Stampin Up Party!!

Cathy's card on the right. Rochelle' card on the left.

   I went to a Stampin UP party at my sister, Rochelle's house. It was way too much fun. The food was good. The sharing of ideas was awesome. I brought my camera to take pictures and got so caught up in the festivities that I forgot to take pictures. Oh well, I will at the next one. Cathy is our new demonstrator and she did a great job. We made a card that she had designed. It was wicked cute. So cute that  I had to buy the punch and the stamp to make more of my own. I added the sentiment when I got home. Love this card!
  Rochelle designed the other card. I love this one, too. She put the owl together for us to save time and aggravation. Isn't the owl adorable. I have this punch and plan on making him again for Valentine's Day. It's so clever to turn the tree sideways. She used her Xyron  to make the little hearts like stickers. Easy to attach to the paper.
  All in all it was a great day. It's so fun to get together with others and share your passion for paper crafting. We hope to get together again  soon. Can't wait.

Because I Care Card

   I am so excited because today I am going to the Creative Keepsakes convention in Manchester, New Hampshire with my sisters. We are heading out about 7:30 to pick up a friend and then off we go!! I'll post some pics of the day... Can't wait.

I like purple.. Can't help it!!

   I was up so early this morning that I finished a card I have been working on. I hadn't used Stampin Up's stamp set called "Because I Care" yet. I really love how my Copic markers helped bring out the light and dark effect that you see on this flower. I also used the markers on the leaves.
   The side sentiment is an Outlines stamp I have had for a while and never used before either.
  The ink is SU's eggplant envy. It seemed to go well with SU's paper.
   I got to use my Crop-A-dile tool to set the eyelet on the oval sentiment from the "Because I Care" stamp set. I love it when I can use a tool.
   The lace is from Tate's in Bath, Maine. I have to go back and get some more of their lace. It's very reasonably priced. Love that place.  I've had the purple ribbon for a while, but I don't remember where I got it, probably JoAnn's Fabric Store. I get alot there, too.
   Anyway, I have to get ready for my trip to N.H. I wonder what great finds I can will bring home. Check back to see... 

Sweet Birdies!

Really artsy...

   Lately I've been wowed by cards I've seen on Splitcoast Stampers that have black accents. They looks so stunning. I was stumbling one day and came across an art piece that used white as the main look. I liked it, so I thought why not use it on a card. I really like how this card came out.
   I used the  Sizzix die cut border strip called "Birds and Branches". It's a really pretty die cut. I added a detail to the flying bird, because it looked funny without that second wing behind it. I used black enamel accents for the little itty bitty eye dot.
   I pieced the tree together since it is really one long strip to make it look more like a tree branch.
   The tag on top is from Spellbinders fancy tag collection. The sentiment is from Stampin Up's Warm Words set. I used SU window punch and added gems for a little bling-bling.
   I carried the theme of birds and tree branches inside the card. It is blank because I never know when I might need a card for some occasion. This leaves me options...love options.

Inside blankish

   I could use it as a Thinking of You card, a Birthday card, a Lovey Dovey card for husband, or even a Thank-you card. I think I will work on a birthday card next. I don't have many of those...and I have 5 sisters and one brother. Whew... thank goodness I'm retired.

Whew! What a Week!!!!

   It's been a whirlwind week. My niece and her husband arrived from Georgia. What a lovely couple. The first night here my husband and I took Danielle to the ER. The next day I was with my sister, Chris, when she stepped up on a chair and her knee popped. She and her husband took off for the ER. I walked next door to my mom's to find her having a hard time breathing, so off the ER again. I saw my sister in one room and my mom in the other. I think the people in ER thought we were bringing them off the streets. Everyone is find now. Amen.
   So as you can see I was a busy girl. I just finished this card for my niece's husband, Kyle. It's was his 26th birthday and we are giving him a belated party on Saturday. He's our newest addition to our family, so we want to make him feel welcome. Love his Southern accent.

Fireman's Birthday Card

      I cheated a little and found an outline for the shape of the firetruck. I then began to add the accents to make the truck look more realistic.  I used enamel accents from Inkessentials on the tires, knobs, and stuff. The white lines are from an opaque pen from Inkessentials.
   I stamped the tree and tire swing from Stampin Up's Branch Out set. Love that set. The cat was from SU's Window Dressing set. I am pretty happy with the results, but I think I went overboard with the enamel accents on the balloon strings. Oh well, live and learn.

Hope he likes the joke...

   My husband helped me come up with the sentiment. Kyle is a fire fighter in his home town in Georgia. I can't remember the name of the town, but it's in Georgia.
   The birthday cake I picked up at JoAnn's Fabric store in Topsham. It was one of those dollar stamps, but I kinda like it. I hope Kyle does, too.

Don't Look, Cindy!!!

   I've been working on a birthday card for my good friend, Cindy. I am hoping she won't look at this post. She's pretty busy, so I think I am safe. "No peeking, Cindy!"
    Anyway, I've only made the sidestep card once, so I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try it again.  I found  the written directions from this blog: http://creatingcardswithandrea.blogspot.com/2009/06/side-step-card-tutorial_11.html  It really was not difficult with these directions at all.
     I used five different stamps for this card. The sentiment is a stamp from Stampendous. The "Happy Birthday" stamp is from Hero Arts, and the circle stamp is from Stampin Up called So Many Scallops. I used my SU scallop punch to get the white rim. The long gifts stamp is also from Stampin Up, but I don't know the name of it. If someone knows, please email the name and I will put it on the set.

For Cindy

   I added linked beads and lace around the sentiment. Pink is Cindy's favorite color, I had to use pink on her card. Pink roses from Prima gives the card a feminine look.
   I love Tim Holtz's rosette die cut. I have a heck of a time making it,though. I think I've said this before, but it's no better.  I found a solution that seems to work.  After I have the strip made from the die cut, I put clear postal tape over it. It seems to hold the strip together without ripping when I am folding back and forth. Yipee!!
  The frog is another favorite of Cindy's. I'm pretty sure she calls her car "Kermit" 'cause it's green. This is another stamp from Stampin Up called Pocket Fun. 
     I used Spellbinder's spiky circle and added the white enamel dots with Ranger's Enamel Accents. The paper behind the rosette is wrapping paper that came on a gift. I thought it was pretty, so I kept it and hoped I could use it on another project. Here it is...on this card. I love to recycle.
    I hope Cindy likes this card. She is a special person..like a sister. She helped to get me started into card making. She was our Stampin Up demonstrator for years. Isn't it nice when you can make lasting friends over
glue, glitter, and ink. Thanks for being there, Cindy... Oops....I hope she reads this after her birthday party..

Thinking of Queenie

  I finally finished Queenie's card. Queenie is my brother-in-law's mother. She fell and broke her hip. She is in rehab to try and get her walking again. I thought a "thinking of you" card might make her feel a little better. I think getting a card from someone, just to let them know you care about them, is a great way to help in healing of the mind and body. 
  I used Stampin Up' Feathered Hope set. I colored with SU's markers 'cause the copic markers tended to blend outside the lines... It's probably my technique. I placed a circle on the back there to use Tim Holtz's Broken China ink. Then I took the circle away and colored the sun.  White enamel accents were used on the flowers.  I then colored them with yellow ink from Tim's collection. Nestabilities scalloped circle and round circle helped to capture the picture. Stampin up's border punch was used on the bottom. Cuttlebug's dotted  embossing folder gave the background some texture.
    I found a prayer for healing online that I am going to put inside. It ends with : Lord, we pray that you will wrap Your loving arms around her, giving her comfort, strength and peace, drawing her ever closer to You, as you lead her through this trying time. In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.
   I hope this makes her feel a little better.

Remember When...

A different kind of Valentine Card!!

   I wanted to try out a different kind of Valentine for my husband. I really like the Summer by the Sea stamp set by Stampin Up. I had a bugger of a time coming up with a design I like with this stamp. I had checked out many cards made with this stamp on Splitcoast Stampers.com and got some ideas here and there.
   I used Copic markers to color and then brayered the sky and moon...I didn't really like it; so I scrunched it up to throw away, but then I thought why not make it look like an old photo. So I added some Vintage Photo ink from Tim Holtz's collection all over the picture. I used Stampin Up's Top Note die cut and then ripped off corner. I roughed up some of the
 edges to make it look worse.
   Low and behold, I liked it better. I added the crocheted ribbon and off white ribbon; along with a hat pin from Mark's Finest Papers,pearls, and some white netting.(It's hard to believe, but you use it on walls to sheetrock seems and corners. Sticks real well to paper.)
   I borrowed a  Stampin Up's stamp set , Elegant Beginnings, from my sister for the sentiment on the ribbon. Well, when I was done I thought it didn't stink too much. I am not sure I will use this card or the last one I posted to give to my husband. I am leaning towards the red one with the hearts on it.. Not sure .....What do you think?    

A Valentine for Russ

For my Dear Sweet Husband of Mine!!

   I have been working on this Valentine for my husband, Russ. I think this is the one I will give to him, but I am working on a couple others just in case I change my mind. I am having a hard time deciding. So I'll post each one and see what you think.
   I love using my JustRite stamps. The sentiment really seemed to fit us to a tee. I used Stampin Up's bird punch  and added a little flourish to the lady's eye with black enamel accents.
   I just got the lacy circle from Spellbinders. I really like the look with JustRite stamps. I am not sure where I got the designer paper from that I used. The flowers are prisma with a brad added to the middle.
The fern is from Martha Stewart's punch collection.


   I have a website that I look at for a love poem to help me express my feelings. We usually go out to dinner somewhere and talk about how lucky we are to have found each other. It's been almost five years now. Doesn't time go fast when you are having fun. I really do like this one......

Birthday Girl....Lexi turns One!!

   My niece's little girl, Lexi, is turning one. Jessica, my niece, has invited family over to celebrate. We are headed over this Sunday. It's always fun when we get together as a family.  I love seeing little kids playing together and being happy..like kids are suppose to be.
   Anyway, I wanted to make a special card to commemorate her first year. I thought this bunny was so cute. I did CASE a card from splitcoast 'cause it used a bunny from My Favorite Things collection. I think its name is Flopsy. Check out her card here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1267420?&si=flopsy
   I used some designer paper from Heidi Grace, but the rest is paper from Stampin Up. Stampin Up has the
lacy circle border punch. So I used a strip of black to accent the pink ribbon. The ribbon I probably picked up at JoAnn's since I get most of my ribbon there.

  
   I used Bow Easy to make this bow. Love the Bow Easy...
I like the pink and black combo for this card. The dots on the cake are from using Inkssentials Enamel Accents. I love to use this embellishment on my cards when I can.
   I had fun putting this card together. I am anxious for Lexi to see the little bunny. Hope you enjoyed looking. Thanks.

A Valentine for Nathaniel

   I have finally finished the Valentine I have been making for my son, Nathaniel. I've been dying to use the side step card I saw on Jackie Topa's blog. She gives excellent written directions and a tutorial on her card. She's on youtube,too. http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2010/07/side-step-dresser-tutorial.html

Worth all the work!!

   She is right.. the actual making of the card is easy. It's the design that took me forever. I loved her bureau idea, but I put it in a different place. I just purchased a new SU stamp set, Window Dressing,  from my friend, Cindy. Thanks, Cindy because I used the window and the little kitty stamps. The window is actually an outside window, but I made it an inside window. The little boy is a Matilda stamp,but I just can't seem to help myself .. I need for him to have a mouth...just a little one..
   The tree is from Stampin Up's Branching Out. The bike outside, which I know every kid leaves there, is from Tim Holt'z collection. I also used his distress inks to make things a little more realistic. I absolutely love Tim's Rock Candy Crackle paint. It give the banner a nice patina.
   Martha's Stewart's border punch is used on the bed coverlet. Sizzix die cuts were used from the ball, bat, and glove.
  It took alot of thinking, cutting,and arranging to get the card just right. I think Nathaniel will think it's cute. He's 29 years old, but he will always be my baby.