Thanksgiving Card

I started out CASEing one of my favorite stampers, Mary Brown, but found out that I am not an expert at cutting out leaves and arranging them beautifully on the front of my card. My card has leaves randoming stamped in the background.
I really like the way it turned out--although cut out, beautifully arranged leaves would have been nice. LOL

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Day of Gratitude
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Old Olive
Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive
Accessories: wide oval punch, pumpkin pie 1/4" grosgrainm eyelet border punch, Big Shot, elegant lines embossing folder

Royal Blog Tour--Name the Path Clue #2

Royal Blog Tour--Name the Path Clue #1

My Happy Little Mailbox

The last couple days have been great! There has been 3 handmade cards in my mailbox. :)

The first card is from Connie (Highdesertstamper), she sent this card to me out of pity, I think. Her blog would not let me enter her contest and insisted that I was spam. LOL

Thank you Connie! It is REALLY a cool Halloween card!

This card was sent for a card swap from my sister-in-law, Julie. I love the background. I know what I'm going to be trying here when I get a chance to get back downstairs and stamp---this neat background!

Last, Evan's birthday was Tuesday. He turned two. This card is from his Uncle Brent, Aunt Julie and Cousin Dayne. I have been teaching him the sign for bird (I don't know owl). He likes his 'bird' card! I love love love the owl punch--it is on the must have list!

A Simple Boy Card

It's a new week and time for another Cards & Things Challenge. It's a color challenge and just in time--I need some boy cards. When I looked at this color combination I instantly thought boy.

And when I think boy--I think EXTREME. Evan is extremely fun, extremely demanding and extremely cute (but I am the mom so I may be a little bias). Extreme Elements is my "go to set" for boys.

Happy Second Birthday, Evan! ♥ Love, Mom

Card Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday

Cardstock and Ink: River Rock, Basic Gray and Night of Navy

Accessories: Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Crop a Dile, Star Punch and Dimensionals

Boring!!!

I am so glad that I ordered a clear block storage case from Stampin' Up! It is so much easier to keep track of my clear blocks and it's so nice if I am stampin' away from home.
Here's the new case. It's nice enough. It latches shut tightly.
But..... it's kinda.....welll........boring!


I thought it needed a little something to dress it up.
I went through the Definitely Decorative Catalog and found this flower is from the Just Believe stamp set. I love the stamp set so I knew this was just the decor for my storage case...

Here it is all decked out. Ahhhhh better!

Just for You Nugget Tin

I almost forgot my door prize gift for the Stamp a Stack! eek! I was so busy with the snowflakes everything else slipped my mind.
What does a demonstrator do in a pinch? She adds ~CHOCOLATE~!
I think this is just the right amount....

I love these nugget tins. A little belly band, a pretty bow and a sentiment that says it all. Voila! I pretty little gift for someone that makes being a demo sweet!

Supplies:

Stamps: Afterthoughts

Ink: Basic Black

DSP: Play Date and Newsprint

Accessories: Heart to Heart and Pinking Heart Border Punch and Real Red Satin Ribbon

The Paperclip Solution

The problem.... 300+ snowflakes!

What they look like now....
What they need to look like....

Ah HA!

The Paperclip Solution....

On Saturday, I have a Stamp a Stack scheduled with 30 ladies attending and I have been a little stressed. I cut out over 300 snowflakes using the Northern Frost Decorative Strip in the Holiday Mini Catalog. They went through like butter; however, all the little interior pieces didn't fall away. So I have been trying to decide what would be the best tool for the job. Well first it was a paper piercer or a stylus, but I only have one of each and I would like the ladies not to be held up waiting for a turn. I thought and thought....a pencil-no....a pen-no....fingernail-no...a fork-no. (this is only a few of the things that went through my head in the last few days...lol) Anyway, I was sitting here at my computer desk when PAPERCLIP just popped in my head. What a cheap, easy tool to help these ladies get their cards assembled quicker. It's the PaperClip Solution. Perhaps a little SU! ribbon tied around the end will dress them up a bit and make them look more 'official'.

LOL

Stamp A Stack Sneak Peek...

This Saturday is my Stamp A Stack. I'm excited to have another one. It's been a year since my last one. I have been cutting cardstock for a couple weeks now. I have 30 ladies coming this time. Yes, 30 stampers all under one roof. I think it is going to be a fun day! I have a great group of ladies that attend my Stamp A Stacks.

A little sneak peek.

This is the All Occasion Card.

I would have NEVER thought of putting these colors together, but when I referred to the color coach there it was. I immediately fell in love w/ it. It is such a great fall combination and just perfect for this Stamp a Stack.

I even stamp a little flower on the inside....

isn't he cute in there? :)

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Just Believe, En Francais, Bella Toile
CS: Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Baja Breeze
Ink: Whisper White, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Paper piercer, silver brads, mat pack, scallop edge punch, dimensionals, Big Shot, Lattice Square Die

3 Little Squares

I'm so excited about the Cards & Things Challenge this week. This is probably my favorite sketch so far. I love the 3 little squares. :) Imagine the possibilities.

Here's what I came up w/ for my card.

I really love the new color Marina Mist.
Card Recipe:

Stamp Set: Because I Care

CS: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Basic Black

Accessories: black brads, paper piercer, mat pack, lattice square embossing folder, dimensionals

Pull Ribbon Gift Card Tutorial

Do you like interactive projects? This is one of my favorites...

Pull Ribbon Gift Card Tutorial

You will need:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes and Tags Til Christmas
1 pieces 4" x 6" Very Vanilla Cardstock
1 piece 4" x 2-5/8" Very Vanilla Cardstock
1 piece 1-1/2" x 6" Jolly Holiday DSP
1 piece 2 3/4" x 2" Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
1 scrap piece Very Vanilla
1 scrap piece Old Olive
Old Olive Stamp Pad
Cherry Cobbler Stamp Pad
Sticky Strip
Crop a dile
Scallop Square Punch
17" Old Olive Ribbon


1. Score at 2-3/4 and 5- 1/2

2. Lay your insert (4" x 2-5/8" Very Vanilla) on top of the section closest to the 1/2" flap.

3. Punch a hole through both using the 3/16" hole of your crop a dile.

4. Remove insert and set aside.

5. Sticky strip your 1/2" flap, your it in to make your holder.

6. Decorate your holder.

7. Adhere your gift certificate to the insert. Pop dots work well!

8. Run the ribbon through the backside and out the front of the insert and then through the backside and out the front of the front of the holder.

9. Push the gift card down into the holder.

10. Knot the ribbons and clip the ends.

If you alter the pattern, you can make Ribbon Pulls for candy bars. My husband and kids loved them!

Have Fun!!

Ribbon Pull Gift Card

Last night was our last Hostess Club Meeting before the holidays. I can't believe that Christmas is only a couple months away. Wasn't it just Christmas time? My mom says it's a sign of getting older when the years start to blend together. I guess I'm "older" now. :)

I haven't made ribbon pulls in a long time, I thought it would be a fun project to make w/ the ladies. I know they were a hit when I made them a few years ago.

Here it is closed: Opened up to show the gift card:
(Thank you Riley Kate for letting me use your McDonald's gift card for my project! ♥)
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Delightful Decorations( We actually used the Tags til Christmas set for the meeting) and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Vanilla
DSP: Jolly Holiday
Accessories: 1/4 Grosgrain ribbon, paper piercer, gold brad, dimensionals, crop a dile

An October Birthday

Someone very special to me is having an October birthday. My mother-in-law and I decided that that special someone needed a black and white rag bag. We went and picked out the material together. I picked the polka dots--I love dots! :) Then we spent an afternoon together and finished it up. I'm very partial to the 'clean side' so that ragged side is turned in for the picture. :) It's my blog..lol...I can do that!

I will let you know later in the month if she likes it! ;)

Baby Steps

Thank Goodness it's Monday! Yes, I know that's not a common phrase. I feel like Monday is my day to get back on track after having everyone home over the weekend. The weekends are a bustle of activity. Monday morning I say goodbye to the girls and my husband, Terry and sigh. Although it only lasts a minute, Evan still loves to have mommy's undivided attention.

This weekend we celebrated my oldest daughter, Dani's 18th birthday on 10/10/10. I'm not sure where the last 18 years have gone, but I am definitely not ready to see her go off to college next year. :(

This is Dani. She is so smart, funny and my animal lover. She is looking into colleges that offer pre-vet.

I did take a few minutes to work on the Cards & Things color challenge for this week. I had no problem visualizing these colors. Especially the blushing bride....that's easy...it's PINK!

Here's my card. I used the cute little elephant stamp--Baby Steps.

I decided that it just wasn't right to make a little girl card for the challenge and not make a little boy card too. :)

Small Card. Big Thank You...

I found a little sentiment yesterday,that was just exactly what I wanted for a thank you card for someone special. However, the stamps used on the card were not SU! What's a girl to do?
Well this girl opened up her My Digital Studio. Voila--SU! card with that same sentiment!
I wanted something clean and simple. The real red border was a last minute change when I realized that when I uploaded the card you wouldn't be able to tell where the background ended and the card started. I think it was an okay addition to the card.
What do you think?

DSP Organization

I have started a new organization practice when new DSP arrives at my house. I am the worst at remembering what SU! colors coordinate with the paper and keeping my scraps of DSP together.

Here's my Autumn Spice DSP. Notice that I just clip the plastic wrap on one end.

After cutting pieces of DSP, I return the scraps to the original package.

I bought some return address labels last time I was shopping and am putting them to good use--organizing my Stampin' Room! :)

Using my address labels, I wrote the name of the dsp, the catalog where it can be found and the coordinating colors. I really think this will save me a lot of time and I hope I might have saved you some time too! ♥

Test Tube Tutorial

Several people asked for a test tube tutorial. I purchased 4" x 3/4" test tubes so this tutorial is for the short skinny test tubes.

I'm sorry, but I don't have fancy software so it is pretty crude.

If you have any questions just shoot me an email or leave a comment (with your email addy) and I will do the best I can to answer your questions.

Click here to see it! :)

Autumn Spice Test Tube

I love the Autumn Spice dsp (item #120808) in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I think it's so rich and pretty and it matches the Holiday M&Ms perfectly. :) It seemed like a perfect excuse to use my brand new test tubes. I bought a few of them in a bulk buy on the SeaSideCrafts yahoo group. I saved a little money which is nice because Evan ALWAYS needs diapers and I can always think of more stamps I would like from Stampin' UP! LOL

I added a couple leaves from the Day of Gratitude stamp set (item #121148 clear) also in the Holiday Mini Catalog. It coordinated with the Autumn Spice dsp. I didn't think I need this set. Now I am looking forward to making as many cards and projects as I can before winter comes.

But I'm sure I will have another favorite for the winter months. :)

Evan's Picture Books

Evan's Speech Therapist asked me to make Evan some picture books. I took the pictures and printed them out, matted, added them to cardstock and laminated them.

We have three books so far. We have "Family", "Outside" and "Grandpa & Grandma Hawkinson's".

Now I am at a loss of how to decorate them. If you have any cute ideas for covers for the books, PLEASE don't be shy. Leave me a comment and give me any ideas you may have.

This will definitely be the favorite. This is the "Outside Picture Book". It has a picture of both lawn mowers, my car, Dad's van, the barn, our home....

I can't wait until Evan wakes up so he can look at it. :)

Wedding Card

Oh boy, this color challenge over at Krista's Cards & Things Challenge Blog is sure a pretty one. I love these colors together.

I needed a quick wedding card for my cousin, Amy who is getting married. I have been wanting to use my Fifth Avenue Floral set for some time and this was a good reason to mount it and use it. :) Do you see a trend lately? Lots and lots of mounting.

I smooched the card w/ vanilla. It's really shiny in real life. Card Recipe:

Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose and Very Vanilla

Ink: Regal Rose and Basic Gray

Accessories: Pearls, Scallop Trim Border, Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper, aqua painter