A whale of a card

My friends have been trying to convince me to try this card, but it looked too complicated to me! It's not, though! Go make one NOW! LOL

We made this card at Club last night, and it was really fun! I love that it fits in a standard envelope. Here are the instructions I gave my Club members:

1. Cut cardstock to 5 ½ x 12.
2. Score at 2, 4, 8, and 10 inches.
3. Turn, and cut at 1½ inches in from each edge, from the 2 inch score mark to the 10 inch score mark.
4. Fold on score lines as in sample.

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Stamps: Animal Stories, A Little Birthday Cheer
Paper: Chocolate Chip 12x12, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP, Tall Tales DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic and Craft
Accessories: Clear EP, Apricot 1/4" grosgrain, 1 3/4" circle punch

Thoughts of Trees

I really love this set, Thoughts and Prayers! The tree is one of my favorites, and this set has just about every sympathy/thinking of you sentiment you'd ever need!

Blogging could get a little sparse this time of year--I'm busy stamping, but it's all for Convention swaps! Two weeks left! Only one organized swap left to complete, but a few little giftable things are in the making, as well!

Tomorrow is club night! Get to know your catalog, because there will be a prize for the stamper who answers the new catalog questions the fastest!

Just ducky

I think my ducks are my favorite animals we have here on the mini-mini farm. They make me laugh! They have such an enjoyment of life--especially life with water. We flood irrigate every 10 days, and they have SUCH fun with it!

The brown duck on the far right is a Khaki Campbell duck. They are great egg layers! And yes, we eat duck eggs. LOL They are slightly richer than chicken eggs, generally, but you'd never know the difference unless someone told you. Fresh eggs taste so much different from store-bought eggs! Yummy!

The white and brown ducks are Fawn Runner ducks. They are my special favorites! They are known for looking like a champagne bottle on legs! The gray ducks are Blue Swedish. They are the largest of our ducks. This is the first time we've tried that particular breed, but they are very sweet natured.

Punch Art Matchboxes

These adorable punch art animals are all the rage! I've collected ideas and inspiration from all over the internet, and I'm sorry to say I can't remember which I got from where!

Anytime you add googlie eyes to a project, you've got a winner, in my experience! Add a little treat inside the matchbox, and these make great party favors!

Saffron and Apricot

This color combination is inspired by the now-retired Walk in the Park DSP, which I never actually bought. Another July Card Buffet for your stamping entertainment! The flowers on the branch are colored with Apricot Appeal, as the So Saffron just wasn't bright enough. I love this layout, and I want to use it again!

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Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers, Three for You (retired)
Paper: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Gray, Always Artichoke marker, Apricot Appeal marker
Accessories: White Organza ribbon, stampin sponge, dimensionals

Whatcha got in your purse???

Who remembers Let's Make a Deal with Monte Hall??? LOL

These purses are MUCH more stylish, and smaller! This is a gate-fold card we made last week at Card Buffet. We used the Round Tab Punch on DSP scraps and made the cutest purses ever!

What's the funniest thing you've ever had in your purse???

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Stamps: Really Retro
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, various DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Crimper, Silver Brads, Real Red 1/4" grosgrain, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain, More Mustard 1/4" grosgrain, dimensionals

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow

I first saw a birdie card like this on one of the funniest blogs on the internet--Understand Blue.

We made the bluebird version this week at Card Buffet. Lots of punches involved in this card, but honestly, it's easy!

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Paper: Pacific Point (retired), Summer Sun, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point (retired), White Gel Pen
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle #1, 5-petal flower punch, Dbl Slot Punch, Mustard 1/4" grosgrain, 1" circle, 3/4" circle, Boho Blossoms punch, Sticky Strip

Faux Alligator Purse

Isn't this the cutest purse??? Faux Alligator Technique was originated by Jackie Topa. I think the first one to do the purse was Gretchen Barron.

Anyway, this is my version! I used 2 partial Top Notes (for the front and back of the purse) and 1 full Top Note (scored in the middle) for the "flap." A Box #2 die cut forms the inside of the purse. The handle is attached through a jumbo eyelet, and the flap closes with a clear velcro dot.

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Paper: Chocolate Chip
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Clear EP, Big Shot, Top Note die, Box #2 die, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain, Jumbo Eyelet, Cropadile, Sticky Strip, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons