QUICK AND SIMPLE ORNAMENT KEEPSAKES

In my last post I mentioned that I made two different styles of Save the Date cards for my friend Kim's cookie exchange party.  She's a blingy, "diva"esque kind of gal.  I love glitter and bling as much as any other female, but most of my cards don't reflect that.  I wanted to create something blingy and easy to mass produce.  This is the end result.  It only took me roughly 15 minutes from start to finish to complete this card!!!  Yes, that's an amazing feat for me, my friends.  You do not want to know how long I can spend making just one card.

In the end, this was the card she chose to send out.  Have you played with the coordinating Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Big Shot dies yet?  Go on, what are you waiting for?  Christmas!  (Smile!)

Enjoy what's left of your weekend and thanks for peeking in on me!

SAVE THE DATE POCKET CARD

Wow!  It's been such a long time since I've posted to my blog.  I've still been checking out all the wonderfully creative papercrafters out there, but I haven't allowed myself the time to actually create for myself.  I apologize for not posting or updating.  Thanks for your patience with me.

A couple months ago, my dear friend Kim asked me to design her Save the Date cards for her upcoming "Diva Christmas Cookie Exchange".  I was very flattered and extremely nervous about her offer.  After much contemplating, I got down to business and created two styles of cards for my dear friend.  One is whimsical.  Yes, this card.  The other card is "diva-esque" with a lot more bling, schmling, diamonds and glitter!  (I'll show that one to you later this week.) 

I used the Owl Occasions stamp set from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog for this little pocket card.  I found a tutorial for pocket cards on Splitcoaststampers.  The inside card pulls out to display all the invitation information.  Oh, and have you tried the new Stampin' Up! Core'dinations cardstock.  It's great stuff I'm telling you!  I've used the Early Espresso paired with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  I love the woodgrain look especially when you run the sanding block over it!  It gives the effect of a real tree!

I'm going to forego the supplies list this evening.  If you have any questions regarding the supplies used, please contact me.

Thanks for peeking in this evening!  I'll try to not to be a stranger around here.

RED HOT STAMPERS RHSSC45 CHALLENGE

In an effort to regain my mojo, I've been searching the web high and low for sketch ideas.  A great sketch challenge can jump start my creativity quicker than anything!  While searching the world wide web, I came across the Red Hot Stampers Sketch Challenge blog.  They offer a new sketch challenge every Sunday.  Here's the sketch from July 15th:

You can see I took great liberty with the sketch, but I'm still pleased with the outcome!

I'll have to update my post later with a list of supplies.  I have a sixteen year old breathing over my shoulder waiting for his turn on the computer.  LOL!

3 X 3 EASEL CARD

Today's card is a simple 3" x 3" easel card.  I came across this style card on Julie Leblanc's blog.  I have a fabulous friend, Teresa,  at work who is always leaving me little gifts on my desk at work especially after "year end closing of the books", State audits, crazy and stressful days and anything in between.  (Did I mention that Teresa and I are the only women in an office of approximately 30 employees?)  I handle the finances and human resources and she handles the grants and assists our County Engineer. 

I thought it would be nice to return the favor to her sometime.  After all, she has crazy and stressful days too!  This little card would look so good sitting in front of a big, 'ol cup of Tim Horton's cappuccino or better yet - chocolate!!!  (Yep, sadly we have no Starbucks here.)

This is going to be a short post for me tonight.  I've got a sinus headache and upset stomach.  I hope my son is not passing his illness to me.  The school nurse called me at work on Monday to let me know my son's right eardrum was "bulging".  She suggested he see a doctor right away.  Of course I took him right away.  (He didn't say much about his ear.  He's almost 16, so I thought he would speak up.  I felt terrible, of course.)  His doctor told us that he had an ear infection and strep throat.  Oh, and that his eardrum would most likely rupture!!!!  He's much better now that he's on mega-antibiotics.  Let's just hope he didn't share the love with me.

Thanks for peeking in on me tonight!

QUILTS IN THE ATTIC

I created this card for a swap at the Stampin' Up! Regional in Columbus, Ohio this winter.  It was cased from the very talented Julie Leblanc.  You can view her original card using My Digital Studio here.  If you look very closely, you can see that I used the quilting technique (Oh, the technique has escaped me.  Is that right?) on my card.  I love the results of paper piecing and running the panel through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.  Awesome idea!  As you can see, my Big Shot was my best friend for making this card - the butterfly die, the labels die, the embossing folder.........You get the drift.  I tried to limit my use of accessories because I made approximately 30 of these for swaps.  Trying to keep it simple without the "embellishment overload" was challenging for me.  How about you?  Do you like to keep your projects simple or are you like me - queen of the dripping with accessories paper crafter?

Have a great day and thanks for peeking in on me!

Vintage Mixed Bunch

Wow!  It's been too, too long since I've posted an actual project.  Here's what I sat down and created over the weekend.  Boy, am I really rusty!!!  Please take it easy on me.

Originally, when I perused the Stampin' Up! Mini catalog, I told myself that I was not going to purchase the Mixed Bunch stamp set or the Blossom Punch.  No, I didn't need either of them!!!  Then I went to the Stampin' Up! Regional in Columbus, Ohio this past winter.  Well, so much for that thought. 

I'm not usually one who creates using pastel color palettes, but you can't grow unless you push yourself, right?  And, staying true to my "embellishment overload" habits, I just kept adding and adding to my card.  In my defense, I super adore the Pearl Basic Jewels.  They call to me when I'm creating.  (I think they say, "Pick me.  Oh, pick me."  They just add a little something, something to any project.  I'd hate to see them retire when Stampin' Up! reveals the retired list in a few days.

Thanks for peeking in on me and hanging in there with me during my blog absence.  I'm never sure how much to blog about my personal life.  I'm afraid it will turn some of you away.  For those wondering about my father's health, I have an update at the bottom of this post.  I'll try to keep it brief.

Update on Dad:  Where do I even begin???  My father finished chemo and radiation treatments for esophageal cancer in mid-October.  The treatments were very harsh and my dad was in and out of the hospital over the fall and winter months.  In January, he had surgery to remove his esophagus and have part of his stomach stretched and reattached into the neck region to create a make-shift esophagus.  Surgery went well, but my father's desire to live is not so strong.  It's been and continues to be an emotional roller coaster ride for us all.  In March, my older brother, who's 46, underwent triple bypass surgery.  He has always been in good health, but after some questionable symptoms and a heart catherization it was revealed that he had a condition called the widow maker.  He was very blessed that it was detected early and his recovery process is moving nicely.  Thank you for all the prayers and kind thoughts over the last several months.  They have meant so much.

2012 Occasions Mini Catalog Is Here

The all new 2012 Occasions Mini is here!  If you haven't had a chance to check out all the goodness inside this little catalog, come check it out here:

Occasions Mini PDF

**On a side note, my father is still battling esophageal cancer and has been in a rehabilitation center for two months.  His chemo and radiation treatments were very grueling and has really taken a toll on his physical and mental health.  He is just now strong enough to have the surgery needed to rid his body of this aggressive tumor.  Surgery is scheduled for next week.  Please, please keep him in your prayers!  I've been trying to slowly get back to creating, but I must admit that I'm a little rusty.  I hope to have a new stamping post for you soon.  Thanks for being patient with me!