Darling Donkeys + Easy Fun Fold

 Just a couple more days for Sale-a-Bration.  Make sure you have your order and your FREE items and are checked out by Sunday!  I love the Flower & Field Designer Paper that is in the Sale-a-Bration catalog (pg 10).  If you love it too, use my Hostess Code  and order it by Sunday, Feb. 28!

I made this fun fold using the Darling Donkeys which are also Sale-a-Bration items.  I love the florals and the more classic patterns on the flip side.  This is a great pack of paper to mix and match.  Don't you love the floral and the polka dots on this card?!

Here's how to make this card:

 1. Cut a 4" x 12 piece of DSP(designer series paper).   I chose to cut the DSP a little smaller than normal so I could get 3 card bases from one sheet of DSP.

2. Score at 3-1/4" and 8-3/4".  Make a pencil mark at 2" along the 4" side.  Make a diagonal cut from the 2" pencil mark to the edge of the fold.  Repeat on the other side and the other end.

3.  Fold on the score lines.  Apply a little adhesive to one of the points.  Fold and secure over the other end.  The point will overlap and lay flat.    I decorated the front of my card using one of the donkey's from Darling Donkeys that I colored with SU Blender pens.  He is mounted on one of the circles from Layered Circles.  

4. The inner card pieces measure 4" x a smidge less than 5-1/2" (Just Jade), 3-3/4" x 5-1/4"(Bumblebee) and 3-5/8" x 5-1/8" (Whisper White).  

I wish I had a wobble to put under the donkey to make him move.  I recently saw on Pinterest how to make your own wobble with thin wire.  Maybe tomorrow!!

Sending Hearts (Paper Pumpkin cards)

 So, who's getting a special heartfelt card?  This cute little panda is!  The panda is from an old Sale-a-Bration set.  But there are so many other images you could add to this mailbox like the kitty from Pretty Kitty, a weiner dog from the Hot Dog set, a donkey from the Darlin' Donkey set and even the cute little snail that is included in this Paper Pumpkin kit.

This card is an easy fun fold.  Trim 1 1/2" off the front of the card.  Score a 7"x 4" piece of cardstock at 3 1/2" and attach that to the inside of the base card.

Like this:

Corner Bouquet

A quick share with you before I'm off and running!  I had a dentist appointment this morning at 10; time for a quick lunch at home before I'm off to Mooresville for a 2:30 doctor's appointment and a 3:30 PT appointment!  Most I've had to do in a long time!!

I wanted to share with you these cards I made with the Corner Bouquet stamp set.  It is a Sale-a-Bration set that I was able to get for FREE for a $50 order.

This card uses the Emboss Resist technique.  I stamped the bouquet in two corners of the white cardstock with VersaMark Ink.  (Don't forget to rub the embossing buddy over the card first.)  Sprinkle the bouquet with white Embossing Powder & use your heat gun to melt the powder.  I used a piece of masking tape from corner to corner to mask the white area.  Put the tape on your pants to get some of the sticky off & it won't tear your card stock when removing it.  Using the Blender Brushes (pg 70 of the Mini Catalog - a set if 3 for $12) blend ink  in both corners and over the bouquet.  I used Mint Macaron, Balmy Blue and Highland Heather.  When you are finished blending inks, remove the tape and stamp your sentiment.  Also, use a soft rag, kleenex, paper towel, etc. to wipe excess ink off the bouquet.

For this card, again stamp and emboss the bouquet - but this time onto the black card stock.  Use blender pens to color the image.  I used a piece of retired DSP across the back of the card and framed the image with a piece of Melon Mambo.

This pretty card uses the Stitched Sweetly dies (Coastal Cabana) and Stitched Rectangles (white.)  The Field and Flower DSP is a FREE Sale-a-Bration item.  I colored the bouquet with markers.

 Which one is your favorite???

How to Make a Beveled Edge

 I am so excited that I've been able to spend several hours in my craft room this past weekend without my back screaming STOP!  I think I am at the point where I can cut my physical therapy down to once a week and pretty soon to nothing!  I just need to continue doing my exercises (which I am not good about.)  Last week I only had PT once (on Tuesday.)  I had an appointment to go on Friday but when I woke up, I had vertigo.  Sonny says he is going to dig a hole in the backyard & throw me in it!!  I have not had vertigo in quite some time.  I know when it hits me, I am out for the count.  I pretty much laid on the couch all day ...  Until late afternoon when we drove to Statesville for some delicious fried chicken!  Between the chicken & a motion sickness pill that I took, I was on the road to recovery!  Now to make the nerve in the crown of my head go away!!  Growing old is NOT for the meek and mild!

Here is one of the cards I made this weekend.  

The hearts and flowers that are stamped on the white piece are from the Sending Hearts Paper Pumpkin.  I used the retired Pink Pirouette for the ribbon and card stock.  The sentiment is from a great stamp set in the Jan - June 2021 Mini Catalog.  (You can find a link to the catalog on the left hand column of this blog.)  It is called Many Messages.  It is a big single stamp that has lots of greetings on it.  There is a matching die that cuts out all the greetings at one time.  What a time saver!  

I learned a new trick this weekend too.  After die cutting the pink card stock, leave it in the die.  Use your stylus to make a crease all along the edges.  In this case, I die cut the piece with the Stitched Rectangles.

The end result is a small beveled edge all the way around.  Use dimensionals to adhere it down.  Give it a try!

I also want to remind you that there is just another week left of Sale-a-Bration!

This year, the promotion is running for 2 months (down from 3 months in recent years.)  If you were planning on ordering to earn some FREE Sale-a-Bration items, you have until February 28, 2021 to do so.

 For every $50 order, your earn one FREE Sale-a-Bration item.  There is no limit to how many items you redeem ($100 order, earn TWO items, $150 order, earn THREE Items and so on.)

Sign up for Paper Pumpkin - March is a great one!

Three cheers for mountain air, a sky filled with sunshine, and finding joy in life’s journey! Adventure awaits inside this month’s majestic, mountain-themed Paper Pumpkin kit. With enough elements and embellishments to create eight cards and coordinating envelopes, the Here’s to You Paper Pumpkin Kit is the perfect pick for celebrating life’s little moments and mountain-high milestones!  Order your Paper Pumpkin by March 10!

What makes March’s kit one-of-a-kind? The spectacular set of four free stencils—and a stamping sponge—that you’ll find inside (plus the embellishments, cards and stamp included in the kit!) Pair this pack of stunning stencils with the kit’s contents to stamp a springtime scene, then store the set to stamp for any season in the future. Clean up your binoculars and dust off your hiking boots—the Here’s to You Paper Pumpkin Kit is ready to lead you on an excursion to explore your creativity!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 It's almost Valentine's Day!!  The Paper Pumpkin kit for January was all about hearts so I've made a bunch of Valentines and a few anniversary cards for the future.

These slimline cards seem to be all the rage now.  You can make them different sizes.  The Traditional Slimline is 8 1/2" x 9" and scored at 4 1/4" on the 8 1/2" side.  This one that I made (above) is 6 1/2" x 7" and scored at 3 1/2" & it fits in a business size envelope.  Here are a few other slimline card dimensions:

Mini Slimline - 2 3/4" x 11"; scored at 5 1/2"  You can also make an envelope for it - 6 1/2" x 6 3/4"; scored at 1 5/8" and 4 5/8" on the 6 1/2" side.  Then, turn 90 degrees & score @ 5/8" & 6 /1/4".

Short Slimline - 3" x 6"; scored at 3"

Basic Slimline - 7" x 8"; scored at 4" for a 4" x 8" card

Extra Slim Slimline - 6" x 9" & scored at 3" (on the 6" side)

Well just disregard that I glued the white piece wrong so the hearts are  upside down!

This is one of the samples that was made with the kit's directions as is the next card.

I just love this little snail!

Enjoy!

Birthday Chick

I just want you to know that there are 2 Chick Bundles.  One is the stamp set that was offered in 2017 as a Sale-a-Bration stamp. The other bundle is the Birthday Chick.  The dies are different on each bundle.

I am headed into Physical therapy now & will edit this post later this afternoon.

Afternoon - continued!

OK - yes, I said I was going to PT!  I fell in mid December.  I was cleaning out a closet and had a bunch of stuff on the floor.  Of course, I tripped over the stuff and fell into the closet on my right side.   A few days before that happened, I was having sharp pains in my right shoulder blade.  I can't blame the fall since it was after the shoulder pain but I am sure it elevated the pain.  I have been in a lot of pain since December.  It feels like a screw is in my shoulder blade and someone is twisting it.  Of course, this all happened the week before we were driving to Ashley's for Christmas.  Before we drove to Ashley's, I did a video call with the PA at my doctor's office (twice that week!) and she subscribed hydrocodine and muscle relaxers.  I don't usually like to take that stuff but I went through the full bottle of hydrocodine in a month.  I finally went to my doctor in early January who referred me to an orthopedic doctor who then referred me to physical therapy.  This is my third week of PT, going twice a week.  It's really strange now though.  The pain comes and goes.  I can have several days of nothing but then it comes back with a vengeance (like yesterday and today!)  Hopefully, another week or two of PT and I'll see some results.  I hope so because it is also hampering me making cards.  I make one or two and then I have to find my heating pad.  Heat has been the only thing that seems to help.

OK - here is the pictures of the Chick Bundles.

This is the stamp that was offered to us in 2017.  There are dies in this set that will cut out each of the chicks (and egg).  The code for this bundle is 158627 / $44.00.

This is the newest Chick stamp set - Hey Birthday Chick - with the dies that match this set.  The code for this bundle is 158631 / $43.00.

These items are only available for a limited time.  I don't know how long they will be available, but if you want them, you should order them now!  I believe there are some items in this offer that are already on backorder but that doesn't mean you can't get them.  You'll just have to wait a bit!

Paper Pumpkin Sale-a-Bration Perks

 Just to give you a little chart explaining about Paper Pumpkin during Sale-a-Bration if you are interested.

Hey Chick - More Organization

Did you get inspired by my last post and start organizing your stamp room?!!  I'm still on a roll but going to take a break.  I went through all my Paper Pumpkin stamps, labeled them and put them in the Avery pockets before filing them in the various categories I have all my other stamps in.  They look pretty good and only take up 2 shelves.  

I put all the dies in the matching stamp pocket and filed them.  There were several dies that stand alone so I put them on this board I bought at Ikea several years ago.  I bought adhesive backed magnet sheets (Michaels) and put my dies on it.  I had about 4 more that didn't fit so I have them in their own box.

I even labeled my embossing folders and they are all together in a box with the smaller ones in the front.

So now I am ready to make some cards!  I am hoping to use my January Paper Pumpkin kit when it finally arrives!  According to the tracking info, it is supposed to be delivered this afternoon.  It's only about 2 weeks late!  Our postal system sucks!  

Here are a few cards I have made using the December kit.

These 2 cards were made using the Scalloped Tag Punch.

These are birthday cards I made.  My sister, Angela's, birthday was last Monday.  Her special day was taking mom to get her second COVID vaccine.  They only had to wait 2 hours .... a lot different from when I took mom for her first vaccine and we waited for over 5 hours!

This card was made from the November Paper Pumpkin kit!  I love the pink and mint together!

I will be putting an order in very soon so if you want to add your order to mine, you can save on shipping/handling.  Just use my hostess code while ordering on-line and your order will be shipped directly to you. - hostess code: EX3QVFQM   This is a good time to order Paper Pumpkin too - while Sale-a-Bration is going on (until end of Feb.)  You don't have to order it for the whole year.  There are prices for 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year available.

There is a new stamp set and bundle that is now available for purchase - starting today - that you may want to add to your order.    

Does the Hey Chick stamp set look familiar? Maybe you earned this one for free, back in 2017. And now it is back (for a limited time) by popular demand! If you missed out the first time around, add this one to your shopping cart while you can.

But it gets even better! This time, Stampin’ Up! is offering an exclusive set of dies to go with your chicken stamps. The new dies, called Chick Dies, cover more than just the outline images of the chicks.

Maybe the Hey Birthday Chick stamp set caught your eye in the new January-June Mini Catalog.  If you were a fan of the original Hey Chick Stamp Set, you had to have noticed this new one right away!   

Those funky chickens are back, in all the stamping glory we can handle. And they want to (birthday) party with us! Seriously, who doesn’t want to celebrate with chickens?

And just like the new Chick Dies for the Hey Chick Stamp Set, there is an exclusive and limited die set to go with the Hey Birthday Chick Stamp Set, called Birthday Chick dies.

Organization is the Bomb!!

Pick yourself up off the floor .... I'm writing on my blog!  I have not made a card in about a month!!  Instead I have been trying to get my craft room organized!  I have made pretty good progress.  I took all my stamp sets out of the plastic boxes and put them in Avery Elle Stamp & Die Storage Pockets.  So far, I have emptied out close to 200 boxes!  I am not sure what I am going to do with all those boxes though!  I know some of them will be useful to put sequins, pearls, etc in.  I made dividers to categorize the stamps & used my Brothers P Label maker to label all the stamps, dies and dividers.  For storing my stamps, I bought an InterDesign Fridge Split Binz from Amazon.  It holds almost 150 stamps without the dies but I put the dies and the stamp set together inside the Avery pockets to make them easier to find.  I already had most of the stamp sets listed in Evernote (a free organizer app) so it was just a matter of putting each stamp set into one of the categories.  My next thing is to label and organize my Paper Pumpkin stamps so I will use them more.  I haven't tackled my wood stamps yet.  I am going to take a good look at them and see if I really need them.  They have been sitting in my attic room for a few years so I'm guessing I really won't miss most of them!  But it is not hard to take them off the wood blocks - if they don't peel off easily, stick them in the microwave for about 20 seconds and they should come off.

One bin full!  There are 100 stamp sets in this one container!!

Just a few of the empty boxes.  I have the rest in the attic room to figure out what to do with them.

These are stamp sets that I labeled "Greetings"  Not sure if I'll break that category up in sub-categories.

These are all the stamps that I have done so far - just missing wood sets & Paper Pumpkin.  They take up 2 shelves .... before all my stamps were on 5 shelves!

This is the second container with still a lot of room available.

I bought these plastic file folders at WalMart.  50 in a pack but when you cut them apart, you get 100!

I cut the folders apart and rounded the corners.  I used the Brother P-touch for labels on dividers and stamps - so easy!

This is the back of the stamp set pocket.  I buy magnetic vent covers at Lowe's Hardware  (8" x 15") and cut them apart to stick my dies on.

This is the front of the stamp set pocket with the label at the top.  

My thanks goes to Jennifer McGuire who has some great organizer tips plus some great cards that she makes.

Let me know what you think!!