunter (marker)
Accessories - satin ribbon, Fiskars border punch, designer label punch, large oval punch




This was a fun card! Not to mention that it was "quick and easy!" Sunday's Featured Stamper at SCS was MMBC (Maren);this is my creation. I received the kitty stampset from my Devine Secret (Big) Sister a couple of weeks ago. When I saw Maren's card (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/844686?cat=500&ppuser=138483 ), I knew I was finally going to use my new set!

Stamp - Studio G
CS - Soft Sky, DSP, Chocolate Brown
Ink - Black Stazon, Blue Bayou
Accessories - Prismacolor pencils & goo gone, Stickles (on his collar), ribbon

I made this card yesterday and it is for the Through the Catalog swap, part 3. I chose to use an "elements" set, which is Baroque Motifs. The sentiment is from Warmest Regards. I used Rose Red and Black cs and ink and GP white cs. I used a Martha Steward punch for the butterfly, which is popped up in a dimensional. It doesn't show well in this picture, but I used a sakura clear glitter gelly pen in the center of the flowers. The faux brads were punched out with my 1/8' punch & glued on the corners.

Mother's Day

This picture was taken yesterday afternoon at our Mother's Day get together. That's my DH, Ron, me, and my sweet granddaughter, Sarah.

She's 4 years old and is a bundle of energy! She is on the go non stop from the time she gets up until she finally goes to sleep.

CASE'ing SCS' NUTSYMUHL

This is my creation for today's Featured Stamper on SCS.

I was playing with my prismacolor pencils for the first time yesterday and colored these two flowers from Doodle This. I didn't know what I was going to do with them, so I left them sitting out on my table.

This morning, when I was persuing Kim's gallery, I saw this card:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/595031?cat=500&ppuser=63847

and I knew what to do with the flowers I colored yesterday! I changed the color scheme and DSP, I didn't use as many layers, my flowers are not popped up, and I left off the sentiment. I received the brad in the center of my flowers in a swap at SCS.

Recipe:

CS: Bravo Burgundy (base layer), Chocolate Chip (layer under the flower layer), Whisper White, DSP (from Target)

Stamps: Doodle This

Ink: Stazon Black, blue chalk ink

Accessories: prismacolor pencils, gamsol, brad rec'd in a swap, stick on brads

More card swap cards

This is my card for mammachicken's Ribbon and Glitter swap:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338341

It was a fun card to make, but I have to say the ribbon looks much nicer IRL. This pic doesn't show the linen bg, either.

Recipe:

CA: River Rock, Black, White
Ink: River Rock, Basic Black
Stamps: Best Blossom, Linen BG
Accessories: Black stickes, Sakuraclear gelly roll pen, Fiskars threading water punch, no-name brand black ribbon



This card was CASE'd from a card my demo made at our hostess club meeting this past week. The keytag punch is actually punched out on the front of the card & the tag is glued to the inside. I made this card for the Variety Card swap: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336796


Recipe:

CS: Bayou Blue, White, Ginger Blossom DSP, Groovy Guava
Ink: Craft White, Purely Pomegranite, Groovy Guava
Stamps: Embrace Life, no-name brand "thanks" stamp
Accessories: Keytag punch, brown satin ribbon, gold embossing powder, dew drops
Technique: Watercoloring

RAK and swap cards

Thank you!

When I got home yesterday after spending the afternoon visiting with my son and his family, I found this card waiting for me. Claudia4 from Splitcoaststampers.com sent it to me as RAK. I was thrilled to receive it and I wanted to share it. Receiving the card from Claudia was the perfect ending to a wonderful day!

It is the inspiration for the next card shown.



I was having a difficult time coming up with a card for the DKOS #18 Cuttlebug Happy Birthday swap: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=321738&highlight=DKOS

One of the requirements for this card is to cuttlebug two different layers. I tried a couple different things but nothing was working and I was getting pretty frustrated. I had Claudia's card on the table beside me and was gazing at it when an idea formed. And it worked!

I used the Happy Birthday embossing folder for the top layer. The card was finished off with chocolate chop satin ribbon and stickles in the center of the flowers.

CS: Purely Pomegranite, Chocolate Chip, White
Ink: Purely Pomegranite (on the Birds and Swirls embossing folder)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Happy Birthday and Birds & Swirls embossing folders, stickles




This last card is a 3x3 that I made for a Thank You Swap on Splitcoaststampers: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336326

I had fun with this card and it came together nicely. I wish they all did! lol

CS: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip. Ginger Blossom DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Polka Dots and Paisley, non-SU! acrylic sentiment stamp, brad, prima-type flowers, Threading Water border punch by Fiskars

For my co-worker

One of my co-workers little boy fell into a kiddie pool yesterday and is now in the pediatric ICU at Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital. He is only 2 years old. The last update I had was that the boy was awake, responsive, and moving his arms. That is a good sign! Please pray for my co-worker, his son, and his entire family.

I made this card for my co-worker and his wife. There are two blank inserts so that everyone at work can sign the card. (I think I need to make my watermark a bit smaller!)

The paper is SU! Afternoon Delight double-sided DSP and the stamps are from Heidi Grace. The embellie is from Gina K Designs. I used the "double pocket" technique seen here: http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com/2008/04/double-pocket-card-tutorial.html This technique was yesterday's challenge on SCS.

Swap Cards

I've been pretty busy since my last post, working on cards for various swaps at SCS.

This first pic is my card for the "Cards With Charm" swap, http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=332932

I tore a page out of a novel and "aged" it by brayering it with brown ink. The stamp set is Merci; the cardstock is Always Artichoke, and the ink is stazon black and rose red (watercolored). I outlined the image with a Sakura clear glitter gelly pen.

This next card is what I made for the No Words swap, http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335749

This was a quick and easy card in which I used the leftover kits from the last SCS Central Florida get together. I added a couple more layers of cardstock and brads, and I used the glitter gel pen again on the dark blue flowers.

This is what I designed for the Flap Fold card swap, http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335860

This one was a bit of a challenge for me as I'd never made a flap fold card before. But once I got the hang of the scored lines placement, this card came together like a dream! I used Purely Pomegranite and Rose Red cardstock; the striped paper is something I picked up at either Michaels or AC Moore. The stamp set if Doodle This; the inks used were stazon black, whisper white (craft), Purely Pomegranite, and Ballet Blue.

Swap Card

This card was made for the "Favorite Stamp Company" swap:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=327165

I CASE'd my card from ConnorandJacobsMom card she called "Embrace Life."http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/791567?cat=12243

Here is my recipe:

CS: Pale Plum, WW, Black

Ink: Perfect Plum, Black Stazon

Stamps: Embrace Life

Accessories: no-name ribbon, ticket corner punch, Sakura clear glitter gelly pen

Occasions Mini

The new Occasions Mini catalog is available online. Click here to view the catalog:
http://catalogs.shoplocal.com/stampinup/index.aspx?pagename=shopmain&fsid=d92c5470-98dc-4fea-a468-b485cc468c77&storeid=1038724&circularid=12510


Please feel free to contact me if you see something in there that you just cannot live without!

I did it!

I took the plunge and signed up to be a Stampin Up! demo! I'm pretty excited about this even though I'm a bit nervous about being able to meet the quarterly minimums. It will be OK, I'm sure.

So! If you are in need of a demo, contact me!

And yet another Shoebox Swap!

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322267

This one is scheduled for April 12th, at the Suntree/Viera Library in Melbourne. Come out and join us!

Card for DH's nephew

I remembered late this afternoon that tomorrow is my DH's nephew's birthday. So, I quickly made this card; I think it took about 15 minutes from start to finish, including selecting cardstock, stamps, and ink. I'm happy with this card, although I think it would have been better if I put either brads or eyelets in the bottom corners.

Superbowl Sunday

I've been working on a few cards but I don't have any pics yet. I made a cute card with two cats that I'll probably do again (with some splashes of red) for my husband for Valentine's Day.

I got my "this month's" hostess club order yesterday and I have been having a grand time using Embrace Life and the Ginger Blossom dp that goes with it. And I've been working on a set of cards for my mother for Mother's Day. I would have finished them except that I ran out of ribbon. grrrr. Now I have to go back to Michaels & get more.

It's nearly time for the game and I haven't started dinner yet. So .... "Go, Giants!"

Central Florida Shoebox Swap II

Yesterday was the shoebox swap! Only 5 showed up, but we had a great time, chatting and making some lovely cards! The pic is my card; I used CTMH (retired) designer paper, Night of Navy CS and ink, and Stem Silhouettes stamp set.

Inspiration Piece

This card was inspired by the piece seen in this SCS thread:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316672

I used the leaf and big flower from SU!'s Best Blossom set. The designer paper was something I picked up, probably from Michaels. The cardstock base is Creamy Caramel. I stamped the base with the Linen background stamp to give it some depth, and used the three bronze brads as the accents to finish the card. The ink colors are all Stampin' Up - True Red, Really Rust, Summer Sun, and Old Olive.

Happy New Year!

Gosh! It's hard to believe 2007 has come and gone that quick! I had some big changes in my life last year ... I *finally* moved away from Orlando after getting laid off from my previous job. I moved in with my now-husband and live in Melbourne, FL. We got married last June and I started a new job three days later! Now, if I could only sell my house in Orlando!

I've been stamping for about 5 years, but not on a regular basis. I was attending a once-per-month "card class" that was held at the community center. The teacher was a wonderful lady who is the Regional Director for Central Florida for CTMH. She taught our group some fun techniques. But because of other things going on in my life, I didn't take my stamping any futher than that one-a-month class. Earlier this year (and I don't remember how), I found Splitcoaststampers.com. I fell in love with Stampin 'Up through that site. After moving to Melbourne and being unemployed, I had nothing better to do than start stamping. I have learned so much about rubberstamping from SCS; the ladies are so generous to share their knowledge with us newbies.

I think that is enough for now. Here's to a Wonderful 2008! Happy New Year!