Sponged Serene Silhouettes

Today’s a HUGE DAY!  Today is the last day of the 2013 Spring Catalog and the first day of the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog.  For today only - all three books (Spring Catalog and two Annual Catalogs) are open for business.  Woo hoo!  The order entry system will be down until noon MD (2 pm EST), so don’t worry yourself with trying to enter your order beforehand.  I’m SO excited!  First of all, here’s a link to the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog:

 CLICK HERE

Many of you have been flipping through this gem for a while.  Some are just seeing it live for the first time.  Soak it in.  There are lots of great treasures hidden inside the covers of this book.  Don’t flip too fast or you’ll miss them.  AND don’t forget that the online ordering doesn’t start until noon MDT.

ALSO - Stampin' Up is offering 3 of the greeting stamp sets for 25% off!!!   

If you want to put in an Online order, please use this hostess code:  N4PTTCS7  Or call me and I can place the order for you.


I have also added a easy button to the left side of my blog any time you need to access the catalog.  Right under the picture of the catalog is a "How'd they do that?" link.  That will link you to all the supplies used to make all the projects in the catalog.  If you see a card you like in the catalog, you can find the supplies used to make it by going to that link.


Here is a card I made using Serene Silhouettes (It is NOT retiring!!). I used repositional tape to adhere the middle white card stock panel to the card and sponged the Baja Blue, Regal Rose, Daffodil and Celery across the card trying to blend the colors slightly where they met.  I then removed the tape from the center piece and matted it onto black and adhered it to the card.  Next I stamped the image in black ink.  Very simple card to make but it is a WOW!

Raining Flowers - going, going .....

Only a few more days to show off these stamp sets that are retiring.  This one is Raining Flowers, a two step set that I got at convention a couple of years ago.  I really haven't used it much but I really like this card!  Don't you love these colors?  Think they are my favorite!  I used Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery and Daffodil Delight.  I popped up the two flowers and used a piece of retired (a long time ago!) grosgrain ribbon about the card with pearls in the centers.  I also used the Framed Tulips embossing folder on the white card stock.

Be Yourself!

It's time for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge card.  This was an easy sketch this week. 

I used a new kit too that I just downloaded called Be Yourself. I really love the papers that come in the kit - kinda reminds me of tie-dying.  I used to love to tie dye tees back in the day!

.
Speaking of new kits, Tuesday was Digital Download Day.  Every Tuesday Stampin' Up announces new downloads for sale or sometimes, they are free!  This weeks downloads are really great and there's a FREE one!

Convention 2013

All About My Dad

Anchors Away

This Makes Me Happy Pocket Cards

FREE - June wallpaper Anchors Away

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!  Hope your weekend was a nice one and you were able to spend it with family and friends.  I had a very relaxing weekend.  I worked on my Ireland scrapbook Saturday and Sunday on My Digital Studio.  I am trying to get it finished before June 15 which is when Stampin' Up's sale ends.   Wish me luck!!  Saturday night Sonny and I went out to eat fish at Galway Hooker.  Since I had been working on my Ireland scrapbook, I was craving some fish and chips although Sonny had the fish and chips and I decided on Flounder Picatta and it was delicious!!  Add in some Jalepeno Mac and Cheese and Sauteed Green Beans .... yum!!  Today Sonny and I decided to take the boat out.  We packed the cooler and got all our stuff together BUT when we got in the boat, it wouldn't start - the battery was dead as a door nail!  Sonny went back to the house and get the battery charger.  We sat out there in the boat at the dock for a couple of hours but it still wouldn't start.  So, we came on back to the house.  Now Sonny just has to figure out what the problem is or get the battery replaced. 

Someone sent me a really nice tribute for Memorial Day.  Please read it and remember what the holiday is truly all about....not just a day off from work, but a day to remember our real heros. I am honored that both of my children served their country (and my daughter is still in the Army). My grandfather, step-father and father all served their country too.

Real Heroes ~ By Sharon Lee Riguzzi


Memorial Day is almost here: Barbecues will be held. Parades will be marched. White shoes will come out of hibernation. The sounds of kids playing outside after dinner waft through open windows. Weekly garage-sale flyers cover telephone poles so we know where to go to buy someone else’s stuff that has cluttered their attic and basement for years. And for many, this weekend opens up the world of pools and beaches.

But with all of the excitement of the unofficial beginning of summer, I, like so many others, sometimes forget (or as is the case with so many of today’s kids, don’t know) what the Memorial in Memorial Day signifies. This day started way back just after the Civil War as a time for us to honor and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice- their lives.

Most of you have heard of the play and movie Six Degree of Separation. I’m bringing it up because I’m guessing we all know of someone, or know someone who knows someone, who has served our country. My suggestion for the week is to ask around at work, among friends, at your book-club discussions, “Who has lost a family member in service of our country?”

The purpose? To see that we all have been touched in some way–some closer than others-or other by these heroes. In their honor, tell the family member how much you appreciate our freedom because of brave people like their fallen soldier. At the same time we can be teaching our kids that we are so lucky.

So whether or not you have kids marching with their little league team, scouts or band, make it a point to go to the local parade to give your support. And if you see an old-timer wearing a too tight uniform or a faded army hat, stop and shake his hand, and thank him too. Watch him well up with pride. Because years ago, he took action to get what we wanted: learned to recognize all of the wonderful traits each of us possesses; found the inner strength to make a difference.

And by your shaking just one veteran’s hand, I guarantee you will make him feel great – and so will you.

Now how about the new in colors????  I have some of the card stock but I just ordered the inks today and can't wait for them to arrive!!

WHICH NEW IN COLOR IS YOUR FAVORITE?  Please leave me a comment below!

Strawberry Slush :  Lighter and softer than Melon Mambo.  Brighter than Rose Red. 
Pistachio Pudding: A modern and "minty" spin on Certainly Celery (retiring)

Crisp Cantaloupe: Lighter and softer than Calypso Coral. More peach than Blushing Bride (a returning color).
Coastal Cabana: Lighter than Island Indigo. Richer than Pool Party.
Baked Brown Sugar:  Warmer than Crumb Cake.  More gold and lighter than Soft Suede.

 

Happy Birthday

I made this birthday card recently to send to a friend.  This is another retired stamp set - Patterned Party.  It is a great card for birthdays.  And how do you like the little owl peeking his head out?  I used the good ole' Owl Punch to make him.  I just love this punch!!

You can do a lot with this set.  One of my gals from Stamp Club told me today that she used the 9 and the 0 for her mother's 90th birthday party this past weekend! 

Serene Silhouette Sympathy

For your information, here is the time line for ordering from the OLD and NEW catalogs:

Friday, May 31 – last day to order from the Spring Mini Catalog
Friday, May 31 – first day to order from the 2013-2014 Idea Book and Catalog
Monday, June 3 – last day to order from the 2012-2013 Idea Book and Catalog

What does this mean?  It means that Friday, May 31 is your day!  That’s the one day when all three catalogs are open for business.  On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, you can order from the two main catalogs, but the Spring Catalog is off the table.  Contact me with your order OR you can order on-line yourself and have the order shipped directly to you by using code #N4PTTCS7.

####################################

 
Don't you hate it when you need a sympathy card?  I needed to send a card to a friend who lost her husband recently.  He had been sick for a while and in Kay's own words " I’m thankful that Bruce and I had this time during the past year or so while he’s been ill, to talk and cry and laugh and share feelings, to ask forgiveness of each other for past hurts and to grow closer as we walked this journey together. "  Isn't that what we all would ask for?  Just a chance to enjoy those final days together.

I haven't had this stamp set very long but I really like it.  I always seem to use Thoughts and Prayers for my sympathy cards but now I will have another "go to" set for sympathy cards.

The card is Island Indigo although it doesn't look like it in the picture and is embossed.  I stamped the tree with birds in Black StazOn ink on Shimmery White card stock.  Then I used my Aqua Painter and lightly brushed Summer Starfruit over the bottom and Island Indigo across the middle.  I matted the piece with black card stock, tied a black ribbon around the piece and stamped the sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers.  Very simple - took about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Sketch Challenge 43 MDS Style

Here is my card for the Paper Players Sketch #43 this week.  I used My Digital Studio to create it.  

Make sure you stop by the Paper Craft Crew Blog to check out what the other players have made HERE.

Recipe for MDS card:

Background     Color - matched to the DSP
Embellishments
    _Designer Kits\Christmas Jingle - borders\Christmas Jingle - ribbon piece (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits\Fan Fair - embellishments\Fan Fair - border 1
    Paper Doilies\Paper Doilies - whisper white (re-colored)
    _Designer Kits\2013 Quotable Calendar\2013 Quotable Calendar - beyond yourself
    Hodgepodge Hardware\Designer Brad - circle2

Stamps
    _Designer Kits\Convention 2012\Convention 2012 - frame corner, Color = BASIC GRAY      _Designer Kits\Convention 2012\Convention 2012 - frame corner, Color = BASIC GRAY 

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,
    Flowers\Fun Flower - 4,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Keep in Touch - designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 2
    Flowers\Fun Flower - 2,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Keep in Touch - designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 4

Photos
    Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Keep in Touch - designer series paper\Keep in Touch - 1

Button Buddies Flower

I'm home and getting for Stamp Club this week.  We left St. Augustine this morning after breakfast and headed north.  We stopped for a delicious fried chicken dinner at the Front Porch restaurant in South Carolina.  I had the best fried squash I have ever had!!  Sonny actually made the suggestion to stop at this restaurant since he has been there before with his shooting buddies.  Usually he doesn't care for good ole' Southern cooking but he enjoyed the fried chicken as much as I did - plus mashed potatoes and gravy!  My mouth is watering.

This is one of the cards we will be making this week in Stamp Club.  I didn't use Button Buddies enough but I will be holding on to it for a while.  It is such a fun set.  For this card I used a combo of old and new colors - Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry (new) and Riding Hood Red (retiring).  This was a super easy card to make.  Just stamp 2 of the flowers directly on the card and the third flower on scrap paper - I used Naturals cardstock for this card.  The card can be punched out with the Scallop Punch.  Add a button to the center, a flag with a sentiment on top of a strip of DSP and voila, an easy card!

Still in Florida!

I'm still in Florida!  We have been having so much fun!  Sonny has been such a good sport about the beach and the sand - gonna owe him big time!!  It has been so relaxing.  We spent most of the day out on the beach - we would go out around 10 a.m. and walk a couple of miles before settling down in our beach chairs to snooze and read our books.  Then up to the room for lunch and back to the beach till around 3:30 pm.  After we showered and got ready, we would go into the town of Fernandina for dinner and a few drinks.  Last night we found a piano bar that was a real treat.  Today we checked out of the motel and decided to drive down to St Augustine while we were so close.  We toured a chocolate factory (free tastings!!) and hopped on a tour trolley to learn a little about the city.  I found a local winery for a free tour and tasting so I was happy!  We went ahead and got a hotel for the night so we could find a sports bar to watch the Penguins play-off hockey game.  (It is now in it's 2nd overtime!)  Tomorrow we will have a long drive back home but we both have obligations on Tuesday so have to get home.  Plus Sammie is missing us I'm sure.  Angela was a big help and came over to feed Sammie a couple of times while I was gone but she told me Sammie was not very sociable.  Guess she's pouting since we're gone!

My new hat!

footprints in the sand

Sonny snoozing

Seashell in the sand

Early morning sun on the ocean

Posting from Florida!

We are in Florida - Fernandina Beach - enjoying the sun and sand.  We arrived yesterday afternoon after a stop Tuesday night in Sumter, SC in time to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game.  (That was a challenge - to find a sports bar that carried the hockey game in Sumter!)  Last night Sonny and I wandered arround the shops and bars downtown.  We ended up at the Thirsty Pelican and joined a trivia game.  We didn't do too well but it was fun anyway ... and the food was excellent!  Today I spent most of the day on the beach soaking up the sunshine.  It was a perfect day - overcast all day so I didn't just burn up.  Sonny was a sport and sat with me for a couple of hours.  Tonight we met some friends who live in Jacksonville at the Green Turtle for a couple of drinks and then on to an Italian restaurant for another wonderful dinner.   When we got back to the hotel a little after 8 pm, I wanted to watch American Idol since tonight was the finale.  I forgot that I could not get the sound on the tv to work last night - but only on Fox which is the station that carries Idol.  I went to the office tonight to tell them about it.  Turns out our tv is the only one it seems that the sound does not work on Fox!  The TV in the office and in the empty room next door both work.  After about a half hour of fooling around with the tv with no luck, I finally convinced the gal to just let me sit in the empty room next door to watch the show.  She first told me I would have to pay a cleaning fee if I did that!  But she finally called the owner who ok-d it so I was able to watch the finale.  I liked both of the gals who were in the finale and wasn't surprised at the outcome.  (I'm not saying who since I don't think Ashley has seen it yet since she is in Vegas this week!)

This week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge sketch was a great one.  I made my card Tuesday night while we were in Sumter but didn't have time to post it.  That's the great thing about MDS.  I can make a card while I'm traveling by just using my computer!!

I used the kit Big Top Birthday for most of the card.

Make sure you check out the other cards from the design team HERE.

My Mother's Day Card

I received a beautiful Mother's Day card from my sweet daughter.  What a lot of work went into this card .... especially knowing that she does not own a square punch!  She cut all these squares out with her cutter.  Wow!  She told me that this would have been an easy card to make using MDS.  So I thought I'd give it a try!

I made my "inchie" card into a birthday card.  So, what do you think?  Ashley's is better because it has a lot more elements but an MDS card is very "doable"!!

Sonny and I are headed to Florida tomorrow to celebrate our anniversary a little late.  It's been a long time since we took a little vacation - just the two of us.  He is not a big fan of the beach and I think I could live at the beach.  But, he is being a good sport.  We are staying on Amelia Island at Fernandino Beach which I think is a pretty quiet little beach.  I've got a few good books packed, my sunscreen and my bathing suit .... ready to relax!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope your day is special!  We are taking my mom out to eat this afternoon.  We are hoping to miss the crowd by going around 3 pm. 

I've been busy the past few days trying to learn how to use my new smart phone!  It's sad when a phone is smarter than a person!!  The kid I bought the phone from at Verizon ran through the instructions so fast my head was spinning when I left!  I'm planning on going back to take a class on how to use my phone and find out about all the apps.  In the meantime, I did learn how to play Words With Friends!  I had dinner last night with Marianne and Greg and she helped me out with my new phone.  Although I think my phone doesn't like me.  Every time I power it on I get a little green man who I'm guessing is the Droid laying down.  He stays like that for a while before continuing to power on.  Not sure what that is about.  Looks like I killed him!

I've been working on making cards using the retired card stock and stamps sets that didn't make it into the new catalog.  Button Buddies is one of them.  It was one of my favorites when it first came out but I have to admit, I didn't use it near as much as I thought I would. 

This one was easy!  I just stamped the flower in the Button Buddies set with white craft ink and embossed them all with white embossing powder.  Then I glued a button in the center of each flower.  The card stock is Certainly Celery.

Wonderful Mother's Day Card

Well, the Red Cross has disappointed again.  We got a call yesterday that they had opened a shelter for the local flooding victims and needed volunteers to man the shelter.  We told them we could work it from 1-7 today since I had a meeting this morning.  The shelter was set up in north Charlotte and when Sonny and I arrived, there was no one there.  And I don't mean no clients, but no workers ... no one!  I called the Lake Norman office to see what was going on and was told they had closed the shelter at noon.  Didn't we get a call?  NO!!  Sonny and I both have cell phones and had them turned on but nothing and when we arrived home, there was no message waiting for us there either.  You know that old adage, three strikes and you're out?  Well, we're OUT!   Every time we've worked a shelter, there has either been no one needing our services or one person.  It would make much more sense to put one person in a hotel rather than all the manpower necessary to set up a shelter!

OK - on to other things.  I made a Mothers Day card for the Paper Craft Crew challenge using MDS.  I love using this trick with ribbon.  I used the grosgrain ribbon bow and cropped it so I just had one loop; copy, paste and voila, two loops.  It's a pretty simple card but I think I will be printing this one out for my mom for Mother's Day.  Now I just have to find a gift for her.

Make sure you visit the Paper Craft Crew Blog site and check out what the other members have done with the sketch.  And while you're at it, make your own card using the sketch.

Just Believe and Build A Blossom .... Going, going, gone!

I have been doing some serious purging!  My craft room was getting pretty bad so I knew I had to do something.  Since I had already gone through a lot of stuff to put in the sale last week, I decided to keep it up.  I needed to redo my paper storage to get the retiring colors out and put the new colors in the files so I got all new labels typed up for that.  I had three drawers full of bits and pieces and some whole pieces of card stock that has long been retired as well as DSP that I found I really wasn't using that much.  So I have made goodie bags for my stamp club gals full of paper and DSP.  They can use it or pitch it - it's up to them!  I also found bags full of 3-D items I have required over the years in swaps that needed to go.  I went through them and kept out a few I wanted to keep and put the rest in a box and I will let my gals pick out what they want this month.  I feel pretty good and my floor is clean since I even vacuumed!!  I still have a big container of DSP to go through but I'm getting there!

I did have time this afternoon to make a card to share with you using a stamp set that I think a lot of people will miss - Just Believe.  It is such a pretty set that I am going to hold on to mine just a little longer!  I also used retiring colors for the card - I love Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Pretty in Pink together!  They have always been my "go to" colors for spring and flower cards.  Guess I'll be finding a new combo now - how about Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette and Pool Party????

Here is another retiring set - Build A Blossom and the coordinating punch.  I sold this set on Saturday - I had to do it quick before I thought about it too hard or it would have come back home with me!!  I used the Soda Pop Top for the center and stamped the butterfly from Collage Curios to put in the middle.  Collage Curios is in the Spring Mini Catalog - if you like this set, you better buy it now - just saying!

 Here is a close up of the center.

 This tulip card was also made using the Build A Blossom punch!  I just used the leaf portion of the punch and punched out 5 petals for each flower - from Rich Razzleberry and Regal Rose.  How different from the card above!

MDS Sale

I participated in a webinar today by Stampin' Up about My Digital Studio.  I had almost forgotten about their big MDS sale going on now but it is a good one.  From now until June 15, MDS select digital content and printing is on SALE!!  Go HERE to see all the sale items.

Here are a few for you to check out -

Make a swatchbook for Mother for Mother's Day with this kit:

How about this one for some great layouts -

or this one for graduation - All you’ll need for a graduation party: invites, food flags, mini rolled diplomas and it is complete with 12" x 12" page classmates can sign for a lasting keepsake.
 Make sure you select me as your demonstrator to get the best price!

Here are a couple of cards I made tonight with MDS using  a couple of retiring stamps - French Foilage and Greeting Card Kids.  If you want to order these stamps, you'd better hurry.  They will be gone by the end of the month!

Remember - if you comment on the cards, you will be entered to win my BLOG CANDY which is the cards I have made using the retired stamps.

Doing Wheel-ies!

On Saturday Stampers Alley had their annual Used Stamp Sale.  This year they did it a little differently.  It was set up like a garage sale with us setting up our tables in the parking lot instead of Stampers Alley having to sell our stamps for us and taking a percentage.  Marianne and I shared a booth and spread our stamps and craft things out on 3 tables and set up shop.  We did pretty good.  I made a little over $200 and got rid of a lot of my retired stamp sets so I was quite happy!  And most importantly, I didn't spend all my profits.  I only bought a couple of things ... maybe spending about $10.  I still have a box of stamps left and I will be offering them to my Stamp Club gals in a few weeks.  Our only complaint was the weather!  We almost froze to death!!  It is May but you would think it is March.  The temps have been in the 50s during the day.  It's more like Seattle weather - although my friends there tell me it is in the 80s!  I keep hearing folks say that they are tired of this cold rainy weather we are having.  Well, I am as well but it came to me that I am using little to no heat and no air conditioning right now and haven't for weeks, so our energy bill should be a lot less this month.  That's a good thing.   Marianne and I were both bundled up and to make matters worse, it started sprinkling  Marianne called Greg and he came to our rescue and brought us a canopy so our things wouldn't get too wet. And the icing on the cake - at the end of the sale, we gave what we didn't want to take back with us to one of the gals there who is going to send it all to the Sandy Hook community.

A lot of people have trouble when It comes to using a wheel on a card.  I don't use them very often (mainly, because I forget about them! ) but they are great for backgrounds on your cards.  Here are a few hints when using a wheel:

■stand up as you get straighter lines and more even pressure that way

■start rolling the wheel while off the card stock to prevent lines showing

■start at the corner of the page closest to you and roll away from yourself

■if you do not have an ink cartridge in the wheel handle, when rolling it on the ink pad do not roll it back and forth, roll it in the same direction ~6 times to ensure it is entirely inked

■always test the wheel on scrap paper first to ensure that your design/words are oriented the right way

■If the roller wheel does have a sentiment on it, line up the seam of the roller just off the page to ensure that you get the sentiment over the page in its entirety and not half a word that doesn’t make sense

■store the ink cartridges in zip lock bags to help keep them moist

■practice on scrap paper a lot!

Here is a bookmark that I made using the Very Vintage Wheel:

I wheeled it using Versamark Ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  Easy to do.

Retiring - Raining Flowers and Word Play

Here are two more cards I've made this week using the retiring sets.  This time I used Word Play (oh how I am going to miss this one!) and Raining Flowers.

Word Play

With the Word Play card, I just cut some strips of DSP to create my candles.  I used the Bird Punch for the flame - easy peasy! 

I had a little help while working on my cards this week.  Sammie wouldn't let me out of her sight!  I guess since I was gone over the week end, she was making sure I wouldn't be leaving her again any time soon. 

Checking out my lunch!

Taking a nap in the box!

For the Raining Flowers card, I also used Best Friends Forever (retired) to stamp the leaves in the background.  The flowers were stamped, cut out, and popped up.  A very quick card to make.

Raining Flowers

Sketch Challenge #40

I used MDS to create my Sketch Challenge this week (what else is new???)  I love this DSP - it is from the Wonderful Whimsey's Kit.  I think I used paper from that kit on last week's project - that's how great it is!  It's hard to tell but there is also a Honeycomb Overlay over the card and DSP - maybe if you click on the card, you can see more detail but the overlay made the "squiggly" lines over the triangle shapes on the DSP.  There are all kind of techniques you can use with MDS.  You just need to get in there and play around with it.

Background - Color = Crushed Curry

Embellishments -
Designer Rosettes\Designer Rosettes - pointed very vanilla
Designer Kits\This And That Epic Day - embellishments\This And That Epic Day - friends flag
Designer Kits\Hello There - embellishments\Hello There - flag
2011-2013 In Color Ruffled Ribbon\Ruffled Ribbon - pool party
2011-2013 In Color Ruffled Ribbon\Ruffled Ribbon - pool party knot
Sara's Sequins\Sara's Sequins - teal

Stamps -
_Designer Kits\Family History\Family History - overlay honeycomb
Apothecary Art\Apothecary Art - for you

Punches -
Extras\Flag Punch,
Basics\1.25 Circle Punch,
Labels Stamp; Tags\Labels Collection 1

Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Wonderful Whimsies 1

 I have to brag and share the project Ashley sent me last night that she has made for one of the residents at the hospital.  She designed it with MDS and took it to an office supply store to have it printed 12 x 12 and is going to frame it and give it as a gift.  The theme for the nursery is Dr. Seuss and Ashley was able to find a free Dr. Seuss Font even!  What a great gift for just a little bit of cash!  And she has only had MDS since Christmas!