new baby coming

no, not me. Good Lord, don't even think it. Seriously don't go there. Geez, I think I need to sit down. Oh wait, I am.

Okay, a teacher at work is having a little bundle in Dec. This is a much anticipated baby and I'm so happy for her.

They opted not to find out the sex which just tickles me. We didn't find out with the first 2. I wanted it to be a surprise. Our last one was a little surprise baby and we had just gotten rid of all our baby stuff 6 months earlier, 'cause I was done! HA! guess not! So I figured if I need to go buy all new baby stuff then I'm buying the right color. So we found out with Grace.

Anyway, back to this baby.

I wanted to do something with the Stamping 411 sketch and needed a baby card and this is what came of it.

Schoolbook Serif and polka dot background. Kraft, whisper white and so saffron cardstock. So saffron and whisper white inks. White taffeta ribbon, hemp, button from my stash, paper piercer, Tombow green multi glue, stampamajig and scallop edge punch.

Cute card huh? I used a pencil line and the stampamajig to stamp the letters. Otherwise its pretty self explanatory.

I cut a 2 inch strip of the so saffron and used the green Tombow Multi glue to tack it down. I'm really loving that glue. So much better than sticky strip.

Another button and a bow. Getting tired of seeing those yet? Yeah, me too. But they just work so well together.

Okay peeps, I just got back from a band booster meeting and now I'm heading to bed. Thanks for stopping by. See ya tomorrow.

Blessings, b.

Late Night Stampers

This morning I got an email from Kelly at the Late Night Stampers yahoo group telling me that this card was going to be featured Nov. 3rd for their group.

Well, thank you very much (said in my best Elvis voice).

Now, I have heard of this group. I know they have alot of challenges but other than that I don't know much else. I did just go and sign up to be in their group (you can go and sign up too, it was really easy) and am looking forward to participating in everything they got going on.

Okay, now here is me being me....................I hope they click on the blog name and find this current post (did you know you could do that? Click on the blog name and you'll be brought to the current posts/page. Cool eh?) because I don't so much love that card and I wouldn't want them to think that is the best I can do 'cause its not and I just want you all to like me. Am I sad or what? Puleeze like me...........

Okay, (deep breath) I'm done.

So here is a little number I whipped up this weekend. I cased myself from a card I made a long time ago that I probably cased from someone else but I don't have that info now, so if it was you then please let me know and I'll link you up.

Wonderful Friend set. Very vanilla, not quite navy and Bella Bleu DSP. Not quite navy and sahara sand inks. Vanilla taffeta ribbon, top note die, button from my stash, hemp, corner rounder and dimensionals.

I'm needing to send out a bunch of "thinking of you" cards and thought these would work out beautifully.

The base measures 5" x 4" so the top note fills it up. I went to town with the sponging. And you know what I discovered while I was sponging?, because I made a few of these, sponging is boring. These cards were really easy to do except for that.

Anyway, THANK YOU, Late Night Stamper people. I hope you find some inspiration here and visit often. I look forward to getting to know you better.

p.s. The service for Mr. Lorenzen was just beautiful yesterday. It was wonderful to see our school community coming together and comforting each other.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll catchya tomorrow.

Blessings, b.

stamp a stack #5

Here is the final card that we made at the Stamp A Stack last weekend.


I was inspired by a card on pg. 96 in the catalog, but it shows up on pg. 98 in the online catalog. I tried really hard to figure out how to add a pic from the catalog here but I couldn't. Computer challenged remember?

So look at your catalog or check out the catalog online here , I'll wait.

Medallion, Sanded background and Happy Everything sets. Old olive, choc. chip and creamy caramel. Choc. chip, old olive and very vanilla cardstock. Lg. oval punch, distresser (from cutter kit), Apricot appeal grosgrain, sponges and dimensionals.

The choc. base is 5" x 4" so the medallion would fill the whole top.

Funny, this card looks so much better in person. It looks kinda blah in these pics. It might be the light. I'll have to experiment with that.

First I stamped the medallion in old olive and then the sanded background in creamy caramel.

Easy card to make a bunch of.

Okay, now I warned you there would be Halloween pics.

15 was supposed to work the haunted house but "Nervous Mom Mode" kicked in and it wasn't hard to persuade her to go trick or treating with us instead.

In the haunted house she is dressed in a costume with creepy makeup and even though there are other "actors" close, they are still somewhat seperated by twists and turns in the maze. Anyway I started getting nervous about weirdos coming in and something happening to her. Even though we live in a nice little town you never know what can happen.

So she went trick or treating with us.

Grace had wanted to be a cheetah this year and Robin got really creative with hers. We dubbed her "Ghost of Halloween's Past". She had on Grace's tiger costume from last year, skelly hands from who knows when, a satin cape I had made for one of them when they were little, the Batman hat I made for the boy when he was like 3 and slippers. Oh yeah, and Grace's shorts.

It didn't cost me anything and it was at the last minute so I think she did pretty good. Not stuff I would have picked but, whatever. We had fun. They got LOTS of candy. I think people were just giving out handfuls. I will say that I saw more little kids this year. That was nice.

The boy did really well at the competition. From what the hubs said everyone was very nice to our band. Not that people aren't usually nice but they made sure to say something about Mr. Lorenzen and gave us a standing ovation as we took the field. Our percussion section took first place. That made the boy very happy. Mr. Lorenzen would be so proud.

Speaking of Mr. Lorenzen, his "Celebration of Life" is at the school this afternoon. The funeral is tomorrow but our principal made sure everyone understood that they had to be in school. So I better finish getting ready to go.

Thanks for stopping by. Yak atcha tomorrow.

Blessings, b.

halloween goodie

Happy Halloween!

We are having a very different Halloween this year. The boy is at a competition in San Diego with the hubs and 15 is working the haunted house for community service hours. Grace and I are left all alone to go trick or treating.

I mean, the boy hasn't really gone trick or treating in a few years but he was still here to help dad give out candy. I guess you know your babies are growing up when everyone has their own adgenda.

Regardless........I bought way too much candy. Just what we don't need.

Anyhow, I wanted to show you the little gifty that I gave to everyone who came to the Stamp A Stack last week.

Scary Skeleton and Frightful Fence jumbo wheel. Lg. oval punch, 1 1/4" circle punch and word window punch, top note die, black grosgrain ribbon. Basic black and pumpkin pie ink. Perfect plum, old olive, pumpkin pie and crushed curry cardstock.

Aren't they cute? I made a little box and adhered the top note to the front and back. I cut a piece of cardstock in half lengthwise 4 x 11. Then scored it at 2", 5", 7", 10". And then turned the cardstock and scored at 2".

The neatest trick that I discovered was to use the green Tombow multi glue instead of sticky strip. It was getting late and I didn't want to mess with cutting bitty strips of tape, I saw the green multi glue sitting there and gave it a shot. Worked like a charm! A little goes a long way and I had them put together in no time!

I should have put a little ghosty on the back side.

Overall they were really easy to make and they are so super cute, I can see doing some for every holiday.


I'll forwarn you now, be prepared for some Halloween pics coming up. I'm not always lucky in getting them since they are in such a hurry to get out the door. But since its just me and Grace I think I can get her to pose for at least 1 or 2.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.

Stamp A Stack #4

Here is #4 from the Stamp A Stack. I wanted to make a tent card ala Michelle Wooderson, check out her blog over there on the side, Mish Mash. I haven't made one in a long time and decided it would be perfect.

Flight of the Butterfly and Polka Dot background. Kraft, whisper white and Bermuda bay cardstock. Whisper white craft ink Sahara Sand and bermuda bay ink. Ticket corner punch, dimensionals and bermuda bay dotted ribbbon.

Very polka dotty isn't it? I stamped off twice before stamping the butterfly and then stamped the dots full strength. Cool way to get 2 different colors from the same ink pad.

The base is 4 1/4" square. I lay down the base on my grid paper and then line up where I want the panel to go so it measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2. Does that make sense? Let me know if you need help understanding that.


The new butterfly punch we have would have made making this card so much faster. Oh well.

I had also made one using an oval for the panel. I kinda liked the oval better but I didn't have enough bermuda bay paper for that.

Again, I had to take a bite out of the oval with my 1/2" circle punch so the ribbon would get nice and close.

Isn't it cute? I can't wait to send this to someone. Hmmmm........would you like it? Let me know and I'll send you one.

Thanks for stopping by today. You guys make my world go round.

Blessings, b.

last minute Lilly

last minute Lenny.......
last minute Larry........
last minute LuLu........
last minute Lilliput......


Well, you get my drift, I'm doing this at the last minute.

This is another Stamping 411 sketch. I haven't done one in like a month or something. Lots has been happening around here. So it was really fun to do one.

Lovely as a Tree, Refuge and Strength and Sanded background. Timber Brown Stazon, soft suede, so saffron, old olive. Soft suede, kraft, basic black and watercolor paper. Aquapainter, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" square punches and dimensionals.

I had printed out this sketch on Sunday but never got around to doing anything with it. Again it was another one that I thought would be so hard. But once you get going, it gets easier. We all need a kick in the booty sometimes don't we?



I used my beloved Aquapainters and inky lid pools. That sounds weird doesn't it?

Anyhow, I'm off to bed. 15 is reading over my shoulder and says I'm getting punchy and writing dumb things. Gotta love her :)

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have more Stamp A Stack projects tomorrow.

Blessings, b.

prayers/kind thoughts needed

Hey peeps!

We had some very bad news Sunday night. Our band director, Mr. Rick Lorenzen died unexpectedly. It looks like it may have been a heart attack. He was only 52. He died in the band room at his desk. 3 of the leadership girls found him. We are all heartbroken.

We are hosting a Memorial service this Sunday at the school. You can go here to read more about him. He was very well known and loved.

I know this isn't stamping related and kind of a downer but I wanted to honor him a little and hope that you put he and his family/band family in your prayers. We are all going to miss him so much. May God keep you Rick.


Now, I didn't want to leave you here all alone and asking, "where's the stamping?" So here ya go.

These are the cards we made at the Stamp A Stack. You've already seen 3 of them up close and personal like. I'll be showing the rest this week along with the little gifty.

Thanks for stopping by. Hold the ones you love close tonight. Life is so short.........

Blessings, B.