My Happy Stamping Place

BBQ Invites

Every year, since my husband and I got married we have hosted an end of Summer BBQ.  It started out small with a few of our friends at our apartment.  The next year we bought a house and invited more friends, family and neighbors.  Now it has grown into a BIG event with family, friends, neghbors, and our kid's friends families coming to celebrate the end of Summer.  Or tearfully wave it goodbye. *wink*.  This year will be the 20th year of our annual end of Summer BBQ.  Kind of a big deal.  I made these invitations with the new On the Grill stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s Big catalog.  They needed to be fairly simple since I had a LOT to make.

Recipe: Stamps: On the Grill

Ink: Early Espresso, Real Red, Soft Suede

Paper:  Brights pattern pack, Crumb Cake, Whisper White textured cardstock

Other: Early Espresso wide striped ribbon, Sizzix Top Note die, paper piercer

All products are from Stampin' Up! and can be ordered through my Online Ordering website.  Check out the clearance section while you are there.  There's lot of good deals to be had!
 

It's been a crazy weekend and start of the week.  My husband is still painting the living room and all of the trim.  It's a BIG job.  It's going to look great when it's done though!  My kids and I have lots of back to school activities and sporting events and pracitices going on.  And even though I'm sad for Summer to end it will be nice to get back into some kind of routine again. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen

Fanciful Witch

I didn't stay away from Halloween for long, did I?  I couldn't help myself - I have new Halloween goodies and they are calling out to me to use them.  And I always listen to my craft supplies.  Always.  Just ask my husband.  LOL!

This little witch is dancing away.  I created a little "ground" for her by punching out the small oval punch on a post it note and then using this as a mask to "paint" some Sahara Sand ink around her.

Recipe:  Stamps: Fang-stastic

Ink:  Jetblack Stazon, Elegant Eggplant, Blush Blossom marker, More Mustard, Pink Pirouette marker, Sahara Sand

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor, Basic Black

Other:  Large oval punch, oval scallop punch, 2 squares scallop die, Black wide striped ribbon, aquapainter, small oval punch, spider web embossing folder

My son, Nick, is refing his first soccer game today.  Unfortunately, it's at the same time that my son, Sam has a soccer game at another field.  Soccer is bound to conflict sometimes.  It's times like these that cloning seems like a good idea!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 

Hippo Hooray!

I felt like making a card with a sketch.  I found this simple sketch on 2 Sketches 4 You and gave it a go.  I dusted off a set I haven't touched in ages, Pun Fun, and used some of the Tropical Party designer paper from the Summer mini.  This paper is only available through August 31 so hurry on over to my online ordering website to get some of your own!

 Recipe:  Stamps: Pun Fun

Ink: Jetblack Stazon, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Pear Parfait

Paper: Crumb Cake, Tropical Party designer paper, watercolor paper, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise

Other:  Aquapainter, Brights glitter brads(from the upcoming Holiday mini!), pumpkin pie designer paper

My house in in a shambles.  We are making some bold changes in the wall colors and I'm loving the look of it!  I'm going to be adding some of the Stampin' Up! Decor'Elements to spruce up the decor after the paint sets.  The kitchen is painted Terracotta orange and the entry way and family room is kind of a Soft Suede.  They look great together! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen
 

Big Birthday Bow

I'm going to give you a break from all of the Halloween posts.  Not for long though. *wink*  For this card I inked up part of the image from the level 1 hostess set, Birthday Bakery.  I colored in with my ink pads and aquapainter.  Then I used the Smooch Moonlight. This is a new product in the Stampin' Up! catalog.  It adds a controlled shimmer just where you need it!  Stampin' Up! is really meeting our glitz and glam needs these days!

Recipe: Stamps:  Birthday Bakery, Teeny Tiny Wishes(greeting)

Ink:  Jet Black Stazon, Marina Mist, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

Paper:  whisper white, marina mist

Other: dots embossing folder, pretty in pink wide striped ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, Smooch Moonlight, aquapainter, jewelry tag punch, linen thread

I still have to finish the back to school shopping with the kids.  Summer is just disappearing!  We have the clothes purchased but still need some of the schools supplies.  Soccer has already started for both of my boys and the first of the orientations start this week.  I guess it's coming.  I'm not ready yet.  Usually I am so ready for the kids to go back to school.  We've had a great Summer together and I don't want it to end!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen
 

Vintage Witch

I'm still on a Halloween roll. I wanted to create a vintage look with this cute little wtich from the Greeting Cards kid stamp set.  I used an aquapainter and inkpads to color her in.  Then I created a mask around the image and sponged on Not Quite Navy ink to look like the night sky.  Then I distressed the whole image with the new distress kit - I used tea stain and the rubber stamp in the kit to do this.

Recipe:  Stamps: Greeting Card kids, Fang-tastic(greeting)

Ink:  Jet black Stazon, Not quite Navy, crumb cake, tangerine tango, concord crush, more mustard, old olive, chocolate chip

Paper: Basic Black, watercolor paper, whisper white, tangerine tango, Nite Owl designer paper from the Holiday mini

Other:  distress kit, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, stampin' dimensionals, spider web embossing folder, aquapainter, Scallop Squares duo sizzix die(Holiday mini)

We're going to fill this Summer day with some fun!  My daughter is going horse back riding, my son, Sam, wants to go to the skate park and has a soccer game tonight. I hope you enjoy your day as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 

Witch Way to the Candy?

My kids love this stamp set for this saying alone!  I think it's pretty cute with the witch and dracula kids and their accessories!  What a fun card to send to a friend, teacher, neighbor, heck, anybody!

I stamped the witch and dracula onto Pear Pizazz cardstock.  I paper pieced the witch's dress and the vampires shirt, vest and pants.  The cape and hat were colored in with the basic black watercolor crayon. I embossed the circle with the polka dot embossing folder and then cut it into a 3" circle.  I punched a small piece in Garden Green at the bottom and cut the blades of grass.  There's a lot going on in this card but it was very fun to make!

Recipe:  stamps:  Fang-stastic

Ink: Jetblack Stazon, More Mustard marker, Basic Black watercolor crayon

Paper:  Wicked Fun dp, Pear Pizazz, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard, Garden Green, Marina Mist, Basic Black

Other:  Large oval punch, scallop oval punch, bat punch, scallops#2 Sizzix die, polka dots sizzix embossing folder, stampin' dimensionals, 1" circle punch, stampin'sponges, stampin' dimensionals

My youngest played in his first soccer game of the season and he scored a goal!  We're gearing up for a soccer filled fall with all three of my kids playing.  It's going to be crazy!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen
 

Treat Holder Challenge

I made this Halloween treat holder tube for a challenge on Kim Score's blog, Paper Punch Addiction.  I'm on a Halloween roll so watch out!  Once I go down the Halloween path, it's hard for me to turn back.*wink*

You can participate in this challenge too!  Just go to this link and follow her challenge rules.  The challenge goes through August 20. 

For my treat holder I ran a piece of Basic Black through the new Spider Web embossing folder that will be in the Holiday mini.  The top and bottom of the tube is Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  The ric rac around the top and bottom is also a new Sizzix die in the Holiday mini called Tasteful Trim.  I made my owl in Rich Razzleberry cardstock and Wicked Fun dp.

The Holiday mini comes out September 1.  There are so many wonderful products in this mini!  You are going to LOVE it!!!
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 

Batty Boxes

I know Halloween is a ways away but i got this new Sizzix box from Stampin' Up! and I just had to play! This candy box die will be in the new Holiday mini starting September 1. 

Recipe: Stamps: Batty for You

Ink: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Paper: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango. Basic Grey, Love Letter dp, Wicked Fun dp

Other:  Stampin' dimensionals, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, circle scallop punch, stampin' dimensionals, candy box sizzix die, Rich Razzelberry taffeta ribbon

I hope to do some more stamping today.  It's such a beautiful day so it seems a shame to be spending it in my craft room.  I feel torn.  Maybe a little bit of both - Sunshine and Stamping!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 

August Recipe Cards

I had my Recipe Club this weekend.  Denise was our hostess and made 3 yummy recipes for us.  This is the first of the 3 recipe cards I made around her recipes.

Recipes:  Stamps:  Well Worn background stamp, Apple Blossoms(Level 2 hostess set)

Ink:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Pear Pizazz

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White, Real Red

Other:  Real Red wide striped ribbon, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, wide oval punch, new sneak peek punch from the Holiday mini

Next up is a 2 pager recipe card.  The recipe was longer so it just couldnt' fit on one 6 x 6 page.

There are some more sneak peek products on these cards.  See that trim going across the middle of the card?  That's a new sizzix die in the Holiday mini and there's that label punch again underneath it. You may be able to see I lightly stamped an image from the Fast and Fabulous stamp set(a level 2 hostess set in the catalog).

The last card we made is for the Warm Caramel Bananas.  These were so yummy!  I had fun creating the bananas out of the wide oval punch.  Just punch an oval out of So Saffron cardstock, place the oval punch into the negative(you don't actually use the punched out oval) and place the punch over the opening until you see the basic shape of the banana.   A little spongeing with some More Mustard ink and you're done!

One thing to note.  Those are not brads on the side of the card.  I ran some Early Espresso cardstock through my square lattice embossing folder to give them some great texture and then punched them out with the 1/2" circle punch.  Pop them up with stampin' dimensionals and you have some faux brads!

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a member of my recipe club contact me at [email protected].

Thanks for stopping by today.  Our neighbors have rented one of those big jumpers for the day and friends and neighbors gather while the kids jump and run and play.  We've been doing this for about 5 years or so.  The weather looks to be beautiful today so we lucked out on that! 

Have a good one!

Kathleen
  
 

Coffee Cups

I am not a coffee or tea drinker but's it's amazing how much I love the set, Morning Cup!  I made this card for my stamp club and for my shoebox swap with my downline on Monday.  I wanted to create the look of a coffee sleeve so I used some corrugated cardboard.  I have included a video to show you how I made this card.

 

Recipe: Stamps: Morning Cup

Ink:  jet black stazon, early espresso, blushing bride

Paper: early espresso, blushing bride, watercolor paper

Other: corrugated cardboard, early espresso wide striped ribbon, pink taffeta ribbon, linen thread, neutrals buttons, curly label punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, stampin' dimensionals, aquapainter

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen