Finally a Post!

Hi all!  Long time no blog.  So sorry, but the business of my job (1st grade teacher) combined with my sinus infection (yes, I'm still dealing with it--5 months and a lot of $$ later) have made it difficult to have the energy to craft and post.  However!!!  I think I'm getting a bit better and I do seem to have a bit more energy--the sunshine helps!

Here are the cards from the last party that I demonstrated at. It was so much fun!  We had a lot of new people come and our table was full!  I really enjoy these monthly parties and meeting new stamping friends!  I will post the link to each of the card ideas I shared because as you know I copy (case) just about every good idea that I find with just tiny touches that can be called my own!

My first card uses the "You're My Type" stamp set from the occasions mini on page 27.  The background paper comes from the First Edition dsp in the main catalog on pg. 183.  I also used the new embosslit--"Fashionable Hearts" and "Labels Collection" framelits dies.  Both are found in the occasions mini catalog.

Here's a picture of the front of the card -- and a picture of what the inside looks like also.

I absolutely had to emboss the typewriter in black--otherwise it just doesn't look like a typewriter to me!  

Here is where I got my inspiration for this card.  Just click on the word here in the previous sentence and it will take you there.

Colors used--Basic Black & Real Red

The next card I demonstrated also used the framelits--but this time the heart framelits from the occasions mini.  The heart was cut out of the card front and then pieced on the back with the cute "Sweet Shop" designer paper--also from the occasions mini. 

The card base is wisteria wonder with a layer of Pool Party.  The ribbon is the in color ruffled ribbon found on page 194 of the main catalog  I'm loving the simple delicate quality of the sentiments in the "Friendly Phrases" set on page 162 of the main catalog.  It's stamped in wisteria wonder.  Here's the link to the original card which I think is exactly the same except for the sentiment!

One of the simplest cards that I showed is very monochromatic in basic gray and pink pirouette.  It uses the "Perfect Polka Dots" embossing folder to give texture and is sponged with basic gray ink.  I stamped the daisies from "Upsy Daisy"(one of my all time favorite sets) in versamark and then embossed with white embossing powder--then punched a 1 3/4 " circle out of the embossed piece.  The sentiment is from "Everyday Wishes" found on page 193--it has the same look as the Friendly Phrases used in the above card.  Top it off with some taffeta ribbbon and you have a great looking card!  

                                   

Here's the link to where I got the idea for this card!  I'm so glad there as so many wonderful stampers out there so I can copy and share their ideas!  Well...I can't find who did this so when and if I do I'll be sure to put the link in!

The last card I shared at the party is a total CASE of Dawn Olcheske.  When I saw the "Mixed Bunch" stamp set in the occasions mini I thought--I don't need another flower set, but oh my goodness!  I have seen the nicest cards done with this set and of course the matching punch!  Both are found on page 17 of the mini.  Dawn has a video of how she did this card--love her blog!  I changed the flower used and the size of my designer paper (Twitterpated), but that's about it.  I used the Thanks from SAB set "Outlined Occasions."  The other thing I did was color my Thanks in using a blender pen--it just not as bold as using the marker.

Check out her card/video here!  Colors used are--pear pizzazz and daffodil delight.

Our make and take from the party was this cute 2 pocket folder made with a 6 x 6 piece of designer series paper.  My hostess Jan wanted something for St. Patrick's Day so I ended up using some older (way older) paper for the folders.  We then made a little card with a punch project leprechaun on it and a chocolate gold coin on the inside.  I don't have a picture of the card since I had to give my set away.  It's a great thing to have so many new stamping friends with us--Yay!  Anyway the card has to be 2.5 " square.  My picture shows the leprechaun in a larger size---unfortunately he didn't fit in the pocket of the folder!

The directions/tutorial for the folder is here (plus a bonus project).  I don't have anything for the leprechaun, but he's pretty self-explanatory.  I used the owl punch for the nose and eyes.

Finally--I'm done with the way overdue, but terribly long post!  Here's the other great thing!  I made some great cards that were "rejects" for the party (not due to beauty, but due to how long they'd take to make) so I have  a good number of posts coming in the next several weeks!!  Whew!  It will be good to be back to regular posting!  Shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions!  Dawn

Free Stuff!

If you are a bargain hunter like me you might enjoy what Stampin' Up has to offer this month and beyond...not only has Sale-A- Bration begun (Jan. 24, 2012 - March 31, 2012) where you can get free stamps, ribbon, paper, brads and more for each $50 that you spend before tax and shipping and handling fees are added but you can also get....

 My Digital Studio - FREE for One Month Beginning Today!

Stampin' Up! is offering a 30-day  FREE TRIAL of My Digital Studio Express version beginning TODAY that everyone can take advantage of.

Have you ever thought about making a scrapbook, a card, a calendar, or other projects on your computer?

If this appeals to you, check it out by taking the program FREE for 30 days!

With the FREE trial, you'll get:

• Full access to the software at NO COST.
• Full design functionality.
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• Access to our professional print services.

It's simple; add the free My Digital Studio Express trial (item 129600) to your online shopping cart, and then download and install it from your Download Manager.  There are many free tutorials out there that can help you in your use of MDS --I'd be glad to direct you in that direction!

Try it out and see the fun and ease of My Digital Studio!

Just give it a try and see if you like it!

Click here to order your My Digital Studio today!

When you get to my demonstrator website you will have to click on the shop now (blue rectangle) under my name at the top right.  The store page will come up-- then click on the MDS box in the upper right hand corner--download and let the fun begin!  

Happy 2012!

Here's a card I made after watching the tutorial on Stamping School---another plug for this site!  =-)  Hope everyone is ready for a fabulous new year.  I always like that feeling of a fresh start each January--as a teacher it comes 2 times a year for me--once now and once in August when school begins!  

I hope to be back soon with a card that's NOT a Christmas card! 

Let's Finish up Christmas!

As much as I love Christmas and would like to prolong the posting of my Christmas cards, it's time to move on.  It seems like I'm always late leaving the season and moving on to the next, and this year I'm even later than usual due to my lack of stamping time and lost camera cord during the month of December. So without further ado--here are the cards that I was able to photo before giving most of them away to my mom (my biggest fan)!

I fell in love with these telescoping cards the minute I saw them in many places.....Inking Idaho, Confessions of a Stamping Addict to name a couple!  Here they are "folded up."

The problem I found with them was that they needed an explanation with them.....something like a "pull here" tab.  =-)

Love the cute images of "Jolly Bingo Bits."

I got this card design from Stamping School--love this site.  Membership for a year is super reasonable and there are 2 or more videos posted each week!  It's probably been one of my best purchases since I started stamping a few years ago.

This is super simple--I used a non SU embossing folder that is super cute--holly leaves and berries.  The red glimmer paper makes this card.

Love the SU embossing folder Northern Flurry and this adorable snowman from Snow Much Fun.

This is a very understated card using always artichoke, ridinghood red and a retired SU stamps and ribbon.  I created my own berries by embossing my riding hood red CS with versamark and iridescent ice embossing powder and then punching them out with my standard hole punch.

Love that quilted early espresso ribbon--glad I got some before it was out of stock!  =-)

Next to the card with the Loads of Love tree in my last post, this simple card was my favorite.  I love this new embossing folder by SU!  And the baker's twine!  And the jingle bells!

I thought this was a wonderful card created by Lorri Heiling.  Sorry my picture is so blurry.  That's what happens when you use a borrowed camera!  Ha!    Here are her directions.  It uses the stocking punch that unfortunately is no longer available by SU.  I got the idea for the fire in the fireplace using the word window and bird punches from someone's blog--but I can't remember who--if I find the post I'll link it!

I love the stamp set Winter Post and have seen so many wonderful cards made from it--this is a total case from Stamping Still.  Very easy using the square punch!

And so ends the posting of Christmas cards for the year 2011.  Sorry it's so terribly long, but hope there's something here you enjoy!  Hope your holiday season was fabulous!!
P.S.  And if I find more links to all my cased cards I'll get them posted!

Christmas Card Extravaganza!

Here are the pictures of the Christmas cards I made over the past month.  Two times a year I host a "card party" for anyone interested at my school.  I make a lot of cards and people sign up for the ones they want to make and how many....then I cut all the parts out for everyone and we get together over a few nights after school and make the cards.  I cased all of them and will have to do some checking on who I cased so I'll put the cards up and then come back and put in the links if I can find them.  I have good news!  The cord is found for my camera!  Yippy Skippy!

By the way--since this card party tradition was started before I was a SU demo I often use retired products to keep the cost down for me since I charge very little for the cards.

So that's my first installment of 5 cards--more to come later!

Huge Apology!

I'm feeling sooo guilty about not posting for over a month!  I've been dealing with some health issues and a camera problem.....

First for my health.  I've been struggling with a sinus infection since the tail end of September and finally had a sinus procedure right before Christmas.  Unfortunately, I'm still dealing with sinuses that won't drain and can't seem to get over the infection!  The worst part of the whole procedure was my lack of smell/taste for about a week.  I can't imagine having that be a problem for the rest of my life!

The other problem-my camera.  It's difficult to take pictures with a dead camera and a cord to recharge it that just can't seem to be found anywhere!  I'm hoping my daughter can take pictures of the 20 plus Christmas cards that I had made before Thanksgiving and had hoped to share all during the month of December.....so I can at least share them quickly before we get too far past the Christmas season!

Anyway--from my family to yours.....I hope you had a marvelous and blessed Christmas this year!

November Blog Hop--Ode to the Turkey!

Welcome to the 6th stop on our SUStars November Blog Hop-- with the theme of Holiday Gift Giving ideas.  If you've been hopping along you have arrived here from Monica's Add a Little Dazzle --I can't wait to see what ideas she's come up with--I know they will be fabulous because I love her work!  If you haven't been hopping from the start just keep traveling along and you'll get there or use the link here to our SUStars home page.

I'm one of those people who hates to jump to Christmas before Thanksgiving.....so I've created a couple of sweet ideas that could easily hold some little treats and go on your Thanksgiving table.  As my title states they honor that noble bird, the turkey.  By the way, did you know that Benjamin Franklin proposed that the turkey should be our nation's bird--not the eagle!  Just a little trivia......ha!  Here are my projects:

Fancy Favor Turkey Bag
I cut the bag out with my Big Shot using the Fancy Favor die and real red cardstock.  The turkey on the front is an adorable idea that I found online somewhere over a year ago....if it's your idea let me know and I'll give you credit here!  I love it!  The turkey is created with punches and his feathery body is made from 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon.  I think he's too cute for words personally!  =-)  I'll come back later this week with a quick tutorial for him.  (I need some posts for the future---it's been a month since I've posted--yikes).

Double Milk Carton Turkey Box
I cut out 2 of the milk cartons from my milk carton die on my Big Shot to make one of those 6 sided boxes that are everywhere you look right now!  I cut off 1 of the sections on each and then embossed them with the square lattice embossing folder.  I saw the tutorial for how to make this type of box here on youtube and was inspired to make it into a turkey by Lynn Pratt's post here.  My tail feathers are punched with the scallop oval punch.  The eyes are made with 1" circle punch for choc. chip eye base and lid, 3/4" circle for the whites of the eyes and 1/2" circle for the black.  Oops!  This picture doesn't show the white highlights I added to my eyes with my Signo Gel Pen.  The beak and wattle were hand cut from more mustard and real red. I really like how it turned out and I can't wait to make some more of these with a Christmas theme.

Here's a top view with the highlights in the eyes.  The neat thing is you don't need any holes punched or ribbon to hold the top of the box closed!  Yay--super easy!  My bow is for decorative purposes only!  

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my projects.  Now head over to Carey's Stamping Tree House and check out her fabulous projects---she has a tutorial for a great gift card plus more!