Rag Bag Bandwagon

I jumped on the bandwagon. It was a huge LEAP for someone like me--I don't sew. I have seen the bags and loved them. This is my first attempt and I'm happy--The bag actually resembles those I have seen online. I had to go it alone without any tutorials. My computer is too slow and will not load videos. So be kind....this is me alone w/ my very dusty sewing machine that my Mother-in-law gave me when Terry and I got married.

My oldest daughter, Dani likes the 'RAG' bag look:

My youngest daughter, Riley Kate likes the 'Clean' bag look:

What do you like best?

Felt Flowers

A couple sheets of felt, an SU! Flower Die (in this case, Flowers Layers #3),some pretty buttons, a few minutes and WAH-LAH!! My own little felt flowers to add to my projects. :)

Have I mentioned I LOVE my Big Shot?!! The options are endless.....

Christmas Stamp A Stack

Here are the cards I chose for my SAS. I like them and can't wait until I have time to make some for myself. :)

Double Flap Card

I CASEd this card--loved it! Thanks, Jenn!

This card makes me smile! :)

Ahhh..the famous quilt card. AM I CRAZY to try to do these at a SAS?

16 ladies making 4 of these a piece...so 64 quilts! EEK!

My first Z-fold card....I am going to make MANY MORE of these!

So easy.....

Christmas Double Flap Cards

It is now less than 3 weeks until my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack and I need to really get my cards narrowed down and make the final cuts. Today, I made two double flap cards using Dawn's Tutorial on her blog. I like both of them, but I which one do I like better? Help me out...leave me a comment telling me which one you like better and the card that is the most popular will be my SAS card. :)

RECIPE:

CS: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White and Soft Suede

DSP: Thoroughly Modern

Stamp Sets: Four the Holidays, The More the Merrier (hostess set)

Accessories: Snowflake punch and silver brad

RECIPE:

CS: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White

DSP:Cottage Wall

INK: Rich Razzleberry, Going Gray, Basic Gray

Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry (I love the in-color markers!), Orchid Opulence and Old Olive

Stamp Sets: Winter Post and Four the Holidays

Accessories: linen thread, Always Artichoke ribbon

September SWAP

I know-I know, it's half way through October and I am just posting these. The world has gone completely crazy at my house. 3 kids + 1 husband (only working part-time) + 1 house being remodeled + 1 first birthday party + 1 BIG Stamp-A-Stack + 1 unorganized mom=crazy house. LOL
Here are our cards--Enjoy!

Caroline's Apron Card (has a recipe for yummy Apple Cake in the pocket).





My Quilt Card (I loved making these!)





Joni's Pretty Autumn Card (I love the colors!)





Julie's Fancy Handbags (I feel a CASE coming on! *wink*)

Snow Swirled Christmas Card

Today, I finally had a chance to play with my new Christmas set. I didn't want a Christmas card, but rather a winter card. I want to go back downstairs and spruce it up a bit, but that will have to wait until the kids are in bed.

Recipe:

Stamp: Snow Swirled

CS: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Bashful Blue DSP, embossing folder, Chocolate and Real Red grosgrain ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals, 1 3/8" and scallop circle punches.

From Our Hearts/Cards For Troops

Yesterday, I did something that made my heart feel good. I received a box from my sister the other day , and it had 22 placecards in it that were left behind after the concert. She was sure that I needed all my little soldiers back and that I would find a good use for them. Lo and behold, an email comes into my inbox from a fellow SU! Demo talking about From Our Hearts (cards for troops). I contacted Martie Shea, the founder, and she said she would be happy to take all the soldiers. I spent a little time putting a base and sentiment on them and ran them into the post office and they are on their way to good homes. :) The entire time--I'm thinking how good it feels. If you want to do something good for your heart take a look at the FROM THE HEART or another charity of interest. Like Martha Stewart says, "It's a good thing."

My Shelves Are Full....

I need to make some room so that my dear husband believes me when I tell him, I need new stamps.

If you don't like the price by all means make me an offer!
The prices do not include shipping.
I prefer paypal stampinfool@tds.net.

A for Adorable $7.00
A Little Birdie Told Me $15.00
All the Best $7.00
All Natural $6.00
Birthday Balloons $4.00
Birthday Best $5.00
Boldline Upper, Lower and Numbers ALL THREE SETS FOR $20.00 (adhesive not good on letters—should be unmounted/remounted)
Borders Mini $4.00
Business Memos $7.00 PENDING
Cold Play $12.00
Doodle This $12.00
Eat Cake UM $12.00
Festive Favorites $12.00
Fresh Flowers $6.00
Fun Flowers $10.00
Fun w/ Shapes $6.00
Gently Falling $6.00
Little Layers II $6.00
Little Layers Plus $7.00
Little Shapes $4.00
Love It $10.00
Mostly Flowers NUM $4.00
Nature’s Secret $15.00
Open for Trade $18.00
Petite Patterns $6.00
Shapes and Shadows $7.00
Simple Sayings $5.00
Smorgasborders $4.00

Something to Celebrate $10.00
Stippled Stencils $4.00
Summer by the Sea $18.00

Sweet Treats $12.00
Tagger’s Dozen $12.00
Take Shape $10.00
Teeny Tinies $3.00
Very Punny UM $4.00
Very Punny UM $4.00
Very Punny UM $4.00
Very Punny UM $4.00
Wishing You The Best $4.00

I would also like to TRADE for current SU! products
Sock Monkey NEW UM
Fun & Fast Notes partially mounted (one wood block has a barely visible ink stain)

Christmas Quilt Cards

I love making these quilt cards. They are so simple and look amazing when they are finished. I am a little messy with the 2 way glue, but it is so easy to get the squares stuck down tight and you can wiggle them into place if they are a little crooked.

I am trying to use up some old DSP--I didn't think I had a lot until I started finding packages stuck here and there when I was moving into my Stampin' Room. NOW I know I have a problem--I had to have a 'paper hoarder', because I AM a paper hoarder. LOL The addiction is not limited to paper; however, so I need to stamp to make room to buy new things. It's a WIN-WIN situation right there!

Ohh, I am looking for creative ways to mat the SU! wide oval...any suggestions? It's a little plain w/o something behind it, but I was completely clueless on where to go w/ it.

Recipe:

Stamps: All Holidays

CS: Whisper White, Old Olive, Bravo Burgandy, Bashful Blue

DSP: Holiday Thyme

Accessories: ribbon, SU! brads, flower, snowflake punch, SU! Top Note Die, 2 way glue, embossing folders

Soldier Cards

Do you recognize these guys? They are the fronts of placecards from the concert I made! I couldn't just throw them away. I had a couple minutes so I recycled them into cards. I replaced the white base w/ brocade blue, added a sentiment from Kind & Caring Thoughts (Level 3 Hostess) matted in ruby red and stuck a couple of brads that I had laying around on to finish them off.

Quilt Cards

I have been wanting to make a quilt card since I seen the first one come through my yahoo groups MONTHS ago. Tonight, I had the kids down early and my husband was working down at his parent's farm. PLAY TIME FOR MOM!

I don't have the SU! Big Shot so I had to improvise w/ the machine I have, but I got it figured out and I love the results! :) Isn't stamping fun???!!

Recipe:

CS: barely banana, bordering blue, chocolate chip and whisper white

Stamps: Oval All

DSP: retired Bella Birds

Accessories: oval punch, scallop oval, top note die, non SU! ribbon, square punch, non SU! flowers, rhinestone brads, non SU! embossing folder.

Another Birthday Card

On Wednesday, I received another birthday card. My Mother-in-Law designed this card. She used the Stampin' Up! set Heard from the Heart. I love the big green organza bow. :) Thanks Caroline!

PlaceCards are FINISHED

Awhile back, my sister asked me to make 100 patriotic placecards for a private concert she is hosting. Royal Wade Kimes, a country singer featured on XM radio is coming to Potosi Wisconsin! Can you believe that? My sister and brother-in-law have gotten to know Mr. Kimes through his charity Backpack for Kids. He has shown an interest in getting out and meeting his fans. My sister offered to host his first concert and meet and greet. Well--I don't have XM radio, but my sister assures me that I am in for a treat on Saturday night at the concert.

Hours and Hours and HOURS later...here are the placecards. I had no idea when I started this project how long it would take to cut, stamp, color and assemble 100 of these placecards would take!! I love the soldier from the SU! Courage set, but it will be awhile before I will want to color another one. Geesh, I have colored a WHOLE PLATOON!

My Little Apple Tree

I love everything about Fall. September kicks off the fall harvest w/ APPLES! This card just makes me smile! I wish I had more red buttons and I would make a bunch of these cards to give to friends and family w/ birthdays this month.

RECIPE:
Stamp Set: Season of Friendship

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White

DSP: Riding Hood Red

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: chocolate chip ribbon, crop-a-dile, bold bright buttons, mini glue dots, scallop edge punch and dimensionals

Two must CASE cards...

I've been CASEing! Here are two cards that I thought needed to be CASEd.

I needed a simple QUICK card for my 16 year old nephew. (When I saw this card by Lisa Vale, I knew that I had to CASE.) His birthday is the same day as mine.....so I had to get out my belated birthday wishes stamp. Someday, I will get all the cards out on time!

Recipe:

Stamps: Party Hearty

CS: Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Kraft

DSP: Parisian Breeze

INK: Baja Breeze, Close To Cocoa

ACCESSORIES: linen thread, needle, paper piercer, 3/4" circle punch, dimensionals

This second card is an example of faux stitching and faux layering. The original by Miss Boo a/k/a jen70 on SCS is amazing. She did more faux stitching--making swirls and adding punched flowers. I am not that talented. If you have ANY TIPS how to stitch the swirls onto a card, PLEASE share! I would love to know.....

Recipe:

Stamp Set: Petal Pizzazz

CS: Certainly Celery, Whisper White

INK: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst and Regal Rose

ACCESSORIES: post-it notes, dimensionals, mat pack and paper piercer

August In-Law SWAP

Every month, my mother-in-law, 2 sister-in-laws and I SWAP cards. Here's what we did for August! I think everyone's cards turned out amazing! :)



Caroline (my mother in law)

Julie (my sister in law and SU! downline)

She CASEd this card from SCS. Isn't it adorable?

Joni (my sister in law)









And ME! :)

Now it's FINISHED...

Last night, there was just something about the Fall Layout I didn't like. This morning, I decided to take one more stab at it before I put it in Evan's album.

So I took off the photo corners, straightened the main image, paper pierced around the pumpkin pie dsp, journaled and I added the words "No seriously--you are" from the retired Absolutely Fabulous set.

Did I do the right thing revamping it?

Fall Scrapbook Page Challenge #33

I participated in the StampinUpLNS challenge this week. It was to design a fall scrapbook page using all current SU! products. I had just the pictures for this challenge! My daughter, Dani took these pictures of Evan back in June. He was so good to put up w/ her.

I decided for this challenge to do a progressive page, so no matter what size album....this layout has them all!

8 X 8

8 1/2 X 11

12 X 12

I love the little tag and clip!

My punched pumpkin using wide ovals, 5 petal flower, a little handcut stem, and a SKINNY piece of cardstock! :)
Recipe:

Stamps: The More The Merrier

Stampin' Write Markers: Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa

Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Ballet Blue, Garden Green, Very Vanilla

DSP: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Chocolate Chip ribbon, silver brads, rhinestone brads, wide oval punch, 5 petal flower punch, word window punch, photo corners punch, scallop edge punch, modern label punch, clip

SU! LNS Challenge #32

The challenge for this week was to take a project in the current SU! Catalog CASE it just a little different. I'm a professional CASEr so this was just the challenge for me. My first challenge and my first try at watercoloring...I might add!

I took the scrapbook layout on page 90 of the catalog using the Sock Monkey set.

- I used the Pun Fun set.

- I changed the colors (pumpkin pie, bashful blue, old olive and close to cocoa)

- I flipped the layout over

- I left the old olive rectangle as a journaling block

- I used stars, a rhinestone brad and bashful blue and pumpkin pie ribbon.

AND FINALLY

- I used the CUTEST LITTLE BOY'S Photos. Mr. Evan! :)

Placecards for Concert

This is the biggest thing I have ever been asked to do....and frankly, I'm terrified!

My sister is hosting a private concert mid-September featuring country singer, Royal Wade Kimes. She has reserved seating for 100 guests and has asked me to make the placecards. She wants the cards to have a patriotic theme and to 'dress up the tables' a bit. My sister is very down to earth-- I'm hoping she will like my first attempt...

What do you think?