Serving the King

Here's the 2nd project we did at the birthday party. It's a kind of pull-up card. I'm thinking about doing a step by step tutorial for it.  Can you tell how to make the card from these pictures or would a tutorial be helpful??

Edited (July 23) to add: Ok, I'm convinced. I'll be doing a tutorial for this card. I'll try to have it done by next Monday.  : ) 

Stamps: Pocket Fun (retired), and Linen

Ink: Stazon Black

Paper: Whisper White, Lovely Lilac

Accessories: Blender Pen, Watercolor pencils, eyelets, cropodile, ribbon

Last Friday I did a stamping birthday party for a super sweet girl who just turned 11.  There were 12 girls and we did two projects.  Her party was a Hawaiian theme... so I used the retired set "Do the Hula" on the first project, which was a photo book (holds 36 4x6 pictures).  Her mom took pictures of all the girls during the party and will be giving them the pictures for the album. 

I ended up using the same layout I used for a Father's Day card last month.

Stamps: Do the Hula

Paper & Inks: Gable Green, Choc. Chip, Shimmery White

Everything, including the leaves, are sponged with Choc. Chip ink. The Palm Tree is colored with watercolor pencils and a blender pen.

I gave the girls the choice of using the palm tree image or the Hula girl. About half chose the Hula girl. All the photo albums turned out great and the girls really seemed to like them a lot.  

I'll post the 2nd project we did tomorrow.  : )

Ok... now I don't want any of you to faint, but I'm actually posting a second card today!  I know, I know... two in one day!!  What can I say? These new stamp sets are so much fun!!! : )

This picture just doesn't do it justice. The camera didn't pick up all the shiny glitter... so you'll just have to imagine all the sparkle!  : )

I mostly used reinkers to watercolor with since the new In Colors are not in the watercolor crayons.

Stamps: Boatloads of Love, Stem sayings, Flannel Plaid

Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, watercolor paper

Inks: Purely Pomegranate, Blue Bayou, Black Stazon

Accessories: Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, reinkers, aquapainter, paper destresser, & GLITTER.  : )

I'm having so much fun playing with my new stamps! : )  Here's a sample I made with Heartspeak (set on p. 70 in the new catalog).

The main image is watercolored with watercolor crayons.

Stamps: Heartspeak, Fine Lace, All in a Row

Paper: Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava, watercolor paper

Ink: Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava

Accessories: new Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, watercolor crayons, aquapainter

Fun! Fun! Fun! I got my New stuff!!! : )

Here’s my first card with one of my new sets: Bronc Buster.

This is such a great cowboy set!!! I’m loving it!

I think it’s hard to tell from the picture, but I stamped the linen background on the River Rock piece before I stamped the bronc buster. 

Here’s the info:

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Priceless, Linen

Ink: Choc. Chip, Black, Vanilla

Paper: Choc. Chip, River Rock, Outlaw designer paper

Accessories: new River Rock double stitched ribbon, white gel pen, piercer, mat pack.

Ok… off to make more stuff!  : )

I'm trying to be patient waiting for my new catalog order, but it's hard!  : )

So... to take my mind off my order I decided to play a little with our new camera today. I did a bunch of close-ups. Here's 3 of them. 

This one is a huge fern I've had for many years. I need to ask my mom what it's called, cuz I can't remember, but I love ferns of all sizes. Most of them will look good all year long (in So Cal) if we don't get a bad freeze in the winter.

My favorite flower is probably my Hydrangea. I call it the miracle plant because on a hot day it can wilt and look like it's about to die, but then give it some water and check on it a 1/2 hour later and it will be all perked up! Kind of like me if I'm feeling down, but then spend some time worshiping God!  : )

This last picture is of one of my Maiden Hair Ferns.  Of all the ferns, I like this one best!! It's foliage is tiny and delicate and absolutely beautiful!

I got tagged… Three times!!!

How exciting!! This is my first tagging!  : )

I was tagged by Sue, Tracey, & Emily.

Check out their cool blogs.  : )

What I need to do:

I’m suppose to list 7 things about myself.  

Tag 7 other bloggers and ask them to do the same.

Leave tagged bloggers a comment… letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1. When I was in elementary school I took accordion lessons for 4 years. Polka anyone?!!  : )

2. I homeschooled my two kids from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

3. My favorite ice-cream is Chubby Hubby.

4. I have a little poodle who is afraid of our refrigerator.  What can I say... she's a strange dog... but super cute!  : )

5. The church I go to meets in a house. (Soon to move into a building.)

6. Most of my favorite movies were made in the 40s.

7. I have way too many rubber stamps. But hey... you all probably could have guess that!  : )

People I’m tagging.

You're it!  : )

Alana

Amy

Julie

Susan

Jessica

Deb

Jana

Ok... I have to add one more person. I just found out Tandra started a blog. So Tandra... Tag, you're it too! : )

Here's her blog.

Tandra

This year in June we knew a lot of graduates so I knew I had to keep the cards pretty simple... especially since I was making them at the last minute. (Actually I still have a couple of graduates I need to mail cards too.)    : )

To keep it simple and easy I used my Cuttlebug with the Congrats embossing folder from eclectic Paperie. These folders make quick but classy backgrounds! The graduation cap is from the retired Stampin' Up set, Tassel Time, and the Congratulations is from the retired set, All Year Cheer.

My stamp order from the new Stampin' Up catalog says it's shipped. I'm ready to cut out some new rubber!!!  : )

I placed my first order from the new Stampin' Up catalog and now I'm just waiting for it to ship!!! Come on Stampin' Up... send me my new goodies!!  : )

So while I wait I'm working on some samples with my preorder sets. For this one I used Pick a Petal and the new Purely Pomegranate cardstock.  The petals are stamped with versamark on Pomegranate cardstock and then cut out and glued on the River Rock cardstock. I did a little faux stitching around the flower and pierced the mat of Pomegranate, which is then mounted on some of the new designer paper (Rose Red), and finally glued to the River Rock card base.  And there you have it.  : )

Tonight we'll be going to see Fireworks and I'll probably tear up just a little. It's not something anyone around me may notice as they have their eyes to the sky, but I can't stop the tears that will form. We live in the best country in the world!

Today I thank the Lord for this wonderful country, for our Freedom, and for the men and women who have fought and died for that Freedom!! I pray for our soldiers; for their safety in a world of uncertainty. I pray for our country; that we will always remain free.  I pray for each person who knows The Lord; that they will be strong and run the race God has set before them. And I especially pray for those who haven't found God; that they will seek Him and find Him and know Him.

I hope you all have a most wonderful 4th of July!!! Enjoy your Freedom!! 

Just want to say... I'm loving the new catalog!!! : )

For those of you in my Stamp Club or those who pre-ordered a catalog, give me a call or drop by and pick one up!!

I have a few extras on hand, so if you didn't get a chance to preorder last month and still want one just give me a call or email.  : ) 

Can't wait to hear what you all think about the cool new goodies: stamp sets, in colors, designer papers, scrapbook kits, bling brads, double stitched ribbon, etc. etc. etc. 

This is the card I made last weekend for my parents anniversary. I'm loving the new Baroque Motifs set!  : )

I wanted to make a shadow effect so first I stamped the large swirl with white craft and then using the Stampa-ma-jig I stamped a second time with So Saffron Ink right next to the craft white. The flowers where stamped with the white and then Dazzling Diamonds glitter applied to the middle of the flowers. The Chocolate Chip card base was pierced all the way around (using the Mat Pack) and a double row of pierced holes near one edge of the So Saffron cardstock, and the white gel pen was used to make the faux stitching.  : )

Here's another sample from a set that will be in the catalog... Pick a Petal.  This is a fun set with lots of individual petals and centers. You can stamp a whole flower by stamping the petals around the center or stamp each petal individually, cut them out and put them together to make a flower.

For this card I stamped 5 individual petals with the new Groovy Guava ink and cut out each one. These are actually really easy to cut out if you choose to make the flower that way. For the flower center on this card I used a circle punch... punched out a choc. chip circle and cut it, not quite in the middle. The mat pack was used to do the piercing around the edge and brass antique brads on one side.  : )

I don't have my new catalog yet, but a few lucky demos have received theirs so the following info is from the kind souls who shared with us. : )

Let's start with the 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon.

Some of the colors will be retiring for good and others will now be sold on spools of 15 yards for $4.95.

The following colors of 1/4" grograin will not be returning in the new catalog.

• Taupe
• Chocolate
• Tangerine
• Maize
• Apple Green
• Hunter
• Bluebird
• French Blue
• Light Orchid
• Rose

The following colors will now be sold on spools of 15 yards each for $4.95. And they will be adding 3 new colors of grosgrain.

• Basic Black (black)
• Whisper White (white)
• Very Vanilla (cream)
• More Mustard (mustard)
• Apricot Appeal (apricot)
• Pretty in Pink (light pink)
• Real Red (red)
• Bravo Burgundy (burgundy)
• Elegant Eggplant (eggplant)
• Night of Navy (navy)
• Tempting Turquoise (turquoise)
• Certainly Celery (celery)
• Mellow Moss (spring moss)
• Pumpkin Pie (new)
• Always Artichoke (new)
• Bashful Blue (new)

Orders for the current size spools and price can still be ordered until the end of June, or until the supply lasts.

They will now be offering a new size of grosgrain ribbon... 5/8 inch.  It will be on 15 yard spools for $7.95 in the following colors:

     * Very Vanilla

     * Chocolate Chip

     * Bravo Burgundy

     * Real Red

     * Regal Rose

     * Brocade Blue

     * Certainly Celery

     * Old Olive

There will be new 3/8 inch Taffeta Ribbon, sold on 10 yard spools for $6.95 in the following colors:

     * Whisper White
     * Very Vanilla
     * Kraft
     * Chocolate Chip
     * Basic Grey
     * Mellow Moss
     * Bashful Blue
     * Pretty in Pink

There will be new Double Stitched Ribbon, 15 yards for $8.95.

These will be available in the new In Colors.

They will continue to carry the gingham ribbon in the same size spools.

There will be new "Ribbon Originals."

Two varieties:

Beach Front (white rickrack, sahara sand and river rock, V Vanilla, Gathered ribbon, basic gray)

District (Cert. celery, diagonal stripes, only orange or really rust, sage shadow and blue babyou)

There will be no more organdy ribbon of any size.

There will be no more gold, silver, or copper cord.

Wow! I can't wait to see it all with my own eyes! I'm really excited to be getting the new 5/8 inch grosgrain and new taffeta!!! And I'm sure those Ribbon Originals are going to be wonderful too!!  : )

Yikes! It's been more than a week since I've posted anything. Actually it's been 2 weeks. I better get on the ball.  Is everyone excited about the new Stampin' Up catalog coming out in about 1 week?!! I can hardly wait!!  : )  I've been playing more with my preordered sets and need to take a few more pictures so be expecting some new samples spread out over this next week.  : )

This is a little notebook I made for a certain someone. It was my first attempt at using my bind-it-all from http://www.eclecticpaperie.com/zutter-binditall.html .  Man, I love that thing!!  The letters were made with the cuttlebug (also from eclectic Paperie). I used Chocolate Chip craft ink to color the letters, Stampin' Up designer paper for the front and back cover, and some cool little gems for across the top. The front and back pieces are made from thick chipboard and the paper inside is Stampin' Up whisper white. I hope she likes it. It's going in the mail today. : )

Here's another new sample. This one is a hostess set that will be in the new Stampin' Up catalog (July 1, 2007).... In the Spotlight! I used one of the new In Colors... Groovy Guava along with the classic Chocolate Chip cardstock and ink. I cut out three of the flowers, bent the petals a little to give them some dimension and applied Stickles glitter. This card is going to a friend who has a birthday coming up next week. :)

I'm so excited!!!  I just got my preorder!!! Here are a couple of quick samples using Baroque Motifs.  : )

This first one was really hard to photograph! It's made with the clear window sheets and the new Brocade Background designer paper.  The large swirl is stamped on the window sheet with White Stazon. The other images are stamped on the designer paper which is attached to the back of the window sheet. :)

Here's another one using Baroque Motifs.  I also used two of the new 2008 In Colors (Blue Bayou and Soft sky) and the new Soft Sky Prints designer paper. Two of the flower inages are attached with dimensionals and rhinestones glued to the centers.

I'm going to work on some more preorder samples... so hopefully tomorrow I'll have a few more pictures to post.  : )

Here's another set that will soon be retiring (Best of Cluck).  The background is Stampin' Up designer paper (Timeworn Weathered). The chicken and prints are stamped directly on the designer paper (dp) and colored with Prisma colored pencils. The "Just Chicken In" is stamped on a smaller piece of the same dp and mounted on Chocolate Chip cardstock. I attached a piece of the HodgePodge hardware, tied on a piece of Hemp and frayed the ends. then attached the sentiment with dimensionals. The edges of the designer paper are sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.  I don't think you can really tell from the picture, but the chicken is "pushed out" from the backside of the dp to make her slightly dimensional.  :)

Here's another challenge card I did. This challenge was to use yoyo yellow (WT114).  I used 2 colors of cardstock: Yoyo Yellow and Artichoke.  I stamped the Bodacious Bouquet flower with Creamy Caramel onto Yoyo Yellow cardstock and then cut them out. The centers have Dazzling Diamonds glitter. For the bottom border of the card I stamped the small BB flower in creamy caramel, masking it as I went along. The centers of the small flowers are colored with the Chocolate Chip marker and glitter applied over that. The Stampin' Up Mat Pack & Piercer were used on the middle yellow flower, around each of the small flowers, and also in the top corners of the card.  There is also a little Chocolate Chip sponged on the edges of the flowers and around the edges of the card.  I don't think the flowers look very Yoyo Yellow with the caramel on top, but they started out Yoyo.  :) <wink>

This is the card I made for a Sketch Challenge (SC125) on scs.  Paisley Print is stamped with Artichoke ink on Artichoke cardstock, then layered on Bravo Burgundy.  Mini Mates was used for the main image and sentiment... stamped on Watercolor Paper with Black Stazon ink.  I colored in the main image with markers. The piercings in the corners of the Paisley Artichoke were done with the Mat Pack and piercer. (Love that Mat Pack!)  :)

This is the last of the stamp club cards for my May Stamp Club.  This one was super simple with the exception of cutting out the leaves. Not sure all my club members appreciated that. <wink> Carol, are you reading this? We used the "Do the Hula" stamp set with the following cardstock: Gable Green, Green Galore, and Shimmey White. The background was stamped with the leaf using Gable Green ink, Happy Father's Day was stamped with Basic Black. The Palm tree was stamped with Stazon ink and colored in with watercolor crayons and an aquapainter. Leaves (stamped on extra cardstock) were cut out and 2 of them were attached with dimensionals. Hemp was tied around twice and a knot made.  :)

This card is the same layout as another card I posted titled "Rubber Boots are for Flowers." We did this one at my stamp club.  :)

The Boots were first inked up with Marigold and then "kissed" with Dots inked up with Cranberry. Linen was stamped on the Buckaroo Blue cardstock, then faux stitching done around the edges. I used the Night of Navy Marker for the stitching, since there is no Buckaroo Blue Marker. The Cranberry piece was run through the cuttlebug. It's kind of hard to see in the picture, but there's stickles in the center of the flowers. :)

This is another of my stamp club cards... very simple... but I think it's also pretty classy.

Here's the info:

Stamps: Stampin' Up Hostess stamp set

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Inks: Black Stazon, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: Stampin' Up Mat Pack & Piercer, Organdy Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Marker, white gel pen

The swirl background was done with a cuttlebug embossing folder. The dress was colored in with the white gel pen. Holes pierced using the Mat Pack and Piercer, then holes connected with the Pretty in Pink Marker to make Faux Stitching.  If you haven't tried the Stampin' Up Mat Pack yet you don't know how easy piercing can be. It's a great tool for keeping your piercing lines straight and the holes evenly spaced.  :)

Yikes! I went a whole week with no blog entry!  I started weight watchers 5 days ago and also started exercising again, so guess I've been a little preoccupied with that! I'm determined to lose the excess weight I've put on!! :) 

Here's one of the cards we did at my stamp club yesterday. This little bunny is a little old fashion looking to me, which is probably why I like him so much!

He's watercolored with Stampin' Up watercolor crayons and an aquapainter. The background is double stamped with Aida cloth and Print Pattern in Bashful Blue. 

I'll be posting more of the cards we did at Stamp club in the next couple of days... so please check back. :)

I made three different colors of Mother's Day cards, but all the same layout this year.

This is the card I made for one of my sisters and also made a 2nd one with the same color for my mother-in-law.

My mom's card had to have yellow (her favorite color) so I used So Saffron for hers.  You'll also noticed I distressed the edges on this one.  It was actually the first of the mother's day cards I made and I wasn't sure if I liked it distressed or not, so I decided not to do it to the other ones.

What do you all think?  Distressed or not? Which do you like better? 

This one is for my youngest sister and is made with Rose Red.

All of the cards use paper from the new Stampin' Up Palette of Prints sample pack that's a Stampin' Up special this month.  As I was looking through the new paper I saw this design and thought it would go really well with the Simply Said stamp set.  I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures but linen is stamped on the choc. chip cardstock and flowers from Simply Said is on top of that.  The main image is stamped with brown Stazon ink and the petals are colored in with the white gel pen.

Hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day! :)