Quick and Easy

We always do Make and Takes at our downline meetings and the last meeting we had was no exception. This was one of the projects we worked on. This card is one of those quick and easy cards that you can go to when you need a card in a hurry. The supplies that we used for this card were:

STAMP SETS: Vintage Labels

PAPER: Old Olive, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bride DSP

INK: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

ACCESSORIES: Wide Oval Punch, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Brayer

The Bride DSP was altered by coloring it. A very easy technique that can coordinate the Bride DSP to any color card that you are working on. All you need is a brayer and ink. Choose the color you want, ink up the brayer, roll the brayer over the paper (coloring the paper), and then wipe off the extra ink with a paper towel. What a great DSP!!! And what a great quick and easy card. It is raining very hard here today. So I hope wherever you are it is nicer weather so you can enjoy your day!

Faux Buttons and Birds

Love, love, love the new XL Two Step Bird Punch in the new Occasions Mini. I have used it more than I would have thought. It is a quick and easy way to add that little extra to your cards. Talking about that little extra... Did you ever want to add a button to your card but did not have the right color? Well here is an easy way to add that embellishment to your card when you don't have that button you need. Take a 3/4" Circle Punch and punch out 6 circles. Adhere circles on top of each other with Crystal effects. I then used the Crop-A-dile to punch the two holes. I used Linen Thread to go through the holes. I also took a Sponge Dauber and sponged the edges of the Faux Button with the same ink color. This made it look more dimensional. My customers were impressed with the ease you can make the button but then also the effect that it had on your card. A very simple card with very little stamping but I really liked how it turned out. The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SET: Sincere Salutations

PAPER: Sending Love DSP, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue

INK: Bashful Blue

ACCESSORIES: Crop-A-dile, Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, XL Two Step Bird Punch, Crystal Effects

I used this card for my March Technique Class. I know that I am a bit behind with posting. Things have been a little unsettled since my Father became ill last month. But we are in the process of moving in him with us, so hopefully I will be able to get back into my regular routine. Right now we are going through the house and packing things, so things get crazy at times. Today I plan to get caught up with things at home. I hope that you are able to get out and enjoy the day!

Swap Card

Yesterday I told you that we had a meeting last week at Kim's House. This is one of the cards that I received in the swap. This card was made by Susan Peters. She used a stamp set that was given to those people who attended Leadership. I love this stamp set. I promise you that you will be seeing a lot of this stamp set soon. Susan used the Wonder Crayons to add color to the flowers on this card. I love it! I asked her if she would let me put it on my blog. I am glad she gave me permission. I hope you like it as much as I do. Enjoy the day!

Vintage Vogue Swap

Last Sunday we had our monthly Downline Meeting at Kim's House. We always make swaps for each other and this is the swap I finally ended up with. Just so you know, I started out making a swap using the XL Bird Punch and this is what I ended up with! When Susan left my house on Saturday, I started to make my swaps. I had the punch out, Old Olive cardstock, Rich Razzleberry cardstock and buttons. Imagine Susan's surprise when she saw this card for my swap. Not one thing that I started out with did I end up with. Perfect example why my Stamping Sisters think I am nuts! Nothing seem to come out the way I wanted but I am very happy with this card. The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SETS: Vintage Vogue, En Francois

PAPER: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White

INK: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral

ACCESSORIES: Fire Circle Brads, Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch

Don't ever be afraid to change a card you are working on. Change colors, change stamp sets, change accessories, whatever. But don't be afraid to try different things. You might not end up with the card you had in your mind to start with but you might be really happy with what you end up with. All that hard work will probably be worth it. Go enjoy the day!

Spring Stamp A Stack Card 3

Here is the third card that we will be making at the Spring Stamp A Stack. A very simple but elegant card. I love the Beautiful Wings embosslit and the butterflies look stunning on this very simple card. The sentiment at the bottom of the card can be changed to a variety of greetings using the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set. If you like the variety of cards we are offering at our event, just email me or give me a call to sign up for it. The date is April 10 at 9 to Noon.

Enjoy your day!

Stamp A Stack Card 2

This is the second card that we are offering for our Spring Stamp A Stack. I took the template from a card that Stampin' Up had done. I liked the arrangement but not the colors or technique. So I experimented and came up with this one. I used the technique where you color the Bride Specialty Paper for the bottom of the card. I also decided to color the flowers to add more interest. I think it looks as though the bird is sitting on a Cherry Blossom branch. I tried a number of combinations. I changed colors, I changed different papers, changed colors of ribbons and finally settled on this. I made one before this and set it on my Dining Room table and walked by it for 2 days. I felt it needed something, so I worked on it some more. This time when I put it out the finished card and walked past it, I felt it was right. I know that sounds dumb but I am never pleased with my first try. I work on it and work on it until it feels right. I do this especially for Stamp a Stacks and classes. I guess that is because I want my customers to be happy with what they make. If you are interested in attending the April 10th Stamp a Stack, please contact me.

Well, I am off to a "LOVE AT FIRST STAMP Meeting." The Love Monkey will be going with me and I will give him to someone else to love for a month. IT is beautiful here again today so go out and enjoy the day!

Spring Stamp A Stack is coming!

It is that time of year again when everyone needs to replenish their card supply. Susan and I can help you do that easily. We have been working hard to come up with card designs that hopefully you will enjoy. This is one of the cards I designed for the Stamp A Stack. All my customers ask for "Manly Man" cards. My theory is that for a masculine card you only need masculine DSP and a strong sentiment set to create a variety of manly cards. I think you will agree when you see this card. Simple but it makes a statement. I like it. The Stamp A Stack will be held on April 10 at 9 in the morning at Susan's place. This is one of the cards that you will be able to make. More information will be coming out soon.

It is beautiful outside today! It sure beats all the snow we had this winter. So go out and enjoy your day!

Love Monkey and Lucy

Well, Love Monkey's time with me and my family is quickly coming to an end. While he was here, he attended 2 birthday parties, an Easter Stamp Camp, endured a visit from the Granddog Riley and will be attending 3 technique classes this week. He sure has been a busy little monkey. I thought you might enjoy this picture. This was taken when Lucy tried to relax and Love Monkey curled right up against her for a nap.

Well I have to go to teach a technique class this morning. Hopefully, I will get to do some personal stamping this afternoon. I want to be able to show you some of my newer projects.

Go out and enjoy your day! I hope it will be as enjoyable as mine will be today. Because what could be better than to sit down and show people how to do what you love doing...stamping! Friends, stamping, and food. Doesn't get much better than that!

Another Gift Card Holder

While preparing for our Easter Stamp Camp, we wanted to have a gift card holder. So I played around with different types of them. I wanted to make something that was quick and easy since some of our other projects were not as easy to do. This was one of the other gift card holders that I made. You can see that the front design is the same as the other one I made but the construction of the holder is different. I used an envelope for this card holder also but the way that you fold it is different. I used this design for my Christmas Gift Card Holders this year. For this design, you fold the envelope in half, cut the flap in half, glue the one side down, and the flap that you did not cut stays open so that you can slide the gift card in. The supplies that I used for this project were:

STAMP SETS: Teeny Tiny Wishes, A Good Egg

PAPER: Barely Banana, Shades of Spring

INK: Basic Black, Orchid Opulence

ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Pastels, 1/4" Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Envelopes

This was the one we did not use but it is a design that you might want to try. It is still rainy here and a very dreary looking today. Hoping that wherever you are you will still enjoy your day!

Easter Stamp Camp

Yesterday, Susan and I hosted an Easter Stamp Camp. we had such a nice time! Love Monkey was there. You just can't keep a fun loving Monkey down! I included a picture of the card we made. I cased this card from one on Stamping' Connections but do not remember who did it. I changed it up a bit and everyone there seemed to love it. It was one of the more relaxing projects we did yesterday. As you can see Love Monkey is sitting watching over us. We were able to get him to work on projects too and you can see him holding on to the Boo Boo Bunny he made yesterday. The supplies that were used in this card were:

STAMP SETS: Chocolate Bunny, Inspired by Nature, All Holidays, A Good Egg

PAPER: Shades of Spring DSP, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

INKS: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Craft Ink, Basic Black

ACCESSORIES: Sponges, Clear EP, Heating Tool, Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Dimensionals, White Gel Pen

I have not posted for a few days because I was taking care of my father last week. He fell twice last week and I was overwhelmed taking care of him. To top it off, I hurt my back trying to pick him up so I really was not able to indulge my passion of stamping this past week. He is doing better so I hope I can get some stamping done.

A reminder to my customers that I will be having my technique classes this week. Contact me if you want to come or you have questions. Go out and enjoy the rest of the day.

Monkeying Around

Here is that silly monkey again!. I promised an update so here it is. This time he is taking a ride on my Grand-dog Riley. My daughter and her husband were visiting over the weekend and they always bring their dog, Riley. Love Monkey decided he would make a good pony and got up on Riley's back and rode him around the room. That monkey, he is a lively one! What a good time he is having at my place.

Easter Stamp Camp- Gift Card Holder

This is the second project will will be making at the Easter Stamp Camp. It is a gift card holder. Very simple but so much fun to make. The card uses the new Shades of Spring Designer Paper from the Occasions Mini. If you need a quick gift card holder, this is the one for you. A reminder that if you want to attend the Easter Stamp Camp please contact me by March 6. It will not be held at my house this time but at Susan's. If you need more information or directions, please contact me.

Stay tuned this week for more adventures of Love Monkey. I bet he can't wait to leave my house and go live with someone new. Until then, go out and enjoy the day!

Love Monkey Partying Over The Weekend

That Love Monkey is really having a blast at my hose since he came home with me. On Saturday, we had a birthday party for my father who turned 90! Well of course Love Monkey had to get into the act and I found him all over the house partying. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. It was hard to keep track of him, he is such a party "animal"! Stay tuned throughout the month for more adventures of "Love Monkey"

Easter Stamp Camp- Giardelli Candy Box

Susan and I are getting together once again to have an Easter Stamp Camp. We have planned 5 projects for you to make for Easter. This is one of the projects. It is a Giardelli Chocolate Box Holder. Isn't it cute. It is a very easy box to make and you can place Giardelli chocolate squares in it and use it as a gift to someone. We have tried to come up with items that you can use at Easter as gifts or favors. We know that at this time of year, it always helps if you have a few extra gift ideas to help make your holiday a festive one. Susan and I are planning this Stamp Camp for March 13 at 9 am at Susan's House. Please contact me by March 6 if you are interested. I can give you price and directions at that time.

I have to get going and take my Father to the Doctor today. I have pictures of Love Monkey's activities from the weekend. Wow! That monkey is a party animal! Hopefully I can get some of them posted this week.