A Card for Andrea

I only have a few family cards to make during the month of November. One of those celebrations is my sister-in-law Andrea's birthday. I never had a sister growing up, but now I do!! I'm not sure which card I am going to give her yet. This is the first card I made.

Andrea loves all the warm tones, so I naturally went to the Earth Elements palette. The base card is Creamy Caramel. The focal image is stamped with the Bud Basics stamp set on Very Vanilla cardstock. I used Ruby Red (stamped off...sometimes once...sometimes twice), More Mustard and Old Olive. I overstamped with my Canvas background stamp in Creamy Caramel ink. I sponged with Close to Cocoa ink (my absolute favorite ink to sponge with). I colored in the center of the flowers with my Stardust Gelly Roll pen for some sparkle. I punched the corners with my Ticket Corner punch and matted it on Ruby Red. I placed two More Mustard brads in the top two corners of the Ruby Red mat.

The band across the card is stamped with my new Wonderful Favorites stamp set. I loved this stamp set when I first saw it. I admit the price prevented me from buying it right away, but there really is no other stamp set like it. Where can I get a stamp set that covers all the bases for any kind of person you need to make a card for. That's what made me purchase this stamp set.....and I am SO glad I did!!! Anyway, back to the card. The band is made out of More Mustard cardstock. I used my fingernail to distress the edges of the card. I then sponged it with Close to Cocoa. I used my retired 1/4" chocolate grosgrain ribbon to tie two knots.

So, what do you think? I still want to make a few more cards and pick the best out of the lot.

Happy Stamping everyone!!

Two Challenges - One Card

I am totally avoiding cleaning my son's shower. How do I do that? I play the Splitcoast challenges. This card encompasses two of this week's challenge....the technique challenge (make a horizontal pocket card) and the color challenge (Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi and Ruby Red).

This card was not an easy one. Heck, I'm not even sure I really like it. The insert is too small for a picture, but I guess you could put a wallet sized picture tucked behind the focal image. HEY!!! I have a great idea......honey, are you reading this blog. That little insert is the PERFECT size for a key to that brand new Honda Pilot I've been hinting at for the past 6 months. Yes, that is a great idea if I do say so myself. I knew there had to be a reason for making such a small insert card (besides the fact that anything larger looked completely ridiculous).

Here are the "deets" on the card my husband is going to give me with the key to my brand new Dark Cherry colored Honda Pilot (I'm on a caffeine high....just let me dream for a minute, ok?).

The base card is Soft Sky. I didn't have any patterned paper with Ruby Red so I had the brilliant idea (NOT!!!) of making my own with a strip of cardstock and doodling with my white gel pen. The focal image is stamped in Wild Wasabi on Whisper White cardstock. I used my circle punches (1/2" and 3/4") to highlight the snowflake in "joy". I added some Ruby Red brads for the centers of the three flowers. I used two silver brads to keep the horizontal pocket in place. The little card (you know, the one that will hold the key) is made with Wild Wasabi cardstock. The corners are rounded, and I made the little pull tabs with both the circle punches mentioned above.

I just wanted to show you the project that Dennis has been working on for the past week or so. He is tiling the backsplash of our kitchen. He has all the tile up, but we still need to grout this weekend. I LOVE how it turned out. The backsplash is Turkish tumbled tile with a decorative placed every once in a while.

I will show a pic of the whole kitchen once the grouting is done.

Happy Stamping everyone!!

My Challenge: Play With Those Retired Sets

Good morning stampers!! I am taking charge today and giving each of you a challenge. Pull out a retired stamp set and play with it. Show it that it still holds a special place in your heart. This is actually the first time that I am playing with SU's retired Button Bear. I actually just purchased him at a Used Stamp Sale I went to recently. He is an old SU set that is mounted on foam rather than wood blocks.

This card is for my DD. She was on her class trip to Washington D.C., and I wanted to make her something to tell her how much we missed her. She loves her Build-a-Bears so this just seemed like a natural choice for her.

The bear is stamped in Timber Brown StazOn on watercolor paper. I used my aquapainter and reinkers to color him in. The colors used are: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Pixie Pink. He is sponged with some Close to Cocoa ink, and I added some linework with my Close to Cocoa marker.

I am so loving the Tres Chic background stamp. It's just what this card needed. The basecard is Chocolate Chip with the Pretty in Pink layer (stamped with the Tres Chic in Close to Cocoa). The corners are punched with the Ticket Corner punch (how did I ever make a card in the past without this little baby?) and sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.

The 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain and a vanilla button add the finishing touches to this card.

Amanda loved her card......she was happier to be home in her own bed!!! We're just happy to have her home with us!!!

So, please consider taking my challenge. Dust off a retired stamp set and make a beauty of your very own.......

Happy Stamping everyone!

Vintage Sunflowers

Due to the Thanksgiving holidays, I am moving my Technique Class to earlier in the month. This class will be offered in two sessions this Friday: 1:00pm and 7:00pm. The techniques being taught this month are Cracked Glass and Poppin' Pastels. During the class, we make reminder cards so you can recreate the same results at home. Finally, at the end of the class, we will make this card.

Isn't it elegant? I just love how it came out....even better than I envisioned. The sunflower focal image is created using the Poppin' Pastels technique. I then used the Cracked Glass technique to make it look old and worn.

If you live near the Twin Cities area, you are more than welcome to attend my class. Just email me (link can be found a little under my picture) if you want more information!!!

It's gonna be a cold one here in MN today. The high is only going to be 38........can we all say "BBBBBbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". It actually snowed yesterday for the first time......nothing stuck, but it was still snowing!!!!

I have another gorgeous card all ready for tomorrow.....until then.......

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Isn't this SO Cute?

My LSS had a used stamp sale a few weeks ago. I actually went in to pick up the Changito stamps that I had ordered, but I couldn't resist a bargain. So, I started checking out some of the stamps on the table. I found this adorable reindeer stamp and knew he HAD to be mine (especially since he only cost $3.00). All I know is that he is made by Great Impressions....there is no year of production on it.

I pulled out my watercolor paper and got to work. He is colored with my aquapainter and reinkers. Rudolph is colored with both Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa. I added some Pretty in Pink to blush his cheeks and color his ears. The sparkly nose is courtesy of my Stickles. The snowball is colored with Bashful Blue and Brocade Blue. I used another Stickles for the added glitz. He is mounted on a scallop circle that I made with my Corner Rounder punch

The basecard is Ballet Blue stamped with the new Let it Snow wheel from the Holiday Mini (using my Ballet Blue jumbo cartridge). I sponged with my Whisper White craft pad to soften the card up a bit. I added a Bashful Blue layer stamped with the Canvas BG stamp (using Bashful Blue ink and sponging with Ballet Blue ink). I added a double layer of ribbon.....5/8" real red grosgrain and white taffeta. I also tied some 1/4" real red ribbon inside the card and laying against the fold.

I think he came out adorable.....like I said, I couldn't resist that amount of cuteness for that cheap of a price!!!!

I have a GORGEOUS card ready to show you tomorrow.....it's for my Technique class on Friday!!! Until then.....

Happy Stamping everyone!!

My New Venture

I am proud to announce that I will be offering some of my classes as a "Stamp By Mail" offering for those of you who love my projects but live too far away to attend here at my stamping studio in MN.

My first "Stamps by Mail" class is this "Countdown to Christmas" calendar. I will be offering different class kit options:

Option #1 - Kit includes: Punched cookie tin, pre-cut patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon. Accessories include: 3 build-a-brads, roll of Sticky Strip, chipboard and magnets. Please note that stamp sets used (Season of Joy, Letterpress Alphabet and Quirky numbers) are NOT included in price of kit. If you do not own these stamp sets (especially Quirky numbers as it is a retired set), I can add the non-retired stamp sets to your order for an additional cost or you can use any stamp sets that you currently own and are about the same size. Full instructions will be included with all kits. Price for Option #1 kit is $25.00 plus shipping.

Option #2 - Kit includes: Punched cookie tin, pre-cut patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon. Accessories include: 3 build-a-brads, roll of Sticky Strip, chipboard and magnets. For this option I will stamp and sponge all the pieces for you. You will need to assemble the countdown calendar yourself. Full instructions will be included with all kits. Price for Option #2 kit is $30.00 plus shipping.

On November 15th, Option #3 will be made available to you. For the price of $35.00 plus shipping, a fully assembled Countdown to Christmas calendar will be available for purchase. Please do not send any inquiries about Option #3 until November 15th. I will re-post this option on November 15th.

Here are some details about the "Countdown to Christmas" calendar..........

dimensions: 12" x 19"

the numbers are embossed in beautiful white embossing powder

how it works: you place the "ornament" over the current day in the month of December. It is all held with magnets so it is strong and gorgeous at the same time!!!

There are also three magnetized build-a-brads stamped and glittered. They can be placed anywhere on the Countdown Calendar. I just placed them here for some visual interest.

Please note that kits need to be pre-ordered. In order to comply with Stampin' Up!'s "no cash & carry" policy, I will place my order for your supplies with Stampin' Up! after your pre-order is placed. Therefore, you should receive your package from me about 2 weeks after placing your pre-order. Thanks for your understanding!!!

If you are interested in purchasing my "Countdown to Christmas" stamping kits, please send me an email. You can find a link under my picture........

Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Our Halloween Costumes

Well, aren't we the devilish couple? Dennis went as Hellvis......notice how he HAD to pose with the Elvis snarl!!! The original plan was for me to go as an angel. I then went through the costume bin and found DD's old devil girl wig. I HAD AN IDEA!!! I went as an angel who couldn't make up her mind if she wanted to be good or bad.

So, this is how we answered the door.....with strobe lights, fog machines, spooky music, hanging plastic rats, spiders and cob webs. Yes, we are the Halloween freaks of the neighborhood. We are also the favorite house on the block (the kids tell us that....I'm not making it up)!!!


Anyway, I just wanted to show you what we looked like.

I hope everyone had a GREAT Halloween!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!!!