End of Posting

Friends,

I'm finding it very difficult to keep two blogs/websites going so am planning to discontinue posting to this one and will instead concentrate my efforts on my new Stampin' Up! demonstrator website. I'm not leaving the Internet all together, just switching gears for now. Please feel free to check out my SU! website at www.stampinkathy.stampinup.net to see all that there is to see. I will be posting new items there and there are also several examples already there for you to check out.

Hope to see you soon!

Kathy

More Drama Here

Dear Loyal readers (if there are any of you out there),

Things have been dramatic here of late. On the 20th of June my husband was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with what turned out to be an acute gall bladder attack. There was infection involved which was affecting not only the gall bladder but also the liver, and there were gall stones blocking his common bile duct. He had a procedure to remove the stones, and then surgery to have the gall bladder removed. During all of this he developed Type 2 diabetes. He was in the hospital for 5 days.

Thankfully they felt he could control his blood sugar with pills instead of insulin shots. YAY!!!!! That and diet and exercise seem to be working for the most part.

All this has meant that I haven't had time for any stamping. Or I should say, I haven't had the time to be creative and do any stamping.

On the plus side, I just became an official Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I got a whole box of goodies from Mr. Brown this week and am working on getting everything organized and put away. Then maybe I can create with the new colors of ink, paper, and accessories.

If you're interested in Stampin' Up! you can check me out at my website, here.

Thanks to all of you for your patience. I hope to be back posting soon.

I'm a Demo Now!

Friends,

Wanted to let you know that I've just signed up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I've ordered my starter kit and have been cruising through the demonstrator website getting up to speed. There's a lot to learn and I'm enjoying it all. I hope to have something to post soon. Till then.....

Checking In

Friends,

I realized when I checked my blog that it's been over a month since I last posted anything. I'm so sorry. Life has simply gotten away from me and I have no real excuse. After getting over being sick I just didn't have the energy to sit and stamp. We've been out of town visiting my mom, just got back from a week of camping, then it got so HOT here that I didn't want to sit in my craft room on the second floor and work. Plus I was busy working on samples for a workshop and didn't have time to work in the computer getting posts together.

I honestly can't say when I'll be posting again because now that it's getting warmer and nicer out, I'd rather be doing stuff outside.

I hope I can get to something this weekend, but the days are filling up as I type.

Hope you all are having a good spring season. I'm so fired up about the upcoming new catty because that means that I'm going to be officially becoming an SU! demonstrator!

Thanks to all of you for your patience.

Elegant Bouquet

Last week I participated in a 10 4 $10 card making event. I haven't gotten my copies of the cards that were made plus I haven't had time to take a picture and write up directions for the card that I had the ladies make. Therefore, I'm going to post this card instead since it's been sitting around for some time now.

This card was exceptionally easy to put together. I used Rose Red CS for the base and attached a layer of Whisper White to it. I ran a piece of Raspberry Tart DSP through the Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder. Taking my sanding block, I rubbed over the embossed areas to remove some of the color and to expose the white core. This was attached to the card base.

I stamped the sentiment on to Whisper White with Rose Red ink and punched out with the Modern Label Punch. The Scalloped Oval was used to punch out Rose Red and a circle was punched out of Whisper White. The white circle was attached to the card, and the Thinking of You sentiment was attached to the scalloped oval and that was attached with dimensionals to the card front.

Super Simple!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Kind and Caring Thoughts for sentiment (Level 3 hostess)
Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Rose Red, Whisper White CS
Ink: Rose Red
Other: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, sanding block, scalloped oval, 1 3/8" circle, modern label punch

Not quite there yet, but I'm coming along!

Dear Stamping Friends,

I'm still getting over my terrible cold but at least I'm not doing as much coughing and my sinus pain is gone. Back about a week ago I was wondering why in the WORLD the Good Lord would put sinus passages into human heads. All mine were doing were causing me pain and trouble!

I was able to attend the Stampin' Up! Regional Convention last Friday without too much problem. I have a lot of swaps that I got and hope to have some of what I swapped available for viewing soon. It's just hard to concentrate on this stuff when it's hard to see.

Hope all of YOU are staying healthy!

SICK, SICK, SICK

Hello fellow stampers! The title has been my life this past week. I've been very sick with a cold. Major head and chest congestion. Hubby has been sick since the 24th. I just haven't been able to get anything posted. We were supposed to travel to see my Mom for the Easter holiday. Had to cancel that trip. I'm SO bummed!

Anyway, hope everyone has a Happy Easter holiday and I'll try to post next week if I'm feeling better.

Last of the Vogues

This is the last of the Vintage Vogue set, done in Bordering Blue. I didn't used to like this color because it looked so GRAY. But, it's certainly is growing on me and looks stunning paired with the right colors.

Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Bordering Blue, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Sage Vogue

Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Sage Shadow, Bravo Burgundy, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

More Vogues

OK stampers. I can't seem to figure out how to post more than one picture at a time, so I'm just going to put three in a row and get this over with. I'm sure you're tired of seeing them individually and would prefer that I move on to something else.

Not Quite Vintage Vogue
Recipe:
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue,
Card Stock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink: More Mustard, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Pixie Vintage Vogue

Hello stampers! I'm leaving town tomorrow for the weekend and wanted to post another Vintage Vogue card before I left. I'm working on some swaps for SU! regionals which are coming to Milwaukee in April so I'll get those posted later. I should just post the last ones of this group all together, but I'm not sure just how to do that, so will do them one at a time.

Again, the directions are the same as for the previous ones. I just had SO MUCH FUN using SU!'s Color Coach for these cards. I never in a million YEARS would have thought to put some of those colors together, but you know something? They work!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue,
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow, Pixie Pink, Very Vanilla
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Tempting Vintage Vogue

This uses the same directions as the previous card. You can tell from the picture, how the various colors are to be used.

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue,
Card Stock: Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Creamy Caramel, Really Rust, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Lavender Vintage Vogue

This uses the same directions as the previous card. You can tell from the picture, how the various colors are to be used.

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue,
Card Stock: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, Whisper White
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Cameo Vintage Vogue

This is the first of a series of cards I made using the Vintage Vogue stamp set. I got the idea for these cards here and then just took the Color Coach and began spinning the wheel. It has some interesting combinations which I was more than happy to try out. These would be GREAT for birthday cards, thinking of you cards, thank you cards, anytime you want to send something special to that special friend. I really liked how they all turned out. Hope you do too.

It's hard to see in the photo, but there's a design on the Apricot Appeal and Certainly Celery panels, using the Very Vintage jumbo wheel. Wheel the pattern on the Apricot Appeal base card with Apricot Appeal ink. Wheel the Certainly Celery mat with the same wheel and Certainly Celery ink. Stamp the Friends stamp and large flower on Whisper White CS. Cut out flower and friends image. Stamp smaller flower on Whisper White CS in Certainly Celery ink and cut out.
Mat Friends image to Certainly Celery CS.

Punch one side of Cameo Coral CS with Scallop Trim Border Punch. Wrap length of ribbon around and tie in bow. Adhere to Certainly Celery mat and adhere to card front. Attach Friends mat to front. Layer flower pieces with brad and attach to upper corner of card with dimensionals

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue
Card Stock: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, gold brad, dimensionals

Pink Valentine #2

OK, gotta get these posted before Valentine's Day is here and gone! I have to try to get mine out in the mail tomorrow. We're supposed to have a big show storm with 10-14" of snow by the time it's all over and I hope my mailman can get through! I think Wednesday is going to be more of a problem than Tuesday.

Anyway, here's the last of the Valentine cards. It's technique is pretty much the same as the previous embossed red card. So, here's the picture, directions and the recipe.

The Regal Rose sheet is sprayed with the Pearl Ex mist and then run through the embossing folder while still wet. This helps to make a more pronounced impression. Set aside to dry.

In the meantime, stamp the Valentine stamp from Holiday Best on a scrap of Shimmer paper and punch out with Wide Oval Punch.

Attach the Regal Rose to the base card of Real Red. Using the Scalloped Oval Punch, punch through both layers of CS in the lower right hand corner. Position the Valentine punchout behind the opening, and attach to the inside back of the card so that it's centered through the opening.

Wrap and tie a length of ribbon around the card. Use the Stickles on the centers of the flowers.

Recipe:
Stamps: Holiday Best
Paper: Shimmer Paper, Real Red CS, Regal Rose CS,
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Wide Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Frosted Lace Stickles, White Shimmer Mist made from 2 parts Pearl Ex pigment,1 part Gum Arabic, and water, mini spray bottle

Red Valentine #2

I love using our embossing folders! I think I got this idea online, but can't remember if I saw it in Splitcoast or someone's blog. If you see your card here, please let me know and I'll give proper credit.

I read somewhere where you could mix the Stampin' Up! shimmer paint with rubbing alcohol to make a shimmer mist. Since I couldn't find my rubbing alcohol, I did something a little different. I mixed 2 parts Pearl Ex pigment powder with 1 part Gum Arabic and mixed with water. Works just as well. The Real Red sheet is sprayed with the Pearl Ex mist and then run through the embossing folder while still wet. This helps to make a more pronounced impression. Set aside to dry. (by the way, this looks WAY better in real life!)

In the meantime, stamp the Valentine stamp from Holiday Best on a scrap of Shimmer paper and punch out with Wide Oval Punch.

Attach the Real Red to the base card of Regal Rose. Using the Scalloped Oval Punch, punch through both layers of CS in the upper right hand corner. Position the Valentine punchout behind the opening, and attach to the inside back of the card so that it's centered through the opening.

Wrap and tie a length of ribbon around the card.

Recipe:
Stamps: Holiday Best
Paper: Shimmer Paper, Real Red CS, Regal Rose CS,
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, Wide Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Gold Shimmer Mist. mini spray bottle

Pink Valentine #1

This card is the same as the red one except I used Pixie Pink. It's made exactly the same. How easy is that?

Recipe:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Raspberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper
Ink: Pixie Pink
Accessories: Full Heart Punch, Modern Label Punch, pink grosgrain ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

Red Valentine #1

I guess it's time for me to get with the program and post some seasonal cards. After all, Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away and you need time to make cards. This is one of the cards that I made up as a sample for a card group that I hosted last Sunday. There was only one lady there (the other one had to cancel) but we had fun, just the two of us and I got to make everything again too. This card turned out to be easier to make that I'd originally thought.

I started out with a strip of Whisper White card stock that I'd zipped through the Big Shot in a Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. Another strip of Whisper White was punched with the Eyelet border punch and attached to the back of the bottom of the polka dot piece. A length of red grosgrain ribbon tied with a faux bow was attached to cover up the juncture of the two white pieces, and this was attached to a base card of Real Red card stock.

Three hearts were punched out of Real Red Designer Series paper pack which was a level 1 hostess item in a previous catalog. These hearts were attached with dimensionals.

Happy Valentine's Day was stamped in Real Red ink on a scrap of Whisper White, punched out with the Modern Label punch and attached to the card front.

Recipe:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Real Red Designer Series Paper
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Full Heart Punch, Modern Label Punch, red grosgrain ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

To You from Me #2

The directions for this card are the same as the previous one except that I left off one of the mats on the base card.

Used Rose Red and Whisper White for base card, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red for sentiment, Raspberry Tart DSP for Top Note element. It's hard to see but I used a glitter brad with the Pima flowers. My brad was already glittered but I've heard that you can dip a brad in liquid adhesive and then glitter, or use Versamark ink and embossing powder to get a glazed look.

My Mom is a accomplished quilter so I had her in mind when I made these two cards.

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Best Yet
Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss,, Whisper White CS
Ink: Rose Red
Other: Top Note Die, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8" circle, scalloped circle, corner rounder punches, Pima Flowers, Glitter Brad, Rose Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

To You from Me Quilt

I realize that this has nothing to do with the New Year, or winter, or any season or theme that would be current. But, I like how bright and cheerful it is, plus I just think it looks neat. So, here are the details.

OK, starting from the top and working my way down. I stamped the sentiment from Best Yet on Whisper White in Riding Hood Red ink. It was punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch, attached to a Bashful Blue 1 3/8" circle which was then attached to a scalloped circle out of Riding Hood Red CS. The individual squares of Washington Apple Designer Series paper were attached to Whisper White and run through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die. I can't remember exactly what the size of the squares was because I've given away the card and I forgot to write it down. I think they were 1".

The card base is Riding Hood Red with a mat of Bashful Blue on top. The die cut piece was attached to a mat of Riding Hood Red CS that has the corners rounded. A strip of So Saffron grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around and taped to the back of the red piece. This was attached to the base card, and the "to You from me" element was attached with dimensionals. Pima flowers were attached together with a brad and attached with a glue dot.

I really like how this card turned out. My Mom is a quilter and I made this with her in mind. Actually, I sent this one to my sister, and sent the one that I'll post next, to my Mom. But, my Mom's quilting was my reason for making this card.

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Best Yet
Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red CS, Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Other: Top Note Die, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8" circle, scalloped circle, corner rounder punches, Pima Flowers, Brad, So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon

Checkin' In

I realize that I haven't posted something in a very long time. What with Christmas in there, plus being out of town, responsibilities at church as Financial Secretary (it's year end crunch), plus sinus issues that kept me in bed yesterday and makes most mornings VERY hard to me, it's been hard to keep up. I have some fun stuff to show but have to get it written up first. I made a really neat gift card holder out of a metal CD case but there was a LOT of work that went into it plus it has three surfaces that need a write up. So, stay tuned for that and in the meantime I'll see what else I can hunt up that I've already written up.