I said I would be back....

and I am. Probably won't post daily but I am getting back into the swing of creating. While I wasn't stamping for the past few months, I was still buying stamps. I just love the Honey Bees set from Papertrey Ink. This is what I made using that set.



Isn't it a cute paint can. This is the small size paint can. I used black-eyed susan paper by colorblok (my favorite flower is black-eyed susans).

I also made a coordinating card. Here is the outside.



Here is the inside.





While you probably can't see it in the photo, I added some yellow stickles to the bee on top and it looks cute with the sparkle. I love my stickles!

PLUS! I also made a complete scrapbook (forgot to take photo's of a few pages before I sent it in the mail this morning) for my mother-in-law with photo's from her 80th birthday weekend. The scrapbook came out great (if I must say so myself). I sent it priority today - - I hope she likes it.

Penny is doing great. She graduated from the Petco Puppy School on Saturday (we are so proud of her!). I signed her up for another training course at a different place and we start on July 15th. Her newest trick is: BANG YOUR DEAD (she rolls on her back with her paws up in the air - - so cute). I am taking her for a day of beauty on Wednesday. I'll take pictures of her then and post. She is really cute and less than 6 pounds at 4 months so the Vet predicts she will likely be 12-13 pounds when full grown.

A lot of fun coming up. We have three summer birthdays, camps and vacations to look forward to. This will be a busy summer.

Thanks for looking!

Thank You To Karen

My cousin Karen has been searching Local Craft Stores in Tennessee for Cuttlebug Embossing Folders for me. She found two of the folders I was looking for. I sent her this little thank you for her trouble. Having said that, Karen is a lot like me and being asked to look in local craft stores is hardly trouble...more of a delight. Anyway, THANK YOU Karen!

Here is a photo of some monogrammed notecards. (Karie - - oh no, here we go again! more monograms). This set uses the paisley embossing folder which Karen found for me. Karen should have these by now so that's why I posted the photo today.




BTW, I did finally find the Swiss Dots I have been looking for thanks to an ink-stains friend who helped me find a web site who still had them in stock....Thanks Sharon!

Gift Card Holder

Here is a quick & easy gift card holder. No need to buy one in the stores, make it yourself! This one took about 10 minutes to make. Simply cut a piece of cardstock to 4 1/4" X 11". Then score 3" on both sides and right down the middle at 5 1/2". Fold the cardstock so that it forms a "W" shape. It will be easy to see where to put the adhesive. You will need to punch in the middle of card holder (where you put the actual gift card) and open up the rest of the way with a small scissor or craft knife. I used a 1 1/4" circle punch (half way). This one was pretty simple. As an afterthought I used my cuttlebug birthday embossing folder on the inside. Since that was an afterthought and I did it after the rest of the card was finished I thought I would ruin it but it came out perfect and added just the touch I needed.

Here is the finished card



Here is the card opened




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Yet Another Elzybell project...

Here is a card. It is the first card I ever made using a challenge (meaning the layout was pre-designed).

TGIF....

I love weekends and always feel a burst of energy on Fridays as I look forward to the weekend.

Here's another slit punch card. I made another version in an earlier post. My ink-stains friend,Michelle, made one for our monthly swap and I just had to try one. It was really different. This time I used an oval shape.



As a reminder, here is the tutorial from Stampin Inspirations by Maria.

Have a great weekend everyone. I "might" pop in with another card or Penny update over the weekend.

I bet you are glad it's not ....

another monogram card. I am not done with them yet but thought you might want to see something different. One of my virtual friends,Michelle, made a great slit punch card for our monthly swap. It was so pretty. She shared with me a tutorial to learn how to make them. They are rather easy once you get the hang of it. Here is the tutorial from Stampin Inspirations by Maria. You simply use the SU slit punch (which I happened to have and never really used).

This is my first attempt at a card. It needs some work and some practice with the slit punch but I thought I would share it anyway.

Cards Submitted for Challenge...

Here are the cards from the Card Challenge I posted on Ink-Stains. Six wonderful stampers participated. Remember, I sent six stampers the same base card (see previous post for a photo of what the base card looked like). I asked them all to come up with a design for the card. Here are the wonderful creations they came up with. I love them all. Everyone came up with different and wonderful cards using the same base card. I am still trying to choose my favorite for a prize...this is tough!


This is Lori's Card:



This is Cindy's Card:



This is Cheryl's Card:



This is Marilyn's Card:



This is Sharon's Card:




This Is Fiona's Card:

And another one....

OK, I'll try to come up with something else this weekend but I wanted to make a bunch of these for some folks on SCS. I made three of each with coordinating envelopes that I will send off in a package with some other items. I hope they like them.



TGIF!!!

Back to the monogram

I really like making note card sets with a monogram. Here is one I made using Ginger Blossom Designer Paper, Ruby Red Textured paper, white ribbon and, of course, the Paper Trey Ink Monogram set. I like the way it turned out. I am going to make a few sets like these as soon as my order of Whisper White Cardstock arrives (today). This was my last sheet.

Same Card, Different Packaging...

This is the same note card set I made for a friend but I packaged it differently. Just used a cellophane bag and a topper for this one. Got the idea because I had the additional piece prepared for the front of the card and then ran out of whisper white cardstock to make the cards...used the piece for a topper instead. New order of whisper white is due to arrive on Wednesday. Until then, I am glad I save my white (and all color) scraps. This has been a whisper white emergency weekend!!! I am saving this set for a future round of DSS over on SCS.




Dinner and bowling tonight with the girls!

Rain, rain, go away....

It was torrential downpours all day and night yesterday. The wind took our trampoline flying to the other side of the yard where it now lays crumbled. Today is windy but at least the rain has stopped.

Here is one of the sets of note cards I made at the request of a friend. She is a teacher and needed cards for notes home, thank you notes, etc.

There are 10 in the box with coordinating envelopes.

Five are like this:



Five are like this:




And they are packaged like this:





Meghan went back home today and we miss her already. We had a nice weekend, even though it rained every minute of the weekend. Went out to lunch, dinner and then out to breakfast this morning before she left.

MISS YOU MEGGIE!

With or Without?????

What do you think? I made a simple Happy Birthday card for a swap. After I made them all I decided to add the balloon from the stamp set to an extra card I would send to my DSS over on SCS.




Recipe:
Stamp Set: Birthday Whimsey (SU SAB set)
Cardstock: SU Soft Sky, Whisper White, Afternoon Tea Designer Paper
Ink: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip
Ribbon: Chocolate
Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder
SU Scallop punch to make the "icing" on the cake
Yellow Stickles for the flame
SU Twine (for the card with the balloon).
3D dots for the balloon

Sympathy Card

Not a big fan of making Sympathy cards but I need one today so I pulled out the Happy Harmony Set which seems to work for so many cards.



We are expecting a lot of rain this weekend. The more exciting news is Meghan is coming home for the weekend. We are all looking forward to spending some time with her during her short visit.

I have been asked by two people to make note cards and thank you cards. I will show you over the weekend what I came up with.

Another version of the same card...

All is well on the homefront. Busy at work, busy at home - same old, same old. Looking forward to Meghan coming home this weekend! See you soon MEGHAN!!!!

Three for Tuesday!

Here are versions of a previous card I posted. This time I used Ginger Blossoms Designer Paper from SU which I really like. I used a variety of card bases including Groovy Guava and Ruby Red. Again, I used the retired Looks Like Spring Flower Punch. The cards look so much nicer in person. You can't tell in the photos but the flowers pop-out and are not flat against the cardstock. Also, the front of the card is cut shorter to show the designer paper strip on the inside of the card - - makes for a difficult photo as the card does not stay closed.



Here's a closer look at one of the cards.



Bowling was fun...next week we are bowiing our friends on another team so it should be a fun night. Some of us are going out to dinner before bowling....something fun to look forward to!

Friendship Blooms (Again!)

When I like a set, I do use it. I just love the sentiment on the Friendship Blooms sale-a-bration set. Like the the Level Three Hostess stamp set, Time Spent, I think I will use this one a lot.



It's basically a simple card using Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock. The designer paper is Afternoon Tea from SU. I wish I had groovy Guava stitched ribbon but I don't. I used the Wild Wasabi ribbon instead. Easy card...took me about 10 minutes (or less) to make on Sunday evening.

Simple Card

I really like the way this card turned out. It looks better in person than in the photo. I always have difficulty photographing cards that won't stay closed. On this card, the designer paper (from Basic Grey) along the right hand side is on the inside base of the card. I cut the front of the card to the right of the flowers. It makes a pretty card but it doesn't stay closed when standing up for a photo. I used a photo stand for the first time to try to get a better photo.

In this card I used an old, retired Looks Like Spring Punch from Stampin Up. When I first bought I thought I would use it all the time but never really used it. I'm glad I saved it (almost traded it)! Again, I used the SU Friendship Blooms set (just for the sentiment).

Happy Birthday....

to all the Leap Year Babies, including my cousin Karen. Karen was invited to the Martha Stewart Show this week for a special on Leap Year Babies. The show airs today and I am looking forward to watching it and hopefully catching a glimpse of Karen. I'll have to DVR it and watch it tonight since today is a work day!

Happy Birthday Karen!


My Big Sis over on SCS (can't wait to find out who she is) sent me a Circle Card. Here it is:




It got me thinking that I usually make the same size/shape card over and over...the typical A2 card. I decided to make something a little different. I took out my Creative Memories Cutting System (which I love) and looked at the shapes I had. While cutting the shape, I broke my little red cutter which would have cut the size I wanted so I had to make it a little bigger. I realized it wouldn't fit my largest square envelope so I kept cutting it down and went to far. It changed the shape and now it will probably fit into my usual envelope.

Here is the shape I intended it to be:



Here is the card that it ended up being......I used the Friendship Blooms stamp set because I liked the sentiment. I also used Basic Grey DP.




Odd shape but still different than my usual.

Sometimes it takes a while....

to complete a card. I had the base of this card sitting on my stamping desk for several weeks. I liked the basic grey paper and added it to a base of pretty in pink...then I couldn't decide what to do. I left it on my desk for a few weeks and every now and then would look over my stamp sets and see if anything would work with it. Last night I picked up TIME FOR YOU from the SU Occasions Mini. I really like the park bench from this set and I also liked the saying "Always Time for You". This is what I came up with.



Book Club was delicious last night! You might ask how a book club could be delicious.....you would know if you were in the Chicklit's Book Club! Our hostesses usually put on a delicious spread to accompany our book discussion and last night was no exception. Pat's husband Paul pulled together a wonderful assortment and no one went home hungry. We enjoyed marvelous pulled pork egg rolls, chicken saltimbuca and many desserts! Oh, and the book, I really liked it. Reactions to the book were mixed but as usual our discussion was lively. Many in the group did not like all the info given at the end. I won't say why here so I don't spoil the book for anyone who wants to read it. The discussion was shorter than usual but interesting.

I had contacted the author prior to our discussion and he was very nice. He is sending us bookplates for our books. They didn't arrive in time for our discussion but I know everyone will be happy to get them when they arrive. If you would like to visit the authors web site click Here! There is a great tour of the town of Woodstock, VA by the author and his daughter. They show the town that inspired the author in the setting of the book. One of the things that interested me was the Tower that Malcolm often visited when he was working through things. We talked a lot about it last night. Seeing the tower, for me, helped me understand why this was a good place for Malcolm to want to go to work things out in his mind. In many ways, Woodstock, VA reminds me of our small town.

Cindy raffled off a Book Lovers Calendar and we had fun looking through the books recommended on our birthdays. Book club, as usual, is always a wonderful time. What a great group of ladies!

Is it Spring yet?

I am getting tired of cold and snow so I took out my Spring Solitude Stamp set. It was free from SU during their Sale-a-bration!

It's the second set I have used and I really like it! Here are cards (one with a sentiment and without to be added later) from this set. I used River Rock, Basic Black and Whisper White Cardstock. I used River Rock, Whisper White (craft) and Basic Black ink. I wanted to use white embossing powder on the flowers (instead of Whisper White Craft) but since I reorganized my craft stuff, I can't find it! I added some black and white polka dot ribbon that I must have received from a secret sister.






Book club is tonight and I really liked the book. It's called The Wednesday Letters. It was a quick and enjoyable read. The author is sending me bookplates for the Chicklits and I hope they arrive in time.


Note to Karie:

These two cards are actually #15 & 16 for the month of February. Karie on Ink-Stains had a challenge on her blog to create 14 cards or projects for the month of February. With this card I made the challenge. Karie, unfortunately is under the weather. I hope she feels better very quickly and is back on ink-stains! Karie - Get Well Soon!