Birthday Cards

I know Halloween is over but I just have to share my neighbor's display for the holiday.  It is so funny!!

Isn't that clever?  I just love it!

I got my butt in gear and did some stamp room cleaning last week.  I threw a bunch of stuff away and tried to get other things arranged where I can see it to use it but not have stuff laying all over the floor, etc.  I got my desk cleaned off first and then tackled the rest.  I still have things to get rid of but I made a start.  See my nice looking desk -

Now maybe I can be a little more productive.  My main incentive is that Ashley is coming to visit and over Thanksgiving, Marianne also comes over and we do some stamping.  The way it was, no one was able to get in my room but me!!

I also have a few more birthday cards to share.  Sonny's birthday was last Tuesday and this is the card I made for him:

 This is a stamp that I bought over a year ago and don't think I have ever used it.  But I love it!  It is one that I got at CKC by unity stamps.

From Ashley to her Daddy

from Margaret to Sonny

from Marianne to Sonny

from Margaret to me

Final Halloween Projects

Kinda glad Halloween is over.  I'm tired of seeing all the Halloween stuff!  Now, to clean up the decorations in my house and get ready for Thanksgiving.

Here are my final projects I made for Halloween.

These are the Tic Tac Holders that I made this weekend for a few friends.  Such fun!  Think I will do some for Christmas too.

I made this for my Monday Mailer.  I stamped the images from Wicked Cool and cut the little skirts free-handed after using paper punches.  Pretty cute, huh?

This is my final Monday Mailer .... and I really mean the final one.  Participation was getting bad and I was tired of begging each month and sending out emails to get the gals to show up.  So we put it to a vote and decided to try Weekly Challenges instead of Monday Mailers.  We'll see how that works.  I'm not starting that program until after the holidays though.

I've got good news to share!  Remember the neon page I did (HERE) that I did for a challenge for SU.  Well, I got an honorable mention!!  You can see the other pages HERE.  I was just glad to get a shout out for my project!

September Stamp Cub

This was Stamp Club week and my gals were dropping like flies!  I usually have 7-8 gals on Tuesday and on Thursday.  But Tuesday, I ended up with 6 after Marianne had to stay at work for a meeting and Thursday I ended up with 3!!  I had a couple of gals out sick, one out of town and one of my Thursday gals came on Tuesday instead and my Tuesday gal came on Thursday!  But the three that were here on Thursday really liked the intimate setting.  They said they didn't feel as rushed and were able to chat and visit while creating.  So, it all worked out.  We made some great cards I want to share with you.

 This is our Halloween card.  I used the Howlstooth ... DSP from the holiday mini.  I gave the gals the option of embossing the Apothecary Arts die with the Spider Web folder or stamping directly on the die piece without embossing.  I think everyone chose to emboss and thus had to stamp the boot (from Bootiful Occasions) out separately.  When they complained about cutting, I reminded them they had a choice!

 This was a fun card to make and is inspired by a card I saw on Pininterest.  It is a good way to use up those scraps of ribbon you have stuck in a jar somewhere.  We stamped the sentiment onto Certainly Celery first to make sure we had room for everything else.  It's hard to see from the picture, but we embossed all around the edges of the white piece with the Scorer.  The Little Leaves die is cut from the middle of the card.  I used some retired felt flowers with a pearl on top of the Baja Breeze ribbon.  The ribbon butterflies are gathered in the center with rhinestone brads (that I didn't realize had retired until today!!). 

 I think this card is my favorite.   I used the new Core'dinations cardstock from the Holiday Mini and sanded it so the white core would show.

Directions:

• ·       Round bottom corners of Cajun Craze card and Naturals Ivory cardstock
• ·        Sponge Espresso lightly around the edges of the Naturals Ivory and adhere it to card.
• ·        Stamp sentiment on bottom right of the Naturals Ivory.
• ·        Run the strip of Espresso Core’dinations (found in Holiday mini) through the Woodgrain embossing folder.
• ·        Use Sanding Block and lightly sand the Espresso strip.  Use the Tacky Cloth to wipe away dust particles.  Adhere to card.
• ·        Using Leaves #2 Sizzix Die  cut out 3 leaves.  Stamp leaves with text stamp from French Foliage set using Espresso ink.  Sponge edges; spritz with water and crumble up. Use glue to adhere to card.
• ·        Adhere choice of button to card.
• ·        If you decide to use a clear button (retired) like I did, punch a circle with the 1” Circle Punch and adhere with glue dot or a dot of glue to button.

This is a gift card holder that has an envelope inside for pockets.

Directions:

• ·      White cardstock – cut @ 8 ½” x 5 ½ ” / Score @ 2 ½” and 5 ¾”
• ·      Fold on score marks; the smaller flap will go on the inside.
• ·      Use a border punch and punch a border from Real Red cardstock; adhere to top flap
• ·      For the envelope insert, lick an envelope shut and fold it in half (side to side)
• ·      Cut about 1/3 of the envelope off (top of env. – not folded edge).  You want the envelope to fit inside the flap (where the reindeer is) and not stick up so cut the excess off.
• ·      Tape the envelope to itself so that you have 2 pockets.
• ·      Tape the envelope to the inside of the card so that it is secured to the bottom flap and the middle section   
•      Decorate
•         Crumb Cake Inserts – cut 4” x 2 ½”
•         White cardstock – cut 3 ¾” x 2 ¼” - layer on crumb cake insert
•         Punch a tab (Tab Punch) and adhere to top of each insert.
•      Make a belly band - cut cardstock about 7 1/2" x 1 1/2" and wrap around.

Halloween Monday Mailers

I took a few supplies with me to Texas when I was there but it's always difficult to make cards without all my "stuff" surrounding me!  I think I will be tackle-ing her office/craft room when I go back in December!  She has recently had the inside of her house painted and she did her office in bright yellow.  She is a huge fan of Curious George and has a ton of Curious George things.  So she is planning on decorating her office in red and yellow.  I did not think it would look good at all when she showed me the paint chip in March but it actually looks pretty good.  We didn't have time to do much decorating in the room while I was there but I did recover a memo board/partition for her.  She was going to get rid of it because it was a pale green but I told her we could fix it up.  We went to Hobby Lobby and found some red material and to M's and got some bright yellow ribbon.  It turned out really good and will look great in there with the yellow walls.  She found some Curious George ribbon on-line and was going to order it but we decided it would just be too much and more expensive than just plain ribbon.  Plus, when she puts all her pictures and scrapbook items on it, the ribbon wouldn't show up that much.  We even took the little tacks that hold the ribbon on off and covered then with the red fabric. 

So, this is the first Monday Mailer I made to send.  I used the Woodgrain embossing folder (luckily, I gave Ashley my Cuttlebug when I bought the Big Shot!).  The stamp set is Bootiful Occasions.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Black, Rich Razzleberry, Cajun Craze, Whisper White
Die:  Apothecary Art, Woodgrain emb. folder
Black brads
Ink:  Razzleberry, black
Here is the second card I made using Wicked Cool.  I saw this idea somewhere - either on a blog or Pininterest of using the witches hat and shoes with the pumpkin.  Cool huh?  I sponged the edges of the pumpkin to give it some dimension and used dimensionals for the witches hat.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Black, Tangerine Tango, White
Stamp:  Wicked Cool
Punch:  1 1/4" Circle Punch (I think!)
Markers
Hope you enjoy these cards!  I had fun making them.

Bootiful Occasions

Another hot one today!  We tied the record I believe at 101 degrees and it's still 88 degrees at 9:30 pm.  We took our boat out this morning and went to breakfast.  Then we found a quiet cove to throw the anchor and swim.  We both had books to read on the boat but I could only read about a chapter before I had to jump in the water and cool off again.  I could only stand it for a couple of hours before I told Sonny we or go home or I was going to melt.  So, we went home and I got creative with one of my new stamp sets.

The Bootiful Occasions stamp set (found on page 50 of the new Stampin' Up catalog) was one of my "must have" sets when I first looked through the book.  It has four boot images and a “happy Boot-Day” sentiment.  I think it will be great for a masculine card as well as the Halloween image and the Christmas image.  Today I made three cards with it using all but the Christmas boot.  (I'll do it later in the week and share.)



Take #1 of the Halloween Boot

After taking the picture of the witches boot, I decided it needed a little something else.  So, I added a little bow.  What do you think? 

Take #2

close up of the bow

For the Witches Boot, I stamped the boot and the sentiment in Elegant Eggplant.  I cut this stamp apart so the image and the sentiment are separate.  Then I colored in the dots using a Copic marker.  Then I embossed the white card stock using the Spiderweb embossing folder.  The bottom Elegant Eggplant card stock is embossed with the Stripes embossing folder and then the edge was punched with the Scallop Edge Punch.  A strip of black cardstock was layered between the white and Eggplant.  I was able to tie that itty bitty bow using my Bow Maker.  Sonny is still making them if you are interested in purchasing one.

Next is the Cowboy Boot.  I can see all kinds of uses for this stamp!  I have lots of Texas friends that this stamp is perfect for.  I have gotten rid of all my cowboy boots (had black, navy, and red boots at one time).  This is another one I thought needed a little something else after I took the picture.



Take #1 Cowboy Boot

 

Take #2

I colored in the bottom part of the boot with the Midnight Muse marker.  Here are the deets:  Stamp the boot 3 times - once in Midnight Muse on the Crumb Cake cardstock; once in Midnight Muse onto white scrap and lastly the stars in Versamark on scrap white.  Use Cherry Cobbler embossing powder on the stars and adhere them to the boot with glue.  I used dimensionals to attach the white boot to the one stamped on the Crumb Cake. 

Ingredients for Cowboy Boot :

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Newsprint DSP

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Versamark

Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler emb. powder, Heat Gun, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, dimensionals

Next is the Rain Boot card.  Do you know all the names for this shoe?  How about  rubber-boots, wellies, wellingtons, topboots, billy-boots, gumboots, gumbies, gummies, barnboots, wellieboots, muckboots, sheepboots, poopkickers, or rainboots!!  My friend Margaret calls them "wellies".  I like poopkickers!!  I wore these "wellies" a lot when I was gardening when we lived in Washington state but I haven't worn them much since we left.  They are great for mucking around in the mud!

I only did one take on this card - didn't see a need for any changes.  I used the Two Tags Die and my Big Shot to cut out the tag and stamped the boot in Black.  I used the Cherry Cobbler marker to color in the boot.  I used the Adorning Accents embossing folder (hearts) on the white card.  The Cherry Cobbler strip is die cut with the Adorning Accents Edgelit and then embossed with the Adorning Accents embossing folder (scallops).  The DSP is Twitterpated.  I drew the stems and leaves in with a marker for the flowers.  The flowers are punched out with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  I used a tiny pearl for the middle of each flower and a brad and a piece of red twine at the top of the tag.

Double Duty for Your Punches

This month for my clubs, we concentrated on Halloween and Thanksgiving cards and treats.  Plus I showed the ladies some different ways to use the Cupcake and Owl  punches other than the obvious way.   I won some Halloween DSP and matching ribbon by SEI at the CKC show this summer.  So I decided to use it for the Halloween cards.  I don't usually use non-SU stuff, but I knew I wouldn't use the 2 packs of DSP and ribbon and it was so cute!  So everyone got a different piece of DSP and their choice of ribbon.



Supplies Used:
Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, White, Black, non SU DSP
Stamps:  Out On A Limb, Wicked Cool, Warmest of Wishes (hostess)
Accessories:  Nestabilities Circles, Markers, Owl Punch

I put a little bit of Platinum Shimmer Paint on a cotton ball and rubbed it over the spider web after running it through the Big Shot - a little bit goes a long way.

Supplies Used:

Paper:  Black, White, Cajun Craze, non SU DSP

Stamp:  Gift Givers (Holiday Mini)

Accessories:  Web Embossing Folder, non SU ribbon, markers, Platinum Shimmer Paint

I used the cupcake punch on this card .... can you tell?  The basket is the bottom of the cupcake and the apples are the cherries on the punch! 

Supplies Used:

Paper:  White, Old Olive, More Mustard, So Saffron, Cherry Cobbler

Ink:  More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Suede,

Stamps:  Season of Friendship

Access:  Embossing Folder (for basket); Cupcake Punch

These Cellophane Bags in the Holiday Mini are a deal - 50 for $2.50!!  They are not just for Halloween either - I can see them with red and green M&Ms at Christmas or with a long peppermint candy inside.  Or for Thanksgiving ... fill them with the Autum Candy Corn and put one at each person's place setting at dinner.

Another use for the Owl Punch - make a ghost!  Punch the owl out, turn him upside down and cut feet off.


Supplies Used:

Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, White, Black

Stamps:  Wicked Cool

Accessories:  stapler, Scallop Punch, Owl Punch, markers, Circle Punch, Cellophane Treat Bags (holiday mini)

I edited my Christmas Stamp a Stack post (above) today.  I added a few details about the cards.  Let me know if you can attend so I will know how much supplies to order.

Mini Swaps

I actually have a few cards to share with you today!  I participated in a Mini Catalog Swap and had the cards mailed to me here in San Antonio.  They arrived Saturday and I have taken pictures so I could share!  I haven't ordered any goodies from the mini catalog yet and after seeing all these great ideas, I am ready to order, order, order!

This one uses Christmas Lodge stamp set (pg 29) in Pear Pizazz.  There is also a bit of  the new Dazzling Details on the roof of the lodge.  The bottom portion uses the new Snow Burst embossing folder.

I can't wait to order these stockings!  This stamp is the Stitched Stocking punched out with the new Builder Punch (pg 34).  The colors are Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler and Silver.  There is a cute little jingle bell hanging off the stocking.  You can purchase then from the mini too (pg 30).

This fall card uses the Gently Falling set (pg 16-17) with Concord Crush, Cajun Craze, and Garden Green.  Love the ribbon!!

Another card using Gently Falling - this is a very popular stamp set!  The colors used on this one are Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, More Mustard and Early Espresso.  She also used the Houdstooth embossing folder (inking it).

This card uses Festive & Fun, a very versatile holiday set as well as Every Little Bit stamp set.  The colors on this one are Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Concorde Crush and the In Patterns DSP.  Such an easy card to make but a great one!

Now I have to make my list!

Playing Catch Up

I had to share this beautiful tree!  This was taken right outside our bank last Saturday.  The fall colors here came in a jiffy this year.  If you weren't in the right place at the right time, you missed them.  We had hoped to go to the mountains to see all the beautiful foilage but never made it this year.  Hope next year is better.

I haven't stamped anything in three days!  Wow!  I've just been doing nothing.  I think I burned myself out getting ready for that craft fair and now I have to find my mojo again.  I've got to get my butt in gear and get to work on Christmas cards and calendars.  I've got ideas in my head by they haven't reached my fingers yet.  I forgot to mention last week that I won some blog candy!  It was my first time to actually win AND receive it.  A couple of years ago, I won some blog candy but never received it so that didn't count.  This time, I won from Nancy Dawson over at Paper Dreams & Creative Wishes.  She sent me Technique Junkie 2010 Edition CD!  So, I'll be learning some new techniques soon.  I used to subscribe to Technique Junkies newsletters (for several years).  It is a great resource.  If you are interested, check it out HERE. 

So .... back to playing catch up.  I have several cards I have received in the past few days / weeks that I have not shared.  So, here you go!



Halloween Card from Margaret



Sonny's birthday card - from Margaret

Monday Mailer from October

Monday Mailer from October

Halloween Kid

My friend Margaret was able to come over today for our club meeting.  Normally, she is in Texas or Colorado & I have to send her the cards or the materials to make them.  So, it was nice to have her join us today.  I'm still trying to get my club gals to clean up after themselves.  I think I have made the mistake of always cleaning up for them and they have gotten used to it.  They don't clean the stamps after they use them; they don't put the materials back in the basket after they are done so we are usually looking for something at one end of the table or the other.  I have about 8 gals and I usually have half working on one card while the other half are working on another one.  That way, the sharing is not as hard and it flows a little better.  They are great ladies and I am hoping they will want to continue with Club after November when we finish.  Maybe by then, I'll have them whipped into shape!!

Margaret ordered the Greeting Card Kids and while she was here, I stamped a bunch of them on white paper so I can share them with you.  Here is the Halloween Kid card I made tonight.

Isn't she cute?  I used some Spica markers that I had to color in the image.  It's really sparkly in real life.

While my ladies were here today, I got another call from Ashley!  Again, her Dad wasn't here but he learned his lesson this time!  She called him on his cell and he had it with him on the shooting range!!  She sounded a little congested.  She said it was pretty windy and the sand blowing around is getting to everyone.  She tried to exercise a little this morning but said it made her nauseated.  She still hasn't gotten acclimated to the climate and needs to take it slow.  Their plans are to leave Kuwait on Monday for Mosul which will be her location for the next year.

I am leaving in the morning for Shallotte for Quarterly so I won't be able to post for a couple of days.  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Great News and a few cards too!

Imagine my surprise today when I was checking my e-mail and had an e-mail from my daughter in Iraq!!!  She is doing good - tired and ready to rest - but she arrived at Camp Buehring in Kuwait around 6 a.m. this morning.  Her major complaint is the heat.  The showers are basically in a trailer with 8 stalls which by the time they were in there at 10:00 was  a sauna and miserably hot.  She said it  made the outside air temp (which must have been in the 100s by then) feel cool when they walked outside!  Then a few hours later, I received a phone call from Ashley!  Wow!  I didn't think I'd hear from her for a couple of weeks - not the very day she arrived.   Sonny was not home at the time so she tried to call him on his cell phone.  I think she taught him a lesson though.  He didn't recognize the number on his phone so didn't answer!  

OK - now a few cards.  My Texas friend, Margaret, was here a few hours today.  She & Graham are babysitting their grandson in Charlotte.  When they took him to school, they came out to visit.  Gra went skeet shooting with Sonny and Margaret & I visited and made a few cards.  She worked on the cards from club last month and I made a couple of Christmas cards.

Here are the cards my club will be making on Thursday:

This cutie is the new Owl Punch and the Greenhouse Gala DSP.  I used the little pearls for his eyes.

This is a simple card using Funky Forest wheel and the luscious Pear In Color!  I wheeled the trees in green and used my brown marker to make the tree trunks.

This is the Halloween card they will make using Wicked Cool stamp set.  The card is Rich Razzleberry with Old Olive spider web made with the embossing folder from the Summer Mini.  I rubbed a little Glimmer Mist over the web.  The pumpkin is also a die cut.