My Happy Stamping Place

Recipe challenge#42

This is my card for this week's Recipe Challenge team on Tamara's blog.  The challenge this week was:

-Stitching or Sewing
-Hardware
-Embossing(dry or wet)

I stamped the flowers in craft ink onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then poured clear embossing powder over it and embossed.  I stitched around the stamped flower panel and the designer paper with brown thread.  That is attached to a Chocolate Chip cardstock base.  The silver hodgepodge hardware frames the greeting and flowers surrounding it were stamped with Chocolate Chip craft ink on the colored cardstock and then embossed with irridescent ice embossing powder to give them some sparkle.
Check out what the rest of the design team came up with on Tamara's blog.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Happy Birthday Greetings
Ink:  Ruby Red, Old Olive, Chocolate chip, So Saffron Craft ink
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Walk in the Park designer paper, Riding Hood Red, Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron, Old Olive
Other:  Clear and Irridescent Ice embossing powder, silver hodgepodge hardward, riding hood red taffeta ribbon, matchbox die

Thanks for stopping by today!

Big Bloom

I had a meeting with my downline yesterday and I prepared this card for the make-n-take.  I love how full the flower looks when you run two pieces of cardstock through with the Stampin' Up! Sizzix Daisy Die and off set the flowers.  I used the new Walk in the Park designer paper from the upcoming Occasions mini catalog and the tag is from the new matchbox die.  I ran it through with the designer paper and some chipboard to give it more stability.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Matchbox mesages(greeting)
Ink:  Basic Gray
Paper:  Basic Gray, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Walk in the Park designer paper
Other:  3/4" circle punch, crystal brad from pretties kit, 1 1/4" circle punch, chipboard, Stampin' Up! Swirls sizzix die, Stampin' Up! matchbox sizzix die, Stampin' Up! Daisy Sizzix die, Stampin' Up! Top Note Sizzix Die, Stampin' Up! Texturz plates#4, Bouquet button

The kids are back to school today.  I must admit I do a little happy dance when they are back in school!  I can get a lot more done without them around all day.  I'll be happy to see their smiling faces at the end of the day too though. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Daisies Flower #2 Bigz Die item#114520
Price: $19.95
Just when you thought daisies couldn’t make you happier, we introduce another die with three more flowers on it. Voila, you're feeling a bit happier, aren't you! ■ You’ll need a Sizzix Big Shot machine and standard cutting pads to use this die ■ 5-1/2″ x 6″ ■ Rule-based die which can cut up to 50 different materials To place a Stampin' Up! order 24/7 go to my online ordering website.

Reach for the Stars

I made this card for a swap I'm in.  The one on the right is my original card.  I used the new grommets that are in the Occasions mini catalog at the top of the card and the middle of flower.  Then I placed some chocolate chip 5/16" brads in the middle of the grommet.  I didn't have enough grommets to go around for my swap so I modified the card on the left.  I used the three flower punch at the top with the 5/16" brads in the middle. 

 
I used new designer paper from the Occasions mini called Walk in the Park.  One other mini catalog item used on this card is the tag on the lower right of the card on the left.  it comes from the new Stampin' Up! Sizzix matchbox die.  All of the new Occasions mini catalog items will be available for order starting this coming Wednesday, April 1!

Recipe:
Stamps:  Animal Crackers
Paper:  Watercolor paper, More Mustard, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Walk in the Park designer paper
Ink:  Jet Black Stazon
Other:  Watercolor Wonder crayons in Summer Sun, Basic Gray, Bordering Blue, and More Mustard, Aquapainter, Close to Cocoa stampin' write marker, Stampin' Up! Sizzix matchbox die, Stampin' Up! Sizzix Baskets and Blooms die(flower), three flower punch, 5/16" brads, kiwi kiss ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, paper piercer, 2-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds glitter. 

It's sunny again in Minnesota today!  My boys got outside yesterday on their new $20 scooters from Target.  I hope for more of the same today.  Have a great day!

Lovely Day

Today is the final day of spring break for my kids.  Well, we have the weekend yet but you know...This is the first day of their vacation where it shows some promise of sunshine.  Having the kids cooped up inside the whole week has not been very fun.  At least they had some activities with their friends but they have a lot of energy to release. 

i haven't had as much time as I wanted(and needed!) in my stamp room this week.  But the time I have had has been great!  Even though I was only away from it for about a week I missed it!  Like an old friend.  I have new stuff to play with too.

This card was made with the new Manhatten flower textured impressions die.  You use it with your Stampin' Up! Big Shot.  You have had a peek at it for awhile in the catalog on page 202 but now you can actually order it!  It's just $7.95 and it packs a lot of punch! I have a picture of it posted below. This is a very simple card I made with it. 

I let the die be the main focal point of the card.  I used the new oval all stamp set, oval scallop punch, and white satin ribbon that will be in the new Occasions mini catalog April 1.  Fun stuff!

I took the kids to a new Brunswick Bowl near us.  Do you have one of these near you?  It was all new and clean and bright.  Not like the dark, smoky and run down bowling alleys you are used to.  They have a restaurant, huge arcade, laser tag and about 40 lanes for bowling. Since the weather has been dismal all week and we're on spring break it was a very busy place!  We saw all kinds of people we knew there.  It was the place to be!  After working out a few grumpies with my kids they had a great time!  Do your kids do that?  You think up something special to do with them and then they don't appreciate it?  It makes me crazy!  Oh well, we will be back to the Brunswick Bowl.  It's really an entertainment complex. 

You can order this die online with me at my online ordering site here:  online ordering with Kathleen or e-mail me at [email protected].

Thanks for stopping by today!

Deer Friend

I finally got to play with some of my new stamps from the Occasions mini catalog.  The stamp set, Forest Friends, is so adorable!  I stitched the cardstock panels with my sewing machine.  This is so fun to do!  If you haven't done any sewing on your cards or scrapbook pages I encourage you to do so.

The flower is done using my Stampin' Up! Sizzix Big Shot.  I used the scallop die#2 for the vanilla flower.  I used a textured fabric for this.  The daisy is done with chocolate chip cardstock and the Daisy die.  The fresh favorites button is sewn on with linen thread.  The leaves sizzlit die is attached to the bottom.  The greeting is from a rub-ons pack called "Cheery Chat".

Recipe:  Stamps: Forest Friends, Matchbox Messages(frame)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Kraft, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery
Other:  Cheery Chat rub-ons, Scallop Circles#2,Flowers Daisy die,Stampin' Sizzix LIttle Leaves sizzlit die, fresh favorites buttons, linen thread.

Recipe challenge#41

This week's recipe challenge for Tamara's blog had the following three criteria:

-Metal
-Grungy (grunge it up by distressing, tearing, inking or whatever)
-Masculine

I used the Under the Stars stamp set with the bear and "grrreat!" sentiment.  The party hat and presents are from the Party Hearty stamp set and the "let's celebrate" is from the Birthday Greetings stamp set.  Masculine cards always seem to be difficult for us stampers.  We are drawn to the ribbon, bling, and other frills that make femine cards so much fun!  But for masculine cards I like to use earth tone colors, texture, and less is more on a masculine card!  Go check out Tamara's blog to see what the rest of the design team came up with.

I haven't had much time to stamp and blog lately.  I miss it!  When you step away from stamping for a little while you get rusty.  Someone likened it creativity to a muscle.  If you don't exercise it often it goes to mush! 

I was happy to get a little time in my craft room yesterday.  I got to play a little bit with some new stamping toys.  I hope to find lots more time to stamp and blog this week.  Now that I have all three of my kids' birthdays behind me it will free me up a little bit.

Thanks for stopping by today!

First day of Spring!

We have been enjoying some spring weather this week here in Minnesota.  Today is the first official day of spring but it's starting out a little chilly in the 30's.  It's also my son, Nicholas' birthday today.  He turns 11.  We are gearing up for a sleepover birthday party featuring the Wii, ping pong, and various other activities.  The boys are plotting some showdowns on the Super Smash Bros Brawl.  Pretty exciting stuff!

I thought I would post pictures of the class I held Wednesday night.  The card box came from the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website.  There are some great resources for us demos there.  I CASE'd and tweaked cards I found on the web for the cards.  I used the Raspberry Tart designer paper for most of the cards and carried that color scheme through the whole ensemble.

Stamps:  Sweet Stems, Upsy Daisy(greetings), Heard from the Heart

Ink:  Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Jet black stazon, Basic Black

Paper:  Raspberry Tart designer paper, Whisper White, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pirouette Pink, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft

Other:  Stampin' Up! Sizzix Top Note Die, Stampin' Up! Scallops#2 die, Stampin' Up! Sizzix pennants die(scallop circle under the flowers on one card, soft subtles brads, dazzling diamonds glitter, blender pens, lace edge punch, large oval punch, wide oval punch, 1 1/4" square punch, square scallop punch.

This next card is a birthday card I received last month from my blogging friend Rose Ann.  Isn't it beautiful?  She hand-cut all of those little flowers!  Thanks so much Rose Ann for this beautiful card!

I have great news about my mom!  They didn't find any cancer on her biopsy!  I'm so relieved!  My heart feels light!  Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers!  They really worked!

Have a wonderful day!  Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe Challenge#40

This is my card for this week's recipe challenge on Tamara's blog.  The challenge was to use:

-Stars
-Staples
-3 different patterned papers

This is going to be a thank you for my son's rock star birthday party.  I used the Rockabillity paper, the stars are attached with staples and the rockstar stars come from the Little Something Level 2 hostess stamp set.

The next card is the invitations for my son's Rock Star party.

I took an unintentional blog break for a week.  I had a lot of family issues going on.  My brother-in-law's brother was killed in a head on collision.  He was only 47 and left behind a wife and 3 kids.  My mom is having biopsy today.  If you are a prayerful person I would appreciate any prayers you can send our way.  We'll know in 2-3 days the results.  There was another family situation I'm not going to go into here but it was a very stressful week!  I'm hoping for good news this week.

Thanks for stopping by.

Recipe challenge#39

It's time for this week's recipe challenge from Tamara's blog.  This week's challenge was:

-a button trio
-the color black
-a punched border

I borrowed this image from my friend Kristina.  It's one of the hug-a-buggs from stampingbella.  Aren't these images just the cutest?  The letters are Stampin' Up!'s sizzix billboard letters. 

Recipe:
Stamps:  Cheffa Huggabugg by Stampingbella
Ink:  Black
Paper:  Whisper White, More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black
Other:  Stampin' Up! sizzix billboard alphabet, Texturz backgrounds#4, circle punch, circle scallop punch, buttons, polka dot ribbon, lace edge punch

Thanks for stopping by!

I have a few more samples from the clubs and parties I had last week.  The first one is a hinge card.  This technique was shared with demonstrators in our monthly magazine, Stampin' Success.  I used the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set.  I stamped the bottom of the cupcake in Chocolate Chip monochromatic designer paper(A must have!) and the top of the cupcake in some turquoise dp from the Pink Flamingo paper pack.  This cupcake normally has a candle but we cut that part off and covered it with the punched out heart from the heart to heart punch.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Crazy for Cupcakes, On Your Birthday Greeting set
Ink:  Basic Black, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip designer paper, Pink Flamingo Designer Paper
Other:  1 3/4" circle punch, scallop is a Stampin' Up! sizzix die-pennant die, Stampin' Up! Sizzix texturz plates#4, celery brad, celery ribbon from Sale-a-bration brochure

This next card is a partial case from a card I saw on SCS.  I used the Polka Dot punches from the Sale-a-bration brochure. 

Recipe:
Stamps:  Polka Dot Punches(SAB), Heard from the Heart
Ink:  Cameo Coral, Basic Black
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Designer paper from the Delicate Dots from the SAB brochure, and the Pink Flamingo paper pack
Other:  Curly label punch bundle, 1" circle punch, uniball white gel pen, Soft Subtle brads, Basic Black ribbon, stampin' dimensionals

Sam ended up having a great 9th birthday.  He spent most of yesterday playing with his new toys with his older brother.  It was hard to peel him away from his toys to go to school today. 

Thanks for stopping by!