And the winner is.....

ELAINE and

Elaine said...
I am an e or a p!! I hope that works for you!! :) Great card ideas!

Elaine, please email me your mailing address and let me know if you want an "E" or "P" Monogram. I'll make it this weekend and get it into the mail for you next week.

Girls Night Out was Fun! The Woman's Expo (btw, woman's expo is code for SHOPPING) was great. There were a lot of vendors. After the expo, we went out to dinner to Wrinkles (I mean The Hearth). We had a wonderful night out with good friends.

Tomorrow morning is the hike I signed up for. It is suppose to be so cold tomorrow morning too..can you tell I am trying to wiggle out of this.

Another Monogram Set

This is monogram stationery. This set is for a winner of my November DSS Challenge on SCS. I really liked the way it came out. As you can see, I added a monogram at the top of the stationery using the new papertrey ink monogram set. At the bottom of the stationery I added a strip of SU Designer Paper (following the tutorial in Nicole's, of paper trey ink) blog. You can reach her blog from www.papertreyink.com. I also added the same designer paper to the envelopes (a nice touch and also from the tutorial). Finally, I made an envelope seal with the monogram as well (also from the tutorial)




Here is how I packaged the set. Not the way I had wanted to (didn't want to fold the stationery) but I didn't have a long enough bag to put the stationery in. In the end, I realized that they paper would have to be folded to fit in the envelope anyway so it all worked out fine.



I will be making more of these sets.


Tonight is GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Looking forward to it. The women on my bowling team are going to a woman's expo and then out to dinner. I'll let you know about the night tomorrow (if I make it back from a 2 mile hike I signed up for on Saturday morning..that's right a hike, with the women's club).

Tea & Chocolate

More gifts created for my DSS Group Challenge on SCS. Here are tea and chocolate holders. Cute and easy to make. Each holds two tea bags or two chocolates.

Monogram Sets - Blog Candy

I created the following monogram sets (note cards with matching envelopes) using the new papertreyink monogram set and monogram border set. I am still having a heck of a time getting used to clear stamps but you can't say I am not trying. It is purely coincidence that the initials on these monogram sets match myself and my two daughters, they are not for us (sorry Meghan and Kerry). They are prizes for a DSS challenge over on SCS. I made some of these plus some other things that I will post tomorrow for prizes.

Here are the sets.







I have packaged the sets (three note cards and three envelopes) in a clear box. I think it looks nice! (not sure if you can see the box in the photo with the glare of the acetate).



Tell me what you think of the monogram sets and if you leave a comment I will make one for a random winner (hopefully, your name won't start with a "S". I really don't like the "S" in this papertrey monogram set. Post a comment here by Friday, November 30th at 6:00 p.m. eastern and I will randomly draw a winner.

Thanks for looking.

What do you think of my latest....

Tonight's class was working with swarovski crystals. The colors were gorgeous and it was so hard to choose. I finally decided on brown, clear and green with some sterling silver spacers. I really like the way the set came out. Here is the necklace, the bracelet and the earrings.



Everyone's swarovski crystal sets were so nice....visit Julie's blog to see everyone's creations. You can visit Julie's blog by clicking here.

Finally...cards!

I couldn't let you think I took a whole week off from work and didn't stamp at all now could I? I have been playing with my papertreyink stamps. I have to tell you that I have been having a hard time with the clear stamps. I am very used to wood and rubber. I love the paper trey images and I hope with my practice I will be able to create nice cards with them. Here are my first attempts with Papertreyink clear stamps.

The first card uses the Piece of Cake set. I used SU cardstock and ink in pink passion, barely banana and glorious green.



The next set of cards are 3x3 gift cards. I used SU Cardstock and Designer Paper and some pink unidentified designer paper. I also used colorbox chalk ink.






My final card of the week is a note card (no layers) using the Little Lady set. I used colorbox pigment ink on the Ladybug card.



Back to work....I am really not looking forward to that. I will be off again Christmas week plus I have one day left I am saving for my friends retirement dinner at the casino.

Busy week ahead...bowling on Monday, Jewelry class on Tuesday and Girls Night Out on Friday!

I have to get back to making cards.....

I've been off all week and I only made one card the whole time.....What, you wonder could I have been doing for a whole week if I wasn't making cards at least some of the time. I had a great week. My husband and I were both off and we were on a cleaning frenzy (and painting). We got so much done this week, it feels terrific. I also reorganized all my stamping / scrapbooking supplies and work area. It will be so much easier now to make cards in my own work area (instead of stamping on the dining room table or coffee table in the family room). We also had some fun during the week. In addition to my Monday night bowling league and my Tuesday Jewelry class, Pat and I went out to dinner & bowling one night & had a delicious Thanksgiving.

We stopped by my sisters to see my family on Thanksgiving. Stayed for a little over an hour and had appetizers (my sister makes a great guacamole and mexican shrimp - - BTW, I still need that shrimp recipe if you are reading this). Then we went to my brother in laws and had Thanksgiving dinner. A fun day and even though we didn't get home till 10:00 p.m. I still got up and went shopping on Black Friday. I didn't really get much but just felt like I should get up and go. I was out of the house by 5:00 A.M. and was home at 8:00 a.m. hitting three stores. At 10:00 a.m. Meghan, Kerry and I went bowling with my friend Patty and her daughter Jessica (a special after Thanksgiving glo bowling). That afternoon, Pat, Kerry and I went to the movies to see Enchanted. It was a cute movie and we all enjoyed it.

One of the stores I went to in the a.m. was Michaels. I had a coupon for 25% your entire order so I went to buy some beads and materials to make a necklace (to practice what I had learned). I didn't see much in beads that I liked but I did buy three strands of a blue demin like bead and some sterling silver findings. This is what I made:



Meghan liked this bracelet (different spacers than the one above) so I gave it to her.



So, I guess I have been a good jewelry student since I was able to make these three projects on my own. The simple necklaces and bracelets are pretty easy (if you can come up with a design - - that's the hard part) but the other projects that are more involved (i.e, earrings, pendants, etc) will require more instruction and practice.

Finally, after a heated game of UNO we called it a night! All in all a great weekend. Two more days till I have to go back to work...I realized, that if I didn't work full time I could still really keep busy everyday (but I would miss that paycheck).

Hope you all had a great Holiday weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To my family, friends and everyone who takes a few moments out their day to read my blog.





I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving spent with family and friends. Be safe, relax and be happy (and thankful)!

Love,
Diane

I Love It!

Can you believe I made this? It's gorgeous! This three strand pearl necklace was our project tonight in Session Two of the Jewelry class I am taking with Julie of Heart's Desire. These are pearls with a photo charm. I still have to pick and shrink a photo to put into the charm. In case the colors are not showing up, one strand is white, another is pink and one is gold. I am really happy with the way it turned out.



The other ladies in the class made fabulous necklaces too. I am sure Julie will post them on her blog and you can check them out there at www.juliesheartsdesire.blogspot.com.

Next week we are making a crystal necklace, bracelet and earrings....oh my!

Another Card from the Shoebox Swap!

Here is another card I made from the shoebox swap. I had to make some changes to it since I didn't carefully read the instructions (placed paper in the wrong place) and had an ink mishap (covered by leaf punches that weren't in the original)...that's handmade for you.



Bowling was fun last night but scorewise, I didn't come close to my recent high game of 187. Oh well, we still have several weeks to go to try to get that 200!

Still organizing my office/craft room/family room. Things are coming along slowly but I am looking forward to a more organized room.

I just noticed that I am approaching 5000 hits on my blog...could that even be possible. I will have some blog candy to celebrate! Keep checking back.

Wow....

Watching Eugene Fleming teach was amazing. What a dancer and what a personality! The girls loved him. I found it mesmerizing watching him teach. The first class was Musical Theater and the second class was an amazing Tap class. Kerry loved it.

Here's a picture of Kerry with Eugene. This picture was taking after three hours of constant dancing...she was a little tired.




I didn't stay the whole time but I did watch about 15 minutes of each class. I'm not sure if the girls realize the opportunity to learn with talent such as Eugene Fleming,

Here's another card from the Western CT Shoebox Swap. The stamp set is Heartfelt Thanks.



Here's a list of coordinating SU cardstock ink colors that go with their designer paper. Thought this might come in handy:

Right now there is an SU special on designer paper...buy three get one free!

Outlaw - Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Brocade Backgrounds - Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, River Rock

Fall Flowers - Old Olive, Really Rust, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky

Linen Prints - Always Apricot, Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Pink Passion

Porcelain Prints - Blue Bayou, River Rock, Wild Wasabi

Le Jardin - River Rock, Soft Sky, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Uptown - Almost Amethyst, Basic Gray, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi

Wintergreen - Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Sage Shadow, Soft Sky

Flowers for You - Certainly Celery, Lovely Lilac, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise

Petals & Paisleys - Certainly Celery, Taken w/Teal, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron

Creepy Crawly - Basic Black, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust

Notations No. 2 - More Mustard, River Rock, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi

Charbon - Basic Gray, Very Vanilla

Cerise - Real Red, Very Vanilla

Dashing - Old Olive, Real Red, River Rock, Very Vanilla

Cutie Pie - Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, So Saffron

Darling Doodles - Brocade Blue, Groovy Guava, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi

Prints - These papers come in twelve patterns of one color per pack:

Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Soft Sky, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Blue Bayou, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, River Rock, So Saffron, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Groovy Guava, Rose Red

From the Hoilday Mini:

Apple Cider - Close to Cocoa, River Rock, Really Rust, Wild Wasabi

Holiday Harmony - Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate, River Rock


I have spenet a lot of time this weekend cleaning and organizing my office/craft room/family room. Pat spent a lot of time painting Kerry Ann's room. Trying to get a lot done before the holidays.

I am looking forward to another week and bowling tomorrow night....maybe tomorrow I will bowl my 200 game.

Holiday Tag Pouch

I saw this on a tutorial at another blog. It was so cute I thought I would try to make it myself. It's a tag pouch. This was my first try at one but I am going to work on it and make a few all occasion tag pouches.



Looking forward to the weekend. Only one more work week till I have a whole week off for vacation. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I love taking that week off.

Another Çard From The Shoebox Swap...

Here is another card I made at the Western CT Shoe Box Swap. I added the yellow ribbon. I don't remember who the designer was. At this shoebox swap, 14 stampers created two projects each. They prepared the materials for their creations for all fourteen to make (like a make and take). So for each project created, we all had a baggie of materials. All we had to do was follow the directions, stamp and assemble. It was a wonderful time.



Tonight is our first girl scout meeting (we are so behind). The girls will be working on their silver award project.

Will post another card tomorrow.

I bowled a 187 Last night.....

woohoo...four strikes in a row! This is my best game since I started bowling again. Of course, no matter what we bowl, we have fun. Since there was no school today, Kerry came to the alley last night and bowled two games with her friends. They had a nice time. Kerry was even talking about joining a league. Her new pink bowling bowl should be drilled and ready next week.

I thought I should start posting some of the projects I made at the Western CT Shoebox Swap. I didn't finish them all so I am trying to finish off one every few days. Here is a notebook project that Deb designed. So very cute. I just finished it and of course had to add my own touch (the ribbon on the wire binding. I made this for someone very special to me whose name begins with M.....

Fun at the Shoe Box Swap....

What a great time. Fourteen stampers all together for a day of stamping (and eating). There was so much food! And the ice tea was amazing . . . you all know how much I like tea. I am happy to say my meatballs were a hit. It's amazing what you can do with grape jelly & chili sauce. Anyway, we made over 20 projects....well I brought home material for 20 projects...I just couldn't finish them all. I probably made half the projects and stampd the image of the rest to take home and assemble. We made a really cool calendar out of chipboard coasters that I really wanted to finish because the wonderful ladies from Central NY (Gayla & Kari) had the coil machine to finish them off. I really wanted to finish that project and because of it's size (12 months afterall) it did take the longest to finish. Since that project took the longest (and is one I completed) I am posting that project first. Do I need a coil machine? I am thinking about it now....

Here is the cover of the calendar. I thought this paper was so pretty. As you can see, we used just plain chipboard coasters. They are held together with coils.

Here is January - cute snowflakes!






February - the month of my birthday. This year the Woman's club Sweetheart Dance is on my Birthday!





Here is March - with a truckload of shamrocks!





And of Course, April Flowers bring May Flowers!




and Bees!





Isn't the frog so cute (I still have to add the googlie eyes!



4th of July celebration!



A few weeks at the Cape!



Back to school...




Boo! Again, need to add the googlie eyes.




My favorite time of year and favorite holiday - - Thanksgiving.




And finally...December!

It was a great day with a a lot of wonderful projects. I'll post more of the projects in the coming weeks (There are several that I have the materials but still need to put together.

My projects (the nugget tins and the caramel apple kits) seemed to be well received. I didn't realize until I got home that I forgot to put out the stapler with the green staples to staple the toppers onto the caramel apple kit. I wonder how everyone did that? Chances are, with all the projects, they took home the kit to finish at home.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Cha..cha..cha..changes....

I must have been dreaming of my snowflake cards and portfolio last night and decided to make some changes first thing this morning. So here I am at 7:00 a.m. (after I had my tea and read the paper) making some minor changes.

When I woke up I suddently realized that the inside of the card portfolio was missing something. I added some SU Designer paper to each side. I also decided that there was too much taffeta ribbon on the portfolio so I pulled out the ribbon that I used to close the porfolio and left only the silver cord.

I think they are a little better with the changes.

Here is the folder with the designer paper inside (before I took out the ribbon) ...



Here is the folder without the ribbon and only the silver cord for the closure...




I forgot to post yesterday but I also used other sentiments with the card to make it more than just a Christmas Card. I made the same card with a THANKS sentiment (to use as thank you's for holiday gifts) and also a THINKING OF YOU sentiment to have a general winter card.




Tomorrow is the SCS Shoebox Swap! I'll post some of the projects on Saturday night.

I love the shimmer!

Shimmery White Paper that is. Here is a really simple but gorgeous card for winter. It's a case of a card I saw on SCS. I tried to link to the original card but it didn't work. Christy S is the originator. Christy please take it as a compliment . . . while I post cards here I do let you know if I was inspired or completely cased someone and I don't enter any contests or try to publish anything. These card are simply for my enjoyment. I always try to add something different to a cased card. In this case, I changed the sentiment (and the placement) and added silver stickles and silver cord.

At any rate, here is the shimmery snowflake card. It is simple to make and takes very little time. I made 38 of these in less than two hours. I made 14 for my Western CT Shoebox swap in Newtown this weekend; 10 for my monthly swap; and the rest for Secret Sister and friends. I actually made three card folio's to store 3 cards with matching envelopes to send to some friends as gifts.

I used Bashful Blue and Shimmery White Card Stock. Can you see the shimmer? It really makes the card. I stamped the snowflakes and the sentiment in Bashful blue. Added a bashful blue ribbon too. To add a little more shimmer, I added silver stickles to the center of some of the snowflakes and a string of my precious silver cord around the center of the bashful blue ribbon. The ribbon is the taffeta Ribbon from SU (it's very nice).

The stamps I used were the Snow Burst Stamp set from SU and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Here is the card with a coordinating envelope ....



Here is the inside of the card folio...



Here is the card folio closed....


I am starting to get excited about the stamping event this weekend and meeting SCSers IRL (in Real Life)! What a concept.

Hope you all had a wonderful halloween. I took Kerry, her friend Cassandra and Cassandra's cute little sister Ana trick or treating. The girls got a ton of candy and had a good time.