Single Stamps Now Available!

How many times have we all looked at a stamp set and have fallen in love with just one image or one saying? Well Stampin' Up! has heard us and has now made available until January 22, 2013 a selection of single stamps from some of our favorite sets as well as some never seen before images. Click on the links to see the single stamps sayings from Perfectly Penned, Seasonal Sayings and Word Play as well as single stamp images in Assortment 1 and Assortment 2 that has 2 never before seen images. You can order directly from my Online Store, email  or call me if I can help you with your order. Happy shopping and stamping!

Explosion Box Round 2

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from my mother-in-law. She had seen the previous explosion box I had made and wondered if I had time to make one as a gift for a friend's surprise 70th birthday luncheon. Well, of course I said I would...what crafter would turn down an opportunity to play, right? I started by using the Build a Blossom punch creating a Bashful Blue flower with an Antique Button center to adorn the box lid.

I dug through my embarrassingly large stash of DSP and found the patterned Bashful Blue from a few year back. I wanted to leave some pages fairly plain so the birthday lady could add pictures of her luncheon.

I pulled out a variety of stamp sets, current, retired and those about to retire to decorate many of the flaps. On this one I used the recently retired Pocket Silhouettes.

I also tried mixing different stamped images and sentiments from various sets on this project. Of course, now that I have put away all the sets I used on this box I find myself at a loss for remembering the sets I used on this flap. Perhaps when I find myself with nothing to do I can go back and and dig them out to insert the names.....yep, I know...good luck with finding that time. 

The Language of Friendship set. I put off purchasing this set even though I had seen so many beautiful projects with it so thank goodness for Sale A Bration because this was one of my freebies.

The butterfly is from the Summer Solstice set; the flowers and sentiment not so sure. Another project for when I find those few minutes of spare time.

Another part of the Summer Solstice set.

Faith in Nature hostess set 2011-2012

Elements of  Style colored with ink and the Aqua Painters. I then used the Illuminate Top Coat Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink. The shimmer does not come through in the photo that well, but it looks  lovely in person. The pearl accents were an after thought... that is after I managed to get an ink smudge on the upper corner that needed to be camouflaged.

My MIL told me her friend just loved the box and all the other ladies were taking pictures as they passed it around the luncheon table. I don't think I could ask for a bigger compliment!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by to see my creations.

Sweet Daisy Mae

This coming Wednesday will mark 2 weeks since we had to say good-bye to our sweet border collie Daisy. She was with us for 12 years and was an absolute doll!! That dog loved to chase after sticks; we always joked that her leg would be hanging on by a ligament and she would still go full bore. Well, now she is chasing those sticks across the Rainbow Bridge. I made this card for the doctors and staff at our vet's office to say thanks for the love and care they always gave to our girl. Shhhhh, I know it's not Stampin' Up! and I won't post the name but I got it at one of those big box stores. Can you believe I did not have any dog (or cat for that matter) stamps in my inventory? Unbelievable! This is a CASE with a couple of minor changes. Of course, once again, I did not jot down the name of the original creator or blog so if this is yours let me know so I can post credit. I did use Stampin' Up! cardstock in Crumbcake, Early Espresso, and Melon Mambo along with retired MM ribbon

And here she is, the wonderful Sweet Daisy Mae! She turned 12 this past February, which for us is short....our mini dachshund, Dollie, was 18 (1991-2009) and our kitty Sneakers was 21 (1987-2008). The house has been really quiet. We could always tell when Daisy was around as she was not the most graceful of dogs when it came to laying down....she would always kind of flop down with a resounding thump. Laughingly we would call her "Grace".

And who ever said cats and dogs don't get along? My 2 snugglers in action. Daisy and Sneakers became fast friends when Daisy came into our family.

And finally, a dog and her boy.....My youngest son, Ethan would love on Daisy sooooo much and she would just take it. Sometimes she would look up at you and you could just tell she was thinking "Okay, that's enough love for now." I think Ethan was always a bit disappointed that Daisy wouldn't sleep on his bed with him, but she tended to be hot natured. The only time she really ever slept with any of us is when someone was sick and in our queen size bed. There apparently was enough room for the sick body and the sprawled out collie. That was one of the sweetest things about this old girl, she knew when you didn't feel well and was willing to stay by

 your side until things were better.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the contraband card. I will actually have another to post in the next day or so; a belated birthday card for my son's third grade teacher. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Explosion Box

This is my first Explosion Box ever and even though I tend to be my own worst critic....I love it! This little box is such a neat way to keep memories of a special event. For the past several years a friend has asked me to make a favor or memento for a father-daughter dance called the Princess Ball at her church.  Our beautiful Poppy Parade is a perfect match for the red sashes that are being used in their color scheme.

I got to use so many different products while creating this box and many for the first time. I am so bad about ordering a product I think I am just going to love and then it takes me forever to actually pull it out of the packaging....please tell me I am not the only one! Although I had put my Mixed Bunch stamp set and coordinating punch to use previously, I have been sitting on the Textured Impressions Designer Frames. Why? It makes such a beautiful presentation and I will be using it a lot more often.



One of my Sale-A-Bration goodies, Language of Friendship. When I first saw this set I thought it was okay, but nothing I really had to have. Then thanks to all the creative ladies that so graciously post their work  online I found myself really wanting it.



On the top flap you can see where I used the new Framlits Labels Collection....I am liking these too! It may just be me, but I wish the nesting sizes were a tad bit closer in size. I like the matting that I did on the top flap, but I think I would have liked the black label to be just a bit smaller. I'm sure the dies are sized this way for a reason, but a girl can always wish :-)

Last but not least, I have finally cracked open one of several pads of In Color DSP from the Hostess Benefits to add a little pop to the blank flaps. When I originally put the box together I did not have the scalloped trim around the bottom of the lid. I looked at it for a couple of days and each time I just knew it needed something, it was too plain. I punched a couple of different borders and then decided upon the Scallop Trim Border, cut it about 1 1/4" wide and adhered to the inside of the lid and all of the sudden my explosion box was done.

I know most of the explosion box samples I have seen online started with 12"x12" paper, but since you can't get 12"x12" Poppy Parade only, I opted to go with a smaller size. I started with 8.5"x8.5" and scored at 2.75" and 5.75". Each subsequent layer was cut .25" smaller, but scored the same. The girls will be able to add small pictures and/or journaling on the flaps that range in size from 3", 2.75", 2.5" by 2.75". The reverse side of each embellished flap was left blank for the girls to customize.

I met with my friend last night to show her the sample even though I had already emailed her pictures. Her first comment was "the pictures do not do justice to this box"; what a lovely compliment! Well I am now off to start making 20 of these little beauties. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my newest project, have a great day!

Belated Birthday

 I have got to get busy and start crafting some more cards now that I am about done posting my latest creations. Can I please have about 12 extra hours per day? I know, don't we all wish there was more time to hide away in our craft rooms, or as in my case crowd the dining room table with my vast inventory of products :-) Bless my husband's heart he rarely says anything about it...love him!!

I also love this Mixed Bunch stamp set. As usual I was running behind on a birthday gift that was

already considerably belated so I had to go fairly simple. I have seen so many beautiful cards done with this set.

 

My upline did a tutorial on a card like this using the My Friend set and I  liked it so much I decided to CASE it. The only change I did was to add some Dazzling Diamonds to the White Embossing Powder to get a little extra shimmer. 



I know, here she goes again with that Because I Care set, but I'll say it again.....I really love that set!



Back to that Mixed Bunch set. I told you I was pressed for time so not only did I do simple, but repeats with minor color changes. The first set had Pear Pizazz centers on the flowers and here we have Baja Breeze. I am thinking next time I create one like this I bump it up a notch with some background embossing.

Well, I learned my lesson with this set of cards. I asked my 6 year old what was his teacher's favorite color. He proudly and definitively stated "purple and pink!" So I tried to follow that color scheme throughout this set of gift cards. Just recently I found out her favorite color is green....uh-oh. I find that a tad bit funny, because that is my son's favorite color as well; perhaps he just was helping his teacher expand her horizons on other color choices.



Finally, another Because I Care and in pink, but at least there is some green on the card!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

One Sheet Wonder

Happy Valentine's Day!!! No Valentine's cards to post today, but hey, I am just patting myself very lightly on the back just to have posted twice within a week's time :-)

I just love this DSP, Paisley Petals, I think it is so elegant. Quite some time ago I got the urge to do some One Sheet Wonder cards with this paper. I searched for layouts, cut cardstock and DSP, had everything ready to go and then I stopped. Then I finally got the urge, many months later, to play with paper and stamps again and this is what I did. I actually made a mistake when I was cutting the designer paper so I ended up with more cards than I was supposed to, but how is a paper crafter going to complain about that?!

Somehow I found a template by Keri Lee Sereika (thank you) and luckily I scanned the template and the card layouts because I have never been able to stumble across this particular one since then. I changed a few things here and there just to put my touch on it.

 

I did keep the theme going by only using birthday sentiments

 

You can never have too many birthday cards on hand, can you?

 

It's good to be posting again and I thank you for stopping by!

1 Year and 13 Days Later.......

Wow, do I have a lot of catching up to do!!! It has been a very long while since I have posted and truthfully, it's been a long while since I even wanted to post. Last year was not a good year and hope to not have to repeat a similar one any time soon. Next Friday, February 17 will mark one year since I lost my dad....I never imagined how hard it was to lose a parent. I have lost other folks in my life (I am far from being a spring chicken), but to lose a parent was incredibly hard for me....my dad...my hero. I never told him that, but I hope he knew I would walk through fire for him. This is my favorite picture of us ever......

Dad had been ill for a while with COPD, he was sick a lot longer than he ever admitted, but he was a stoic man. It was honor to have helped care for him during his last few days at my parents home. My brother, husband and I were there 24/7 and I would not have had it any other way. I did not have the desire to do much over this last year other than the things that had to be taken care of, family, our business, helping Mom take care of all the "stuff". As much as I knew I needed to be there, I stayed away from my church and church family, but they supported me through cards and phone calls, I didn't craft, I didn't read, but I tell you what I sure could cry you a river when those darn COPD medication commercials came on the TV! Yes, even now I have to laugh at goofy things like that to keep the tears at bay. I was so lost for so many months and then my Pastor asked if she could come visit me at my home. She had been so kind to offer her services over the previous months...my husband would come home from service and let me know who was asking after me and what did I need or want, but I just shrugged it off because I could do it on my own....yeah, right. Little did  she know the tidal wave of emotions that she was about to be hit with, thank you and bless you Kim! Since that visit I have slowly been getting myself involved in the things I once enjoyed....I started my crafting journey back by crocheting baby caps for the local hospitals, I returned to Church and my family there received me with open and loving arms, and I finally started paper crafting again....hooray!!! So this brings me to where I am today, bending your ear with a wish to do what I enjoy and share my creations and yes, Dad would want me to be happy.

Well, now that  sure was a not quite so happy way to start back with my blogging journey! But on to happier moments with an end of the year (that would be last school year... 2010-11) thank you card and gift made for my son's teacher.

I really enjoyed using the new embossing powders on this Flower Fest card. Just do me a favor and ignore that little dark spot on the "thanks" sentiment. I was a very bad girl and did not get my digital camera sensors cleaned like I should have and this was the price I paid.

I am not sure why this next picture came out so dark, I used the same light box, camera, etc....the end result is not so good. I gave the teacher some monogram cards as well as all occasion cards.

Monogram Note Cards

Because I Care Thank You card

Just Believe

More Because I Care (yes, I really liked this stamp set)



Just Believe (again...I really like this one too)

And another Because I Care.

Well, I should wrap up this first post for 2012 and get to my list of must-do's for the day. I will do my best to post on a more regular basis ....I do have a few pictures stashed away of the cards made over the last few months.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings. I look forward to many more posts!!!