Sketch Challenge #11

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Stamping Queens Sketch challenge.  I did another My Digital Studio card.  Every Tuesday Stampin' Up releases new digital content.  This week it was Frosty Days Kit II.  It is a real retro funky Christmas kit using colors you don't usually associate with for Christmas - melon mambo, pool party and my favorite retired color, kiwi kiss.  It includes 12 paper patterns, a 25 piece stamp set and a calendar template .... all that for $9.95!  So this is the kit that I used to make this card.  I love it!!

Check out the other Queen's take on our sketch here.  AND I think there is going to be some blog candy offered on some of the blogs this week.  Check them out!!

I've been a little under the weather the past few days.  I started out with a sore throat on Sunday.  I was plainning on going to the doctor Monday but my throat wasn't hurting me too bad.  I didn't feel great - just a little achey with sinus congestion and post nasal drip.  I started taking a generic Sudafed D and it seems to have helped a lot.  The downside is I couldn't sleep last night.  I guess there is something in the drug that wired me.  I know I looked at the clock every couple of hours and didn't sleep more than 2-3 hours total.  I didn't take any of the meds from about noon on Tuesday so hopefully, I'll be able to sleep.

And the Blog Hop winner is .....

True Random Number Generator Min:0 Max:7 Result: 4

I used Random.org for the drawing of the cards from the Blog Hop and Tiff is the winner:

 Tiff said...

Love love love the little snow gal. She's super cute. And I love those colors on that card. Beautiful job will all of the stamps!
October 24, 2011 10:42 AM

Tiff - please contact me with your address so I can get these cards in the mail to you.

I have been working on a big project for the past few days.  When Sharon was visiting me on Thursday, she made Christmas cards from the samples from the upcoming Christmas SAS while I worked on making "lollies" / rosettes!!  I have been wanting to make a fall rosette wreath but it was intimidating me and I kept putting it off.  Finally I cut a few strips last Wednesday night and scored and pleated them while watching tv.  That got me started so pretty much all day Thursday, I made rosettes - a total of 22 in all!  They are all different sizes and colors.  I used mostly Spice Cake DSP but I also used a few strips of Paisley Petals and some non-SU DSP that coordinated. Let me tell you, if I didn't have the SU Simply Scored Scoring Tool, I don't know that I could have done that many!!  I scored each strip (2" x 12") every 1/2" on one side.  Then I flipped it over and scored in between each of those score marks.  So, the finished piece was scored every 1/4".  Then I accordian folded the strips and hot glued 2 together forming a circle.   I used a round lid that I found that measured about 4"  to form the rosette in.  It made it much easier.  I punched a 2" circle and hot glued it to the back side of the rosette and used one of my punches to sit on top of the rosette while it dried.  I bought a styrofoam wreath at M's and covered it with strips of Spice Cake fabric.  I hot glued the medallions onto the wreath and used various buttons on the centers.  Mostly I used the big Designer Buttons from the mini catalog (love, love these!!) but I also used a few (retired) Corduroy Buttons and a metallic button that I found in my stash and 2 heart shaped silver earrings that I don't wear anymore.  The hardest part for me was trying to figure out whether to put a ribbon on it!  I tried a strip of Spice Cake fabric but didn't like it so I used some spray starch on the (retired) Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain ribbon and tied it at the top.  

I had a pretty busy weekend.  Sharon and Bob (from Florida) were camping nearby - in Denver and Marianne and Greg decided to take their camper over their and join them.  I went over Friday night while Sonny was painting (!).  I borrowed a friend's mahjong set and taught the Marianne and Sharon to play mahjong.  They caught on quick and kept the set on Saturday and played a little more.  Saturday night, we joined them for dinner at a restaurant right across the street from the campground along with Mom and Angela..  After dinner we went back to the campground where another couple joined us.  We had a camp fire and made smores and visited.

Today is Sonny's birthday - he's now officially on medicaid!!  Wow!  I fixed breakfast for us this morning and now have 2 big pots of my grandmother's delicious vegetable soup cooking on the stove - not that he will eat it - he doesn't like veggies!!  But I am going to take a pot of it over to my Mom, freeze some of it and enjoy the rest this week!  We finally turned our heat on yesterday.  We didn't get any of the snow that the east coast was getting but it has been pretty cool here the past few days.

Well, time for me to get ready for my Steeler game!  Not too sure about today's game against "Pretty Boy Brady" and the Patriots .....

More Birthday Cards

I have a few more birthday cards to share.

This first one is from Margaret, my Texas friend.  It is just beautiful.  The ribbon is dyed to match the flowers and cardstock.  She is smart - whenever she orders an ink pad, she always makes sure she gets the matching refill so she has it to do things like this as well as ink up her pad when it runs dry.  She asked me to suggest other color combos for fall for this card.   I suggested More Mustard, Tangerine Tango and Soft Suede.  This is where the Color Coach comes in handy.  I hardly ever do a card without consulting the Color Coach.  According to the Color Coach, More Mustard, Night of Navy and Cajun Craze would be lovely on this card.  What combo would you suggest????

 This second card is from my sister, Marianne.  I love it!!  Her "lollie" is great!  I have to say this is the student teaching the teacher.  I just wish she didn't have to work and we could play a lot more.  Marianne used the Flirtatious DSP on this card.  I need to use that paper more - I have it in my stash!

 Last, but certainly not least, is this beautiful card from Judy.  She told me she has been getting her money's worth out of the Fabulous Florets stamp set and this card is a fine example of that.  Judy is smart - when she makes a card, she doesn't make just one but makes several to have on hand.

I'm still waiting for my birthday card from Ashley to arrive!  I played the "pitiful me" part on Tuesday that she didn't send me a card and she told me yes, she did.  She took it to Boston with her and put it in the hotel mail on Tuesday so I would get it in time.  Well, I don't know what they did with it but I should have received it by now.  Come on USPS - send me my card!!!

Well, I have a "girlfriend" from Florida coming over today to play.  So, I need to tidy up and make room for her to work create.

Last night was Senior Night for the Mooresville soccer team.  I was proud of Marianne - she didn't get emotional.  Don't think it has not hit her yet that Harrison will graduate in May.  Hard for me to believe it too.  It seems like just yesterday that he was a toddler and I was helping her potty train him!

Stamping Queens Sketch Challenge Week 10

It's Week #10 for the Stamping Queens sketch challenge.  It seems like every week, I have been rushed and so I have done a digital card. That's the beauty of digital!!  Not this week though!  I took the time on Tuesday to make a card and make another rosette - or rather, a half of a rosette!  Hope you like it.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Four Frames, Baroque Motif, Autum Days, French Script

Paper:  Spice Cake DSP, More Mustard, Pool Party, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Designer Label Punch, Choc Chip Ribbon (ret'd), Scallop Border Punch

The SU Scoring Board makes the rosette a breeze! 

I hope you will decide to play along with us this week.  Make sure you check out what the other Queens have created HERE. 

I will be drawing for a winner from the NC Holiday Blog Hop on Sunday so you still have time to leave a comment or become a follower on THIS post.

Of course, I love comments and would like you to leave me a comment on this post too!!

Bet you Didn't Know .....

Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.. I didn't know that!
Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking. To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up. For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies. Let set for a wonderful minty frosting. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic, and at the end of the recipe if you want a stronger taste of garlic. Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simply chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream. Yummy! Reheat Pizza Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.  Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up. Expanding Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving. Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster. Newspaper weeds away: Plant your plants in the ground, work the nutrients in your soil. Then wet newspapers, put layers around the plants overlapping as you go, cover with mulch, and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers. Broken Glass: Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily. No More Mosquitoes: Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it. (Wonder if this works with rabbits? Sure gonna give it a try) Flexible vacuum: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings. Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip to eliminate static cling. It works; you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... Ta DA! ... Static is gone. Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. De-fog your windshield: Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth! Re-opening envelopes: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Voila! It unseals easily. Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair. Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup an d gone forever! Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! Wash your dryer filter: The heating unit went out on my dryer. The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load clothes.) He took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material and the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free, and smell good. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box? Apparently that stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!

First Ever NC Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the NC Demos Holiday Hop!!

The NC Demos are doing their FIRST EVER blog hop starting today at noon.  We are featuring stamp sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  My pick for the hop is Gift Givers.  From Halloween to Easter to Christmas, the Gift Givers Set has everything you need for all of your holiday stamping.  Better yet, every single stamp in this seven-piece set coordinates with a different punch to help you create a variety of fun and festive projects.

You probably just came from Regina's blog.  She does outstanding work and I have been know to CASE her designs!  

So .... on to my creations.  I hope they give you inspiration as to all the things you can do with this great stamp set!

I used a toothpick on this card!  Love those pumpkins all lined up in a row.

I paper-pieced the reindeer onto the stocking.

My FIRST Rosette / Medallion / Lolly - whatever you call it!!

Close up of the lolly - the SU Scoring Tool makes it easy!

This little snow gal is so cute.  I made this one a shaker card using mica flakes inside.

Close up of the shaker.

Pulled one of my old tricks on this one - when I had finished I had done the card backwards (opening to the left and not right!)  Easy to fix - just turned it upside down and repositioned the heart!

Close up - used tiny pearls for owl's eyes.  The border on the side is made using the Curly Label Punch!

This opens up (see below) and holds a pack of gum!

So, I hope you have enjoyed my cards showcasing Gift Givers.  If you would like to win ALL of these cards, leave me a comment telling me which one is your favorite.


Now you want to hop on over to Sue Root's blog and see what she has designed for the NC DEMO'S HOLIDAY HOP.

This is a box I did a few weeks ago for a Newcomer's dinner using the Thanksgiving set from Gift Givers.

close up of the stamp - this box is not included in the blog candy!

Too Many Years to Remember!

My daughter-in-law's birthday was yesterday.  She turned 34 but on her blog post, she said that all year she thought she was 34 so it was a pleasant surprise to her that she was not turning 35 on Friday.  Guess that is one way to sneak up on the years.  Unfortunately, I have known all year that I was 62 since I started getting my Social Security check last year so guess I can't fool old Mother Nature into letting me have another year at 62.  The good thing is I guess, Sonny will have a birthday next week and he'll start getting his medicare health insurance!  So at least I am not there yet!

We are going to a football game  with friends today.  In fact, as you are reading this, we are on our way!  We are traveling to Durham to see Wake Forest play Duke.  I have to find something warm to wear.  The temperature is supposed to only get to about 65 tomorrow but sunny.  I don't think it even made it to 60 today.   Don't know if I am prepared for cold weather yet!

I have received some very nice birthday cards this week and want to share them.

from my convention roomie, Nancy Lewis (I'll be CASEing this one!)

from NC Demo group

from Brenda, Stampers Alley owner

from my good buddy, Sharon D

from Stampin' Up Office (digital card)

from Joyce M, one of my stamp club ladies

from "girlfriend" Sharon R - She's gotta teach me how to do the scallop square!

My Christmas Stamp A Stack

Get an early start making your own personalized Christmas cards!  I will be holding a Christmas Stamp A Stack at my home in Sherrills Ford in November.  The dates that I have set up right now are:  November 4 at 6:30 pm and November 8 at 1:00 pm.  I may be adding more dates in the future. 

The price is:  $35 for 20 cards / $65 for 40 cards / $95 for 60 cards
(amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities)

Sets of cards should be done in 5’s (of same card)

You will pick the cards and how many you wish to make of each design in advance (sets of 5 please) so I can have the packets ready for you when you arrive.  You will need to bring your own adhesive.  I will have glue sticks available for you to use.

If you cannot come but would like to order kits, please contact me for details.

Please call (828-478-9272) or e-mail me (smaranich@yahoo.com)  to reserve a spot.

I will also be offering a Hostess Appreciation gift if you book a Stampin' Up Workshop during the Stamp A Stack event.  You will receive one free package of 8 ½ x 11 cardstock in your choice of color!

Door Prizes will be awarded during the event!  Don't miss out on the fun!!

I have worked hard to make cards that are basically pretty easy to put together (no heat embossing, not a lot of coloring, etc.) but are not too basic in design.

Here are the card designs that you can pick from:
(you can click on the cards to open up another window)

CARD #1 - SNOW MUCH FUN
uses Silver Glitter paper and Snowflake embossing folder

CARD #2 - HOLIDAY GREETINGS
rhinestones on the ornaments

CARD #3 - STACKED SNOWMAN
Dotted embossing folder on white

CARD #4- WARMEST OF WISHES
Snowburst embossing folder with white gel pen

CARD #5 - PENNANT PUNCHED TREES
Dotted embossing folder -  glitter on snow - uses Pennant Punch to punch trees

CARD #6 - NAUGHTY-NICE STOCKINGS
Stocking Punch makes it easy!  Designer Label Die for sentiment

CARD #7 - PEACE LOVE JOY
Designer Label Punch (non SU emb. folder)

CARD #8 - TREE TRIMMINGS

CARD # 9  Dasher with Shimmer Spray

CARD #10 - SOUNDING JOY
Sentiments stamped on vellum over Vanilla cardstock with star - could also stamp "JOY"
Silver Glitter paper stars

CARD #11 - SEASON'S GREETINGS
non-SU embossing folder - could substitute the SU stripes folder
Stocking Die and Stitched Stocking stampset

CARD #12 - GIFT GIVERS
Isn't she sweet?  Punch out with scallop circle punches
A little Dazzling Details (glitter) around her makes her a WOW!

Card #13 - plaid stockings in Cherry Cobbler  /  Card #14 Dotted stockings in Real Red

Contact me if you have any questions.

Stitched Stockings

I have had a request for a revision of one of the cards on my Christmas Stamp A Stack.  So I am adding Cards #13 and #14 as seen below.

Plaid Stockings in Cherry Cobbler is #13   /   Dotted Stockings in Real Red is #14

I met Angela and Mom at the surgeon's office this morning ..... at 8:00 which is way too early for me to be up and in town!!  I am NOT a morning person!  Luckily, he did not recommend any major surgery!  We took the x-rays from the Nerve Block Injection that she had on Tuesday so he could see them.  His recommendation is -  let's see if it works; even possibly having to redo the injection in a few weeks.  If we  determine that it is not working, he can do an out-patient surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerves.  The doctor would use a microscope to see and protect the nerve roots, and safely remove the portion of the disc that has herniated. Removing the fragment of disc material that is pressing on the nerve eliminates the pressure on that nerve.  

After the doctor's appointment, we went to breakfast and then I headed home.  I worked fast and furious until my club ladies came at 1:00.  We have started a painting project .... well, let's rephrase that - Sonny is doing the painting!!  We Sonny is going to paint the interior of our house.  I am tired of the white and cream that is on all the walls.   He did the living area yesterday.  I was surprised that he did the whole room in one day!  I stayed out of the way and he never even got cranky!!  When I got home today, we did a little bit of touch up in the corners and then moved all the furniture back in place.  We finished about 30 minutes before club started!   I have been wanting to do this painting for about a year but never really pushed him about it - mainly because I couldn't decide what colors I wanted.  Finally, when he got in the mood to go buy the paint last week, I knew I had to make a decision.  I have a painting in my hall that is matted in a sorta suede brown so that is what I chose for the den, hallways and foyer.  We are going to hire someone to come in and do the foyer since the ceiling is 18 feet tall!!  We have also bought the paint for the dining room.  I am going to match a valance that I have in there and paint the room burgundy.  There is a chair rail so I will leave the bottom white and cream.  Now to figure out about the kitchen.  Ashley gave me a suggestion that I think I am going to go with and paint it a mustard-y color.  When I was in Gig Harbor, I worked at a ceramics painting shop and painted a mustard-gold rooster.  As I was moving the rooster out of the den yesterday, I decided I liked the color and that's what I will paint the kitchen!   That color will also go in Sonny's office/den.  I think it will be perfect with his black and gold Steeler stuff that he has in there!!

OK - my bed is calling my name - time to go visit it!

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.