Goodbye, SAB!

The last SAB sample of the year! Tuesday, March 31, is your last chance to earn free SAB sets by placing a $50 order! I have to tell you, that paper and ribbon are awesome! And ya gotta love sets that fit your punches!

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Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Polka Dot Punches (SAB)
Paper: Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB)
Ink: Bashful Blue, So Saffron
Accessories: Fresh Favorites Buttons, Linen Thread, 5-Petal Punch, 5/8 Celery Grosgrain

Ohhhhh, my!

How can you not love that embossing folder????? It's the newest release from Stampin Up for the Big Shot. If you haven't ordered this Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions folder yet, you really should go do it NOW! Soooo gorgeous! And it doesn't get any simpler!

We made this card last week for my club. If you're interested in joining my clubs, just drop me an email. We have tons of fun!

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Stamps: Define Your Life
Paper: Perfect Plum
Ink: Perfect Plum
Accessories: Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Folder

A math project for the non-math person

I have a degree in English. I have not taken a math class since high school, which was a LONG time ago! Admittedly, it was trig and pre-calculus, but yuck.

So I shy away from projects that involve geometry. Math was ruined for me by a couple of bad teachers (one of which I had TWICE) in my early math years. So Mrs. Ripley and Mrs Bronson, here's mud in yer eye! I had always liked math before you two!

I actually figured out the measurements for this box ALL BY MYSELF! It's true. I was sick and not sleeping well. I woke up suddenly with inspiration that I could totally do this! LOL I had tried other box patterns that are out there, and I just didn't like them. The size was not working for what I had in mind.

Anyway, now that you know all the whys and wherefores of my math issues, you will have more appreciation for this project, right? What's that, I can't hear you???? Fine, here's the project.



In the center of the photo is the box top. I wanted a box that would hold 4 or 5 3x3 cards for a gift. Even a Mother's Day gift! It's not too early, you know. At least, that's what I've been telling my kids. {grin}

Yes, I actually used my Pretties Kit flowers! Can you believe it??? I know, what if I need them *later*! It's a little scary. Nevertheless, I felt this project needed the silk flower, so there it is! The 3x3 cards (which are rapidly becoming a favorite) are using the SAB papers. The one on the right uses one of those fabulous little embosslits--they are the cutest things ever!

This is a Card Buffet project for May, so if you're local, click over to the Card Buffet site and sign up! We'd love to have you!

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Stamps: Polka Dot Punches
Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Delicate Dots DSP
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Certainly Celery 5/8" Twill, Fresh Favorites Buttons, Cherry Blossom Embosslit

From the heart

I have to get these last projects with Sale-a-bration stuff in! LOL This card was inspired by my friend Stacy--you'll remember she has been the source of lots of my SAB projects! I love this print of DSP. It's very delicate, and of course, it matches the stamp perfectly! Love it when half the work is already done. And the fact that it revolves around So Saffron--my favorite color--just adds to the fun.

All materials from Stampin Up! Don't forget that you only have a week left to earn your free SAB benefits! Click on my Stampin Up website to order or join Stampin Up now!
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Stamps: Polka Dot Punches, Holidays and Wishes
Paper: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP
Ink: Bashful Blue
Accessories: Full Heart Punch, So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain, Soft Subtles Brads, Dimensionals

My First Recipe Swap

I had never done a recipe swap, or a 6x6 swap, either! So I was pretty nervous. Really nervous. Sooooo not a scrapper, here, you know? And to top it off, the swap was due while I was really sick with pneumonia earlier this month, so my head was not exactly functioning as well as I had hoped. "Think of it as a big square card," they told me. So, I did. LOL "They" are my Swappers Anonymous Sisters--we all hang out at the great new stamping forum Stampin Addicts! Come on over and set awhile! {grin} It's free to join, and then you can participate in all our great forums.

Oh, I'm supposed to be telling about the recipe swap, aren't I???? Ok, so the first real problem is deciding what recipe to use. I really don't cook much anymore. When my kids were all little, of course I did almost all the cooking. But the last few years, with 3 teenagers in the house, I've been making them do it. I've been SO successful, that my younger kids think I can't cook. I'm so proud.

Anyway, after much weeping and wailing and tearing out of hair, I settled on our famous chocolate chip cookie recipe. Now, here's where it gets a little funny. You remember how I was so sick, right? And we usually make a double batch of these cookies. 'Cause let me tell ya, 3 dozen little cookies just doesn't go very far for 8 people, especially if we {gasp} give some away! So when I prepared the recipe for my swap page, I had to "halve" all the measurements. {Again, a reminder of how sick I was. Just sayin.} I even asked one of my kids (who apparently was about as sick as I was) to double check, and I was assured I got everything right.

So in my fog of asthma, evil respiratory virus, and eventually pneumonia and strep, I proceeded to put all my 20 pages together. See all the cute scalloped edging? The paper piercing? The die-cutting with CORK? {yes, JanTink, I love *myself* too!}--it's my favorite part of the page. Well, after all of that was together, bagged up, and sitting ready to go to the post office, my antibiotic-fogged brain suggested in a very tiny voice "It would be a shame to mail all those with the wrong recipe on there." WHAT???? So I run, well, ok, shuffle to the kitchen to double check, and sure enough--I didn't "halve" the baking soda and salt measurements. Ohhhh, now THAT's gonna taste yummy! Cuss and swear words ensued. None of which are suited to your sweet little ears, or eyes, really, I guess.

It needed to be mailed. I couldn't mail it with a crappy recipe! Aaack! So I printed a bazillion (ok, 40 or so) little "1"s in Chocolate Chip colored printer ink, and *punched them out with my Cropadile!* Yes, yes I did. And then I *glued them over the 2s!* I KNOW!

And then I mailed them, and tried not to think about it anymore. LOL Because I have 3--yes 3--more swaps due soon. And I have to get busy screwing those up. So if you get one of these swaps, and it doesn't say 1 tsp each of baking soda and salt, please look for some teeny tiny "1" circles floating around. Or just draw over the "2s."

Thanks for looking!

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Paper: Kiwi Kiss Textured, Chocolate Chip Textured, So Saffron, Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, 3/4” Circle Punch, 5/16” Jumbo Brads, 1” Stitched Grosgrain Chocolate Chip, Cropadile, Apricot 1/4” Grosgrain, Old Olive 1/4” Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip 1/4” Grosgrain, Big Shot, Flower Layers Die, Dimensionals

Sale A Brate!

We're running out of time on Sale-a-bration! It's the Stampin Up promotion that gives you a free Sale-a-bration set for every $50 in merchandise you order between now and March 31! Click over to my Stampin Up Website to order now! You'll also receive a free catalog with any online order.

I totally copied this card from my friend Stacy. It was just so cute! You could change the greeting, and it would make a great Easter card, too.

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Stamps: Congratulations (SAB)
Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Delicate Dots DSP (SAB)
Ink: Certainly Celery
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Certainly Celery 5/8" Twill (SAB ribbon bundle), Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Happy St Patrick's Day!

My neighbor asked me if I had my potatoes and peas planted yet--St Patrick's Day is supposed to be the planting goal! Nope. Hopefully we'll get it done by the end of March, though.

Three of my daughters did Irish Dance for years, so this used to be a particularly busy time of year. Somehow I remember it being warmer than this, but that's probably just old age setting in. LOL We drove all over the valley, performing at schools, businesses, nursing homes, the state capitol. It was a BIG deal. Kinda glad those days are past, even though the kids were so cute!

Without further delay, my St Patrick's Day Pillowbox!



I made these to give out to my Card Buffet ladies last week, and they were a hit! This project uses the Big Shot Pillowbox die and the brand-spanking-new Scalloped Oval Punch (available for order April 1!). There is acetate behind the window, to keep the candy from falling out. 'Cause you don't want your candy falling all over the place! {wink} I used butter mints, but M&Ms would have been cute, too. Or chocolate covered almonds. Or mini-Snickers bars.

It must be time for lunch.

Meet Caramel

We've been looking for a puppy, and today turned out to be "golden!" Here's our sweet new puppy, Caramel, just a few minutes after she came home.



She's 13 weeks old and a real sweetie. Her mother is a Black Lab. The father is 'unknown.' LOL Any guesses???

She's already getting along well with all the other creatures here, especially the kid creatures! Caramel and Tip, our 7yo Border Collie, are happily sharing a dog house tonight.

With friends like this . . .

So between everybody here being sick, and this being my Card Buffet week, I'm waaaaay behind on my blog reading! Today, I found this tag from Britiney, who I *thought* was my friend! LOL

I had to get my daughter to snap a photo, I kept cutting off parts of my face--maybe I should have gone with one of those! And I find it awfully coincidental that Britiney just *happened* have a new haircut for her photo, don't you????




My hair is longer now, in case you didn't notice. LOL I'm not going to tag anybody, because I have few enough friends as it is! But if you would like to participate, consider yourself tagged!

The rules:
1. Take a picture of yourself right now. No primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.
2. Load it onto your blog.
3. Tag three people to play. Remember, if you're tagged on another blog, we will all be heading to yours to see if you played along.

My Fabulous Friends

Another Swappers Anonymous swap card! This one was for a new accessory in the Spring-Summer Catalog. There were so many great ones to choose from! My assignment was the Jumbo Brads. I really struggled with this one, I'll admit. I couldn't come up with something good enough! Then I decided to go with the FABULOUS Pink Flamingo DSP. Isn't it dramatic???/ It really gave the card some punch, and it defintely sets off that gorgeous white jumbo brad!

Check out the other swaps in the Stampin Addicts Gallery!

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Stamps: Really Retro
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Pink Flamingo DSP
Ink: Real Red Craft
Accessories: 5/8" Jumbo Brads, Eyelet Edge Punch, Clear EP, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 1/4" Grosgrain Real Red, Dimensionals

Thoughts and Prayers

This is my card for the Swappers Anonymous New Catalog Set swap! This is a great set--especially if you find yourself needing a sympathy card!



I had seen so many cards done with this beautiful set, and I wanted to send my Swap Sisters something a little bit different--a little *more*. And this is what I ended up with! I markered the tree with Old Olive and Chocolate Chip. It's hard to see in the photo, but there is glitter on some of the leaves.

The circle is cut with my beloved Big Shot, using the Scallop Circle die. I used the Cropadile to make the holes in the scallops. Then it just seemed to need a little "something," so I added some paper piercing. Sometimes I just don't know when to quit. LOL

There are several great sentiments in this set--I know it will get lots of use at my house! You can check out the rest of the swaps in the Stampin Addicts Gallery!

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Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive Classic, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle die, Cropadile, Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals

You've got a friend in me

Hey, I am still among the living! We've all had that nasty respiratory virus, and it managed to stick around and cause me some secondary infections. Yuck. On the way back to consciousness now, so I wanted to post.

First, I want to tell you about my new online hangout--Stampin Addicts! There's a link over in my sidebar, too. If you're looking for an upbeat, positive place to chat about stamping and Stampin Up, this is the place for you! We are building galleries, holding challenges, and having ALL kinds of fun! Please join us!



This is my card for Jami's new catalog swap. My assignment was to use the Retro Fresh color combination: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Pacific Blue.

I set a goal for myself to make a card work with ALL those colors! The Rose Red had me stumped, right up until the end. Thank goodness for buttons! And I had to figure out a way to get that awesome new glitter on there! When did I become a glitter-lover???? Dunno. But I am!

Hope you like it! Check out the other cards at Jami's blog.

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Stamps: Cheep Talk
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Fresh Favorites II Buttons, Linen Thread, Fine Supernova Glitter, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain, Dimensionals

Friendly Sketch Challenge

I am not normally a "challenge chaser." The pressure gets to me! LOL But the organizer for this one put me In Charge of a sketch challenge! How's that for sneaky! {Krista} Anyway, a group of friends worked on challenges this past weekend, and I wanted to share this one.

Here is a link to the sketch I chose.

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Stamps: Friendly Words Wheel, Stem Silhouettes
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Urban Garden DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze
Accessories: Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" Grosgrain, White 1/4" Grosgrain, Button Latte, Dimensionals