Saturday, January 29, 2011

Stylish Blogger Award and Pay it Forward


On Monday, Penny Hanuszak of Penny Tokens Stampin Spot awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award.  I must say that I was totally blown away and had to think for awhile of who I would pay it forward to and the 8 random things about myself that I wanted to share with you. 
The Stampin' Up! family is a wonderful group to work with.  Everyone is happy to answer questions, make suggestions and encourage each other.  I feel very fortunate that I am one of this extraordinary group.

So here are the random things about me:
1.  I have my degree in accounting and my first job out of college was working for the IRS as an Auditor.
2.  Thirty years ago, I married my best friend, Scott and each year it gets better.
3.  I have two children, Luella, who will be 28 on the 28th of February, and has been married to Andrew, who is doing his residency and will be finished in June, for 3 years.  They are in the process of doing interviews in Minn, Wisc, S. Dakota and Iowa.  Where ever they end up, it will be a long trip for us to go see them. :(  My son, Willie, will be 26 in March, he and his wife Traci, are Band Music teachers in Raceland, Louisiana, also a long trip. :(
4.  I have three cats.  My son says I will eventually become a cat woman with 100 cats, but I don't like to clean litter boxes that much. HA!
5.  After watching the movie, Bucket List!, I started my own bucket list on Excel.  I have actually gone two places on my list.
6.  I love watching Food Network, and the reality shows, Project Runway and Top Chef.  Part of the items on my bucket list are places that Guy Fieri has gone to on Dinners, Drive-ins and Dives.  I would love to take a trip around the country just visiting the places he has on his shows.  I have been to two of the places one in Springfield, IL and one in New Orleans.
7.  For our 30th Anniversary trip we went all out and went to Vegas for a week.  We don't gamble or drink, but we went to the mountains and even went Zip Lining on Bootleg Canyon Zip Lines to take one of my husband's bucket list items off.  I kept telling him that I really loved him to do this, but I ended up having a great time and would go again if he asked.  We stayed at the Trump, it was so quite and beautiful.
8.  My husband asked me to start scrapbooking our children's lives.  I said, it's expensive, he replied he knew but wanted me to anyway.  That started me on this whole process.  Someone asked me at Scrapbooking at the Library to teach them how to make a card.  I had never made one, so I checked out books and finally ended up going to a card making class at the local scrapbooking store.  I liked it so much, I went to another and signed up to be a demonstrator that night.  That was August of 2009 and I have been a happy camper since.  I look forward to getting out of bed every morning to see what I can create that day.  Love it!

Now to pass the awards forward:

Wanda at My Creative Corner
Ida at 604Cloth, Paper, Scissors
Michelle at Michelle's Great Paper Chase
Elin at Elin's Elegant Designs
Cristena at Gettin' Crafty
Lori at Stamping with Lulu
Maria at craftymariasstampingworld
Julie at Julie B's Stampin' Space

This has been fun, now go check out these ladies and tell them I sent you.  Bye Stampers!

Iris Fold Valentine's Card

One of my friends/customer Mari found several Iris Fold cards on the internet and asked me to make one in class.  I found this site with free patterns: Creations by Dedra and decided to try an Iris Fold Card, here is my first one:


Iris Fold Valentine Card




This will be one of the three cards we make at the February 7th Valentine Card class.  I loved making it and will be looking for more shapes to make.
Recipe:
Paper:
Early Espresso, In Color Designer Series Paper Pack(Hostess), Whisper White
Accessories:
Early Espresso 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Heart Small Punch

A big Thank You goes to Kim Score at: Paper Punch Addiction for including my blog in her Punch Inspiration for 1/28/11.  I really appreciate her including me and sending others my way!

Valentine Treat Class

On February 3rd, we will be having a class to make three projects to hold Valentine treats.   I still have some spaces left for this class.  The first:
Scallop Envelope Box
Recipe:
Paper:
Real Red Card stock, Love Letter DSP, Glimmer Paper, Very Vanilla
Accessories:
Love Impressions Rub-Ons, Victoria Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Full Heart Extra-Large Punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, 3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch, Scallop Envelope Bigz Die

The second treat is a basket made with the Sweet and Sour Specialty Paper.  Just love the Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red together in this paper.

Sweet and Sour Basket

Recipe:
Stamps:
I (Heart) Hearts
Paper:
Pretty in Pink, Sweet and Sour DSP
Ink:
Early Espresso
Assessories:
Bright Glimmer Brads, Heart to Heart Extra-Large Punch, Heart Small Punch, Stampin Dimensionals, Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL Die

Petal Cone Treat Heart
Recipe:
Stamp:
Greeting Card Kids
Ink:
Stazon Black, Markers
Paper:
Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Glimmer Paper, Subtle Patterns DSP Stack
Accessories:
Petal Cone Bigz L Die, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die, Eyelet Border Punch, Heart Small Punch

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Watercolor Wonder Crayon Wall Art Collage

My favorite daughter, Luella (my only daughter, Ha!), came to visit this last weekend.  Our favorite thing to do together is create!  She walked me through using watercolor crayons on tags and I took off from there.  We will be having this class on February 15th & 16th.  The first night we will make the tags and the second night, stamp on them, cut them out and glue to our 12x12 card stock.  Check out my pictures of this fun project:
Watercolor Wonder Crayon Wall Art Collage 


Recipe:

Stamps:
Bliss ( Sale-a-Bration stamp set)

Paper:

Inks:

Accessories:
 

Card Class Last Night

We had a great time making cards last night and learning a new technique, cracked glass.  Welcome newbies Julie and Jamie!
Jodie, Mari & Jamie
Sabrina & BJ
Mari, Jamie & Julie
 What great fun we had creating.  Check my schedule on the tab to the right and join us next class.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Springtime Scalloped Circle Easel Card

Springtime Scalloped Circle Easel Card
Finally finished the last card for my Monday night card class.  I have Bronwyn Eastley to thank for her great tutorial on her blog: addinktivedesigns .  I was inspired by two challenges with this card.  The first was Creative-Sketches CS16T and the challenge was to use punches or dies on the card and used both with this one.  The second made me think of spring: Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge SCIC #36


I pulled out the Easter Blossoms stamp set and used the cherry branch for the center of my circle.  I just love pink and brown together, don't you?


Recipe:

Stamps:

Ink:
Paper:

Accessories:
Stampin' Up! Satin Ribbon

Tomorrow I am mailing off 62 cards to Operation Write HomeI am so proud of my group of stampers!

 


Monday, January 17, 2011

Cracked Glass Butterfly Thanks Card

Cracked Glass Butterfly

Cracked Glass Butterfly Thanks Card


















Jodie asked me to make this butterfly after she had watched Tami White on YouTube: Cracked Glass Butterfly Technique.  This is my challenge day and this card qualifies for two challenges, the first (with 9 minutes to spare in posting before the deadline) is Stampin' Royalty Challenge #54. The second challenge is Technostamper Challenge #157 which is also a blog hop.

Recipe:

Stamps:
Punch Potpourri 
Perfect Punches 

Paper:
Designer Series Paper Pack-In Color Hostess
Confetti White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
Concord Crush
Marina MistOld Olive

Ink:
Marina Mist 

Accessories:
Brights Glimmer Brads 
Stampin' Dimensionals 
Linen Thread 
5 Petal Flower Punch 
Butterfly Punch 
Boho Blossoms Punch 
Scallop Oval Punch 

Heart Pin Card for January 24th Class

Heart Pin Card

I promised my customers a card that had a removable pin on it.  At the same time I decided to play along with three challenges today.  The first is Mojo Monday 174
Also The Scrapmaster's Paradise Color Combo #83 :
Also the PPC Specialty Challenge - Heat/Dry Embossing!

This was a real challenge, getting a pin on the card so that I could be removed by the receiver of the the card.  After stamping the card and coloring it with markers, I then stamped Versamark all over the heart.  I then applied glassy glaze(UTEE) and heated that with the Heat Tool.  A hair dryer won't work for this, you have to use the heat tool, the dryer can not get hot enough to melt the glassy glaze.

I then glued a pin to the back of the heart with a hot glue gun.  I then opened the prongs on the brad and inserted it into my pin.
Then I put the brad through the scalloped circles and it works!  I was able to take the pin out and place it back on the card.
I love a challenge, off to create my other two cards.  Check out the recipe below:

Stamp Set:

Ink:

Paper:
Stampin' Up! Packing Material

Accessories:


Saturday, January 15, 2011

Operation Write Home

Jodie Creating
Today Jodie and I made cards for Operation Write Home and did we enjoy ourselves!  We made quite a mess of my tables.
We made 29 cards between the two of us and it was so much fun combining my pre-Stampin' Up! stash with our stamps and punches.
One of my Get Well Cards
Here are some of our cards:
Some of Jodie's Cards
Some of my cards
I am mailing them off on Wednesday if any of my customers would like to add some to our stash, let me know and I would be happy to drop by and pick them up.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Fun Flower Pins

Fun Flower Pins
Wednesday night in class we made flower pins.  I made polar fleece pins using the new Fun Flowers Bigz L Die and the Big Shot.  The centers are retired Stampin'Up! corduroy brads.  Aren't these just too cute!  I will be loading them on my Etsy account tomorrow, so go and check them out.
Rose Fleece Pin
I made the above rose fleece pin using the Stampin'Up! Table Settings Bigz XL die.  The roses and leaves are both included in that die.


Flower Folds Pins
These three flowers were made using the Stampin'Up! Flower Folds Bigz XL die and the big shot.  The material I used for these were upholstery fabric and tulle.  I will be loading these also on Etsy tomorrow, so check me out.  As always you can shop with me 24/7 click the button on the right and then click Shop Now.

We are making cards for Operation Write Home tomorrow from 10-4 at my home.  Check out their website and you also can make cards for them.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Artistic Etchings Flip Album

Here it is finally and I thank sassy laurie on Stampin' Addicts for her idea that I cased.  I have a class on this flip album on Sunday and ladies are we going to have fun!
Artistic Etchings Flip Album Cover
Artistic Etchings Flip Album Open
Artistic Etchings First Page
Artistic Etchings Second Page
Artistic Etchings Center of Album
Artistic Etchings Center with two Fold-Out Pages
Artistic Etchings Page 3
Artistic Etchings Page 4
Artistic Etchings Pages 3 & 4 Open Together
If you look closely in the pictures you will see bling on all of the add-on pages.  This is a special shimmer paint that I will show you how to make on a video soon.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Friends 24-7, Vintage Vogue, SAB Bliss(available 1/25) and En Francais
Ink:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Early Expresso, Champaign Mist Shimmer Paint
Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals Ivory, Early Expresso
Accessories: Purchased tag, 1/2" Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Stamping Sponges, 1 3/4" Circle Extra-Large Punch, 1" Circle Medium Punch, Decorative Label Punch, 3/16" Corner Small Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Scallop Envelope Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Elegant Trio Stencil Set

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Love Scrapbook Page

One of my customers asked me last night to design a valentine's page for our crop on Saturday.  I recently removed our wedding pictures from a cling photo album, unfortunately some were ruined by acid.  I could not resist adding a wedding picture to my scrap page.  I believe that thirty years of marriage is to be celebrated!
This is the scrapbook page I am entering into two challenges.
Love Scrapbook Page

 Pretty in Pink is hard to capture in the photo, but looks great in real-life. Recipe for this page:

Stamps:  Love You Much
Ink:  Pretty in Pink
Paper:  Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet, Heart to Heart Extra-Large Punch, Photo Corners Extra-Large Punch, Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen White

The first is a new challenge started by Maria over at Scrap Love Create
Sketch #1
The second challenge is a color challenge over at Friday Mashup! Challenge #25 :

Monday, January 3, 2011

Occasions Mini Catalog - January 4th

I am so excited that tomorrow starts the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Here are two cards that I have designed for my card workshop tomorrow night:
Birthday Blossom MOJO172
This card was designed to qualify for two challenges, the first was for Mojo Monday 172 over at MOJO172
Also Curtain Call 63 over here: Curtain Call 63
Stamps:  Build a Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Versamark, Bashful Blue, Cajun Craze
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip DSP, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Blossom Petals Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Subtles Brads, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack-Circle


Baby Blossoms
This card was also designed for another challenge called Saturday Sketch Challenge #184 at: SSC184

I just love the Baby Blossoms stamp set and the Springtime Vintage DSP in the new catalog.  This card was made using:

Stamps:  Baby Blossoms, Tiny Tags, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Rose Red, Versamark
Paper:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Confetti White
Accessories:  Pink Circle Fire Brad, Pinking Hearts Border, Jewelry Tag Medium Punch, 1 3/8"x 5/8" Oval Large punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, Modern Label Extra-Large Punch, Paper Snips, Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals