Stampin on the Grand

Spring is in the Air!

2011-03-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

At least it was yesterday, today ... not so much! It rained all day yesterday and I awoke this morning to my car covered in snow! Yuck!!

I spent most of the day yesterday either dozing or planning classes for this spring and posting them to my Demonstrator Business Web Site. Hope you can join me for this series!!

I've added a PayPal button to the right of my blog under "About Me" for payment of this series.

I've finally gotten some pictures taken of my new craft room. I'll share them over the next week or so. I've also taken pictures of few projects that I've finally completed the last few months.

I'm a big fan of Ali Edwards and her no-nonsence view of scrapbooking. Ali has chosen a word each year that she tries to follow in her crafting (she says she finds it filters into her whole life) and I've decided to try this also. The word I've chosen for this year is "COMPLETE". I'm finding it is, also, filtering into my whole life. So ... I've actually completed quite a few crafting projects that I had started and put aside. As well, Brent and I are completing a few things around the house that had been started and never quite finished.

Here are some of the craft room photos and I'll post more later this week.

New Class

2011-01-16T12:16:00.005-05:00

Filled With Love

Join me in this class designed by the very talented Mary Fish where we will make 3 unique cards and a bonus project using products from the "Filled With Love" Bundle offered by Stampin' Up! This bundle is only available until January 24^th so hurry to register!

I am offering 3 ways to take this class:

Buy the wood-mount bundle which includes Filled with Love Wood-Mount Set and exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper
and free package of Bitty Buttons for $40.45 and the class is FREE!
Buy the clear-mount bundle which includes Filled with Love Clear-Mount Set and exclusive Love Patterns Designer Series Paper and free package of Bitty Buttons for 33.45 and the class is Free!

In order for me to order the bundles in time for the class, registration and payment must be made by January 24^th . Payment can be made by PayPal or in person by cash or cheque.

For more information check out my DBWS.

WOW!!!

2010-11-22T20:30:00.003-05:00

In 6 years as a demo, I've never seen this before!

What I did with an extra hour of sleep ...

2010-11-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

a little bit more organizing. I bought these sponge dauber holders online somewhere (I suffer from "old-timers" disease ... sorry I don't remember where I got them), finally bought enough sponge daubers, found my P-Touch and got to work. I've labeled each dauber and labeled each plastic holder with collection name and voila!

Swaps

2010-11-03T05:00:00.000-04:00

I was a swapping fiend for a while, but gradually slowed down to the point where I hadn't swapped in a year or two.
This fall I joined up again for a couple. Below is the card I made for an organized swap that I joined.
Next one was for general swapping.

Hellooooooo ....

2010-10-31T15:05:00.001-04:00

bet you thought I'd up and moved or something! LOL ... no such luck!

That darn thing called "LIFE" got in the way again!

It's been busy, busy, busy and ever changing. New office, new job, new school year and ... new craft room!!

Brent & I have done some major renovations and have moved my craft room to the old family room in the basement. It sounds so dark and dreary when I say it that way, but in fact, it is bright and light and now my "happy place". LOL

I've now got my table in the same room as my supplies, so classes are MUCH easier now. Here are some pictures ...

These picture were taken as we were putting stuff up ... I'll take some new pictures soon (after I tidy a bit ... hehehe) of what it looks like with most of my stuff in.

I am still around ...

2010-05-17T06:43:00.002-04:00

just not on the web. Having said that, I will be back in a day or two with some cards and such that I've managed to pump out.
The sun is shining already this morning (it's 6:45ish am) and the weather is promising to warm up! It's a GOOD DAY! LOL

Using up more stuff ...

2010-03-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

that I've had laying around. The transparency is one that I've had for a few years, as is the paper and chipboard letters. I had actually bought this scrapbooking kit before I knew about Stampin' Up! The colours in the kit seemed to co-ordinate with the Soho Designer Hardware and my hospital gown.

The journaling reads as follows:

HEART ATTACK??? ME??? Labour Day weekend 2008, after training 6 drivers in Special Needs. I just thought I was over-heated and didn't bother to go to the dr.'s or hospital. Did my am run on the first day of school ... haven't driven a bus since.

This is what absolute JOY looks like. I had just found out that my heart had completed TWO natural by-passes. And that no surgery was needed in the foreseeable future!

MY Day

2010-02-26T05:13:00.004-05:00

As we all do, I have my list of blogs that I visit each day ... some are SU demos and some are not. One that I really enjoy is by Michelle Wooderson. I just love her style and (what I see on this side of the computer screen) ease with which she creates. She created and shared, what she calls, her "12 Days of Me". Basically Mish has chosen 1 day each month to be her "personal" day ... she does whatever it is she needs or wants to do, that day. Blogging, scrapping, cardmaking, organizing, cooking ... whatever. She created a list/booklet to help her plan her day and so that she can get whatever she needs ahead of time. LOVE THE CONCEPT!!! I bought one of the kits that she made up and sold in her Etsy shop ... chose my day for a few months in advance (because I work outside of the house, I had to pick convenient days, not the same day each month as Mish did) and "had at er" (as dh says). My first "day" was Family Day - February 15th!

Below are pictures of the booklet that I made up with Mish's kit.

Isn't it fun? As you can see, I've chosen March 14th to be my next personal day ... CAN'T WAIT!

I'll be back another day with a layout or two that I did on My Day!

Lovely Ladies

2010-02-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

For our last class, we made cards for children and women. I really love making very simple cards, but sometimes I like to "fuss" a bit.

All 3 of these cards are CASE'D, but I'm a very bad blogger and didn't not take note of who they were from. I'm really sorry, if they are yours, please let me know so I can give you credit. I promise to try harder and give credit where credit is due.

I love the ease of stamping this one and the quick way of adding a touch of elegance with a half-back pearl from the Pretties Kit.

I was so happy to find a use for the ornament punch other then for Christmas cards.

The Sweet Pea Felt has to be my favorite embellishment right now!

I will be back later with some pics of how I spent Family Day (February 15th here in Ontario)and perhaps a sneak peak of an upcoming class.

Happy Sunday!

2010-02-21T11:13:00.001-05:00

The sun is shining, what little snow we have is melting and (I hope) spring is slowly showing her lovely face!
Here are a couple of the cards that we made in class a couple of weekends ago. I CASE'D them from the SU website. They were originally made by Tamara Bertram. We only made two of her designs and there are still two more we could make.

I'll be back in a couple of days with a few more that we made.

I'm back!

2010-02-11T05:30:00.002-05:00

Bit by byte. LOL
I"ve got my father's computer and I am s l o w l y downloading my things onto it. I've got all of my drivers on now and the very first thing I downloaded after my drivers was ... Yep! My Digital Studio!! I've missed playing and really needed to get a new blog header made.
What do ya think? OH MY GOSH!! I love playing with this programme. Have I mentioned that before? hehehe.
I've got a few more things to work out with this computer, but I think it's coming along really well.
I've had a class, I've finished up a couple of projects that were sitting around and I'm working on a few more classes and projects for myself.
I'll be back soon with some pics.

I'll be back ...

2010-02-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

just as soon as I get my computer fixed. It seems I've got a very nasty virus(s) on it and we are still working on getting it dealt with. Until then ... I'll not be able to post much and certainly will not be able to share pictures of projects. But I will return .... LOL

An update...

2010-01-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

to let you know what I'm up to.
Unfortunately, it's not much. I'm having a bit of a time trying to absorb and process everything that has happened in the past 6 or 7 months. In the past two weeks, I've also learned that I may be out of a job. Our company had to submit a bid proposal for the bus routes we still have, but was not successful. There will be lots of shuffling of personnel between the 4 bases that are now open, with the possibility of closing one of them. I've been told that by the end of February I will know whether I will be continuing with the company or if I will have to look for another job.
I do have one card from Christmas time that I have not shared. Sorry for the poor picture.

We went on a search

2009-12-18T05:00:00.003-05:00

for the perfect Christmas tree and I think we might have just found it! Things are going to be a bit low key around here this year. I didn't really want to go to the trouble of putting up a tree but my dh really wanted one. We had a number of errands to run last weekend and on our way home drove past a garden nursery in the little town beside us. I caught a glimpse of a tree and had dh drive back to look at it. It was about as perfect as it could get. Smallish, straight trunk and very fresh! We had them cut off a bit from the bottom of the trunk, got it netted and loaded it on top of the SUV.
This first layout was made using the Christmas Cocoa II 12x12 pre-designed page ... I literally just plopped the pictures into place and typed a bit of journaling! It took all of, maybe, 10 minutes! SWEET!

This second layout was using some Christmas Cocoa II paper, but it was a "create your own" project with the photo blocks in place. Again ... really easy, fun and it only took about 30 minutes 'cause I fuss so much!

What I am really loving is the fact that I got 3 layouts done in two evenings!! WOW!
Well ... I'd better get off here ... I've got some presents to wrap and some to make. I'll come back with pictures to let you see what I ended up with.

Using up ...

2009-12-16T05:00:00.003-05:00

my "stuff" ... finally! Ok ... I admit it ... I hoard my stuff!! There ... I said it. LOL
Last year I bought a tutorial from Andrea Walford and finally got around to making the flip book.
Why didn't I make this sooner??? Her directions were so concise and easy to understand, the pictures (for a visual learner like myself) were so helpful. It took me only 2 evenings of sitting in front of the tv to make 4 of them! I highly recommend her planners!! Here are a few pictures of this planner.

MDS Scrapping

2009-12-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm really loving this programme ... it is so easy and quick. I'd really like to find a printer that I can use to print off these pages as I make them ... so far, you cannot print individual scrapbook pages through Stampin' Up! If you know of a printer where the colours are true and the price is reasonable ... please let me know.

Sorry about the delay ...

2009-12-12T07:23:00.006-05:00

it's been a tough week. It seems like I keep coming on here and whining about my life and that is so not what I want to use this blog for. Bear with me while I get this off my chest and then I'll be done once and for all (I hope ... LOL).
As mentioned a few months ago, we lost our mother this summer. Dad had been her caretaker through her battle with cancer and focused solely on her health. As is quite usual in these cases, his health consequently suffered a great deal, but was not noticed until her passing. In October we brought my father down south to stay with us while he was being evaluated for experimental heart surgery in Toronto. He was ultimately accepted and decided to move into a retirement home nearby "TEMPORARILY" ( his words, lol) until the surgery and then for his recuperation.
Unfortunately, he didn't make it to his unscheduled surgery date. While fighting to the end, he passed away on Monday morning. This week has obviously been an ordeal. My sister and her family will be heading back up north now that the weather is finally co-operating (we've had a horrible storm most of this week, as has most of the rest of the province). I'll be cleaning up this weekend and back to work on Monday morning. I try not to inject my personal life much here but I would like to pay tribute to my parents by showing you a picture that I cherish so much now. This was taken Mother's Day when my dh and I surprised my mother by making a day trip up north for brunch.

Thank you all for bearing with me!

NOW ON TO OUR REGULARILY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING ...

Here is the picture of my hybrid MDS card when finished.

I'll be back in a day or two with more MDS creations ... I love this programme!
(don't forget that you can click on the picture for a larger picture)

A Learning Curve ...

2009-12-06T05:00:00.002-05:00

One of the steps to being MDS Certified was designing a card and having it printed. I decided that I would have two printed ... one that was 100% digital and the second I would make hybrid. I omitted the ribbon on the second and sent it off to be printed. Below are the cards that were sent off to be printed and following them is the card after I added the physical ribbon.

Sooooo ....

2009-12-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

I've been playing around with My Digital Studio ... what an easy program to manouever around in!! I created my blog header in it. What do you think?
I'm really looking forward to some time off at Christmas to play even more.
I've not had a lot of time to stamp ... a lot of running around with Dad and, unfortunately, a bit of down time with a flu or bug or something.
My club is finished until February, but there has been some interest in some classes. I'm hoping to sit down and get some arranged beginning in the new year.
Hopefully I'll be back in a day or two with some pictures of something I've stamped!

The Season is starting ...

2009-11-24T05:00:00.001-05:00

Check out the deals! Show your hubby, boyfriend or significant other ... have him call or email me to order your Christmas present (I will even wrap it up "Stampin' Up!" style for them). If you can't decide what you would like ... I have gift certificates and will wrap it up too!

On a side note ... I apologize for not being around much. I've been a bit pre-occupied with my father. His health is not very good at the moment and he has come to live down south here for a bit. He'll be having some heart surgery at some point, and until then ... I am his driver.

To say that I have not had much stamping time (or space ... My Goodness! my room is a disaster!) would be an understatement! But ... I'm turning that around. I've put together a little project that I gave my club ladies at our last meeting. I'm hoping to get pictures of it tomorrow and will try to post them in the next day or two.

The rest of the Custom Scrapbook Pages ...

2009-10-11T05:00:00.000-04:00

And the very last page in the album ...

Thanks for looking!!

So Sorry ...

2009-10-08T05:28:00.002-04:00

that I haven't been around lately. Working full-time has really cramped my stampin' style! I've been able to get some stamping done, but (of course) didn't get pictures of some of it!
I've got the rest of the album to show you, a card or two and then a surprise! Bear with me 'til the weekend and then I hope to be back on a more regular basis. (Yeah, I know that I've said that before!) LOL
In the mean time ... the following picture also shows what has taken up so much of my "free" time.

A few more pages ...

2009-09-05T05:00:00.002-04:00

More Custom Album

2009-08-29T05:00:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more layouts for the custom album for my dil.

Custom Album

2009-08-27T05:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks so much for the kind words about my work ... as you know, it validates what we do!

Quite a few weeks ago my dil asked me to put together an album for someone special in her life. It was actually scary how it all fell into place for me and how easy it was to do! I am so very pleased with how the album turned out! I used a retired SSK (Tie the Knot) and kept the additional embellishments to a minimum. I went to Splitcoast and case'd the layouts from many different people. I'll be posting pictures over the next few days.

This is the opening page.

The first 2 page layout.

Wedding Bells are ringing ...

2009-08-23T05:00:00.001-04:00

or at least will be ringing for my friend, Les and her luv, Geoff. I was extremely flattered when she came over right away and asked me to help her design and make their invitations and everything else needed for the wedding! She and her luv were so easy to work with ... and in no time at all we had the design decided on. I cut all of the paper for them and then Les got her children to work!! They did an awesome job!!

Les and her kiddies have already cut, scored, stamped and pre-taped the favour boxes ... they just need some tweaking which I'll do a little later.

I've got a little something planned to add to all of this, but can't show you until after the wedding so that it will be a surprise for Les and her luv.

To some special people ...

2009-08-02T05:00:00.003-04:00

I owe a huge Thank You!
It's been a difficult time and a couple of very special people stepped up without asking a single question and made things much easier for our family.
On Thursday morning my father and dh went out to the golf course to try to de-stress ... their way, while I came up here to my stamp room to de-stress ... my way. I needed to make some special thank you cards and found these by Jill Hilliard. The premise worked! I found myself so totally engrossed in making them, that by the time I was done ... Dad and dh were walking in the door!

I have to tell you a story about the following card ... dh saw the cards sitting on my workspace, saw the border punch sitting on my workspace and felt compelled to "play". This is his card and I know the perfect person to send it to.

This is a very hard post ...

2009-07-30T22:24:00.003-04:00

and not one that I had ever wanted to make.
The previous few posts were pre-scheduled to post while I was up north @ my parent' home keeping vigil with my father, sister and her sons at our mother's bedside. Mom lost her fight with cancer early Saturday morning with us at her side and knowing how much we loved her.
I appreciate all of the good wishes that were left.
Obviously we will miss her more then words can express, but she is at peace and no longer struggling.
It's been a very long week ... but my father and sister and her family have gone back up north and we will try to find a way to carry on now. My husband is taking a few extra days and is now on vacation.
I found some quiet time this morning and used it to make some Thank You cards for some very special people. I'll post these in a few days, once I get them from my husband's camera.

More Cards for Mom

2009-07-29T05:00:00.002-04:00

Here are the cards that I had started and planned on finishing with mom. I was hoping to have her input for the greetings, but had to figure things out for myself.

I got the idea from another demo ... Kelly Ramey had submitted this class idea to Stampin' Up! and it was posted on the demo side of their website. It is so versatile!

Simple is good!

2009-07-26T05:00:00.003-04:00

I've subscribed to No Time To Stamp ... I
LOVE Sharon's style ... so clean, simple and stunning! I fell in love with these cards and since I had the papers ... had to give it a try.

I'm happy with my version, but realized while making these cards that I also LOVE Nestabilities! And I NEED more! LOL!! Just the basic ones ... rectangles, circles, labels ... Oh who am I kidding?? What ever I can get my hands on ... I'll need!

I love that deckled edge from the Nestability!
I'm also loving making up cards sets for gifts. It's nice to have a few on hand for last minute gift giving!

Trying to keep busy

2009-07-23T05:00:00.002-04:00

My mom asked me to make a card for my grandson's upcoming Baptism ... this is what I made on behalf of my parents, CASED from Lori .

Sorry for the blurry picture ... I was up north with very basic supplies, not expecting to be taking pics of any cards ... remembered to take this picture at the very last minute.

I had taken some partially completed cards to work on with my mom, but had to complete them myself. I ended up going up north a day earlier then planned when my mom was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly. I've come home for a few days to restock and will be heading back up (likely as you are reading this) for a few more days.

I've got a few posts set up with the cards I had completed the first trip up north. I've taken up another project or two (gotta keep busy) that I've been meaning to do, so I will hopefully be able to remember to take pictures and perhaps post some more.

On the road again ...

2009-07-16T22:51:00.002-04:00

that song from Willy Nelson is repeatedly playing in my head right now! LOL
But it is where I am ... I'm up north at my folks place for a bit. I'm going to try to take some pics of a couple of cards I've made up here and post them as soon as I can. Bear with me ... I'll be back soon.

Quick Update

2009-07-11T20:28:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post to update you on my garage sale.
It was a HUGE success! I sold almost half of my retired sets ... 45 to be precise, ALL of my DP to one sweetheart of a lady, all but one of my retired Scrappin' Kits and lots of punches, wheels and retired ink pads. The best part was meeting some lovely new ladies who share my obsession! LOL
DH was very pleased as well, because he/we sold (got rid of) lots of other things that were taking up room in his garage and at the side of the house. Now he can actually put together the workbench that our children bought him one year when they were both living @ home. Keep in mind that our last child to leave the nest is now a married mother of one!
We did get a torrential downpour at one point that lasted for about 1 1/2 hours, but oddly enough, this is when we had the most amount of people arrive! Picture 6 cars arriving, roughly 20 people jumping out and my dh running around with his golf umbrella trying to keep some very focused ladies dry while they were going through my stamp sets! LOL ... I really wish I had had my camera handy.
I'm off to get my feet up for a while ... It was a very productive but also very exhausting day. I'll try to be back on Monday with some cards to show you.

Oh my!

2009-07-08T05:00:00.001-04:00

I'll bet you thought I up and left the blogging world! No such luck!! LOL
It's just been a busy, confusing, crappy couple of months! I won't go into great detail, but
a) DH and I no longer have a trailer
b) I'm re-evaluating my work options
c) my mom is not doing well again and that is very worrisome, which brings me to ...
d) I'VE LOST MY MOJO (anyone seen it around?)
My club ladies are taking the summer off so I decided to do some cleaning. Purging is actually what I ended up doing. We are having a garage sale this weekend and after helping dh clean the garage on Saturday to see what we had ... I got really inspired and headed up to my craft room. Wanna see what I felt I could spare?

Those pics represent over 100 stamp sets, 14 wheels, 11 Scrappin' Kits, 21 stamp pads and too many packages of Designer Paper to count. And those are just the things that I'm getting rid of ... I've still got lots of retired stuff that I'm keeping for my personal use.
But looky at my stamp cupboard now!

I can actually open the doors without stamp sets toppling over and falling on me!
And I have room in the paper holders for the new Designer Paper that is being delivered this Friday!
This week I've been asked to make and/or help with a couple of projects: one of my best friends got officially engaged last Friday evening and I have helped her design their invitations and favours. The materials are arriving with my new "schtuff" (as JanTink would say *mslf*) on Friday so we can "get'er done" ... my dil has asked me to make an album that just needs the pictures plopped into it for a very special lady in her life ... my mom has asked for a refill of her card case (which I'll gladly do so that she doesn't go to the dollar store and buy more of "those" cards! LOL) While I'm making cards for my mom , I think I'll just double up the cards and add them to my pathetic little stash too!
Hopefully I'll return within a day or two to show you a few cards that I will add to our stashes.
In the mean time ... remember to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you!

Trailer Tales

2009-05-13T05:00:00.003-04:00

Dh and I have a wonderful tent trailer which we have parked in a trailer park for the second season. We actually chose a site that normally is used for "weekenders". We spent a lot of time, effort and a bit of money to make it suitable for us (lots of gravel so that we are not walking in muck when it rains). LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUMMER!!!
There is a campsite between us and another couple who are newbies to this venture, as well, and who have the cutest little trailer you ever saw!
Below is a pic of their trailer ...

Now ... what does it look like to you? Yep ... the trailer from Happy Camper (retired)!! I just couldn't resist making them a little mini-scrapbook to celebrate their first year with this little gem. Poppy doesn't scrapbook (yet *wink, wink*) and they did soooo much work (gutted the little sucker) that I thought they might like to document the first summer they spent in the trailer. It was so much fun and I'm pretty happy how it turned out. I used the Simply Scrappin' Kit "Out and About" (retired)

Please excuse the less then great pictures ... I snapped these photos with my phone right before I gave Mike and Poppy the mini-book.

Found a Picture ...

2009-05-11T05:00:00.003-04:00

on my phone, of all places, that I had forgotten I had taken. It's of the card I made for our granddaughter's 2nd birthday. This is the card that gave me my inspiration ... Thank You so much!!
Here is my version of the same card.

The background behind "Big Bird" and "Elmo's" face really are Real Red ... The lighting is just bad.

Children's Card Class

2009-05-08T05:00:00.002-04:00

I recently held another class ... this one we made cards for children. I totally CASED a card from Andrea Walford and I LOVE it!! It really was fairly easy and I know just the perfect occassion in which to use it!!

Mom's Birthday

2009-05-05T05:00:00.001-04:00

My Mom's birthday was April 21st and she and Dad came to stay with us for a few days. They arrived on the 22nd and stayed until the 27th. I had been working on her gift for a few days before they arrived but didn't get it finished until the day before they left! I know, I know ... almost seemed like I left it to the last minute, but it really took much longer then I thought it would to complete!

My Mom is an amazing woman ... 78 years old (sorry Mom! LOL), having some serious health issues, but still on the go ... inactivity is not in this woman's vocabulary! When my children were much younger (teenagers and the oldest of all of the grandchildren) we had a particular restaurant we (my sisters, their families and our parents) loved to go to ... mostly for birthdays or Mother's Day. We went for their Sunday Brunch because it was the best place to fill the boys' tummies up. Man, could those boys eat when they were in their middle teens! LOL It's been a lot of years since we all went there, so we went on the Sunday of their visit with my son, his wife and their two little ones. It brought back a lot of memories.

The following are pics of the gift I gave my mother for her birthday. I bought the tutorial from Becky Roberts and need to make more!

Mom mentioned that she had a bunch of cards without sentiments inside. Personally, I'm liking the blank cards I have, but Mom likes to have something inside. Rather then take a bunch of stamps and ink up to their home with me the next time we visit ... I stamped a bunch of sentiments and cut them out with punches, put dimensionals on the back and packaged them up for her. Something to put into one of the pockets of the Tote.

The inside of the Tote

Sorry for not posting on Friday ...

2009-04-19T11:53:00.001-04:00

I have no excuse other then my every day life got in the way. I normally only work during the morning and afternoon school bus times (I answer the phones and two way radio now that I cannot drive my bus) but on Tuesday and Friday this week I worked all day. That shouldn't account for much but it does tend to mess up my routine. Lately ... it doesn't take much to mess me up!LOL

On Saturday my sil Amanda (loved spending time with you, lady!) and I went to Scrapfest in Kitchener ... WOW!!! The auditorium was packed with venders and scrappers! There were lineups for the make & take chairs at all of the booths that had make & takes, there were lineups to pay for your purchases, there were lineups for the ATM's ... but we did manage a make & take at the GO Scrapping Studio. They only were allowing 24 people at a time, but did have a list of times and what each make & take would be. We chose our make & take and made sure we were there before they had handed out all of the numbers. We got to make a 12x12 layout offered by "In a Pinch Designs". It was fun, lovely and so easy. I love it! Especially when I got home and had the perfect picture on hand for it. I don't do 1 picture layouts very often and have done layouts with just dh and I even less often. This is special to me.

Nothing is SU and I don't remember if we were told the brands or not.

I love how we cut out small details from scrap paper, popped them up on dimensionals for definition and used no other embellishments. Simple!

I promise I'll have more projects later this week. I'm working at finishing up a couple of things for Wednesday and I'll have to use some new things I got at Scrapfest!

Something for Myself ...

2009-04-15T17:00:00.003-04:00

I didn't get nearly all that I wanted to get done on the weekend. Most things just were not working out the way I had envisioned, but I did get something done for myself. I had downloaded some pages from somewhere, but unfortunately, I didn't note where they came from. I printed them out and bound them into book form with my Bind-It-All. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. Again, this is just for my own use, and it really doesn't take a whole lot to make me happy! LOL
It's a Scrapbooking Planner with pages for "Must Make Pages", "Page Planner", "Shopping List" and "To Do List".
I've got the pdf files for all of these pages, so if you would like a copy ... just shoot me an email and I'll get it to you.

Here are a few close-ups.

Supplies:
Paper - Muirfield DP (retired). Whisper White cs, Baja Breeze cs
Accessories - On Board Book Basics (large), Jumbo Brads 5/8", Hooray Designer Hardware, Valet Ribbon Originals, round tab punch, key tag punch, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, scallop edge punch, dimensionals
*Don't forget that if you want larger pictures ... just click on them*

The Hardest Cards ...

2009-04-13T05:00:00.001-04:00

to make have to be Sympathy cards. You want them to be heartfelt but not gaudy. I won't settle for anything but near perfection when I make Sympathy cards. They mean far too much in my eyes. That's just how I feel.
Last week I needed two of these at the same time. Shouldn't be a problem ... just go to my stash since I had made a few not long ago. Unfortunately ... the stash was depleted. Which means that it was a very long, sad winter this year!
I remembered a card on Sharon Johnson's blog that was exactly what I wanted. I loved the two-toned embossing ... very elegant. Below is my version.

Supplies:

Stamps - Lovely as a Tree, Brighter Tomorrow

Paper - Whisper White CS, Brushed Copper CS, Basic Black CS, dimensionals

Ink - Versamark

Accessories - Copper EP, Silver EP

Boy Oh Boy!

2009-04-11T05:00:00.003-04:00

What a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!! The snow is gone ... the wind has diminished ... the sun is warm! Dare I say it??? Spring has Sprung!

Dh has been emailing back and forth with some of our "trailer neighbours" and everyone is just itching to get to the park and open up! We are the closest to the park, so everyone is wondering what the weather is like "up there". LOL Sounds like we are all so very far away from each other ... they all live in Toronto, Mississauga and Hamilton area! (like only 70 miles or so away)

They also have hard walls in their trailers ... ours ... not so much! We have a tent trailer, so unless it gets REALLY warm for the Victoria Day Weekend (May 16, 17 & 18th), I'm not planning on staying up there till later in June! LOL YES ... I'm a "fair weather camper".

I'm busy this weekend finishing up a lot of this and that, planning a class featuring children's cards and working out my next club projects.

Here are some samples from my last class ... Boy Oh Boy! featuring masculine cards.

Have a great Easter Weekend!!

Supplies:

Card #1

Stamps - Cheers to You

Paper - Very Vanilla CS, Basic Black CS, So Saffron CS, Jackpot DP

Ink - Basic Black Classic Ink

Accessories - dimensionals, liquid applique

Card #2

Stamps - Wonderful Favorites

Paper - Very Vanilla CS, Pacific Point CS, Kiwi Kiss CS, Muirfield DP (retired)

Ink - Basic Black Classic Ink

Accessories - dimensionals, Mini Library Clips

Card #3

Stamps - It's Your Birthday (retired)

Paper - Very Vanilla CS, Pacific Point CS, Kiwi Kiss CS, Muirfield DP (retired)

The last one ...

2009-04-09T06:12:00.000-04:00

from my Lovely Ladies Class. Honest! I promise!! LOL
This card was CASE'D from Patty Bennett and was actually quite easy to do.

Supplies:

Stamps - Totally Tabs, Heard from the Heart

Paper - Pink Pirouette CS, Ballet Blue CS, So Saffron CS, Whisper White CS, Basic Black CS

Ink - Basic Black Classic Ink

Accessories - Round Tab punch, Word Window punch, Small Oval punch, Large Oval punch, smallish square punch, Soft Subtles brads, dimensionals.

More Feminine Cards

2009-04-07T05:00:00.005-04:00

Edited to add : I've had a number of questions on how to adhere the window sheets to the CS. On this particular card, I put a mini glue dot on the back of the window sheet in the middle of each of the flowers and then hid it with the half back pearls. There are also two more mini glue dots behind the the ribbon and sentiment.
Here are two more of the cards that we did at my Lovely Lady class ...

This card was so easy ... a little bit of DP at the bottom, scalloped edge, Flower Fusion and a Rhinestone Brad .... taaadaaa!!

Here is another easy-peasy card! A bit of the new Printed Window Sheets, a punch or two, a bit of gingham ribbon and a couple of 1/2 back pearls from the Pretties Kit.
Neither of these cards took more then 15 minutes to make from start to finish and the possibilities with colour combos are endless!

Card #1
Stamps - Sweet Little Sentiments Level 1 Hostess
Ink - Old Olive classic, Basic Black classic
Paper - Whisper White CS, Hand Drawn DSP from the Level 3 Hostess
Accessories - Flower Fusion, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Scallop Edge Punch, piercing tool.
Card #2
Stamps - Oval All
Ink - Basic Black classic
Paper - Tangerine Tango CS, Whisper White CS, Basic Black CS
Accessories - Scallop Oval punch, Printed Window Sheets, Pretties Kit, Black Gingham Ribbon, dimensionals, mini glue dots

Something a Little Different

2009-04-05T05:00:00.003-04:00

I recently held a class where we made 4 cards for the women in our lives. My friend, Pat, is a seasoned stamper and accomplished paper crafter, so I always feel that I need to "step it up" a notch when we get together. The following type of card was showcased in the SU Demonstrator magazine "Stampin' Success" that we, as demos, receive each month. I found it quite unique and interesting, so I created one for Pat and I to make.

Supplies:
Stamps - Heartfelt Thanks, Elegant Cheer
Ink - Not Quite Navy Classic ink, Baja Breeze Classic ink
Paper - Kraft CS, Whisper White CS, Bella Bleu DP, Parisian Breeze Specialty DP (LOVE THIS!)
Accessories - Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Kraft Medium Envelopes, paper crimper, Wide Oval punch, Scallop Edge punch, Eyelet Border punch, Mat Pack, piercing tool, Earth Elements Brads

Cards and Card Holder

2009-04-03T05:00:00.003-04:00

Here are the cards and "magazine/card" holder that we did at the February Club. My version of the holder is fairly plain, but that is me ... I like simple and clean lines. I've truly come to love Kraft paper lately. I've been quite surprised at how versatile it is and how it lends itself to being dressed up or down, depending on my mood. My other favorite at the moment is the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die! The combinations that can be made with the different sizes of butterflies is unlimited!

Below are pictures of the cards on their own.

Supplies:

Stamps: Congrats SAB set, Flowers in Silhouette

Ink: Close to Cocoa Classic Ink, Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

Paper: Kraft CS, Very Vanilla CS, Taste of Textiles (Close to Cocoa Pinstrip for holder), Bella Bleau DP, Vellum Paper

Accessories: Very Vanilla Medium Envlopes, Kraft Medium Envelopes, Eyelet Border Punch, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Build a Brad, 1/2 circle punch, sticky strip, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterlies Bigz Die.

NO April Fools!!!

2009-04-01T05:00:00.004-04:00

No ... it's not an April Fools Day joke!!! I'm actually posting a couple of days after my last post!!! Maybe I've got a bit of a routine going here ... yep, I'm going with that one! LOL

My first club meeting was actually at the end of February. We are a mix of scrapbookers, cardmakers and newbies! And having a HOOT! We did one 12x12 scrapbook page and one 8 1/2x8 1/2 scrapbook page showcasing our Simply Scrappin' Kits. I used the Hoppy Memories because I knew I had pictures of my granddaughter with both a frog theme and turtle theme.

The first picture is the 8 1/2x 8 1/2 page. I am really loving this size!! Sometimes the 12x12 is just too big and the 6x6 is just too small.

I'm quite happy with this page ... just have to fill in the journaling and pop it into an album ... when I get one ready! LOL

I've one sitting up on top of my shelves ... just have to decide how to decorate it. I think it's going to be one I can use for both (or all ... depending on how things go) of our grandchildren. Since we have a granddaughter and grandson ... I'll have to decorate it without being gender specific.

The following page is the 12x12. I'm not especially satisfied with it ... needs a little tweaking, but I'll get that done before I pop this one into my granddaughter's album. I do have an album "on the go" for her now, just haven't added much to it lately.

I'll share the cards and holder in the next post.

Life gets in the way ...

2009-03-30T20:25:00.005-04:00

... what more can I say? I know that you all have had times like these. The older we get, the longer it seems to take us to bounce back after being under the weather. The only thing that has saved my sanity in the last few weeks is that I have actually been able to create a bit. I've still had my monthly club and a few card classes/stamping time with a good friend.

I'm going to share a pic of a star that I made using the Big Shot and the 5-Point 3D Star Die from Stampin' Up! I saw one that Diana Gibbs had done on her blog (I LOVE this woman's mind!) Diana's blog is one that I MUST read during my morning "routine". Another in my "routine" is Heather Summer's blog. Both of these ladies are so creative and inspiring. Heather made one of these stars using flashing that she bought at Home Depot. I loved the idea so the next time dh and I were in town, we checked it out and found some. The flashing came in a roll 12"x10'. I'm going to be able to get a lot of stars cut out of this!!

I'll be back in a day or so with pictures from our first club meeting.

Supplies:

Ink: Craft White

Paper: Parisian Breeze Specialty DP

Accessories: 5-Point 3D Star Die & Big Shot, Vintage Brads, Sticky Strip

Finally a Post ...

2009-03-01T15:46:00.007-05:00

Edited to add: I've finally found the original designer of these cards and she is Andrea Walford. Andrea is amazing and I greatly admire her work. You can see Andrea's card here.

I've got a couple of Valentine Cards to post. They are CASE'D from another stamper but I was lazy and did not copy her name down in the file. My apologies and I would love to correct this mistake.
I'll be adding the details to all my projects at the end of the posts from now on ... sorry for the omission.

We had our first Club night last Monday and had a blast! I'll post pics of the ladies and projects in the next day or two.

Supplies:

Card A
Stamp Set: Always, All Year Cheer III
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Paper: Pretty in Pink CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Pink Pirouette CS, Berry Bliss DP
Accessories: Clear EP, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Soft Subtles brads.

Card B
Stamp Set: as above
Ink: as above
Paper: Chocolate Chip CS, Pink Pirouette CS, Purely Pomegranate CS, Pretty in Pink CS, Berry Bliss DP

Accessories: as above

If you would like to see larger pictures ... just click on a picture.

Final Additions ...

2009-02-20T09:02:00.007-05:00

I really must apologize for my absence. Having said that I was feeling healthier a post or two ago ... I've apparently contracted a viral infection in my middle ear and so I've been a bit "spinny". It's not been pretty ... bouncing off the walls as I walk like a "drunken sailor". My dh has been having a bit of fun with this, to say the least. LOL
What this poor man has had to put up with for the last half year or so ... I'll let him make fun of me right now all he wants!

Here are the last two cards that we made at my Card Organizer Class. I love the colours in the retired DP Haiku ... I really must be an "Earth" girl!.

I have a club starting this coming Monday (I'm really excited ... ideas are just tumbling around for our projects!) so I'll have a bunch more pics to show.
For our first projects, we'll be using Parisian Breeze Specialty DP. OMG!! This paper is fabulous. It's more like textured cardstock and the designs are wonderful!!! We are also using the Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit. How fun!!
On a side note ... a while ago at one of SU's regionals, I met a lovely demo who is amazingly creative ... Heather Summers. Heather has hooked up with Dawn Rapsas from the US and they have created UStamp. If you click on the blinkie to the right, it will take you to the registration site. Now, Heather is offering an online class to make punchies ... you have got to see these!!! I'm registered and waiting to go!
Well ... I'm off to bed again ... trying to focus has given me more of a headache then I normally have. I'll be back in a couple of days (I hope) to post a couple of more pics of cards I've stamped lately.
Have a great weekend!

2009-02-04T19:07:00.003-05:00

Here are two of the cards we made on Saturday for our Card Organizer.
These used the Ronald McDonald set "Say It With Scallops" and retired DP Haiku.
I've got to confess ... it's hard for me to use my DP ... my name is Karen and I'm a HOARDER!!
I just LOVE SU's Designer Paper! I buy every bit that I can ... but I have a really hard time using it.
I'm working on that particular character flaw ... mostly because of the new DP in the catalogue. OMG!! It's all gorgeous!!! But ... I promised myself that I would use some more of the paper that I already have before I would buy more.
Sooooo .... I've got to get busy and start making more cards and get some scrapbook layouts done to use up the DP that I have so that I can get an order in and start hoarding all over again. LOL

2009-02-01T12:22:00.003-05:00

I'm back and feeling somewhat healthier. I've not been feeling tip-top lately and I know that I've been worrying my dh, but after staying home for a day and a half with what I assume is the flu ... I'm feeling much better!

I had a class on Saturday for a Card Organizer and 4 Cards.

I love my small classes ... being able to give the ladies who come my undivided attention and pretty near one-to-one instruction.

I'm posting a couple of pictures and will post individual pics of the cards later this week.

I've had some interest in starting a club ... there are still a couple of spots available ... if you would like to join us, call or email me.

2009-01-11T11:53:00.004-05:00

Oh My Gosh!! I can't believe how quickly the week went by or how long it's been since I posted!

Here is something I'm trying out, to steamline my organizing. This is a "doodad" or parts keeper that I got at Canadian Tire. As you can see, it has 26 compartments which I have labled with letters stamped on sticker paper and punched out with a square punch. I've put all of my chipboard alphas and punctuation in the drawers. It's mounted on my pegboard near my inks, so now, hopefully, since it is more accessible and visible, I will start using chipboard more in my crafting.

I'm off now to start making my samples for my class on the 31st of this month. It's a Card Organizer with 4 matching cards. If you'd like to join us there is still some room left. Just give me a call or shoot me an email.

Stay warm and Happy Crafting ...

2009-01-04T14:05:00.005-05:00

Here is another project from a Christmas Class ... a Tag Pouch. The pouch is reusable and the ribbon just slips off so that you can open the top of the pouch.

Recipe - * all products SU unless otherwise noted*

Stamps: Deer Friends, Merry and Bright

Paper: Ruby Red CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Old Olive CS, Baja Breeze CS, Holiday Treasures DP, Ski Slope DP

Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze Classic Inks

Accessories: 6x6 page protector (trimmed), scallop circle punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, 1/8" hand held circle punch, 1 1/4" Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, non SU silver cord, sticky strip

On another note ... I'm working on some changes for this new year ... organizing and such, and will be posting a few things that I'm implementing. I welcome any ideas you may have or suggestions that are working for you.

I'm back to work tomorrow ... hard to believe that it's been 2 weeks already. There may be changes there as well ... we'll just have to see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-02T14:55:00.008-05:00

Happy New Year and welcome to my blog.

This is a new venture for me and I hope you will follow along while I travel this new road. I'll probably not be able to post every day, but will post whenever I can. Perhaps blogging will force me to stamp or craft every day or at the very least, more often then I have.

I'm going to start with some pics of cards from my Christmas Card Class ... these are definately CASE'D but I'm afraid I did not save the names of the ladies who originally designed them. I'm still learning and will make note of names in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!