Last Chance to Party Hearty!

I only had time to make one card today.  I had a pretty busy day.  I met a group for lunch at a new restaurant in town and had a nice lunch and visit with my friends.  Then it was off to pick up everything I need for my big Southern Living Luncheon at my house on Thursday.  I am having 14 ladies for lunch.  Thankfully, I don't have to prepare the food - only the beverages.  Everyone brings a dish from a recent Southern Living Magazine and we critique the dishes.  It's a great way to taste some things you wouldn't ordinarily make for your family.  I am making Strawberry Margaritas and Sweet Tea Lemonade from the May issue.  I needed a new pitcher and went all over town looking for one today - Ross, TJ Max, Target, Pier One, World Market, Bed, Bath and Beyond!  I finally found one I liked at Bed and Bath but by that time I was sooo hot and exhausted.  The thermometer in my car was registering 100 degrees!  Then I had to make a stop at the grocery store and the liquor store.  Whew!!  Now tomorrow I have to dust and mop - yuck!!  (My least favorite thing to do.)

But I did take a little time out this evening to make a card with the retiring set, Party Hearty.  Pennants are going to be a big thing this fall.  Stampin' Up has a pennant die and punch in the new catalog!  So I decided to make a pennant using the hats in the stamp set.  I thought they turned out cute.  I used all In Colors too!  

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Party Hearty

Paper:  retired DSP, Pear Pizazz, Island Indigo (sneak peek), Calypso Coral (sneak peek)

Ink:  for pennants - Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral

Access:  Bakers Twine, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

IF YOU WANT A CHANCE IN THE DRAWING FOR THIS CARD AND ALL THE CARDS I HAVE MADE THIS MONTH, LEAVE ME A COMMENT!  I WILL DRAW ON FRIDAY.

Three More Days!

Just three more days and the new catalog will be up and running!  Make sure you have placed your orders for the retiring items before Friday!!

Today I am spotlighting Tart and Tangy along with Cheep Talk.  These are two really great stamp sets.

This is a really simple card to make but it looks so refreshing!

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Tart & Tangy, Heard From the Heart
Paper:  White, Black, Retired SU DSP
Ink:  Pear Pizazz, Kiwi Kiss, Daffodil Delight, Black

I used the 5-Petal Punch and my crimper (found at the very back of my drawer!) to make the flower out of some retired DSP.  Adds just the right touch, don't you think?

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Cheep Talk
Paper:  Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, White
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Espresso, Garden Green, Dusty Durango
Access:  5-Petal Punch, Dusty Durango Dotted Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I am going out to lunch  - trying out a new restaurant in Mooresville with the Out to Lunch Bunch.  Should be fun .... plus, an easy dinner tonight!!

Countdown has begun for Ashley!  If all goes as planned (with the Army???), she has 24 more days!

Notes .... Fun and Fast!

Here is another great set that has been around for a long time - Fun and Fast Notes.  It is a great over all set to do note cards for any and all occasions.  There is going to be a new set in the 2011-12 Idea Book that will be a good replacement for Fun and Fast Notes though.  But, if you are interested in getting Fun & Fast Notes, you better act fast!!

Here are a few cards I did with this set for you:

For the fence, I used the Jewelry Tag Punch.  This is the main reason I bought this punch  - to make fences.  It makes it so easy! I paper pieced the flowers.  I started out coloring them but didn't like the color so I just stamped them onto a scrap of Melon Mambo and cut them out.  I found this piece of ribbon in my ribbon jar and thought it matched pretty well.

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Fast & Fun Notes
Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, YoYo Yellow & Green Galore (both retired)
Access:  Jewelry Tag Punch, Markers, Corner Rounder Punch, non SU ribbon, Crop-a-dile Punch, Rhinestones

 

This is an unusual style for me.  I have a hard time mixing pattern paper and on this card, I mixed 3 different ones!!  It's easy when they all come in a stack though.  Even though this stack is a hostess item, you can order a 12x12 stack (page 175) now.  These stacks will also be in the new catalog (but at a slightly higher price!)

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Fast & Fun Notes

Paper:  Night of Navy, White, DSP from the Level 1 Hostess Pack

Access:  Ticket Corner, Corner Rounder, Navy Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Mat Pack and Paper Piercer, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Button, Twine, Poppy Marker, Crystal Effects, Stickles, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Using stickers from a Simply Scrappin' kit makes doing this card a snap!!   I am using 2 retiring stamps with this card.

RECIPE:

Stamp Set:  Fast and Fun Note, Party Hearty(sentiment)

Paper:  Blue Brocade (retired), Real Red

Access:  Stickers from Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired), Elegant Lines embossing folder, Stickles, markers

Swap Cards

I played a new game yesterday - well, sorta new to me anyway.  It was Duplicate Bridge.  A friend asked me to "sub" at her house and I didn't realize that was what they were going to play.  But, it was ok.  Duplicate Bridge is played just like regular bridge for the most part.  The scoring is different.  It was fun - you play a set hand and then the other table also plays the same hand so you can see how others win or lose the hand.  I was the third highest score so not so bad!

I have been working on swap cards for Convention.  I have signed up for 2 organized swaps and then I want to have other cards to randomly swap during the convention. 

 This is the card for the Fun Fold Swap.  When you pull on the Melon Mambo strip at the top, the inside card comes out like this:

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Flower Fest, Upsy Daisy (sentiment inside)
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight, Beyond the Garden DSP
Ink:  Black, Melon Mambo
Access:  White Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Crop-a-dile

 This is for a swap that you have to use a new stamp set.  This one was available to demonstrators for a sneak peek.  It is the only one I bought but it is the cutest!!  Love the snowman!  The little border sticking out at the top and bottom of the snowman is from the Triple Layer Doily Punch.  I cut it in half and am going to put a pearl in the center (forgot to before I took the picture!).  I have to admit I used two colors that are not my favorites - Garden Green and Poppy Parade.  They look good together but I just don't ever use these two which is why I picked them for this swap!

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Snow Much Fun
Paper:  Garden Green, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Access:  Markers, Black Ink, Poppy Parade Stitched Poly Ribbon, Northern Flurries Embossing Folder

I have done several of these cards to give out for general swaps.  There is a Vellum overlay over a white card.  I stamped the leaves from Fabulous Florets on the white card and stamped the flowers on the Vellum.  To hold the vellum to the white, I strategically placed glue dots on the back of the vellum on the flower centers.  And then the ribbon held it all together.

RECIPE: 
Stamp:  Fabulous Florets, Tiny Tags
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Vellum, Whisper White
Ink:  Old Olive, Cajun Craze
Access:  Always Artichoke Ribbon Binding, Jewelry Tag Punch

AND .... I have a retiring stamp set for my monthly give-a-way.  Don't forget to leave a comment if you want a chance to win the cards I am featuring this month!!

 RECIPE:
Stamp:  Forest Friends, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)
Paper:  Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Retired DSP
Ink:  Espresso, Garden Green
Access:  (non-SU) Ribbon, Small & Medium Oval Punches, Oval Nestabilities

I just finished talking to Ashley on Skype and she is leaving her temporary base tomorrow via helicopter and returning to Maraz where she has at least 3 packages waiting for her!  She needs to start packing up for her return home!!!!  So excited!

Happy Father's Day!

Hope all the Dads out there had a wonderful and restful day.  My hubby did.  He started out talking to Ashley this morning as she wished him a Happy Father's Day.  Of course, no word from our son.  We had an off and on rainy day today so he wasn't able to go out on the boat.  So, he sat downstairs in his chair and watched TV, played games on the computer and read.  Not much more exciting than that, huh?  We are going to go out tonight but don't know if he's decided on that yet or not.  Our options are to go to a Beatles tribute concert at Davidson College or go out to eat with Marianne and her family.  I'm afraid the weather is going to prevent us from going to the concert though.  Here is the card I made for him:

 RECIPE:
Stamp:  Sail Away (Summer Mini)
Paper:  Night of Navy,Red Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Nautical DSP from Summer Mini
Ink:  Night of Navy
Access:  Large & Small Star Punch, Circle Nestibilities, 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

inside of the card using the retiring All Holidays stamp.

I also made a card today using a retired stamp - not retiring - but retired as in last year!  I pulled it out by mistake.  But I also wanted to showcase the Triple Layer Snowflake Punch!

A Tree for All Seasons

Christmas in .... June!

Back to the retiring sets.  I took a bit of a break this week with the cards that I will be offering in the drawing at the end of the month.  (See this post)  I was busy doing things for Newcomer's Bingo and for Stamp Club but now I am back to working for YOU!  And today we are showcasing Christmas!  I love the set, Big on Christmas.  It is really easy to use - stamp it, color it in and mat it. 

 I stamped the image with Espresso ink and colored it in with my white gel pen.  I colored the tree with a Copic pen.  I did faux stitching around the edge.  (Use paper piercer and pierce all around the edges; then use a white gel pen to "connect the dots".)   The DSP is retired as is the Taken With Teal that I matted the image with!  But who cares?  Not the person who will receive the card at Christmas time, I'm sure!

OK - Ignore the black dots on this card.  I had it sitting on my desk yesterday when I reinked my black stamp pads!  Guess a couple of drops eeked out onto the card.  I didn't even notice it until after I took the picture - thought it was something on my camera lens until I took a second look at the card!  There's a sneak peek on this card though so I had to share it.  The lighter colored purple is one of the new In Colors!  It is called Wisteria Wonder. 

I used a thin oval wooden frame that I got from m's to layer with my embossing folder to create the un-embossed oval in the center.

RECIPE:
Stamp:  Big on Christmas
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant
Ink:  Black, Wisteria Wonder Marker
Access:  Snowflake Brads (non SU), Stickles Glitter, SU Markers, Snowflake Embossing Folder

I got even better news from Ashley yesterday!  She now thinks she will be returning another week earlier!  Looks like she may be leaving there around the 21st of July.  Not giving us much time to find a good flight but maybe we'll consider driving instead.  We just need to wait for her to return to her base where she can find more details.  She had hoped to be leaving her temporary post last Wednesday and go to a medical conference in Baghdad.  But that didn't work out and she will probably be at the temporary base until next week.  You can believe she is counting down the days.  I don't think she has seen one patient all week!  She read all the books she took with her and was going to the library on base and getting 5-10 books at a time to read.  She reads 1-2 books a day.  Yesterday she went to the library to return her books and get another stack and to her horror, the shelves were EMPTY!  Because the base will be closing, they had thrown away all the books a couple of days ago.  If you are a reader, doesn't this make you cringe?  She has her Kindle with her and it has a couple of books on it plus the Bible.  So, she said she guess she will be reading the Bible for the next few days from cover to cover!  The internet connection is bad there and it would take her too long to download more books on to the Kindle.  So let's hope the PA that she is replacing comes back soon!

June Monday Mailers

I have been super busy lately and don't see a break until at least Friday!  I played Mahjong last Friday, Saturday Sonny & I took a drive over to Concord Mills; Sunday we met Marianne for a delicious lunch buffet and then went cruising on the lake.  Monday, I played bridge.  This morning I was up really early (for me!!) and was in charge at the Soup Kitchen.  We served 125 people chicken salad, tuna salad and fruit salad - a great meal for a hot day!  When I got home, I made more chicken salad (I was on a roll!) to take to our Newcomers Bingo for Charity tonight.  My family - mom, 2 sisters and hubby - joined me for a great meal and fun Bingo games.  We weren't lucky at the Bingo games .... until the last one (played 12 games) when my sister, Angela won the "cover the card" grand prize.  She got a $75 gift certificate to The Chop House in downtown Mooresville.  After that, they raffled off the remaining bingo prizes.  Our group did pretty good.  My mom won first and picked out a necklace that she gave to me.  I won next and picked a bottle of Chocolate Wine.  (I've heard it's pretty yummy - I'll let you know.)  Next Sonny won but gave his ticket to Marianne.  There wasn't much left to choose from by that time so she picked a pair of earrings and gave them to me!  So, I did pretty good with bringing home the loot.  Tomorrow I play mahjong and then on Thursday, I have Stamp Club.  Whew!  I have got to find some time to work on my swaps for Convention!!

I've been so busy that I forgot to mail my Monday Mailer on Monday.  I used a retiring stamp - Cheep Talk and made a cute birthday card.  What do you think?

I was also trying to use up some of the retiring DSP.  This paper is from the Hostess 6"x6" stack (In Colors).

RECIPE

Stamps:  Cheep Talk, Party Hearty

Cardstock:  White; In Color Hostess Stack

Ink:  Concord Crush, Brushing Bride, Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade

Accessories:  Signa White Gel Pen, Poppy Parade Ribbon, Corner Rounder

This is the Monday Mailer I received last week from Laurie.  It uses the Sail Away set.  I'm so in love with this stamp set!!  And, I love the way she did the birthday sentiment using eyelets and the Bakers Twine!

Who's Gonna Miss Pick A Petal?

 I'm going to miss Pick A Petal stamp set.  It is so versatile and you can make so many different things with it.  So, why haven't I used it in like a year????  Don't know but after looking at all these cute ideas, I know I won't be getting rid of it any time soon!

 This is one of the cards we will be making Thursday in Stamp Club.  I want to show them how versatile this set is.  You don't even have to cut the petals out - I used my Oval Punch and punched them out!!  They will like that.

Recipe:

Cardstock:  River Rock, Rose Red, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, DSP from Occasions Mini (retired)

Stamps:  Pick A Petal, Afterthoughts (hostess)

Accessories:  Small Oval (retiring), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Decorative Label Punch

 Doesn't this put a smile on your face?  I love it!  This is another one we will make at Stamp Club.  To make the hair, take a length of ribbon and tie a knot in the center.  Cut the selvage off both sides of the ribbon and fray it.

RECIPE:

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue, Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Stamps:  Pick A Petal, It's Your Birthday

Accessories:  1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Grosgrain Ribbon

This is another Pick A Petal sample.  Ashley made this card for me for my birthday last fall.  The front is cut short so you can read the sentiment that is on the inside of the card.  Isn't she a smartie?

Here's a better look of the card partially open.

Another flower sample using Pick a Petal.

A lady bug using .... Pick A Petal

A bumble bee using .... you guess it .... Pick A Petal!!

If you want this set, act now.  It will only be around a couple more weeks!!

Retirement Stamps are Happy Together

I'm on a creative roll here!  Seems like the past few weeks I haven't been too inspired with my stamping.  But the past few days, I'm stamping up a storm.  Trying to get a bunch of the retirement stamps made into cards so I can give them away to a few lucky people out there.

Yesterday, I pulled out Happy Together.  I got this stamp set during Saleabration for FREE!!  That's always a good price in my opinion.  It is a happy little stamp set and makes me smile when I use it!  If you like it, you can purchase it now for only $14.95.  Just make sure you place your order before July 1!!

In this first card, I used the Designer Label Punch which is also retiring so if you want it, get it now!

 RECIPE:

Stamps:  Happy Together, Swirls & Curls Verses

Paper:  Crushed Curry (retired), Choc Chip, Real Red, Whisper White, red DSP

Access:  non SU sequins, Eyelet Border Punch, Eyelet Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch. Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool

 RECIPE:

Stamps:  Happy Together, Define Your Life

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, Beyond the Garden DSP

Access:  Sweet Stitches Designer Brad; Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch. Top Note Die, Big Shot

Here's a close up of the stamped area:

 

Baby, It's Hot Outside!

Are you getting any relief from the heat where you live?  I know the hot weather is breaking records all along this area.  I think I saw where some schools in the northeast were cancelled today because of the heat.  We had another scorcher today but I think a thunderstorm is coming tonight.  Maybe it will cool things down but more than likely, it will just make it muggier tomorrow!  

Yesterday the Golden Boys had their annual Progressive Dinner.  Some friends came by on their boat and picked us up.  We all (100+) rafted up together in a cove for a couple of hours before we headed over to the Bomze's home for dinner.  It was so hot that most people stayed in the water the whole time during the raft up.  That doesn't usually happen.  Last year there were only a handful of people who got in the water.  It's funny because this event is usually held later in the summer but they changed it this year so it wouldn't be so hot!!  Well, that didn't quite work out!  The Bomze's have held this event in their home for the past 3 years.  They are braver than me .... how would you like to have 150 people at your house for dinner???  Of course, the meal is catered but Suze was still gracious enough to make a delicious rum punch for us!  

After a couple of lemonade and sweet tea vodka drinks during the raft up and a rum punch at the dinner coupled with the heat, I had a splitting headache when we got home.  That's why I didn't post anything last night!!  Plus, I had another reason ...... the new SU catalog arrived about 30 minutes before we left the house.  So, when I got home, I quickly took my shower and sat down to pore through the catalog.  I always make a Wish List as I'm going through the catalog.  It's fun to look back at the end of the year and see how many things I've gotten from my wish list or if I still feel the same way about the items.   This year I have about 18 stamps sets on my list plus ribbon, embossing folders, Decor Elements .....  I can't wait for you to see it in July!!  

Now, on to the retired sets.  I've made a few more cards for my giveaway (see details HERE).  This time I used All Holidays and Define Your Life stamp sets.

 This card has very little stamping on it.  The "Merry Christmas" sentiment is from All Holidays and it is white embossed.  I will miss this set because it is always a "go to" set for the holidays.  The DSP is from a pack that was available a few years ago.  It pairs really good with the retired Taken With Teal.  I always like the Teal card stock but I am down to 1-2 pieces now.  The little dew drops are non SU as is the ribbon.

This card uses Define Your Life stamp.  I didn't use this set enough although I've had it a long time.  The circles are Nestabilities.  The ribbon, DSP and card stock are all retired.  The DSP came in a big 12" x 12" pack and I still have bunches left.  The card stock is Bermuda Bay (retired) and Rich Razzleberry.  I love the butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.   I used non SU sequins in the center of each butterfly.

Another card using the All Holidays stamp set.  This was probably my favorite sentiment in this set.  I think it will be missed by many!!  The DSP is from the current catalog - Greenhouse Gala. If you like it, you'd better order it before the end of the month or it will be GONE.   I used Nesties for the circles.  The polka dots are from a retired SU background stamp.  The flower is a pleated flower that is really easy to make.  I am sharing the directions with you.  Check it out:

I used 2 punches to make the different sized flowers - the 2 3/8" scallop punch and the 1 3/4" scallop punch.  Punch 2 scallop circles with each punch.

 Next, using a scoring tool, score all 4 of your scallops between each scallop.  See below - the black marks would be the score marks:

Your next step is to cut each of the scallop circles on one of the score lines as seen below:

Fold - accordian style - on each fold line, using your bone folder to crease well.

Then you will adhere each pleated circle to the other one.  Use a glue dot or something a little more durable than a glue stick or SNAIL adhesive.  Line up the larger scallop with the other large scallop and then the smaller scallop with it's mate.  So you will end up with 2 flowers.  

 Next you will adhere a button, or brad in the hole in the middle of the flowers and adhere to your project.

Which card is your favorite today?

The Winner Could Be YOU!

I received some good news today from Ashley.  She may be coming home a little earlier than she thought!  Of course, with the Army nothing is written in stone so I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch!  But, she may be leaving Iraq the first of August instead of the end of the month to set up the clinic at Ft. Hood.  I've got my fingers crossed!!

Yesterday I had a really nice day.  Sonny and I started out by taking the boat out for breakfast to a restaurant on the lake.  After a little bit of a ride around, we headed for home before the lake got too crowded and the sun got too hot!!  In the afternoon Marianne and Mom came over and we went down to our neighborhood pool to "veg" out.  It was pretty warm so we ended up staying in the water most of the time but it was a lot of fun.  My mom is like a kid in water so there was a lot of splashing around and playing.  It was good for her.  One of her good friends had died the night before and this helped to get her mind off of that.  A storm came up around 5 so we headed back to my house to get dressed.  We met the rest of the family in town later for dinner.

I have made a few more cards using my retired sets - Chic Boutique and Eastern Blooms - to share with you. 

I've decided to have a drawing at the end of the month for the cards I am making using retired sets.  A few of them will be used for my Monday Mailers but the rest could be sent to YOU!  Just leave me a comment and July 1, I will put all the names in a hat and draw one .... or two .... out and send them to you!!

RECIPE:

Stamp:  Chic Boutique

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy

Accessories:  SU Markers, 1 1/4" Striped Navy Ribbon, Oval Punch, Embossing Folder

 RECIPE:

 Stamps:  Eastern Blooms, Swirls & Curls Verses (hostess)

Paper:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, White

Access:  Pearls, Markers, White Taffeta Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Polka Dot Emb. Folder

RECIPE:

Stamps:  Priceless, Eastern Blooms

PAPER:  Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Beyond the Garden DSP

Access:  Rhinestones (non SU), Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool

I don't know if you can tell but I've been photographing my cards in a little better light.  After I cleaned out my retiring stamps, I had an extra shelf so I set up a lightbox area in it.  Here's what it looks like:

 I have an Ott-Light that clamps to a table (thanks to Margaret) so I clamped it to the top of the shelf and hung it upside down to shine onto my card.  I just have cardstock behind the card but I can change it out to a dark cardstock if I need to for a white card.

Guess I need to tack that cord up but the switch is midway down the cord and I need to be able to reach it.  So far, it's not bothering me draped down to the outlet that way.