Love you more than polka dots

Today is this little guy's birthday. He is such a joy! We found out we were pregnant late in life, and his very existence is a miracle.

Of course, being two, he gets into his fair share of mischief. He loves my craft room (especially sharp scissors, sigh) and tries to spend as much time in there with me as he can. Here is his latest stamping mischief:

If you follow my Facebook business page, you've seen this picture. It was part of a "Tips" post on using Staz-On black ink to stain photopolymer stamps. It keeps them from staining pink or orange from red inks, and it also makes them easier to see. I like to leave the Staz-On black on the stamps overnight for cleaning, but really, it doesn't need to be that long.

So after I received my August Paper Pumpkin, I "stained" my stamps and left them to dry. The next day, I found a small clear block in my bedroom--the opposite end of the house from the stamp room. How odd, right? Then later that day when I went to stamp, I couldn't find my cute little single polka dot stamp *anywhere*. It was terrible! Poor little polka dot, lost and . . . then I realized that my darling baby boy had absconded with the block that had the little polka dot stamp on it! We looked all over, but it was not meant to be. Sniffle. Even a *black* polka dot is impossible to find once it leaves its block (and most likely the stamp room altogether).

So the lesson is, don't let your 2yo learn to open door knobs. No, wait. Ummm. I think the lesson is that 2yo boys are much more important than polka dot stamps. :-)

Weekly Deals September 16

	Sweetheart Punch Item # 133786 Regular Price: $15.95 Discounted Price: $11.96
	Wooden Elements Embellishments Item # 132258 Regular Price: $4.95 Discounted Price: $3.71
	Happy Hour Wood Stamp Set Item # 132013 Regular Price: $29.95 Discounted Price: $22.46
	Label Card Thinlits Die Item # 133479 Regular Price: $32.95 Discounted Price: $24.71
	Yippee-Skippee Wood Stamp Set Item # 131341 Regular Price: $18.95 Discounted Price: $14.21
	Gold 1/8" Ribbon Item # 134583 Regular Price: $4.95 Discounted Price: $3.71
	Tangerine Tango Baker'S Twine Item # 134578 Regular Price: $2.95 Discounted Price: $2.21
	Write Stuff Ii Digital Kit - Digital Download Item # 120881 Regular Price: $9.95 Discounted Price: $5.97

Bits and Pieces Background check

One thing I really love about photopolymer stamps is how easy it is to use a *lot* of them together. I had an idea that I should make a background of birthday stamps. After pulling out more (and more!) clear sets to find birthday elements, I came up with this one. Some of the hearts and stars were added afterward to fill in holes. My favorite thing on the background is the sentiment from Age Awareness: "You look way better at this age than I thought you would" hahahahahaha Perfect for "that friend" or your sister, right?

The flower elements are more leftovers sitting out on my desk, and are made with the Flower Patch set and the matching Flower Fair framelits. It had been awhile since I had found a flower set to love, maybe even a year. But Flower Patch is firmly in blue ribbon territory for my flower stamp category.

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Stamps: Flower Patch   Background sets: Designer Typeset, Calling All Heroes,  Endless Wishes, Endless Birthday Wishes, Countless Sayings 1, Bravo, And Many More
Papers: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Old Olive
Inks: Smoky Slate, Black, Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Flower Fair Framelits, PL Journaling Pens

What's your angle?

This card (CASED from Stampin' Up!) was our quick-and-easy card at Club in September. No layers--just simple stamping, but it still has a great feel to it. We used the triangle stamp from the photopolymer set Dotty Angles at an angle (of course!) across the top, then stamped it again to move the pattern lower on the card. The sentiment is from Fabulous Four, one of my favorite sets from the main catalog. We colored rhinestones with the Coastal Cabana Blendabilites, tied on some Coastal Cabana thick baker's twine, and the card was done! The fact that it was done in Boise State colors may or may not be coincidental.

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Stamps: Dotty Angles, Fabulous Four
Paper : Naturals White
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities
Accessories: Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine, Rhinestones, PL corner rounder

September Paper Pumpkin Reminder

Today is the last day to sign up for this month's Card Buffet! Click here for details. 

 

You know by now how much I love the new, improved Paper Pumpkin kits! Tomorrow, Wednesday Sept 10, is the deadline to sign up for September's kit AND the deadline for the half-price special! Just CLICK HERE to sign up and enter the code HALFOFF2 to get your Sept and Oct kits for half price. 

The kits are self-contained--all you need is scissors and sometimes a standard adhesive like a glue stick, liquid adhesive, or a tape runner. These make great gifts! They don't take up much room, have plenty of supplies to make the projects as designed or to customize, and at $10, how can you lose? 

Here are some of my favorite projects from the last few kits: 

Card Buffet--time is running out!

Tomorrow is the deadline to order your Card Buffet cards! Just message me on Facebook or contact me by text (208-twofivezero-6229) or email (cardbuffet@gmail.com) to place your order. I will send you a Paypal invoice within 2-3 hours, and your payment is your RSVP. :-)

Here are the cards one more time:


Mark your calendar now! Tuesday, Sept 16, 6:30 pm

Order your card kits by Tuesday, Sept 9, then come and make cards already cut and prepped for you! The cost is $10, which includes 4 cards (with envelopes). They can be any card or cards you choose from the pictures below. Additional cards are just $2 each.

Just send me an email with your card choices, and I'll send you a Paypal invoice.

Zig Zag Birthday.  This cheerful card is great for anyone! We all need birthday cards, right? Make one or make 10, it's up to you. It's a quick card to make, and I bet you can think of someone this card is perfect for.

Make a Wish Pennnts.  More cheery birthday greetings. I love having birthday cards on hand, and this one goes together easily.

Fine Feathers.  I have *many* different sentiments you can choose to personalize this card. It works for masculine or feminine, or even sympathy. Feathers are trendy right now, and you'll be glad to have a few of these on hand!

You're a Star.  Know someone who has done something great lately? This fun card will let them know what a star you think they are. Star punches, star embossing--this card is fun!

Banner Thank You. Lots of fun punch outs make this card a quick hit. You could use another large saying, if you'd like, or use it as is for a great "thanks."

Boo to You Halloween.  I know it's still summer, but we'll be at mid-September for the Card Buffet, and Halloween is just around the corner! Let Frankie help you send a fun greeting for every kid's favorite candy holiday.

Things to remember: 

RSVP/Payment Deadline:  Tuesday, Sept 9
Cost: $10,  which includes 4 cards with envelopes   
Additional cards $2 each
Card Buffet:  Tuesday, Sept 16, 6:30-8:30 pm


Just drop me an email at cardbuffet@gmail.com and let me know which cards you'd like to make, and how many. I'll send you a quick Paypal invoice, and you'll be all set. Let me know if you have any questions! 

Your payment by Sept 9 is your RSVP. I am not able to cut card kits without pre-payment or payment arrangements. Thanks!

Fall Florals, part 1

Click here to see the Autumn Card Buffet samples! Deadline Sept 9!

I love the new set Flower Patch, with the matching Flower Fair framelits! It may be a bit late in the year for spring flower cards, but it's not too late for some rich autumn colors.

This is a card from the September Stamp Club meeting last night. It was inspired by a card made by Margits Schatzruhe. We used more muted tones--Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar, and Chocolate Chip--to make a lovely birthday card! Flower Patch contains some AWESOME sayings, too! It's a photopolymer set, which means you can stamp layers without any hassle!

To get an even better deal, buy the bundle with the framelits! It's a 15% savings, and you'll never cut out another flower again. :-)

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Stamps: Flower Patch
Paper: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Baked Brown Sugar, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities
Accessories: Flower Fair Framelits, Tiny Triangles Embossing Folder, Brights Candy Dots, Pearls

Paper Pumpkin Love Note

Click here to see Autumn Card Buffet Projects!

Dear Paper Pumpkin, 

How do I love thee?

Let me count . . .

Just kidding. Got a little carried away after typing the title of today's post! This project is one of the mini-cards from the August Paper Pumpkin. So cute! I think it would make a great love note to stick in a lunch. 

To be honest, the last month has been a bit overwhelming, family- and creativity-wise. I haven't done anything "extra" with my August Paper Pumpkin kit yet, and really, I don't have to! What a relief! Everything is in the box, ready to go, with pictures and suggestions. No further inspiration needed. Maybe I will feel newly creative again soon, and then I will go back and use what's left in the box. :-) 

One week from today, September 10, is the cutoff date to receive the September Paper Pumpkin kit. I've seen a preview, and it's the cutest little burlap bags to decorate for fall! Sign up by September 10 and get Sept and Oct for half price! That's less than $10 a kit--a great value. You can cancel any time or continue to receive a fun crafty surprise every month. Why not send a kit to your child or grandchild who is going away to college? Click here to order and enter the code HALFOFF2 to receive your kits. Don't wait too long!