Christmas Gift Tag

SCS Gift Card Challenge.

SCS Weekly CAS Fav

Just found out my November 'Thank You' card was both a weekly favorite and a CAS favorite for the week ending December 2nd which means I earned two badges for my blog... one for each category. I am so honored.

Changes... and a Craft Room

A lot has happened since I last posted on my blog... DH and I purchased a new home (it's really an older home, but new to us). One of the perks was a basement (unfinished). First project we tackled: kitchen & breakfast rooms... we had the floor tiled, granite counter top and travertine back splash installed... new fridge, dishwasher, cook top, oven, and microwave oven... all stainless steel. Looks great!

Second project: a Craft Room for me in the unfinished basement. I am finally able to move around in it and tonight I completed my first card in it. Hope you like it. It is going to a customer who ordered Stampin' Up! products from me on my Stampin' Up! website.

Card recipe (All Stampin' Up Products):
Card Stock: Very Vanilla
Stamp Sets: Blooming With Kindness; Papillon Potpourri
Inks: Raspberry Ripple Stampin' Pad & Stampin' Write Marker'
Punch: Elegant Butterfly
Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips

Birthday Journal

Front cover.

I recycled the hard plastic (acrylic) from my Spellbinder dies, cut two pieces to the size of my front and back covers and added them as I bound this journal so that the white card stock would stay clean longer.

Inside front cover.

Inside back cover.

Using my Butterfly 'On the Edge' die.

On the Edge

I've seen Tim Holtz's 'On the Edge' dies in our local craft stores but had no idea how to use them. I attended Scrapbook Expo in July (Duluth, GA) and saw examples and purchased the 'Butterflies' On the Edge die. I used the die to make this easel card.

Triple Time Stamping

Youtube is wonderful! I love searching for new techniques and I saw this technique demonstrated by frenchiestamps.com and DOstampingwithdawn.com. Frenchie made a couple of cards in different colors and Dawn made hers using neutrals. I wanted to make a 'Shaped Card' (demonstrated by Beate on SCS) so I am using Spellbinder dies to make the first card. The second card is made using measurements listed by Frenchie and Dawn on their Youtube videos.

I added two butterflies to meet today's 'Free For All - Seeing Double' challenge on SCS
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Card stock: Elegant Eggplant; Very Vanilla
Stamps: Field Flowers; Element of Style; Teeny Tiny Wishes; Touch of Nature
Ribbon: Very Vanilla

I cased Frenchie's card but used different stamps. After seeing her card, I will definitely order the stamp set she used.
Ink: Crumb Cake; Early Espresso
Card Stock: Very Vanilla; Early Espresso
Stamps: Field Flowers, Element of Style
Ribbon: Early Espresso



Measurements for the layers both ladies listed on their videos:

Very Vanilla:
2" x 3 1/4"
3" x 4 1/4"
4" x 5 1/4"

Early Espresso Card Stock:
2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
3 1/4" x 4 1/2"
5 1/2" x 8 1/2" (Card Base)

Bravery

This card is for our daughter who is currently deployed to Saudi Arabia. DH and I hope it will give her some idea of how much we miss and love her as well as how proud we are of her. Please continue to pray for all the brave women and men serving in our armed forces.

I used today's sketch challenge at SCS (SC392) as the incentive to make the card for her. This is the inside of her card.

For Mother

We finally get to celebrate "Mother's Day" with our mother.  We were not able to really celebrate with her on Mother's Day in May because she suffered a stroke on the 3rd Sunday in April.  The doctors and nurses took excellent care of her while she was in the hospital but she had some paralysis on the right side of her body.  She was transported to a health care & rehab facility and they did wonders with her and she was finally able to come home. She still has weakness in her right arm but, with the aid of a walker, she is mobile once again. 

Today we are all getting together to celebrate "Mother's Day" with her... her children... grands... great grands... great-great grands... we all plan to be there.  She turned 92 back in March and it is such a blessing to be in her presence.  This is the card I made for her.

Happy Father's Day

Here is the card I made for my husband.  I found the Tutorial on the Paper Craft Planet website. Start with a 4 x 4 piece of DSP; Fold in half so that you end up with a triangle shape; Open triangle up and use the center crease as a guide. Fold pointed end of DSP to center crease. Repeat with other side and turn over. Your project should resemble a cone. Take the top end (small folded tip) and fold down about 1/2 of the way down; crease, take the point and fold back up... not all the way back to the top... leave about 1/16 of an inch. Your project should look like a cobra snake getting ready to attack. On the section where the point meets the edge, fold again. Turn project over again and fold each side in to meet the center. Tie is complete. For the shirt: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch card stock; fold top down about 1-inch; open back up. Cut slit in on the fold on each side leaving about 1 1/2 inches uncut in the center. To make the collar, fold side flaps down, secure with glue dots, add brads and the tie. Attached to front of your card.

FS268: ME

The Featured Stamper for today over on SCS is anyone who takes the challenge... that means ME! I am one of many who will be featured today... YAH!!! This is also another posting within the same week for me... I guess I am kinda on a roll. I had left-over Holiday Treasures DSP from my post the other day so I used more of it for these cards. I still had rub-ons out and I want to use them up before they dry up; they filled in the open spaces on these little 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square cards. To make these cards, I also used Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, and Old Olive card stock to coordinate with the DSP.

Christmas Joy

My March cards for the SCS Christmas Card Challenge. I have had this Stampin' Up! Illuminations stamp set since forever but never used it. I had to have it... like so many other stamp sets that I have sitting on my shelf... un-inked... retired... ignored for other stamp sets that I tend to use over and over. I decided to give it a try for this month's Christmas Card challenge. Sometimes I find that stamp sets that I just had to have are duds... They look really neat in the SU! catalog, but, once I get them and ink them up, I don't like them. For this card I used SU! Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip card stock and Holiday Treasures DSP. Very Vanilla Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Chocolate Chip Panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" The Two Old Olive DSP Panels: 5 1/8" high x 1 7/8" wide (each one) Chocolate Chip DSP Panel: 4 3/4" high x 3 1/4" wide DSP Strip: 4 1/4" long x 3/4" high 6 Red Brads I colored the image with Old Olive and Real Red Stampin' Write markers (SU!) Challenges: Friday's 'Free 4 All': F4A109 Three or More Thursday's Way to Use it': WT367 - Rub-Ons Wednesday's Sketch Challenge: Sketch Challenge 377 Monthly Christmas Card Challenge: CCC12 March

SCS Color Challenge

Today's SCS Color Challenge: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze. This is a belated birthday card for my sister. I love this stamp... it is really user friendly but I have not really used it. You need to use the two-step stamping method when you use it. I stamped the solid image in Baja Breeze then stamped the line image with Chocolate chip. I sponged River Rock over the center, then added a little sparkle to the center. I sponged Baja Breeze at the top but you cannot see it because of my camera flash. I also sponged the bottom of the panel with River Rock.

Thoughts of You

Our daughter is about to be deployed to Saudi Arabia. DH and I are truly sad that she will be so far away and in harm's way for months and it's really heartbreaking knowing that we will not be able to see her before she deploys. We decided to send her a little something to let her know that we are thinking about her. I used this set to make her card because I think it is one of the most versatile stamp sets from SU.

Card Stock: Whisper White; Pacific Point; Old Olive Inks: Pacific Point, Old Olive Accessories: Bigz Scallop Envelope Die; Whisper White Ribbon; Framelits Labels Collection; Dimensionals Stamp Sets: Because I care; Yummy; Field Flowers; Whimsical Words

'Tis the Season

These Christmas cards were so quick and easy and you can make a bunch of them in no time. I find the fastest way to make cards when you are making a batch is to score the card stock before you cut it. Here is what I did for these cards. Take 3 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" Very Vanilla card stock and score each sheet down the center at 4 1/4". Cut each sheet in half so that you will have six cards that not measure 8 1/2" x 5". Quick and easy... a lot better than cutting each sheet in half, then scoring cards individually. Card Recipe: Gifted and Perfect Ending stamp sets; Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler card stock; Cherry Cobbler Ink; Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine

Birthday Celebrations

This is for the SCS TLC363, Make Your Own Stripes. I am always at a loss when it comes to making birthday cards and I think this one will fit the bill... I cased this from Alberta's Gallery on SCS. She states she was inspired by a card on Pinterest.

Peaceful Snowflakes

I Watch every Scrapbooking show I possibly can and I especially love watching the ones on HSN. When I saw this Martha Stewart snowflake punch on clearance earlier this month, I had to order the set. The accompanying pamphlet with my punches demonstrated this card... I changed the colors a bit but still stayed within the color range of Martha's card. They were quick and easy cards to make for my January submission for the SCS Christmas Card Challenge.

From The Heart

The Splitcoaststampers' Inspiration Challenge 321 yesterday was "Everything Turquoise". I loved the simplicity of the inspiration I chose because it allowed me to make a quick and simple card. All supplies are from Stampin' Up! I used Tempting Turquoise and Early Espresso Cardstock, Branch Out and Water Color Trio Stamp Sets, Scallop Border Punch, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, and a White Gel Pen to add the birds over the tree.

3-D Birthday

This card is for the FS258 SCS Challenge All Supplies are Stampin' Up! Stamps: Happy Moments. Card Stock & DSP: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Old Olive. Tools: Big Shot; Sizzlits Die & Apothecary Dies; Word Window Punch; Round Scallop Punch. Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Butterflies

My submission for SCS Sketch 367 using the Stampin' Up Bigz Beautiful Butterfly Die and the Beautiful Wings Embosslits. The card stock is 'My Mind's Eye'. Card made using Susan Bluerobot's 'Helping the butterflies fly free' tutorial.

Birthday Celebrations

Awning Birthday Card

This card is for my daughter. I will return later and list the stamps, tools, inks, card stock, and DSP.

Happy Birthday

Final card in this group and a picture of the three cards together. If I have enough DSP left, I will probably use it to make one last card tomorrow. Again, I used "For Father" stampset; Mocha Morning DSP; Very Vanilla & Soft Suede Card Stock; Soft Suede & Crumb Cake Inks.

Happy Birthday

Here is my second card using Stampin' Up!'s "For Father" stamp set and more of the Mocha Morning DSP. I will probably keep making masculine cards with the scraps until the scraps are all used up...

Another card tomorrow.

Birthday Wishes

DH's brother's birthday is next week and he asked me if I would make him a card. Thing is, he has three brothers and I did not want to make one without making a card for the other two. Masculine cards are hard to design so I visited Mary Fish's gallery and got inspired by her 'Thrilla in Vanilla' card and decided to case it. I changed the sentiment, the stamp, added DSP and matted my image panel.

After making this card, I used the same image stamp, card stock, ink and DSP for the other two cards and changed the card sketch for both. Here is the first card. I will post cards two and three within the next few days.

Mocha Morning DSP; Very Vanilla & Soft Suede Card Stock; Soft Suede, Crumb Cake & Basic Black Ink; For Father & Happiest Birthday Wishes Stamp Set (Hostess).

Congratulations

A retirement card for our daughter's FIL based on SCS Sketch Challenge SC364.

Here is a similar card using basically the same sketch with a few adjustments and embossing folders.

Santa Christmas

Clean and simple Santa Card. My inspiration came from coupons I received in mail from Macy's. I used Stampin' Up! Real Red and Basic Black card stock. The gold card stock is DieCuts with a View. The "Merry Christmas" stamp is from the "Come to Bethlehem" stamp set from Stampin' Up. I ran the belt through my Big Shot machine with the Square Lattice embossing folder. The belt buckle was made using two square spellbinder dies.

Something Old... Something New...

I've got batches of dsp yet I keep ordering more and more. Here are a few Christmas projects using some of the retired dsp from Stampin' Up. I saved a few cans after opening green beans to bake a Green Bean Casserole for Thanksgiving Dinner; I wanted to recycle them for the cans of Snowman Soup. I just received my Candy Wrapper  die from Stampin' Up! and made a few of the candy wrappers and filled them with Hershey's chocolate Kisses. I am placing them in candy dishes around the house for additional holiday decorations.

More views:

Holiday Sweets

Coconut Pound Cake

Look at my 'Holiday Cake'!  I do not like coconut but I love coconut cookies and  coconut cake if the coconut is incorporated into the batter.  Delish!  I found this great recipe for a coconut pound cake at allrecipes.com.  It was quick and easy and DH LOVED it!  We almost ate the entire cake within one week.  Needless to say I will  only bake this one for special occasions and only when we are having company over so that we can share the calories with them.

Here is the recipe if you are interested in baking one:

Coconut Pound Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 5 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1  1/3  cup flaked cocunut
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract

 Glaze:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan (I used my Pampered Chef fluted cake pan.  Check out yesterday's post for stoneware seasoning if you need to season yours).
2. In a large bowl, cream together 2 cups sugar and the butter.  Fold in the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each one before adding another.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, milk, flaked cocunut, and 1 teaspoon coconut extract.  Beat into the creamed mixture.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
4. Bake 1 hour, then cool on a wire rack for just a few minutes, then place on cake platter.

Glaze:  Mix together 1 cup sugar, water, 1 teaspoon coconut extract and walnuts.  Boil for 1 minute, then pour over warm cake.

Seasoning Pampered Chef Stoneware

I own a Pampered Chef 'fluted' cake pan and it has gone unused for more than 8 years.  I really wanted to use it  but I knew that I really needed to season it well so that my cake would easily come out of the pan.  I googled it and found a great 'seasoning recipe' for this cookware and it really works.  I was able to season my cookware one night and bake in it the very next.  Check my blog tomorrow for the recipe.

• Clean and dry your stoneware.
  
• Mix together 2 parts Crisco and 1 part salt
• Generously apply to total surface.
• Place in a 250F oven and bake for 30 minutes
• Let cool and smear the melted mixture over the stoneware surface again
• Return to oven and bake another 30 minutes.
• Let cool; smear the melted mixture over the stoneware surface again,  to oven and let sit in oven overnight.
• Next day, wash stoneware with dish brush under hot running water.  Dry and your stoneware is seasoned and ready to use.  

I own several pieces of Pampered Chef stoneware so I mixed together the amount specified in the recipe I found (1/4 cup salt, 1/2 cup Crisco).

Holiday Tweets

I made this with the Stampin' Up! Petal Cone die.  The challenge was to make a card or project without the use of stamps.  This project doubles as a holiday decoration as well as a treat holder.

Card Stock:  Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, and More Mustard.

Accessories:  Spellbinder star dies, SU Petal Cone Die, SU Bird Punch, Martha Stewart punch.

Baby Shower Favors

Baby Shower Favors

Baby Shower Favors

Diaper Cake

Saturday was the day of my daughter's baby shower and we had a great time.  I finally finished the favors that I was working on but did not make all that I had planned.  Making favors for a baby shower is a really big task.  The colors I used were Bermuda Bay, Pretty In Pink, Old Olive, and Daffodil Yellow (all Stampin' Up!).  I even tried my hand at a Diaper Cake.  I could not find my ribbon (lost in the jungle of scrap paper from all the crafting) so I purchased tissue paper to cover the rubber bands.

Baby Shower Invitations

Here are the finished invitations for my daughter's baby shower.  Now... on to the favors because her shower is right around the corner.

Stampin' Up! Links

My Stampin' Up! Website: stegsinfo.stampinup.net

2011 Idea Book and Catalog:
http://204.228.150.61/catalogs/flash/en-US/20110601_lkjds_ibc/index.html

2011 Holiday Mini Catalog
http://204.228.150.61/catalogs/flash/en-US/2011_ldse3_holidaymini/index.html

Note:  If the links do not take you to the catalogs, copy and paste into your browser.

Christmas Goodie Bag

I've been on vacation in sunny hot Texas.  The average  temperature was in the triple digits while we were there... It's so good to be home.  Now that I am home, I can take part in the SCS challenges again.  This is for this week's color challenge (CC341 Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie), and Ways to Use it (WT342 Back to School Week 4: Lunch Sacks).  I used the Stampin' Up! Snowflake Embossing folder to emboss the the lunch sack, topper, and faux snow.  I found six Turquoise eyelets in my stash and added them to my topper.  I know that these are not traditional Christmas colors but I am in a Christmas mood these days.

Happy Birthday

Shower Favor

Here are a couple of shower favors I have made for my daughter's baby shower. She loves giraffes so her shower theme will be 'Giraffes'. You may not be able to see it but I have stamped a giraffe on the front label of the bottle and several on the label that is on the bottle. I also stamped giraffes on the back of the pink card stock so that you are able to see the giraffes inside the bottle. I should have stamped giraffes on the paper shoe but forgot. I cased the "Oops! My Water Broke" from one of the many websites that I visited... Wish I remembered which one.

So Busy

I can't believe it's September already. I am trying to get back into my creative mode because it has been a while since I've made a card or project. I am currently working on my daughter's baby shower and hopefully I will be able to upload pictures of favors I am working on for the shower in a few days. Check back later in the week.

Super Excited

DH and I spent Sunday afternoon with our daughter and SIL. They are expecting their first (and our first grand) in December and I am super excited... It's a Girl! The thrill of feeling the movement of my little Princess as I placed my hand on my daughter's belly was awesome!!! How can anyone not believe that life begins at conception?

We went to Babies 'R Us and found quite a few bargains. I purchased a cute little summer outfit that had been reduced from $35 to $5, sized 6-9 months. I know she will not be able to wear it this year since she will not make her entrance into the world until December. It is a summer outfit and she will be about the right size Summer 2012. Now to purchase some 'baby' stamps and start making baby shower invitations and 'thank you' notes for my daughter. Scrapbook pages will soon become a part of my blog. Stay tuned...

CCC11 May

I am lagging behind on my Christmas Card Challenges. Here are the 10 that I should have submitted back in May. This is also for FS235, today's SCS Featured Stamper.

I used Always Artichoke and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Always Artichoke and Early Espresso Ink; Branch Out Stamp Set; Spellbinders Snowflake Die; CB Swiss Dot EF.

Stampin' Up! Catalog

Link to the new Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog and the 2011 Holiday Mini. If the links do not take you to the catalogs, copy and paste into your browser.

IB&C 2011-2012 Catalog:
http://204.228.150.61/catalogs/flash/en-US/20110601_lkjds_ibc/index.html

2011 Holiday Mini Catalog
http://204.228.150.61/catalogs/flash/en-US/2011_ldse3_holidaymini/index.html

Because I Care

This card is for a friend who recently lost her sister... her best friend.



CC334 SCS Color Challenge
Cardstock: Basic Gray & Whisper White
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray