Sarah Had her Baby!!! BC for Friday

This week it's a sketch for the Blogger Challenge--I LOVE working from a sketch someone else has designed. A couple of weeks ago at a church meeting I was ask to make a card for everyone to sign when our Christian Education Director, Sarah, had her baby--a girl--she just had it this past week--so I knew I'd use the sketch for her card.

Since everyone is crazy this time of year I won't go into a lot of detail but the card is big--it's a full 8 1/2X11 just folded in half so there's lots of room for everyone to sign during coffee hour.

I used the retired in color collection of Tea Party DSP and Pink Pirouette card stock. The words "sweet little one" is from a collection of text stamps, and the rattle is one that I've had forever but it's retired. I used the build a brads so I could use some tiny flowers from the DSP that I thought would work well.

Hope Sarah likes the card as much as I do. You should be able to see what everyone else did by clicking on my BC link on the right.

I'll be checking in on what everyone else came up with and hope you will too! Don't forget to leave a comment when you do.

Hugs,

BC--Birthday Cherish Cards

Here's a set of 5 cards. The orginal card was CASED (copy & share). I got it from a large SWAP I was in with Late Night Stampers some time ago. It was done by a gal named Janet and has the taffeta Chocolate Chip Ribbon with the half knot ends pointing up. It's about half way through this post.

I liked the card so much I knew I had to use it for one of the project's from my monthly stamp club last month.

A few days ago I finally took the time to finish up the ones that were left over.

I was able to make 4 and each card is different even if only it's a change in ribbon. All supplies are from SU! The set is Charming--the much loved set which is in the current Holiday Mini---time is running out as this mini ends on Jan. 4. If you'd like to order it--you can click on the mini on the right of my blog and it will take you to my SU! website. It's only $19.95 if you order from me on my site.

I stamped 2 of them with Thinking Of You and 3 with Happy Birthday, which is the theme for the Blogger Challenge this weekend. I used one of my favorite retired SU! stamps for the inside--it works for either phrase--

Sunshine in the heart not only warms thine own, but all that comes in co

ntact with it. by James T. Fields.

I love, love, love this set---it is a rather small set but has some wonderful images.

We used Real Red, Suede and Vanilla for our cardstock. The fuzzy red & white DSP is from a package also sold by SU! I love it as you can color it with any pastel color from SU! by simply using a dauber or sponge.

We ran the Vanilla layer through the BS using a embossing folder and then sponged some Suede right on top to give it a vintage look. All the flowers were hand colored using SU! markers in a variety of greens & reds. Now to tell you a bit about each

one--The original card, by Janet is lovely--she rubbed over every layer with suede to age the paper to a vintage look--I liked that idea and did the same on the 4 I was able to make.

These are not in any order as my MAC & Blogspot don't get along when I have

lots of photos to post, but Janet's is right in the middle of this post--it should be right across from where I'm typing right now.

So, let's start with the CREATE with the homemade Brad on the right. It has the scalloped edge of Vanilla that is also stabbed with the paper piercing tool--I liked that effect and did it on all my cards. Create was stamped on Vanilla in Kiwi (a retir

ed IC) and then punched out with a oval and mounted to the pretty label punch of C/chip. I used 2 Vintage brads to mount it. For the Build a Brad, I hand colored the tip of one of the same flowers as the focal image and then punched it out and mounted it--I LOVE the Build a Brad embellisments--you can make your brad out of just about any image. I also used the paper pierce tool to get some holes in the top of my card on both ends.

You probably can't see it but I did that again on the top of both sides of my floral/script focal point layer. I this one and the other Create one have an Altered look to them--something I really like, but it does not appeal to everyone. This card also has a strip of retired Riding Hood Red striped ribbon.

For next CREATE Card (up at the top!) I stamped CREATE stamped in Regal Rose right the same layer as my flowers and then added a label stamp on to of the flowers--I'm not crazy about this card as it's just too

busy right there. But I do like the layer of C/chip with the retired strip of RHRed ribbon on it.

Then the CREATE with the home made brad on the left top card is very similar--but I pierced the whole top area of the Vanilla layer, ran my ribbon (comes in a package

of 3--it's called Originals and sells for $9.95. Anyway, I ran it vertical this time. I chrumbled (sp?!) my floral Vanilla layer. I tucked the Kiwi large oval with CREATE on

top of it in between the C/chip & vanilla layer.

The other one--it was actually the first one I made after my club meeting is very similar to Janet's card. I changed the ribbon to a very pretty one--from that same Orginals set as above (page 182 in the IBC) and paper pierced the scallop layer.

For each card I tried to add a step or step it up a notch from the last one. While I'm not thrilled with the crumpbled Create one--I do think it has a nice Altered look to it.

It's cold here in my neck of NE--with a couple of frozen inches of snow already on the ground--a good day to stay inside & STAMP!

Hugs,

Holiday Fair Cards

Yesterday was the annual Holiday Fair at the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church. For the 3rd year in a row I had a SU! table full of handcrafted SU! goodies for sale. I'll post some photo's of what was on the table in a day or so, but right now I want to show you two cards in relation to the Fair.

Thinking of You was the sample I made for the Make & Take table I had. Now I have to admit that just about everyone that wanted to make a card was under 16 years old, but I had a great mix of boys and girls participate. None of them copied my card, but theirs all looked great. I know most of the kids that crafted as over the years I've worshiped there I've taught Sunday School and Confirmation classes.

I think what they liked best was learning to use the Crop-a-dile--it's such a big tool that some of younger kids did not have big enough hands to really use it, but they sure liked the effect.

I started out thinking of offering just an All Occasion card using one of the current Hostess III sets--Kind and Caring Thoughts, but since it is near Christmas, I decided to also bring along Season of Joy, which is also still in the current SU! IBC.

It's a good thing I did as most of the cards that were made were from that set.

At one point I had a few minutes to sit down with one of the girls, Jasmine, who was busy at the M&T table so I decided to make a card using some of the scraps left behind. That's how I came up with Christmas Blessings. Now maybe it's not made up of the ordinary Christmas colors, but I think it's very soft and light--it reminds me of a light snowfall--which we just happened to have late yesterday afternoon and well into the night!

I also made a 3rd card (not posted) for the Crafter's Sampler basket we (the church) were offering as a Door Prize. It was made from the same supply of stamps, inks & paper and turned out very nice. I saw the basket -- it was chocked full of goodies from every table (over 20 vendors) at the Fair. Some lucky person will really love winning it.

It was great fun at my table--the kids really helped my sales as they brought a lot of positive energy to the room every time they came through--which was often.

I'll chat some more about the Fair this week--but right now I need to get ready for church!

Wishing You a Soft & Light Christmas Blessing this year,

Blogger Challenge--Chipboard Calendars

This week the theme for the Blogger Challenge is to Alter It. Once again Lisa has perfect timing in selecting the theme----my friend Beth, finished these just a few days ago for my SU! table at a Holiday Fair next Saturday at our church--West Chelmsford UMC.

The Fair runs from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. with over 20 vendors. I know it's a rather small fair but we have a wonderful "cafe" for breakfast & lunch. The address is 242 Main Street in the West Chelmsford part of town, just over the Westford line.

Anyway, the coasters and calendars, and the butterfly bling are not from SU! but everything else is either current or retired. They are 4 by 4 inches and come with 2 magnets already attached on

the back.

I had a sample from a swap I had received

last year and showed it to Beth--with the instructions--now I know YOU can do better then this---so she went to work--they took her some time (she got 6 done in 3 hours) but I am very happy with the results.

Each one has at least 2 blings on it and they are quite colorful. She decide

d she liked them covered with the Designer Series Paper (DSP) other then plain card stock.

I always have trouble posting more then one photo into by blog--so it this come out a bit lopsided that's why!

A few details for each--in no order--Inspire has a large retired eyelet on the lower left corner, a Flower on the top left made with 4 layers and a small rhinestone brad holds them altogether. The button on top of Inspire has a slip of silver cord through the holes so it's not "naked."

The big Butterfly was cut from the Butterfly die that goes so nicely through the Big Shot. She colored the white Fleurette using a couple of green markers.

Cherish has some great items on it--the cute die cut bird that is in the Holiday Mini (the die also has 2 trees and a snowflake on it) a cute star brad goes through the die embossed flower made from some OLD

SU! DSP and a cute Friends Forever brad that is now also retired.

Dream was stamped from a block of words that's now long retired (it also has the Inspire on it) a care ribbon made from the In Color Razzleberry and a

2 layer flower.

I have several more calendars for her to use up--hope she can come over again in the next couple of days and get some more done.

Thanks for stopping by--hope you'll leave a comment before you go!

Hugs,

Finally, I'm Posting my Portland M&T!!!

Way back in October most of my TEAM and I went to Portland, ME for the 1/2 day SU! Regional Convention. We had 3 fun make & takes to do, but only about 30 minutes to do them in. I got some of the gift labels here made but then I wanted to get photo's from the boards of projects people had brought so I put off making the rest until a few weeks ago. I can't believe I've waited until this Thanksgiving week to share them with you!

I made many changes to the layout they gave us for the projects. Not that there was anything wrong with them, just that as usual I wanted to add something to each one. To me they just were a little on the plain side.

We were given the set Berry Christmas from the Holiday Mini, pg. 8 for $22.95.

for attending. I really like this set--you can do sooo much with it!

I love how the little birdie can fit inside the wreath or using the stamp-a-ma-jig it can perch

on top of the holly branch. Also, the Make Merry stamp can fit inside the wreath! I even stamped on

my envelopes so now they are ready to mail out with the rest of my Christmas cards.d on my envelopes so they are now ready to mail.

Colors used here are Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Certain Celery.

Getting to go to a SU! convention, even if it was only 1/2 day was a great experience.

I know this posting is a bit mixed up in layout--sorry about that--I tried several times to get it just how I wanted it--it seems that this happens mostly when I have several photo's to add.

Oh well--at least they finally got posted.

If I don't post again--let me be sure to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Thankful Purse?!

My I Love 2 Stamp Club met last night and then I had my Arts & Crafts class at LifeLinks this morning---at both events we worked on this adorable purse that is really a Thankful Card. I CASED the idea from Rhea Anderson who was lucky enough to go to the SU! Convention way back in July or August.

This project also covers the Blogger Challenge theme for today of Giving Thanks.

The one with the Brown top (it's made from the Top Note Die) is a pretty direct CASE--the only difference between hers (which is not shown) and mine is our

choice of ribbon--I colored White Taffeta with a Durango Marker and on hers, she used gross-grain that she also colored directly with a Durango marker. The other one shows a top note made from retired Kiwi

, a layer of Curry between the thankful leave and suede scallop circle, with regular white gross-grain ribbon.

You open it up and you have a hexagon to stamp ---mine reads: Happy THANKSGIVING Happy FALL, Happy BLESSINGS to one and all.

The leaves and saying is from Falling Leaves (page 27 $21.95 IBC) and the Bright Blessings Wheel (same page $8.50). This was the first new wheel I just had to have from our current SU! catalog.

Now if you look closely at the Kiwi purse card you'll note that on the inside I had to use a scrap on the top to cover the rolled area--this is because I actually made a mistake with the wheel when I rolled it this morning at LifeLinks. It came out UPSIDE DOWN!!! Don't ya just LOVE it when the Teacher makes a mistake in front of the WHOLE class!!! Good thing it's a forgiving group--and they are the first to know that no one is perfect.

Isn't it great that we can take someone else's idea, maybe change it a bit OR NOT and

then share it with others?! You can check Rhea's work at:

http://www.nightowlstamper.com. I'm quite sure she won't mind.

Hope you like my card--if so, please post a comment or two.

Stamp, Create, Play . . . Everyday!

Embossed Snowflake & TS Challenge

Mary Jo over at the Techno Stamper always has a Monday Challenge using a sketch. This week's was a tag. Even though I know it would be fine with her to adapt it to fit my style--I love the look of it so I decided to use it just about the way she posted it.

I love her sketches and even though she's just about up to 100 I hope she continues with this weekly Challenge. Since I stamp for clubs & classes being able to take part in challenges is one of the few ways I make time just to stamp for me!

So, for my card I embossed on a tag cut from the DSP Merry Moments (Current IBC page 160) in white with D/Diamonds. You can't really see the DD but they really show up on the tag itself. The snowflake came from the set that was in the Country Living Holiday Kit that is now retired. My card stock is Vanilla and Garden Green--my own personal favorite for Holiday Green. I used the back side of the Really Red Polka Dot ribbon an then tied a half knot out of the really red stripe. The kit came with some nice Rhinestone Brads so I put one in the middle of the snowflake to finish it off.

It was great to play--now I have to get back to prepping for my club (tonight) LifeLinks Class (tomorrow) and the Holiday Fair (Dec. 5) WHEW!

I'd love to know what you think of my entry--hope you'll post a comment.

Here is the sketch:

Hugs,

Welcome Christmas LNSChallenge

I have my monthly stamper's club tomorrow night and thought the first project should be Holiday Card--Christmas it's just over a month away now!!!

This card also works for the challenge of the week over at Late Night Stampers--a great Yahoo group I belong to. The challenge there is to show a project (usually a card) for your favorite holiday. Since Christmas is coming up just about every card I'm making these days is for that holiday it works for me.

My card is made from Garden Green, with layers of Ruby Red and Whisper White. I have to tell you my card is a CASED--I saw something just about like this one on someone else's blog a few weeks ago.

One thing you should do is to run a 2 1/4 to 2 /1/2 square through the Big Shot using the petals embossing folder from the Holiday Mini---and then PUNCH it out AFTERWARDS. That way I got the poinsettia's right where I wanted them.

The stamps---Lovely As A Tree and Heard From the Heart (a wonderful set).

If you'd like to join my monthly stamp club--send me an e-mail and I'll gladly give you the details.

Fall Thanks Blogger's Challoenge

I did not think I was going to get to play in the Blogger Challenge this week as I'm just so busy prepping for my SU! table at a Holiday Fair less then a month away. But I remembered that we all need to take time to STAMP JUST FOR FUN--so I decided I'd try to play after all.

This is the quick card I came up with. It's from an OLD set--long gone from our SU! catalogs. It was just in my keep stash with a few other old sets so I don't even know what set it came from as I cram as many into old cases as will fit and then just use them to play with now and then.

I like this card as it reminds me of a painter's pallet for the colors on main part of the Whisper White are just sponged with Ruby Red & Summer Sun. Then there is a Ruby Red layer and another later of W/white with sponging of more S/Sun. The leaf & Thanks stamps are in Ruby. An Old beautiful Mustard Ribbon--maybe from SU! or not I really don't know was in my fiber box so I thought it would finish it off nicely.

Hope you like it too--Fall was the theme for this week's BC. Hope you got to play along too--Remember to: Stamp, Create, Play . . . Everyday!

Christmas Book Markers LNS 45 Challenge

I don't have much time to enter challenges right now but when I saw that the Late Night Stampers Yahoo group (that I belong to) had a challenge going that I could join I decided to show these book markers I've been busy making for my SU! Vendor table at a holiday fair coming up less then a month away.

The Fair is at the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church, and is on the first Saturday in December--the 5th. I've made 6 of each of these book markers an 2 others in a patriotic theme which you can see in the posting below. Everything but the eyelets Current in the IBC or Holiday Mini. The Eyelets are Retired--jumbo hearts from several years ago.

I'll be selling them for $2.75 each. Any purchase of 3 or more will get you a 10% discount on your total order.

Feel free to let me know if you'd like some for yourself. I'd be more then happy to make some for you.

Veterans Day THANKS!

With so many men and women serving our country in the Armed Forces how can we not pause for a moment to honor them?

In my family my Grandfather Herman was in the Army for WWI and my father, George Herman served for both WWII and Korea again in the Army.

In high school I wore a POW bracelet for Rick Medaris who was in the Army as well. He was from Jensin, MI and was born in 1949. He was 20 years old. He died missing in action from a non hostile helicopter crash. At some point his body was recovered.

He was single. I was born in 1956 so he was just 7 years older then I was/am. If he were alive today he'd be 60 years old.

These are just 2 different book markers I made for my SU! table at the West Chelmsford United Methodist Church Holiday Fair which is the first Saturday in December--the 5th. It's now less then a month away. This year I thought I should have several things for families that have their kids or nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, etc. serving to buy for gifts. I've made a limited number of both book markers--only 6 of each but should I run out--I'll gladly take orders. Everything here is from SU!--either current or retired.

Gone but not forgotten--Rest in Peace, Daddy, Grandfather and Rick.

Friends Are Flowers Book Marker & Card

I have quite a large stash of bags from a couple of different craft stores that I keep handy. Then sometimes when I have a class with my LifeLinks group I'll just reach in and grab from one. For my class last week I used some papers from a Kit that I had recently bought. The colors in the kit reminded me of some kits from one of my favorite non SU! stores that came with some great papers. The blue in the kit was very close to SU!'s old Baja Breeze In Color. Then I found 9 envelopes of an odd size--not quite the size of a small biz. envelope but not as large as a #10 either. But I had 9--the same number as my normal class! So, using some of the pattern papers from the class I came up with a Card & Matching Book Marker for them to work on. I always try to work in SU! punches as the group can use them pretty easily--for these projects we used the 3 small flower punch, the 5 petal flower punch, and the retired Corner Notch punch.

Since Baja Breeze did match the blue in the Kit that was our Card Stock--I still have quite a bit of it as I bought a 12/12 assortment before it retired. Then I used scraps of Pixie Pink for the layer on the Book Marker and an old SU! stamp that reads--friends are the flowers in the garden of life. I love that phrase--I have no idea what old set it was with as it is so old that it's now separated from the full set. We finished off the projects by stamping & punching items for the envelopes. Everyone's turn out wonderful!

The projects are fairly simple but I really like how they turned out and hope you do too.

I'd love to hear your comments--won't you take a moment and leave one for me?

Hugs,

Blogger Challenge--Resist Book Markers

I'm in the midst of stampin' away--everyday---trying to get get ready for my annual craft fair on December 5. I made several of these book markers using the Resist Technique. The Blogger Challenge for this week is to choose a technique and explain how it works.

My book markers are 2x6 inches with tagged corners. This technique, Resist, has been around for YEARS and is ever so easy . . . You need a Versamarker ink pad or marker. Ink your stamp well with the Versamarker, and then stamp it onto your paper. Take a sponge (dauber's also work well but you could use just about anything that you can apply ink with) and ink it up with ink. Craft is probably the best but since I used the shinny side of the heavy cardboard (?) that comes with the SU! DSP I used regular SU! Classic Inks. I went with most of the In Colors for these book markers and used Curry, Mango, Razzelberry & Bermuda. I used a retired wheel with stars & swirls on it for my base and then the little flower/snowflake/poinsettia or whatever you want to call that image is from Baroque Motifs stamped in Mango. Merry Christmas & Peace Love Joy are from a set/that has lots of greetings--but I can't find it in the current catalog! Maybe it's on the Dormat list?!

Since this photo was taken I finished them off with hand colored ribbon in the same colors and attached it with retired large heart eyelets.

To see who else is in the Blogger Challenge just click on the link on the right of my blog. There's about 20 of us that post every weekend.

BC--Love CASED

A few weeks ago the theme for the Blogger Challenge was Love. There were two from the postings that really spoke to me and since Neil's birthday was coming up I decided to case them. Now I know it was not very smart of me, but I did not write down whose cards I used. Even though I've looked and looked through most of the member's blogs for that challenge I have not had any luck in finding my inspirations!

If you recognize the designs I used with some slight changes, please let me know as I really want to be able to give YOU credit for them. When I get time I'll continue to try to find the blogs from the gals I Cased, and if I can find them, then I'l update this posting right away.

Both of my cards have retired DSP but everything is from SU! I signed Sasha's name to the one with the dog that looks a lot like her and Love was of course from me. I used a white gel pen to put the dots on the scallops in my card and there are brown dots on the white scallop border.

Also, both cards have quite a bit of Chocolate Chip--probably because Sasha is a Chocolate Lab (but you should already know that from my header!)

Hope you LOVE my cards--of course I do!

Celebrate Christmas with the MDS!

I just have to quickly share with you that using my MDS--My Digital Studio to make this card was tons fo fun! I got my MDS with my last club order and installed it all today--when you get yours--make sure to install BOTH disc's before trying to work on any projects as the 2nd disc has more goodies that you are certain to need (like the bow!)

I used a template that came with the system and then modified it (added words, bow, ribbon, DSP strip, and brad) to make it my own. Everything I used to make this card came with the system!

The system comes with lots & lots of "stamp sets, kits, embellisments, etc." in it. I love it as even if I don't own a set that is in the system--now I can use that set to make some projects with and then just print them out! No real need to buy everything SU! sells--unless you have a ever growing money tree in your back yard.

This was so much fun and sooooo easy to make!

You can get one too--just contact me today or order it on-line through my SU! site--see the buttons on the right for ordering 24/7.

If you already own the MDS then remember that SU! adds downloads you can buy to add to your system.

I'm sure I'll be posting more fun projects I've made with this SOON!

Hope you'll let me know what YOU think,