My Stamp Club met last week and we made some fun cards.  You can sure tell it's summer time though - I had a really low attendance this month.  But we had a good time anyway!  Now I'm patiently waiting for some new products to arrive via Mr. UPS!!

Here are the cards we made using some new products and some that have been gathering dust on my shelf!

Supplies: 

Ø  Ink:   Grapefruit Groove, Smoky Slate, Blueberry Bushel, Granny Apple Green  

Ø  Cardstock:   Very Vanilla Thick CS    

Ø  Stamps:    Jar of Love 

Ø   Framelits – Everyday Jars

Instructions:

Ø  Stamp background jars with Smoky Slate.

Ø  Stamp the string around the jars w/Grapefruit Groove

Ø  Stamp 1 jar in Whisper White and die cut.

Ø  Stamp a bow w/Grapefruit Groove and die cut.

Ø  Stamp about 5 stems of leaves w/Granny Apple Green & die cut.

Ø  Adhere leaves to card with glue.

Ø  Stamp sentiment on Jar in Blueberry Bushel ink.

Ø  Use dimensionals to adhere Blueberry Bushel Jar to card.

Ø  Adhere bow to jar.

Supplies: 

Ø  Ink:   Blueberry Bushel, Highland Heather, Flirty Flamingo, Black, Granny Apple Green

Ø  Cardstock:   Thick CS, Whisper White, Daisy DSP (retired)

Ø  Stamps:   Love What You Do

    White Twine & Dimensionals

Instructions:

Ø  Cut 3 panels at 3” x 4 1/8” & 3 panels at 3 ¼” x 4 3/8”

Ø  Stamp the flowers on the 3 smaller panels.

Ø  Stamp “thank” on the bottom of one panel; Stamp “you” on the bottom of one panel in black.

Ø  Tie white twine around 3^rd panel (that you did not stamp on bottom)

Ø  Mat the 3 panels onto the larger 3 panels with dimensionals.

Ø  Adhere strip of DSP in center of white card.

Ø  Adhere panels to card.

I love, love, love this stamp set!!

Supplies: 

Ø  Ink:  Black, Whisper White

Ø  Cardstock:   Thick CS, Rich Raspberry, Basic Black

Ø  Stamps: Serene Garden, Sheltering Tree (sentiment)

Ø  Framelits –Garden Scene Framelits

Ø  Subtle Embossing Folder

Ø  Stampin’ Blends

Instructions:

Ø  Emboss flower (framelit) in bottom corner of Thick card; fold in half

Ø  Stamp image onto White CS (using Stamparatus).

Ø  Stamp & Die Cut single flower and butterfly.

Ø  Use Stampin’ Blends to color all images.

Ø  Stamp sentiment onto Rich Razzleberry strip of cardstock with White Ink (Use Embossing Buddy FIRST)

Ø  Emboss sentiment and cut flag at end.

Ø  Emboss sentiment w/the new Subtle Embossing Folder.

Ø  Adhere butterfly, single flower & sentiment with dimensionals.  Layer onto black cardstock & then onto card.

We had trouble getting the sun out of the framelit without tearing it up.  I suggest when you use these framelits, you sandwich a piece of wax paper between the cardstock and the framelit.

Supplies: 

Ø  Ink:  Pineapple Punch, Blueberry Bushel, Lovely Lipstick, Pool Party

Ø  Cardstock:   Soft Sea Foam, Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White, Pineapple Punch

Ø  Stamps:  Swirly Bird, You Are My Anchor (April Paper Pumpkin)  

Ø  Swirly Scribbles Thinlets, Duet Banner Punch, Seaside Embossing Folder

Instructions:

Ø  Die cut swirly sun

Ø  Stamp swirl from middle of die cut swirly piece (sun) with Pineapple Punch (or for darker image, use Daffodil)

Ø  Emboss Soft Sea Foam panel with Seaside Embossing Folder & adhere to Sea Foam card

Ø  Adhere “wave” & sun to card.

Ø  On scrap white paper, stamp sailboat – cut out.  Adhere w/dimensionals.

Ø  On scrap white paper, stamp sentiment & use Duet Banner Punch.  Adhere with dimensionals.

Spring Time! March Blog Hop

It's spring time and time for the March blog hop by the NC Stampin' Up demonstrators. We do a blog hop on the last Sunday of each month.  Glad that you have joined us this month.  Now let's see what spring'y cards I have for you!

First is this cute Swirly Bird card!  I won't tell you how long it took me to get all those colors embedded behind the black swirl!  It's not hard - just time consuming to run all the different colors through the framelit.  But I think it was worth it!  The sentiment comes from Sunshine Sayings - a great stamp set for putting together sentiments.

What is spring without flying a kite?  How many years has it been since you have run with a kite coaxing it to stay up in the air?  I can't count the years! Plus I was never very good - or patient to fly a kite! I remember beach days when my kids were young and they would get their daddy to fly the kite with them - not me!!

This card also uses the Swirly Bird stamp and framelits as well as Layering Love.  I just love the font and the words in this set!  For a little sparkle, I adhered a few sequins.

Finally, I have a cute little box (that I CASE-d from a UK demonstrator) that I made using Sale-A-Bration products.  I made the box with the Inside the Line DSP and made a belly band around it using the Sale-A-Bration Glimmer Paper (Sweet Sugarplum.)  I die cut the bee from Mint Macaron Glimmer Paper also to coordinate with the little bee on the DSP.  The box was super easy to make and only takes a few minutes.  Here are the directions if you want to make one:  It should hold a few small chocolates for a sweet little treat.

Cut your DSP to 6" x 12" (so you can make 2 from one sheet of paper)
Score on the long side at - 2, 5, 7, and 10"
Score on the short side at - 2" and 4"

That's it!

I hope you have enjoyed my spring projects.  Hop along to see what Laurie has to share with you HERE!!

Here is the complete list of our blog hop participants:

Jo Anne Hewins
Michelle Irinyi
Tracie Evans Langley
Sharon Maranich (you are HERE)
Laurie Meier
Sue Root
Lisa Tedder
Frances Wagner

The Versatile Swirly Bird

I am sorry I have been so lax in writing in this blog.  I have been super busy working on bags, boxes, goodies, etc. for the September Quarterly as well as my own swaps!  I have all my swaps finished except for the Holiday one which I can't do until I get my pre-order some time next week.  I've got another week to get my part done before I leave for Hawaii and leave the details in Marianne and Debbie's capable hands.

I have a few Swirly Bird cards to share with you today.  I got both of them in a swap last month.  The first one just goes to show you how versatile this set is!!  I just love the swirly snowman, don't you?!!

For this next one, it can be used for any occasion.  But couldn't you see this card done in red and black and be a Disney themed card??!!!  Love it!!

I made this next card using the pieces in the Swirly Bird set to make a sailboat!  I stamped the sails onto Vellum and used my bone folder to rub the back of the striped sail so it would puff out a bit.  Makes a great male birthday card!

I had a bit of a scare today.  Mom, Marianne and I went together 2 weeks ago to have our annual mammogram done.

I got a call on Monday that I needed to come back to the Imaging Center for another mammogram and to talk to the radiologist.  So I went back today.  For my second mammogram, they did a 3-D image.  I was told that a small spot had showed up and it was still there with the 3-D so they sent me to have an ultrasound.  The radiologist came in and looked at it and explained to me that all was ok.  But what was showing up is called duct ectasia where a milk duct has widened and perhaps has become clogged.  In the mammogram, the ducts could be crossing each other and causing a shadow which looks like a spot.  There is nothing to worry about - whew!  You can imagine what was going through my mind as I was laying on the table while they did the ultrasound!

Stamp Club for July

We had fun this week at Stamp Club and made some great cards.  I received this orange and yellow card during the NC Round Robin and loved it so much so I figured my club members would love it too.  I made another one using Flirty Flamingo and Sweet Sugarplum.


If you want to recreate these cards, here are my directions:

Supplies:

l  Stamps:   Swirly Bird

l  Ink:   for Peach:  Peekaboo Peach, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush

For Sugarplum:  Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo

l  Cardstock:  White,  your choice – Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry OR Peekaboo Peach and, Ribbon

Measurements: 

l  card base:  5 ½” x 4 ¼ ”, scored and  folded at 4 ¼”

next layer:  4 7/8” x 3 5/8”  /  white layer:  4 ¾” x 3 3/8”

Instructions:

·          Stamp solid circles on white cardstock first (using Peekaboo Peach and Daffodil OR Flamingo and Sugarplum)

·        Stamp swirls on top of circles (Tangerine and Curry OR Razzleberry and Melon)

·        Stamp smaller swirls

·        Stamp leaves in Cucumber Crush

·        Tie ribbon around white layer.

·        Adhere layers and rhinestones.

Swirly Birds Swaps

I have a few Swirly Bird cards to share with you today.  This is a really versatile set and I love seeing what I can make with it.  A couple of these cards are ones I received in a shoebox swap.

Made by my sister, Marianne

I was busy all weekend making plans for the NC Quarterly me and my downlines will be hosting in September.  Our cut-off date for signing up (and paying) to come is Sept. 5 BUT as of today, we had exceeded our maximum number that we had planned on.  We were going to limit the attendance to 30 but now have 39 signed up and paid.  So that is our limit now.  It is just too hard to have more than 30 when you are doing shoebox swaps plus you need some room to move around in the room.  We are renting the conference room at the Wyndham Hotel in Mooresville.  Our Quarterly's are always so much fun but a lot of work go into getting it ready!!

Saturday, Sonny and I had a busy day.  We left the house at 10 a.m and didn't return home until about 7 pm.  We went to a movie first and then to Kohls.  That is a biggie when I can get Sonny into a clothing store!  I didn't even go into the women's section but picked out shorts and golf shirts for him to try on.  We decided with me being gone for 2 1/2 weeks in August, he needed more "wicking" golf shirts to wear since he has started playing golf 2-3 times a week.  That way he won't have to wash clothes while I am gone (not that he couldn't but he wouldn't!)  From there, we did some shopping at BJ's and Lowe's before stopping for a late lunch/early dinner at Duckworth's.

I have to brag on my sister, Angela.  She is very active in the local Lion's Club along with my mom.  They attended a Lions Club district meeting this weekend and she received the Melvin Jones Foundation Award which is the highest recognition you can receive in the international Lions Club.  She also got the Gary Steele Outstanding Zone Chair Award and the 100% Secretary award!  My dad was really active in the Charlotte Lions Club and I know he is smiling down on her as she carries on the tradition.  Way to go Angie!

Round Robin Swirly Birds

The Stampin' Up NC Demo group I am involved with has started a new program called Round Robin cards.   It is similar to the chain letters we used to do.  There is a list of 10 people and we send a card to the person below us when we receive our card (from the person above our name.)

So .... this is the card I received last week using the Swirly Bird set.  Isn't it great?  

And this is the card I sent .... again using Swirly Birds!

Happy 4th of July Swirly Style

Here is a card I actually mailed!  Not sure if it has reached it's destination so this is going to be a spoiler.  I used the great set, Swirly Birds along with the framelits to make the flag.  The banner & happy is from Thoughtful Phrases and the "4" is from the Large Numbers framelits.  Fun card!!

Happy 4th of July!  Stay safe and have fun with family and friends today.  Today is the day to celebrate America's freedom, honor its history and remember all those who fought to keep us free!

We drove into Mooresville last night to watch the fireworks put on by the YMCA.  They were good, despite the drizzling rain, but not long enough.  They only lasted about 15 minutes!  Boo, hiss!!  I know, in the past, they have been at least 30 minutes.  Oh well ... what cha gonna do??  Not any plans for today.  Sonny is doing his "prep work" for tomorrow's colonoscopy so we'll be staying close to home if you know what I mean!  Ashley is celebrating in Hawaii - she got the contract on the condo she wants!!  She and I are looking at dates for me to fly there and help with the move - probably mid-August. 

My mom is at camp for the first time in 60 something years!!!  She is attending a week long camp at Camp Dogwood for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  (My mom is legally blind.)  She has been so excited about getting to go this year.  Angela dropped her off yesterday along with another lady who lives in mom's neighborhood who will be her cabin mate.  I'm sure Angela's car was weighted down with all their stuff.  Both of them have walkers plus their suitcases, and Mom was taking a shower chair, a potty seat and who knows what else!!  The camp is located on the lake (just a few miles from my house) and they offer boating, fishing, swimming, tubing, arts and crafts, mini golf and various off campus trips.  I hope she has a great time!

Paper Craft Crew Challenge with Swirly Birds

Once upon a time .... I used to do a lot of card challenges.  Splitcoast Stampers have several challenges every week - from color challenges to design challenges.  A lot of stamping blogs also offer different challenges.  With this card I am doing a design challenge from the Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch (say that 10 times fast!)  They are celebrating their 200th challenge with this design.  I was a member of the Paper Craft Crew when it first started and did weekly cards for a few years as a member of the team.  Back then, I mainly did digital cards for the challenge since that was when Stampin' Up still supported My Digital Studio.  Sadly, that is not the case anymore (and I am still sad about it!!)  I decided to get out my new Swirly Birds set.  This is the cutest stamp set!  It's funny - when I first saw it in our pre-order, I did not like it so I didn't purchase it early.  Well, guess what was on my first order when the new catalog came out!!!

I used several stamp sets on this card.  For the Dapper Denim striped background, I used the  Diagonal Stripes Background Stamp (pg 125).  For the light Flirty Flamingo center background, I used one of the watercolor wash stamps in Work of Art, stamping off once before stamping on the white card stock.  I like the combo of denim and pink in this card, what do you think?

Here is the sketch if you are interested in making a card with it.  You might want to visit Pam's blog since she is giving away a pretty good prize this week!  (Sunny Girl Scraps)  Also stop in at the Paper Craft Crew Challenge Blog and see the other cards for this challenge.  Many of team members are also giving away blog candy.