Fruity Coasters

Don't you just love it when you get an idea in your head and when you go to make the project it turns out EXACTLY how you pictured it? I was shopping in Target last week and was browsing through the Dollar Spot (I LOVE the dollar spot!!!) I happened to stumble across these picture coasters. They were packaged in a set of 2 glass coasters and had a place in the back to slide a picture in of your choice. As soon as I saw these a light bulb went off in my head. I saw the images of the Tart and Tangy set from the Occasions Mini catalog in these instead of pictures. I snatched up as many of the coaster pairs as they had and came home to try out my idea. Here is the end result. What do you think? I plan on giving them out to hostesses during the month of June. Once I found my design to work as planned I think I hit every Target store in a 30 mile radius and grabbed these coasters, so hurry and get some for yourself today!!

Here is the apple one close up.

the cherry one....

the orange one...although you could make this into a lemon or a lime if you'd prefer just by changing the color of ink. I have even seen this made into a watermelon piece too. My picture of the strawberry coaster was blurry so I decided not to post it, but you can get the idea from looking at the other ones. Hope you're off to a fabulous weekend!

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Tart & Tangy, So Very

Ink: Garden Green

Card stock: Whisper White

Other: Stampin' Write Markers, Picture Coasters from Target

Pun Fun Box

The end of June the family and I will be traveling back to Wisconsin to watch the boys compete at the AAU Taekwondo National Championships. I am very excited about this! We are originally from Wisconsin and this is giving us a chance to spend some extra time with our friends and family. :0) I am also using the time to host a stamp-a-stack class for my sister and her friends. My sister and I brainstormed the other night on the phone about what kind of projects to do and we decided that a cute stationary box and cards would be the prefect idea. Above you can see the adorable box I came up with. I had downloaded a template for this box from another website and unfortunately can not remember where so if you are viewing this and are the creator of the original template please let me know so I can give you proper credit. I did modify the template a bit for me. The original template was too small for the regular A2 sized cards (4-1/4 x 5-1/2) so I adjusted my measurements and came up with this. The cards fit nice inside along with their envelopes. The box holds 4 cards and their envelopes. I will post pictures of the cards I created to go inside later on this week.
Thank you to all of you who sent messages and emails regarding my family's health. I only have 1 little one home from school today (3rd day in a row for him) so I think we are on the mend. We tried to make it to school this morning but got sick before we left the house. I can only be thankful that he didn't get sick in the car. That would have been a bad mess to clean up. Hope you and your family are healthy and off to a great week!

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Pun Fun
Ink: Basic Black
Card Stock: Bashful Blue, WW, Cutie Pie DSP
Other: Stampin' Write Markers, Marvy Punches, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Trimmer and scoring blade

Flu Bug Has Hit

Sorry for the lack of posts over the weekend. The flu bug has hit the house and it's been a rough few days. Now my 2 boys have it and I am exhausted taking care of them. I hope to have something for you tomorrow if I get a quick chance this evening. Hope everyone had a wonderful & safe holiday weekend.

Happy Stamping~

New Baby Cards

Happy Friday Stampers! Can you believe that another week is almost over and now it's time for a 3 day weekend? WooHoo!!! Think of all the time you may get to stamp! Speaking of stamping, aren't these 2 cards adorable? I made them first thing this morning. (See I told you I found my Mojo!!) I had cleaned my stamping area earlier in the week and it's made all the difference in the world to me. I know where just about everything is AND believe it or not I have kept it pretty clean all week. Amazing I know! One new rule I am trying to enforce upon myself is that if I don't clean up and put all the supplies away, I have to use what is sitting on my table when I start to stamp. So, using that rule I had to use some of the Afternoon Tea DSP since it was still; sitting on top of my table from the post it note holders. :0)

The colors of the paper scraps reminded me of a baby boy so I found my Just Celebrate stamp set from the Occasions Mini catalog and inked up the "New Baby" stamp. I decided that since I had some smaller pieces of DSP cut I would paper piece the cute elephant. I stamped him twice on the Afternoon Tea paper and then cut him out. The 2nd image I only cut out his ear and popped that up on a scrap piece of rubber from mounting the stamps. (Helpful Hint: Save the pieces of your rubber that you cut off when mounting your stamps. You can use these pieces instead of dimensionals. Just peel the pink rubber part off and stick on the back of the piece you want to adhere. Then peel of the backing and "Viola!" you have a dimensional.) I layered this piece on a piece of Close to Cocoa, added some dots around both pieces. A strip of the DSP was adhered to another piece of Close to Cocoa and a piece of double stitched Soft Sky ribbon was wrapped around and tied in a knot. The card base was stamped with Fontastic BG stamp (retired) in soft sky ink. Lastly I added 2 rhinestone brads in the lower left corner to finish off the card.

I stuck with similar supplies on the second card. The same colors and paper were used. The card base on this card was randomly stamped with one of the stamps from the Sprinkles stamp set and white doodle dots were added in between the images to give some depth. I decided to use some of my Chocolate Chip Twill ribbon from the Occasions Mini on this card. I love the feel of this ribbon. I have been hording it since it seems to feel silky to me. The elephant panel is popped up on dimensionals this time and the small dew drops were added underneath using small glue dots.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday week and please drive safe if you are traveling.

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Just Celebrate, Sprinkles, Fontastic (retired)

Ink: Basic Black, Soft Sky

Card stock: Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, WW, Afternoon Tea DSP

Other: Double stitched Soft Sky Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Twill Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Stampin' Write Markers, Dimensionals (or scrap rubber), Rhinestone Brads, Faux Dew Drops

New Stamping Class

Hi Stampers! I have scheduled another Stamp-A-Stack class at my home on Sunday June 1st, 2008 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm. This class will feature techniques using Stampin ' Pastels (chalks). You will leave this class with 6 handmade cards. The cost of the class is $15 for non-club members and $12 for club members. (See it pays to be in one of my Stampin' Clubs *wink*) Please provide your own scissors and adhesive of choice. If you have your own pastels/ chalks please feel free to bring them. Space is limited for this class so sign up today! I will not accept reservations after Thursday May 29th. Sign up with a new Stamping Friend and receive a FREE handmade gift the day of the class. (Friend must be a new class member for you to receive free item) Email me to reserve your spot today!

Happy Stamping~

Post it Note Holder

I have seen these adorable Post It Note Holders and several blogs and on SCS. I decided that I needed to make some for myself. I was amazed at how quickly this project came together. I don't think this project took me more than 3 minutes to complete once I had my supplies gathered. While at my LSS yesterday I picked up some chipboard coasters. I didn't realize that they were 5" squares. My first attempt at this project used them and they were a wee bit too big. Not to worry though....I have another idea in mind for them. (Chrissy you will be so proud of me when I show you the end result!!!) So after a few minutes of disappointment over them being too big I remembered that I had snagged a few coasters from a local restaurant awhile back. They seemed to work a little better than the larger ones I had. I am still not 100% satisfied since these coaster appear to be a 3" square. I really want the 4" ones. I will have to keep looking, but for not I am content with how this turned out. I plan to put a magnet on the back and leave it on my fridge.

Happy Stamping~

Card stock: Afternoon Tea DSP

Other: Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon, Various Ribbon from Michaels, Chipboard Coaster, Binder Clip, Post It Note

Birthday Tae Kwon Do Style

Hi Stampers! I know it is late in the day, but I had some errands to run this morning and a few other things to take care of before I could find the time to sit down and stamp a little. The card above is made for our Tae Kwon Do Instructor to send out to his students for their birthday. (I have been making these for him for a few months now) He wanted a birthday card, but also wanted it to relate to the sport he teaches and loves so much. I searched and searched for any kind of martial arts stamps. There is a VERY LIMITED supply out there. The main image is from Close to My Heart. As soon as I saw that set I knew I had to have it. I plan on using it to make some scrapbook pages for both of the boys. I have so many pictures of all their belt testings, tournaments and other milestones that they have endured. I tried to make the cards so he could send them out to everyone. (young & older students) I changed the color of the belts too so each color belt was represented. (and hair color too) I am sure his students will be thrilled to receive one of these in the mail for their birthday

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Bamboo, A Little Birthday Cheer, Just for Kicks (CTMH)

Ink: Basic Black, WW

Card stock: Basic Black, WW, Red Pre-made cards (Target)

Other: Stampin' Write Markers

Finally time to stamp!!!

These past few weeks have been crazy busy. I feel so unorganized lately. I have been actively looking for a new job and have been interviewing, but nothing right has come my way. You would think with being home all day I would have tons of time to stamp and create right? Ha! Today was the first time in over a week that I actually inked up a stamp and played a little. I think somewhere between all the interviews, the Tae Kwon Do fundraising events and DH's company picnic I lost my mojo. *sighs* I am hoping that I now have it back. I really enjoyed making the 2 cards I did this morning. Both cards were made using a very similar layout and the stamp set Just Celebrate from the Occasions Mini catalog. I love the images from this set so much. If you are looking for a set that has everything - this is the one to get. The images are so cute and what's even better is the stamps are die cut so no need to cut the images yourself. You just pop them out of the rubber, peel the back off and stick on your wood block. It's easy - peasy!!

The first card is done using a technique that Dawn Griffith featured on her blog last week. Her blog always has the cutest card ideas and she also has some wonderful video tutorials for those of you who are visual learners. The card is made using the "Chalk Line" technique. When I saw this on Dawn's blog I knew I had to try it. I have not used my Stampin' Pastels in forever and it probably took me twice as long to locate them as it did for me to actually make this card. This technique is so much fun and gives a great result. To make a card using this technique you will need: stamps, black ink, Stampin' Pastels, cotton balls, a ruler and a pencil with a good eraser on it. Be sure to check out Dawn's video tutorial HERE. If you try this technique on your own leave me a comment with a link to your card on this post.


The second card I made is rather "dimensional". I stamped the cute owl image 3 times on whisper white card stock. I colored them all using my Stampin' Write Markers and mounted one on to only orange card stock. Then I cut the owl's body out without her wings and mounted this layer on top of the first image using dimensionals. With the third image I only cut out the very center on the image with her ruffles and mounted this on the 2nd layered image with dimensionals. I then added some Star Dust Stickles to her ruffles to give her some bling. I love how it looks like she is popping right off the page.

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Just Celebrate, Sprinkles, All Holidays
Ink: Basic Black, Close to Cocoa
Card stock: Close to Cocoa, Only Orange, WW, Summer Picnic DSP
Other: Stampin' Write Markers, Cotton Balls, Ruler, Pencil with Eraser, White Gel Pen, 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad, dimensionals, Star Dust Stickles, Stampin' Pastels

Happiness Doodle

Isn't this card so spring looking? I love how it turned out. This card features the set "Doodle That" (page 94 in the Spring-Summer Collection Catalog). I love how the images of this set look like they have been hand drawn or "doodled". This card is very simple, yet looks so gorgeous. I have been missing last year's In Colors - especially Cool Caribbean, so I pulled out some of my coveted Cool Caribbean paper and my homemade Cool Caribbean Marker for this card. I first stamped the swirl image randomly on the strip of Cool Caribbean with Whisper White Craft ink. Then to add some dimension and to make it "pop" more I took my marker and added "doodle dots" along the swirls. This piece was added to the Certain Celery card base. The main image was stamped in basic black classic ink and then colored in using markers and blender pens. It was then placed on a piece of basic black card stock before being adhered to the card base. The final step was stamping "happiness" in basic black to the lower right hand corner. Hope everyone is off to a wonderful week.

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Doodle That, Warm Words
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
Card stock: Certain Celery, Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: blender pens, markers

New Blog Candy Winner

Wow! Where did the weekend go? I hope everyone else has as wonderful a weekend as I did. :0). This was the first weekend in a long time that we spent the entire weekend together as a family - having fun! In fact, I was having so much fun that I didn't even bother logging on to the computer. Sorry!
Well......since the last winner of the Blog Candy did not contact me with her information I printed out all the other comments and had my son draw one out of his hat. And now....the winner of THIS blog candy is.....*drum roll*...........Lourin! YEAH!!!!! Lourin let me know where you would like your goodies sent and I will get them out to you. BTW...now you have an excuse to buy a Cuttlebug!!! *wink*
Just a reminder that when I have 3500 hits on my blog I will have another fabulous giveaway!

Mother's Day Gifts

I know I have been a very bad blogger lately. I have been super busy and just have not had time to take pictures of some of the things I have been working on. I have also been busy getting ready for my class that I am having this weekend at the house. BTW- the class is full but if you are interested I am taking names and if there is enough interest I will have another one.

I have a confession to make. I am addicted to making that adorable box I showed you in THIS post. I have been making them like crazy. I made one for my mom, mother-in-law & several other relatives for Mother's Day. Each one is unique and has 4 cards and matching envelopes inside which coordinate with the box. I am hoping that everyone loves them as much as I do. This picture is one of the boxes I made and sent up to WI. I got to play a bit with my new stamp set She's All That. I love the images in this set. They make card making so quick and easy. I used the remaining DSP scraps I had left over from making the box when making the cards. I kept the color combination simple too. The colors are Certain Celery, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White. They turned out so fresh and springy looking. (Sorry I know the photo is kind of dark and doesn't really show how bright they are)

I am still waiting for Beth Redding to send me an email to confirm her blog candy. If she does not respond by Saturday May 10th I will draw another name. Beth....if you're out there..email me your information so I can send you out the goodies you won!!!

Happy Stamping~

Stamp Set: She's All That, Sprinkles

Ink: Certain Celery

Card stock: Certain Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Retired DSP

Other: 5/8" Certain celery Grosgrain ribbon, Apricot Appeal Grosgrain ribbon, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Eyelets, White Gel Pen, Slit Punch, Sticky Strip, Twine, Certain Celery Brads

Blog Candy Winner!!!

I used Random Integer Generator to select which # post won the fantastic Blog Candy I posted earlier in the week. The winner is.....* drum roll please...*

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4
Timestamp: 2008-05-03 01:03:35 UTC

Beth Redding said...
Wow! What a wonderful and generous amount of blog candy! My favorite set at this particular moment (as it changes all the time) is Garden Whimsy :)Blessings,Beth

Beth please email me your address and I will get your goodies mailed out to you next week. I too love the Garden Whimsy set, but right now I have to say that Baroque Motifs is my ultimate favorite set out of the catalog. (ask me tomorrow and I may have a different one though!!! *lol*)Thanks to everyone who played. More Blog Candy will be coming soon so keep checking back! *wink*

Happy Stamping~

Card Organizer & Card Assortment Class

New Stamping Class now available! I have been working on this project for a few days now and just completed it. I think it turned out so adorable. I know it is short notice, but I really think this would make a really great Mother's Day gift or birthday gift for someone. I will be holding the class at my home on Saturday May 10th, 2008 from 3:00pm - 6:00pm. I am offering several options for this class depending on your needs. Space will be limited and reservations and payment will need to be to me by noon on Monday May 5th. I will not be able to take any requests for the actual class after that time due to having to order supplies & prep time for this class. Contact me for more information or visit my Stampin' Up! website.

This is a close up picture of the card organizer. It will hold 8 cards ( 6-1/2" x 5") and envelopes inside. Isn't it just adorable??? The class will include enough supplies to create this cute organizer and 2 of each of the cards posted below. The idea for the box came from another demo - Dannie Graves. She has an informative how-to video on how she created this box on her blog.

Class Option #1 includes: All pre-cut card stock and designer series paper, Stampin' Write Markers (Real Red, Only Orange, Garden Green), and embellishments to create a custom card organizer and 8 cards to go inside. Cost: $25 ($22 for Stampin' Club Members)

Class Option #2 includes: All pre-cut card stock and designer series paper and embellishments to create your own custom card organizer and 8 cards to go inside. This option does NOT include markers. Cost: $18 ($15 for Stampin' Club Members)

Class Option #3 includes: All pre-cut card stock and designer series paper, all images pre-stamped , and embellishments to create your own custom card organizer and 8 cards to go inside. Step by step directions on assembly will also be included. This is a class by mail option for those who will not be able to attend. Cost: $23 ($20 for Stampin' Club Members)

Happy Stamping~

Stamp set: Tart & Tangy, So Many Scallops, Absolutely Fabulous, Wonderful Words, All Holidays

Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue

Card stock: Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP

Other: White Gel Pen, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Write markers (Real Red, Only Orange, Garden Green), Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Certain Celery5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Soft Subtle Brads, Jumbo Eyelets, Velcro Dots, Twine