Thankful Thursday

Hi stampers!  I'm still on a roll with fall/thanksgiving/thank you cards!  I really like the way this one turned out!  Although I can't say the same for the photo...I'm still having issues with my editing program or the way my pictures are coming from my phone.  Not sure which it is!  I need to ask the Bada-Bing IT department....aka the hubs ;-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, sahara sand,
Ink:  Whisper white craft, basic black
Accessories:  Thankful tablescape kit, autumn accents bigz die, linen thread, chalk marker

I'm kind of obsessed with the birchwood paper from the tablescape kit and of course with chalkboard looking stuff both of which you have probably already figured out if you've seen my blog lately :-)  The little placard from the kit also makes a really easy "chalkboard".  I just stamped on it and used my chalk marker (that thing is cool) to draw some lines on it.

Happy stamping!

Wood on wood

Hi stampers!  I'm cranking out the fall cards this week even though it doesn't feel much like fall after it snowed yesterday (UGH) and it was like 34 degrees out!  Hopefully it gets warmer like they say it will as I have a 5k on Saturday and while I like to run when it's cool I'm not a fan of COLD at least when I'm not used to it yet!  And my mom is walking and I'll never hear the end of it if she's cold :-)

Anyway, my card for today is what I'm calling wood on wood as it mixes the birchwood paper from the thanksgiving tablescape kit with the woodgrain embossing folder.  I should send this to my in-laws as they are adding hardwood to their family room this week and have been struggling on which way to lay it as it's a different shade from the rest of the hardwoods in the other rooms :-)  All the ladies say since it's different it should run perpendicular while the menfolk say it should be parallel:-)  I'll have to go visit soon and see what way won!

Stampin Supplies:
Stamps:  Gently falling, truly grateful
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, early espresso core'dinations
Ink:  Early espresso, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, raspberry ripple
Accessories:  Thankful tablescape kit, linen thread, sanding block, woodgrain embossing folder

I pulled the layout and general idea from a card I had seen on a challenge blog.  And the picture is a bit wonky.  My editing software is on the fritz and some of the settings got changed and I can't figure out how to make them go back....

And finally, have you checked out the Stampin' Up blog and store lately?  There is a lot of new fun stuff like an ornament kit and some fun MDS classes.

Isn't this ornament cute!  It's just like the one featured in the Holiday Catalog.  And everything is already cut and scored for you!  All you need is some hot glue!  There's also a video on the SU Youtube channel showing you how to assemble it!

And here's some of the CUTE images from the MDS classes and downloads!

Make sure to chose me as your demo if you order though!  The link there won't take you to my personal store.

Happy stamping!

It's freaky time

Hi stampers!  It's that time again!  Time for another Control Freaks Blog Hop!  I just have to take a minute to say THANK YOU to my fellow freaks!  I was able to participate in my first swap with them and WOW!  What amazing cards I got back!  By far the best swap I've ever done!  But, I knew it would be like that since everyone is SO super talented :-)  And you probably have figured that our already as well since you probably just came from the wonderful Connie Babbert's blog!  If you didn't then don't worry as we make a circle so keep clicking the links to see everyone's fabulous projects!

So I am very GRATEFUL to be included in this fabulous group of stampers and flat out fabulous people!  And wouldn't you know that's the theme for this month....gratitude.  And it's funny, I was just thinking last night as I was going to bed how grateful I am for so many great things in my life.  The past year has not been an easy one for me for lots of reasons and there are still things in my life I'd like to change but I am so thankful for ALL the wonderful things/people/stuff in my life that I DO have!

So enough of the sappy stuff :-)

My first project is a simple card using the truly grateful stamp set which I love because it makes super easy and fun bakgrounds which are very collage like!  And that's not something I'm good at so this set makes it super simple!  I'm also very grateful for the thinlits (hehe) because I LOVE them!  I did cheat and use the retired spritzer.  I just can't seem to make good spritzes with anything else.  I'm still bummed they retired it!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful
Paper:  Very vanilla, sahara sand, tangerine tango, crushed curry, sweater weather DSP
Ink:  Sahara sand, chocolate chip, soft sky
Accessories:  Thinlits expressions, color spritzer

My next project uses the tablescape kit.  I wanted to do something a bit different than what they showed for for the napkin holder pockets.  I really like the "fan" look of half of a lolly so that's what I did.  In part because I didn't make my lolly long enough and it ripped when I made it, lol!

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Truly grateful, tags 4 you
Paper:  Very vanilla, sweater weather DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, crushed curry
Accessories:  Thankful tablescape kit, natural ribbon, scallop circle and circle punches, bracket punch

And last one is my favorite :-)  I doubted I would do the candles and stuff from the tablescape kit so I wanted to put it to use!  And I love the birchwood looking paper so I put it on my card.  I also love the chalkboard look so I was excited to use the little placards which by the way feel fun, they are like really smooth, lol!  I did manage to smear my sentiment all over the place but I was able to fix it by wiping it off carefully and trying again!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful,
Paper:  Chocolate chip, Tangerine tango
Ink:  Craft white, crushed curry
Accessories:  Thankful tablescape kit, natural ribbon, linen thread, chalk marker

I'm also thankful for this blog hop in particular.  As you know, I've not had much inspiration as of late so this forced me to sit down and create and I had fun and kind of got in a rhythm for a while!

And now you're off to the fabulous Patty Bennett's blog!

Happy hopping and stamping!

Fab Friday 29

Hi stampers!  It's Friday again and time for a new challenge over at Fab Friday!

And it's finally feeling like fall here!  In fact, I've been cold since it went from 70-80 to like 50!!!!  We are going to watch my kids (I know they aren't my athletes anymore since I quit but they'll always be my kiddos, hehe) play their last home football game tonight!  I don't miss much about my job but I miss them!  I taught an outreach Turbokick class at the school the other night through my YMCA job and about 20 of the basketball kids did it with me.....HIL-AIR-IOUS!!!!  :-)  I think my abs got more of a workout from laughing than the actual exercise, ha!

So anyway, here's the challenge!

Isn't it fun?  I think so!  So since it's finally fall I made a fall themed card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful
Paper:  Very vanilla, crushed curry, baked brown sugar, sweater weather DSP
Ink:  Crushed curry, baked brown sugar, gold encore
Accessories:  Distressing tool, linen thread (from the thankful tablescape kit), chevron punch, witch's brew washi tape

I was really excited that the gold shimmer came out well in the photo!  I love the gold (and silver) encore pad!  I had this panel sitting on my desk for a while just waiting to do something with it when the time was right.  I used a sponge dauber to make the polka dots.  I kind of love how it turned out :-)  The ink didn't take for the sentiment over the gold ink so well so that's my one word of caution if you try that!

Now make sure to check out the rest of the DT's creations and then play along!  We'd LOVE to see what you do with the sketch!

And thanks for your kind (and sometimes funny) words about my lack of blogging lately :-)

Happy stamping!

Washi Wednsday

Hi stampers!  I'm getting late start posting today since I had my hair done this morning.  Priorities, ya know!  Haha!  Anyway how about a washi Wednesday?

I used this sketch from Retrosketches!  And I pulled my colors from a combo I found on Pinterest.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Tape it, truly grateful, wonderfall
Paper:  Very vanilla, raspberry ripple, gold glimmer
Ink:  Early espresso, raspberry ripple, baked brown sugar, gold encore
Accessories:  Wonderfall bigz die

JUST KIDDING!  This card doesn't use any actual washi tape but the stamp set tape it which I love!  It makes great accents and backgrounds!  The card didn't turn out exactly as I planned but it's ok!  I do wish I'd popped the whole acorn up instead of just the cap.  I used the glimmer paper to pull out the gold from the encore pad which doesn't photograph well by the way.  I cut out the glimmer paper with the bigz die but I just hand cut the top of the acorn because it was quicker and an easy cut;-)

Happy stamping!

Fab Friday 26

Hi stampers and happy Friday!  I've been having a nice little couple of weeks "off" :-)  I've been relaxing and not even stamping much!  Say what????  I know, I need to fix that!  I did get a little something stamped for the next Fab Friday challenge!  This week's colors come straight out of the holiday catalog!

I pretty much feel like September is the start of fall even if the calendar and weather differ!  I love fall!  The leaves changing, the cooler/chilly weather, sweaters and hoodies and leggings, boots, and of course the Starbuck's pumpkin spice latte!!!  I haven't had one yet as it's still too hot but I'll get one once it cools off a bit!

I of course made a fall themed card with these colors because...well...because I just HAD to and I HAD to use some of the sweater weather DSP!  I also love making a background with the truly grateful large image.  I just stamp it in different directions and boom...instant background!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful, harvest of thanks
Paper:  Very vanilla, chocolate chip, tangerine tango, crushed curry, sweater weather DSP
Ink:  Chocolate chip, sahara sand, tangerine tango, crushed curry, soft sky
Accessories:  Chalk talk framelits, apothecary accents framelits

I stamped my corn twice and cut the yellow ones out and adhered them with glue dots so they are just slightly raised for some dimension.

Now make sure to play along with us at Fab Friday!  We can't wait to see what you make!  Grab a latte if it'll help :-)

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - My Favorite Things Edition

Hi stampers!  Happy Monday....if you can call a Monday happy....although I'm sure I can next week since my Monday will also be my Friday since I leave for my mom's on Tuesday on my way to convention!  Anyway, sorry I was MIA over the weekend, it was my bestie's shower and bachelorette party weekend so I was busy and then yesterday I was busy recovering :-)  No, I didn't have too much to drink but I'm far too old to stay up until 3 am dancing and being silly (even though it was tons of fun)....especially with a summer cold, ugh!  I was worried about feeling icky during the parties but at least I felt ok for those!

Anyway, I have a TON of new stuff from both the new catalog and the the Holiday Seasonal catalog so I better get busy, right?  I did manage to make another card with the truly grateful set and I kind of LOVE it!  I also added two of my most favorite new items so like Oprah, today's post is a "my favorite things" edition (although you don't all get new cars like on her show, lol....sorry).

So we have these new dies called thinlits that cut out fun words.  Now, my first go round did not go well.  The paper was firmly stuck in the die and I ripped it all apart to get it out but after some research online I found that the trick is to put some wax paper between the paper and the die.  It popped right out that time.  You should note, there are some little holes in the die that you use to poke out the openings in the letters and then smaller holes that you use to poke out the actual words.  I'll try to make a video of this and how to attach it if I can get my camera problems figured out.  And FYI, I used my two way glue pen to carefully attach it.

Stampin' supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful
Paper:  Very vanilla, tangerine tango, soft sky
Ink:  Chocolate chip, crushed curry, soft sky, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Thinlit dies, candy dots (subtles, brights, neutrals), color spritzer (retired)

My other favorite thing is the candy dots!  I LOVE them because they are easy and fun and they are really flat so you can totally pimp your card and STILL easily mail it!!!!  Now, I did cheat and use the retired color spritzer. I try to use mostly current stuff but I just can NOT seem to make good splatters in other ways so I'm gonna keep using it.  I did get a little heavy handed with it but it happens sometimes.... :-)

So, there you go...two of my favorite things!

Happy stamping!

Mailable....Friday?

Hi stampers.  Feels like Monday since having yesterday off for the 4th.  It has not been a great week around here and yesterday was no exception and I'm sick so it really does feel like a Monday and the fact that I never in my 30+ years remember a 4th of July where people shot off fireworks to the extent they did last night.  Geez!  Some of us need to sleep because we have to work!!!!  Ok, I'll quit whining now :-)  I hope you either got a good night's sleep of better yet you have today off!  Oh and you aren't sick!  I'd like to call in but there really isn't anyone to cover for me so hopefully I'll feel better once I'm up and around...

So how about some happy stuff since I'm all doom and gloom today? LOL!  I got a big box of stuff the other day from the Holiday mini or seasonal catalog.  I went a teeny tiny little bit nuts I think!  I'm afraid to count the number of stamp sets I got...eep!  Do you ever open the box and say whoa?  Did I order all that????  LOL!

So, I always have a hard time deciding what to dig into first but this time it was pretty easy as I didn't get any Halloween stuff and logically Thanksgiving would be the next holiday and I LOVE the turkey day sets this year!  I'm still struggling with my mojo so I wanted clean and simple...or at least simple and this set lends itself so well to that!  It's based loosely on the sample in the catalog.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Truly grateful
Paper:  Confetti white, very vanilla, soft sky, sweater weather DSP
Ink:  Sahara sand, chocolate chip, soft sky, crushed curry, tangerine tango
Accessories:  Triple heart punch, natural trim, aquapainter (for splatters)

Who would have thought those colors would look so yummy together?  And I can't wait to show you something soon that I did with something that coordinates with this stuff...it didn't make it on this first card simply because I forgot about even getting it (because I actually put IT away where it belongs....which I did NOT do with the rest of the stuff from the box currently sprawled out all over my floor, lol).

I hope to be back soon with some Christmas in July :-)

Happy stamping!