November 9, 2018

Half Full

I love when stampers take the materials in their envelopes or the supplies that are on the table and come up with different cards. 

 

Mary came up with this card on Saturday.  You can see the original card here.

Stamps: Half Full

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Early espresso, Very Vanilla

Designer Series Paper: All Is Bright

Ink: Memento Black, Old Olive Stampin' Blend Light

Accessories: Layering Circles Framelits, Big Shot, 

Red Rhinestone Jewels, 2" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

The first day of convention was awesome.  They always start each convention with a theme song for the year and I love this year's song.  I'm not sure if you can hear it, but this was the opening of convention.

After the morning session was over we went to lunch and to one of the make and take sessions.  Imagine stamping with 7200 of your closest friends!!

I can't to see what to they have in store for us tomorrow!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 8, 2018

Artisan Textures

Part of the fun of going to convention his swapping with other demonstrators. This is my swap for convention.

Whenever I attend an event in November, I try to make some kind of swap that can be used for Valentine's Day.

Stamps: Artisan Textures, Varied Vases

Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black,  Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Smoky Slate, Memento Black

Accessories: Colored Doilies, Sponge Brayer, 

Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Faceted Dots, 

Metallic Gold Thread, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Boy . . . am I glad that I have been walking!!  I really walked today!!  This is more steps than I have walked in a long time!!

The reason for all the walking . . . we went to Epcot today!!  We had a great time . . . although it was VERY hot!!  One of my favorite Disney movies is Inside Out so I couldn't resist having my picture taken with Joy and Sadness!!

We ended the night watching the fireworks over the park.  

A long day . . . but fun was had by all!!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 7, 2018

Half Full

The Stampin retreat that I attended back in September gave me a lot of swap cards that I used for my Christmas card class.  This card, which Kathy White brought, was a favorite of many of the stampers.

I love this designer series paper.  I have used it quite a bit in several of my cards.

Stamps: Half Full

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Designer Series Paper: All Is Bright

Ink: Memento Black, Old Olive Light Stampin' Blend

Accessories: Layering Circles Framelits, Big Shot, Red Rhinestone Jewels, 

2" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

After an hour delay last night, we finally took off from the Des Moines Airport and arrived in Orlando a little after midnight Orlando time.  We are up and ready to check into the convention and then head off to spend the day at Epcot!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 6, 2018

Snow Is Glistening

I love, love, love the limited time stamps and thinlits that are available this month.   If you are interested in these products they are available only while supplies last.

This is another one of the cards that everyone made on Saturday.  Sort of non-traditional colors for a Christmas card . . . but certainly perfect colors for a snowy card!!

Stamps: Beautiful Blizzard, Snow is Glistening

Cardstock: Balmy Blue, Whisper White

Ink: balmy Blue, Basic Gray

Accessories: Snowfall Thinlits, Big Shot, 

Everyday Label Punch, Clear Rhinestone Basic Jewels, 

Stampin' Dimensionals

My bags are packed and I am leaving on a jet plane this afternoon for Orlando, Florida.  I am very excited to be attending On Stage where Stampin' Up! will reveal some new products.  I am not sure what the Internet will be like in our hotel so I will try to post as I can.  

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 5, 2018

Winter Woods

This card, which Luetta brought to our stamping retreat in September, was another one of the cards that we made on Saturday.

After a few Big Shot difficulties, we all managed to complete the five cards like this one.

Stamps: Winter Woods

Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray,  Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray, White Craft Ink

Accessories:  In The Woods Framelits Dies, 

Softly Falling Embossing Folder, Woodland Embossing Folder, 

Big Shot, Clear Rhinestone Basic Jewels, 

Stampin' Dimensionals

This morning brings an impromptu doctor's appointment and some errand running in Iowa City.  This afternoon I hope to finish up my swaps, finish a couple of things for stamp night when I get back, and actually pack.  The schedule I made a while back sure did help me get everything done that needed done in the last couple of weeks. I am actually ahead of where I thought I would be . . . which gives me time to rest a little bit before leaving tomorrow.

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 4, 2018

Winter Woods

This card which everyone made at the Christmas card class came directly from a blog I follow . . . The Stampin' Schach.  I absolutely love this elegance of all the gold on this card.

There were many steps to preparing this card, but I definitely think they were worth it!!!  It is even prettier in person, than in the photo.

 Stamps: Winter Woods, Dashing Deer

Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Gold Foil

Accessories:  In The Woods Framelits Dies, Layering Ovals Framelits, 

Softly Falling Embossing Powder, Versamark, 

Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Metallic Pearls, 

Classic Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

A good time was had by all yesterday at the Christmas card class.  It was a little crowded, but it all worked well.

Everyone went home with 30 beautiful hand made cards

Jake and Hanna made it home in time to have lunch with all of us and meet everyone.  We then went out for a birthday/anniversary celebration for all of our October birthdays and anniversaries.  We tried a new place . . . Stella's.  The food was great, but it was kind of noisy . . . so it was hard for us older folks . . . John and I . . . to have much of a conversation.  When John and I got home . . . I went to bed right away so I can start getting ready for my next adventure. . . Orlando and the Stampin' Up! convention!!   

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

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Happy Stamping!!

November 3, 2018

Merry Christmas to All

It's never too early to start your Christmas card making and this one would be super simple to mass produce!!

It is one of the cards everyone will be making at the Christmas card class today!!

Stamps: Merry Christmas to All

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: All Is Bright. Joyous Noel Glimmer Paper

Ink: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Merry Christmas Thinlits, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals

Everything is all set up and ready to go for the Christmas card class.  It should be a fun day!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 2, 2018

Winter Woods

The second technique we worked with last night came directly from a blog I follow . . . Flowerbug's Inkspot.  It uses the Stamparatus to do shadow stamping and the results are amazing.

As we were making this card last night our minds were swirling with all of the possibilities we could make with this technique.  To say it was a favorite would be an understatement.

Stamps: Winter Woods

Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Memento Black, Craft White Ink, Versamark

Accessories:  Layering Ovals Framelits, Big Shot, 

Stamparatus, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 

Black 1/2" Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Everything is ready card-wise for tomorrow's all day Christmas card class.  I still need to go to the grocery store and get my food ready . . . but that should be a piece of cake.  If I get everything done today, I plan to finish up my swaps for convention.  They are all but done as well!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

November 1, 2018

Snow Is Glistening

It is the first Thursday of the month so that means that it is Technique Thursday.  One of the techniques members will be learning tonight is the more traditional shaving cream technique.  We did Frosted Shaving Cream a couple months ago.  You can read about that here.

These snowflakes lend themselves to this technique so well.  No two backgrounds come out the same!!

Stamps: Snow is Glistening (NEW)

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Basic Gray, Whisper White

Ink: Night of Navy and Balmy Blue Reinkers, Versamark

Accessories:  Snowfall Thinlits (NEW), Big Shot, 

Whisper White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 

Snowflake Trinkets, (NEW) Glue Dots

If you did not recognize this stamp set there is a good reason for that.  It is a limited time release edition.  There are two stamp sets, a set of thinlits, some fancy paper, and some snowflake trinkets.

#149744- Happiness Surrounds= $17.00 Photopolymer only 

#149742- Snow Is Glistening= $21.00 Photopolymer only

 #149692- Snowfall Thinlits Dies= $39.00

#149620- Snowflake Trinkets (20)= $8.00

 #149619- White Velvet Sheets (12x12)- $5.00

I absolutely love this whole limited time release and have used it a ton already!!  You will want to get yours today!!

Check out a video from Stampin' Up to see a little more about these awesome products!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 31, 2018

Rooted In Nature

And here is the last of the sympathy cards I made last summer.  I think I have said before how Rooted In Nature is the perfect set to use for sympathy cards.

And would you believe it . . . after using some cards myself and my craft show this weekend . . . I do not have a single sympathy card left in my stash.  I will need to get busy and make some more when I get home from the stamping convention.

Stamps:  Rooted In Nature, Flourishing Phrases

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Ink: Garden Green, Early Espresso,
Garden Green and Early Espresso Markers

Accessories: Nature's Roots Framelits, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wow . . . even though I took about 4 hours out for lunch yesterday with my friend, I still made great progress on the die cutting and embossing for the Christmas card class.  I have just one small thing to finish on that today, so tonight I can finish stuffing the envelopes.  I also hope to get everything cut and ready for Technique/Stamp Club tomorrow night.  I hope I have as good of luck today as I had yesterday.

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 30, 2018

Friendly Expressions

I have one more congratulations card and one more sympathy card from my order last summer to share with you.

Once again this card is super simple and would be easy to mass produce if you needed a lot of congratulations cards.

                           

Stamps: Friendly Expressions

Cardstock: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White Bliss, 

Designer Series Paper: Share What You Love

Ink: Blackberry Bliss

Accessories:Layering Ovals Framelits, Big Shot,
Petal Pink Rhinestone Gems, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday was a super productive day.  All cardstock is cut for the Christmas class and some of it is embossed already.  All that is left to do is some die cutting and a little more embossing and then the packets will all be ready!!  I hope to get a lot of that done this morning before I pick up a friend and we go out for lunch.

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 29, 2018

Making Christmas Bright

Wow . . . what a weekend . . . now on to the next event which is Christmas card making!!  This is a card we made as part of the make and takes when I went to Illinois in August.  It has been finished on my desk for some time now . . . I had just never taken pictures of it to share!!

I love the designer series paper used in this card.  It really dresses up any card and it goes with about any Christmas stamp set.

I am not sure they designed this card to open this way, but with the pieces I had this is the way I put it together.  Still a little space to write, but you don't have to write a book.

Stamps: Making Christmas Bright

Cardstock: Shaded Spruce, Real Red, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer 

Designer Series Paper: All Is Bright

Ink: Real Red, Shaded Spruce, Crushed Curry

Accessories:  Christmas Bulb Punch, Gold Mini Sequin Trim, 

Red Rhinestone Jewels, Glue Dots, Mini Dimensionals

It was a fantastic weekend at the arts and crafts show.  I met a lot of people, sold some stuff, and came home VERY tired.  Today I need to get the car unloaded and start to cut cardstock for my Christmas card class that is at my house next Saturday.  I may not move as fast today but I want to get the bulk of it cut so I can start with the little pieces tomorrow.

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 28, 2018

Dashing Deer

My oh my . . . . there sure have been a lot of these things running across the roads lately!!  I am just glad they have not made any contact with my car!!

Even though this set was meant for Christmas, it sure does make some great masculine cards.  I think I have used it more for that than I have for Christmas!!

Stamps: Winter Woods, Dashing Deer, Best Birds

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Woodland Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals

Yesterday was a great day at the craft show.  I hope today is equally as good.  I really don't want to bring a lot of stuff back home.

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 27, 2018

Beautiful Blizzard

Once again I love seeing these snowflakes on my cards, but not on the ground!!  I knew the first time I saw this stamp set in the Holiday catalog that it would be finding it's way to my stamping shelves!!

I have seen many colors used with these snowflakes but I must say I prefer those that are in some shade of blue.  I sure hope the Monday stampers liked this card as much as I did.

Stamps: Beautiful Blizzard

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Versamark

Stampin' Blends: Bermuda Bay Dark 

Accessories: Blizzard Thinlits Die, Big Shot, 

White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 

Basic Pearl Jewels, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

By the time most of you are reading this I will be setting up my booth at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort Arts and Crafts Show.  If you are in the area, stop by and see me!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

October 26, 2018

Amazing Congratulations

Here is another in the line of congratulations cards I made a while back.  Once a I got on a roll with this stamp set and my Stamparatus I really went to town!!

Again this would be absolutely perfect for any of you who have graduating seniors next year.  You could make a bunch of these in school colors and have all of your card giving done in one swoop!!!

Stamps: Amazing Congratulations

Cardstock: Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink:  Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

Accessories:  Oh My Stars Embossing Folder,  Big Sho, Stamparatus

My swap is designed and got approval from Hanna, so now all I have to do is decide how many I want to make and get them cut and made.  After talking with Hanna this morning I realized that I had not gotten my flu shot yet so made an appointment to get it later today.  I hope to spend the afternoon in my stamp room when I get home!!

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

Happy Stamping!!