Koala Swaps and Birthdays

These are a few more swaps I made using the cute little Koala bear and the Go Wild Designer Paper stack.

Marianne, Angela and I took Mom out to dinner tonight for her birthday.  Her actual birthday was last Saturday and she turned 87.  I have had a hard time with her age this year!  I posted on Facebook Saturday birthday wishes to my mom who just turned 67!  Well that would be a little difficult since that is my age!  Then tonight I pulled out her birthday card that I made last month using the Thinlet Numbers and I had the wrong number .... again!  So I just took a Sharpie marker and wrote in "Plus 1" on the card!  I've never had a problem remembering her age since there is 20 years between her and I and another 30 between her and my son (who will be 37 in November).  Don't know where my brain was this year!  She got a couple of surprise phone calls on her birthday Saturday.  The first call was from Ashley right before they set sail for the Phillipines.  That really thrilled Mom.  Then a little later, my son, Jeff, called to wish her a happy birthday.

New Goodies!!

I participated in a Card Swap using NEW items that we could pre-order.  I used lots of new products on this card (see below).

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Tuesday, June 2nd, is a special day!

Our retiring catalog is still good for one more day AND our new catalog will go live.  That means a few extra dollars in your pocket if you order on June 2nd and here’s why:

1. Some prices are going up on some ink pads, punches and stamps.  Some just rounded up a nickel to make all the prices even numbered, no more .95 at the end of each item.  For example, our classic ink pads will be 6.50, so that’s a .55 increase but card stock only went up a nickel.   Order on June 2nd and get the old price, even if it’s in the new catalog!

2.  The Stampin’ rewards (Hostess rewards) are changing too.  Stampin' Up opted to go with a percentage based scale, so we won’t need to jump up in $50 nuggets.  It’s lower for $150 orders but gets better as it gets higher.  If you order $150 or more on June 2nd, you still get the current rewards of $25 in free merchandise.  You can buddy up with a friend(s) and get more benefits!

3.  The last day to order from our retiring catalog is Tuesday, June 2nd.  Lots have sold out but there are some good ones left.  You can see the Retiring list HERE.  It’s also the last day to order from our Occasions catalog.  Here is a PDF for things NOT carrying over that you may want.

Paper Crew Card Sketch 131

How is your day going?  It's Wednesday which means it's once again time for the challenge at Paper Craft Crew.  I'm excited to share this week's sketch and my take on it using My Digital Studio.  Come and visit and have a look.

I love this color combo!

Birthday Celebration

I had a nice birthday dinner celebration with my family at Firebirds.  And I received some beautiful birthday cards.  Here are a few of the beautiful hand made cards I received:

from Marianne - love this stamp set!

from Margaret - another flower favorite!

from Judy - These die cuts are so pretty!

Don't you love this sentiment (from Judy's card)

Joyce did a great job making this origami dress.

This is funny.  The first card I received from the NC Demos, made by my downline, Deb Michael.  Then on my birthday I received the second card in the mail from Deb!!  Love it!

from my upline, Carol Bartle

from Tina Lesson, one of my NC Demo friends.  I have this stamp and haven't used it - need to get it out and stamp.

Angela, Mom, me and Marianne at dinner

Ampersands are the Rage!

More bad weather moving in tonight!  Rain or snow is predicted for tonight and tomorrow but no accumulation.  The high tomorrow is only supposed to be 48 degrees!  Hopefully, this is the last hurrah for winter here.  I would like to get my capris and flip flops out of storage!

Things are getting better at the Maranich household.  Sonny is still not 100% but he is starting to rally.  I have "gunk" in my throat and sound kinda "froggy" but I am not achy like I was yesterday.  It's gotta be the honey and cinnamon!!

I played around yesterday with making a couple of cards with My Digital Studio.  Here is one of them using the popular Ampersands.  Isn't it funny that ampersands are in vogue now?

Here is my supply list for the card:
 Background
     Color = BAKED BROWN SUGAR

Embellishments
   (3)  Staple & Stitching\Chocolate - Simple Stitches line 3
 
Stamps
    OVERLAYS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - woodgrain, Color = SOFT SUEDE
    OVERLAYS\Decorative Overlays\Decorative Overlays - woodgrain, Color = VERY VANILLA
    Designer Kits\Amped Up Ampersands\Amped Up Ampersands - ampersand,  VERY VANILLA
    Bring On the Cake\Bring on the Cake - happy birthday script,
    Bring On the Cake\Bring on the Cake - happy birthday script,
    Designer Kits\Amped Up Ampersands\Amped Up Ampersands - and many more,  EARLY ESPRESSO
 
Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Be Yourself - designer series paper\Be Yourself - paper 9
    Labels & Tags\Tag It - punches\Tag It - tag 1, Fill Color = SUMMER STARFRUIT
    Labels & Tags\Tag It - punches\Tag It - ticket, Fill Color = SOFT SKY
    Basics\Scallop Oval Punch, Fill Color = SOFT SKY

Cowboy Kid

I actually did some stamping this weekend!  It has been a long time it seems since I have done anything in my stamp room.  I made a few cards and worked on a calendar that I have been commissioned to do.  One of the cards I made, I put aside to let the Crystal Effects dry.  But, do you think I can find that card this morning?  I have looked everywhere!  I must have put it in a safe place OR it has gotten mixed up with some paper or something and who knows where it is!  I'll give it a day or two and perhaps it will show up!  Maybe I had gremlins during the night and Sammie didn't catch them stealing the card!!

Here is one of the cards I made.  It is for my nephew's little boy, Jack IV - who they call IV.  He will be 2 next week and will be welcoming a baby brother soon.  Katrina is due any time now.  Hoping he won't be born on IV's birthday though!  They are hoping she won't go into labor until after IV's party on Sunday.

This card uses the Retired Stamp, Cowboy Kid.  This stamp has always been one of my favorites for little boys birthday cards.  Don't think I will ever get rid of it.  I just think the little cowboy is so stinkin' cute!!

I stamped the image onto a square of white card stock and sponged brown and yellow around the image.  Then I tore the edges of the square.  I used Copics to color the image (Can't wait for SU's Blendabilities!)  I mounted the stamped square on a piece of brown woodgrain paper and tore the edges of it.  I stamped a piece of red (5 1/4" x 4") with another retired stamp - Woodgrain Background using Crumb Cake ink.  I mounted the whole thing on Crumb Cake card stock.  The star is punched with a star punch (another retired punch).  I stamped "Howdy" on a piece of SU's Naturals DSP.

I have been steadily trying to identify my New Zealand pictures - using dates and what we wore in the pictures to catagorize them.  The hardest thing is all the lake pictures.  We visited several beautiful lakes either on our drive and stopping at roadside scenic vistas or when we actually stayed in a town with a lake.  The water is most of them was the bluest I have ever seen - actually turquoise from the glacier run-off.  Thought I'd share a few lake pictures.

Stamp Club Cards for January

Yay!  I finally got around to updating the face of my blog.  Every time I do this, I learn something new - guess you're never too old to learn, huh?  I used My Digital Studio to do the hearts blog title but the rest of the stuff I did with Blogger.  Is it easy for you to read?  I always try to make the print large because I know my eyes need it!

I am feeling so much better.  Yesterday was the first day I started feeling like a human and today is even better.  I don't feel like I have to nap every few hours and I'm only blowing my nose about every couple of hours (too much information?!)  Sonny and I went out for dinner last night at My Sisters Cafe  and I could even taste the food.  Tonight we are going with friends for Restaurant Week at Chillfire, a restaurant I have been wanting to try for several months.  Can't wait!

It has turned really cold here.  It dropped to 19 degrees last night and tonight 11 degrees is predicted!  The high temps all week are in the low 30s but warming to the 40s by Friday!  Monday was a beautiful day - in the 60s.  Unfortunately, I didn't feel up to going out and enjoying that weather!  I'm mising those 80s we had in New Zealand!!

Here are a couple of the cards we made this week in Stamp Club.  I really tried to reduce the amount of stuff I had to carry downstairs for our card making and used one of the new Occasions stamp sets on three of the cards!!

File Folder Card

 For the file folder card, I followed a tutorial to make the folder using the Envelope Punch Board (love it!) that I found on-line.  It is easy to find instructions - just google file folder card and you will see many websites and videos.  I used the new Banners Framelits.  After you have made the file folder (I used Basic Gray card stock) -

• ·        Use Fancy Fan embossing folder to emboss front ½ of file folder
• ·        Use Fringe Scissors to fringe 2 strips of Crushed Curry. Layer under strip of Afternoon Picnic DSP.
• ·        Stamp “Life doesn’t have to be ….” from Perfect Pennants (Occasions Catalog) using Wisteria Wonder ink.  Use Banners Framelits to die cut banner. (use 3^rd smallest banner) 
• ·        Die cut Wisteria Wonder with Banners Framelits (use 4^th smallest).  Layer white banner onto purple.
• ·        Use open tab from Chalk Talk Framelit & cut opening onto top of Banner.  Thread Summer Starfruit ribbon through.
• ·        Make 3 flowers with clay and molds and ink with Wisteria Wonder, Crushed Curry and Coastal Cabana and glitter)
• ·        On inside, stamp sentiment and adhere strip of Afternoon Picnic paper   Trim to fit.

Base card is Summer Starfruit

Crisp Cantaloupe - this is the one we made

• 
  
• ·        Card stock is Crisp Cantaloupe.
• ·        Layer Birthday Basics paper onto Gumball Green card stock and adhere to left side of card.
• ·        Use Banner Framelit to cut 1 white (3^rd smallest) and 1 Raspberry Ripple (4^th smallest)
• ·      Stamp “MAKE a WISH” (Perfect Pennants set) with Gumball Green ink onto white card banner.  Layer onto Raspberry banner.  Wrap Bakers Twine around and adhere to right side of card.
• ·      Stamp “a” using Raspberry Ripple ink.  Punch out with ½” Circle Punch.  Adhere to sentiment with dimensional.
• ·        Stamp “confetti” using the Cupcake Punch and adhere to corners of card.

I prefer this card made with Summer Starfruit and that was my intention BUT I neglected to order Summer Starfruit last month and I only had one sheet left.  I also gave the gals an option to do the card in Bermuda Bay.

Ashley's Creative Cards

Ashley was here for a fast week and we stayed pretty busy, as usual.  We stayed home on Friday and most of Saturday and played around in my craft room.  Ashley made some great cards and I managed to take pictures of them before she packed them up.

Beautiful Butterflies!  She got the inspirations from this framed picture.

This is a mask Ashley used to make the flames on the card below - Gorgeous Grunge stamp

Candles and flames using Gorgeous Grunge

A simple but elegant wedding card for one of Ashley's best friends from medical school.

Fall Colors

I love the colors of fall.  I think fall is my favorite time of the year - beautiful colors, crisp cool weather, my favorite juicy Honey Crisp apples, my birthday, Sonny's birthday, beautiful cards ....  love it all!!



These are the trees at our neighborhood entrance - beautiful colors!

 Here are the hand made birthday cards that I received:


from Margaret

Margaret sent to Sonny

Marianne's card to Sonny

from my upline, Carol - an actual photograph that she stamped on - gorgeous!

from Judy

A shaped card from Marianne

from NC Demos

from Sharon R (girlfriend)

the card I made for Sonny using Gorgeous Grunge

Masculine Birthday Card

My nephew had a birthday last week - wow! where did 24 years go??  I think most people struggle with making masculine cards.  We like to add all the glitz, glitter and flowers to our cards and I don't know many guys who would care for that!  So I set about working on a manly card for Derek.  Here's what I came up with.  (This card uses mostly retired Stampin' Up product but I don't think the recipient cares!)

I used the Woodgrain embossing folder on the retired Not Quite Navy card stock and layered it onto a River Rock (retired) card base.  I found a piece of River Rock ribbon in my stash and a Ribbon Slide (all retired).  I found a piece of DSP in River Rock that has a subtle swirl on one side and punched it out with my 2 1/2" circle punch.  The button is secured with a couple of glue dots and I tucked two tickets under it from That's the Ticket (NOT retired!). 

What do you think?  Does this card meet the masculine criteria?  I'm sure all he cared about was the check that was tucked inside!

Coming home this week, I spotted this momma and two babies next door to our house.  One of the babies ran in the woods before I could get stopped and click their picture.  So cute!

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! 

Fun Weekend

My leprechaun owl - I put him in my customer's orders this month.

Happy St Patrick's Day!  We didn't go anywhere today - decided to forego the green beer or listening to bagpipes.  I was too tired and had too much to do to get ready for club next week.  I went to Quarterly this weekend in Lenoir.  Marianne, Debbie and I went together and had a great time!  We were up until midnight working on our shoebox swaps.  I was proud of Marianne - she had been awake since 3:30 AM and by midnight, I was having to hold her up!  But when we got back to the hotel, I gave her a good laugh.  I always take my shower at night so I got ready to get in the shower when I realized I didn't have a shower cap.  What's a girl to do?  Improvise!  I took the plastic bag for laundry and put it on my head!  Marianne had to take a picture and send it to Ashley who sent her a text back to tell her that was an emergency and we'd better head for home.  Saturday morning we hit the decks running.   It was a full fast paced day with lots of laughter, sharing and learning new tricks with our stamps.  I have lots of pictures I'll be sharing with you of our swaps and cards.  Saturday was also Marianne's birthday.  I gave her the MDS photobook I made for her of our trip to Texas last March.  I've been dying to give it to her and was glad her birthday finally came so I could.  She loved it!
 

Birthday Card I made for Marianne - flower is made from the Heart Punch

Here is the card I made for my shoebox swap:

I embossed the Daffodil Delight with the Honeycomb Folder and mounted it on a black card.  I embossed a few hexagons from black cardstock, cut them out and glued them to the daffodil card.  Then I stamped the little bee from Collage Curios (in the spring mini).  I smashed the bottle cap with the Big Shot.  I punched the script from the Collage Curios with the 1" punch; punched the daffodil circle with the 3/4" circle and the bee with the 1/2" circle.  After putting them all together, I put Crystal Effects over the top and adhered it to the card with a tad of Crystal Effects.

Happy Birthday Cupcake

How about another Patterned Occasions card? These little images are great and there is so much you can do with them.  For this card I used the Clouds embossing folder (love it!) for the background on this card.  I also used the Hearts A Flutter die for the pennants.  I tied them to the card with the Bakers Twine - at least that is the way it looks!  Looks can be deceiving though.  I actually adhered the pennants to the card on top of the twine that is wrapped around the card on the sides.  I just used scraps of DSP that I found - a good way to use up bits and pieces.

I played bridge today and was really got some great cards for a change!  Did you watch the Grammy's Sunday night?  Well, I watched most of it and got a few of the songs stuck in my head.  So, this morning I was singing "This Girl Is On Fire" after hearing it sung by Alicia Keyes with Maroon 5 while I was getting dressed.  So it was only fitting that while I was playing bridge, "this girl was on fire!!"  haha!!

I have to tell you how sweet my dear hubbie is!  Wednesday I forgot to close the sunroof on my Durango and it rained all day and night on Thursday.  I didn't realize I had left it open until I got in the car Friday morning!  Oh, it was wet!!  I sat on 3 folded up beach towels in order to drive to play mahjong and they got wet through too.  So all weekend, Sonny worked on drying out my car!  What a guy!

Well, gotta cut this short and hit the hay!  Early day tomorrow at the Soup Kitchen!

Happy Birthday!

My great nephew turned 1 Sunday and his parents went all out with his party!

 Isn't he a cutie pie?  Wish I lived closer to pinch those sweet cheeks.

 
So, I hope they liked this cute birthday card I made for him. 

I'm loving making banners and flags lately it seems!  With the Perfect Pennents Punch, this banner was easy. 

Supplies used:
Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Whisper White, DSP stack (green polka dot), Polka Dot Parade DSP, non SU plaid paper
Stamp:  Elebration Single Stamp (retired), Whimsical Alphabet stamps (retired)
Ink:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Island Indigo
Accessories:  2 3/8" Scallop Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Perfect Pennents Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Bakers Twine, SU Markers, Aqua Brush, Heart Buttons (non SU), Crystal Effects