My Hawaii Vaca!

I'm having so much fun here that I forgot I had a blog!!  Thought I would share some pictures of my visit.  I arrived a week ago and Ashley greeted me at the airport with a beautiful plumeria (my fav flower) lei.  Only thing is we forgot to take a picture!  Since I arrived mid afternoon (which was actually about 9 pm NC time), we headed over to Ashley's empty condo.  She had closed on it the week before and had been sleeping on an air mattress for a couple of days.  I was at first surprised at how small it was (for the $$.)  But after being here a while, think it is a great size for her (if we can figure out where to put all her stuff!)  After catching up a bit, we headed to Kailua (the next town over) to eat dinner and I had my first mai tai!  The waitress told me they were so strong they would only serve me 3.  I told her not to worry - after flying for 12 hours and knowing I was sleeping on an air mattress that night, one would be fine!  After dinner, we walked across the street to the beach.  It was a beautiful sight!

 

When we got back to the condo, we saw our first rainbow of the trip.  The view above is taken from her lanai.

 

I actually ended up staying awake until about 8 or 9:00 (2-3 am for NC).  It was not a great night though!  Ashley had put air in the mattress earlier.  Well, when I was ready to go to bed, most of the air was gone and by the end of the night ALL the air was gone.  She had hardwood floors so we were basically sleeping on the hard floor!  Not good for these old bones!  Guess there was a leak somewhere.  Ashley really felt bad about it but it was a good thing I was super tired!  We were up really early the next morning waiting for the movers who didn't arrive until almost 1 pm!!  But what a beautiful view to awaken to (below).  Every morning the clouds sit in the mountains and you can watch them rise while sitting on the lanai having breakfast.  This is another view from the lanai with a coconut tree just outside and further to the right a plumeria tree.

 

Then the fun started!  These are the steps going down to her condo (on the left).  The movers were here until after 6 pm and I know they were glad when they were done!

We had the unpack the kitchen.  Of course all they did was put things on the counter.  Ashley had to work on Wednesday so I spent the whole day in the kitchen getting it in some kind of order.

We've made a lot of progress.  We have all the boxes unpacked and now need the movers to come get them out of our way.   I spent Saturday unpacking her craft supplies and setting up her "craft closet."

We went out yesterday and bought a desk for her so that is next on my "to do" list.  The hardest part is finding a new home for all the decorative items. 

But it hasn't been all work and no fun.  We went to the North Shore one day last week and have gone out to eat several times.  We took a trip one day last week to Costco and the PX which were closer to Waikiki.  Yesterday I went to work with Ashley since she only had a morning meeting.  Our plan was to either go on a hike to Diamond Head or snorkeling but the weather did not cooperate.  It was overcast and raining off and on all day and boy, was the humidity getting to me!  So we ended up going to Waikiki and eating lunch at a restaurant close to the beach and walking through the shops and on the boardwalk before going furniture shopping.

Well, I better get back to work!!  I'll post more pictures later!!

Painters Palette

Not to rub it in - but I am in Hawaii!!  

This is another card we made at Stamp Club last week.  It is such a simple card but I love it!

The stamp set is Painters Palette and can be found on page 119 of the Annual Catalog.  I love the little watercolor "swishes."  You can change up the colors of the "swooshes" and the DSP and totally change the look of the card.  The easel is stamped in Tip Top Taupe on the white card stock and then stamped a second time onto scrap white card stock.  The second one is cut out (just the square).  It coordinates with the Layering Squares Framelits but I don't have those (yet) and it is not that hard to cut out the square.  I used a post-it-note for the sides of the square when I stamped the "swishes" so they would not get onto the frame.  The DSP is from Blooms & Bliss (pg. 173) with the twine (retired) wrapped around twice and tied in a bow.

Flourishing Phrases

This is another Stamp Club card - one you hope you do not need but you know you will.  I love the combination of Daffodil and Basic Black.  I used the Flourishing Phrases thinlits and stamp set to make this card.  If you haven't looked at this bundle in the Annual Catalog, you need to check it out on page 49.  The stamp set is a really good one when you are looking for sentiments.  Not only does it have some really good sympathy ones, but also many others from "Just a Note" to "I love you."   And the thinlits are so pretty - you get leaves, flowers and borders.

I found that the Die Brush (page 190) really came in handy with getting all the little bits out of the dies.  I have not been a fan of the Die Brush and did not encourage my customers to purchase it but I am changing my tune now!  You can do a Google search and see some tutorials for using the Die Brush.  But basically, you just run your card stock with the die through your Big Shot and when you take it out, put it on a foam mat without removing the piece from the die.  Next  just run the Die Brush back and forth over the top of the die and most of the bits will come out and the die piece will come out of the die easier.  Try it - you'll like it!!

Pretty Kitty

I love this kitten stamp set.  It's been a long time since Stampin' Up has had a really cute dog and cat stamp set.  And this year, they have both in the catalog!  I love the images on both but decided to just get the cat set .... at least for now!!   It is called Pretty Kitty and you can find it on page 101 in the Annual Catalog just below the dog set, Bella & Friends.

This is a card we made in Stamp Club using 3 of the 5 kitty images from the set.  I let each person pick which image they wanted to use.  I used the Circle Framelits to die cut the circles on the Watermelon Wonder card stock and Shimmery White for the stamped images because I wanted to watercolor.  The Misti came in handy for this card.  You can position all 3 images and stamp at the same time.  The card base and the little hearts (from the Mini Treat Bag die) are Smoky Slate.  I used Smoky Slate and my Aqua Brush to watercolor the kittens and Cajun Craze for the flower pot.  The rest of the coloring was done with markers.  The top Watermelon layer is raised with dimensionals.  This is where the new Dimensional Strips come in handy!

This Wisteria Wonder card is basically the same as the one above except when I made it, I had not gotten the Circles thinlits so used made rectangle openings for the kittens.   I used the Swirly Bird stamp set for the circles and the little bows are from the Mini Treat Bag die.

Paper Pumpkin BOGO

It's a good time to try out Paper Pumpkin!!!

When you  use promo code “BOGO” at PaperPumpkin.com, you will pay the regular price of $19.95 USD/$26.95 CAD and get the second month for FREE!    If you subscribe with the promo code between now and September 10, you will pay full price for the September kit and get the October kit free. If you subscribe between September 11 and October 10, the first kit will be the October kit and you will get the November kit free.





 
 The Fine Print:

• IMPORTANT: Offer invalid if subscription is suspended or cancelled during the first two months. In other words, subscribers cannot cancel or suspend their subscription during their first two months—if they do, the offer is void.
• After the first two months, the subscription will continue for $19.95 USD/$26.95 CAD + tax per month (shipping included) unless cancelled or suspended. Ends October 10, 2016.
• This offer is open to first-time subscribers only.
• Not valid on prepaid subscriptions.
• Ends October 10, 2016 (the last day to subscribe and get the October kit).

Floral Affection

It's been crazy around here!!  I have been so busy getting all my stuff done for the Sept. Quarterly before I leave for vacation.  I've decorated & filled 38 boxes, made treat bags, special little gifts to go inside the bags (don't want to give away any secrets!!) plus getting my swaps made and getting the projects made for Stamp Club this week!  Add in a little "hubbie time" and watching the Olympics and this ole gal is worn out and ready for a Hawaiian vaca!!

Enough about all that ..... you're here to see some cards I bet!

I think this is my favorite card and so simple to do!  I learned this weaving technique years ago and had actually forgotten about it until I came across it recently on someone's blog.

 

The template is below.  You line the template up on the fold of your card - making sure you line it up so the straight line at the bottom is on the fold with the ends of the line at the top and bottom of your fold.  Then cut on the angled lines.  After that, you weave the triangles - folding down the longest lines and tucking the "V" into the next cut.  I will try and do a video when I return from Hawaii.

The only stamping on the card is sentiment at the bottom.  I used a stamp from one of my Paper Pumpkin kits.  Markers were used to color the embossed image (Floral Affection).  And for an added touch, I added a few pearls to the centers of the flowers.

The Versatile Swirly Bird

I am sorry I have been so lax in writing in this blog.  I have been super busy working on bags, boxes, goodies, etc. for the September Quarterly as well as my own swaps!  I have all my swaps finished except for the Holiday one which I can't do until I get my pre-order some time next week.  I've got another week to get my part done before I leave for Hawaii and leave the details in Marianne and Debbie's capable hands.

I have a few Swirly Bird cards to share with you today.  I got both of them in a swap last month.  The first one just goes to show you how versatile this set is!!  I just love the swirly snowman, don't you?!!

For this next one, it can be used for any occasion.  But couldn't you see this card done in red and black and be a Disney themed card??!!!  Love it!!

I made this next card using the pieces in the Swirly Bird set to make a sailboat!  I stamped the sails onto Vellum and used my bone folder to rub the back of the striped sail so it would puff out a bit.  Makes a great male birthday card!

I had a bit of a scare today.  Mom, Marianne and I went together 2 weeks ago to have our annual mammogram done.

I got a call on Monday that I needed to come back to the Imaging Center for another mammogram and to talk to the radiologist.  So I went back today.  For my second mammogram, they did a 3-D image.  I was told that a small spot had showed up and it was still there with the 3-D so they sent me to have an ultrasound.  The radiologist came in and looked at it and explained to me that all was ok.  But what was showing up is called duct ectasia where a milk duct has widened and perhaps has become clogged.  In the mammogram, the ducts could be crossing each other and causing a shadow which looks like a spot.  There is nothing to worry about - whew!  You can imagine what was going through my mind as I was laying on the table while they did the ultrasound!

July NC Demos Blog Hop

Welcome to the July NC Demos Blog Hop.  We hold this Blog Hop on the last Sunday of each month so mark your calendars so you don't miss it!!

This month our challenge was to use your favorite consumable product from the Annual Catalog (DSP, embellishments, ribbon, etc.)  I'm afraid I didn't read the directions very well and thought we were to use our favorite new dies - oops!

So my first card does use the White Perfect Accents (which is a consumable) - they aren't new but I like them! For this card, I water colored onto a piece of 3 3/4" x 5" Shimmery White card stock.  I love this card stock and as long as you don't soak your card stock with water, it is great for water coloring.  I used a mixture of Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Sugarplum and Crushed Curry, squeezing the ink into the lid of the ink pad and using my Aqua Brush to paint it on.  I die cut the Flourish Thinlit piece from Shimmery White and using the Fine Tip Glue Pin adhered it to the water colored piece.  Believe it or not, but this is the first time I have used the Flourish Thinlits and I have had it for at least a month!  This thinlet is just beautiful!!  The "Hope" thinlit is from one of my favorites from the Annual Catalog, Sunshine Wishes.  I cut one from a piece of water colored Shimmery paper and 2 more from a piece of the cardboard that comes in SU's DSP packets and glued them all together so it would be raised up a bit.

For my next card, I used a favorite consumable - the In Color Paper Stack (pg. 174).  First I embossed the white panel with the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder and adhered the DSP to the top and bottom which I then adhered to the Sweet Sugarplum card.  I punched 2 clouds out of Vellum using the Tree Builder Punch.  I stamped Happy Birthday (Sunshine Sayings) in Sugarplum ink and punched it out with the Duet Banner Punch before adhering it to the raised up arrow tag.  (Sorry but the ribbon I used is retired!)  I die cut "Shine On" from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits.  I die cut "sunshine" and cut off the "sun" and die cut "congratulations" but only using the "on" part!  It's hard to tell, but the clouds and "shine on" are both painted with the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush and are really sparkly.

I hope you have enjoyed my cards - even if I did not follow the directions closely!  Head on over to the next stop on our hop who is Frances Wagner .  If you get lost along the way, below is a list of all the blogs participating in our Blog Hop.

TAMRA DAVIS
JO ANNE HEWINS 
TRACIE EVANS LANGLEY 
SHARON MARANICH (you are here)

FRANCES WAGNER

 

Sunshine!

Hope you had a good - and cool - weekend.  It has really been hot here - too hot for us to even want to go out on the lake.  Since Sonny has been playing golf 2-3 times a week, I think he is getting his share of the heat and doesn't want to go out in the heat on the weekend!  That's ok with me as I have a lot to do trying to get my swaps done along with other things made for the NC Quarterly my team will be hosting in September.  We ended up running errands on Saturday - WalMart, Total Wine, the Peach Stand (yum!) and to Fox & Hound for lunch/dinner.  That night we tried to watch a DVD from NetFlix but it kept messing up so we gave up.  We have been trying to watch the series, Homeland through Netflix DVDs.  I signed up for a free month last month but it has not been good!  We had already watched Season 1 which we owned and ordered the next disc from Netflix but it was so damaged, we had to return it and get another one.  Saturday we were trying to watch Disc #2 and the same thing - so damaged it is being returned!  I called today to see if they will extend our free month.  They won't but they are going to send us the next 2 DVDs in my queue.  Let's hope they will be ok.

This is another card we made last week in Stamp Club.  I love this bundle.  It has great sentiments that are included with the flowers and hearts stamps.  I pretty much CASEd this card from Brian King.  I would never have thought about putting yellow and pink together but love it! The Fine Tip Glue Pin really comes in handy with this card!

Supplies:

l  Stamps:   Sunshine Sayings

l  Ink:  black

l  Cardstock:   Flirty Flamingo, Black, Daffodil Delight

l  Accessories:   Sunshine Wishes Thinlits,

Measurements: 

l  card base:  5 ½” x 4 ¼ ”, scored and  folded at 4 ¼”

black layer 4” x 5 ¼”  /  Daffodil layer:  3 3/4” x 5”

Flirty Flamingo – ¾” x 3 ¾” / Black:  ½” x 3 ¾”

Instructions:

·        Die cut “sunshine” from black paper

·        Die cut flowers  one from black & one from Flamingo

·        Stamp sentiment on Flamingo strip.

·        Assemble card as shown.

Stamp Club for July

We had fun this week at Stamp Club and made some great cards.  I received this orange and yellow card during the NC Round Robin and loved it so much so I figured my club members would love it too.  I made another one using Flirty Flamingo and Sweet Sugarplum.


If you want to recreate these cards, here are my directions:

Supplies:

l  Stamps:   Swirly Bird

l  Ink:   for Peach:  Peekaboo Peach, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush

For Sugarplum:  Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo

l  Cardstock:  White,  your choice – Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry OR Peekaboo Peach and, Ribbon

Measurements: 

l  card base:  5 ½” x 4 ¼ ”, scored and  folded at 4 ¼”

next layer:  4 7/8” x 3 5/8”  /  white layer:  4 ¾” x 3 3/8”

Instructions:

·          Stamp solid circles on white cardstock first (using Peekaboo Peach and Daffodil OR Flamingo and Sugarplum)

·        Stamp swirls on top of circles (Tangerine and Curry OR Razzleberry and Melon)

·        Stamp smaller swirls

·        Stamp leaves in Cucumber Crush

·        Tie ribbon around white layer.

·        Adhere layers and rhinestones.