'tween Star Gift Card

Does anyone else have a daughter that gets invited to every classmate's birthday party?  Riley Kate is my 13 year old and she is always going to someone's house for a party.  Sometimes she doesn't let me know until AFTER I have gone into town that she needs a gift so often I make card with a gift of money enclosed.

This week Krista had a great sketch for these 'tween girls.

I went bold--Melon Mambo and Basic Black w/ a little rhinestone bling. 

I went right over top with the sentiment....

Inside there's a little pocket for money or gift cards with a Melon Mambo strip across the bottom.

Happiest Birthday Wishes set stamp (be a hostess and get this set using your hostess dollars)
Basic Black, Melon Mambo and Whisper White Cardstock
Staz-On Black Ink
Brights DSP stack
Neutrals DSP stack
Stars #2 die
Tasteful Trim die
Rhinestones
Dimensionals
scoring tool

  No need to get dressed and go out in the cold.
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Let's SALE-A-BRATE!  For EVERY $50 (before shipping and tax) you order between now and March 31st, you earn FREE PRODUCTS! Click on the SALE-A-BRATION catalog on the left and check out what you can have shipped right to your home for FREE!

Celebrating Sale-a-bration

 After counting down the days, it's time to celebrate!  It's Sale-a-bration.  It is my favorite time of the year to be an Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  This is the time when my customers (and myself) can take advantage of Sale-a-bration and earn a freebie with every $50 spent.

I took some time to make another card using the Everyday Enchantment dsp and the Fresh Vintage stamp set from the SAB (Sale-a-bration) catalog. I used the sketch challenge from Krista's Cards & Things Challenges. It's a cute sketch. 

I love the stamp!  Isn't it beautiful?  I used Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party Stampin' Write markers to ink it. 

Finishing touches--a few little pearls, some ruffled ribbon and I even got out my sewing machine to add a few stitches.  ;)

Want  instructions for some cute little Valentine's Day projects?

I have my P.S. I Love You class all ready for you on a PDF file for $2.00. 

Please email me if you are interested!  

This is my very first time offering a class, I would love your feedback.

SHOP NOW with me!  Yep, I am your 24/7 Stampin' Up! store.  :)

Countdown to Sale-a-bration!

There is only one week left before the start of Sale-a-bration.  Do you have you SAB mini pages dogearred? I know that I wanted several of the freebies in the SAB and had to devise a plan. LOL  Did you know that SAB required strategy?!  It does-- especially when SU! outdoes themselves w/ such beautiful products.

Today, it's time for another Cards & Things Challenge. I thought I would tease you a little with the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper from the SAB. 

Merry & Type

Does anyone else feel like it's full speed ahead?  I can tell that the holidays are approaching.  The lazy days of summer have turned into the CRAZY days of fall.  The kids are always standing in front of our calendar writing another event in.  The calendar is the fullest that I can ever remember. Sometimes when I'm  driving Evan here or picking up Riley Kate from there, I try to stop and remember how truly blessed I am.  I have 2 wonderful kids at home full time & Dani home on the weekends to occupy my time. Poor Terry, he just blends in.  ♥

Saturday night, we set the clocks back.  It is wonderful in the mornings. I was awake at 4 AM this morning.  My internal clock needs to be reset.  LOL  But the nice thing about early mornings is NO one is up.  I made breakfast and started in dinner in the crockpot,  packed Terry's lunch, ran the dishwasher and STAMPED!

While contemplating whether I was going to stay in bed and wait for the alarm to go off or get up, I remembered I have a neglected stamp room.  I also have a great sketch from Krista's Cards & Things Challenge blog to work on.    If you like this sketch, you should play along.  It's a great way to get the stampin' juices flowing.  :)

I like how it turned out.  It isn't a traditional Christmas card. 

 It is pink so it is better!  LOL



Stampin' Supplies used to make  this card:

Stamps: Merry & Type

Cardstock: Blush Blossom, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso

DSP: Letters from Santa

Accessories: Snowflake punch, Big Shot, Ovals die, Scallop Trim Border, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Bright Buttons, Neutral brads, dmc embroidery floss

Need the products to make this card?  Click here to visit my online store or email me.  

I would love to be your demonstrator!

Ribbon Shares Available!

I have spots left in all my ribbon shares.  If you'd

like a little ribbon in a lot of terrific styles, you have come to

the right place. 

A good deal for you and a great gift option. Christmas is coming!

Click here for more information regarding my ribbon shares. 

Up, Up and Away!

Yawn! I always thought I was a morning person, but the last couple weeks have been hard on me. Riley Kate decided to go out for volleyball this year. After I agreed and she's all signed up and excited, I find out that practices are in the wee hours of the morning BEFORE school. I have noticed that the trip into school is getting darker and darker. When practice first started it was starting to get light outside. Now it's DARK! The only other creatures I have found awake at this time are skunks, possum, raccoons and DEER. I learned after the first couple mornings to allow more time for the drive and take it slow. I don't want an antler hood ornament.


I was half hoping the first couple mornings that she wouldn't like it--I was jonesin' for some Zzzz's. But she loves it and for her first year playing, she is doing pretty well. So this old mom will continue to get up in the dark and take her into town for the next 3 1/2 weeks. (Not that I'm counting!) LOL

Krista has a new sketch over on her Cards & Things Challenge blog.

If you don't already play along, it's a great week to start!

Next week, Evan will turn 3! I used the sketch to make his birthday card.

It's a bright one!

Stampin' Up! products used to make this card:

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Stampin' Write Markers and Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray

Stamp Set: Up, Up and Away (cute isn't it?)

Dsp: Brights Stack, Big Top Birthday

Accessories: 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches, mat pack, paper piercer, bright brads

Shopping for Stampin' Up! has never been easier, click here and shop online using my online store!

Want To Go Steady?

 This week there's a new sketch challenge over at Krista's Cards and Things Challenge Blog.  It's a good one!  Stop over to her blog and play along!

I had a card in mind when I started making my challenge card.   My 'mental card' was NOTHING like this.  But I spotted this retired set, Best Fiends on the shelf and well the rest is history! :)

I love the Best Fiends set.  Whoever the artist was who created it did a great job! Dracula just makes me giggle.   How can you resist a face like this or the eyeball bouquet for that matter? He looks so spiffy in his cape.  It accents his hair and fangs so well.   I wonder what kind of moisterizer he uses  to achieve that amazing skin tone.  Ladies, wouldn't you just love to have an olive complexion?

 

I think he's asking, "Want to go steady??" 

Honestly, I think I had worse offers in high school.  LOL

What I used to make this card:

Stamp set: Best Fiends (there are a lot of current Halloween stamps from SU that are AMAZING!)

Cardstock: Rich RazzleBerry, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Rich RazzleBerry, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Old Olive

DSP: Retired Old Olive

Accessories: Aqua Painters, Sponges, Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, Tasteful Trim Die, googlie eyes. 

Want to shop for SU! products in your jammies?  YOU CAN! 

Order now from my online store!

3 Little Bats

Today was one of those cold, rainy,  fall days that are only good for sleeping and stamping. Fortunately, Krista made a brand new sketch to keep me stamping!  :)

If you would like to play along this week with us, here's Krista's Cards & Things Challenges.

This weather reminds me of Halloween.  Although the last few years, we have had nice weather for the kids to go trick or treating. I still am haunted by Halloweens past where we had to wear hats, winter jackets and mittens. 

 For my challenge card this week, I chose the Batty for You stamp set.  I dug out those googlie eyes that I KNEW I needed for a future project.  I need to remember to mention this to my husband.  He was doubting my NEED when I purchased them.  LOL  I have all kinds of craft supply NEEDS.   Can you relate?

Here they are up close!  They are 5mm in case you have a NEED.  I attached them w/ 2 way glue. 

If you would like to make these cards here's the supply list:

Stamp Set: Batty for You
Cardstock: Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin' Write Basic Black Marker
Accessories: Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, Owl Punch (great for small circles), 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Square Punches, 2 Way Glue (always nice to have), Dimensionals, Frightful Sight dsp

Order now from my online store!

It's Hip to Be Square

It's hip to be square in a round challenge, right?   I like to be just a little different sometimes-well most times.  This week Krista came up with another great sketch challenge. I wanted to use the Take A Spin set that will be carried over into the new catalog, but I really liked the square stamp in the set for a birthday. 

Cards & Things are taking a summer break after this challenge and will return September 6 with all new sketch and color challenges....

Here's this week's sketch:

I love the spinner!!!! 

3 days...
I'm counting the days down until July 1st--when I can start ordering a few of the stamps from my 2 page wish list. Ahhhh! My sweet stampin' addiction! 

Bold Butterfly

Can you believe we are over halfway through June already?  I have been busy busy since Dani's graduation.  Oh good news, she got her student ID for Carthage College.  She's officially going!  I'm so excited for her.  (In September, please refer me back to this post).

Riley Kate's doing well in softball.  I love to go to the games, but need to find a repellent for GNATS!  If you have something--anything that will repell them, please leave me a comment or shoot me an email.  Evan and I spend the whole game swatting, smacking and complaining about gnats.  Okay Evan really doesn't complain much, but I am mentally hating on them the entire game. 

Here's something that I am not hating on.....  Krista's new sketch!  I love it!  It always excites me when I have to think outside the A2.  If you want to play along this week, here's the link to Cards & Things Challenges.

 

 I decided to stop hoarding my Love Letter dsp.  It's retiring in a couple weeks and I wanted to pull it out and use some before all the new dsp comes out.  There's a lot of beautiful dsp on the way and I think Love Letter is too pretty to get dusty on my shelf.
Plus I LOVE polka dots!

I went a little further than the sketch and made my card into an easel card.

I wanted a card that would catch your eye.  I think a BIG BOLD Cherry Cobbler Butterfly popping off the front of the card might help. 

Simply for the Birds

Tomorrow is the big day, I meet with the school district about Evan going for a few hours a week.  I am having the worst time thinking that I have to send my baby to school at 3 years old.  *sigh*  Hopefully all goes well tomorrow and some of my fears are put to rest.

I decided tonight to make a bright cheery card to offset my glum mood.  I love this dsp, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is!  It was in a mini w/ a tropical set. 

It's bright and definitely a summer card.  :)

Here's a close up of the image--aren't they so cute?



Your Future's So Bright...

...ya gotta wear shades! Or at least you are going to need shades when you see the card that I made to play along with Krista's Cards & Things Challenges and Late Night Stampers graduation challenge....

Here's Krista's sketch...

 I hope you are wearing some protective eye gear, because this puppy is bright!  :)

LOL.. I told you it was bright!

Just a Little...

Just a little hot!  Oh my gosh, Wisconsin forgot all about spring this year and went straight to summer. It's been humid and low to mid 90s.   I thought after the long drawn out winter and no spring that it may never be warm again.  I was wrong.  It's back to sweating, shorts, bugs and ballgames. Riley Kate is playing softball two evenings a week and I'm loving being outside, but need to adjust my personal thermostat.  I'm running a bit warm.  And I must be VERY SWEET--the bugs love me.

I am enjoying being down in the basement where it's cool.  The stamping room is the nicest room in the house right now. :)  WELL--I think it's pretty great year round, but it is particularly pleasant especially with no a/c yet.

This week there is a ~CooL~ new sketch challenge over at Krista's Cards & Things.  I like this one.  It was just what I was needing to get more scrapbooking done.  I opted to do the 'things' this week rather than the cards.  LOL

I had this photo of Evan that was taken last month that I just had to do something with.  My girls laughed right out loud when they saw it.  He looks so mischievous and perhaps just a little naughty. He isn't of course.  He is just a perfect little angel.  *cough*  Yeah, right!!!

To prove his point, Evan just came up and hit something on the keyboard and the paragraph above disappeared so I got to retype it. *sigh*  2 year olds are such fun! ♥

  

 

Kindness--It's For the Birds....

Graduation is drawing nearer and I think I might actually survive this.  In a couple of weeks, it will all be over and I will have 5 years to recover before Riley Kate's party.  A bit of advice to all you Mom's--don't procrastinate!  First of all, know where your kid's school pictures are (write on the back or jot down what grade, because regardless of how you think you will remember--you won't!).  I have spent so much time searching through boxes of pictures.  I really am going to take advantage of MDS and SU! printing for Riley Kate's graduation.  I am starting a photo box w/ my favorite snapsnots of Riley Kate and her school pictures from each year.  This digging through pictures is for the birds. 

Speaking of for the birds, here's the sketch for this week's sketch challenge over at Krista's Cards & Things Challenge Blog.  

I didn't mean that the sketch was for the birds.  Oh no, it is a wonderful sketch, but my card is for the birds!  :)  I absolutely fell in love w/ this set the moment I saw it in the new Summer Mini Catalog.  It's called Touch of Kindness.  I love whimsical sets like this. 

Here's a close up of the front.  I was having so much fun watercoloring the cat.  I think he turned out pretty cute.  He must have been okay, because Riley Kate has already claimed the card for one of her friend's birthday card.   I don't mind--it's a great excuse to make more!

Choo Choo Challenged

Confession:  I have had the Choo-Choo set ever since it first made it's appearance in the catalog. *deep breath*  Today, I mounted it.  Omgosh, I have had this set for over a year, because I think it was first introduced in a mini catalog.  LOL  If anyone would like to come and mount my sets, I would gladly pay you.  I honestly, dislike putting stamps together and choose which stamps I use for my cards by which ones are already mounted. 

Today, I wanted to use this 'boy stripe' paper from the Celebrations dsp and I looked for 'boy' sets to go with it.  Choo Choo was perfect.  So out come the scissors and a couple minutes later, I was ready to go.  Hmmmm..why do I have such a problem w/ mounting when it REALLY doesn't take that much time?

It took much longer to cut out the train...  LOL

 

And the #3...
(I found that I don't have any die cut numbers, but luckily the Celebrations DSP has a sheet of designer paper w/ numbers on it.  YEA!)

Here it my Choo-Choo card after several attempts to get it just right.  LOL.. I guess I'm Choo Choo Challenged.  *giggle*

Real Men...

...can handle a little pink! 

This week's challenge over at Cards & Things just screamed Extreme Skateboard to me.  I don't know why these crazy notions pop into my head, but I had to make a masculine card using these colors. 

 Here's my card!  This is also the sketch from Mojo Monday. I have never participated in their challenges but I thought this would be a fun one to try. :)

I think it turned out pretty good and most guys wouldn't be too upset about the Pink Pirouette in the background.  Can you find it?  It's subtle, but it is stamped back there twice.  :)

Here's a close-up.  There's pink in that thar left hand top corner!!!!  LOL

I think I know just the 'cool guy' for this card. 

Friends

 I can't believe how fast the last week has past by.  Last Thursday Terry had hernia surgery and I have been his nursemaid for the last few days.  He started out with a lot of pain, but seems to be doing a little better now.  It's amazing how little I get done with him home, science fair projects and Evan.  LOL

I did take some time out this morning after Evan's Speech Therapist left to play along with Krista's Card & Things Sketch Challenge this week.  I love the squares--it was a lot of fun!

This is a birthday card for my friend, Wendy. She will be celebrating her birthday on Thursday. :)

My card is a 4 1/2" square. 

Stamp: Just Believe

DSP: Elegant Soiree

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White, So Saffron

Punches:  Non-SU scallop and circle, SU 1 1/4" square

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Sponge, Non-SU vintage brad, pearls

The Chickens and The Eggs

Everyone in our house is sick.  It is one mean virus!   Riley Kate came home last Monday with a cold and  horrible cough. Evan and I had it by Thursday.  Terry on Friday and Dani on Saturday. It is no fun when the kids and the parents are all sick.  I feel really sorry for Terry.  He has a hernia and a bad cough. He is scheduled for surgery on Thursday.  God willing, he will be well and able to have surgery. 

Today, I felt well enough to stamp after 3 days of lounging and sleeping.  What timing.... there's a brand new sketch over at Krista's Cards & Things Challenge Blog.  Why not stroll on over there and play along?

Here's my card!  It's So Saffron and Riding Hood Red. The So Saffron polka dot dsp is from the Subtles Stack and the Riding Hood Red dsp is from the retired paper Bella Rose.  I love the sentiment.  It is from the Word Play set.  When I had the card almost put together, I decided it needed something.  I added some Basic Black flourishes from the Baroque Motifs set.  What do you think?

Last summer, my daughter, Dani got chickens.  It all started when her science teacher gave her two little bantam chickens (a hen and a rooster), then all of a sudden we had 19 chickens (2 roosters and 17 hens).  It's funny how when mom isn't looking the pets multiply around here.  LOL

Here's a few of Dani's pets.  This was taken last fall when the grass was still green. Over the winter we have lost 3 chickens.  That still leaves us with 14 hens and those 2 silly little roosters!  Now she has an incubator and is going to try hatching eggs.  Oh my word...  I don't know how successful she'll be, but I'm not sure how many chickens we need!  I will say that I never thought chickens would be a fun pet, but we are really enjoying them.  They each have their very own personality AND they keep the cats off the patio. LOL 

She has a half dozen different kinds of laying hens and they are giving us quite the variety of eggs.  I love the little blue/green eggs and the itty bitty bantam eggs! We won't need to color our Easter eggs this year. They come colored straight from the hen!  Some even have speckles.   :) 

 

We also have a hen that is quite the over-achiever.  LOL  Her eggs are a meal all by themselves!

Most of her eggs are double yolked!

We are now getting almost a dozen eggs a day!   We are going to have a new business " Fresh Eggs".  :)
Hmmmm.....I wonder who is going to be in charge of taking care of the chickens when Dani leaves for college next year?