Cards for missionaries

Every year I design and prep cards for our ladies group to make to send to our female missionaries for their birthdays. These are the cards I made for this year. Our group of 24 ladies made 67 cards in 1 hr and 15 min. Some of the cardstock that I used is not SU or is retired since I totally donate all of my supplies for this project. 

I used the pink and red paper pack that I got from the clearance rack. The flame is from the build a blossom punch. The teen table made these cards and did a pretty good job.

The butterfly is stamped on vellum. The gals who made this card did a really good job.

This card was a bit more challenging than I thought it would be. Just using a wheel and sponging was new to some.

Another card using the pink and red paper pack. I love the simplicity of this card, a great way to use up scraps of dsp.

I used the happy birthday with a cherry on top sentiment from the stamp set "A word for you"  for the inside and we used a pink brad on the top cherry. The paper is another one that I picked up from the clearance rack. It matched some non SU card stock that I had.

I have seen several samples using black and daffodil and loved them, so this is how this card came about. The stamp is from "Fresh vintage" Sale-A-Bration free with a $50 order.

Birthday card class

I did a Christmas card class in Oct and the gals asked for another one. So this is my birthday card class. We did 4 cards each of these 5 different cards. I had 7 gals come 3/24 and have 5 more for 4/7. If anyone else is interested let me know asap for the 4/7 class. The cost is $37.50 and includes lunch. Most of the cards were inspired from others on Splitcoaststampers or Stampin' Connection, but I used some of my own touches as well.

 Embedded embossing technique, a card for all ages! Not sure who to credit for this, can't find the card again. I used cherry cobbler, night of navy, more mustard, and old olive.

 This is an interlocking card using the new label framelits. A little challenging, but definitely worth the effort. The stamp is from the fresh vintage set, a free Sale-A-Bration selection. Colors are pear pizazz, blushing bride, and island indigo, with baja breeze seam binding. I actually used baja breeze for the butterfly on my final card.

 Meant to be a masculine card, but could be dressed up with a flower or hearts for the ladies in your life.

 Saw this ship in a bottle done by several people, but found the template for the bottle from Marie Shaughnessy. I made the bottle a bit narrower and used sponging then embossing powder to age it! Again, quite a bit of work, but a real hit with my group of gals.

Totally my own creation, this uses card stock weight vellum for the scallop envelope, then it is embossed. The dsp is a hostess selection. Very bright cheery card. We used a lot of punches for this card.

Cards made with the NEW Doily Sizzlet

I saw this idea on Stampin'Connection by Michele Reynolds and made my own version. I loved the idea of making a table and lace tablecloth. We used the decorative label punch to make the table.

 This card uses the new edgelits and embossing folders to create the cut and embossed edge, as well as the doily.

I love the elegance of this monochromatic card. This is also a CASE, I saw one by Chris Smith on Stampin'Connection. I added the brads. The colors are crumb cake and soft suede.

OOPS, just realized that I already posted some of these.

Everyday Enchantment DSP (FREE from Sale-A-Bration) cards

This is a card we made at club in Feb. I think it was inspired by Dawn Olchefske.

This card was made by a customer, Diane Doro, and was inspired by the above card. Such an easy way to use scraps of DSP
 
Love this "quilt card" that was inspired by a card that I saw on Stampin'Connection, a website for SU demonstrators. This shows all 12 colors/sides of paper in the pack that you can have for FREE with a $50 order by 3/31!

 This uses the spirelli technique with ribbon and the scallop circle.

OOPS, just realized that I already posted some of these. Got to upload more pics.

Wedding Invitation and response card

Invitation made by one of my stamp club members. She used Pear Pizazz and Elegant Eggplant to match her wedding colors. The flourish was from Bliss, 2011 SAB set. It ws stamped and embossed with Iridescent Ice ep.

Cute reply card they designed

Recent cards I've made

I wanted to play with my paper doily sizzlet. Not my favorite card, but still fun. I also used the new edgelit dies and adorning accents embossing folders for the edge. The only problem is that I "see" a pregnant belly everytime I look at this shape. Must be the OB nurse in me!!

 I sawa similar card by Chris Smith on Stampin' Connection and really loved the simple elegance. I changed it to landscape, used the entire doily, and added the brads. The sentiment is from Petite Pairs.

 Fun quilt card using the everyday encahnment dsp from Sale-A-Bration.

Another spirelli card and more everyday enchantment dsp

Convention Swap cards

I saved some samples from convention to show my club gals so they didn't see them all at once. So here are pics of some I pulled out to highlight this month.

Scallop circle easel card.

 Twisted easel card

 Field Flowers with rock and roll technique on the flowers

 Field Flowers in pinks

 These last four cards all use the fun flowers Bigshot die, all with different looks!

 Silver waffle paper

 Made by my good friend and roommate Peggy Jones using the embedded embossed technique and several embossing folders.

Cheerful Treat DSP from the hostess section with card and flowers in matching colors

Club cards

This uses the free everyday enchantment dsp from Sale-A-Bration. I took the idea from Dawn Olchefske, but changed it up a bit and glittered my focal image using the sizzix adhesive sheets. The gratitude sentiment is from Fabulous Phrases.

This is the spirelli technique card that we made in Jan. The designer paper is Twitterpated from the Occasions mini catalog. Sentiment is from Petite Pairs and the cupcake is from Itty Bitty Bits. We used bakers twine for both scallops.

I saw this idea on our demonstrator website, Stampin' Connection, made by Michele Reynolds. Again, I put my own spin on it. Thanks to club member Marlene for the idea to stamp the doily tablecloth. I had heard that it takes some work to get all the little pieces out of the doily sizzlet and almost didn't buy it, but am soooooo glad that I did. It is so worth it and really doesn't take too long if you use a shim and lighter weight paper so it cuts better.

 The new labels framelits, blushing bride pleated ribbon, twitterpated dsp, and Bordering on Romance stamp set make this card a work of art.

 This is a telescoping card closed. I saw this idea by Lorri Heiling on Stampin' Connection.

 This is the open card. Contact me for more info if you want to make this card or one similar.

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Unable to post any pics

My computer usb port has not been working for the last couple of weeks. I can't load new pictures so I can post. I need to take the computer in, but also need to get an external hard drive to save everything on it first cause my "computer geek" nephew says they may need to reinstall the discs and I could lose everything.  Arggh!

UPDATE 2/18/12: I figured out it was a bad "card reader" so all I had to do was buy a new one! My camera uses a compact flash memory card and my laptop does not have a slot to plug that in without an adaptor "card reader". But I'm back up and running now.

Christmas Cards

I made a few cards that I haven't posted, so will share now. This was inspired by Barbara Dykhouse who posted on Stampin' Connection (SC). It uses the stocking punch and designer paper for the staircase from Frostwood Lodge as well as the little leaves sizzlet.  The stockings use retired DSP.
*(The stocking punch will be gone after 1/3/12, so get it now if you are interested. Itis so easy to make a cute accent with this punch. It also makes a cute baby sock and I have seen it turned upside down to make a hobby horse.)

This is a card that we made for stamp club in Nov. I received a telescoping card in a swap at convention then saw the snowman either on SCS or SC, but not sure who to give credit. This is my take on him. We used the bigshot and the circles die, also scallop circle die and a couple of circle punches. The arms are made with the snowflake punch, the hat is the word window and 1" square with rounded edges. I used a non SU small snowflake punch for hat accent with a rhinestone.

 Card with snowman lying flat. The background is made with the northern flurry embossing folder and lightly sponged with pacific point ink.

This is the card that I made to send to friends. I fell in love with and bought the Sounding Joy set to use, so had to do it even though they went in the mail after Christmas. I had the new cherry cobbler embossing powder  and wanted to use it, so that was how I chose the color combo. I used the new snow burst embossing folder for the olive background. The cherry cobbler seam binding worked well, but I needed something else, so found the retired "joy" and small star punches and added a pearl.

I tried overstamping the sentiments like on the front, but couldn't read the words underneath so did them separately. The card base is naturals white which is a bit heavier weight than whisper white.

Any of the cards can be enlarged to look at details by clicking on the picture.

New tattoos

The girls and I thought it would be fun to do something together, so we all got "sleeves" for Christmas!

Starbucks bottles of bath salts

I found epsom salt at Dollar Tree and thought it would be a fun project for the girls to make for Christmas gifts. After searching online, this is the recipe we used: use funnel to fill bottle with epsom salts then pour into glass bowl, add 2 tbsp of baking soda, 20 drops of essential oil (we used strawberry), and food color to desired shade. Then I let each girl help me choose designer paper, ribbon, and design for the top of the lid. They had fun making these and were so proud of their homemade gifts. Two 32 oz boxes of epsom salt made 4 small starbucks bottles and 2 other jars full for the girls to take home to share.  

First wash bottles and lids, the labels come off easily if bottles taken directly from a hot dishwasher. Use a magic eraser to remove writing on bottle. The small bottles need a strip of decorative paper 2 3/4" x 8 1/2", attach with sticky strip. The large bottles need 3" x 9" strips of paper. I used a paper piercer and hammer to make a hole in the lid and used a brad to attach the decorative top. Then tie ribbon and make knot or bow. You could get more creative and decorate much fancier, but this works.

Random thoughts

1. I need to apologize for my lack of action, I'm ready to get back to posting at least once a week.
2. We had a great family Christmas: too much food, lots of noise, and many laughs.
3. So thankful for Christ leaving His home in heaven to come to earth as a baby, only to die for our sins! Thank you God for the FREE gift of salvation.
4. Loving this warmer winter weather!!!!!!!
5. Home today, need to clean my house, but this is more fun!
6. Got a box of toys from SU, need to play so I can share some ideas. I ordered some clearance rack items, some occasions mini preorder things, and for the first time SU gave us the opportunity to get some free Sale-A-Bration products with our preorders.
7. Shopped last night at Bath and Body- got some 50-75% off bargains, went to Christopher and Banks with a $10 reward card and got a top and slacks, both 70% off, for $10, then went to Kohl's with $10 Kohls cash and got a pr of PJ's, 80% off, for $1.70.
8. I used store bought Christmas cards for 58 church members and sent out 32 hand made cards to family and friends. I will post the card that I made using Sounding Joy (that many of you got in the mail) for those who didn't get it.
9. My dishwasher decided to quit just before Christmas, it just runs dirty water and doesn't drain. My husband scooped out water cup by cup and wiped it out.  I had washed dishes and put in dishwasher to dry. My daughter was here while I was out, added more dishes and tried to run it, now I have another dishwasher full of dirty dishes. Just got them all done AGAIN!
10. I love my husband so much, we are really enjoying our empty nest. That is when we don't have grandkids, which is fairly often.
11. Dylan, our 4 yr old grandson learned how to spell his name at preschool recently, so he had a great time finding his presents under the tree and opening them.
12. Emma, 6, got a dolly that drinks and wets. When changing the diaper, she found an anatomically correct boy. Her first response was "Oh, No!"
13. Taylor, 13, is accepted into the student ambassador program with people to people and we are making fabric flowers to sell. She cut out 15 last weekend. We just need to sew them together, but need to make more in different colors this weekend. You will hear more about fundraisers for her.
14. Chris and I went to Centerville so I could work there 12 hrs on Christmas day. We were put up at Honey Creek Resort, beautiful place with a fun indoor waterpark. Sad to miss our church service, but they really needed help and they made me an offer that I couldn't refuse.
15. Chris and I have each lost 30# this year. We are both pretty much at our goals, just need to tone up some. So proud of our new bodies, however we will never look like we did nearly 38 yrs ago when we got married.
16. I could probably go on and on, but will quit with this one, I am so thankful for my Stampin'Up! friends.You are my reason to challenge myself to try new techniques, search for different ways to use certain products, and keep on stamping! My resolution is to give better customer service this year. I am open to constructive suggestions.

Another Dasher card

I saw several cards using Dasher and Lovely as a Tree, so tried my hand at it. This picture does not do the card justice. The sky and ground are sponged. There is iridescent ice embossing on the ground and I used dazzling details on the antlers. The trees and dasher are stamped with soft suede.

Center Step cards

These are cards that we made at Heartland Stampers club last week. The first two fall cards were planned and demo'd by Marlene. The "center step" card is fun because it stands up and out when standing. It takes just a bit of practice, but isn't hard. I came home and colored in the leaves and acorn with my aqua painter and inks. The second card has the other leaf on the inside.

This card is one I made with Stampin'Up! cardstock, designer paper, and stamps. I wish I had made the center piece shorter so I could add a sentiment across the bottom. Oh well, that just means that I get to play some more.

Pumpkin card

This card is made using Stampin'Up! oval punches. You needto punch 3 of each size to make one pumpkin. The front middle piece needs to be a full punch, but both back pieces can be a partial punch. I then ran them through embossing folders and sponged them after I glued them together. I used 1/8" olive tafffeta ribbon for the stems. The "sky" is sponged using our scallop circle punch. This was a really fun card to make and fun to use the punches for something other than just an oval shape.