Serving the King

This is the card I made for Jami's new catalog swap.  It wasn't too hard to decide which image to use out of the set... knowing how much Jami loves birds.  : )

The zig-zag looking stitch is done with the "All in a Row" stamp set. I've seen Beate do this on several of her cards and love the look!  : )

Stamps: Heartspeaks, All in a Row

Papers: Blue Bayou, Porcelain Prints designer paper, Watercolor paper

Inks: Black Stazon, Blue Bayou

Accessories: Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon, white gel pen, mat pack, piercer, watercolor crayons, B. Bayou reinker, aquapainter, sponge

Here are two cards I made using Thomas Kinkade images I got from my friend, Taylor. (Thank you Taylor)  : )

On the first card I did just a little coloring of the image and then lots of sponging over it... which mutes the colors. On the second card I didn't do any coloring on the main image. It's just sponged with creamy caramel and Chocolate Chip ink.  : )

I was going through some of my older stamps (pre-stampin' Up days) and found this one, so I decided to use it for one of the sketch challenges on scs.  I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture, but the card base is the new Stampin' Up textured cardstock! You've got to try it! It's wonderful paper!!! : )

Stamps: Precious Moments and Stampin' Up Stem sayings

Inks: Black Stazon, Eggplant

Paper: Pomegrante textured cardstock, Whisper White, Eggplant Envy, Rose Red designer paper, Almost Amethyst designer paper

Accessories: Mat Pack, Piercer, black marker, glitter (on bow), prisma pencils, gamsol, prima flowers, rhinestone, ribbon

Here's the card I made for my nephew's first birthday.  I wanted to make the monkey hold the #1 so I used an exacto knife to cute around his hand and a little way up the arm... then slipped the #1 underneath. The leaves were made by cutting them out of the designer paper (same paper as I used for the background).  I then sponged a little Wasabi and Chocolate Chip around their edges. Next I pressed them against the versamark pad, dipped them in clear embossing powder, and heat embossed. One of them is attached flat, while the other two are attached with dimensionals. I also wanted to give the monkey a little more dimesion so I stamped an extra monkey, cut out just the head and attached it, with a dimensional, on top of the monkey on the card.

Stamps: Monkey Business, God's Blessings

Inks: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip

Papers: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, designer paper

Accessories: glitter, versamark pad, clear embossing powder

Today we celebrated the first birthday of my little nephew, Wyatt.

Isn't he a cutie?!!!!  :)

 Here's another DD challenge I decided to try. Actually this is for two challenges.

For the first one you're suppose to make a simple card and then crank it up a notch (or two).  : )  It was a really fun challenge from Jami... the More is More Queen. : ) 

The second challenge is from Cami. If you're familiar with Cambria's creations it's no surprise that for her challenge you're suppose to "Pink it up."   : )

Although I enjoyed doing the challenges, I had a lot of trouble getting a good photo of it. One of problems I had is that I used a glitter pen to outline the baby buggy on the 2nd card and the photo makes the outline look kind of washed out. There were other photo issues as well, but I'll just leave it at that.

The card on the left is obviously the simple card and the card on the right has many things added.

Here's a closer picture.

Things that were added to the 2nd card:

Ribbon

Faux Stitching & Piercing around main image and along sides of designer paper.

Cuttlebugged "Baby" with gem added in the middle of the a.

Background stamps (Linen & Itty Bitty Backgrounds) on the card base.

Glitter around outline of Baby Buggy.

Designer Paper corners on main image.

Small speckles (Itty Bitty Backgrounds) around main image.

White gel pen dots on buggy.

This is the card I made for the DD sketch challenge today. : )  It's also the first card I've made with my new set "Refuge & Strength." 

I stamped the cross twice: once on the cardstock and then again on a scrap of the same cardstock. I cut out the scrap one and used dimensionals to attach it on top of the other cross.

More info:

Stamps: Refuge & Strength, Plaid background, Linen background

Paper: River Rock, Artichoke, Wintergreen designer paper

Ink: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Artichoke

Accessories: Metal Edge tag, Mat Pack, Piercer, Marker, Hemp, dimensionals

I have a little poodle named Zoe and she loves to go visit my mom and dad's little poodle, Mandie... so this card is from Zoe to Mandie. Ok, I know this sounds strange, but it's one of the Dirty Dozen challenges on scs.  : )  We were suppose to make a card for a pet or from a pet.

Now Zoe doesn't look like the poodle on this card... no foo foo haircut for her. <wink>  But I did try to color it with her colors. She's white with silver spots on her ears, tail, and some on her back.  : )

Here you go Mandie... this is for you from Zoe.  : )

Here's the info.

Stamps: French Twist (retired stampin' up stamp set), Priceless, Stem Sayings

Paper: Tan Confetti, Almost Amethyst designer paper

Inks: Black Stazon, Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, white gel pen, scallop punch, mat pack, piercer, watercolor crayons, aquapainter, marker

(The camera seemed to pick up the Amethyst color as more blue than it is.)

Can you all handle another Bronc Buster card? I just love this set!!

It's probably a little hard to tell in the picture, but linen is stamped on the River Rock cardstock, under the Bronc Buster. The Bronc Buster is stamped twice: once with River Rock ink and then with Chocolate Chip ink to give it a little bit of a shadow effect.  The edges of the main image were distressed and sponged with Chocolate Chip. Do you like the designer paper? It's another one in the pack of Outlaw paper. I've said it before... but I'll say it again... I love that paper!! : )

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Linen

Paper: Close to Cocoa, River Rock, Outlaw designer paper

Inks: River Rock, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Mat Pack, Marker, Distresser, star brads, hemp

How fun!!! I've been tagged as a Rockin' Girl Blogger by Debbi and Lisa! Check out their blogs... they're Rockin' Stampers!!  : )

And I'm nominating (tagging) the following Rockin' Stampers!

Sue:    I love Sue's blog! She has both beautiful & fun cards!! And like her cards, she's a beautiful, fun, & special person.   : )

Jami:    Jami's blog is another one I visit often. She's an awesome stamper and one of my So Cal stampin' buddies.  Many of you know her as one of the Alumni of the Dirty Dozen on scs. I'm glad to know her as my friend.  : )

Tracey:    Tracey has a terrific blog; wonderful cards!  I love the fact that recently she had the courage to post one of her cards from when she first started stamping. I'm not so sure I'm that brave!  Tracey, you've come a long way girl!! : )

I'm lovin' this new Bronc Buster set!!! : )

I distressed the edges of the main image and sponged it with Chocolate Chip ink.  The Corners are made with the new Stampin' Up Photo Corner punch. And don't you love that designer paper?! It's from the new Stampin' Up line called "Outlaw." 

More info:

Stamps: Bronc Buster, Linen

Paper: River Rock, Outlaw designer paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Hodge Podge Hardware (brads), Hemp, Photo Corner Punch, Distresser

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. :)