Gift Card or an Ornament?

Yes, I'm around...Yes, I've done SOME stamping, but not nearly as much as I would like to be doing. This year I have tried my hand at sewing and am working on making a few gifts for my girls. It is taking ALOT more time than stamping does! I held a gift card stamp camp recently and here is one of the projects the ladies made. I really love the simplicity of this, but yet also how you can really turn it into anything!

This was made with Stampin' Up's Scallop Square Die Cut. The base of the ornament is a piece of chipboard covered with a cut out of Certainly Celery card stock. I then ran a piece of Real Red through the die and cut it in half diagonally to create a pocket. (The piece of pink card stock you see is a stand in for a gift card). I love that you could hang this on your Christmas Tree or a door handle, or just about anywhere. Imagine all the holidays you could do this one for!

Winter Post

Here is yet another sample from my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack. I used the Winter Post stamp set on this one. I really like this stamp set. I paired it with Soft Suede, Real Red, and Sahara Sand. I also pulled out my Photo Corner Punch since that has not seen the light in ages! After this class my Sleigh Bells ribbon in nearly gone, I suppose I should order some more since it is in the mini catalog and who knows if it will make it into the Idea Book and Catalog come summer.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow...Not Yet!

As the last of the leaves are trying to fall in our yard and the temperatures drop, I am reminded that snow will be on its way before we know it. I really do love the snow...I just wish it only stuck around till mid January!

This is a simple card that we did for my Christmas Card Stamp A Stack. I used the Serene Snowflakes set from the current mini catalog as well the greeting from Christmas Greetings. We stamped the snowflakes with White Craft ink and then heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. The snowflake is from the Merry Embosslit in the mini catalog. We got ALOT of use out of that product at the stamp camp! We finished it off with some faux stitching and the adorable Real Red Polka Dot grosgrain...adorable and easy!

A Bit of Spring

This is a sample that I have been meaning to share from Jami's New Catty Swap. The swap was over weeks ago (golly, it could have been a month ago now!) but I am just getting around to start posting my samples. This is made using the set Herb Expressions. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE lavender so when I saw this set I had to grab it! I paired it with the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper. I kept thinking I had to add something to the left side of the card but all the gals I was stamping with said to just leave it alone. When I look at it I still think it is missing something, but if I had put anything on it, I am sure that Lorien would have ripped it off!

Still Stampin...

Yes, I'm still stamping (sometimes), certainly not as often as I would like! As a home schooling parent it seems that once school starts, I am so busy and preoccupied that I really have to try to find time to stamp. If it weren't for my stamp clubs and the stamp camps I have been trying to schedule, I might never find that time for me! Here is a sample of a card that one of my stamp clubs recently made. I LOVED the way it turned out. We were doing the faux tin sheet technique (which I am not even certain if that is the name of it or not, but that is what I have called it). We started with our card base (Real Red regular sized card) and ran it through the Big Shot with the Square Scallop Die. We cut a piece of Certainly Celery slightly smaller than the card base and then yet another piece of card stock a bit smaller than the Celery piece (it does not matter which color since it will be covered anyway). Cover this piece with Tin Foil, just bend it around the edges of your card stock, and run it through your Finial Press Embossing Folder. When it comes out it looks just like those tin sheets that are found on old ceilings. It is just the neatest effect! The Old Olive panel uses the Winter Post set and Many Merry Messages. All of the images are stamped in Old Olive (some stamped off before stamping, to give dimension). The deer is stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Add a cute ribbon to the top and a brad and I might have my Christmas card design for this year!

Congrats and Missing You...

This card has been sitting in my computer for awhile now, just waiting to be shared with you. Some very dear friends recently moved to Oklahoma. Although I really wanted to send a card that said, "HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US!!???!!! We need you here!", I knew it would not help the situation (and I also know that my girlfriend didn't really want to leave anyway). I decided I should be a good sport and congratulate them on their new house. This card was made with the Neighborhood Jumbo Wheel. I just wheeled the images and cut out the house that I wanted, colored it in with Stampin Write markers and popped it up on the card with a dimensional. I used some of my favorite colors together...Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Real Red and So Saffron. I was giddy to be able to use the new Real Red Polka Dot ribbon! I LOVE this ribbon! It is also hard to see in the photo, but I also used the larger polka dot Texture Plate on the background. This was a fun card to make, even though I was missing my friend while making it.

More Christmas....

I can't get enough of the new single stamp, Dasher. How adorable is this? I love the image!! Dasher is stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder, as is the sentiment which comes from Fundamental Phrases. You can never go wrong with the wide grosgrain ribbon, so I had to use some of it. The Final Press embossing folder is one of my favorites and goes quite well with the image of the deer don't you think?

Christmas Card Stamp Camp Coming Up...

This Saturday I am holding a Christmas Card Stamp a Stack at my home. If you are in the Flint, Michigan area and wanted to join us, please let me know. This is not a card we will be doing at the class, but it is fitting with the Christmas theme for the stamp camp. This card was one that I recently submitted for a swap and I was unable to share with you until the cards were swapped out. This one uses the new Serene Snowflakes set in the Holiday Mini catalog. I was not planning on using brown and red for a snowflake card, but I did want to use the new designer paper in the mini so it just took off from there. Do you like the Build-a-Brad used in the center? I just don't pull those out often enough! In addition to using Serene Snowflakes this card uses the new Teeny Tiny Wishes - a MUST have set! I have 3 other cards to share over the next few days so be sure to check back!

A Bit More Fall for Ya...

I LOVED the way this card turned out. Simple as can be but just as cute as can be (what till you see the Christmas one I did just like it.) I want the ladies at my stamp camp to get to use the Square Scallop die to make a card base and this was just as fun as can be to make. I used the Final Press embossing folder as well - this embossing folder is by far my favorite. It adds so much elegance to a card. I also broke out my jumbo eyelets since I haven't used those in awhile. I love setting those things with the Crop-a-dile! I've got an idea swirling around in my head for this little card and hopefully I'll work it out soon and share with you!

Stamp Camp Coming Up!

I have a stamp camp scheduled for this Saturday from 10-2 and anyone who is in the Flint, Michigan area is welcome to attend. (Just let me know soon so I can check on space availability and be sure to have enough projects cut.)

This is one of the cards we will be making. The burning bushes in my front yard are starting to change color and that always gets me excited for my favorite season - fall! When I saw the set Falling Leaves in the new catalog, it really didn't scream at me, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Now that I own it, I can't stop using it! I love the circle image and used it on this card to make a cut out in the bottom corner. The inside of the card looks like this:

After I finished it I thought I should have added some leaves down the left hand side. I really love the Razzleberry and Suede card stock together and thought it still looked "fall-ish" but with are non-traditional fall colors.

I'll share another project we'll be making at my stamp camp tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Babies are A Wonderful Reason for a Card

A friend of mine recently announced that there is a new baby at their house! I only own one baby themed stamp set and quite frankly I have not been drawn to it lately, so I decided to see what I could come up with using non baby themed sets. Since "baby" is a girl, I grabbed the Stampin' Up! set, Flight of the Butterfly. The patterned paper is not Stampin' Up! and I honestly cannot remember who makes it or where I got it! The rest of the card is pretty simple. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except the patterned paper and the cute green bling near the sentiment (which comes from the GREAT new set "Teeny Tiny Wishes"). There is that Modern Label punch again...are you sick of it yet?

Quick Swap

I needed a quick swap recently so I whipped this simple one up. I was hoping to come up with a cute card that would be easy for demo's to use to show their customers. This uses the new set Falling Leaves and the new In Color Bermuda Bay. I also used Chocolate Chip Craft ink and heat embossed with with clearn embossing powder. It seems to add a bit of something extra special when it is heat embossed. I used various sizes of circle punches to punch out the circle image. I stamped that image 2 different times, once in Olive and once in Chocolate Chip craft, embossed the chocolate chip and then popped it up with dimensionals.

Another Gift Frame

My friend who is moving has a daughter who is friends with all three of my girls. Hannah is wonderful because she can play with a 10, 7 and 5 year old and never once will you hear, "You're a baby, go away." She genuinely likes all three of them. When I told the girls that our friends would be moving away, the two older girls cried as much as I have. The youngest had a very wise outlook on things for a 5 year old and said, "It's not like someone we love is dying or something." Though, now that she has processed that we won't see them at church every Sunday and that they are really leaving, she does have moments where she will declare how much they will be missed.

I wanted a gift for Hannah that she would be able to remember my girls by. What better gift than a picture frame? I know that a picture frame for an almost 9 year old is not usually very exciting, but she'll appreciate it when she is snug in her new bedroom and missing Michigan! We went to Hobby Lobby and the girls chose this adorable frame. We really wanted it to say "Friends" somewhere, so we snatched it up, took it home and mom added a few things - Rose Red grosgrain ribbon across the top and "Friends" stamped with my retired Whimsical Alphabet set from Stampin Up!.

I think it will look great with a picture of all the girls that was taken Tuesday night when we had a small cookout with a few families, don't you?

Peep Card

Here is the card I made to go with the gift in the previous post. I should have made it to match the gift, but the set was on loan to me and I didn't even think about it until after the set was returned to its rightful owner. I LOVE this paper from My Minds Eye. It is from the Out and About collection. I love that it pairs Soft Sky and Ruby Red (or Riding hood Red). I've always loved pale blue with red. This stamp set is Cheep Talk and one that I had put off purchasing for quite awhile. I chose it a few months ago as one of the sets I earned for free with my Sale-a-Bration sales and have really enjoyed playing with it. I hope you have a great day!

Peep Gift

A very close friend of mine will be moving soon from just 20 minutes away, to over 16 hours away. It has been a quick development and one that has me just a wee bit emotional. Her husband has been offered a job in a different state and after being without work since January, they have decided to go where the work is. The evening she called to let me know that they were accepting the job, I knew I had to get started on a special project for her.

Both of us LOVE birds, there is nothing more delightful to me than to sit in my living room window bird watching and I know that my pal feels the same. We are both country decorators so I wanted to make something that would go with her decor.

There are 4 of us who are very close and we affectionately refer to our pals as our "peeps". So this project is for her to hang in her new house and when she looks at it, she'll be thinking of her peeps. The project uses the Stampin' Up! set, Season of Friendship and various supplies from Stampin' Up! Most of the papers have been recently discontinued (Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette). Each square is representative of a different season and each season has a single bird represented...each is different, to represent our four peeps. This is one of those projects that popped into my head and then just came together perfectly. I had such fun making it!

Dasher in August

This past Friday I headed out to the other side of the state with some stamping friends to enjoy a day of stamping and a night away from the house. If someone would have told me 7 years ago that I would have been getting together with people I had only met online and staying at their homes and chatting till the wee hours of the night, I would have told them they were crazy! A couple years ago my pal Lorien and I attended a Splitcoaststampers event in Lansing, Michigan and then she started helping to organize subsequent Mingler Events. At these events I have met the must fun girls and really have enjoyed spending my stamping time with them. At the event this past weekend there were only 8 of us, but it was perfect. The only sad thing was that Emma had to leave early so we weren't able to enjoy her English humor for as long as I would have liked. Each of us created a swap and a make and take. Can you believe I forgot to take a photo of my swap (that could be because I was creating it at midnight the night before we were supposed to leave!) This is my make and take. I wanted something that was simple enough for the demonstrators that were there to possibly use during the Christmas season as a make and take with their customers. On my sample Dasher is stamped using Chocolate Chip craft ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The embossed background is the new Finial Press embossing folder from Stampin' Up! (which I LOVE). I dragged some Chocolate Chip ink across the embossed areas to give it more depth. Are you LOVING the new Modern Label punch? I am! The kicker on this card is that the red Modern Label is from the Movers and Shapers die that my friend Nicole shared with me a couple weeks ago. The new punch matts perfectly on the Movers and Shapers die!

Happy Birthday Butterfly

I made this quick and easy card for my aunt's birthday last week. The paper is retired now, the Bella Rose DSP is one of my favorites. The butterfly in the center is the Big Shot die, Beautiful Butterflies, which of course is mounted on dimensionals. The only stamping on this card is the "Birthday" at the bottom corner, it comes from the set Fundamental Phrases and is certainly a fundamental set in my book! "Birthday" is mounted on a punched Modern Label shape which I LOVE right now. I've been stamping a lot lately but can't share them with you till September so I'll be working on a few things this week (hopefully) that I can share!

Falling Leaves - LAD Sketch

I finally got all my New Catalog goodies! One of the sets I ordered was Falling Leaves. I needed a good fall set and was looking for something that didn't need to be colored in. I got a chance to play with it and really like the way this card turned out. The sketch for this one is a past Lizzie Anne Designs sketch and it worked perfectly with this set. The card front of the card is the Saffron section and it is actually 1" shorter than the back of the card (so the cute little acorn image "hangs" off the card). I used Soft Suede (again...), So Saffron, Old Olive, and Ruby Red. The red leaf was stamped and then cut out and mounted on a dimensional just as the acorn is.

This is such a great set and I can't wait to play with it some more! I haven't been very good about sending out Thanksgiving cards, but that is just because I haven't found a set that allows me to make several cards without a ton of work. This one may just be the one I've been waiting for!

Pendant Park

Another project made from a set Lorien is sharing. (She is such a good sharer!) Pendant Park is a new set that caught my eye when I saw it in the catalog but I didn't purchase it because it is one of those sets that I knew I would have to see used before I decided if I would get enough use out of it. I don't think this set is a must have yet. The layout is just like the project from last week using the Season of Friendship set (which I now MUST have), I just turned the card on it's side and changed the position of the greeting. I am LOVING this new Modern Label punch and it is hard to tell which kinds of brads I used. I used the smallest Clear Circle Rhinestones. The colors used are Soft Suede (which now seems to be a goto color for me), Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink. And do you not LOVE the embossed pattern on the Soft Suede panel?? It is the new Finial Press embossing folder. It seems you can never go wrong with something embossed somewhere.

I LOVE Inspiration!

It seems like there can be WEEKS that I don't stamp. I don't make the time to go downstairs to my craft room and then before you know it weeks have passed. Then, when I DO make the time, I find myself completely unable to put anything together. Saturday evening I crawled down to my hole with a project, a gift, in my head and I sat down there until I got the entire thing done! It turned out wonderfully...just how I had envisioned it! I can't share it with you for a couple weeks though.

I don't know about you, but once I create something I am pleased with, I feel myself on a roll. So, yesterday I went back downstairs and created 3 cards! Here is the first...inspiration came from 2 stamping friends. Here are their cards:

The one on the top was made by Laura (okiechic at SCS) and the one on the bottom was made by Vicki (craftcrazy98 at SCS). Both of these were made for a swap I hostessed recently. And here is my card. Can you tell which parts of their cards inspired me?

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The set used is Circle Circus. Not a set I own, but one that my pal Lorien is letting me borrow. The sentiment is from Fundamental Phrases (a must have!). The brighter pink is the new Melon Mambo and I also used some filigree brads that I recently received (I'm loving those and don't know what took me so long to get them!).

Enjoy your day!

Season of Happy Thoughts

I have been working on some swaps for Jami over at Splitcoaststampers. One of the groups I am in requires me to use the new color Bermuda Bay and any new stamp set from the new catalog. For that round, the stamp sets we were allowed to use any stamp set that had been in a previous mini. My pal Lorien had the set Season of Friendship and she let me borrow it. This card is a bit different from the one that I'll be submitting for Jami's swap, so I can share this one with you (Jami requires that we wait until the swaps have been swapped out before posting our submissions). I'll share the original (the Jami swap) when it is allowed and you can tell me which is your favorite!

I needed a card for a stamping friend so I grabbed one of the swaps I had started and added something to make it more fitting. I hope she likes it!

Open House Project

This is the make and take from my New Catalog Open House (held last Saturday). The ladies used the Big Shot to do some embossing with the Texture Plates (the large Saffron panel) and some die cutting (the Top Note Die that is stamped on). They got to use the lovely Soft Suede paper and matching ribbon as well. The floral image is from Razzle Dazzle. We stamped the image with So Saffron ink then did the rock n roll technique with Soft Suede ink. The sentiment is from the set Three Little Words (from the last catalog).

Enjoy...Camp!

Here is another card I'll be "sending" to my oldest while she is at camp next week. I used her favorite colors - pink and brown. The designer paper is from the retired collection - Berry Bliss. I have had this stamp set for some time and although I haven't used it tons, I don't want to get rid of it either. It sits on my shelf and on occasion I hear it calling me. I was glad to see it was not retired with the last catalog.

The little polka flower is a prima that my down line Nicole shared with me...thanks Nicole!! I'm sure my dd will love this one, if for no other reason than it is done with her favorite colors!

New To Me

During Sale-a-Bration all sales that a demonstrator accumulates can earn us free sets! (Another reason I love SU!) If you have a recruit sign up during SAB we receive a free set for each recruit. This year I was lucky enough to earn several sets for sales and one for a recruit. Most of the sets I chose were bird sets since I love birds. I have been looking at these sets and wanting to stamp with them, but I haven't made stamping a priority lately. Last night I sat down to stamp some love for my oldest daughter, who is 10. On Sunday she'll be leaving for her first time away to camp. She'll be there 5 nights and she is so excited. Of course, I'm a bit sad to think she'll be gone for so many days. Luckily we are able to drop letters or packages off when we drop them off and they will be happy to be sure they get their notes at "mail call" each day. My plan is to create a new card for her each day and a package for one day during the week. This is the first card I made when I sat down last night. The set is made with one of my SAB earnings, Cheep Talk. I love this set! I used some retired paper from Stampin' Up!, my Top Note Die, some ribbon and some rhinestone brads. I don't know if you can tell, but the little birdie is popped up with dimensionals. I adored this paper when Stampin' Up! sold it and it is sad that it is no longer available for purchase...it is perfect for summer.

Retired Goodies for Sale

All Scallops $22 HI & Hello $10 Riveting $15 Wild About You $20 On The Farm $20 Fabulous Flowers $18 Cleaning out!! If you are interested please send me an e-mail. caspen1973@yahoo.com

More Razzle Dazzle

Here is another sample I created using Razzle Dazzle, the new Bermuda Blue card stock and ribbon and Melon Mambo. This card is so simple and I really like the way it turned out...such a simple layout and would be perfect for virtually anything! I used the large polka dot Texture Plate for the Melon panel, stamped the simple flower in Black Staz On. A little bit of faux stitching and a silver brad in the center of one of the flowers and we are done!

New Products!

Ahhh, I found time to stamp last night! I had the house ALL TO MYSELF for about an hour and I REFUSED to clean! I placed a small pre-order of new products a few weeks ago and the arrived and sat on my counter. I just have been to busy to stamp but recently I organized a small swap with some stampin friends so I had to sit down and start creating. I think this will be one of the cards that I do for the swap. I really like how it turned out. I used new stamps, ribbon and colors.

The base of the card is Soft Suede, a wonderful brown really does look like suede. The pinkish layer is the much underused color, Blush Bloosom. I ran this panel through my Big Shot with one of Stampin' Up!'s texture plates (it is hard to see it in the photo). The blue layer is Bordering Blue,which I haven't dragged out in ages! I stamped an image from the new set, Razzle Dazzle, that is a series of lines and swirls, using VersaMark. Finally, I stamped the floral image from Razzle Dazzle in Soft Suede on white card stock and then used the Soft Suede ink to distress the edges of the square. I did the Cracked Glass technique on this panel but stamping VersaMark all over the square and then covered it with Glassy Glaze powder. After I heated the powder I did the same thing 3 times and placed the image in the freezer for about 10 min. I pulled it out and bent the square causing the glaze to crack. This image is adhered with dimensionals. I added the new Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon and considered this one finished!

New Product Info!!

I haven't had much of a chance to stamp lately except for the 2 stamp clubs that met over the last 2 weeks. Homeschooling has really taken over my life, I love it and we plan on doing it again next year (even keeping our youngest home and doing Kindergarten here - talk about pressure - teaching a child to read?!?! YIKES!!) however, now that the new Stampin' Up! catalog is starting to ship to demonstrators, I'm getting the stamping bug again. I just placed a pre-order for new products...I can't show you photos but I can tell you that I purchased 3 of the new In Colors - a pink, blue and brown, some matching POLKA DOT GROSGRAIN!!!!!, and a stamp set....are you getting excited?

Simply Cute!

Yes, I'm still around...no, I haven't stamped much. Life has been busy and I've been to exhausted to even spend time in my stamp room - sigh.... However, I had a stamp club that met this past week so I needed some projects for them. This is one of the projects that we did to showcase the spotlighting technique. I have always loved red and yellow together, it is so fresh. I can't take complete credit for this card as I started out being inspired by a project I saw at my pal Emma's blog, Lady & the Stamp. Of course it was just inspiration since my finished card really doesn't look a lot like hers! I used Stampin Up Texture Plates to do the swiss dot background on the Saffron piece. The Saffron grosgrain ribbon is from the Sale-a-bration Ribbon Bundle (here I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will make this available for purchase in the new catty.) We colored the flowers from the Simply Said image with our Stampin Write Markers. The floral image was stamped twice...on the largest one we colored the flowers Saffron and then on the other we colored them Real Red. Grab yourself some circle punches, punch the red ones out and mount the circle on top of the larger image with dimensionals, and bammmmm...a sweet card with the spotlighting technique.

Cherry on Top

My oldest had her birthday party about 2 weeks ago and this is the thank you card. Her "theme" was cupcakes. The invites were pink and brown cupcakes but we were unable to find brown streamers (a must have at a party!). In addition, my brother's girlfriend had her baby shower over Easter weekend and the colors were pink and celery (isn't it funny how non stampers will say "green" but a stamper MUST get the shade just right.) There were balloons and tablecloths left over so I brought them home and we decorated with pink and celery.

I used some polka dotted paper that I found at Archivers, and some cute little gems my friend Nicole gave to me. I finally dusted off my crimper as well. The shape/image is the Stampin' Up! Simple Birthday Thanks. The idea of paper piecing with it came from a swap that I received at the SCS Michigan Mingle. The cheery is stamped onto white card stock and then colored with my Certainly Celery marker and Ruby Red marker. The top of the cupcake is stamped with Chocolate Chip ink and stamped onto Pink Pirouette card stock. The sprinkles are colored with my white gel pen. The sentiment reads "You're the cherry on top" and is from Amuse. It was alot of work cutting this baby out! Thankfully I only need 7 of them!

Hope you have a great day!

Stamp Club Project With Some SPRING!

This is a project that my current stamp clubs are doing. Why do I love it so much? Why do I think my customers love it so much? Because we live in Michigan and this has been the longest winter EVER! Yesterday was a beautiful day and this weekend is supposed to be wonderful as well, but I created this sample about 2 weeks ago when we had gotten more snow. I wanted something that reminded us Michiganian's that spring WOULD come....eventually. This uses some Prints Designer Paper from a couple of years ago, the new oval scallop punch from the current mini catalog (and matching stamp set) and the new set that I am really enjoying called Branch Out. I hope you are having wonderful weather where you live. I'm feeling pretty confident that we are all done with snow here in Michigan....I hope!

Raspberry Tart and Chipboard

Here is a VERY simple card that I will be showing to my stamp club tonight. The ladies wanted to see something using chipboard so I thought I would show them how you can take a piece of chipboard and use it to make a very blah card into something that makes a statement. The chipboard came from a pack that Stampin Up sold last year sometime but I believe there are new packs that have the same flower in it. I chose my Raspberry Tart DSP and turned the chipboard face down on the patterned paper, traced with a pencil and then cut it out. I used adhesive to adhere the paper to the chipboard and then using my crop-o-dile to add the clear rhinestone brad to the center. The only stamping on this is the sentiment, which comes from Three Little Words. The base of the card is made using my Top Note Die. Such a simple way to showcase the big impact that chipboard can have!

Turning 10?!?!

It never ceases to amaze me when one of the girls birthday's roll around. Megan will be having a birthday this weekend and she'll be 10! TEN?!?! I can hardly believe it. It really seems like yesterday that my husband and I were getting used to our new roll - parents. It has not always been easy and there are days I am one exhausted mother, but I would not change it for anything

Megan's favorite color combo is light pink and brown. As a matter a fact, her bedroom is painted light pink with dark brown accents so I knew she would love this birthday invitation. She is having a sleepover and the girls are going to decorate cupcakes together. I used Nestabilities for the rectangular pieces thanks to my pal Vicki and the cuttlebug Paisley embossing folder thanks to my pal Lorie. The adorable little sparkly bling next to the word "Party" is also from Vicki. Actually, I'm thinking, other than the cardstock and image, all of the goodies on this card were loaned from my pals while we were at the Splitcoaststampers Mini Mingle this past weekend. (I'll share some pictures from that soon!)

I really loved the way this turned out. I wonder if any of the cupcakes the 10 year olds make will look so cute?!?

Manly Tree

This card just sort of happened. I had not planned to use so many layers. All I did plan on doing was making a manly birthday card. This isn't the exact card we'll be doing for my class on Saturday, but it is very similar. Once it was completed I realized how many layers there were and decided it may intimidate the ladies. Besides, my pal Lorien stopped by yesterday and I showed her my cupcake card and she said, "Geez girl, there are a lot of layers on that!" When you are a demo it is very hard to separate yourself from cards that you really like making (lots of layers and embellishments) and cards that your customers feel they can duplicate. You don't want to scare your customers into thinking that a good card has loads of layers and lots of bling. Besides, that isn't everyone's style anyway! I used the tree from Thoughts and Prayers on this card (I know you have been seeing this image all over the place!) and the Congrats set. Congrats is a Sale-a-bration set you can get for FREE when you place a $50 order. This is a great all purpose set that will stay in my collection for some time! I hope you are having a great day. I hope it's warm where you are. It's not warm here! Snow was falling earlier, enough to coat the ground. I can't wait for spring!

Hip-hippo-ray!

Here is another sample for my class on Saturday. This uses the Sweet Slumber patterned paper that is in the new Stampin' Up! catalog. It isn't very often that I find a pack of paper where I feel the need to purchase more than one pack. As a matter a fact, I think I remember that I have only done that with 3 packs of Stampin' Up!'s designer series paper packs. This is one of those packs I may end up purchasing another package of. I have always liked shades of blue, red and yellow together, so this pack really fits the bill.

The stamp is from Pun Fun and the image was water colored with Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Ruby Red. The ribbon is the SAB Saffron FREEBIE! I'm ashamed to say that I purchased this set nearly a year ago when I was inspired by some cards my friend Robin was creating. (If you haven't seen her stuff, you really need to check out her blog.) This is the FIRST card I have made with this set! She did that to me with Embrace Life as well...I haven't made a darn thing with that set either. Maybe my next class I'll have an Embrace Life card all ready. I could do a Pun Fun card and we could call it a "Spin off a Robin Spinner class"!

I totally CASED this layout from a card in the Splitcoaststampers gallery, the only thing I changed was my designer paper. CASE-ing makes life so much easier!

Stamp Camp On Saturday

I have a birthday card stamp camp this Saturday from 10-2. I didn't sit down until last night to start preparing samples for it, but I got three of them done, which is pretty quick! So, to start off we may as well make the first sample scream birthday! How about this...does this scream birthday?? This sample uses the set Crazy for Cupcakes and started out being Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery (for some reason I have used that color combo several times with this set!) but I decided to make it gender neutral so that the ladies who are coming to the class can use this card for anyone that has a birthday coming up. I absolutely LOVE this stamp set, it by far my most favorite birthday set I have ever owned. I will admit that I have mainly used the image you see highlighted (cupcakes on a cupcake stand) and the greeting. I promise to try a card soon that uses the jumbo cupcake!

I used my square punches to really focus in on the small cupcakes. The Bashful Blue panel was wheeled with the matching standard wheel, inked with Bashful Blue ink. I really wanted to use my Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon so I tied it around the middle and added Pumpkin Pie "sprinkles" to the cupcake tops to tie it in. I love the color combo of Real Red, Bashful Blue and Pumpkin Pie. This color combo is one that was in some designer paper last summer. Really fun colors together!

Three Little Words Swap

Here is my final sample in Jami's New Catty Swap. This card uses Bella Rose paper. I really wanted it to be soft and feminine, I think I achieved that. I used the eyelet border punch (because I can't seem to stop using it!). I added the brads because the card just needed something more. I would have used pink pirouette brads if we had any. I'm off to create some more goodies! I have a class this coming Saturday and I need to get my projects designed!

Thoughts and Prayers...

Another favorite from the new catalog! This was my second submission for Jami's swap. I used the eyelet border punch as well...I don't know which I like better, the scallop edge or the eyelet edge. Hmmm....I have heard several people say that they are getting sick of the scallops. I don't know if I'll ever get sick of scallops but I am enjoying the even more feminine look of the eyelet border.

Another Jami Swap

A new catalog means a new swap with Jami. This is one of my submissions. As soon as I saw the Trendy Trees set, I knew I had to have it! I don't know what it is about it, but it is so cute! Paired with the Sweet Slumber paper and I'm in love! This card has lots of layers but it wasn't difficult. The only thing you need to remember with this set is that the Stamp-a-ma-jig helps ALOT!! I continue to be sad that this beautiful Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon will be retiring this summer. It matches the Ruby Red ink and paper so well! Maybe they'll keep it and just re-name it "Ruby Red Taffeta". A girl can dream right?

Fifth Avenue Flowers

This is the last sample that the ladies did at our Stamp Camp this weekend. I completely cased this idea from Laura (okiechic) (you should really check out her gallery, she does great work!). I met her a few weeks ago, when a few of us were getting together to stamp before the Splitcoaststampers Michigan Mingle, that is coming in a few weeks. When I saw this stamp set I thought it was just another flower set and who needs another flower set? Well, apparently I did, because I bought it after seeing this pretty card. I just couldn't get over how FAST of a card it is! No piercing, no water coloring, just straight stamping (which most of us don't do enough of anymore). I haven't had a ton of time to play with this set but it is one that I was thinking of using for my swaps for the Mingle. I'm hoping to have some time to play later this week and I'll share with you what I come up with.

Another Stamp Camp Card - Thoughts and Prayers

Here is yet another sample using Thoughts and Prayers....It doesn't surprise me that this set was on back order almost immediately! This project's layout was CASED from Kelly Lunceford's fabulous creation. Of course mine doesn't look as good as her's but I think I did ok. I used Baja Breeze and Black, which I think are striking together. Very classy. Of all the projects the ladies did at my stamp a stack this weekend, this one took the longest for them to assemble. It wasn't that it was hard because in actuality the stamping was minimal. I think it was all the layers that did it. They were able to use the beautiful eyelet edge punch, which really adds to the elegance of this card if you ask me.

I hope today is a great day for you!

From Saturday's Stamp Camp - Three Little Words

I loved the set Three Little Words as soon as I saw it, but I have had a bit of a time coming up with some good cards. It must mean that I need to play with it a bit more huh? This sample was completely inspired but the ribbon! Isn't that funny? A few weeks back I got together with some fellow stampers and my pal Lorien had this beautiful Kraft Taffeta Ribbon. It was beautiful, so I knew I had to have some! I wanted to use it on a project and it seemed only natural to pair it with pink!

Thoughts and Prayers

"I'm Praying for You" seems to be a statement I've been saying alot lately. I know that the economy is terrible all over the United States, but it really seems to be hitting our state of Michigan hard. Much of our economy is made up of the car industry and as you all know, it has been an industry hit hard lately. There are people left and right losing their jobs all around us. Even my husband is just waiting for the day that he does not get to return to work. In addition there are a few people in our lives who have recently found out they are facing serious illnesses. The set Thoughts and Prayers is one that is really getting a work out at my house.

This card is going to a lady from our church who is headed to Henry Ford Hospital this week to have a mass biopsied they have found on her pancreas. I'm praying for her and I just wanted her to know.

Gift For A Sister

In just a few weeks I'll be hangin with my stampin sisters for a whole weekend! A bunch of us at Splitcoaststampers are going to Bay City for a weekend at the end of March. We did it last year and are doing it again this year. We'll have free stamping time, organized challenges (which are my favorite!), door prizes and demonstrations. (I LOVE the prizes!)

Part of the fun is that we get paired up with secret sisters for the 3 months prior and we send them 2 cards a month and little goodies if we are so inclined, and then we meet each other that weekend. This year, I have it on good authority that my little sister doesn't spend much time online, so I'm sure it won't make any difference if I post this...I don't think she'll see it. IF she does, I don't mind anyway. Last year my little sister found me out and we had the best time chatting online before meeting. We sat together at the event and have gotten together to stamp since. It really was nice "knowing" one another before hand.

This is my gift for my little sister for February. I was going to do something Valentiney but opted for this card and calendar since it is so early in the year still she will get some use out of it, and she said she likes earth tone colors. I hope she likes it. The calendar was a kit that Stampin Up was selling in our last mini catalog, I picked it up and never did anything with it. When I read that my sister likes red, browns and earth tones, I thought it would be perfect for her. The card has some fancy fold to it that I copied from my friend Vicki who did a beautiful Christmas card in a swap we were in this past fall. I'm not sure the name of the fold though! Vicki, if you read this, can you post the name of it in the comments?

I used the Top Note Big Die on this one since I love that die and am trying to find ways to use it. The stamp set I used is called Enjoy Every Moment. A set I thought I'd get a ton of use out of, but have rarely used. After using it on this project I am convinced I need to drag it out more often!

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Three Little Words...

Another set that I just had to have from the new catalog was "Three Little Words". I adore this set. I don't know what it is, maybe it is the beautiful font on the "T", maybe it is the simplicity of it, I'm not sure but I have had fun playing with it. Here is the first sample I had with this set and I am considering it as a card to be made by my customers at my upcoming New Stuff Stamp a Stack. When I plan classes it seems I always have "proto-types" that I play around with. Some make it, some don't. We'll have to wait and see!

I used my Bella Rose paper that I have had sitting around for awhile and the new eyelet border punch. Isn't it pretty!? It certainly gives a project a feminine feel. The ribbon is of course Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain and the pretty brad??? Sweet clear rhinestone brads that Stampin Up! now carries! I hope you enjoy the card and have a great day!

I can feel it...really, it's coming...SPRING!!! Today it is in the 4o's and the snow is melting like crazy. My dh says it is supposed to be like this all week! Here is a card to celebrate! I love the combo of pink and celery. This was made with the new set Petal Pizazz. I don't actually own this set, it belongs to my pal Vicki (CraftCrazy98 at Splitcoaststampers.com) . We got together with some other friends to stamp a couple of weeks ago and she stamped the large flower image and didn't like it! She was going to throw it away if you can believe it?!?! I said, "Oh, no! Pass that over!" I hijacked it (or should I say that I saved it from certain death?) Anyway, this is what I created with it. I added some circle rhinestone brads to the center of the flowers, I used the Polka Dot background stamp (which is on the dormant list, I PRAY it doesn't get retired in June!!!) and of course some 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.

I had no real need for this card, I just could not see the beautiful bloom get trashed! If you click on Vicki's name above, you can see what she ended up making with this set, it is just fabulous (as are most of her creations!)

Stamps and Stuff for Sale

AHHH..I've been cleaning...actually my mother stopped by last week to help me START cleaning my stamp room. She even said, "Gee, I thought I had alot of stuff!" I am pulling out stuff that I don't need or haven't used in a very long time. Please take a look and let me know if you need anything. Shipping is not included in the price, I'll ship to you priority mail. Most of these stamps have been used but when you contact me, I can let you know the exact condition and e-mail at caspen1973@yahoo.com you a photo if you like. If you want multiple items I might even strike a deal. I really need to get rid of this stuff!

Stampin Up Stamps and Accessories

All About you $15

Dotted Background $10

Looks Like Spring $15

Print Pattern Background $10

So Many Scallops $ 5

So Much $20

Swell News $15

Wonderful Words $7 (used ALOT)

1/4" Circle Punch $4

ATC Album page refill pack (never opened) $3

Eyelet Tool (2 sizes of holes) and Setter $5

Spectrum Pad - Twist (bright colors) $2

Wheel Guide $10

CC Designs Stamps

A Hootin Good Time $15

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_442&products_id=5917

Amy R Build a Holiday (never used) $10

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_752&products_id=7444

Big Old Background Polka Dots

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_596&products_id=5313

Big Ol Background Stripes $5

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_596&products_id=5653

Cookie Crumbs Annabelle (never used) $13

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=650_785&products_id=7118

Cookie Crumbs Cow Print Background (never used) $5

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=650_785&products_id=7117

Itzie Inkies Pretty Kitties $7

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_545&products_id=6481

Pajama Christopher (never used) $3

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=650_785&products_id=7115

Sugarplum Halloween $15

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=650_751&products_id=6849

Sugarplum Scenery Christmas $8.00

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=650_785&products_id=7116

Queenies Cleaning Queenie (never used) $4

http://www.allthatscraps.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=360_361_625&products_id=5660

Various

Disney All Night Media "Pooh Party Parade" (very used) $5

http://s307.photobucket.com/albums/nn303/hazel2828/RUBBER%20STAMPS/OCT%2023/OCT%2023B/?action=view&current=044.jpg

Hero Arts Celebrate Background Stamp $2

Hero Arts - Lil Blossom Patterns (Never Used) $10

for a photo, here is an e-bay auction that has one listed:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hero-Arts-BLOSSOM-PATTERNS-stamp-set-Fall-Flowers_W0QQitemZ120364478786QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0#ebayphotohosting

Inkadinkadoo (Kathy Davis) "God Could Not Be Everywhere That's Why He Created Mothers" $2

Trendy Trees and Some Sweet Slumber Paper

Hello! It seems like it has been awhile since I have posted anything! I've actually made a few things and plan to schedule some posts for you to take a look. This sample was made with some new catalog goodies. My first new catalog order included Trendy Trees, Thoughts and Prayers and Three Little Words. I couldn't send a new order in without adding some buttons (Button Latte - YUMMY! - and some new patterned paper (Sweet Slumber). I'm not sure WHY Trendy Trees jumped out at me, I just thought it was so cute! I have been thinking it needs a tiny bird in it..oooh, how about a bench, bird bath? Kind of like the new set Branch Out (also on my list).

Here is my sample using Trendy Trees and Sweet Slumber paper. I've always loved yellow, blue and red together so this paper was first on my list as well. It includes Ruby Red, Baja Breeze and So Saffron. I have also always liked gingham. Gingham is easy. Not to busy, pair it with solids or even polka dots. Not to crazy. I have trouble matching designer paper that is patterned, I freak out about it being to busy, so gingham makes it all easy. When this card was finished it reminded me of some 50's diner or something. It must be the gingham.

The ribbon is the Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon. I don't have Riding Hood Red paper or ink, it is so close to Ruby Red that I haven't felt the need for it. This ribbon matches perfectly as well. I love it and am really sad that it will be retired come summer. I was going for simple with this one and think I achieved it. I keep trying to find different ways to use the Top Note Die, so this is how I chose to use it for this card. Using it this way, you can get two out of one, but just cutting it in half!

I'm off to start the day, but I'll be back later with another sample to share!