Purse Obsession?

Are obsesed with purses?  I know some ladies who have more purses than I have fingers and toes.  Me---I had one!    BUT then I preordered the new die from Stampin' Up!  Now my tabletop if full of cute little purses.  

Starting on June 1st, you can order this cute little purse die HERE. 

I used silver brads from the metallic pack (119741) to attach the handle.

 Designer printed brads (122940) along with some retiring brads for the front of the purse.

I also used the Boho Blossoms punch (119858) and the 1/2 circle punch (119869) beneath the brad. 

Here's something else that is really cute and so much fun to play with....

My daughter, Riley Kate's lambs. Fawna is on the left. Dusty is on the right. They were about 5-6 days old in this picture. I love there big ears. :)  We have spaced out the feedings so I am getting about 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep now.  I am functioning much better.  LOL

I am still losing weight at a good pace.   I have lost 62.6# since 1/1/12.  I'm plugging away on it.  Now that I have lost weight, I need to color my hair--the gray is more noticeable.  LOL

It's Graduation Time (AGAIN)

Seriously, where did the last year go?  It seems like just yesterday I was full panic mode trying to get eveything prepared for Dani's graduation open house.  Now she has officially completed her first year of college.  She is home again for the summer and has went back to work.  It is so good to have her home.

However I don't know if we'll ever have an empty nest.  We have 3 new babies at our house.  Granted, they aren't human babies. Aunt Laurie gave my 14 year old, Riley Kate two little orphaned lambs for her birthday and they arrived last night. They are super cute and I will have to post some pictures of them soon.

Our other new baby is Max. He is our new bullmatian (bull dog and dalmatian mix) puppy.  He's so sweet and he still has that new puppy smell. 

All the babies require some night time and early morning attention.  I think summer may be alittle  crazy.....here's what my night and morning has been like.  I was up at  midnight w/ Max, 2am with the lambs and 4 am w/ Max.  I decided that at 6am just to get up.... I'm so tired. I definitely know I'm too old for any more human babies. LOL

This weekend starts the graduation 'season'.  We have several to attend this year.  I can't believe these kids are already finishing high school.  The time goes so fast.

I made some 4 x 4 criss cross cards and changed the belly band to coordinate w/ the graduate's school colors.  I absolutely fell in love w/ the CURLY CUTE stamp set--WHY oh WHY did I wait so long to get it?  LOL

Scrunched Scalloped Circle Flower

I had several questions about how I made my scrunched scalloped circle flowers in my last post.  I thought I would give you a little step by step on how to make this cute and VERY EASY 3D flowers.

You will need:
Enough cardstock or dsp to punch out 6 scallop circles
1 brad
Paper piercer and mat
Scallop Circle Punch

***Shocking image***
Look away if you can't stand the sight of scrunched cardstock.  :) 

Scrunch up all 6 scallop circles like you would a gum wrapper --being careful not to rip them.

Carefully flatten out your circles.  See all the crinkles and wrinkles--that's perfect!

Stack up all 6 circles and poke a hole down through the center of them w/ your paper piercer.  Bore out the hole a little to make it a little bigger.

Using a brad attach the 6 circles together.

One layer at a time, scrunch up the circles again.  I like to REALLY scrunch the center circle so it is tight and you can't see the brad.

Continue Scrunching....

Then I take the flower in my hand and I scrunch it some more...

Here's what it look like after all the that....

Shape your flower by pulling down some of the petals a bit.  No worries--it you don't like the shape or something isn't just so--scrunch it again.  :)

HAPPY SCRUNCHING! 

8th Grade Art Class

Hi Everyone! It has been awhile since I have been here.  I'm sorry.  I am back to stampin  again.  The last couple months have been hectic and I also decided that I needed some time invested on me.    I have been focusing on losing weight and getting healthy.  Since January 1st, I have lost 56#.   It is going really well and I am feeling a lot better .   I have my goals set for the next few months and  now it's time to get some stamping done!

The local art teacher asked if I would come in and make Mother's Day projects w/ her 8th graders.  When I originally agreed, I assumed there would be 10-15 kids in the class.  I was wrong!  The 8th graders are required to take art.  I had 30 kids in the class.  

Here's what we did in ONE CLASS PERIOD!

We made a simple 3 x 3 card.  They loved learning how to make a 3D flower out of a few circles.  The boys especially loved to make flowers.  Their teacher had just finished telling them that they would need to be careful because Stampin' Up! cardstock is a lot 'better' than what they usually work with. If they messed up by not paying attention, they would not get replacement pieces.  I told them to take their cardstock scallop circles and crumble them like a gum wrapper.  LOL

Then using my Big Shot, we cut and embossed the scallop envelopes, made a little 'wonderful mother' card to go inside, added a ghirardelli chocolate. Then I had tie a ribbon to hold it all together.  ***No chocolate was consumed during the prep or making of this project.  LOL

The boys did the razzleberry, old olive and pretty in pink cards and envelope. 

I would highly recommend teaching an art class if you are wanting some cardio exercise.  I didn't stop moving for an hour and whew---I was warm!!!  :)

I hope their moms enjoy them and Happy Mother's Day to all you Stampin' Moms!!

Bleu Chateau Boxes

The time change is about killing me.  I am not a person you find looking at the clock a lot.  My body just knows when it's time to get up, time to eat, time for the school bus to arrive, time to sleep.  Well it did!!  Now I am just a mess.  It's only Wednesday and I have overslept two mornings. Monday morning, Riley Kate had to be drove into school.  We are about 6 1/2 miles from school and with the price of gas (and inconviencing the bus driver), we always try to have Riley Kate on the bus in the morning. She probably could have made the bus if I threw her a poptart and had her sprint our quarter of a mile driveway (uphill), but I'm just not that kind of mom.  :)  So needless to say I'm not 'embracing' the time change at this point. BUT I am embracing the Wisconsin weather.  It's gorgeous.  Evan is lovin being outside--he likes to chase the chickens.  Oh and the grass is already greening up.  I am one of those strange people that loves to mow so I can't wait. Granted, we have a riding mowing. ;)

While I am waiting to mow, I might as well stamp.  LOL 

I love these little kraft boxes from the Occasions mini catalog (124106 Kraft Gift Box (4)) and the new blossom punch (125603 Blossom).  I wanted to make some of these for my Hostess Club.  I am trying to use some of my hoarded DSP.  It was very hard for me.  I used a few sheets from several different packs.  I did break down and open my Beau Chateau paper (122357) and didn't want to cut it. It's so pretty!  I think there's a 10 step program for people like me out there.  :)


Here's my rooster box:

The happiest birthday sentiment is from the Apothecary Arts set (125527) from the Occasions Mini.  I would love to receive a little present in this box. Is it wrong to Awwwww!  at your own creation? LOL 

The catalog says pink pirouette matches it, but I went with Blush Blossom for the matting and the flower.  I liked it a little darker. 

Here's another box: 
The dsp has the same floral pattern as the stamp from the Elements of Style set.  It's very pretty paper.  I made a Marina Mist flower on top. 

Reminder: Sale-a-bration is ending in just a couple of weeks. If you are still wanting to take advantage of the promotion, now would be a great time.  Go to my online store and order today! 

Whew!  Evan's awake. I finished my post just in time. 

Have a great day!

Have a Seat

It is beautiful here in Wisconsin.  The driveway is no long one big mud puddle.  When I went into town today for groceries, I washed my car.  I forgot that it was silver and not tan.  :) 

The family has been spending more times outdoors too.  The four wheelers made there appearance this afternoon after being stored away for the winter. 

I managed to get 10 loads of laundry washed, hung on the line, brought back in, folded and put away this weekend.  AND I made time to make a card.  This was actually supposed to be my entry for the Cards & Things sketch challenge, but I did didn't take the sketch w/ me to my stampin' room so it's a little different than the sketch.  I guess that's okay, because I do like the card.  

 

I like that this card could be used for any occasion with the quick change of the sentiment.

What SU! set do you find very versatile and you use for all occasions?

Welcome

It's been a long couple of weeks.  I really feel like I must apologize for the lack of posts.  I am doing physical therapy a couple times a week.  I have achilles tendonitis.  I have been trying to ignore it hoping it will go away, but so far that approach hasn't worked.  It is getting increasingly difficult to stand on my feet and walk. The pain is unbelieveable!  My physical therapy paired with Evan's school and therapies makes what little time I have at home rushed.  You know it's getting bad when I am excited to clean the bathroom and mop floors. :) 
This morning, I got up at a little after 5am.  I was determined to go get my fingers inky and use a recent color challenge from  Krista's Cards & Things Challenge . 

Here's the color challenge I chose:

I made a square card (4 1/4 x 4 1/4) using the hostess set, Up In The Air  from the Occasions Mini.  I thought this was such a nice springy set! 

Card Recipe

Stamps:  Up In the Air (hostess)

Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso

Stampin' Write Markers: Old Olive, So Saffron, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Mat Pack, Brights DSP Stack, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals, Blender Pen, Rhinestones, So Saffon Ribbon (I bought this from the Clearance Rack)

 Sale-a-bration ends on 3/31.
 Don't miss out!  This is the best promotion of the year!!!   For every $50 (before shipping and tax) you spend, you earn free (yep, I said FREE) merchandise from the Sale-a-bration Mini.  There's cardstock, exclusive stamp set, buttons, ribbon and more!   Go to the left column on my blog and click the Sale-a-bration catalog for more details or visit my online store.

Evan's Valentine's

Evan attends school for an hour or so twice a week.  He has some social time/free play with the kids in 4K and Early Childhood classrooms.  They have been so sweet to him. Evan is the only 3 year old attending school in our district so he gets a lot of attention from the little girls especially.  As a mommy is warms my heart when I bring Evan into the room and the kids turn around to greet him.   

I know he's not officially part of the class, but I couldn't resist making the kids a little Valentine from Evan.  I didn't use embellishments on the card, because there are a couple other little boys that have some sensory issues.  One of the boys sticks things in his mouth so I didn't want anything he could choke on---just in case. 

I set aside a couple hours this afternoon while Evan was napping to finish them.  They are 3 x 3.  I like this size-you can get 8 Valentine's out of a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock.

I had a hard time deciding between the I Dig You set and Dinoroar....

I choose---

I Dig you!

 

I made 2 dozen Valentine's  for school. 

Card Recipe:
I Dig You stamp set
Real Red,Early Espresso and Whisper White Cardstock
Early Espresso and More Mustard Ink
Heart to Heart Punch, Ticket Card Punch, 2 way glue, snail, dimensionals.

SHOP NOW with me!  I am your 24/7 Stampin' and Scrappin' Store.  You don't have to leave the comfort of your home and hey, you can shop in your jammies if you'd like!  :) 

Don't let SALE-A-BRATION pass you by!  For every $50 you spend between now and 3/31, you can earn FREE, yes FREE, items from the Sale-a-bration mini catalog. Contact me now with your order or questions. 

The Little Things...

....that make me smile. 

Evan has a new favorite toy. Yep, it's one of Terry's empty coffee containers. With all the toys that this boy has, this is what he is most apt to play with.  I gave him a measuring scoop and a plastic mug and now he pretends to make coffee.  Evan is autistic and imaginative play has been nonexistent so this is a HUGE development at our house.

Evan has also starting use more 'words'.  Evan lost his words at 13 months and has spent the last almost 2 years not using verbal communication.  He now knows over 30 signs and has started to verbalize some.  If you think it is exciting to hear your little one talk the first time, you would be amazed how easily tears of joy fall and your heart feels like it is going to burst open when they start to speak a second time.

Here's Evan taking a break from being naughty to be just a tad cheesy! ♥♥♥

Another thing that makes me smile....

when a card comes together!

Yesterday I stamped a bit and put the finishing touches (an antique brad and a pinking heart border) on this card that "looked naked".  I started it a couple days ago and had to walk away from it.  I didn't know what it was missing, but knew I wasn't happy with it.  I also changed the sentiment and I am so happy with the results.  The Perfectly Penned set had just the perfect sentiments for this card.  Perfect, eh?  LOL

Card Recipe:
Perfectly Penned (page 154) stamp set
Twitterpated DSP (Occasions Mini)
Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Gray cardstock
Cherry Cobbler Ink
Pinking Heart Border Punch, Dimensionals, Cropadile, antique brad

SHOP NOW with me!  I am your 24/7 online Stamp and Scrap Store.


It's SALE-A-BRATION!  Stampin Up! is offering exclusive products to customers.  For every $50.00 you spend (before shipping and tax), you earn these products.  I love Stampin' Up! so I REALLY love FREE Stampin Up!  :) 

Cheerful Treat Easel Card

 Here's another girly girl card.  It had been a long time since I made an easel and I thought Riley's friends would like this style of card. I figure I'm just a really old 'tween and I like them.  LOL  

I used the Cheerful Treat Designer Series Paper (dsp) for this card.  It is in the front of your Idea Book and Catalog (page 11) and can be bought w/ hostess dollars.  This is a real nice package of dsp--there are a lot of cute little prints for cardmaking.   

This sentiment is from The Nicest Things set (page 74).  I think this is one of my favorite sentiments that SU! carries.  I like the font.

 

Now that I have the card done, I'm not sure I like the pearls....  I think I should have went w/ rhinestones.  What do you think? 

Recipe:
The Nicest Things, Happy Greetings (retired--Summer Mini Catalog)
Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Whisper White and Concord Crush Cardstock
Concord Crush Ink
Perfect Pennants and Bold Butterfly Dies, dimensionals, pearls

SHOP NOW with me!  I am your 24/7 online Scrappin' and Stampin' Store. 


It's SALE-A-BRATION! 
Every $50 you spend (before shipping and tax) earns you free products from the Sale-a-bration catalog!  Make out your order today and take advantage of this promotion.  It's a good one!   If you have any questions, my email and cell phone number are located on my blog header.  :)

'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.
SHOP NOW with me!  I am your 24/7 online stampin' store!


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!

Somebunny Easter Bags

It's hard not to think that spring is almost here in Wisconsin.  This winter has been the mildest that I can remember.  Most days this winter, I have had to wear just a sweatshirt or a light jacket when I'm outdoors.  In fact, I think the animals think spring is here too. Our chickens are content to be out of the coop and on the way home Thursday night, there were two skunks along the road.  I'm so glad they stayed along the road--I didn't need any of their perfume on my car. Phew! 

Some of my favorite things about spring are the intensely green grass, chicks, and all the baby bunnies.  I think it may be a bit before any of these arrive on the scene, but it was a little like spring  in my stampin' room today.

Today, I  opened the white lunch sacks that I searched and searched for and FINALLY found them at a neighboring Walmart.  If you go looking, they are  in the aisle with the ziploc bags.   I know now that not all Walmart stores carry them so if you don't find them at one, you may find them at another.

Oh and after MANY years of stamping, I decided to try out Stampin' Up! Blender Pens.  I give them two thumbs up.  They are really very easy to use.

I made boy and girl Easter bunny bags.  I think little boys and girls will be excited to find these on Easter Sunday.

Here's the little girl bunny.  She's all decked out in her Pool Party and Peach Parfait dress.  I love her big feet! 

You can see how I cut down a lunch sack and sandwiched it between to pieces of cardstock. 

 Recipe:
Somebunny Stamp Set
Pool Party, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake Cardstock
Peach Parfait, Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake Classic Ink Pads and Staz-on Black ink
Everyday Enchantment DSP (Sale-a-bration)
Pearls, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Dimensionals, Sponge, Blender Pen, Watercolor Paper, Perfect Pennants Die, 2 1/2" circle punch, XL oval punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, Sticky Strip and Lunch Bags

Here's one for the boys.  I think the little chick is so sweet.  :)

Again, just a cut off sandwich bag. 

Recipe:
Somebunny stamp set
Everyday Enchantment DSP (Sale-a-bration)
Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade Cardstock
More Mustard, So Saffron, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Crumb Cake Classic Ink and Staz-On Black ink
Pearls, Dimensionals, Poppy Parade Poly Ribbon, Sponge, Blender Pen, Watercolor Paper, Perfect Pennants Die, 2 1/2" circle punch, XL oval punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, Sticky Strip and Lunch Bags



Are you ready for spring like me?  Or are you like my husband waiting for the big snow? 



SHOP NOW with me!  My online store is open 24/7!  AND for every $50 you spend (before shipping and tax) between now and 3/31, you can earn free merchandise from the Sale-a-bration catalog!  Including the Designer Series Paper, I used to make my bags.  How cool is that?!