Wednesday, April 15, 2020

March Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

I've almost finished with the March Paper Pumpkin.  I think I have enough scraps for 3 more cards.  Then what??!  I have a new stamp set I haven't used so I'll be making cards with Ride With Me next.  Stay tuned.

This is the first card I've made with the door stamp.  I used the SU Blends to color the door.  This would be a great stamp to send to someone who is moving into a new home.  (I'll have to remember that!)

This is a notecard that came with the Paper Pumpkin and I used Under My Umbrella for the umbrella and flowers.

I love these meerkats peeking out of the boots.  And how about the frog down in the corner - did you miss him?  

This is my favorite I think.  I found that border (?) in the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set.  I used Dapper Denim for this card which is a retired in-color but I had the ribbon to match plus the retired "crackle" paper that I stamped the boots onto.  Don't you love the sentiment?  Great for these crazy times.

I know one thing - I need to stop baking during this panademic!  The scales are starting to be mean to me.  Sonny is getting used to having sweets every night with his tea plus I'm eating my share of the cakes, cookies and pies I've been making.  I'm trying to make them a little healthy by using applesauce in place of oil in the cakes and Splenda instead of sugar in cookies.  Sonny finished off the chocolate cake on Monday and was looking for his next treat yesterday.  I ended up making an apple tart but did it in two days.  He was looking for it last night but I'd only made the dough so he had to eat one of his Little Debbie cakes!  I finished making the tart this morning.  The instructions said to eat it immediately!  So I had a bite!  It was fairly easy to make.  I made a crust and put in my fluted tart pan that I've had for probably 5 years and never used!  I peeled and cored 4 apples and used my food processor to get them really thin.  The apples went in on top of the crust and I baked it at 400 for 40 minutes.  When I took it out of the oven, I drizzled caramel sauce on top .... yum!


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

I want to let you know that the CLEARANCE RACK has been UPDATED!!  Check it out.  Items tend to sell out so if you see something you like, you'd better order.

Clearance Rack Updated


You can add Clearance Rack items to the Ornate Garden Suite items you like from below!!  Kill 2 birds with one stone!






I have heard nothing but good things about the early release of the Ornate Garden Suite.  I haven't purchased it yet but my upline sold me on it when we were chatting last week so it is now on my next order!

If you want to get any or all of this suite, you can order on-line using my Hostess Code #64DUBG2H.

Check out the video!






Monday, April 13, 2020

Final Easter Cards



I hope your Easter was a joyous one and you didn't let this craziness keep you from believing in His message.   Our Easter was really quiet.  I watched our Easter church service on line, did a lot of reading and playing on-line games; I made a card or two; and figured out how to get my camera on my computer to work so I can participate in Zoom meetings.  It's funny - a month ago I had never heard of the Zoom app and now, everyone is using it.  I "attend" my Weight Watcher meetings via Zoom.  I made cards with a group of ladies on-line last week.  And Sonny, Ashley and I played Music Trivia with an on-line group.  Sonny and I were at our house, Ashley was at her Maryland house and all the other people who were playing were at their houses wherever they live so a lot of social distancing was going on!  Our friend who conducts the trivia games we attend at King Canary is now hosing this on-line Music Trivia on Zoom and Saturday and Wednesdays!

Here are a few more Easter card that I made and sent out.



This card can be made into any kind of sentiment, not just Easter.  I used a Sale-a-bration set for this card, Thoughtful Blooms.  I crinkled the ribbon up with my heat gun.

Love this card!  All retired stamps - Kinda Eclectic and Easter Message

Another Easter Message card, this time using the Easter Lily stamp.

Cute little lamb!


Friday, April 10, 2020

Happy Easter

What were you doing a month ago?  Whatever it was, doesn't it seem in some ways like a million years ago!  Because now here we are, one month into this COVID-19 quarantine.  It's been four weeks of social distancing and self-isolation.  Four weeks of disturbing and scary news.  Four weeks of trying to navigate a whole new world of working from home and remote learning for our kids AND a shortage of toilet paper at the grocery store.  Four weeks of fear and uncertainty.  Four weeks of a crisis unlike anything we've ever experienced in our lifetimes.

But that's exactly why it's so important for the sake of your sanity and mental well-being to take a step back every once in a while and just do a little self check-in.  How are you holding up?  Are you about to lose your mind or starting to find your groove?  Are you being productive or struggling?  The reality is that because this is something none of us have ever experienced, there's also no way to know exactly how to respond.  There's no rule book and no way to predict how it's all going to play out.

But, you have a choice!  You can sit there in fear, anxiety, stress and worry.  You can obsessively check the news.  And then, when it all becomes too much to think about, you can tune-out, where you stay in your pj's all day and start binge watching TV.  OR you can  take a different path and choose to focus on the things that you can actually control.  You can choose to make the most of this crazy time.

I'd love to hear some specific things you're doing to keep yourself busy and productive during this time.  What are you working on?  What's keeping you sane?  Hit "comment" below and let me know!  As you know, what's keeping me sane and busy is being creative.  I've made quite a few cards and actually mailed a lot of them.  Sonny says all the stamps I'm using are costing him money!  (I don't say anything about how much he's spending on the golf course every day!)

Enjoy your Easter!

Here are a few Easter cards I have made (and mailed!)

I used the 6x6 Gingham DSP (retired) and one of last year's Sale-a-bration stamp sets, Lovely Lattice.  I used the Highland Heather Blends to color the flowers. 

Everything about this card is retired!   I went to my stash of non-SU designer paper and found this piece that I thought went well with the card.  The flowers and sentiment are from  Easter Message.  The die cut flowers on the side are from the Botanical Builder dies and the cardstock is an In-Color from last year, Berry Burst.

Another beautiful (but retired) card!  The stamp set is Oh So Eclectic and matching dies, Eclectic.

Aren't these bunnies cute?  I made several cards with this stamp.  It is really old (thus, retired) and was s single stamp that we could purchase way back in 2013  for $6.95!  Back then, we didn't have dies so I fussy cut the bunnies.  (Plus, it is a wooden stamp which tells you how old it is!)

Another beautiful card using Easter Message.  I stamped the cross in Versamark and heat embossed it with Gold powder.  I used a white pen to color in the cloak.  It is layered onto gold paper and then onto non-SU designer paper.  This is one of my favorite cards and I made several of them


Thursday, April 9, 2020

Let's Hang Out Soon!

Another day ... another card!  I hope you are all safe and remaining at home as much as you can.  I keep saying this will pass.  We just need to follow directions and normalcy will return!  I know we miss the social interaction, but e-mail, Facebook and phone calls will have to do.  Hopefully, you are able to get out and walk around your neighborhood (with you mask on!) and enjoying the spring weather.

I've been so busy making Easter cards that I haven't even finished my favorite Paper Pumpkin.  That is on today's to do list!  I also have to make a cake.  I've been cooking (and eating) way too much during this craziness.  I bought a chocolate cake mix at the store on Tuesday and Sonny asked me last night when I was going to make it.  It's only been 2 days!!  So I promised I'd make it today while he was playing golf.  

Here's a card I made with Ashley's Rise and Shine stamp set before I mailed it on to her.  It makes me think of my friend who always has a cup of tea on her table.  Margaret - this one's for you!  Hopefully, we'll all be "hanging out soon."




The fold is called a Cascade Fun Fold.  If you google it on Pinterest or YouTube, you can see a video on how to make this fun fold.

I used a 3" square envelope and cut the flap off to make a little pocket for the tea bag.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Don't Worry!

http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/2017/peanuts1.jpg

Well, our anniversary celebration was sure different this year!  I had an on-line workshop with Weight Watchers at noon .... and I lost a pound although I don't know how!  After that, Sonny and I went to BJ's (spent over $100!).  Our next stop was lunch at the Chick Filet drive in which we took to Aldi's and ate it in their parking lot.  We were looking for milk, bread and clorox.  Aldi's didn't have my bread or the clorox but they did have grapes for 25 cents a pound so I stocked up on them.   So we added a stop at Big Lots and found clorox AND toilet paper!!  We have not bought any TP since the craziness happened since we are usually buy TP in quantity at BJ's so we picked up a pack.  What an exciting day!  On the way back home, we picked up a pizza to eat for our anniversary dinner.  When we ate the pizza, we both remarked that it just didn't taste as good as normal.  Well, this morning I found the ticket they included with the pizza and they had marked in capital letter NO CHEESE!  Who eats a pizza without CHEESE?!!  Now, I know why it didn't taste right.  Luckily, I have mozzarella at home so when we eat the rest of the pizza, I'll be adding the cheese!

Well so much for that interesting monologue!  Tonight (Wednesday) I am going to attend a virtual stamp class from another Stampin' Up demonstrator.  It is open to the public so if you are interested in this FREE class, e-mail Melissa Stout at melissa@thestampdoc.com at least 30 minutes before the class starts (8 pm EST).  

We will be making 10 quick cards that you'll be able to create in the comfort of your own home. Gather the items listed below--they don't have to be from the same suite, just grab whatever you have on hand.
 
WHEN:  Wednesday, April 8th at 8pm ET
WHERE:  Your House

To sign up for this class, you can RSVP on her Facebook event or email her at melissa@thestampdoc.com


If you'd like to follow along with what she is creating, get this stuff:
  • 2 sheets DSP (from same pack)
  • 7 sheets coordinating card stock; at least 1 needs to be Whisper White or Very Vanilla
  • Stamp set with greetings
  • Ink pad
  • punch for greetings
  • spool of ribbon

She will be doing this as a private event on Zoom. You will need to download the Zoom app (FREE) before the meeting on either your laptop, tablet, or smart phone.

A link for the meeting and a password will be sent to all participants by email approximately 30 minutes before we begin.


Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Happy Anniversary to me!

I have lost count of the number of days we have been in lock down mode without a change in sight.  Hope you are stocked up on your toilet paper and paper towels!! 

I have been making Easter cards like crazy.  After this week, I don't want to see another bunny!!

Here are a couple I have made.

This is a really old Stampin' Up stamp set but it is so cute.  I don't even remember the name of it and think it was offered as a single stamp.


I made this one for my grandson - hope he doesn't think it's too juvenile!  This was from a Paper Pumpkin kit that we got in March 2017!  If I hadn't just done all my organizing, I would not have remembered about these stamps!

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Tomorrow is our anniversary.  Wonder what take-out we can find to celebrate with!!  47 years tomorrow!  Hard to believe.  Here is the card I made for tomorrow.

This was and old Paper Pumpkin kit

Too bad I can't stamp straight!  Oh well, he won't notice it.
I love the sentiments though.  The top one is from Dandelion Wishes and the bottom one is from Well Said.

Friday, April 3, 2020

Organize with Evernote!

I'm pretty proud of myself!  I have entered all my stamps - retired, current and paper pumpkin and my dies - into the Evernote program (free!)  I even entered the new stamp set I received on Monday!  Now to keep up and keep them organized!

These are my retired stamps!  It's funny - while I was entering them into Evernote, I reacquainted myself some of the oldies but goodies and pulled 3 or 4 out to make cards with.

These are my dies / thinlits.  I have to admit I have a few more of them that I haven't entered yet.  That's tomorrows job.  I had them in a basket but they outgrew their basket so I moved them to this plastic tub.

These are my current stamps!  My retired definitely outnumber the current.  And in another couple of months, I will be moving some of these over to the retired side.  Actually there are 3 or 4 Sale-a-Bration sets in this group that should actually be retired since Sale-a-Bration is over.

These are my Paper Pumpkin stamps.  I have them inside the clear envelopes that Stampin' Up sells.  On the side is a paper list of all the stamps so I can quickly look at it to see what I am looking for.  They are organized in the envelopes with the date and month and title of the stamp sets.

Here are a few cards I made from an old Paper Pumpkin kit from December 2016.  It was meant to be a journal and came with a Rotary Stamp instead of photopolymer stamps.  It included patterned paper and printed window sheets.  I didn't need a journal or scrapbook so made them into cards.






Thursday, April 2, 2020

for the Well Dressed Man!

I have been collecting stuff to send to Ashley.  I had several stamp sets that she had put on one of my recent orders that she was patiently waiting for.  So, yesterday I made a few cards with her stamps and then packed everything up and sent Sonny to UPS to get it all to her.  I used one of the Sale-a-Bration stamp sets that I didn't get (wishing I had now!)  I thought the cards I made turned out super.  I'm always needing masculine cards and this set did the trick.  It was in the second release of the Sale-a-Bration stamps and is called Well Dressed.

This card reminds me of my grandaddy.  He always wore a hat like this over his bald head.   I remember one time shortly after we got married that we went with my family to Myrtle Beach.  Grandaddy had property in Hallsboro, NC which is about an hour's drive from the beach.  Sonny and I drove him to Hallsboro to check on his property in our car which was a convertible.  Well for some reason Grandaddy didn't bring his hat and his head got sunburned!  He ended up tying a bandanna around his head to protect it!  He looked so funny.
The DSP on this card is from the Country Club suite.  I used my Stamparatus to evenly space out the hats.  I stamped the hats onto the Whisper White.  Then I stamped them onto the DSP and heat embossed them with black powder.  I glued them on top of the hats on the white cardstock.

I am trying to use up some of my In Colors who will be retired the end of May.  This one is Call Me Clover which I think I only used at Christmas.  It pairs nicely with the Crushed Curry though.  It features a fun fold.  I cut the Clover cardstock 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4".  I used the Subtles embossing folder for the front flap.  The Crushed Curry piece measures 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" and scored at 1/2"; cut the Whisper White measuring at 4 " x  5 1/4".    Attach the Crushed Curry piece to the back of the Whisper White piece making a flap.  This will be adhered to the inside of the card. The vellum circle is punched at 2".   I stamped the umbrellas with Call Me Clover - stamping one at full strength and the other one stamped off.

Inside of the Well Dressed card.

This is definitely a bright card!  Again I used the out-going In Colors - Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, Blueberry Bushel and Red which is not an In Color.  I hardly used the Pineapple Punch at all.  It is definitely a BRIGHT yellow!  The Stamparatus again came in handy for this card.

Recipe for the card:  Card base is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4", then trim  the folded card to 4 1/8" wide. 
Cut 1" strips of green, blue, and red and tape them together on the back and cut out with the largest Stitched Rectangle Die.
Whisper White front panel is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" & cut out with the Stitched Rectangle Die.  


This will be perfect for my golfing addicted hubby!!  I love this DSP.  This is a very simple card.  I used Night of Navy, Crumb Cake and Real Red and cut the banners with the Banner Punch.

 I hope these cards give you some inspiration.

Stay safe!

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

April Paper Pumpkin - All About Family

HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

You know how much I love the Paper Pumpkin kits.  I'm not fooling you on that!  I know some don't like the fact that you don't know what the kit looks like in advance.  But, I like the surprise of opening the box and "oohing and aahing" over what's inside!  The March kit knocked it out of the park I thought.  So, I am anxiously awaiting to see what April has for us.   So this much I know about the April kit - It will be a fun, family appreciation themed card kit for you to share your hearts with those you love most:  mom, dad, daughter, son, sister and brother.  The kit will include Mother's Day and Father's Day sentiments.  The Paper Pumpkin team knows that everyone's clan is unique.  With that in mind, they provided sentiments that would include anyone in your life who feels like family; for instance, "brothers" and "sisters" who have helped you along the journey of life.  The kit contains supplies for 8 cards and envelopes.  I always have bits and pieces left over to make several alternative cards.  The coordinating colors in the kit are:  Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, Pear Pizzazz, Shaded Spruce and Soft Sea Foam.

You need to subscribe by April 11 to receive the April Kit.  You can subscribe HERE.