Autumn Tiles

We're making these tiles for my November Card Buffet. The one on the left is stamped in Black Staz-On and colored with Sharpies. The one on the right is stamped in Stampin' Up craft inks and baked dry. They make great Thanksgiving hostess gifts!

Stamp Club Fun

Oh, I KNOW! It's gorgeous! I can say that because I basically copied it from my good friend Rhonda! :-) When my stamp club ladies saw her swap card, they just *insisted* that we make it. Since I love 'em, I gave them a technique card to go with it! The tree panel is popped up on dimensionals.

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Christmas Classics
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White, Old Olive
Accessories: Riding Hood Red 5/8 grosgrain, Designer Brads--Star Assortment, Stampamajig, dimensionals

Using Hodgepodge Hardware

I would like you to celebrate with me--I actually used my new Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware! Not the big tin, you understand. Yikes--don't go overboard! This frame is from the bulk hodgepodge order a few months ago. And of course, now I won't be able to give this adorable little pillowbox away, because it has hodgepodge on it! Are you frightened that you understand where I'm coming from? You probably should be.

This pillowbox is my version of Shelli's that she did for a Utah morning show! Isn't it cute? And thanks to my hoarding disorder, I had some thick acetate just sitting in my file cabinet, absolutely WAITING for this project! {I knew I'd need it someday. I've had it for about 10 years. LOL Inherited it from my Dad's endless office supply stash after he died. See? It's not my fault!} Don't use regular transparencies, by the way--too flimsy.

I know, I know, the Ski Slope red is Real Red, and I used Riding Hood Red grosgrain. So sue me. :-) I really wanted that stripe in there, and plain wide red grosgrain just wasn't cutting it. After I cut the acetate, I folded it on the score lines. This is kind of important, because the acetate isn't as flexible as cardstock. The curvy lines for the end folds are a little bit tricky. I used Sticky Strip to adhere the flap on the envelope.

I stamped the Merry Christmas in Riding Hood Red (let it go, already!) on Very Vanilla cardstock and layered it over the ribbon. I used the brads to attach the frame to the ribbon. This pillowbox is filled with Christmas peanut M&Ms. These make a great little project!

This picture shows my other sample--I used the gold cord to make it more of an ornament or a little purse. {Cute!} This one is filled with gourmet jelly beans! I kinda made it to see if I could get it to work, so it's just thrown together from stuff that was sitting out on my stamp table.



Stamps: Party Punch (hostess 2007, retired)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Ski Slope DSP, Christmas Treasures DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Big Shot, SU Pillowbox die, Designer Label Punch, 1 inch circle punch, Riding Hood Red 5/8" grosgrain, Gold cord, Vanilla HPH, Sticky Strip, glue dots

Swappers Anonymous Christmas

I love swapping with my SA sisters! Their cards and projects are top-notch, and they have all become dear friends.

I worried about this card, I tell ya. I fell in love with this set when I first saw it in the catalog at Convention! But then, when I had it in my hands, I couldn't figure out a layout. I thought about separating the smaller sentiment, but then couldn't do it. I thought about changing sets for the swap. LOL But I took it as a personal challenge to make this a card my SA sisters would love! And really, what is the secret ingredient????? You all know.

GLITTER! Red Chunky glitter to be exact. And I used almost the whole container on this swap. LOL

My beloved Big Shot came to my rescue. That Top Note die rocks! It was the perfect size! Do you think they planned that???? Anyway, I layered on some of the gorgeous Holiday Treasures DSP, which I think makes it look richer. The corners are punched with the Ticket Corner punch to make way for the gold brads. The striped Riding Hood Red grosgrain is accented with little twists of elastic gold cord (yay to have it back in the Mini Catalog!) to pull it all together. Merry Christmas, Swappers Anonymous Sisters!

Olive You

This simple card really took me a long time to create. Isn't that just the way it goes???? I couldn't get the focal image quite right. The table was littered with cast-offs and disasters. LOL I really wanted to use my new large oval punch, and I couldn't seem to get the look I was after. So I left it overnight. :-)

When I came back, the idea had apparently cooked long enough in my brain, because this is the result! I am really happy with it. We'll be making this at Card Buffet next month! You can't quite see it in the picture, but the scallops are all pierced in the center. If you wanted to make this card more masculine, you could just leave off the scallop-ing (is that a word???) and the felt flower. It wouldn't be NEARLY as cute, but it probably wouldn't offend the man in your life.

Stamps: A Little Birthday Cheer
Paper: Old Olive, Haiku DSP
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Large Oval Punch, Flower Fusion, Vintage Brads, Corner Rounder Punch, paper piercing tool, sponge

It's beginning to look a lot . . .

It can't really be time for Christmas yet! But it is! Time to get those "Grandma presents" ready! This is an album I copied from my dear friend Kathy. Isn't it cute? It's made from two business sized envelopes! And of course, any time I can use my Bind It All, I'm *very* happy! Each page is decorated, and each "pocket" has a tabbed insert, too! This would be so cute filled with holiday recipes or pics of cute offspring. :-) There are lots of yummy felt snow flurries scattered throughout this album, too! I just neglected to take a picture of one of those pages.



Paper: Ski Slope DSP, Baja Breeze, Real Red
Accessories: Chipboard, Bind It All, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain, Round Tab Punch, Snow Blossom Punch, Button Bouquet, Small Snow Flurries

The eensty, weensty spider climbed up the water spout

I am seriously arachnophobic. Panic attacks and everything. {sigh} But these guys didn't freak me out at all! I don't know who made them first, but they are *adorable*! This was my pre-payment incentive at Card Buffet this week.

Friendship Tree

I was a little concerned when I ordered this set, Season of Friendship. I thought maybe the tree was going to be hard to use. But it wasn't! I love it! This card came together very quickly! Can you see the Autumn Vine DSP peeking out from behind there??? I hated to hide so much of it--it's SO pretty! But that's the way the card wanted to be made. {laugh}

The birdie is popped up on a dimensional--which I think looks really nice. Originally, I tried to stamp it on the branch, but that didn't work out too well. That old hand-eye coordination thing, again! I decided I liked the dimension it gave to have the birdie sitting up a bit. Yeah, I MEANT to do it that way. LOL I am loving Baja Breeze with fall colors! Who knew???


Stamps: Season of Friendship
Paper: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Autumn Vine DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Really Rust
Accessories: Chocolate Chip button (I found it in an old SU button box, so I don't know exactly where it came from!), hemp, dimensionals, 3/4" circle punch

Brayered Markers

Isn't this a cool technique! I learned about it on Dawn's blog. This will be the technique I teach in November for my card buffet. And you may have noticed I am finally able to use my Antique Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, now that it's retired! {roll eyes}

Stamps: Country Blessings (retired)
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Glossy White
Ink: Black, More Mustard Marker, Really Rust Marker, Creamy Caramel Marker
Accessories: page protector, water spritz bottle, 1/4" black grosgrain ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware

Sarah, Sarah, storms are brewing in your eyes . . .

I bet you thought Homecoming was *last* week, didn't you! Well, it was last week at one high school and this week at another. LOL This is daughter #2 all dressed up for the dance! Pretty, pretty girl!



Here she is with her beau!



I have such wonderful girls! They are a great blessing to me and to all of our family.

The other day, I saw a bear

This is the 6x6 scrap page we made at stamp club. (It goes with the 3x6 card in the last post.) I LOVE that bear! He reminds me of my husband. LOL My club members had the option of making 2 3x6 cards, 2 6x6 pages, or one of each! We learned that trick at Convention--I think it was in Wendy Knowles' Demonstrator Theatre presentation. My customers seemed to really enjoy the options.

I stamped the honey-bear in Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossed him--it made him easier to cut out. The sleeping bags were stamped in classic ink.

Stamps: Under the Stars
Paper: Old Olive, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft and classic, Riding Hood Red classic, Tangerine Tango classic
Accessories: Tangerine Tango striped 5/8" grosgrain, Vintage brads, Dimensionals, Pina Colada Simply Scrappin Kit

So glad we're friends

We made this card for our club meeting the end of September. I love this size! And the DSP and the flowers are from the Pina Colada Simply Scrappin Kit that I won at Convention. Have I mentioned how much fun I had a Convention? Yes? Oh. :-) The stamp is from the Level 1 hostess set Best Yet.

Stamps: Best Yet
Paper: Old Olive 12x12, Riding Hood Red, Pina Colada DSP
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Pina Colada Simply Scrappin Kit

Turkey in the straw!

I totally copied this card from the Stampin Success magazine! Isn't he cute? I think he'd make a great place card for Thanksgiving Dinner, if you do that sort of thing. {smile} He's all made of punches!

Stamps: Holidays and Wishes
Paper: More Mustard, Whisper White, Patterns Pack DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: every punch I own! (not really, but there were a LOT), chocolate chip 5/8 grosgrain

If you knew Susie, like I know Susie . . .

This is my oldest daughter, Susie, in her Homecoming finery! Isn't she beautiful?


Here she is with her handsome escort. :-) Ooh la la!

Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes

This is one of my best online friends, Stella! We met on Splitcoaststampers, and became great friends! She found me at Convention, and I'm so glad! I was so overwhelmed with everything, I was grateful when friends found ME instead of me stalking them. {smile} Love you, Stella!

My little Frankie

I know EVERYONE has a version of this card. LOL I copied mine from Dawn. She's a sweetie! We're making Mr Frankie at Card Buffet this month!

I get by with a little help from my friends

I don't know why I never posted this--I found a whole file of Convention pictures I didn't remember! This is the beautiful table setting at the Splitcoast Dinner, held Wednesday night at Convention. From left to right, Lisa (Biffsbee), Paula (scrapshappen), Amanda (bluebearry), me, and Angie (Finger'sInkygirl). The other places did fill up later!

Before the dinner, a bunch of us did a swap for our Swappers Anonymous group. (It hasn't helped us stop swapping, in case you were wondering.) Lisa and I are wearing our Swappers Anonymous tags, made specially by Pammybaby!

I have never been a big fan of large group events, but Convention changed my mind! Hope to see you all again next year!