Sunday, February 27

AWESOME WORKSHOP WITH MICHELLE ZINDORF!!

Michelle Zindorf, aka the BRAYER LADY came to Spring Texas to teach her brayer workshops and I GOT TO ATTEND!!  Wow can she make it look so easy, but it is NOT!!  Me and the ladies on each side of me had some good laughs as we tried and tried to do it like she taught us...first, our finger hurt from pushing the brayer too hard, then we got so much ink on the scratch pad that none of it went onto the cardstock.  Finally, we started getting something that looked similar to what she was teaching us.  It felt so rewarding after trying so very hard!!

After 3 hrs it really started feeling comfortable and the last card we made was absolutely fabulous!!  Oh my, I want to move to the place that this sunset and these palm trees are located.  I can just imagine myself sitting in a comfortable lounge chair on the beach, in the shade, with the waves slowly lapping against the shoreline as the sun sinks into the ocean with a sizzle and the whole sky lights up in oranges, yellows and rust colors.  AHHHHH...PARADISE.  Can you hear the water sounds yet?

Closeup of the palm trees hanging over the water.
I absolutely enjoyed my time in Michelle's workshop and recommend to anyone who wants to take their stamping/cardmaking to the NEXT LEVEL to watch for her workshops in YOUR AREA and sign up quickly before they fill up.  You will be glad you did!

Inky fingers to all and happy crafting!

Wednesday, February 23

A BLOG HOP ENTRY AND A CHALLENGE

I ENTERED THE BLOG HOP FOR ANYTHING OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG RELATED as well as the SUO SALE-A-BRATION CHALLENGE  Here is my entry:




Monday, February 21

Monday evening HAPPY DANCE---

I AM DOING THE HAPPY DANCE - WHY YOU ASK?  BECAUSE I GOT A STAMPIN UP BOX BY THE DELIVERY MAN THIS AFTERNOON.  WOO HOO!!  LOVE THAT MAN IN THE BROWN TRUCK!!

I got some FUN and AWESOME things in this order.  I got some of the BEAUTIFUL FABRIC that goes with the SEW SUITE group of coordinating items.  AND

I got the CROP-A-DILE.  I have been wanting this for oh, so long and now I have it!!  I am going to punch holes until I am happy and tired!!  then I will fill those holes up with eyelets of all sizes and shapes!!  LOOK OUT!! 

AND I got quite a bit of CARD STOCK in several colors I have used up and needed for my supplies, AND

Because it is SALE-A-BRATION, I got THREE FREE SETS with my $150.00 order.  I got ELIZABETH from the a-la-carte stamps in the big catalog, PLUS

I got the HOMEMADE a-la-carte stamp from the big catalog PLUS

I got the ALWAYS ELEGANT stamp set for my THIRD FREE SET.  I LOVE FREE, DON'T YOU??!!

For my FREE HOSTESS SET, I chose A SLICE OF LIFE stamp set.  It is a set of 6 stamps to cover several occasions like new born baby, birthday, anniversary, friends, love, and just because.  LOVE IT

For my FREE MONEY TO SPEND ON ITEMS, I chose the DESIGNER FABRIC BRADS to match my sewing theme, PLUS

the BIG DESIGNER BUTTONS SWEET STITCHES, PLUS
several stamp pads I "NEEDED" to match all these awesome colors in the matching sets.

I am happy, happy, happy and feel joy, joy, joy..... Like ren and stimpy used to sing.

I will back in a day or two to show you some of the new things I will make with my NEW ITEMS, as well as have a BLOG CANDY GIVE AWAY.

Until next time, happy stamping...

Sunday, February 20

HAPPY SUNDAY Y'ALL

Happy Sunday to everyone.  It feels like spring here in Texas today.  The birds are active all around looking for nesting sites and seeking bugs for food.  I LOVE springtime in Texas. In this hot, humid Houston area of Texas, spring and fall are the only 2 seasons we can actually enjoy outdoor activities.  The other times it is too humid, too hot, too buggy, etc. to spend much time outside at all.

My card today is one made with a base of daffodil delight CARD STOCK. I used the TOP NOTE DIE for my Big Shot to cute melon mambo card stock.  Then I used my SQUARE PUNCH to cut out the quilt squares of the ICE CREAM PARLOR designer paper & Quick Accents Pack which is FREE, along with BITTY BUTTONS in daffodil, melon and turquoise which are also FREE and come with coordinating ribbon.  Yes, they are part of the SALE-A-BRATION FREE ITEMS which you can receive by placing a minimum of $50 order with me on my SU website.  I also used the DAFFODIL DELIGHT POM POM TRIM from the OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG which coordinates beautifully with all these colors.

I used the Friend stamp from the YOU'RE A GEM set on page 25 of the OCCASIONS MINI, and the SEW SUITE stamp set on page 33, a 6 stamp set.

Another punch I used is the SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH as edging along the bottom of my card.  The little sewing machine is attached on STAMPIN DIMENSIONALS so it adds a little different texture.  Oh, and I used the IN STITCHES jumbo wheel, which I took apart and cut into 6 separate stamps as if my quilted top note was stitched together.

Please let me know what you think of my card, especially the cute stitching along the quilt blocks.

Hope your Sunday is special and blessed.  Happy Stamping Y'all.

Thursday, February 17

MY FIRST BLOG AWARD = HIGH PITCHED SCREAM HEARD AROUND THE WORLD

Oh my goodness - I won a BLOG AWARD!!!  This may be the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me!!  And to think just a few short months ago I was trying to figure out HOW TO POST my photo of a card I made

Janice at http://cricutology.blogspot.com/ was so wonderful to give me this special gift.  Thank you Janice!!  You are the best!!  NOW, after winning Here is what I am supposed to do:

When you receive this award you are to:

1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog

2) share 8 things about myself

3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered

4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

Let me share 8 things about myself:
*I love to create.  Included in creating is card making, scrapbooking, sewing, quilting, gardening (yes I think gardening is very creative), cooking and art.

* I am a Stampin Up! Independent Demonstrator and I am having SO MUCH FUN with this new job.  Who knew I could get paid to have fun??!!

* I love animals of all kinds and if I had one wish, it would be to own a big ranch somewhere where I could have all the animals I ever wanted.  Right now we have a pomeranian named Jewel, a runt cat named Miss Fluffy and a "grandpig" named Milton.  My grandson is raising a showpig for FFA, so I consider the pig my grandpig.

* My husband and I have 5 children and 4 1/2 grandchildren... the 1/2 will be born end of April.

* I am an avid bird watcher.  I keep a life list of all the birds I see and where I saw them.

* My favorite color is green.  I love the fresh new green that comes with new growth in the spring.  It is so full of hope and new possibilities.

* My hubby and I LOVE to drive around the back country roads of Texas.  We were not born in Texas, but I think we probably know more about this area than most native Texans.  We LOVE TEXAS.

* My biggest dream I have is to one day travel to China and dance on the GREAT WALL.

8 fabulous blogs in no specific order who now HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS AWARD:

   http://cupcakesbyles.blogspot.com/  some of the BEST CUPCAKES EVER

  http://frenchiestamps.com/  she is so fun to watch in her videos and she is very informative

    http://createwithdee.typepad.com/  I really enjoy her ideas and postings

   http://www.dianagibbs.typepad.com/  She is a hoot and I love to visit her blog for ideas and chuckles

  http://pattystamps.typepad.com/pattys_stamping_spot/  Patty Bennett is an amazing stamper

    http://sandieskorner.com/  Sandra Murphy works hard at her blog and is always posting fun cards
 
  http://www.carriesscrapyard.blogspot.com/ Carrie's blog is awesome

   http://lovemecard.blogspot.com/  Annie has a great blog too


Congrats to these ladies above and go visit their fun blogs.  More later.  I have to calm down first from all this excitement!!






Tuesday, February 15

POMPOMS, RIBBONS, BUTTONS AND BOWS...

I can see Doris Day singing in one of her western movies the Buttons and Bows song.  Do you remember that song?  If you haven't seen it, you should watch it.  Can't remember the name of the movies, comment with the name if YOU remember it please.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the SEW SUITE items in the Occasions Mini catalog!!  Love The PomPom trims, LOVE the fabrics, LOVE the stamp sets that all coordinate and LOVE the buttons and ribbons that coordinate.  That is the best things about Stampin Up - everything coordinates!!  So easy to make your crafts - scrapbook pages, cards, gifts, etc - when you have everything that coordinates right at your fingertips!!
These colors are so YUMMY - Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso.  And these little cute pompoms are adorable on a card or gift.

And the Stampin Up Fabrics are so amazing - they have the stitching, pattern pieces, colors, etc. to coordinate with the cute stamp sets too!!
Hurry and order yours TODAY from my SU website below.  It will be delivered right to your door within one week.  Right now for every $50 you order you get a free item from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.

Happy shopping and stamping!!

Thursday, February 10

Stamp Club this week AND Stampin' Royalty Challenge #58

I had so much fun at our Stamp Club this week.  We each design a card and bring all the supplies cut out and ready to go for all the participants.  We all make the cards, then we come home with these completed new ideas.  It was fun both because we stamp but also because we socialize.  We are all different ages and stations in life, but our common interest is crafting. 

Do YOU belong to a Stamp Club?  If you live too far away to come to my home, I would love to have you join my "thru the mail" Stamp Club.  It is like a card exchange, and you get some wonderful cards back.  Let me know if you are interested and I will get you set up in my next group starting soon.

We are so COLD here in Texas - not supposed to be this bad in the winter - it was 22 this morning and only warming up to 35!!  BRRR.  Now I know others have it worse, but we are just not prepared here in this area of the Lone Star State for these kinds of temps. The homes are not insulated enough for it, the pipes are exposed in the attics, we dont' own winter coats, etc. 

This is the card I shared at Stamp Club this week and am entering it in the challenge: HEARTS, HEARTS AND MORE HEARTS FOR

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #58

.

Keep warm and have a great week stamping!!
I keep thinking positive thoughts of SPRING to try to make it warm up and get here soon. 

Sunday, February 6

Sunday, Sunday, so good to me....

Sometimes an old song pops into my head from a long time ago.  The Mommas and the Pappas sang this one way back when I was in jr high school I think.

Anyways, thought I would post a cute treat holder I made earlier this week when my mojo was going strong.

This is the Big Shot Mini Milk Carton Die.  LOVE this die.  I use it for all holidays and special events.  It looks different every time I use it!!  I really have gotten my money's worth on this little die.  This one I made as a 2-carton treat in a little holder for valentines day.  I used Pretty in Pink cs, GOT TREATS stamp set, scrap of dsp of unknown origin, some super nova fine glitter on the heart, glimmer brads, and rich razzleberry cs and ribbon.  Here is another photo of them:


Filled it with sweathearts candy hearts for my workshop hostess.

Friday, February 4

Friday Frenzy Sketch Challenge SFF020411 AND Sketch Challenge week SAH 155

I got this idea from Frenchie - I LOVE her blog, don't you?  She did a video on how she did this color blocking with inks.  As soon as I saw it I KNEW I MUST try it.  After getting ink all the way up to my elbows I was finished and happy with my card.

I used Bashful Blue CS base, Pacific Point layer under Glossy White.  Stamped versamark ink and clear embossing powder with my Medallion large stamp to start.  Then divided up the size by 4 and cut 4 strips of scrap to cover the white.  Lifted up each one separately as I worked from light to dark across the card.  My colors of ink: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point.  After you have the inks sponged or dabbed on as dark as you want, use a tissue to rubb the ink off the embossed part and add your embellishment.  I punched with my Decorative Label Punch and the Small oval Punch to make a frame over my AMOUR stamp from the Artistic Etchings Stamp Set.  One sweet little bling in the middle with the pearl still keeps it for a man if you choose, and keeps it simple and elegant.  Oh, and I added one more touch - I spritzed it with my spritz spray for some more shine.

Enjoy!!

Tuesday, February 1

BUILD A BLOSSOM PUNCH AND STAMP SET

This is the first time I have used my new punch and stamp set from the Occasions Mini.  I LOVE THEM.  I also used the Sweetheart stamp set for the flower stem and leaves and the greeting.  I used a retired pink heart brad in the middle of the flower. 

Don't wait too long to order your fun new things from the Occasions Mini and get your FREE products when your order is $50 before tax and shipping.  You can contact me or order directly on my stampin up website.

Have fun stamping!!