Pop of red...

Still not feeling well, but I wanted to get this posted... I've had these pages done since Tuesday I think, but I had left the letter stamps at my mom's and just got the title done. Page 1 is the sketch from last weeks challenge found HERE, and page 2 is my own design to coordinate. Supplies: Stamps: Taffy Alphabet, Of The Earth Ink: Real Red Paper: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss (retired) and Whisper White card stock, Urban Oasis DP (retired) Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon, Spiral Punch

Little more Christmas...

Did you all have a fabulous Thanksgiving? (...American freinds!) We sure did! Fun family, great food, it rocks. However...I am now telling myself I am not actually sick....darnit.

But since I've been away a few days, here's some more cards we did at the Christmas card class, incase you need some ideas!

Disconnected Events

Saturday I participated in a holiday shopping event held by a neighbor. She contacted her home-business friends and hosted this huge event. I had catalogs, order forms and gift certificates available, but also had most of my stash of cards, a few retired stamp sets, old Idea Books, and a few other 3-D type projects for sale.

In order to sell cards and items that use Stampin' Up! images, you have to acknowledge their art. (Most, if not all stamp companies have what is called an Angel Policy, that allows you to sell their images.) I have two stamp sets that let me do this- one is retired, but still works! -and the other is this:

Only the top three count for the Angel Policy, because those top three include the "Copyright Stampin' Up!" phrase at the bottom! See? ...and you can also see that I took some time to sign some of my cards too! haha!

~~~~~~~

In a completely unrelated event, earlier this week I helped the 8-11 year old girls from my church make the following thank you cards. Their group had some oooold scrapbooking paper, but trimming it down (and cutting out some images) made it less overwhelming. *grin* And I supplied the card bases and stamps.

The girls were so funny...one girl pressed down and rocked on her stamp for a good 60-90 seconds because her friend's 'thank you' didn't show up all the way. Another jumped up and down while pressing the stamp onto her card (for "enough" pressure) insisting to her friend that "she already knew all about stamps." The best part tho was how excited they were to "make THREE cards! Wow, that's a lot." LOL!

As for me, I learned that the girls are exactly the same as the boys of the same age- since I'm a cub scout leader. haha!

Birthday Sketches!

So exciting- I got to play with MORE sketches! :) I missed them! It really does make card making so quick for me! This first card is already in the mail, so that is another YEAY for me! haha!

Anyway, I used Julee's Mojo Monday sketch for this:

Supplies:

Stamps: Of the Earth, Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel Ink: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede & Crushed Curry Paper: Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry & Whisper White card stocks Accessories: Soft Suede polka dot ribbon, Stamping Sponge

And the OCC sketch for this:

Supplies:

Stamps: Of The Earth, Upsy Daisy Ink: Basic Gray, Bashful Blue Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White Accessories: Big Shot & Top Note Die, retired ribbon

Little tags!

Here is another of the Stampin' Up! Regional DVD's make & take projects. Its a little box cut with the Big Shot, and a set of cute & simple tags. I added a couple more than they provided, but I used their exact design: All wrapped shut!

Supplies: Stamps: Berry Christmas Ink: Real Red, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede Paper: Real Red textured card stock, Bashful Blue & Whisper White card stocks Accessories: Real Red polka-dot ribbon, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Mat Pack, Silver Brads, Big Shot & die

Autumn Sketches!

Hooray!!! I got to play with TWO sketches this morning!!! And I got to use new toys! (new stamp set, new wheel, new paper, and my newest ink pad!) Autumn is pretty much over around here, but its my favorite season and I haven't created much about it yet. So since I had time- this is what I did!

First up, I used Beate's weekend sketch #106 and made this...

Supplies: Stamps: Bright Blessings Jumbo Wheel Ink: Soft Suede, More Mustard Paper: More Mustard & Whisper White card stock, Autumn Traditions DP Accessories: Soft Suede Polka dot ribbon

Then I used Jen's Saturday Sketch For You To Try and made this....

Supplies: Stamps: Of The Earth Ink: More Mustard, Soft Suede Paper: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Whisper White card stocks, Autumn Traditions DP Accessories: Clear Buttons, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots

The rest of the calendar...

Here's the rest of it! Enjoy! January: (retired snowflake stamp, Bundle Up- also retired) February: Fifth Avenue Floral March: Upsy Daisy, Both Way Blossoms (retired)

April: Girlfreinds, Girlfreind Accessories, Its a Girl Thing

May: Under the Stars June: Country Morning

A Calendar

This weekend my mom and I worked on a scrappy calendar for a Christmas gift. Stampin' Up! no longer carries these calendars, but the new My Digital Studio software has the ability to create calendars...! Or, you can make your own pages, write up or print off a blank calendar, and then bind it yourself! Anyway, the calendar wasn't 100% done when I had to leave, but I photo'd what we got... The emphasis of the photos was based on the birthday of the month, or the anniversary, and the stamps we chose was based on the month itself. I'll share half of it right now: July: Stamps: Stars & Swirls (retired), Scouts At Play (retired), Land That I Love (retired)
August: Stamps: Scene in a Garden (retired) September: Stamps: God's Beauty (retired) October: Stamps: Haunting Halloween (retired), Hey Ghoul Friend (retired), Bitty Boos (retired) November: Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes December: Stamps: Delightful Decorations

Christmas Card Class

I have two sessions of my Christmas Card Class coming up. We'll be making 50 cards, using mostly new products from the Holiday Mini! Here are just a few of my favorite cards that we'll be doing....

Real Red & Soft Suede is my new favorite color combination!!!

Veteran's Day!

There's been a lot of online chatter about thankfulness. I love it.

Today, I am * very * thankful to my father in law, my grandfathers, my uncle, my nephew, other family, friends and perfect strangers for their courage and willingness to fight for our country and help bring freedom to people everywhere.

Here is a neat email I got that I wanted to share...since I can't put my own thoughts into words.

THE FINAL INSPECTION The Army Soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass. 'Step forward now, Soldier, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?'

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here. They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears. If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand. There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the Soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God. 'Step forward now, you Soldier, You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell.' ~Author Unknown~

December Daily!

Wow, what a great idea! I was directed to THIS blog, to learn more about THIS scrapbook idea. The funny thing is, I did a cover for a book with a similar concept about two years ago....and have yet to put ANYTHING in it. So. While I brainstorm ways to change that fact, and come up with a book to document our December...you can look at this page that is almost two years old! The page itself is not my design, This year Stampin' Up! provided a major convenience to their demonstrator by doing some of the training we would receive at a Regional meeting, on DVD, and also allowing us to buy the make & takes we would have made if we'd attended. So, this is a page from Regionals *wink*. The only thing I did differently was to mat the photo on Real Red card stock. I think its very cute! Enjoy! Supplies: Stamps: Berry Christmas Ink: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede & Whisper White card stocks, Soft Suede Prints DP Accessories: Sherbet Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Real Red polka-dot ribbon

Easiest Ever

Really. I put together 5 pages today and the hardest part was printing off the info! These pages came from my son's Star Student poster, from two years ago!!! I just took the pictures off, wrote the very same caption as the poster had, and typed up the page we had to fill out for him! This is the first page, last page and only one of the middle...because there are three middle pages that look the same except the snapshots glued down. *grin* Supplies: Stamps: Letterpress ABC (retired) Ink: Tempting Turquoise Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue

A Sketch!

Its been a really long time since I played in any of my weekly challenges I love... Tons going on, plus prepping for my Christmas Card classes. So I thought I'd change gears and use this fun new hostess set I got!

This card is BASED on Beate's sketch... LOL. the lines of paper are supposed to go the whole length of the card...and my circle is HUGE to fit the words on it. haha...

Supplies:

Stamps: Of the Earth Ink: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede & Always Artichoke Markers Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Melon Mambo

Thankful Jar

What are you thankful for? We have started a little Thankful Jar in our family. It was intended to be a countdown to Thanksgiving, but I received it late, and besides, I think it should continue thru the entire holiday season. So each morning my kids are taking turns drawing out a slip of paper with a reminder of something we are thankful for, and a way to express their gratitude. Today's selection said "I am thankful for my cousins! Write a letter to one of your cousins!" ...only problem is my kids have a LOT of cousins. In fact, a good number of who they consider their cousins are actually the children of their first cousins. :) LOTS to choose from! They each chose three cousins to make a card for....and look how fun it was!

But....their choices left out a little one whose older siblings would get mail...and I didn't want her feelings hurt! So I threw together a Thankful card for her! It is extremely simple, but hey, she's a very small girl!

Here are the three cards my son did. He wrote and filled the insides. Yeay for cousins!

Christmas Paper

So I have been putting together cards for my upcoming Christmas Card Class. Here's one of the many cards we'll make...