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A Little of Everything!

Hi Stampers!

Just as my title suggests, I have a little of everything I’ve been working on lately to show you. I’ve not been faithful in creating videos for you, but that doesn’t mean I am not busy stamping and doing other stamping related things. It’s the one thing I like to do a little every day. If I don’t get to stamp, I feel like it has been a wasted day! 🙂 I’ll be showcasing four bundles in this post, so if you don’t see what you are looking for right away, keep scrolling.

I was recently busy preparing for our Fifteenth Annual Stampin’ for a Cure Event that I did with several other demonstrators. We started out 15 years ago raising money to help support those who are fighting breast cancer. A few years ago, we started working in partnership with a local hospital and all the money we raise goes to their Circle of Hope foundation. This foundation provides financial assistance to anyone battling cancer. We didn’t quite reach our goal of $5,000 this year but we raised over half of what we wanted; $3,500. I don’t think that’s too shabby for six women demonstrators. We gather donations for a silent auction, design six cards for people to come and make, and we donate our retired stamp sets and dies to sell in what we call our “garage sale.” We charge $5.00 an item in the garage sale and all the money goes to the foundation.

Other than working on Stampin’ for a Cure, I’ve been doing a little stamping on the side for my own enjoyment. When I first saw the Saint Nicholas Bundle in the September-December catalog, I knew I had to have it. For a while, I collected Santa figurines around Christmas, and I like the old-fashioned ones the best. Then I saw a video of Lisa Curcio’s interlocking accordion card and I knew this bundle and card would work well together. Please forgive me in that I used some retired designer series paper to create this card. I am trying to clear out my stash. Have a look and see what you think. You can catch Lisa’s video on YouTube. I’ve included a list of supplies I used on this card under the pictures.

 

The thing I like most about this Saint Nicholas is the colors are not traditional.  I like the idea of him having a blue coat!

I hadn’t planned to purchase this next stamp set. Pick of the Patch wasn’t something that appealed to me right off the bat. But then a friend convinced me…   True! It doesn’t take much convincing to get me to buy a new stamp set. What can I say?  🙂

 

I like the colors in this card as well as the fact that they are not traditional fall colors. The card base measures 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ folded in half to create a standard size card. The Pretty Peacock piece of card stock measures  5-1/4″ x 4″  and I ran that through my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine with one of the Basic 3D Embossing Folders .  Don’t forget to stamp the envelope!

The third bundle I am highlighting in this post is the Magical Meadow Bundle. I’m liking these new colors that we’ve got, and the new deckled circles and rectangles dies! In this card I used the first largest deckled rectangle die to cut out the Pretty Peacock layer and the second largest to cut the Moody Mauve layer. I then ran that layer through my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine with the cut-out circles die in the top right corner. I did it twice, offsetting the die the second time. Then I ran that piece through the Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder. The base is a piece of Pebble Path card stock. I colored the images of the stamps with my Stampin’ Write markers using Pretty Peacock and Moody Mauve and stamped on Basic White card stock. The sentiment is stamped in Pebble Path and the “berries” are stamped off. I used Moody Mauve ink. The ribbon is retired, and it sort of matches the Pebble Path card stock and ink. It’s a small piece of Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon.

And last, but definitely not least! This is my favorite of all I’ve shared today. My chicken sampler! If you know me, you know I love roosters. I probably have collected over one hundred roosters or “things” with roosters on them. My favorite are vintage roosters. My daughter mentioned the other day that she didn’t know what she is supposed to do with them when the time comes, and I told her to just get one of those big dumpsters that will fit the length of the drive way and start filling it up with whatever she and her brother don’t want.
This sampler is mounted in a 12″ x 12″ shadow box frame. I the piece of Real Red card stock measures 11″ x 11″ and is mounted on a piece of 12′ x 12″ Early Espresso card stock . I used the Stitched Rectangles dies to mat the DSP which is retired. I made two of these recently, one was donated to our silent auction for Stampin’ for a Cure.
As with any of these projects, if you have any questions as to specific measurements, etc. email me and I will do my best to answer your questions.

 

Well, I hope you enjoyed your visit here today!  Until next time…

Happy Stamping!

 

 

 

 

 

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Beautiful Balloons One Sheet Wonder

Hey Stampers!

Today’s video is a quick one.  I demonstrate how to create your own designer series paper using a clean and simple stamping technique using criss cross stamping.  It’s easy!

Using an 8-1/2″ x 11″ piece of white card stock, cut 1″ off one short and one long edge so you will have a piece that measures 10″ x 7-12″.  Using the stamp and colors of your choice, begin stamping randomly across and down the center of the card stock.  Add a sentiment and when you are finished, cut the stamped piece in half at 5″ on the long edge and at 3-3/4″.  Adhere to a coordinating colored card base.  Cut the card base at 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.  Use the adhesive of your choice.  Embellish as desired and you have 4 totally different cards that you can use.

I chose to use the Beautiful Balloons stamp set and several different coordinating colors for the card bases.

 

I would love it if you would share your creations with me.

Hope you enjoy the video! Until next time…

Happy Stamping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Catching Up and A Pet Peeve–Getting Carded at Age Sixty-six

I’M BAAAAAAAAAAAAK!!

Time goes by quickly, don’t you think? ClichĂ©, I know!  I can’t believe it has been over a year since I last posted something here.  The past year has been filled with A LOT!

One thing was a three-week European river cruise on which my husband and I both got COVID.  We had three days left on the trip when we realized what it was.  Unfortunately, many of the cruise attendees became ill because everyone had that dry, hacking cough that comes with the disease.  We were quarantined in Ritz Carlton in Budapest, Hungary for approximately six days.  Can’t get better accommodations than the Ritz Carlton.  Pretty fancy place!  Too bad we only saw the inside of our room. We had a small balcony, but the door wouldn’t open. We ordered room service! But even that got old after a while. We missed the last leg of the trip to Prague.  The blessing in all of it was, we survived and made it home safely.  Things can always be worse.  A future trip to Prague maybe?

While in Budapest, I learned through FaceTime that my sister had COVID at the same time as I did.  We often do things like that.  At one point, even though we lived states apart, we learned we had the same living room furniture.  Huh!  What’s that all about?

Shortly after getting back from the trip, my family visited from out of state.  Not a bad thing!

I had a few health problems other than COVID to deal with. Finally, in January the problems were resolved and I’m back to my same old contrary, but loveable! self.

A few weeks ago, I met a good friend for lunch and as we usually do, we met at our favorite restaurant/brew house in town.  We usually sit in the bar because we don’t have to wait to be seated if a table is available, and I will admit…on occasion, we both enjoy a glass of wine with our meal.  We’ve been meeting regularly at least once per month since we both retired.  She was a lawyer, and I was a middle school teacher.  We met through stamping many years ago and became instant friends.  We have been meeting so regularly, except for during the pandemic, that the waiters and waitresses at the restaurant know us by name.

On this specific day, I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes before her and occupied a table at the bar.  The waiter, a young twenty-something guy,  someone I’ve never seen before, approached the table and asked if I would like to order a beverage while I waited for my friend.

“Yes, please.  A glass of your house chardonnay,”  I responded.

“Of course,” he countered. “May I see your id, please?”

Miffed, I looked at him.  “Seriously? Because if you think you are being cute by asking me, who looks old enough to purchase an alcoholic beverage, and you think you’ll get a bigger tip because of it, you won’t!” (When this happens, I always assume that the guy is trying to be cute.  A fault, I know.)

I said all of this as I reached for my wallet and removed my driver’s license so he could look at my birth date.

He said, “No, not for a bigger tip, but because my boss wants me to ask everyone, although a big tip would be greatly appreciated.”

“Okay, okay, because you are doing your job.  I won’t give you a hard time. But it is a little ridiculous, don’t you think…I mean I have two kids that are older than you.  Don’t tell me you can’t recognize an old lady just by looking at me.”

I know he was just doing his job.  But answer this question.  Why is it female waitresses don’t seem ask for my identification?  Or maybe they have, and I just don’t remember. (I’m old, remember?)

Smart waiter!  He asked my friend for her ID too.  I gave him a nice tip.

I hate, hate, hate when I’m asked for my id because I know I look old enough to order a hard beverage.  My daughter says I should trust that he was doing his job.  My daughter is often correct.

Anyway, that’s just something that really annoys me.

Today’s card is called a split lattice card.  They are very popular lately and I thought I would get on the bandwagon and share one with you too.  I think I’ve made at least 10 of these cards.  They are just so easy and so pretty.  I hope you enjoy the video.  As always, if you have any questions please contact me.  Check out the supply list at the bottom of the page, along with a link to my online store if you need anything.

 

 

DISCLAIMER:  I do use a few retired items on this card. Any reasonable facsimile will do.

Until next time!

Happy Stamping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mountain Camping /Tree Lot Dies

I decided to do something other than a Christmas card with the Tree Lot Dies, although I’m sure I will do something Christmassy with them as well.  I am just not ready to think about that time of year yet.  I am still enjoying the summer weather and don’t want to wish this time of year away.  I’m not sick of the hot weather yet.  I’m sure I will get there though.  :O

When I saw the Tree Lot Dies in the current Sale-a-bration catalog and as a permanent resident of Colorado since 1989, I knew I had to have them.  Just like I had to have the Mountain Air and Majestic Mountain Dies.  They reminded me of the time I spent camping with my kids in Rocky Mountain National Park and Mesa Verde National Park when they were little! Although, we never had a camper then.  We always used a tent.  We used to tell my daughter that all the wild animals were locked up in cages at night when she would express concern over them.  My son was probably too young to wonder about them.  Oh, and the Oceanfront Stamp Set…well…who doesn’t love the beach?  I really happy that my daughter moved back to Colorado from the beach two years ago, but the beach is always beautiful and am wondering when I will get to go to the beach again.

I used a 5″ x 7″ frame for this project.  I cut a piece of Basic White card stock down to 5″ x 7″  to fit the frame and then lightly brushed Coastal Cabana ink along the top for the sky.

Using the Mountain Air Stamp Set and VersaMark Ink, I stamped the mountain range image onto a piece of Highland Heather card stock and added white embossing powder.  I used the heat tool to set the powder.  Then I cut the embossed mountain range out with the Majestic Mountain Dies.  I cut another mountain range with the same dies out of the same colored card stock.

With Granny Apple Green ink,  I stamped the pine trees along the top edge of 2  pieces of Basic White card stock that measured about 5-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ and cut them out.  Unfortunately, the trees stamp is  not 7″ long, so you will have to piece these two piece together to make the trees long enough to fit the width of the frame.  If you click on the photo, it will open up a little larger and you will be able to see the seam on the right side of the photo.

Beneath the trees, I stamped the water in Coastal Cabana and the ground in Soft Suede using stamps from the Oceanfront stamp set.  The camp fire was stamped using a stamp set I bought on Amazon and colored with Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends.  I fussy-cut it out.

Most everything is attached with dimensionals.  The background mountain range is set down flat against the sky.  The embossed mountains are attached with dimensionals and the trees and water and ground piece are attached flat over the mountains.  The camper along with campfire are attached with dimensionals.

 

 

Well, I hope you like what you saw here today.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Until next time…

Happy Stamping!

 

 

 

 

Price: $30.00

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