August 9, 2014

Are you ready for some Christmas cards?  Even though Christmas is over 3 months away, my creative thoughts went to them this week.  Today I am lucky enough to get to stamp with Susie and her downline all day in Sigourney.  Here is one of the swap cards I am taking.  It uses product that is in the Holiday mini catalog that will be available to you on August 28th.  The cheerful Christmas stamp set was one that we were able to purchase when we were at convention.  

Stamps:  Cheerful Christmas, Lovely as a Tree, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Cardstock Vellum

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Apothecary Accents Framelits, Big Shot, White and Gold Embossing Powders,

Heat Tool, regal Candy Dots, Glue Dots

A few years backs when Hanna and I started traveling some we got into the habit of taking pictures of our food, mostly because some of it was rather unusual.  We have continued this tradition today.  Everybody knows that before they take a bite it has to be photographed.  Well when we were in Maine, I ate more seafood than I usually do in months and here it is!!  John is the lobster eater in the family, while I prefer fish and chips.

 Tuna salad

Fish and Chips 

 Scallops and Chips

Shrimp and Chips 

Lobster 

 Fish and Chips

Lobster 

Lobster

Seafood certainly tastes better and is more economical when it is fresh from the ocean!!

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 8, 2014

Everybody needs birthday cards and this is one of the favorites Hanna and I received as a swap at convention.  Super easy to do and very easy to change color schemes if blue is not your thing.

Stamps:  Amazing Birthday, And Many More, Everything Eleanor

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Back to Black DSP

Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black

Accessories:  Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, Circles Framelits, 

Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder, 

Big Shot, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 1/4 " Circle Punch, Corner Punch, 

Stampin Dimensionals

I think one my favorite places to visit in Maine is Pemaquid Lighthouse.  We visited again on this visit on a very foggy morning.  The wind was blowing and the waves were incredible.  It really showed the need for lighthouses, because it was incredibly hard to see out in the ocean.

Today I plan on working on my swaps for the stamping day tomorrow in Sigourney.

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 6, 2014

I have been having fun with all of the new color combinations possible with the new In Colors.  The Daffodil Delight/Blackberry Bliss combination is one of my favorites.  But then I think anything with Blackberry Bliss will be a favorite!!

Stamps:  Oh My Goodies

Cardstock:  Blackberry Bliss, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss

Accessories:  Deco Label Collection, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, Big Shot,

Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here are some more scenes from Maine.  The first couple of days we drove around the harbors taking pictures of all of the ships, water, and rock formations.  I think John took enough pictures to have inspirations for watercolors for many years!!!

Yesterday I managed to get all of the suitcases unpacked from the Maine trip.  My goal today is to finish unpacking all of the stamping suitcases that Hanna and I took to Utah!!!

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 5, 2014

Although it is only the first part of August, my mind has switched to Christmas cards now that we are back from convention and our vacation in Maine.  I love when you can take a non-traditional stamp set and turn it into a Christmas card.

 Stamps:  Work of Art

Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White

Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey

Accessories:  Chevron Embossing Folder, Big Shot, 1 1/4" Circle Punch,

Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, 

Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, 

Glue Dots

Over the next few days I thought I would show little glimpses of our life in Maine.  We rented this little house, "Aunt Letta's House, with the other couple we went with.  It was an awesome place to stay.  Rarely do I find pictures on websites of hotels or accommodations that actually look like what was advertised.  Well, this little house was exactly like the photos on-line.

Because a lot of the roads and houses all look the same I had a hard time finding our little house so I learned to look for the shovel handle that was by the mailbox.  Not quite sure why there was a handle in the ground but it worked well for me!!!

We had two sitting rooms, a kitchen, an eating area, two bathrooms, and three bedrooms in our house.

All in all it was a great place to spend the week!!!  Check back tomorrow for some more glimpses of Maine and another card!!

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 4, 2014

I love this Watercolor Thank You stamp that was used in this swap we received. (No name on this swap)  If I were still teaching it would get even more use than it is already going to get.

Stamps:  Watercolor Thank You, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock:  Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Large Scallop Edgelit, Big Shot, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch,

Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Hopefully by the time you are reading this we have returned from our road trip to Maine.  I will be posting some of my pictures and my Project Life pages telling all about our trip.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you haven been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 3, 2014

Hanna and I loved the tag line on the back of this swap card . . .  Melanie Ramsey & Julie Brokoff . . . Mother & Daughter Stampin' Duo!  We thought we should come up with something like this for the next time we go to convention.

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Petite Petals, Flower Shop

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Ink:  Smokey Slate, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette, Real Red, Versamark

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,  Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, 

Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin Dimensionals 

This seems like an odd combination of colors but it look beautiful in real life. The photo doesn't really do it justice.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 2, 2014

Check out another one of our swap cards, this time by a stamper named Sondra Jumper.  Get well cards are always good to have on hand, because when you need one you need it quick.  

Stamps:  Beautiful Bunch, Fabulous Four

Cardstock:  Blackberry Bliss, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Moonlight DSP Stack

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey

Accessories:  Fun Flower Punch, 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Pearl Basic Jewels, 

Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

August 1, 2014

One of the days during convention Hanna and I were just hanging out in the Gathering Place resting and charging our phones and Hayley Webb, a Demonstrator Support Supervisor, was walking around swapping cards.  Of course Hanna jumped at the chance to swap for this card.  She was lucky enough to win this particular camera stamp set during the first morning session of convention.

Stamps:  Hip Notes, Snapshot

Cardstock:  Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Black, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush Marker

Accessories:  Arrows Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Basic Rhinestone Jewels

We also liked the inspiration she had on the back as well.

"Life is like photography.  Focus is an ingredient to have a good shot"

This card seemed particularly appropriate as yesterday we visited Pemaquid Lighthouse and it was particularly picturesque.  I used my camera quite a bit!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

July 31, 2014

This is one of the cards Hanna swapped for last week.  Unfortunately there was not a name on the card so I don't know who to give credit to.  Hanna knew it would be one that I would really like.  I love the way the fringe scissors make the flag look like it is waving.  What an awesome card to give out to Veterans on Veteran's Day!!

Stamps:  Work of Art, Itty Bitty Banners

Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Itty Bitty Banner Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Big Shot,

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Fringe Scissors, 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

July 30, 2014

Here is yet another card from the display boards at convention.  You cannot believe show many samples there are and how much inspiration you can get from going to convention.  I thought I would go once and that would be enough but now I feel like I am really missing something if I am not there.

Stamps:  Bravo

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Lullaby DSP

Ink:  Sahara Sand, White Craft Ink

Accessories:  Tea Lace Doilies, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

We are having a great time . . .eating lots of seafood and spending a lot of time by the ocean.

My dream home on the ocean . . . but only in the summer months!!

This area seems to be Art Gallery heaven so we have taken in several of those as well. 

Everyday is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!