Happy Mother's Day!

Hope your day is special!  We are taking my mom out to eat this afternoon.  We are hoping to miss the crowd by going around 3 pm. 

I've been busy the past few days trying to learn how to use my new smart phone!  It's sad when a phone is smarter than a person!!  The kid I bought the phone from at Verizon ran through the instructions so fast my head was spinning when I left!  I'm planning on going back to take a class on how to use my phone and find out about all the apps.  In the meantime, I did learn how to play Words With Friends!  I had dinner last night with Marianne and Greg and she helped me out with my new phone.  Although I think my phone doesn't like me.  Every time I power it on I get a little green man who I'm guessing is the Droid laying down.  He stays like that for a while before continuing to power on.  Not sure what that is about.  Looks like I killed him!

I've been working on making cards using the retired card stock and stamps sets that didn't make it into the new catalog.  Button Buddies is one of them.  It was one of my favorites when it first came out but I have to admit, I didn't use it near as much as I thought I would. 

This one was easy!  I just stamped the flower in the Button Buddies set with white craft ink and embossed them all with white embossing powder.  Then I glued a button in the center of each flower.  The card stock is Certainly Celery.

Wonderful Mother's Day Card

Well, the Red Cross has disappointed again.  We got a call yesterday that they had opened a shelter for the local flooding victims and needed volunteers to man the shelter.  We told them we could work it from 1-7 today since I had a meeting this morning.  The shelter was set up in north Charlotte and when Sonny and I arrived, there was no one there.  And I don't mean no clients, but no workers ... no one!  I called the Lake Norman office to see what was going on and was told they had closed the shelter at noon.  Didn't we get a call?  NO!!  Sonny and I both have cell phones and had them turned on but nothing and when we arrived home, there was no message waiting for us there either.  You know that old adage, three strikes and you're out?  Well, we're OUT!   Every time we've worked a shelter, there has either been no one needing our services or one person.  It would make much more sense to put one person in a hotel rather than all the manpower necessary to set up a shelter!

OK - on to other things.  I made a Mothers Day card for the Paper Craft Crew challenge using MDS.  I love using this trick with ribbon.  I used the grosgrain ribbon bow and cropped it so I just had one loop; copy, paste and voila, two loops.  It's a pretty simple card but I think I will be printing this one out for my mom for Mother's Day.  Now I just have to find a gift for her.

Make sure you visit the Paper Craft Crew Blog site and check out what the other members have done with the sketch.  And while you're at it, make your own card using the sketch.

Just Believe and Build A Blossom .... Going, going, gone!

I have been doing some serious purging!  My craft room was getting pretty bad so I knew I had to do something.  Since I had already gone through a lot of stuff to put in the sale last week, I decided to keep it up.  I needed to redo my paper storage to get the retiring colors out and put the new colors in the files so I got all new labels typed up for that.  I had three drawers full of bits and pieces and some whole pieces of card stock that has long been retired as well as DSP that I found I really wasn't using that much.  So I have made goodie bags for my stamp club gals full of paper and DSP.  They can use it or pitch it - it's up to them!  I also found bags full of 3-D items I have required over the years in swaps that needed to go.  I went through them and kept out a few I wanted to keep and put the rest in a box and I will let my gals pick out what they want this month.  I feel pretty good and my floor is clean since I even vacuumed!!  I still have a big container of DSP to go through but I'm getting there!

I did have time this afternoon to make a card to share with you using a stamp set that I think a lot of people will miss - Just Believe.  It is such a pretty set that I am going to hold on to mine just a little longer!  I also used retiring colors for the card - I love Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Pretty in Pink together!  They have always been my "go to" colors for spring and flower cards.  Guess I'll be finding a new combo now - how about Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette and Pool Party????

Here is another retiring set - Build A Blossom and the coordinating punch.  I sold this set on Saturday - I had to do it quick before I thought about it too hard or it would have come back home with me!!  I used the Soda Pop Top for the center and stamped the butterfly from Collage Curios to put in the middle.  Collage Curios is in the Spring Mini Catalog - if you like this set, you better buy it now - just saying!

 Here is a close up of the center.

 This tulip card was also made using the Build A Blossom punch!  I just used the leaf portion of the punch and punched out 5 petals for each flower - from Rich Razzleberry and Regal Rose.  How different from the card above!

MDS Sale

I participated in a webinar today by Stampin' Up about My Digital Studio.  I had almost forgotten about their big MDS sale going on now but it is a good one.  From now until June 15, MDS select digital content and printing is on SALE!!  Go HERE to see all the sale items.

Here are a few for you to check out -

Make a swatchbook for Mother for Mother's Day with this kit:

How about this one for some great layouts -

or this one for graduation - All you’ll need for a graduation party: invites, food flags, mini rolled diplomas and it is complete with 12" x 12" page classmates can sign for a lasting keepsake.
 Make sure you select me as your demonstrator to get the best price!

Here are a couple of cards I made tonight with MDS using  a couple of retiring stamps - French Foilage and Greeting Card Kids.  If you want to order these stamps, you'd better hurry.  They will be gone by the end of the month!

Remember - if you comment on the cards, you will be entered to win my BLOG CANDY which is the cards I have made using the retired stamps.

Doing Wheel-ies!

On Saturday Stampers Alley had their annual Used Stamp Sale.  This year they did it a little differently.  It was set up like a garage sale with us setting up our tables in the parking lot instead of Stampers Alley having to sell our stamps for us and taking a percentage.  Marianne and I shared a booth and spread our stamps and craft things out on 3 tables and set up shop.  We did pretty good.  I made a little over $200 and got rid of a lot of my retired stamp sets so I was quite happy!  And most importantly, I didn't spend all my profits.  I only bought a couple of things ... maybe spending about $10.  I still have a box of stamps left and I will be offering them to my Stamp Club gals in a few weeks.  Our only complaint was the weather!  We almost froze to death!!  It is May but you would think it is March.  The temps have been in the 50s during the day.  It's more like Seattle weather - although my friends there tell me it is in the 80s!  I keep hearing folks say that they are tired of this cold rainy weather we are having.  Well, I am as well but it came to me that I am using little to no heat and no air conditioning right now and haven't for weeks, so our energy bill should be a lot less this month.  That's a good thing.   Marianne and I were both bundled up and to make matters worse, it started sprinkling  Marianne called Greg and he came to our rescue and brought us a canopy so our things wouldn't get too wet. And the icing on the cake - at the end of the sale, we gave what we didn't want to take back with us to one of the gals there who is going to send it all to the Sandy Hook community.

A lot of people have trouble when It comes to using a wheel on a card.  I don't use them very often (mainly, because I forget about them! ) but they are great for backgrounds on your cards.  Here are a few hints when using a wheel:

■stand up as you get straighter lines and more even pressure that way

■start rolling the wheel while off the card stock to prevent lines showing

■start at the corner of the page closest to you and roll away from yourself

■if you do not have an ink cartridge in the wheel handle, when rolling it on the ink pad do not roll it back and forth, roll it in the same direction ~6 times to ensure it is entirely inked

■always test the wheel on scrap paper first to ensure that your design/words are oriented the right way

■If the roller wheel does have a sentiment on it, line up the seam of the roller just off the page to ensure that you get the sentiment over the page in its entirety and not half a word that doesn’t make sense

■store the ink cartridges in zip lock bags to help keep them moist

■practice on scrap paper a lot!

Here is a bookmark that I made using the Very Vintage Wheel:

I wheeled it using Versamark Ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  Easy to do.

Retiring - Raining Flowers and Word Play

Here are two more cards I've made this week using the retiring sets.  This time I used Word Play (oh how I am going to miss this one!) and Raining Flowers.

Word Play

With the Word Play card, I just cut some strips of DSP to create my candles.  I used the Bird Punch for the flame - easy peasy! 

I had a little help while working on my cards this week.  Sammie wouldn't let me out of her sight!  I guess since I was gone over the week end, she was making sure I wouldn't be leaving her again any time soon. 

Checking out my lunch!

Taking a nap in the box!

For the Raining Flowers card, I also used Best Friends Forever (retired) to stamp the leaves in the background.  The flowers were stamped, cut out, and popped up.  A very quick card to make.

Raining Flowers

Sketch Challenge #40

I used MDS to create my Sketch Challenge this week (what else is new???)  I love this DSP - it is from the Wonderful Whimsey's Kit.  I think I used paper from that kit on last week's project - that's how great it is!  It's hard to tell but there is also a Honeycomb Overlay over the card and DSP - maybe if you click on the card, you can see more detail but the overlay made the "squiggly" lines over the triangle shapes on the DSP.  There are all kind of techniques you can use with MDS.  You just need to get in there and play around with it.

Background - Color = Crushed Curry

Embellishments -
Designer Rosettes\Designer Rosettes - pointed very vanilla
Designer Kits\This And That Epic Day - embellishments\This And That Epic Day - friends flag
Designer Kits\Hello There - embellishments\Hello There - flag
2011-2013 In Color Ruffled Ribbon\Ruffled Ribbon - pool party
2011-2013 In Color Ruffled Ribbon\Ruffled Ribbon - pool party knot
Sara's Sequins\Sara's Sequins - teal

Stamps -
_Designer Kits\Family History\Family History - overlay honeycomb
Apothecary Art\Apothecary Art - for you

Punches -
Extras\Flag Punch,
Basics\1.25 Circle Punch,
Labels Stamp; Tags\Labels Collection 1

Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Wonderful Whimsies 1

 I have to brag and share the project Ashley sent me last night that she has made for one of the residents at the hospital.  She designed it with MDS and took it to an office supply store to have it printed 12 x 12 and is going to frame it and give it as a gift.  The theme for the nursery is Dr. Seuss and Ashley was able to find a free Dr. Seuss Font even!  What a great gift for just a little bit of cash!  And she has only had MDS since Christmas!

Retiring Stamp Cards for Blog Candy!

Now that the retired lists have been announced, I am going to share cards I've made using the stamps that are retiring.  AND if you leave comments each day, I will be putting together packets of the cards and doing a GIVE AWAY at the end of May!  So, stay tuned and let me hear from you!!

I will be selling a LOT of my retired stamps this Saturday at Stampers Alley's Used Stamp Sale in Mooresville.  If you live close, you can get some great deals at this annual sale.  Last year I got a Big Shot for a friend for about $25 so come on down if you live close!

This card uses the Button, Button stamp set.  Not only is it good for a focal image but it is also a great stamp for making your own backgrounds.  The DSP on this card is also retired - Sweet Shop (I think).  The border above and below the stamped image is Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon.  I used DSP Brads for the centers of the stamped buttons.  The buttons are stamped in Calypso Coral, Island Indigo and Pool Party - all colors that will be staying with us next year.

On this card I used the wonderful Word Play - I will really miss this set!  It was a really simple card to make - just cut a few banners from DSP!  The large button was retired a couple of years ago but I thought it made a great focal point.

Cropping Weekend

Marianne and I had a fun weekend at the Scrapbook Creations Paper Craft Festival in Spartanburg.  There was cropping, make and takes, demos, classes and lots of socialization!  Sonny and I had lunch with Marianne in Lincolnton on Friday and then she and I took off for the festival.  We went with an open mind but we really weren't sure what was in store for us as I mentioned in my last post.  Upon our arrival, I got my goody bag and tee shirt.  The goody bag was supposed to be $130 worth of product - not so sure about that but it was ok.  I got a large pack of Graphic 45 paper, a 6x6 stack of patterned paper, some embellishments and 6 packets of double page scrapbook layouts.   Friday night we participated in a Make and Take event where we went to 8 different tables making various things.  I thought the make and takes were a bit too simple but it was fun anyway and midway through, they had a fabulous dessert bar!   a representative of Bazzil Paper was doing one of the make and takes and she showed us the samples she was doing for her classes on Saturday.  One of the classes was an 8x8 Mini Album that was super cute so Marianne and I decided to sign up for it.  We took the class on Saturday and as is usual in most classes, didn't get it all finished.  So that gave us something to do back at the crop table.  We were having such a good time working on our album that we decided to stay another night.  We stayed at our hotel Friday for free with Choice Reward points I had earned so paying for one night was no biggie.  Since we had already checked out of our hotel, we had to find another one.  We stayed at the crop until about 11 pm.  There were several hotels within a couple of blocks from the Expo Center so after striking out at the Howard Johnson's, we headed across the street to the Econo Lodge and got one of their last rooms.  We went to sleep around midnight but shortly after we fell asleep, the occupants of the room next to us woke us up with their noises which continue for 2 1/2 hours!  Banging on the walls and hollering "shut up" did nothing to stop them so Marianne finally called the front desk.  At first we were told there were no rooms available but a bit later, they called up to tell us they had a room.  The attendant brought us another key to a room down the hall and told us we could have both rooms - just leave our things and go down the hall to sleep.  So at 3 a.m., Marianne and I are traipsing down the hall with our stuff (didn't want to leave them unattended) in our nightgowns!  It took forever for us to get back to sleep and we were both zombies today!  We ended up sleeping through breakfast service and heading back to the convention center around 10 a.m.  We worked a bit more on our albums until I ran out of glue / tape.  Well, the way they had everything set up, it was easy to just go to their store and purchase what you need.  So, I bought a brand new bottle of Zip Dry Liquid Glue.  After I snipped the tip off of it, I was squeezing it onto one of my pages when the top came off and over half the bottle ended up in my lap!!  Only at a Scrapbook Crop would someone run over with a camera to take a picture of someone with glue in their lap!!  Now I have to figure out how to get all that glue washed out of my jeans!!  Anyway, long story short ... it was a fun weekend.  On the way home, we were starving and found a great restaurant just by chance.  We were looking for somewhere to eat when we drove by a restaurant called Wade's in Spartanburg.  There were a ton of cars in the parking lot so that's always a good sign plus the line of people to get in.  It was good ole' home cooked food that was delicious!  I had fried chicken, field peas, creamed corn and squash casserole plus some melt in your mouth rolls!  The restaurant has been in business since 1947 so you know it's good!

We were shocked to see how much STUFF people bring to these crops.  It was like packing up your whole craft room and taking it all!  Here are a few pictures to prove it:


Marianne and I had nothing compared with our neighbors!!

 


Easy Access Shopping Area



One person's STUFF plus she had a table full too with 3 machines - note her cushy chair cover!  She came prepared!

  

Lots of STUFF! 

RETIRED LISTS - KEEPING THIS ON TOP and UPDATING IT DAILY!

 

CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED LIST OF ACCESSORIES - http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/lastChance/2013%20NA%20Retired%20List/Availability_en-US.pdf

 

The 2013 Retired Lists are here! 

Some products up to 60% off!!!

HURRY…don't wait!  Place your order right away! 

Accessories do sell out quickly!  There are punches, lots of ribbon, DSP, card stock, kits ......

All ACCESSORIES are WHILE SUPPLIES LAST…and some things DO sell out quickly…like in hours!!!   Find the list on the pdf file here:

STAMPS

ACCESSORIES

EDITED TO ADD:  The best way to view the items is to go to ORDER ONLINE and SHOP and you can see the items with the pictures!!
 

Place your order on my website - click ORDER ONLINE  in my header above OR if you prefer, contact me and I will put your order in for you.  

Make sure to use the CODE  762NUUQV before you check out.  

 When you place your order today through April 30th using the Special Code you will automatically be guaranteed 3 things: 

1) Your order will ship directly to your door!
2) You will receive a hand stamped thank you card from me just for you!
3) You will be entered in a drawing for Stampin' Up! Products

Alert:  the PDF files are pretty small print (at least for these old eyes!)  There is a + and - at the top of the page - click on the + to enlarge the page!!