thank yous and a tag

Hidey Ho!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.  I'm so behind on showing you stuff that I have 2......no 3..........no 4, projects to show you today.  Whew! 

You know, wait a minute.  Let me make sure I haven't shown you them already.  Hold on................

Nope, okay lets go.  

Ready?  This is a long one.

A Word for You (retiring).  Whisper white notecards, marina mist, whisper white and crumb cake cardstock.  Black Stazon and whisper white inks.  Window framelits, big shot, This and That washi tape, bitty buttons, square lattice embossing folder, sunshine and sprinkles DSP, 3/4" circle punch.

I made some quick thank yous for a baby shower.

Much better pic.  Her colors were blue and brown.  I used the new This and That washi tape.  LOVE IT! 

I used our notecards and envelopes.  Now, I know it says they are retiring but they are just being reconfigured.  The cardstock in them will be thicker.  Neat eh?

Thats the Ticket and Distressed dots (retiring).  Crumb cake and whisper white cardstock.  Marina mist and whisper white inks.  This and That washi tape, sunshine and sprinkles DSP, dotted ribbon punch, ticket punch, natural ribbon, bitty buttons, lable framelits, big shot, white bakers twine.

  I know, I'm kind of hooked on making this style tag huh?  Hey, if it works, don't fix it.

Let me know if you're interested and I'll do a tutorial on how I die cut the tag.

A Word for You (retiring).  Notecards and envelopes, very vanila and basic gray cardstock.  Black Stazon ink.  This and That washi tape, big shot, little leaves die, flower trim, basic pearls.

I already had them packed up when I took the pic.  You get the idea though.

Last week we had a bridal shower at work.  So I used the rest of the notecards and made some for the bride.  Her colors happen to be coral, gray and ivory.  Just happens to be 2 of the exact same colors in the washi tape!  How convenient is that?

Epic Day This and That washi tape # 131269  $4.95

I wanted to show you how I packaged them.  This pic does not really show how cool this box is. 

Stampin' Up! is reconfiguring the packaging for the wood stamps.  They are the same type of boxes that the clear stamps come in but they are thicker because of the wood.  I am so on board with this! 

I got my new catalog preorder and so I took the new stamps out of this box and the notecards fit perfectly! 

I'll have to order more empty boxes when the catalog goes live.  Super excited about this change.  And I don't really like change.

Here is the tag I made.  I'm so upset that the flower trim from the Spring Catalog isn't going to be in the new catalog.  What are you thinking Stampin' Up!?  I will miss the flower trim lots. 

The little box with the name on it was a special little gift for the groom-to-be.  I didn't want the bride opening it in front of our staff.  She would have died but I would have thought it was hilarious.  

You can see here that I sprayed it with the Smooch Spritz.  It shimmers.  The only reason I used the Honecomb Embossing folder is because it matched the design on the coral washi tape.  Otherwise I might have used something else......because honeycombs just don't seem real wedding material.........whatever.


Alrighty then.  some of these goodies are retiring for good.  Like the Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP (Spring catalog), bitty buttons, flower trim (spring catalog), A Word for You (what will I do for sentiments now?) and Distressed Dots background stamp (so sad about this one), so get them while you can. 

Let me know if you'd like a new catalog.

Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out.  Oh wait!  Before you go.  Look what I got yesterday:

I got an iphone 4.  Lord help me!  I don't know how to do anything on it yet.  Grace is showing me and 18 is coming home for the summer on Friday.  She is very techy and knows everything.  So far though, I love it.  I can actually hear on it.  Thats a plus eh? 

Ok......thats all.

Blessings, b.

watercolor blossoms

Happy Friday!  I've got a special weekend planned and I can't wait for it to start.  I have to go to work first though :(  But it is payday :)

Remember a few weeks ago when I was trying to get thank you cards made?  Well, I actually did and got them mailed out.  I just forgot to show you. 

Ready to see?

Blooming with Kindness and A Word for You sets.  Crumb cake, naturals white and watercolor paper.  Black Stazon and crumb cake inks, rose red, more mustard and always artichoke watercolor crayons.  Baja breeze seam binding, linen thread, big shot, window frames framelits, vintage wallpaper embossing folder and dimensionals.

I love how these turned out.  I guess they were worth the wait, eh?  I hope my friends think so anyway.

 

I colored directly onto the stamp then misted with water.  I used the rose red crayon first on the whole bloom.  Then layered more mustard and colored the stem.  Then sprayed with water and let it sit for a few seconds so the colors would mix a little.  Then stamped on the watercolor paper. 

I love how each one came out slightly different. 

For the bow, I took a length of ribbon and tied a knot in the middle.  Then punched a 1/8 hole right on the stem and threaded my ribbon through.  So the knot stayed in the back.  This bow isn't going anywhere! 

Of course I ran out of the baja breeze seam binding and so I used some of the rose red seam binding (I LOVE the seam binding).  I'm not sure which color I like better. 


Okay, one last one. 

This uses all the same supplies but with a strip of embossed Baja Breeze cardstock. 

So there ya go.  Get out your crayons and give them some love. 

Alrighty then.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I'll share about mine next week. Thanks so much for stopping by and checking in.

Blessings, b.

what just happened?

I swear, in the blink of an eye a whole week is gone.  Did I get anything productive done?  Well yeah, but not much.  Not as much as I should have. 

I go back to work next week and even though my mind is in hyperspeed thinking of all the things I wanted to get done this summer, my body is saying, "Screw it!  I just want to relax." 

So there is a tug-of-war everyday. 

We've been watching the Olympics.  I've always loved the gymnastics.  It amazes me what these people can do with their bodies.  You would think that would inspire my body to want to do something....mmmmm........no, not so much.  It was also 107 here today and that doesn't help. 

So instead of working on the yard, I've been stamping.  WooHoo!  I got those new sets a month ago and haven't even inked them up.  Ack!

Here is one that I've finished.

Pleasant Poppies and A Word for You.  Whisper white, shimmery white and poppy parade cardstock.  Poppy parade, old olive, early espresso, Black Stazon and Versamark inks.  Woodgrain embossing folder, big shot, window frame framelits, white embossing powder, aquapainter and dimensionals.

The first set I'm starting to play with is Pleasant Poppies.  I got this idea from Kristina Werner's blog.  

 I swear everytime I try to type that out it says, Pleasant Poopies.  Which may be pleasant but thats not what we're talking about here. 

This is a 4.25" x 4.25" card.  I like how the colored poppies (poopies) kind of lift off the card. 

I don't know why this pic came out dark.  I colored on Shimmery white cardstock.  You can see the shimmer here.  That is one of the other cardstocks we carry that can withstand watercoloring. 

I had a heck of a time though trying to shade them right.  I may do them over again.  Although they look better in person.  They are kind of drab here. 

One of the things I need/want to do is go through all the pics I took while at my dad's.  I wanted to show you a few from the ride home. 

We took the train home.  Never again.  When I am on the way home, I just want to be home and the train just takes too long. 

I'm sure you've seen the movie Cars.  Well, here it is in real life:

Radiator Springs anyone?

Then when I got home I harvested these:

This was my entire grape harvest this year.  They were delicious!  Hopefully I get more next year.

And look who is perturbed that mommy is back home and wants to use her chair?

I swear everytime I get up she gets in there.  Dang cat! 

Alrighty then.  We have been getting things together for 18 to get ready to move to school.  She finally got her roommates info and they've been emailing.  That, along with the pile of stuff we are accumulating to pack, I think she is finally getting a little excited to go.  I know she is scared too but I'm trying to be "Brave Mommy" and not talk her into staying home.  Its getting so close. 

Since I'm taking advantage of the heat and giving myself permission to stay inside and stamp, I acutally have more to show you.  But I don't want to put you into shock so I'll wait. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Stay cool!

Blessings, b.

they keep getting older

Howdy!  Busy busy busy, that's what I've been.  I have been trying to play catch up with Project Life and I finally finished Week In The Life from April.  All those extra spots for decoration are a pain.  I may think of another plan for next time.  I didn't bother taking pics of the finished week.  I figured it was old news. 

But in current news, 17 turned 18.  {big siiiiiiiggghhhh}  and in a few weeks she'll be moving out to go to school. 

I'll think about that another day though. 

We seem to decorate a little more every year. 

A Word for You, Up Up and Away, classic numbers (retired).  Crumb cake, pool party, whisper white and pacific point cardstock.  Pacific point, whisper white craft and black stazon inks.  Brights patterns DSP, big shot, label framelits, white embossing powder, polka dot embossing folder, 3/4" circle punch, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, white bakers twine.


I amost didn't post this because it is by far not my favorite birthday card I ever made.  BUT, I figured maybe it would inspire you to make something.  Sometimes we can see a card and take away a part of it to create something new. 

I need some new white embossing powder.  This stuff is really grainy.  You can see where I swiped the 2 way glue pen on the edges of the label to catch the dazzling diamonds.

See those polka dots there?  I inked up the pokey side of the polka dot embossing folder with white ink and used it as a stamp.  Its very subtle but broke up the empty space just enough. 

Our family (mainly The Hubs) has gotten obsessed with disc golf.  18 got a new bag and a few new discs for her birthday and so after dinner we walked over to the park to play. 

She also a Henna Kit.  So now all us girls are tatted.   This is mine.

18's

Grace's

So there ya go.  Also this week, my kitchen has been rebeling. 

It hasn't even been a year and the igniter went out again.  What the heck!  Its back together now.  We are becoming experts. 

Alrighty then.  I have other stampiness to show you soon.  AND a garden update.  You are on the edge of your seat aren't you? 

Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out. 

Blessings, b.

cajun butterfly the 2nd

Hidey Ho!  How is everyone today?  Did you have a good weekend?  We've been busy busy busy.  Did you happen to see the new movie Brave?  Yeah, me neither.  But I want to.  I've always wanted red hair like that.  Grace doesn't like going to the movies so I'll have to wait until it comes to the Redbox.  Weird child, I know.

Anyhow, I was thinking of the title for this card today and it seemed like I had already used this title.  So I went and checked and.........I did. 

Instead of wracking my brain coming up with something else, I just made it "the 2nd". 

Here we go:

Flourishes background (retired), A Word for You.  Crumb cake, baja breeze, early espresso cardstock.  Whisper white craft and black Stazon inks.  Big shot, beautiful butterflies die, labels framelits, comfort cafe DSP, dotted ribbon punch, sticky pearls, linen thread, paper piecer, dimensionals and glue dots. 

So you may be wondering where I got that shape for the blue part, (which looks like bashful blue but its not).  Well, I took one of the label framelits and cut off the sides and top.  Sorry no pic to show you, but you're smart, you can figure this out. 

Otherwise a pretty simple card. 

Then I used the same design and made these:

The only difference is I used the old Thank You Kindly set and used Newsprint DSP for the butterfly.

I may use these for 17's graduation thank yous.  Not sure yet.  I don't have her seal of approval. 

Alrighty then, this has been a reaaallllllllly long day so I'm going to bed.  I hope you sleep good.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

turkey owls

Hey there!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We went down to the in-laws house for a yummy turkey dinner.  I'm still full.

I have no Thanksgiving day pics.  I know.........you're disappointed.  Me too. 

There were only 9 of us for dinner.  We decorated gingerbread houses.  That has become a Thanksgiving day tradition.  We leave one for Gramma, one for Uncle Danny and take one home for us.  Grace gave us a little concert on the flute.  So cute!  I wish I had taken a video.  I'll have to learn how to do that. 

I do have something stampy to show you today though.  Can you believe it?  Earlier in the week I had made a couple of Thank You cards.  They should have been received by now so I can show you. 

Woodgrain and A Word for You sets.  Soft suede, more mustard, crumb cake, old olive, cajun craze, early espresso, whisper white, pumpkin pie, basic black and bashful blue cardstock.  Black Stazon and crumb cake inks.  Big shot, top note die, owl punch, fun flowers die and dimensionals. 

Its a turkey owl!  Isn't he cute? 

I sent these as a thank you for a couple of online orders I got.  I think they were friends because they both ordered the owl punch.  I wanted to make a card using the punch so they would have an idea that they could copy and since it was close to Thanksgiving I thought it appropriate to turn him into a turkey.  HA!  I crack myself up.  Its probably been done a million times but humor me here. 

I cut off his little ear tufts and used the Fun Flowers die to make feathers.  I couldn't resist giving him some baby blue eyes.  I think he's adorable.  Gobble...Gobble!

Oh yeah, and the top note?  Just cut out a top note then turn it sideways and run it through the machine again.  You'll get this groovy square.  Gobble.....Gobble!

Alrighty then, thats it for today.  I have some more craftiness up my sleeve to show you later.  I hope you're getting geared up for the December Daily journals.  Come on........get ready. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate it more than you could ever know. 

Blessings, b.

hi ho, hi ho

its back to work I go...........

Yesterday was my first day back.  Actually I went to work on Monday for some meetings but only for a few hours. 

My school looks very different.  They changed it into a charter school.  And I have to say, it was a pretty cool first day of school.  These kids get 6 week rotations in art, music, dance, drama and technology.  The 6th and 7th graders get ipads to use.  How cool?  Way cool!

My girls started school last week. 

 Perfunctuary first day of school pic.  Check this out:

She drove herself to school.  What a strange feeling for me.  For her too probably, although she would never admit that.  My big senior girl.......................

Next up........5th grader.  Big girl on campus this year.  I also got the regular picture of her crying in line when I left.  Will she ever stop that?  This girl is never very far from me.  That umbilical cord just keeps on stretching. 

Alrighty then, are you ready for some stampiness? 

I have another losing Artisan Award project to show you. 

Growing green and A Word for You sets.  Early espresso, crumb cake and watercolor paper.  Black Stazon,  old olive and crumb cake inks.  Newsprint DSP, spiral tab punch, round tab punch, neutrals button, hemp, staple and aquapainter.


What do you think?

I struggled with this card.  I knew I wanted to submit a card with watercoloring.  They want you to submit a variety of techniqes and styles.  I was trying to make it look like it was a sketch book or something. 

Looking at all my projects I can understand why I wasn't a winner.  They just aren't up to snuff.  Its because I wait until the last minute and then have to rush.  For some people that works but not for me.  I usually can get something together but then I have to sit on it for a few days and tweak it some. 

So will I plan ahead and start in Jan. next time?  Probably not.  But you never know.

Okie dokie.  You may not hear from me until Sunday.  We are having a yard sale on Saturday.  I hate having yard sales.  Like going to them, hate having them.  I'm hoping to sell a bunch of stamping stuff.  I've got so much DSP, die cut boxes, ribbon, etc to send to new homes.  Come on by if you're in the area. 

Blessings, b.

thinking of you

Howdy folks!  I hope everyone had a fantastic day. 

Several weeks ago I heard some bad news from one of my stamping buddies.  She has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. 

Now this lady, I met through stamping.  She is also a demo.  One of the best things about this hobby is the wonderful people you meet.  And she is definitely one of the best people I know. 

She is very generous with her time.  She is the SU! lead at the Ronald McDonald House.  She is always adopting orphaned demos.  She has always been there when I needed advice or butt kicking.  She has been an inspiration to me in many ways.

One of the best ways we cardmakers show love for one another is, to send a card.  So a few weeks ago I made one for her. 

A Word for You and Sincere Salutations.  Crumb cake, whisper white, lucky limeade and vellum cardstock.  Black Stazon ink.  Polka dot embossing folder, big shot, fun flowers die, neutrals buttons, linen thread, 3/4" cirle punch, scallop square duo die and dimensionals. 

While you got the supplies out, you might as well make a couple right?  Thats what I was thinking anyway. 

These are 4.25 x 4.25.  I used the bigger of the scallop squares from the die.  I really like these.  I know its alot of white space but I wanted them to be kind of simple. 

I embossed the vellum layer to mimic the card base.  It makes me think of a gardenia.  The leaves are just the biggest flower in the die that I cut up. 


Alrighty then, the lesson to learn here is; don't wait for bad news to send someone a card.  Let people know how you feel. 

Love them?  Let them know. 

Sorry about something?  Let them know. 

Thankful?  Let them know. 

Miss them?  Let them know. 

Things are alot easier to say in a letter/card.  And if its in a pretty handmade card, then all the better. 

So go ahead, make and SEND someone a card.  I dare you to make someone's day.

Blessings, b.

pockets and piercings

Howdy folks!  Hot enough for ya?  I'm not sure exactly how hot its been at home although, I've heard its very hot.........my poor veggies.

I happen to be in New Mexico, in an adobe house with no air conditioning, and I can tell you for sure, its very hot here.  Tonight though, we've had a lovely thunderstorm and things have cooled off a little.  I do love thunderstorms. 

Its funny because at home it gets really hot.  100-106 is not unusual in the summer.  But when the sun goes down, it cools off.  Not here.  It is still 93 at 9:00 at night.  What?!  We are drinking so much water that we slosh.  No kidding..........

No pics until I get back.  My computer won't bring up the internet so I'm borrowing for now. 

I DO have pics that I brought with me on a flash drive.  17 had to teach me how to use it.  So here we go. 

Here is another card I made up for my card ladies.  Super cute!

A Word for You set.  Lucky limeade, island indigo and whisper white cardstock.  Black Stazon ink.  Corner rounder punch, big shot, fun flowers, scallop border punch, brights patterned prints dsp, polka dot embossing folder, 5/8" brads, white taffeta ribbon, 3/4" circle punch and dimensionals.


A pocket card!  Pocket cards are so much fun.  this one measures out 4.25x4.25.  Its just like the one I made 17 for her birthday. 

I cut 3 layers of the flower and embossed just the top one.  Then I fluffed it up. 

I got the color combo from the Color Coach.  Love that thing.  The pullout measures 3.75 x 3.75. 


Let me know if you need more direction on how this was made. 

We also had a right of passage this week.  Grace got her ears pierced. 

She has been asking to do it for a few years but chickens out every time.  Well one of her friends got hers done right before school got out and that gave her the courage to "git er done".  She told me that if she wanted to chicken out that I had to make her do it.  Yeah, right.

She stuck it out all by herself and TaDah!  Cute little diamond looking earrings.  She has taken very good care of them and we haven't had any pain or infection.  Yippee! 

Alrighty then, they just started a movie.  Rango.  Looks cute. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you're in a nice cool place with enough water to make you slosh. 

Blessings, b.

back in the saddle again...........

I'm kinda, sorta, feeling like things are evening out somewhat.  I don't know how long this feeling will last so we'll just ride it as long as we can. 

I was putting things away today and realized that I never showed you 17's birthday card I made.  Its so awesome how could I forget?  Hmph....

Woodgrain background.  Crumb cake, whisper white and POOL PARTY cardstock.  Whisper white ink.  White taffeta ribbon, 5/8" silver brad, scallop border punch, 1/2" circle punch, dazzling diamonds, 2 way glue pen, tissue paper, big shot, fun flowers die and a Scrabble piece. 

I love it!  This turned out to be 4.25 x 4.25.  See that cool blue color?  That is one of the new In Colors, Pool Party.  It is almost the exact color of the sheets on her bed.  HA!

You can't tell too much but, I used the 2 way glue pen to add glitter to the brad.  Its really sparkly!

See the ribbon pull?  This piece comes out and you write your message of love on it.  Well, thats what I did anyway. 

I had picked up an extra Scrabble game at a yard sale thinking it would be nice to keep in the trailer.  BUT we discovered it was missing tiles.  No problem, I'll make cards with them.  You can see I changed the number using a fine point Sharpie.  Its probably been done a million times but, I thought I was so clever.

I used the Fun Flowers die with tissue paper.  I have no idea how many layers there are.  With the tissue paper you can cut a ton of layers with one swipe of the Big Shot.  Quick and easy!


The other day I also made some bag tags for my ladies' orders.  I was inspired by a tag I saw in PaperCrafts magazine.

A word for You and Woodgrain background.  Crumb cake, melon mambo, pretty in pink and LUCKY LIMEADE cardstock.  Black Stazon and whisper white inks.  Dotted ribbon punch, big shot, beautiful butterflies die, neutrals buttons, linen thread, 1/2" circle punch, 1/8" black taffeta ribbon and felt. 

Aren't they cute?  Check out that green huh?  That is another new In Color, Lucky Limeade.  It looks like Old Olive and Kiwi Kiss had a love child.  Its a color I can see myself using a bunch of. 

I sewed the button on the butterflies using a needle and the linen thread.  These would make really cute hair clippies for Grace.  I'll have to try that. 

Alrighty then.  I completed my veggie planting on Monday and I have a big garden post coming up for you.  Grace has been my assistant and I need to go through all the pics. 

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out.  And thank you to everyone who has shown interest in buying the retired stamps.  I'm so happy they are going to good homes. 

Blessings, b.