Valentine's

Today was the Valentine's party in Grace's class. They have tomorrow and Monday off for President's Day and Lincoln's B-Day so they had their party today.


She helped me make a card for her teacher.

I {heart} hearts set (occasions mini). Kraft, whisper white and real red cardstock. Real red and whisper white inks. Scallop trim border punch (SAB), white taffeta ribbon, crimper and dimensionals.

I don't have a "happy valentine's day" stamp. Can you believe it? Me neither! I could have sworn I had one, but I looked everywhere. Anyway, having Grace write it just makes it that much more special.

See the little ruffle behind the heart? That idea came from a SU! event somewhere. Genius!

You take a strip of cardstock and punch it however you like, I used the scallop trim border punch. Then you run it through the crimper a million times, Grace's favorite part, and tuck and fold it behind the heart. Genius I tell ya!

We tucked a little candy in with her card and sealed it up. Yay for me! because I didn't wait until the very very very last moment to get it done..........like I usually do.

Last night was also the Valentine's concert at the high school. During spring semester we have "concert band".

Here is my little man trying to dodge a picture.

Isn't he handsome? He hasn't worn the tux since last May and it needs a few alterations. We couldn't button the neck! And the jacket is too small. Anyway, the band sounded great. It always amazes me how gifted these guys are. Really they sounded like a movie soundtrack. So good.

Thanks for stopping by and checking in. I love it when you do that.

Blessings, b.

New Ulm, Minnesota

Before I get to the "inspired" card today, I want to talk about New Ulm, Minnesota.




I looked it up on google and it is a real live town in Minnesota. The reason for my interest is the movie, New in Town, with Renee Zellweger(sp?) and Harry Conick Jr.. I watched it when it first came out on PPV (pay per view) and recorded it and never thought about it again.




Well, last week, when I was chilling with those meds, I watched it again. I will admit that I have watched it 4 more times in the past week and a half.

I like movies and when I'm stamping and need to block out the distraction of my loving family, I will pop in a movie on my little portable player and my earbud thingys and stamp away.





pardon the messy desk. The trick is to have on a movie that I've seen many times so that it just becomes background noise to block out the background noise the kiddos make. I can't tell you how many times I've watched Twilight and Pride and Prejudice (BBC and KK versions). Those 2 movies got me through the display stamper stuff last spring. Love those movies and can enjoy them without watching every single minute.
So anyway, I popped in New in Town and of course didn't get any stamping done because I was paying attention to the movie. And I loved it! Are all Minnesotans that nice? I would love to visit there. I think its just the whole idea of everyone knows everyone and cares. And I love the way they talk. Do they really talk like that? I used to watch the Mary Tyler Moore show (showing my age) and I don't remember them ever talking like that. Just wondering. The snow is a little scary so I'd have to visit in the spring or fall, maybe catch a game. Go Vikings!

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program. Here is the card we made at the workshop.







I wasn't sure about the so saffron color so I was looking around the room collecting my thoughts and spotted a pic I printed from the computer from a Pottery Barn ad.






This is their newest collection "The Nest". I just loved it! The colors and simplicity of it. So I printed it out and stuck right by the DVD player. Knowing I'd use it for something.


This is what I came up with.

Medallion and Woodgrain backgrounds and Whimsical Words (SAB) sets. Confetti white, bashful blue, choc. chip, kraft and old olive cardstock. Bashful blue and soft suede (stamped off 2 times) inks. Top note die, 2 step bird punch (Occasions mini), polka dot embossing folder (wart maker) and dimensionals.

I really liked it. Okay, the words are crooked, but I liked it better than the So Saffron one. I put it to a family vote and the So Saffron won out big time. I swear, nobody agrees with me in this family. Are they really mine?






I used the polka dot embossing folder for the body just to give it a little texture. And one of the polka dots was perfectly placed where his eye would be. Cool eh?




Alrighty peeps, I gotta whip up a Valentine for Grace's teacher. I forgot all about it. I didn't make class valentines this year. Grace found some cool ones at Target that had 3D stickers and wanted to give those. Made me a little sad. "Oh for crying in the beer cheese soup!" get over it Beth. Yep, I'm okay now. love that movie!


Thanks for stopping by and putting up with me.


Blessings, b.

I like trees

I really do. You could even call me a "tree hugger". I'm okay with that.


I needed a birthday card for my brother. Lovely as a Tree is my "go to" set for guys. Although I think he could really care less about trees. I'm not sure. He's kinda weird. Okay, moving on.........


So I needed a little inspiration and had to check out the Stamping 411 weekly sketch. Love, love, love that site! Really, you should check it out if you haven't yet.


So here's what I came up with. Think he'll like it?

Lovely as a Tree and Sanded background. Soft suede, basic black and watercolor paper. Black Stazon, Soft suede, old olive and more mustard inks. Aquapainter, hemp, sponges, misc. button and dimensionals.

I did one something similar awhile back using just the oak tree. So I kinda copied myself. Thats okay I guess. Hey, if it works don't reinvent the wheel. KWIM?





I smooshed the lid of my ink pads and used my Aquapainter. Coloring is relaxing. I think thats why I like to do it. But as I was preparing for that workshop last week, I realized that I don't have very many current open line images anymore. I'll have to see about changing that.


Okay, thats all for today folks. I will post my "inspired" card I mentioned yesterday, tomorrow. I got sidetracked with this one.


Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.


Blessings, b.

insert catchy title here_________________________

I guess I'm not feeling very witty today. I couldn't think of an interesting title. Not that my titles are all that interesting anyway......I guess........I mean...........well........... whatever, here we are together and thats what counts right?


Here are the rest of the cards we made on Thursday night.


Now this one you've seen before. I made it for my neighbor but I really liked it and thought, "what the heck".

Flight of the Butterfly, Inspired by Nature, Woodgrain background and Whimsical Words(SAB). Soft suede, kraft and whisper white cardstock. Soft suede, old olive and more mustard ink. 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, paper piercer and dimensionals.

We also did a Valentines card.

I{heart} hearts set (occasions mini). Kraft, whisper white and real red cardstock. Sahara sand, whisper white and real red ink. Real red satin ribbon, scallop trim border punch (SAB) and dimensionals.

That satin ribbon ties such a beautiful bow. Although here, it looks a little lopsided. This is a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" card.



Last but not least. A cute little birdie.

Medallion background and Well Scripted (occasions mini). So saffron, bashful blue, choc. chip, kraft and old olive cardstock. Choc. chip and so saffron ink. Top note die, Polka dot embossing folder (wart maker, occasions mini), 2 step bird punch (occasions mini) and dimensionals.

I was so happy with the way this card turned out. For some reason it came together so easily.

I knew I wanted to use the new 2 step bird punch but really didn't have any idea for it. And I kinda thought I'd like to use the Top Note die because its a SU! exclusive die. And I thought I'd like to use the polka dot embossing folder because its new. Thats alot of new stuff for one little card. But I think it turned out so cute! Love that punch!


I had another idea with this little bird card but the kids are kicking me off the computer so I'll show you that tomorrow. Just remember, you can find inspiration everywhere.



Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.

Blessings, b.

ahhhh......the weekend

I'm so glad its the weekend! How about you? It is raining and windy this morning and I'm loving sitting here listening to it. So relaxing.

Then I realized I haven't shown you what we made on Thursday night yet. I had so much fun Thursday. Those ladies just crack me up!


This is what I made my hostess:

I {heart} hearts set (Occasions Mini) and Vintage Labels set(SAB). Rose red ink. Pretty in pink and very vanilla cardstock. Candle, Scallop trim border punch (SAB), Real red satin ribbon (Occasions Mini), wide oval punch, regal rose wide grosgrain and natural hemp.

I almost forgot to take a pic of it. It was already wrapped and I didn't have time to unwrap and then rewrap so I took the pic of it wrapped. I love stamping on candles. I hadn't done it in so long. So easy too.

Let me know if you'd like to know how to do this and I'll see if I can work something up for you.




This is one of the cards we made.

Well Scripted (Occasions Mini). Not quite navy and very vanilla cardstock. Not quite navy ink. Wide oval punch, kraft taffeta ribbon, Bella Bleu DSP, brads and dimensionals.

Isn't this beautiful (if I do say so myself)? So simple but just has such a WOW factor. I think this was the favorite card of the night. Everyone was trying to think of what the flower looked like. Camillia was the favorite, but I think it looks like a gardenia too.









Okay, want to know how to make this flower?



I first saw this idea on Dawn McVey's blog and she got it from someone else's blog. I'll see if I can find the link. eta: Okay, I guess I'm not supposed to link to her blog because she promotes another stamp company. But she is still a genius and I love her stuff. Google her and you'll find her.



Anyway, these flowers are everywhere right now. They are so pretty and you can make them out of any paper. The possibilities are endless.






I just used SU!'s scallop circle punch. Punch out 6 scallops. You can punch out more or less depending on how full you want your flower.

1,2,3,4,5,6.

Then stack them all together. Notice how my scallops aren't lined up with each other? You can if you want, but there is no need. I think it looks a little more natural if they aren't.







Now, take one layer at a time and scrunch the heck out of it. Get those aggressions out!

Oh no! The thumb is back! It could use a little moisturizer too by the looks of it.

Just keep scrunching away until you have a little ball of scrunched paper.

The bottom will be flat and thats a good thing.

Then loosen up the petals. You can make it as scrunchy as you like it.

How many times can I use some form of the word scrunch?

There ya go. A beautiful flower! I do leave the middle (first layer) of the flower pretty scrunched up so I don't see the brad. You like it?

One of the best things about it, you can mail it and not worry about your flower getting crushed. It may look even better! If thats possible.

I'll be back with the pics of the other cards we made. Those pics didn't turn out so great so I'm going to redo them.

Thanks for stopping by today and checking in. I love it when you do that.

Blessings, b.

warm fuzzies

ahhhh....you guys make me feel so good. I've gotten emails and comments with well wishes for my aching head. Thank you.


I am feeling better and hope for a nice relaxing weekend. Well, one can hope can't they?


I did get all 4 projects done for the workshop tonight. I even got in bed before 12:00. I'll take pics today and share with you later. I just hope I don't forget anything tonight.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

Look Ma! no stamps.............

well, almost.

Sorry for the absence lately. I've been battling what I thought was a strange migraine but turns out to be a tension headache. I've been a little stressed lately.


I dig on the muscle relaxers (yeah, I like those alot) but of course I can't take them during the day because I'm a lightweight. So by the time I get home from work I'm in lots of pain again and want to rip my head off. Or anybody else's head for that matter. Doesn't really help with the stressed part very much. Anyhow, I get no stamping done. Which REALLY SUCKS because I have this big workshop on Thursday night and I'm not ready.


So today I was/am determined to get something done. So I trucked on over to the Stamping 411 site and checked out their latest sketch. Looked easy enough. Heres what came of it:

Vintage Labels set (SAB). Old olive, whisper white, pumpkin pie and bermuda bay cardstock. Welcome Neighbors DSP (SAB), natural hemp, dimensionals, scallop trim border punch (SAB), sm. oval punch and paper piercer.

I only stamped the little tag. I went ahead and got this DSP free with my last order. I didn't get the matching stamp set. And while the papers are cute, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. I like trees so I picked this page to putz around with first.


Let me show you how to make that nifty little tag.

Okay, I know what you're thinking, "um.....Beth? That block is kinda big for that stamp." Yeah, I know but I'm cheap and only bought 1 block, remember? And yeah, I know thats a green ink pad but thats what I started with.

Anyhow, ink that bad boy up and stamp it. Then punch it out with the small oval punch. Then, (heres the cool part) take the oval and slide it into the Scallop Trim Border punch just until you see a sliver of the tag above the round part there. See it?

eta: my wonderful, loving, Girl Scout Cookie Selling man just came home. As he bends down to give me a kiss he looks at the screen here and sees this pic of my hand.

him: "whats wrong with your thumb?"

me: "nothing, what are you talking about?"

him: "well its all wrinkly and funny looking."

me: " well, thats what my thumb looks like."

him: "you should Photoshop it or get a hand double."

What a sweetie huh?

Then punch it out and this is what you get. I haven't seen anyone else do this so I feel kinda smart right now. If you've seen it somewhere else, don't let me know about it just yet. Let me have my moment.

I picked the Bermuda Bay color because the clouds are outlined in it. You can barely see it here. But trust me, its there.

Alright ladies and gents, I gotta go to bed. I did get to play with my stamps today and thats good but I still have 3 projects, well, actually 4 projects (hostess gift) ready by Thursday night. No problem right? No stress baby, no stress..........

Thanks for stopping by and listening to my sad story. You guys are the best.

Blessings, b.