With Sympathy

Every blog I read I see the same thing...everyone dislikes making sympathy cards.  Not that they are any harder to make but the purpose behind them.  This last week my husband's uncle passed.  It was expected but his loss will be sincerely noticed by many.  Terry was one of 5 siblings and with extended family I needed to make quite a few cards and these came together very easily.  The banners and spritzing were inspired by Dawn's card.  I used the stamp set Nature Walk.  The DSP is Comfort Cafe and the paper is Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and very Vanilla.  I used soft suede ink for the bird and images on the First Edition DSP.  I used the color spritzer and soft suede marker for the distressing.  The sentiment is from teeny tiny wishes in Early Espresso.  The button is a naturals designer button (page 176 of the IB & C) and tied with linen thread.

Thanks for looking I hope you might use this inspiration to make up a card to have on hand when you need one.  The layout could be reworked with different colors or it suited for Father's Day or a bird enthusiast. That is why I chose this set instead of Thoughts & Prayers as Uncle Terry and his wife loved to watch hummingbirds and had TONS of feeders to be able to help the birds on their annual migration.  It was amazing to see how many hummingbirds visited them.

SAB Hop Day 4

Well here we are at Friday and the last day of our blog hop.  I hope you've had as much fun as we have had sharing these projects.  Again if you are hopping in order you've arrived here from Jenny's.  I hope you might join us all on a regular basis by becoming a follower.

My project today is a printer's tray decorated for Valentine's Day/Love.  Yes that little guy has the key to my heart and even though these pictures were taken in November the red in his sweater is picked up in the color combo of real red, pool party and primrose petal.  I used the new Hearts a Flutter bundle (stamp set and framelits) and the new pinwheel sizzlit die in the spring catalog.  The Sale-a-bration item is the Petite Pretties and Petite Curly Label punch.
I had one comment this week asking about the size of the new punch ...yes it is a good bit smaller than the regular curly label punch.
The key trinket I purchased recently from the Clearance rack.  The banners are on Pool Party Bakers Twine.  The DSP is More Amore.  The lower left pannel is my first attempt at the Faux Chalkboard technique.  I think it is cute....how about you?  Remember playing tic-tac-toe on the chalkboard.  The love you much sentiment is retired but perfect for this project.
This is the perfect time to go through your supplies and re-stock or get some new toys.  Slae-a-bration runs now through March 22nd.  For every $50 spent you earn one free item.  Spend $100 get 2.  There is even digital content for those of you who like to do digital scrapbooking.
Thanks so much for looking.  Don't Forget to visit Tamara's next.  Stay tuned for more projects

Sale-A-Bration Hop Day # 3

Welcome back.  I have THREE projects to show you today for day #3.  One project uses a retired set but it is a set I NEVER want to part with.  The other card uses what came in my mailbox yesterday...yeah new toys.  I hope you've arrived here form Jenny's but if you've got lost along the way check out my post on Monday to see a direct link to each of us.
Now onto the projects:

This card is 4 x4...my favorite size and an easel card.  The base is Primrose Petals cut out of the scallop square die.  I used the More AMore DSP and the stamp set For the Birds.  I paper pieced the wagon with DSP and added the Hearts Embosslits hearts to fill the wagon.  A little glitter and some Pool Party Bakers Twine to help hold the sentiment from the retired set Loads of Love.  The easel stays open because of the extra DSP strip on the base and some dimensionals on the left over hearts.

To go with it is this clear container made from a recycled SU button container and our window sheets.  Here is a video if you'd like to see an example of how to put one together.  I found it really much easier than in the video.

Then this is my SAB project for today.  I got the Feeling Sentimental set in the mail last night and inked it up this morning.  The DSP is Fan Fair and the color combo is Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler Very Vanilla and soft suede.  I also added the spotch stamp from French Foliage because I goofed and had an extra ink mark but I hope if I hadn't told you that you would not have noticed.

This is my tribute to a city/country I hope to visit while we are overseas and also my new favorite TV show (yes I'm late to the party) Downton Abbey.

I hope you've enjoyed today's projects.  Now hop on over to Tamara's and don't forget to come back tomorrow for our final day of the hop.

Sale-A-Bration blog hop day 2

Welcome back or welcome from Jenny's.  If you've lost your way please check my post on Monday for a complete list of the Glitter Queens who are sharing their work with you this time.
Today I have a great project for a friend who is sick or just going through some tough or teary times.  I always carry an extra pack of these little Kleenex with me when I go to a funeral to give to them in the receiving line.  From the news I can see that the flu is bad in the states so if you have a friend or co-worker who is ill this is a perfect thing to cheer them up.
I love when another company does the work for me and Kleenex has done it for me this time.  Matching the colors and patterns that SU knew were going to be trendy.  I used Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit CS and cut a piece 4 1/2 by 7 1/4.  Then using the newest embossing folders...the hexagon one is from Sale-a-bration.  It is called Vine Street.  If you want this folder it is FREE when you place a $50 order.
This is the best time to buy things and it was during Sal-A-Bration in 2004 that I made my first SU purchase.  I've been having tons of fun ever since.
Score the cardstock on the long side at  2 3/8, 3 1/4, 5 5/8, and 6 1/4.  Emboss and seal it up with red line tape.  Tie some ribbon around your package of tissues to help the person pull it out of the sleeve and decorate.
I used the stamp sets Nature Walk and For the Birds.
I hope these inspire you to help make someone's day.

Now on to Tamara's.  Don't forget to check back tomorrow and thanks to everyone for their sweet comments on yesterday's post.  I'm so excited to have hit the over 30,000 page views during yesterday's post.  Just click on any photo to see it bigger and let me know if you have any questions.

See you tomorrow

Welcome to our hop!

If you are hopping along from the beginning you've arrived here from Jenny's blog.  My mom just ordered that Swallowtail stamp and I know she is excited to ink it up and create a beautiful card link Jenny's.

My projects today feature the Pretty Petites set and matching Tiny Curly Label punch.  What can I say I am hooked if a set and a punch go together.  Both cards are 3 x 3 which is a great size for this stamp set and punch.  The base is crumb cake and the punch is in real red and pool party.  I used the Fashionable hearts embosslits to make the hearts and added glitter of course (for Dawn).  Just click on the image to see the card larger. The bottom right position is from the stamp set and I stamped it once in Pool Party and then again in real red.  I cut the inner circle out with the 1/2" circle punch and popped it up on a part of a dimensional.
Without the glitter this would be great for a guy.  In fact that little red mailbox is out at our house the week of Valentine's Day and my husband knows to check it for little notes and goodies.

Next is a card inspired by Mary Fish.  Check out her blog for card dimensions.  The little curly label is what helps hod this Valentine shut.  I am loving the More Amore DSP.  What a great color combo and you'll be seeing more of this paper later this week.  The inside of the card is a greeting form Tenny Tiny Wishes.

Last is just a fun photo...how would you like to open your mailbox and have this cute punch and card waiting for you....well you sure can.  Sale-A-Bration starts today January 22.  For every $50 spent (before tax and shipping & handling) you earn a free product.  You can shop by yourself or get a group together.  Orders placed through me on my blog (the shop 24/7 button) come straight to your door.  If you need any help please email me or leave me a comment.  I hope you like what you've seen today-leave me a comment to let me know and don't forget to come back tomorrow for my ideas from all of us.

Now head on over to Tamara's to see what she has for you today.

If you've lost a step along the way I have a whole list of the participants on yesterday's post.

Thanks for looking!

Stay tuned...

No project for today just a note to let you know to come back tomorrow Tuesday the 22nd for a Glitter Queens blog hop.  We are throwing a hopping good party to celebrate Sale-a-bration.  It's a holiday in SU! world where you get all the presents.  My fellow queens and I have been hard at work but if you'd like a peek at their other wonderful creations visit their blogs a little early.
We'll start off our hop-a-long with our fearless leader Dawn who is such a great source of inspiration and support to all of us.  After you visit with her please stop by Dee's.  Dee makes great videos and is the leader of the hop this time (thanks for all the behind the scenes work).  Next up is Bridgett and I always look forward to seeing her beautiful cards and creations.  Then your next hop stop is the place where everything is bigger...Texas with Jenny.  Jenny has a great eye for design and even has the time to quilt!  You'll visit me next and then on over to Tamara who is also one of my FB friends...check out her French Foliage card I know I'll be CASEing that one.  Onto Cely next...wish we could visit her in person in our 50th state...as I look out the window at 4" of snow.  The caboose this time is Jan...her blog bear makes me want to hug it :)
Well that's the group....I don't know if I'm more excited to see their work or have you see what I've been up to...be sure to come back tomorrow!

 

Dawn Griffith http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.net

 Dee Slater http://createwithdee.typepad.com 

Bridgett Owens http://stampingwithbridgett.blogspot.com

Jennifer Kay http://txjennywren.blogspot.com 

De Williamson http://theplainsstamper.blogspot.com

Tamera Gadberry http://papercraftingstamper.blogspot.com

Cely Havens http://hawaiipaperparty.blogspot.com

Jan Mougel http://bearycreativecrafts.blogspot.com/

Wish big

Here is another birthday card I made for a January birthday of a special guy turning 2!  Happy Birthday Max.  If you have visited my other/first blog you saw the baby blanket I made for this young man who is about to become a big brother in a few months...need to start working on another blanket I guess.  I love making punch art and this Elmo is perfect for a little boy's birthday.  It goes with the real red and tempting turquoise in the DSP from last year called Big Top Birthday.  The sentiment came from the single set you could order a while back but i think the response was good enough and SU will continue to offer this periodically.
In other great news Sale-a-bration starts soon (January 22) which is a favorite time of year on the SU calendar.  For every $50 spent (before tax and s&h) you earn one free item.  There are some really cute sets which I hope you have seen either in the brochure or on the SU website.

To celebrate this event the Glitter Queens are organizing a blog hop for January 22-25 so stay tuned for more info on that.

Candy Birthday Card

I think I've said before that one of the great things about being a Stampin' Up! demo is a website where we post our cards and idea.  The idea for this card came from a demonstrator in Germany.  So since we're in Germany I thought I'd give it a try.  Check out this post for directions.  The measurements are in centimeters but just flip a ruler over and you should be good.  This card is for my FIL so I think it is a good masculine card.  The sentiment comes from Curly Cute and is heat embossed in black.  The DSP is from Summer Smooches.  The box opens up for the candy to come out.  Thanks for looking.  Check back soon I have a cute kid card to show you and I'm in the final phase of a re-do of my craft space.  Have a good weekend.

Not totally Stampin' Up! but...

One benefit of having a child with a birthday close to Christmas is that I can usually get away with one thank you note for both birthday and holiday gifts.   This year I made 2 thank yous one that is 80% SU and the other is 60%.  My non SU items are the airplane scrapbook paper and both feature some Quickcutz dies I bought in the clearance section at HL.  I've had the ice cream one for a long time and this is the first time I've used it.  This is my favorite size for cards lately 4 x 4 (actually this one is 3 3/4 square).  I used mostly the 2011-2013 in colors for the ice cream one with Sweet Shop designer series paper.  The planes varied in color the body of the plane matching the base scallop card.

The sentiment is from Storybook friends the other is from Itty Bitty Banners but in German.  I hope most of my relatives/friends know that Danke means thank you.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me or leave a comment.

Happy New Year

Happy 2013!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year holiday.  We enjoyed lots of family time but suffered through a nasty head cold.  School is back in for the little guy and we are getting back into a routine.  I sure have been in my craft room and have a few things to show you over the next few days.  In the new year I have a few friends expecting new babies and my first project is a hat and card.  Below is the inspiration for my project...the bedding for the new little one.

Here is the hat.  I have used the pattern from this blog for all the baby hats I make...and I make a lot of hats. this one is for a baby girl so I added a flower.

And here is the card to go with it.

The base is Daffodil Delight embossed with the chevron folder.  Then a layer of basic grey (quickly becoming a new favorite color of mine) and a layer of basic grey DSP.  Some ribbon and some buttons finish the embellishments and the stamped images are from the new Spring Catalog.  The set is called That's the Ticket.

I hope you've enjoyed this project.  I could easily see this card as a gender neutral baby card.  Oh and before you get jealous of my ribbon and DSP stash I have a secret for you....product shares.  I totally take advantage of when other demos offer product shares it is a great way to sample new things or just have a little bit of everything...come on who doesn't want it all.  Right now I know of four demos having product shares for US folks plus each of these ladies have great blogs.  Check out Erica, Sarah, Angie or Patty.

later!