Thursday, June 30, 2011

Christmas in June

It is so satisfying to see the growing stash of Christmas cards in the box! No more all-night, last-minute rush to finish cards in time for mailing, so they'll be received before Christmas. Ahhhhh! It's kind of the same feeling I get when I see all the jars of home-canned produce from my garden sitting on the shelf. :-)
Stamp: Non-SU
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Jolly Holiday DSP (retires today!)
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Antique Brass Build-a-Brad (retired), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Monday, June 27, 2011

Swaps On the Grow

Okay, all you club stamp club members, no peeking! This is my swap for the July club meeting. Since I had stamped up a bunch of images to color while my dad was in the hospital (he slept a lot, and I had to keep busy or I'd go crazy), I decided to use these for the swap.  This is the same image from On the Grow that was used for the thank you card sent to Dad's nurses, just colored differently.

Less than a week until the new Idea Book & Catalog goes live! I can't wait!!!
Free Smiley Courtesy of www.millan.net
My new catalog is positively bristling with sticky note bookmarks. I have to make my list, and then arrange it into "Things I HAVE to order right away", "Things that can wait a month or two", and "Things I haven't made up my mind about yet". 

Oh, who am I kidding?  They'll all fall into that first category!  I just have to come up with the $$ to buy it all!  Anyone need a kidney? j/k 
Stamps: On the Grow, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise DSP (retired)
Inks: Basic Black Classic, Tempting Turquoise Classic, Lucky Limeade Classic, Pool Party Classic
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, black rhinestones (retired Halloween), Blender Pens

Friday, June 24, 2011

Fancy Folds Class

This is one of the cards we made in last night's Fancy Folds class (a monthly continuing class, like the Techniques class).  This is a Waterfall card.  Since I've been putzing about in the garden a lot, and waiting with mounting anticipation for things to ripen, I used it as the inspiration for the theme for this card. The stamp set is Home Grown - appropriate, don't you think? :-)


Cherry Cobbler is the perfect beet red color, and Always Artichoke is the perfect, uh, let me think.....oh yeah, artichoke color!  The background stamp is from the Herb Expressions set, inking just the botanical image with a marker to avoid the verbiage.

Thanks to Christine Smith for showing how to make a Waterfall card at the Moovers and Shakers Weekend last April!  Love you and miss you, sweetie!!!
Stamps: Home Grown, Herb Expressions
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Poppy Parade
Inks (pads and markers): Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Round Tab Punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, More Mustard brads, Whisper  White 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Father's Day

I was (am) so grateful to have my dad around for another Father's Day. There for a while it looked like I wouldn't.  I'd like to give a shout-out to the wonderful nurses working the oncology ward at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena, Montana. You are so special!
This is the card I made for Dad this year.  He's retired Navy, so I think he got a kick out of it.

The image was heat embossed in black on Marina Mist CS, then an old Blender Pen dipped in bleach lightened the sails.  The ocean was added with a Not Quite Navy marker and white caps with a gel pen. The anchor was heat embossed in silver on Brushed Silver CS, then cut out and tied (anchor knot) with baker's twine.

I think the white eyelets are reminiscent of portholes, don't you?

Stamps: The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Brushed Silver, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black Classic, Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Heat Tool, Silver and Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, White Baker's Twine, White Eyelets (retired), Petite Pennant Punch (on edge of greeting pennant), Stampin' Dimensionals

Sunday, June 12, 2011

There's No Place Like Home

Dorothy was right......it is so good to be back home after spending two weeks in Montana, caring for my very ill father.  Thankfully, he is doing much better, though he still has a long way to go before he approaches anything resembling "normal".
While I was there, the demonstrator pre-order period from the new catalog started, so I had to place an order and have it shipped to Dad's. I just couldn't wait to get my hands on the new 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog!  Oh. My. Heck. My wallet is in serious trouble!!!

I have to tell you it nearly killed me to be at the hospital when I knew the package had been delivered and was waiting for me 30 miles away! AND, it was raining, so I was worried about the contents.  I needn't have worried - UPS wrapped the box of goodies in a big plastic bag and tucked it under the step, safely out of the weather.

I cobbled together this thank you card for the nurses that cared for Dad using the goodies that came. Notice the little corner nips on the image? I used the new Petite Pennants Builder Punch to cut the corners, as well as on the greeting banner. Necessity truly is the mother of invention; there were really limited supplies available, so I made do with what I had.

Apologies for the photo quality. It was gray and rainy pretty much the whole time I was there. But at least it didn't snow!

Stamps: On the Grow, (Summer Mini), Perfect Words (Hostess product, 2011-12 IB&C)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Island Indigo (new In Color 2011-12 IB&C), Just Add Cake DSP (2011-12 IB&C)
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade (new In Colors, 2011-12 IB&C), Basic Black, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Petite Pennants Builder Punch and Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon (2011-12 IB&C), Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack