Paper Crew Sketch

Thought I'd share this cute cartoon -
My box man will be here on Friday!!


It's Wednesday and time for the Paper Players Sketch Challenge.  It's still a few months until Fall but I couldn't resist doing a fall card.  I think our weather is going to be fall like at the end of this week.   Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all supposed to be in the mid-70s and of course, rainy!!  This rain better be moving out of here soon.  Ashley is coming to visit Aug. 22 and she has requested no rain!!  We aim to please!  OK - on to my card.

I used the Wonderfall DSP and elements.  The banners are from the Convention 2013 kit.  How do you like the little owl in the top corner?  That's actually a square punch filled with Wonderfall DSP and cropped so just the owl is centered in the punch! 

What a day I had today.  I co-captained at the Soup Kitchen this morning.  We made baked spaghetti and prepared about 16 pans!  There was plenty left over that they will package up for the evening meals that they make for the local churches.  I was exhausted when I left.  But I wanted to get my drivers license renewed.  I went to the DMV office in Mooresville and it was packed out.  People were sitting outside on the grass and inside every chair was taken.  The line to check in was out to the door.  So I did a U turn and left!   I headed up to Statesville where I figured I'd have better luck.  Not so.  I signed in with no problem.  There were about 20-25 people in the waiting room.  But there was no one manning the desk.  I waited an hour and they only called one person to come back.  A lady came out once and told a young person that there was a 3 hour wait.  I figured that the 3 hour wait was for getting a new license - driving test and all.  There was one guy in there that said he'd been there since 11:30 - and it was 1:30.  So after sitting there for an hour with no sign of any one calling my name, I left. In that hour, no one ever came to the window to help us or just to say what kind of wait we could expect.  I guess that's why they let you get your license 3 months early - it will take 3 months to get it!!MD  What a waste of time!

Bags for the Beach and for Baby

I had a very productive weekend in my stamp room.  I am trying to figure out what to do in Stamp Club this week but I have too many choices!  So, I keep playing around with different sets and techniques.  I need to make a decision!!

We got some good news this weekend that our family will be growing next year.  My nephew and his wife, Katrina, are expecting their second child in February.  They already have a precious little boy.  I'm hoping for a little girl but we'll have to wait a few weeks before they know the sex.  I made this little baby bag card to send to them to congratulate them.  I found the pattern on-line (Pinterest probably).  I think we will be making a similar bag in club this week too!

I also think I was in a pastel mood this weekend.  Seems most of the cards I made were with pastel colors which is unusual for me.  I usually go for the Brights and Regals.  But I love the new in colors and the way they seem to go together. 

This little bag opens on the side.  The little closure is punched with the Ticket Punch and has a bit of Velcro to keep it closed.  The mosaic background piece is from the DSP packet, Quadrefancy Specialty.  It is a clear window sheet with the quadrefoil design in white.  The sentiment is from That's the Ticket.  I used a few pearls and my white gel pen to dress it up.

On the inside, I punched 4 little hearts to cover up where the straps were glued down.








Here is another bag I made.  This time I used the DSP from a Christmas pack!  This DSP is in the Holiday catalog - Winter Frost (pg 29).  So, you can use winter DSP for a summer bag, can't you!?!  I really like this paper.  This time for the bag closure I used the Oval Punch.  The sentiment is from Oval All that I just realized is retired!  Oops - I had it on the wrong shelf.  The little flower is from Secret Garden - hard to tell but it is stamped in Pool Party and I used the dauber and Island Indigo for the edges.  Instead of a pearl on the closure, I used one of the Candy Dots (I love these things!)

 And how about a beach bag tote?  Again, this DSP is from a Christmas stack.  This time the DSP is Season of Style (pg 22 of Holiday mini).  I am a polka dot gal and love this Soft Suede polka dot bag with the pretty Blushing Bride card stock.  I stamped and heat embossed the anchor from Open Sea and added a little bit of twine to it.  The flowers are punched using the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch (but you could also use the Boho Blossom flower.)  Again I used the Candy Dots for the closure and for the center of the flowers. 

So what did you do this weekend?  Productive or just lazing around?  Both are fine with me!!  Oops gotta run - Sammie wants to play straws.  (I throw her straw down the stairs and she runs down and fetches it just like a dog!)

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!

Halloween Canvas

I'm ready for Halloween!  I had so much fun making these mixed media Halloween canvases this week.  Carrie Cudney demonstrated some that she had made when we were at Convention.  They are 6x6 artist canvas that I purchased from a local arts and crafts store (on sale!)  It's hard to tell but each one of them started out with a layer of the retired newsprint DSP.  I used Modge Podge to adhere them to the canvas and then put a coat of Modge Podge over them.  I mixed a little paint and reinkers and had fun kinda finger painting!  The ghost and pumpkin are also cut from the DSP.  On the owl, I used cardstock.  I pretty much free handed the figures.  I used a Sharpie marker to outline everything.  I just went through some of my scraps and found bits and pieces to add to each one.  I really like how they turned out and think they will look cute on my mantel in October!

Paper Crew Challenge 53

Welcome to Paper Craft Crew Challenge #53!!   Did you check out our sketch challenge last week, as voting is now open.   We would love you to play along with this one.  Here is this week's sketch challenge:



No surprise that I used MDS to create my card.  Have I told you lately how much I love the program?  HA!!

This card uses the DSP from Sunshine Garden (I think that's the name!) and the little birds and ribbon are from the Love Birds kit.

Yesterday we had a girls day as a continuation of Mom's birthday.  When Marianne got off work, we picked Mom up and went to the nail salon.  Both of them had mani's and pedi's and I got a pedi.  (I use my fingers too much and chip polish off so I don't waste my $$!)  Angela met us when she got off work and we went to a local Mexican restaurant.  Marianne and I ordered fajitas for two as did Mom and Angela.  We should have just asked for one order!  I have enough for Sonny and I to have for 2 more dinners I think!  It's ok with me!

Wetlands

 Hope you had a good weekend!  I did.  We finally had a weekend with NO rain!!  Sonny and I went to Hickory on Saturday.  He was looking for ammo at a good price and I was just looking!  He dropped me at the mall where I bought a new pair of shoes (that I don't need but they were on sale and really cute!) and then over to AC Moore where I bought some canvases to try my hand at some mixed media Halloween pictures.  On Sunday, I met Angela and Mom for brunch after church and brought Mom back home with me.  We went out on the boat for the afternoon.  We found a nice shady area on one of the small islands on the lake and beached the pontoon.  That way Mom could get in the water easily.  It was really enjoyable.  After lounging around, we boated over to a restaurant on the lake and had dinner before heading home.  When we got home, Mom took a bath in my tub.  She loves my garden tub with the jets beating on her!

It's funny how you can look at a stamp set in the catalog and think to yourself, what would I do with that set?  That's the way I felt about the set, Wetlands (pg 69).  Well, after convention, I have a new found respect for the set! 

I received several swaps using this set that I just loved.  And after further evaluation, I have decided that this would make a good masculine card.  Like many others, I struggle with making masculine cards.  So .... this set may just be finding a home in my craft room in the near future!

Here are a few of the swaps that I received with this stamp set:

Halloween Canvas

Carrie Cudney taught a class during convention where she showed some samples of mixed media art that she created using Stampin' Up products and DSP.  These were photos I took of Carrie's samples. They were done on a 6" canvas but she made into the ghost into a card also, They were just too cute not to share.  I plan on getting some canvas-es (??) and making my own soon!

Holiday Catty Live Today!!

The Holiday Catalog goes live TODAY!!  You'll notice the layout is a little different than what you're used to....I like that the front of the catalog is like a magazine, and the back is the catalog.  Took me a few times to get used to this, but I love the inspiration that is in the magazine!!!




To view PDF, Click HERE
Download the Stampin’ Supplies List HERE 

The Holiday catalog is LIVE and available to order from!  If you have ordered from me in the past year, you should have received one in the mail.  They do get lost or thrown out by husbands so if you have not received yours, please email me with your name and mailing address so I can mail you one! 

See the catalog come to life!  See page 5 of Holiday catalog for details.  You can download the free app called LAYAR in your APP store  or Google Play.  When you see the red icon in the catalog, scan the catalog page and it unlocks a special video showing you more about that product!  (for me, I had to touch my screen when I saw a video come up then it played)   If you don’t have a mobile device, you can visit www.stampinup.com/showmehow

 I’m over the top excited for these new THINLITS card dies!  They’ve been called flip cards, flip flop cards, swing cards, and more-but they have always been a bit tricky to create. Not anymore! Our amazing new Thinlits Card Dies cut and score to create a card that flips in just one step. 2 sets to choose from, Label and Circle.  (Check out my previous blog posting about them HERE)

Here they are in action - 



 
 There is great coordinating stamp and measurements info on the flier.

With a new month, we have a new "BEST OF" stamp set.  For August, we have best of Halloween.  I don't know about you, but I love that spooky tree with the owl in it!!





I have started a hostess code for a Holiday Catalog OR a Thinlit Die order!  Anyone that orders between NOW and August 20 should use the HOSTESS CODE J9ZVVFJS.

Stampin' Up! is an amazing company to be associated with and this video brought tears to my eyes. It was my very favorite one from our recent Convention. It had a particular tug at my heart because I have a special needs grandaughter who has that extra chromosone.  Cassidy is the sweetest little girl and has so much love in her heart.  I wish I lived closer to her so I could help out in her school and "be the difference" in her life.

Please share with anyone who you think would be inspired by this. 

Be A Difference!

Guess I'm still in convention mode.  My Paper Pals Sketch card this week is our convention theme - Be The Difference. 

What does Be the Difference mean to you?  

Stampin' Up!'s mission statement, called its Statement of the Heart, reads: "To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference."  Through the Making a Difference program, Stampin' Up! partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2003. Each year, they design an exclusive stamp set to promote the partnership with RMHC, and donate a portion of the proceeds from the each sale of that set. We received the "Tag It" stamp set this year at convention and I will be sharing cards made with this set soon.  It is a great one and by purchasing it, YOU will be making a difference!!  One stamp set can make all the difference. When you purchase the Tag It Stamp Set, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The set is complete with decorative tag images for six different occasions AND the Tag It set coordinates with the Chalk Talk Framelits Dies.

Here is a wonderful video made by Stampin' Up on being and making a difference.  The lady at the very beginning is Susy Miller who received the Statement of the Heart award this year.  This wonderful inspirational lady now has ALS and is in a wheelchair unable to stamp anymore but she has made a difference in all our lives by being an inspiration.

In researching this topic, I came across some good ideas on being the difference.  I love these images and maybe I'll try to do the first one with MDS one day.

 

Are you ready to make a difference in someone's life?  Seize the day and make the most of every opportunity. Be proactive and make a difference today. You can help someone in need or volunteer your time for a worthy cause. Be an encouragement to someone who's in need of a friend. Give a hug to someone who's hurting. Use your imagination and make a difference today.

Here are a few quotes that would be great to use in a letter, a note or an email.  Use one of them today!

"One person can make a difference and every person should try."
--John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
--Winston Churchill
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
--Dr. Seuss
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
--Mahatma Ghandi
"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it."
--Earvin Magic Johnson
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
--Mother Teresa
I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
--William Penn
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
--Anne Frank
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring: all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
--Leo Buscaglia
"Often we set out to make a difference in the lives of others only to discover we have made a difference in our own."
--Ellie Braun-Haley
"It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference."
--Tom Brokaw
"It's not what happens to you...it's what you do about it that makes the difference."
--W. Mitchell
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
--Nelson Henderson
"Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light."
--Norman B. Rice
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
--Mother Teresa