Easy Easter Card in 3D!

Do you ever buy something and then not use it right away and when you are ready to use it, you can't remember how!!!???  Before Christmas, I bought a sheet of 3-D Diecuts from a stamp store in Lewisville, NC.  They had samples all over of these gorgeous cards that they had made using these die-cuts.  Marianne and I were hooked!  We both bought some.  I don't know if Marianne has used hers (doubt it!) but mine have sitting on my desk for about a month until I got up the courage to give them a try.  I thought it was going to be hard but as it turned out, it was really easy.  Wow!  What an easy but beautiful card they make!  Check it out and tell me what you think.

Here's a close up shot of the flowers so you can see the 3-D effect:

The flowers come on a sheet and you just punch them out.  There are enough to make 4 flower sets and six one dimensional smaller flowers.  Plus, the pieces are numbered so you know how to layer them. 

I also found a Spellbounders Impressabilities Butterfly die that I had never used.  These are really delicate dies and bend very easily.  I just used it like a stencil on my card sponging Blush Blossom ink onto the Blush Blossom card.  Then I used my Oval Nestabilites dies and cut out a Vanilla oval and a Pretty In Pink oval (I thought I was cutting out a Blush Blossom oval but after putting it together, realized I had grabbed the wrong color but it worked). 

I stamped "Easter Blessings" from my new stamp set, Abundent Hope from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

A clean desk and deployment info

I had a fairly productive day today.  While waiting to hear news from Ashley about her deployment, I cleaned my desk and some of my drawers!   You just can’t believe how many glue sticks, tape runners, etc. I had in my drawer just all jumbled up.  Now, let’s hope I can keep them somewhat organized!  Look at this desk -

I can’t remember when my desk was that clean!!  I even got all the bits and pieces of ribbon that I had laying around in their correct jars.

Of course, that’s not all the ribbon I have!

That’s still not all of it … what can I say?  I like pretty ribbon!

So all this cleaning inspired me to create a few cards!

This baby card is for Julie and Jim, friends of Ashley’s from med school.  Julie had a baby a couple of weeks ago (Charlie!).  She wasn’t due until mid February but because the baby was so large, they induced her.  I think he ended up weighing over 9 pounds!!  And he was early!!

This card is one I made and sent to my Monday Mailer partner.  Aren’t those little raccoons just darling??  They are in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Remember, you can order them either in the clear mount or traditional SU hard rubber.

So, it looks like Ashley will be going to Haiti and possible pretty soon – maybe even next week.  It just depends on how fast the Army can work.   Her name has been submitted to the person who is putting together the team.  She would be the MED AUG [medical augmentation] with the 86th Combat Support Hospital -- basically a tent hospital.  Hopefully, she will know more tomorrow so she can begin to get all her affairs in order.

More Northwoods Cards

Today I went to the Y.  Yes, after taking about a month (or more) off from exercising, I am hoping to make this a habit again.  I think it works best to schedule exercising.  If you just try to exercise when you get a minute or two or three, you never really work it into your day – at least, I don’t!   Something better always presents itself.  So, I took a couple of classes – fitness and stretch which I really enjoy.  At the end of the stretch class, we have a 5 minute meditation session.  So my meditation consisted of thinking about my family – my uncommunicative son, my moody husband, and my daughter’s possibilities of getting deployed.  When I finished and went out to my car, I had a missed call and voice message from my daughter.  If I’d checked further, I would have noticed that not only did I have 1 missed call from Ashley, but I had 6 missed calls from her.  So guess what she was calling to tell me???  Yep, she may be getting deployed in the next 2-3 weeks.  The good part is it would be a 6-month deployment to HAITI!  That would be so much better than Iraq or Afghanistan!!  Plus, as an Infectious Disease Pediatrician, she would be doing what she was trained for.  She wants this so bad.  I hope it happens for her although I would miss her terribly.  But six months in Haiti  is so much better than a year or more in Afghanistan.   Her boss is submitting her name to who ever is putting together the team.  She hope to find out in a few days.

Here are a couple more of the Northwoods cards I will be doing in my class.  My card is on top and the one underneath is from the Northwoods Stamp Board.

 

Northwoods Class

I will be teaching a class next weekend at my local stamp store.  It is based on a Northwoods Stamp Board.  I have modified the cards so that I can use some of the Northwoods stamps and also some of the stamps that I already have (to cut costs!).  The cards are Valentines, but I tried to leave out a lot of the Valentine sentiments so that you could use the cards for other occasions.   Here are a couple of the cards along with the Northwood cards from the board.    What do you think?  If you would be interested in taking this class, let me know or Brenda at Stampers Alley in Mooresville.

Scrunchy Flowers and Family Christmas

I finally had time … and felt a little better …. to make a few cards.  This is one of them.  (all items by Stampin’ Up)

The card is made with SU Red cardstock.  I ran the white piece through my Big Shot using the Finial Press Embossing Folder.  I cut the red and black piece out using the Top Note and ran the black piece through the Big Shot using the Elegant Bouquet folder.   I used the Filigree Brads on the side and SU Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (turned over to the solid side).  The “scrunchy flower”  is 5 pieces of pieces of DSP (Night and Day from Holiday Mini) punched out with the Scallop Circle Punch and scrunched up.  Then I poked a hole in the middle for a brad and put a Red Corduroy Button on with Dimensional Tape. 
I was going to send this card to my Secret Sister, but then I realized the Night & Day DSP is retired now!  Her loss!! 
I’ll be making some more of these “scrunchy flowers.”  They’re pretty cool!

I’m feeling much better today and finally was able to sleep good last night.  Friday night I slept downstairs in my chair wrapped up in Sonny’s Snugglie and my Steeler blanket!   And Saturday, I felt about the worse I’d felt all week.  I thought my cold was coming back for a second round, but guess it was just giving me it’s last hurrah.  Today, Sonny has been sneezing and blowing.  I sure hope he hasn’t caught my cold …. you know what babies men are when they are sick!  I have been really careful and have been washing my hand much more than usual.  But, I’m sure after being cooped up in the car with me for two days, those germs were having a field day.

Today we celebrated Christmas at my Mom’s.  She actually kept her Christmas tree up which is a big deal for her!  She is usually pretty superstitious about not having the tree up when the New Year arrives.  All my life, she’s told me that was bad luck.  We all had a nice visit and my brother even came with his two kids (without his wife, of course but that’s another story).  My sister, Marianne and her family and me & Sonny & Ashley all chipped in and bought Mom and Angela (my sister who lives with Mom) a Wii!   Every time we get together Marianne brings her Wii over to my house or if we’re at her house, Mom & Angela play with her Wii.  And Mom has been wanting to buy it for Angela (who’s she kidding?)  We thought this would be a good way to get them both up and moving.  Now they have to pool their money to buy the Wii Fit.

Snow Swirled Christmas Cards

I borrowed the Snow Swirled stamp set from my daughter several months ago and have just gotten around to making some Christmas cards with it .... before I have to return it next week!! 

I finally have all my Christmas cards made, addressed and stamped.  They will be going in the mail tomorrow!  Since I haven't put up any Christmas decorations this year, I've been able to get my other little Christmas chores down in time!  We'll be leaving in a few days to drive to Texas!! 

Early Christmas and I'm Certified!

Christmas came a little early for me.  My friend, Margaret and I decided to just order each other the Stampin' Up things we wanted for Christmas.  I sent a couple of items her way that she had on her wish list for Christmas when she placed an order last week.  And she gave me her credit card and I ordered a few things for myself for Christmas.  Isn't that the best way to do it?  Then, everyone gets what they want! 

Here are the items I received this week from the new Mini Catalog which starts January 5.  The stamp set is a clear set and comes in a DVD box so there is plenty of room for the stamps PLUS on the spine of the box is a picture of the stamps that are in the box.  Easier to see what you've got when it's on your shelf!!  I just wish Stampin' Up had done this years ago!  I don't know that I want to take all the rubber off my old wooden blocks for ease of storage but it's a thought.  I've about run out of room for those big boxes of stamps.

So I got the Vintage Vogue stampset (clear) along with the Very Vintage large wheel, 5/8" Celery Satin Ribbon, Red Corduroy Buttons, Scallop Corner Punch, and Two Step Bird punch from the Mini Catalog.  I got the paper pad, Welcome Neighbor, from the upcoming Sale-a-bration Catalog.  The Sweet Pea Stitched Felt pieces were a gift from Stampin' Up!!

I also received this pin because I am now CERTIFIED in My Digital Studio.

Here is a card I made yesterday using my new stamp set.

I used the Nestabilities Ovals and cut a Gold oval and a Rich Razzleberry Oval.  I stamped the "F" in Gold, embossed it and carefully cut it out.  The bottom of the Very Vanilla paper is wheeled in gold, embossed and distressed.  I crumbled up the whole paper, straightened it back out and sponged Soft Suede all over it.  I wanted to use one of the new felt pieces but I'm not so sure it really goes with the vintage-ness of the card.  Oh well .... that's what I did.  The ribbon and card base are Rich Razzleberry.

Well, gotta run - headed to town for a bone density test and thyroid ultrasound test.  Hoping to meet Sonny for lunch after his stress test.  And I guess we'll be headed back to town tonight to watch the Steelers .... hopefull BEAT Cleveland.  If we can't beat the Browns, we might as well give up!!  Last I heard was that Hines Ward was hurt and will be sitting on the bench with Troy Polamalu so I'm not so sure about our chances.

Clean and Simple

Getting tired of Christmas cards?  We're sure inundated with them at this time of the year!  I started addressing mine last night.  I'm not including letters this year so it shouldn't take so long to get them done.  I've already received five or six cards and have them on display.  My first card of the season usually comes from my Texas friend, Sharon, but hers wasn't the first one this year.  What happened, Sharon??? 

Today I cleaned off my desk ... what a mess!  I had embossing powder and glitter everywhere.  Now, let's see how long it stays clean.  After I did that, I got the urge to stamp again.  I decided to do the Clean and Simple Challenge at Splitcoast .... since my desk was clean and all!   Here are the rules for the challenge:

1. Clean: the design is uncluttered with lots of white or open space. Simple: having a clear focal point without a lot going on to detract from it.

OR

2. simple in design regardless of the number of embellishments or how long it takes to color, stitch or to use a special technique

OR

3. can be copied and mass produced fairly quickly… usually without a lot of coloring, layers, embellishments, tools and/or techniques

OR

4. any combination of the above

Plus, there was a color challenge involved - use Red, Brown and Vanilla or White.  I think this card meets the challenge and I am quite pleased with it.

I used Close to Cocoa paper and embossed it with the Petals a Plenty embossing folder using a thin wooden frame on top of the embossing folder to keep the center unembossed.  The Northwoods stamp was stamped on a piece of vanilla and I used my Copics to color it.  I used Champagne Shimmers to paint around the oval and Frost White Shimmers on the snow.  But, of course, I had to use some stickles so dotted it on for snow.

You know Dasher and Dancer ….

 I’ve been busy today with a single stamp!  I just love the Dasher stamp!  I made several different cards with it today.  It is such a bargain to be able to buy a single stamp – especially holiday ones.  Check out the other single stamps on page 208 of the big catalog and on page 31 on the mini.

It's Dasher the reindeer,
the fastest of all,
a quick tiny reindeer,
but not very tall!

There’s Dancer
the danciest dancer of all,
dancing about
and having a ball! 

And Prancer like Dancer
prances all day,
driving elves crazy,
but what can they say?

While Vixen plays tricks
on all the reindeer,
Mixing their sleigh bells
and having no fear!

Don't forget Comet
with a smile all the while,
you can see the teeth glow
from even one mile.

And Cupid the dreamer
who day dreams the most,
waiting for Christmas
and Holidays roasts.

Donner is jumping
about on the snow.
Eager for Santa
and the reindeer to go!

Finally, Blitzen with mittens
of gold lace and holly,
is happy, and zappy
and oh, so jolly!

Oh, yes don't forget Rudolph
with that nose red and bright,
shining his nose
through the thick of the night

So what do you think?  Which one is your favorite????

Northwood Class

I am teaching a class tomorrow at the local stamp store in Mooresville.  I will be using stamps from Northwood and doing five cards that were featured on a display board.  I just love the cards and man, are they glittery!  It took me a few tries to figure out the best method to stamp them but I finally think I got it.  I stamped most of them in Black Craft ink and embossed them with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  Then I watercolored the images.  Northwood recommends watercoloring them with Tombow markers and I have to agree with them - that is the best.  BUT, I don't have any Tombow and tried using my SU markers to watercolor with.  That just didn't work.  I ended up using my watercolor crayons on some and on some just using a tad bit of reinker with my Aqua Brush.  I'll be interested to see everyone's finished product tomorrow and hopefully they will all have Tombow markers so they don't get frustrated like I did. 

Here are my samples.  My favorite one is the last one.

Yesterday was one of those days!

Ever have one of those days when maybe you just should have stayed in bed?  Well, yesterday was one for me!  Things didn’t start going downhill until lunchtime when I discovered our computer downstairs had a virus.  It had been ok in the morning, but when I sat down to play while I ate lunch, it kept telling me there was a security issue and I should download some virus protection program (or course, by purchasing it!)  Well, I kept trying to “X” out of it to no avail and when the website came up for me to download a porn video, I knew I was in trouble!  (No, I did not download porn!!)  Luckily, that is not our only computer – just the one my hubbie uses to play solitaire!!  So, I just turned it off and decided I’d worry about it tomorrow, Scarlett.  I was teaching a card class in the evening at Stampers Alley and had to get all my stuff ready.  I had made the kits for the One Sheet Wonder class a couple of weeks ago and thought I was good to go!  Oh no, my friends, I thought wrong.  See, the class was to make 5 different  cards (2 of each), 2 gift card holders and a bag to put them all in.  I had called the store around lunch time to make sure my count for 10 in the class was correct and discovered I needed to make one more kit.  No biggie!  So I pulled everything out of one of the kits to use for the measurements and discovered I had only put materials in the kits to make ONE card each and not two.  As I mentioned before in THIS post, this class was a little labor intensive to put together.  Well, I put my butt in gear and started cutting and stamping the materials for the 2nd card for everyone about 2 pm.  I finished about 5:15!  I  thought my class was at 6:30 but decided to just check and make sure I was correct.  Noooo, it was at 6:00!  So again, I put my “little butt” (I wish!) in gear and got dressed, put my makeup on and hauled everything to the car.  Of course, I got caught up in 5:00 traffic but got to the store about 5:50 … in plenty of time!!   The class went smoothly – except for the 4 new gals that I had who didn’t bring any supplies!  After having to share borrowed markers, scissors, etc. I think they’ll bring their kits next time! 

Today was my first Christmas party of the season.  My Newcomers group had our annual Christmas meeting and luncheon.  Wow!  There was so much food, it was a sin.  Of course, I had to make my dish last night after I got home from teaching my class.  I made a new recipe called Cheesy Potatoes and let it cook in the crock-pot all night.  It was good, but too many calories to cook it very often!

Tonight I made this card.  It’s been a long time since I just sat down and made a card for fun – not for a class or Monday Mailer or for a specific purpose.  I used Lovely As A Tree.  I hope Stampin’ Up never retires this stamp set!  I used a mask and stamped the trees positioning them with my Stamp-a-ma-jig.  Then I sponged Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango on and Soft Sky and a little purple (don’t know what color – it was already on the dauber and I just used it).  I sponged a little bit of blue on the snow too.  Then I used SU’s White Shimmer Paint on the sky and the trees.   How do you like it?

Northwood Cards for Christmas

Here are a couple of more Christmas cards I have made.  This first one uses the SU embossing folder, Petals A Plenty.  The stamp set is from Northwoods.  I will be teaching a Northwoods class at my LSS in December so I have been playing around with the stamps.  The snowflake is from SU's snowflake punch .... easy peasy!!

This next card is also a Northwoods stamp.  I just love this snowman!!  This time I used SU's Finial Press embossing folder with Bashful Blue, Real Red and Brillant Blue cardstock.  The snowman is watercolored with my SU markers.

Christmas Cards

I have been working on a few Christmas cards.  Aren't they fun to make?  Just wish I had someone who would sit down and address them for me and put a little note inside!  I used to send out a Christmas "newsy" letter letting everyone know what we had been up to during the year, but doesn't seem like there's much to say anymore!  So, that's one thing I can cross off my list!

This first card is made with the Patterned Pines SU set.  I embossed the card ... except for the center oval ... with my Big Shot and Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Then I used the Nestabilities and cut out a thin scallop oval to put around it.  The trees have Stickles on them - hard to see in the scan.

This card I just love the way it came together and it was by accident!  I stamped the Delightful Decorations in gold ink and popped up the red one in the middle.  I punched small holes to thread the cording through.  Then I used Baroque Motifs to do the scrolls at the top.  I stamped in red first; then, using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I overstamped in gold off-setting it just a tad.  The red scallop border is also popped up.

This is another card using the Delightful Decorations stamp.  With the Ornament Punch, they are so easy to punch out!  I embossed 2 of the ornaments and popped up the middle one. The ribbon is from the mini catalog (Sleigh Bells) and the DSP is Holiday Lounge.

One Sheet Wonder Class

I am teaching a One Sheet Wonder class tomorrow night at my local stamp store.  I just love the card but the prep work for this class has been tremendous.  What was I thinking!!  But, it will be fun!  I have a full class tomorrow so we will be offering the class again December 1st.  Let me know if you are interested in signing up (if you live close to Mooresville).

Here are the samples:

The paper is by Bo Bunny.  We will make 2 of each card (5 different designs), 2 gift cards and a bag.  Probably in class we will only do one of each card depending on the time and you will finish the second card at home.

Open House Make and Takes and Tags

Today the local stamp store in Mooresville had their annual Open House.  I met my sister over there and we did a couple of make and takes (see them below), had a "calorie-conscious" lunch (salad bar) and did some shopping.  I so enjoy spending time with my sister now that I live close.  That is something we have never been able to do unless I was here in NC visiting.  I left NC right after I got married and she was only about 13 at the time and I have been gone over 30 years!.  So, this is definitely a perk to living here now. 

The Make and Takes from today.

I also participated in a Tag Swap at the stamp store and received my tags back today.  There are some very talented ladies out there!!

These tags were made by my sister, Marianne (the Christmas village one) and by me (Christmas tree).

Double Embossed Christmas Card

Well, I've been on a roll lately with my card making.  I had a dry spell for a while and it seemed like every time I'd sit down to make a card, I'd end up turning around to the computer and "surfing" or playing games!  I have seen a lot of cards that did this technique where you can leave a blank space in the center using your embossing folders.  Well, after trying many different things tonight, I finally got it right.  In this card, I cut an oval out of 2 pieces of cardboard and taped them together.  Then, I put a piece of Glossy White paper in my Petals A'Plenty embossing folder and put the cardboard (w/oval cut out) on top of the folder and ran it through my Big Shot.  Voila! 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge

This card is for the Mojo Monday card sketch #103.  Since I just came back from traveling, I thought this sentiment was a good one!

The cardstock is some Stampin' Up and some from other sources that I've hoarded away!! 

I'll be pulling on my Steelers tonight!  Hope you will too!  First game of the season .... I'm pumped!!

Swap Cards to Share!

I know .... it's been a long time since I've shared any artwork with you. Well, sit back and prepare to be "wowed." I did several swaps in August. One of them was waiting for me when I returned home last week. They are cards from the new catalog and they are done by members of the "No More Bad Swaps" group. They are all just fabulous and have made me add a few items on my "must have" list - like the Lattice Die!

So .... drum roll please ..... here are a few of them (with recipes underneath each one):

Recipe: Stamp: Herb Expressions

CS: Nouveau Chic DSP; Black; Basic Gray; Sage Shadow; Whis White

Ink: Black, Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow markers

Acces: 5/8" basic black ribbon; Photo Corners Punch, Apricot Appeal brads

Recipe: Stamps: Greenhouse Garden; Falling Leaves

CS: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Thoroughly Modern, Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Acces: Bigz Lattice Die, Big Shot; Word Window & Modern Label Punches; Gold Brads

Recipe: Stamp: Friends Rock, Rockin' Wheel
CS: Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Autumn Traditions DSP
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, In Color markers
Acces: Scallop edge punch; 1" & 1 1/4" circle punches, arrow punch, Orchard Ribbon Originals

Recipe: Stamps: Wonderful Words, Out of the Box
CS: Melon Mambo; Choc Chip, Whis. White; Old Olive; Choc Chip DSP
Ink: Melon Mambo; white craft
Acces: Gold Brad; Scallop Punch; Old Olive 5/8" ribbon; 1/4" circle punch

My Final Shape Class

I’m teaching the final “shape” class on Saturday at Stamper’s Alley so I’ve been getting ready today – cutting my paper, etc.  I always wait until the last day or two it seems like.  Although this time, I had gotten prepared a little early but didn’t get enough kits together.  Which is a good thing – more people signed up yesterday so that makes me happy!  This time we are doing a clothes theme – bikini, kimono, girlie dress and little boy’s overalls.  I like this one best of all!

A good thing happened today too!  I have been looking for my Oval Nestabilities for about a week.  I figured they were in my craft room somewhere but I was starting to panic!  I’ve been losing sleep over this, friends!  I went to Stampers Alley today and asked if maybe I’d left them there & Brenda Mott said she hadn’t seen them, but she remembered me bringing them in a couple of weeks ago to measure for my September class.  Well, then I figured they had to be in my car somewhere.  After searching my car …. twice …. no luck!  I was getting scared I had lost them for good.  After dinner, I came upstairs and was just staring at my shelves when …. voila, there they were!!  They were stuck in with my H20’s.  I’m sure what I did was pick them up with my H20’s last week & put them all on the shelf together.   Well, now they are in their rightful place and I can get a good night’s sleep!!

Tonight is my daughter’s last night in her condo.  The packers came today and packed all her stuff.  They will bring the moving van tomorrow and load her stuff up.  She is spending the next 2 nights with one of her girlfriends and will be arriving here on Sunday.  Her condo is still for sale.  She has been getting a lot of “lookers” so hopefully, one of them will make an offer SOON!  We will probably leave here on Tuesday to start our trek to Texas.  Our plans are to stop at a beach along the way (possibly Ft Walton or Destin), New Orleans, Houston and then San Antonio.  I’m really looking forward to it.  Ashley and I have such a good relationship and these trips are so much fun for both of us.