Happy Harmony

Here is a simple birthday card I made up quick yesterday. I used a piece of Basic Grey that was already in my scrap stash as the background. I stamped "happy" on another piece of scrap and then stamped the dots on top of that. Added some hardware and ribbon from Wal-Mart. "Birthday" was stamped on a stripe scrap from the background piece.

I stamped the flowers after coloring them with markers and then hand made the stems with an olive marker. The flowers are stamped on a piece of patterned cardstock that I had printed from a CD that came with a scrapbook magazine. It really helped soften and age the look.

Mounted that to a scallop punched square. It still seemed to be missing something, so I pierced around the edge.

On the weather front...WHAT a mess!! it has been raining since last nite, (places already flooded with the warm weather melting all the snow we've had since Thanksgiving) suppose to turn to snow and 50 mph wind. Not good conditions for calving or for anything really.

Loves Me paper projects

Here are a couple of projects I have made with SU!'s Loves Me paper. I only bought one package and have almost used it all. My goal is to get it all used up before starting some other that I have around. This first card is from a challenge on SCS making a criss cross card. You can read the challenge and instructions here.

This card is made from a pattern I made off of one that Kim had given me. I cut the scallop with scalloped edged scissors and then added a white dot with my signo gel pen to achieve an eyelet look. Button is SU! also.

New Stamp card

Many thanks to a very suh-weet friend who sent me this stamp. Ü Here is the first card I've made with it. Hope to play with it some more today. I stamped on the back of this new patterned paper and cut it out. I used a circle punch to cut patterned paper for the center of the flower and stamped it with the dots stamp in Polka Dots and Paisley. A very simple card, but I like how it turned out.

"Cuttle" Cards

I received some embossing folders by Cuttlebug a couple of weeks ago. Last week I embossed several pieces of scrap cardstock and am now working on making them into cards. I love how the images *pop* when you rub them with ink-I used a sponge to do this. I'm not really fond of how this flower looks-need to play with it some more. But I was needing some birthday cards, so it works I guess.


This card has very little stamping, but I like how it turned out. I rubbed black ink on the red cardstock. The metal heart is a button concho. Don't know where it came from, but was in my stash of embellishments. Ribbon is from SU! as well as the "love".

Last VSN item

Here is the last item I stamped for the VSN challenge on SCS.

This is a purse bag that they gave the template for (very easy). Cards will fit in here. I think this would be a nice gift filled with stamped cards and envelopes.

Once again I used my Blush paper. The bag is made from chocolate chip cardstock and then I cut the Blush patterned paper to fit the front and back. The book plate is chipboard from SU! and the brads are by Making Memories. I embossed "happiness always" in brown. The ribbon for the handles is a blush color w/ chocolate polka dots. I got it from Embellishments in Kearney and do not know the company.

VSN projects 2 & 3

Here are two more cards I did with the challenges on SCS for VSN.

For this first one, the hostess showed a picture of very pretty dishes that were blush and brown. there were stripes, circles and swirly designs on the dishes. We were to use that set as our inspiration and design a card. There is very little stamping. I embossed the verse with Bon Bon brown embossing powder-a color SU! used to carry. The flower on the bottom is 3 layers with a dimensional between them and then held together with a Making Memories brad. I used my textile embossing folder by Cuttlebug to make the embossed strip. Patterned paper is Blush by Basic Grey. This is probably my favorite line of paper by them so far.

This challenge was to use glitter and pearl ex. I love this embossed design from Cuttlebug embossing folders and I have wanted to see if I could make it look like old tin ceiling pieces. I embossed chocolate chip cardstock and then rubbed 3 different colors with my metallic rub ons. The butterfly is painted with pearl ex and Future floor cleaner. The hardware just seemed to be the perfect accent for the look I was wanting to get. I also splattered the stamped image using a creamy caramel marker and air art gun to give it a more rustic look.

Cocoa Packet

I did this for a VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) challenge on SCS. I used Keri's template to make it. I just used velcro to close it instead of a ribbon closure.

Here is a picture of the inside. I put some marshmallows in a cello bag, folded down the top and punched with my ribbon slot punch. Tied with a bow, added a cinnamon candy cane and you have a nice little gift.

FYI: If you want to see a larger picture, just click on it and it will open in a new window and you can see it in a larger format.

Stay Tuned...

If you are checking this blog for family news, not much really going on. Bruce is tired of the snow and ice-ice especially. He knows I like snow and isn't happy that I am getting plenty of it. So, I will try to not want snow. Ü

We got Benjamin's passport all filled out, pictures taken and everything is now sent in. He is planning on going to Belize in May with the youth group and I'm still not sure I want him to go. I told him I was going with him and then found out it is humid beyond our comprehension and in the 100's most of the time even when it is raining. I can't take the heat and humidity is not a good thing to me, so I won't be going. Ü

If you check here for my stamped projects, I will get something posted this week. I hurt my back last Wednesday (slipped but didn't fall on the ice) and wasn't able to get to the chiropractor until Tuesday. I had 3 ribs out, a place in my neck and several places in my back, esp. my lower back. So I haven't stamped in quite awhile. I am feeling better today and need to get some birthday and thinking of you cards done, so hopefully will have something to post if they turn out to be blog fodder. If they don't, you won't see them. Ü

Until later,

Debbie

more paper bag albums

Tuesday we went to Lennox, South Dakota to pick up a loader at a manufactoring plant where they make them. Would have been interesting to go through. I haven't done any stamping since then.

Here are a couple more I made before Tuesday...

This one is just like the other one I made but in bright colors.

This one I made using only Inky Antic stamps.

Paper bag card

We are snowed in so thought I would stamp. I spent all day yesterday cleaning and reorganizing in my stamp room, so ready to stamp. Here is a card I made for a 1-4-1 swap. We had to have a base card, another piece of cardstock a bit smaller than the base, one 3 x 3 piece, one 1.5 x 4 piece and a circle somewhere.
The colors are really off in the scan. The colors used were blush, choc, ruby, and moss. The scan shows it as more pink. On the large blush circle w/ ruby star, I did highlights w/ the white pen. On the flower w/ green center, I used the white pen on the petals and stamped the image again and cut out the green center and popped it up.

This is what it looks like on the inside. The flap folds into the right front edge of the card.

Cards 4 through 8

I am still working on this SU! patterned paper! This card was for a sketch challenge on Inky Antics. I used my Cricut to cut the oval, then stamped the kitty inside. The Happy Birthday is from SU!

This card was for a sketch challenge on SCS. All of the flowers were cut with my Cricut, using the George cartridge and the silhoutte feature.

For this card I stamped the verse on patterned paper and then using my piercing guide punched holes and sewed by hand the zigzag with embroider floss. Reminds me of when I was a little girl and would go to grandma's and she had those sewing cards with the holes and you would use yarn. Remember those?

For this card I used my new Cuttlebug embossing folder. Then I sanded the raised design to make it pop. I watercolored the flower stamp to make it soft and not take away from the embossing.

This is the last card for today. I used my cricut to cut the large flower and my piercing kit to pierce the holes seen in the photo.

Patterned Paper Challenge

On Amy Rysavy's blog, she challenged herself to use up all her Spring Flowers/Showers double sided paper by SU! Like her, I *hoard* paper and then something cooler comes out! So I decided to do the same. But I think I have more of it than she does! LOL! So I am going to see how many cards/gift items I can make with this, so I can move onto other paper.

I make birthday cards for all the women in our church and was able to work on the January birthday's yesterday. I decided this was a good time to use up this patterned paper. To help inspire me, I used SCS's sketch challenge. For those of you unfamiliar with this, someone posts a sketch challenge each week. Here are a few cards that I made...

This one is my favorite of them all so far...

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow...

We have LOTS of it now! Ü Of course this is not good for Bruce, but I love it! It was soooo pretty yesterday, coming straight down and thick. Benjamin had a late start today and I hope to get some stamping done and get some new things posted here.

Last week I was fighting chronic sinus infection and acute bronchitis. When I went to the dr. Monday, she gave me the strong stuff as this is what I had before I got pneumonia last time. It worked and I hope I get that every time instead of messing around with amoxicillan!

Anyway here is a card I made for a Valentine swap I was in. The layout was inspired by a get well card I received from Michelle Wooderson when I had pneumonia! (ironic that I picked it as my inspiration when I was sick! LOL!!)

I used the new Loves Me patterned paper at the top and stamped the bottom with SU!'s canvas background stamp. The pickup is from Loads of Love set by SU!. You can't tell in the scan very well, but there is glitter on the hearts. I colored the images using colored pencils and Gamsol.

Saturday Benjamin & I went to Kearney shopping and then to Bruce's niece's baby shower. Ever take a teenage BOY clothes shopping? Make that a skinny teenage boy!? We found ONE pair of jeans that would fit him in the whole town! Well there was another store that had some for over $50 that looked like someone had taken sand paper to them and then wore them while working with cows (if you know what I mean!) and then hung them on a hanger to sell!! I think NOT!! Thankfully, even Benjamin thought they were gross.

Anyway, while in Kearney, I picked up a couple of those adorable mailboxes in the dollar section that everyone is decorating and posting on SCS. I hope to get a chance soon to play with them and will post when I can use mom's camera.

Debbie

Cocoa Petey

I just love this guy from Inky Antics. This is a limited edition stamp that a few members from the Inky Antic message board received for Christmas.

I made this using the Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge #98. The challenge called for a regular sized card, but since my cocoa packet was tall and skinny I made it to fit a regular sized envelope.

The cardstock is Basic Grey and SU!'s chocolate chip. I used black ink to stamp Petey and colored with Gamsol and colored pencils. Petey's hat has a little glitter on the top. Actually, I think this is Petey's sister Paula. Ü

The verse is from another InkyAntic stamp that I received for Christmas called Friend with Chocolate. I just colored the verse with my black marker, cut and attached with brads.

I used liquid applique on the marshmallows and then heat set them with my heat gun to make them fluff. The cocoa is called Candy Cane cocoa, so went just perfect with this stamp. Add a candy cane to stir and you have a fun little gift!

3 Christmas's down, 1 to go...

Last night was our third Christmas celebration at my cousin's. This is the one that we always went to gr'pa and gr'ma's for. The last 3 yrs have been at my cousin's as gr'pa & gr'ma are in a rest home now. We did meet there one year, but my cousin's have a large new home so we meet there now.

It was a wonderful evening. (The roads were awful getting there and I was so glad that I wasn't driving or we would have turned around and stayed home.) It was a simple supper and then we did our $5 gift exchange. My cousin won mine and I also added this...

This is a notebook I made with cardstock and chipboard and rubi'd together. The kitty is an Inky Antic image.

I also gave her this...

This is a fun coaster calendar. I covered the coaster with patterned paper and sanded the edges.

The calendar is printed off the computer but would be soooo much easier to use those free business ones that you get every year. I just didn't have any and wanted to get this done. The flowers are done with my cricut. Added brads for the center and used glue dots to stick them on.

When I added the calendar, I punched holes thru the calendar pages AND the coaster, so that it can be used year after year. Add a magnet to the back and you can put it on your fridge. I think my cousin said she is going to put it on her locker. She is an oncology nurse.

This idea came from a fridge calendar that my SIL gave me one year. It was so handy. After I got some of these coasters, I thought I could make my own.

Happy New Year to you all!

I won a Cricut Cartridge!!!!!

I am soooo excited! I ck'd my messages before we leave for Kim's funeral (weather is not suppose to be good) and I get this message from Cricut! They had this thing going til Christmas where you send in a project made with the Cricut and if they choose you for their Spotlight Corner you win a cartridge of your choice! I sent in about 4 projects and this is the one they chose!!!!! Anyway, this is something that I would have called Kim right away with , so I am sharing it with you my friends.

The date book is completely made from scratch. I printed 12 pages (on cardstock) with the month and numbered lines for each month. I made tabs for each page and a cover and back. I covered the back and cover with patterned paper and then rubi'd it all together. I decorated the front with flower #2 from the George cartridge with the silhouette feature as I thought it mimicked the flower in the paper. 'Dates to Remember' was done on the computer. I have made several of these and got the idea from Kim. She had bought one off of E-bay and had shown it to me last year. Hers is wayyyyy cooler.

The candy box was made with coasters. I covered each coaster with patterned paper and sanded the edges. Then I punched holes in the side and tied together with ribbon. I hot glued the bottom on (need to find a better way to attach the bottom). The flower is cut the same way. For the large flower I cut 5 of cardstock and one of patterned paper to look like chipboard. The center is a brad by Making Memories.

Thank you for letting me share,
Debbie

Datebooks

This date book came about because of an awesome gift I rec'd from my friend Lana. She had taken a notepad and tore all the pages apart, made a front and back with chipboard and then rubi coiled it all together.

I needed a $5 gift for our Christmas gift exchange with grandma this year (grandpa won't be able to come anymore due to his health). This is the kind of exchange where you draw numbers and then can steal gifts from someone else instead of opening a new one.

Anyway, I made the one here and liked it so well I couldn't bear to part with it. LOL!! I used the new patterned paper 'Loves Me' from SU! and sanded the edges. The flower is cut from my Cricut using the George cartridge and flower #1 at 3". I cut 3 from cardstock and one from patterned paper to give a chipboard look. The tabs were cut with my QuicKutz. I took a 2007 calendar and starting with Jan 1st, figured out the days and put the month tabs where that month would start. I need to fill in the days with a pen.

Soooo...since the Christmas is tomorrow and I had two days of baking to do, I was running out of time for a gift. I made

this one just now and now I really like it and it's going to be hard to part with, but I just gotta! Am I the only weird person that has a hard time parting with stuff I make? I do

make alot and give alot away, but once in awhile I like it so much that it's just hard to let go. (insert rolling eyes here)

Well, I better go and get things ready for tomorrow. We are suppose to get freezing rain and snow again. I am hoping it will hold out until after the Kim's funeral. We can reschedule Christmas, but I will be really disappointed if I can't make it to her funeral.

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Today is my baby's 12 birthday! WOW does time fly fast!!
I have the cinnamon roll orders done and am now working on the cookies.
Had to sneak in a batch of chocolate chip muffins per Aaron's request for breakfast.
Now to go start his birthday cake.

Debbie

I'm Pooped!

I just took out the fourth batch of cinnamon rolls, plus I made a loaf of bread. I have a neighbor that ordered 6 doz cinnamon rolls and 6 dozen cookies. I will make the other two doz cinn rolls and cookies tomorrow. She needs them for Friday. Thankfully, she was ok with getting them a day early as Kim's funeral is Friday and we will leave early Friday morning.

In between the making of rolls and bread, I started working on a gift for Todd & Logan. I had this "brainy" idea to take all the journals and messages that they and everyone else posted on the caring site and make them into a book! Crazy, I know! Do you KNOW how many messages have been posted?! As of right now, 1036!! AND I can't just copy and paste, cuz then it is just a mess! I am NOT going to edit all the misspelling and etc. I thought I would just leave it as people posted. What I have done is paste the journal message from Todd, Rob (Kim's brother) and Kim (all of Kim's I did in pink) and made it bold. Then I copy and pasted each message that people posted that day, so it is all in chronological order starting with the first post.
Then I will somehow make it more 'readable'. I am thinking of making it two columns. I will then make a cover and print out all the pages. Not sure how this is going to go together, but I know it will be in pink as that was Kim's favorite color. Ü I hope that this will be a treasure and comfort to Todd & Logan that they can read in the days to come to see how much Kim meant to everyone and how loved she was.
Debbie

Hello!

Merry Christmas!

I decided to try this blog thing. Ü I'm not sure where I will go with this, but thought it could be a place where family and friends could keep up with what is going on in our family as well as my stamping adventures.

I won't be able to post every day, but will try to check in often.

Here is a gift I made for our Pastor and his wife. They have been such a blessing to us and we appreciate so much all their prayers for us over the past two years as we have gone through some tough times.

I framed it in black, but my scanner blurred the image when I scanned it, so took it out to scan.
To make I typed the verse sections on MSWord and printed on ivory naturals cardstock by SU! I then stamped Canvas background stamp with caramel ink and sponged with carmel. Then I stamped the flowers from Roses in Winter & Watercolor Garden ll in burgundy, caramel & artichoke. I mounted the verse sections twice on coordinating cardstock. I cut the A-S-K from the Cricut "Stamped" cartridge. I cut 2 from cardstock and one from patterned paper (Diane's Daughters) to give a chipboard look. I mounted the letters on the verse sections, added ribbon and metal accents from SU!'s modgepodge hardware and then centered them onto a piece of patterned paper that fit my frame (purchased from Dollar General).

Debbie

PS On a sad note, my dear friend Kim passed away today. I want to thank those of you who have been praying for her and her family.