My Happy Stamping Place

Family photo

The job I have been working at has been encouraging me to bring in some family photos, etc. to make my workspace my own.  I bought this frame at Target but wanted to dress it up a little bit to reflect my passion for paper crafting.  I added the wide striped ribbon and flower made from the large and small scallop circle punch, Love Letters designer paper, vintage brads, and the LIttle Leaves Sizzix die.  I'm very pleased with how this turned out.

This picture is from Father's day this past June.  Both of my boys got drastic haircuts right after this photo was taken.

One of the things I love about working in downtown Minneapolis is the chance to get outside on nice days and walk the streets.  There is always plenty to do and see in downtown.  One day I went out and wandered into Macy's.  They had a holiday shop set up(I know - already!) and I found this ornament.  It's perfect for me because I have a santa ornament collection - I do an all Santa tree, and I love cupcakes.  The two of them are combined on this one ornament!

Love it!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen 
 

Asian Panda

September's recipe club was a bit of a challenge because I had two Asian inspired recipes to create recipe cards for.  I had already made the hamburger chow mein one with punch art asian girl.  So I went hunting for a punch art Panda.  I found this one by Ellen Kemper but I couldn't figure out how to do the hat.  So I used hers as a starting point and went from there.

Recipe:

Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White, More Mustard

Other:  Fanciful trim Sizzix die, Sizzix alphabet, wide oval punch, 3/4" circle punch, owl punch(circles), 1/2" circle punch

Happy monday to you!  Now that I'm back working full-time the days of the week and the weekends have more meaning.  I have Monday under my belt and am a happy camper!  It really does feel good to be back working.  I just hope I can find a permanent position after this temporary position is up.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen 

Hamburger Chow Mein

it's amazing that I can make fun, creative papercrafts but often lack creative titles for my blog posts. Ha!  I guess I used all of my creativity up on the paper crafts. 

For recipe club this month, our hostess, Patty, provided the recipe for Hamburger chow mein. I'm not sure I've ever had hamburger chow mein before but it was yummy!  I wanted to create the look of an asian room screen.  I did that by cutting 3 strips of real red cardstock and stamping a circle image from the Just Believe stamp set.  I matted the cardstock strips with Basic Black cardstock.  The asian girl came from Patti Lee's blog. A lady named Maya came up with the punch art.  The body is punched out with the curly label punch and stamped in basic black ink with a stamp from the Eastern Blooms stamp set.  Her head is the 1 1/4" circle punch in Blushing Bride and the hair is the 1 3/8" circle punch cut in half and the 1/2 circle punch for the bun.  The flower is from the punch trio punch pack.

My first week of full-time work went well.  It's going to be an adjustment but it's good to be back working.  I'm not going to get as much stamping time as I'd like but I will definitely fit it into my schedule because I love it so much! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I have some more recipe cards to share with you over the next couple of days.

Kathleen
 

Wicked Sketch

Nothing like a good sketch challenge.  This sketch came from Splitcoaststampers SC297.  I flipped it on it's side to make it work for my card.

 Recipe: Stamps:  Dark and Dreary

Ink:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Craft White

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Nite Owl dp

Other:  Glitter brads, narrow black taffeta ribbon, spider web embossing folder, Scallop Squares Duo Sizzix die

I'm into day two of my full-time job.  I have to admit there is an adjustment to working full-time.  It's going to take me awhile getting used to it. 

Are you a Gleek?  The first episode of Glee was on tonight.  It was fantastic!   Oh, I missed Glee!  Can't wait for more!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen 
 

Halloween Class

I LOVE Halloween!  Do you?  I am offering this Halloween class this Friday, Sept. 24. 

You get a tiny little peek.  You can click on the picture and get a bigger peek. We are making 4 treat containers and a Halloween card.  The owl witch is a CASE from Kay of Creations on Paper and the pumpkin treat box and spider web treat container are a CASE but I can't find from who right now.   

If you are local to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and would like to come to the class you can contact me at 952-226-2190 or by e-mail at [email protected].  As of today, I still have openings.

Class Date: Friday, Sept.24

Time: 6:30 pm

Price: $18

Thanks for stopping by today!

Kathleen

Wickedly Great Day!!!

Oh, so much to tell you!  Yesterday was quite the day!  I had a very busy day.  I did a little stamping(will show you that), ran some errands, watched my two darling nieces, ran my son to Soccer practice and got THE call.  I got a full-time job!!!  I have been working on this for awhile.  The interview process has changed immensely since I last worked full-time twelve years ago!  I have been home with my kids for the past twelve years and have loved being home.  During my time at home I did work part-time from home for my previous company and became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator 8 years ago.  But my kids are older, my daughter starts college in two years so it is time to get back to work full-time.  Don't worry, I wont be giving up Stampin' Up!  It is my passion and can't imagine my life without it.  I'll have to get good at time management.  The job is temporary in an administrative position but it's a foot in the door and who knows what it could lead to?  I already had plans to see Wicked last night with my mom and my sisters.  While I was driving my son Nick to soccer practice, my mom and my sister, Mary Jo, showed up at my house to meet up with me.  My husband told my news before I got home!(He's pretty excited that I'm going back to work).  Then, Mary Jo, my mom, and I drove to my sister, Therese's house, to meet up with her and my sister Peg and Geri.  While I was stocking up cards for the Once Upon A Barn sale, Mary Jo told my news to my sisters.  Again, I didn't get to share my own news!  They were all very happy for me though.

So here is a synopsis of my day in pictures:

This card was based on a sketch from Skipping Stones Design.

I flipped the sketch on it's side. 

Recipe:  Stamps: Aviary

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizazz

Paper:  Greenhouse Gala, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizazz, Real Red, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Other: Brights buttons, linen thread, scallop sizzix die from Holiday mini,  scallop edge punch, stampin' dimensionals

Next up are my darling nieces that I watched.

Two things we always do when these two are over is have snacks and bring out the Barbies.  This is them doing a bit of both.

Next up is Nick just before I drove him to soccer practice.

And I ended the day with my mom and sisters at Wicked.

We asked a stranger to take our photo outside of the Theather.  See that bus coming?  He almost took out me and the poor gentleman we asked to take the photo!  We could feel the draft of the bus passing by us by inches!  I guess we shouldn't have been in the bus lane! The things we do for a good photo!

Here's me and three of my sisters inside the theater.  It was my third time seeing Wicked.  The first time in New York and the next two times here in Minnesota.  It is always a wonderful experience!  Love this play!

So it was quite a day!  This is my last day of "freedom".  I'm going to go meet my husband for lunch.  He mentioned Mexican - my favorite!  Then it's off to look for a few new work clothes.  I'm used to being a jeans and t-shirt stay-at-home mom and will soon be dressing business formal.  Quite the change!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
  
 
 
 
 
 

Beautiful Petals

I tackled another Mojo Monday sketch yesterday.  This one is Mojo Monday 156. I'm always inspired by the sketches there!  I picked my colors for my flowers from the designer paper I was using.  I stitched around the perimeter of the dp strips.

Recipe: Stamps: Awash With Flowers, Pocket Silhouettes(greeting)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin PIe, Real Red, Pear Pizazz

Paper: Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala dp, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Other: Pumpkin Pie taffeta ribbon, Tasteful Trim Sizzix die, 1 1/4" circle punch, curly label punch, rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals

I interviewed for a full-time job this week.  It's a temporary position. It's been a long time since I interviewed for a full-time job. I'm really excited about the position and the company!  I sure hope I get it.  I should hear by the end of the day.  Wish me luck! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 

Peek-a-boo Owl

I've seen many different versions of this owl card on various sites.  I'm not sure who the originator of the idea was but it sure is a cute one!  I used the square lattice die in soft suede cardstock, adhered it to the Early Espresso cardstock and then ran them both through the big shot with the movers and shapers die - the one with the big circle cut out.  It works great cutting layers through both layers of cardstock and having them line up.  I wanted it to look like a tree that the owl is peeking out of.

Recipe: Stamps: On Your Birthday

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake

Other:  Stampin' Up! owl punch, bird punch(branch), large oval punch, square lattice embossing folder, movers and shapers sizzix die, large scallop circle punch, uniball white gel pen

We had our big end of Summer BBQ this past weekend.  We had beautiful weather and few bugs!  We're putting a few finishing touches on the walls but everyone seem to really love the colors we chose. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen
 
 

Once Upon A Barn Sale

ONCE UPON A BARN
(An occasional sale of unusual delights)
Sept. 16-18
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday


Tired of dragging through the heat and humidity of a Minnesota summer?

So are we.

So welcome fall with a visit to Once Upon a Barn, a junker's delight of vintage Christmas, funky Halloween, scrapbooking supplies and cards, antiques, reclaimed furniture and garden art.

Need a bench? We've got one or two. Want a table? Then pull up a chair. We've got things without names just waiting for your inspiration. We have scales, handmade cards, red-handled kitchen utensils, measuring cups, potting tables, sadirons, vintage tablecloths, tools and so much more.

So visit us at the little blue barn at 310 Wayside Road W. in Hopkins, MN. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.

For directions or information,  call Therese at (612) 867-5095 or e-mail Geri at [email protected].

This is a sale my sisters and I put on twice annual.  I will have some of my retired stamping supplies for sale as well as some hand-stamped cards.  If you are local to the Twin Cities area we would LOVE it if you stopped by to check it out!!!

Card for Teacher

My son Sam is having the best week of school with his new 5th grade teacher!  I wanted to make her a card to let her know how much Sam is enjoying her as a teacher and to thank her for getting the school year off to a great start.  I have seen this wise old owl version of the owl punch around blog land and decided it would be the perfect thing for her card.  I also used the Monday Mojo sketch 155.

Recipe: stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes(greeting)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Paper:  Play Date designer paper, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip. So Saffron, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, More Mustard

Other:  Owl punch, tiny tag punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 3/8" circle punch, paper piercer, retired Stampin' Up! ribbon, linen thread, stampin' dimensionals

I hope you are having a good week!  It's Friday already.  Thanks for stopping by!

Kathleen