Mark your place

First, I apologize for not blogging much this week. Tuesday morning, my oldest daughter was in a car wreck. She's ok--some injuries to her hand, but nothing permanent. However, we have spent the rest of this week on the phone to insurance companies. :-) And of course stressing because my baby was in a wreck! And on her birthday! I normally do a "birthday post," and it just dawned on me today! I'll try to get to that.

And then, apparently there is trouble with my commenting function. Sorry about that! Please know that I appreciate you taking time to comment! I am playing with some settings to see if I can fix it, but since I'm not exactly sure of the cause, it may take me awhile.




So here's my blog offering: a card I did with my club in December. This was about my last use of this set--Organic Grace! This is a bookmark card--the right side with the flower is perforated, and can be removed for use as a bookmark.

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Stamps: Organic Grace, Upsy Daisy
Paper: SU Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Ski Slope DSP, SU Watercolor Paper
Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Blue, Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke
Accessories: SU Cutter Kit, Aquapainter

Haiku Quilt

These cards are really hot lately, have you noticed?? :-) And I'm such a "follower," I had to make one! I {♥} this idea!

For this one, I used my best-loved-but-retired Haiku paper. You punch out squares and adhere them to a piece of Whisper White cardstock 3 3/4 x 5, then run through the Big Shot with a Top Note Die. Ta da! It's a quilted Top Note! I added a bit of So Saffron 5/8 ribbon (available on Feb 1 for Sale-a-bration) and a little (retired) rub-on. These are some of my favorite colors, so this card really cheered me up!

And for those of you who have been following my weather inversion saga, we have BLUE SKIES today! The sun actually peeked through yesterday afternoon, and it is wonderful!

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Paper: Haiku DSP (retired), Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: So Saffron 5/8 Grosgrain (available Feb 1), Big Shot, Top Note Die, 1 1/4" square punch, last year's SAB rub-ons

The sun. We know it's there. (It is still there, right????)

We haven't seen the sun here since about 9 days ago. Our valley gets this weather pattern called "an inversion." Which means that warm air masses move over top of the colder air mass trapped down here on the valley floor. Cold, dirty air. I mean, who wouldn't want that????

So, here's another cheery little card to help me believe that sunnier days really are ahead! I used my Big Shot Flower Layers die to cut the large flower from orange felt. The center is a 5-petal flower punch from So Saffron cardstock. Added a little of my favorite Washington Apple Designer paper, and ta da! Sunshine in a card!

Hope your day is bright and sunny!

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Paper: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Washington Apple DSP

Accessories: Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain, Rich Regals Brads: So Saffron, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Rich Regal Buttons: So Saffron, Big Shot, Flower Layers Die, Glue Dots

Thanks a bunch . . .

I love this new hostess set! It makes easy cards, which makes it a keeper in my stamp room. The artwork is fresh and new, and it makes me feel like trying something different! (see REALLY different on my Rock Star card LOL). The top just seemed to need something, so I got out my Color Spritzer Tool and Chocolate Chip marker. Thanks for looking!


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Stamps: A Little Something (Level 2 Hostess)
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Bella Rose DSP
Ink: Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip (marker)
Accessories: Color Spritzer, Spiral Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain, Dimensionals

Bear Hugs

I really had my husband in mind when I designed this card. We always joke that he was raised by bears, because he was briefly lost in Yellowstone Park as a 2 yo.

And this bear just reminds me of him, too! LOL

Anyway, I love the set Under the Stars, and I wanted to make it a bit of a "love" card. The bear is popped up on dimensionals.

Give the bear in your life a big hug today!

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Stamps: Under the Stars, Love You Much
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, Washington Apple DSP (stripe), Summer Picnic (blue swiss dots)
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain, Scallop Circle Punch, Vintage Brads, Dimensionals

Love, love me do! You know I love you!

I love this Love You Much set! It has sooo many options. This is another February Card Buffet card--you'll be seeing a bunch of these until I get my new stuff. Then it will be party time!

That ribbon you see across the card??? It's DSP from the Candy Lane set. Aren't I tricksy???

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Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Candy Lane DSP
Ink: Ridinghood Red, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip (marker)
Accessories: Blender Pens, Dimensionals, Heart to Heart Punch

You're a Rock Star, Baby

Ok, I know what you're thinking. "Are we on the right blog???"

'Cause this is *really* different for me! That's what made it so fun! (And stressful, I admit it.) When I saw this stamp set (A Little Something, Level 3 Hostess, Spring/Summer 2009), I had this idea, and it wouldn't leave me alone! I just needed to work outside my comfort zone, I guess! It's good for this aging stamper to try something younger and cooler . . .

Anyway, this is my entry in the Swappers Anonymous Catalog Preview Swap! And those SA Sisters, well, they ROCK! So this card was a tribute, as well as good for me. :-) I used *all* kinds of hardware here, you might have noticed! It just kept asking for more! I couldn't help myself. And yes, there is black glitter all over the place. And did you know that there are only 10 whole flowers on 2 sheets of this pattern???? Yeah, who woulda thunk? So some people got slightly different--but equally cool--flowers on their cards.

And the ribbon?? Why that's just a little technique called fraying. I had to use my reading glasses to do it, but a true artist sacrifices, right???


Actually, I look really cute in them. For an old lady.

I am hoping my swaps arrive today (Wednesday), so I can see all the fabulous stuff my sisters sent me! Have a Rock Star Day!

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Stamps: A Little Something (hostess)
Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Black Craft
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Tombo Multi Glue, Chunky Glitter Essentials (black), Large Star Punch, Basic Black 1/4"Grosgrain, Clips Assortment, Metallic Eyelets, Rhinestone Brads Ice, Jumbo Eyelets--Pewter, Cropadile, Dimensionals

Give me something NEW!!!

I am so ready for new stuff! It's almost new catalog time--my box is due *soon*. Meanwhile, here is some stuff I pre-ordered. :-) Doesn't it just make you feel *warm* inside????

You know I love die cut stuff, and this is the new Sweet Stems Embosslit, available in the Spring Summer Catalog. The Embosslits cut and emboss AT THE SAME TIME! Who doesn't love a one-step wonder???? I made two flowers--one in Perfect Plum and one in Regal Rose. Then I mercilessly chopped up the Rose flower to make "buds" on the Plum one. :-) Gardening is all about the pruning . . .

Where did I get that fabulous paper, you ask??? Why IT'S NEW, TOO! The Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper is in the new catalog, along with lots of other yummy new stuff, but I don't want to bore you . . .

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Stamps: Hugs and Wishes
Paper: Kraft, Perfect Plum, Regal Rose, Raspberry Tart DSP
Ink: Perfect Plum Craft (sentiment) and Classic (for sponging)
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin Sponge, Dimensionals

Goodbye, Mr Crabby!

Another great set, gone with the retirement list! If you want it, get it soon! You can order from my website linked in the sidebar ------------->


This is a fun card that I think works great for a masculine or teenage boy card. I have a hard time figuring out how to make funny cards, so this one felt GOOD!

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Stamps: Crab & Company, A Little Birthday Cheer
Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Watercolor Paper, Not Quite Navy DSP from the Patterns Sampler Pack
Ink: Black, Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray
Accessories: Aquapainter, Word Window Punch

Wishing for spring!

Can you tell I'm trying to cheer myself up with these cards???? :-) I hate icy roads, although I love the snow on the ground and in the mountains! Real winter usually only lasts till the end of January here, so I'm hopeful that will be the case this year. Nothing cheers me up like the tips of those daffodils and crocus peeking up through the frozen mud!

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Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly
Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum DSP
Ink: Perfect Plum
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Silver Brads, White 5/8" Grosgrain, Slot Punch

What's old is new again

Just a quick card to show you a sample of the NEW texture plates coming from Stampin' Up! for our Big Shots! The sandwich is on your MPP.

A Fond Farewell

I'm always sad to see some hostess sets go. This one--Organic Grace--has become a standby for me the last several months. It just adds a little touch of elegance. This is another Card Buffet card for January. Now that I look at the photo, I wish I had turned that focal point dragonfly *just* a touch to the side. LOL Oh, well! Next time!

Stamps: Organic Grace, Best Yet
Paper: So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Washington Apple DSP
Ink: So Saffron, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, grosgrain ribbon

Urban Thank You

I bought this paper purely because I loved it, not with any particular project in mind. I just think it is so elegant! Because so much of the Designer Series Paper is retiring, I'm using *LOTS* of it on cards these days! This is such a simple card to make! And who doesn't need a few thank you cards on hand? We'll be making this card at Card Buffet this week.

Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Urban Garden DSP
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

Back to the old schedule

My family has had a wonderful holiday. Dh was on "forced vacation" because the whole company shuts down over Christmas. He managed tons of "honey-do's," setting up the Wii, moving furniture around, cleaning up some of the winter debris left when the snow melted.


The two oldest girls were not running to school and choir and play rehearsal. It almost felt like when they were little, and we spent our days reading and playing and singing and . . . But now it's over. Sad reality, in the form of schedules, homework, month-end close, ACT, play rehearsals, icy roads, and getting up early, has stolen our little family togetherness time. To tell the truth, I think the girls are glad to go back, other than that getting up early thing. :-)

This only affects *you* because I'll be back on a posting/creating/swapping schedule! Here's something I made to help me quit missing those important birthdays!





You can find the details on how to make one here on SCS. Now I just need to get cards in it, and put names on the dates!

Stamps: Eastern Blooms
Paper: Old Olive 12x12, Haiku DSP, Whisper White (for printed calendars)
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Bind It All, Old Olive 5/8 grosgrain

And a Happy New Year

I'm back! Sorry I took a little blogger break, there. It was nice to have some family time over Christmas. And after my Secret Elf posts came to an end, it was hard to keep the blogging spirit alive!



Here's a card we're doing next week at January's Card Buffet. I'm pretty sure I saw the layout on someone's blog, so if it's you, please tell me. I'd love to give you credit.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Absolutely Fabulous
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Multi glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Pink Taffeta Ribbon, 1 3/8" square punch