GET WHALE WISHES

My upline's, Chrystal's, six year old daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing treatments.  I wanted to create a card that would make her smile and hopefully let her know that others are wishing her the best.  Chrystal told me that her daughter loved the card.  She's such a little trooper.

I love the little hearts stamp in the Oh Whale! stamp set.  I wanted to mimic the hearts somewhere else on the card, so I opted for the next to the smallest heart in the Hearts Collection Framlits as my choice.  I embellished my heart with the little flower in the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack by punching several of them in Real Red.  I attached them together with glue dots and "smushed" them together to give the flower dimension.  I topped my flower off with a small pearl from the Pearl Basic Jewels.  I love those things and would hate to see Stampin' Up! retire them.

Do you want to know a secret?  I had a "I could have had a V8 moment" while creating my 3-D whale.  You see, I purchased the lovely matching Happy Whale Clearlits Die to pair with my Oh, Whale! stamp set.  Somehow I forgot about that!  I used my paper snips to cut out the second whale image.  Doh!!!  Am I the only one who does these things?  Please say I'm not.

I'll list the plethora of supplies that I used at the bottom of this post.  I still don't know how to stop the embellishment overload insanity!

Thanks for checking in with me today!  Enjoy your weekend!  Can you believe Easter is only two weeks away?  I'll spend my weekend working on my Easter dinner menu.

Card Recipe:
(All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.)

Stamps: Oh, Whale!
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Black Staz-on
Accessories:  Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Paper Piercer, 3/16" Brights Brads, Pearl Basic Jewels, Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dot EF, Circles #2 Originals die, Scallop Circle Bigz die, Hearts Collection Framelits, dimensionals, glue dots

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP POSIES

Welcome back to me!  It's been a very long time since I posted to my blog.  So much has taken place since last October.  I won't bog you down with the details right now as the details are pretty heavy.  However, I have recently started creating again and (gasp) I have even started to take and edit my own pictures for my blog.  It's not that I thought the Hubster was doing a bad job.  I just felt guilty asking him to take care of that for me when I should have been learning to do it for myself.  So, please hang in there with me as I learn the tips and tricks of photographing and editing my photos.  Okay, enough about me.   On with the card!

I recently purchased the Stampin' Up! Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit.  Awesome, I tell you!  This kit makes it so easy to design a 3-D flower in absolutely no time flat.  I love all the die cuts this kit offers.  I paired my flower up with some Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Summer Starfruit card stock.  I also used some Designer Series Paper to finish off the look.  What about you, are you loving the Summer Starfruit card stock?  Me, wellllllllllll......., I'm going to have to work with it a wee bit more.  I have to admit, I'm not loving it just yet.  I do love the Chevron Embossing Folder!  Can you believe this is the first time I broke it out?  Yep, I know, chevrons are so hot right now!  What was I waiting for?  I just inked up my brayer with Whisper White ink and ran it over the embossing folder, cranked it through the Big Shot with the lovely-ish Summer Starfruit c/s and voila` - a more defined pattern!  So, there you have it.  My first creation in what feels like a blue moon!  Hopefully, I can get my Mojo back on.

I do have some other projects to share with you in the very near future.  So, please check back with me.  Thanks for your patience with me during my monstrosity of a sabbatical.  See you soon!

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!

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN

Yes, can you believe it?  I finally found some time to stamp.  Let me tell you, it felt absolutely wonderful.  Now granted I'm a little rusty at it right now and the mojo isn't flowing so freely.  I'm hoping that will alleviate itself soon.  So, how many of you remember watching the Charlie Brown Halloween special about the Great Pumpkin?  I love all the holiday cartoons.  Yep, I still watch them.  I used the Stampin' Up! stamp sets Jack of All Trades and Lighthearted for the sentiment on my card.  I loved the Jack of All Trades set when I saw it in the catalog.  However, I really struggled to come up with a card using this very set.  Go figure!  Once again I think my card may have a bit of embellishment overload.  What can I say?  I was so excited to find some stamping time that I went a little overboard.

Thanks for peeking in on me this evening!

LIFE'S BUMPY ROAD

I know it's been a long time since my last post.  I just wanted to give you an update of what's been going on.  Many of you know that I've blogged about my father's illness.  He has esophageal cancer and he is struggling.  Radiation and chemotherapy treatments began on September 13th.  Unfortunately, these treatments have really knocked the wind out of Dad.  I live next door to my father and I'm constantly in a whirlwind between his house and mine.  Unfortunately, this hasn't left much time for me to spend in my craft room right now.  I really miss stamping, need to stamp and hope to stamp soon.  It's just not happening right now.


I hope you will be patient with my lack of posts during Dad's battle with cancer.  I'm not completely giving up on blogging.  However, you may notice my posts to be few and far between in the next couple of months.  I 'm truly sorry, but my father really needs me right now.  Thanks for understanding.

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

I don't know why my blog posts have all been songs lately.  Probably because my brain is exhausted.  (Sigh!)  I made this card for a terrific friend of mine named Kim.  We were good buddies in college and recently reconnected through social networking.  I had the opportunity to visit Kim this summer after her mother passed away.  I hadn't seen her in almost 20 years, but she hadn't changed a bit.  She's a "what you see is what you get kind of gal."  That's what I love about her.  So, if you're reading this Kim, thank you for being you.

It's going to be a quick post for me this evening.  Tomorrow begins the five week treatment plan of chemo and radiation for Dad.  He's not been feeling very well lately and has had to have four days of IV fluids for dehydration.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!

Stamp Set:  Bold Blossom; Paper:  Cheerful Treat Hostess Designer Series Paper

YOU BELONG AMONG THE WILDFLOWERS

You belong somewhere you feel free...............Yes, I'm a Tom Petty fan.  I may even be dating myself a little with that song, huh?  Okay, so I noticed my card is having a little "wardrobe malfunction" in this picture.  Looks like I need to adhere the layers on the right side of the card a little better.  Okay, how many of you clicked on the picture to get a better look?  (Smile.)  Shoot fire!  I never noticed that until now.  Note to self:  fix it before it goes in the mail.

This card has a wallop of things going on.  Pearls, die cuts, piercing, paper piecing, watercoloring, sponging........You get the picture.  You should have seen the mess on my desk after making this one.

This is going to be a short post for me today.  I'm heading off to work and them to chemo education with Dad.  If you have any questions about the card, give me a shout.  Thanks for peeking in on me today!

FLY ME TO THE MOON

When I first opened the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog, my eyes spied the Up, Up and Away stamp set right away.  The big, beautiful hot air balloons caught my attention.  Once, while traveling through the mountains of West Virginia, we were awestruck to see an array of gorgeous hot air balloons floating through the sky.  I can't recall the exact number of balloons, but I'm betting there were over two dozen.  The beautiful, vibrant colors made for an amazing sight. 

I have seen many beautiful cards using this stamp set with patterned paper for hills and the cupcake punch for clouds and I wanted to get in on the action.  Whoever came up with the idea of using the cupcake punch for clouds is one brilliant cookie!

Well, I'm going to sign off for today.  I'll be back next week with another project.  Next week is shaping up to be a very busy one.  My husband will be in Chicago on business.  I will be taking my father to several doctors' appointments.  I have an appointment with my dentist for a partial crown.  (I broke the back of my tooth off in May.  Lesson learned - quit clinching my teeth.)  And last but not least, my son is playing in his first high school golf match!  (Go, Connor!)  I'm really excited for him.  Thanks for peeking in on me!

If you live on the east coast, please be safe.  I've been following Irene's path on the local news channel.  It looks like she's rearing her nasty head. 

Recipe:  Stamps - Up, Up and Away, Trendy Trees (Sentiment); Paper - In Colors 2011-2013 DSP Patterns Stack, Poppy Parade, Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White; Ink:  Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Basic Brown; Accessories:  Border Punch

(non-SU!), Cupcake Punch, Crimper, Cutter Kit, Jewelry Tag Punch, Bakers Twine, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Poppy Parade 1/2" Poly Stitched Ribbon

CRAZY FOR CHALLENGES C4C101

Yes!!!!!  I actually took time to participate in an online challenge - on time!!!  Whoo Hooo!!!  Today, over at Crazy 4 Challenges, the challenge was to create a project using this bingo card.  I chose to go vertical and used brads, flowers and 2 or more designer papers.  (Kind of sounds like Jeopardy.  I'll take brads, flowers, and designer papers for $500, Alex.)                                                     

For some reason, I have been stuck on distressing my cards lately.  Don't ask me why.  I don't have a clue.  Perhaps, there is just something therapeutic about relieving stress through crumpling, sponging, tearing, etc.

This is going to be a short post for me.  I'll be back later to give you the supplies I used on my card.  I need to go get cleaned up.  One of my friends and I are headed to lunch and then a matinee showing of "The Help".  We both live in a testosterone sea and are in need of some "girl time".

Thanks for peeking in on me today!

FAITH IN NATURE

I've never really considered myself very good at coloring and shading images.  Honestly, I tend to shy away from open image stamp sets but I really am drawn to the stamp images in Stampin' Up!'s Faith in Nature hostess set.  This is my first attempt in inking up this set.  I sat down with my trusty Aqua Painter and my Stampin' Up! Watercolor Pencils.  Instead of filling my Aqua Painter with water, I used mineral spirits.  (A nice tip I learned from one of my customers.  Thanks, Dee!)  The mineral spirits work better for me.  Who knew???

I designed this card to be a masculine get well card.  I'm not sure why, but designing masculine cards always throws me for a little loop and creates a bit of a challenge for me.  Why is that???  I guess the challenge explains why I went a little "overboard" with the distressing elements of the card.  Sigh!

Believe it or not, I have quite a few more projects to share with you.  We're in the hurry up and wait stage of my father's battle with esophageal cancer and I have an immense amount of nervous energy right now.  I'm not sure how much time I'll have to create once his chemo and radiation treatments begin.  As I've said before, that's a part of the journey I'll have to wait to travel.  Thanks for all the kind words, encouragement and prayers you've said on his and my behalf. 

Thanks for peeking in on me and thanks for your patience during my father's illness.

Supplies: (All supplies are Stampin' Up! unless noted)  Stamps - Faith in Nature (Hostess set) and Sincere Salutations; Ink - Jet Black Stazon, Basic Gray Marker, Watercolor Pencils; Paper - Neutrals Collection Patterns DSP, Play Date DSP (retired), So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Paper, Basic Black, Old Olive; Accessories - Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Antique Brad, Sponge Dauber, Color Spritzer, Cutter Kit

UPDATE ON MY DAD

It's been a while since my last post so I thought I'd give you an update.  We have learned that my father's cancer is contained to the esophagus and has not spread.  (Praise God!)  Dad has been continuing to slowly lose more weight so his surgeon took him off the liquid/soft diet restrictions.  Now Dad is eating just about everything but bread.  Unfortunately, the tumor is located at the base of the esophagus which makes some food difficult to pass through to the stomach.


Monday we will see Dad's oncologist.  I'm hoping we will learn a little more about his cancer and also find out what the chemo/radiation schedule will be.  I have done a little research on esophageal cancer and I can tell you I'm very scared for my father.  Please, please keep him in your prayers.


On a lighter note, I have been creating projects.  I've been so nervous and the time in my scrap nook has helped ease my nervousness some.  My husband, my blog photographer, has been taking pictures of my projects for me.  I'm hoping to get some of them posted very soon.


Thanks for peeking in on me today!

BUY 3 DSP, GET ONE DSP FREE!

 

During August, Stampin' Up! is offering their famous "Buy Three---Get One Free" Designer Series Paper Special. 

• Choose from a wide variety of designs and colors available in both the 2011 - 2012 and the Summer Mini!

122343 Nautical Expedition

122367 Paisley Petals

122357 Beau Château

122354 Pocketful of Posies

122355 Domestic Goddess

124339 Just Add Cake

122351 Frightful Sight

122352 Timeless Portrait

122350 Berry Blossoms

122342 Beyond the Garden

122359 Well Worn

122347 Nursery Nest

122349 Letters to Santa

122348 Big Top Birthday

• SPECIALTY Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Paper are not eligible for this promotion.
• There is no limit to the number of free packages you can earn.
• Hurry! The promotion ends August 31, at 11:50 PM Mountain Time.  You can shop Stampin' Up! on my website here.

LIFE TAKES OVER

Sometimes life takes us along journeys we'd much rather not travel.  Yesterday began that journey for my family and I.  After many months of complaining of acid reflux and a 23 pound weight loss for my father, we learned that he has esophageal cancer.  His local surgeon is not specialized in surgery of the esophagus and Dad has been referred to a surgeon in Columbus.  So we wait some more.  My brothers, sister and I are numb right now.  Fortunately, my father seems to be taking it the best.  In the meantime and all throughout this journey, we will place our faith in God and pray for understanding.

I'm not sure how often I'll be posting projects over the next several days and months.  That's part of the journey I'll have to wait to travel.  Perhaps my heart won't be into stamping.  Perhaps stamping will be my great escape.  I'm really not sure right now.  My heart is with my father and as my only living parent I feel it's important to spend time with him.  I hope you all understand.

I do have a couple of projects that I created earlier this month.  I just need to photograph and edit them.  Hopefully, I'll post them soon.

Thanks for peeking in on me today!  Have a very blessed weekend.

BREAKING IN THE NEW - IN COLORS THAT IS!

Just trying out my new Stampin' Up! goodies and trying out the new In Colors!  Yep, it's official.  I love them!  Sorry for the quick post today.  I have a very busy week ahead.

Wow!  I'm sorry for the quality of this picture.  It was taken at night and looks a little blurry.  Thanks for peeking in on me any way!