Baby Card for FRG

My husband is in the Army. A Stryker Brigade to be exact. For those of you wondering what a stryker is, its what I stamped in the card I made today. My FRG(family readiness group) learned I make cards and asked me to make some neutral baby cards to give out to the other girls in the battalion. I found this stryker stamp at a craft show on post and just had to have it. So this is what I made up as an example to show my FRG leader at todays meeting. Hopefully she likes it cause it was hard to think up a card designed around the stryker and still have it baby ordinated.

Stocking Name Tags

I bought two knitted stockings at Jo Anns and of course they have no names on them. So I made these two name tags for them. I used a snowflake die cut and rolled them out using chip board and green paper. Then stamped red snowflakes on them. I dabbed some white craft ink on the letters and covered them in glitter. I love glitter, its make any project so much better. Dont you just love the ridding hood ribbon??? Im going to have to order some more cause Ive been using it on everything! Thank god SU! offers more than 2 letters per letter on their chip board sheets or I wouldnt have been able to make my name in all the same style.

Origami Tree

Here is a CASE from iStamp. I just love her cards!! Super super easy to make but it really makes the card POP!

Decor Elements and Shadow Boxes

While I was at convention they demoed a shadow box using decor elements. The first picture is me trying to copy that and the second is a xmas version. I plan to add the super big picture of my boys that walmart gives you when you get the studio pkg. I am also going to make a Christmas countdown using decor elements as well. These were super easy to make. I got the shadow boxes at Michaels and got lucky that they were 50% off.

Ornament Exchange

I have really been enjoying my Big Shot. Here is an ornament I made using sheets of vinyl, filled with scrap ribbon. The second photo is the box/bag super sized to fit this big ornament. I increased the size but Idont recommend doing it ...it was a pain to work!!!

Trick or Treat Baggies

I made about 80 of these little baggies for my trick or treaters. I really broke in my Big Shot making these. The stamp set is from the Holiday Mini Catalog and the paper is Ghostly Greetings.

Diaper Cake

Here is the diaper cake I made for my upline Nicole. Whom had her baby this past Friday. Welcome baby Cloe!!!!!!

Sewing Machine

Well since I have sooo many pics from convention, I thought I would just share one everytime I post. So here's me in Twin Falls Idaho. We made a pit stop here both on the way to and from Utah. On the way there we saw people doing base jumping.

Next is a card I am making for a 100 card front swap. We are allowed to use only the new sets out of the catty and of course I picked the set that doesnt have any examples to be found. I knew the 1st time I ever saw this set that I wanted to take a piece of ribbon and having it sticking out the machine like its sewing it. So I started with that and went from there. Now I just got to make 99 more of them....by 9/13!!!

Recipe:
Stamps- Puns from the Past
Paper and Ink- Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Cho Chip
Accessories- Buttons, Satin Ribbon, Scallop Square Frame, Sewing Machine, Corner Punch

Been MIA...again

I know I know, Ive been neglecting my blog. Well, would you believe me if I told you its taken me this long to catch up on housework?? And I still havent cleaned my craft room and the boys room. Though I HAVE to clean my craft room today so I can make room for the huge order Im receiving tomorrow with all my NEW catty stuff!! YAY!!!!!! I actually havent dont any stamping since getting home..Im majorally going thru withdrawl and havent gotten to play with my big shot!! So next week Im going to get crackin and hofully have something cool to show you.

Im back!

OMG!! Convention was the best thing I have ever done to date. I cant put into words what an awesome experience it was. Like everything else portraying to Stampin' Up...you dont get it till you DO IT! I definitely recommend doing SU events even as a guest or..You can take advantage of the $99 starter kit promo thats starting on the 11th. I am offering an add promo just thru me when you buy the starter kit and I'll give you a free stamp set out of the new catty. Plus receive a special gift from my upline Nicole. Email me for more details and to get my special online number. This is an awesome deal!!! Carrying on..As soon as I walked thru the door Ive been cleaning and still not close to getting things back to normal. My house wasnt a complete disaster and I give create to my awesome friend Amy who watched the boys while I was away, but she wasnt there during the weekend and Im still amazed how big a mess my boys(including the big one) can make while Im away. So hopefully sometime soon I'll get a chance to sit down and download the about 1000 pics I took and post some. Most of you all have probably already heard about the cool announcements SU made at convention, Shelli's new blog So Shelli. Sneak peeks of the new Decor Elements coming in the winter mini, and announcing the totally awesome Big Shot or I like to say Mr Big Shot die cut machine. That will be available for purchase in Sept, so be sure to check back here since I will be offering a special offer with purchase of the Big Shot Starter Kit just thru me. I learned alot of things while at convention, one being..MAKE MORE SWAPS and more importantly SIGN UP for scheduled 3D swaps. Ill definitely need to start making swaps months before convention next year! I also kept seeing familiar faces, I saw alot of girls from blogs I visit. Mostly at the Awards Night. It was very cool to see the cash and stamp set awards people received for their achievements. The whole trip recharged my batteries not only as a demo but as a mom too. It was a much needed vacation. Well Im going to get back to cleaning and will get some convention pics up soon!!

Less than 24 hours till I head to Salt Lake City!!

24 hours from now Ill be on the road to Salt Lake City for convention. Im SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!! I'll be sure to post all my swaps I get when I get back and share all the juicy details of my trip. YAYAYAYAY!!! Till then... BYE!

Swap Cards

Ive been super busy whipping out cards like you wouldnt believe. Here's a slide show, showing what Ive done so far.

SwapShow

Sorry Ive been MIA!

My husband has been on block leave since the 19th till yesterday so we have been busy doing little day trips going to all the beauitful places here in WA. I had a list and we managed to cover everywhere except the Olympic National Forest. We went to Northwest Trek, a FABULOUS place to take your kids. Visited serveral waterfalls. We went to Ocean Shores to play at the Pacific beach and ended up getting our car stuck in the sand! LOL!! We went to Leavenworth and had some awesome german food and had a beer in the beer garden. They are doing major construction on the downtown so made things alot more difficult to get around with a stroller but still very cool to see. My favorite place was going to Mt St Helen's National Park. That was sooo cool!!! They have a couple really neat museums about the blast and the observitory was really cool to get that close to the volcano. We've still not gone and done the tourist stuff in Seattle, so we're planning on staying there for a weekend the next time DH has a long weekend. Right now Im beginning to work on my convention swap. My goal is to get 5 cards done a day. I'll post the first set of 10 cards I just finished soon.

Where do Stamps go when they RETIRE!!!

A good question....one place they could go is to your home! Here it is, the 2008 Retired Stamp List! So now is the time to get any of those stamps that are on your wish list before their gone for good. There are a couple sets that Im shocked is retiring and some that Im shocked are NOT. There was also an annoucement about a new product line SU! is offering...I wont go into detail but I'll give you a hint...it involves decorating your home...hmm Cant wait to get my hands on that!

Onesie Card and New Chair!

I have been wanting a giant bean bag chair for as long as I can remember. I have alot of fond memories sitting in my Mama Sue's chair as a child growing up. Now after moving here to WA, I went over to a friends house whom had one and asked where she got it. She pointed me to the LoveSac web site..but sorry over $500 is just TOO much. So I did some surfing and came across the ComfySack web site. Now these prices were much more realistic! Almost $300 less!! So I couldnt resist and finally ordered my very own giant bean bag!! Here's my son Donovan modeling the chair. I just LOVE IT!!!! Next is the famous onesie card I keep seeing everyone making. So I went to this blog, and finally made one myself. My version isnt anything special. I was pretty much just trying it out and seeing if I could do it. It's alot smaller than I thought it was but pictures have a way of decieving you. I got asked my one of my BFs to make some baby shower invites. Though Im not sure if I want to do this card for that. Its alot of work to do alot of cards for..if it was for my actual BF, I wouldnt even think twice about the work but its for her brother's gf so maybe I'll do something alittle simpler.

Present to cheer up my best friend.

My best friend is lately having boy problems. This past week worst of all. It just drives me insane times like this being on the other side of the country and not able to take her out and cheer her up. So I put together this care package for her. I filled a box with some stamping supplies, a captain jack sparrow puzzle, and this frame. In the frame is a poem that she loves and I made the card to go along with it. The poem reads: Girls are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. The boys dont want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that arent as good, but easy. So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right boy to come along, the one who's braze enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree to pick them.

Then I put- Never forget that you are amazing! ~Alana

I really hope it makes her feel better.

Wedding Annoucements

I had a friend tied the knot in April. She asked me to make her 20 odd wedding annoucements for her. I would make 5 one way then change it up, doing 20 of the same card will drive you insane!! LOL

Recipe:

Stamps- Always, Wonderful Words

Inks- Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Versamark

Paper- Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink Prints Design

Accessories- Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Wild Wasabi Double Stiched Ribbon

Father's Day card

Sorry its been so long. Just havent really gotten around to stamping. I have been cleaning and getting ready for a garage sale which I probably wont have now that the weather looks rainy this weekend. Here's the Father's Day Card I made for my husband. You can find the instructions here. Im also going to get a Cabela's gift card to put in the inside. I think this idea is the coolest!! Would be really good for a boy graduation card as well.

Been in a downer mood..

I have been in a depressing mood lately. I guess its finally getting to me not having any friends out here to hang with. Its gotten to the point where I dont want to do anything except sit and read. Im pretty much giving up trying so hard and still having noone who wants to hang out with me or at least return my calls. But anyways...here are some cards I made on Friday to have on display for the event I did Saturday. Most are cased from someone else but since most of the time when I see something I like. I just print if it to make later. So it'll be hard and time consuming to give credit where credit is deserved. Also there are simply too many cards to sit here and give out the recipes for. So if you see something you like and wanna know what I used to make it, leave a comment. Thanks!

Samples for Display

Making display cards

First, as I was checking my reports I noticed that I got promoted to Senior Asst. YAY!! So as a congrats gift my upline Nicole gave me this super cute note pad and book. Isnt it funny that I just used that same paper for my last card. LOL! Then since I am doing more vendor events I went over to her house yesterday and made some cards to have on display. I am going to be making quite a bit more today, will post tomorrow. And finally, I received a question from Tammy about my flashcards. As you can see in the picture I used a rotary cutter to cut the chip board. Note that now that I used it for chip board..I'll have to buy another one that is only for fabric. Its about 2 1/2 X 5 1/2. What I did was made a template for the inside cards and add some cm and cut the board, then used that board to cut the second piece. Its probably alot easier to just get the On Board Accents and use the pieces from that. Also it looks like they used the tag corner punch for the inside cards. Its alot of work, or mostly...it just takes alot of time. Im also going to put eyelets on the covers so it'll move smoothly and look nicer. Like I said in the other post...its not quite done yet. I hope that answer your question Tammy! Thanks for asking!

Color Inspiration #9

Sorry took me so long to get a new card up. Here's another Color Inspiration from Kristina's blog. I think I should do all my stamping at night when the boys are sleeping. No distractions...take my time, and peace and QUIET!!! I really love how it turned out!!! And Im sooo proud of myself too. I came up with the design all by myself with no casing what so ever!! YAY me!!

Recipe:

Stamps- Pun Fun

Ink- Tempting Turq, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron markers

Paper- Real Red Prints Design, East Coast Prep Design, So Saffron, Tempting Turq

Accessories- Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Well I had a very busy pleasant Mother's Day yesterday. In the morning, DH made breakfast for me....but I had to walk him thru the whole process. Who would have thought pancakes were so difficult! LOL! Then he took my oldest son to get some flowers..as you can see here. I just planted some lilies in the front of the house so I think thats why Donovan picked these. I just love lilies!! DH also helped him write his name on the card...sooo cute. They also got a balloon but it got a hole as soon as they got home...oh well, its the thought right?! Then we all went to a going away party for one of DH's buddies. It was at a beautiful lakeside park in post. Very pretty but was very windy. Donovan wanted to go fishing sooo bad. Well have to get him a fishing pole soon. Then we went to Target and Kohls for Mother's Day sales. Then DH was craving spagetti for dinner so we went to Dirty Dave's pizza and spagetti palor...it is very rare to get a nice meal for the 3(1/2) of us for only $20!!!! So over all it was a very nice Mother's Day.

Secret Pal Card

Here's the one of the cards I did for Secret Pal. I didnt take pics of the other ones I sent.

Recipe:

Stamps-Pun Fun

Ink-Stazon

Paper-Close to Cocoa, Fall Flowers Design

Accessories-Hodge Podge Brad, Blender pen, Cho Chip Ribbon from Mini, Sanding Block

ABC Flashcards

Here is the ABC flashcards I made last night. I only got to O, still outta of red paper. I pretty much copied page 157 in the SU catty with minor changes. I thinks its just sooo cute! Well I just got back from an event I did in Auburn, only 7 other vendors and hardly any people stopping by. But I got a good lead with one of the vendors and I got a free foot massage!!! YAY! So not a total waste of time. I wanted to make up a bunch of mother's day cards to sell but I dont have any SU mother's day stamps. Plus I had 1 day notice of the event so no time to get one...oh well..live and learn right?

Recipe:

Stamps- ABC Alphabet Lower, ABC Images, My ABC's wheel, Defining Alphabet

Inks- Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Versamark

Paper- Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Accessories- Wild Wasabi Double Stiched Ribbon, 3/4 Circle Punch, On Board Book Basics(small) <---I noticed later that On Board Accents has the right cover

200,000 Hits My Goal!!

One of my favorite blogs just hit over 200,000 hits!! WOW!!!! Thats totally my goal is to get that many hits. She is giving away some iCandy...maybe I'll win :). Check it out iSTAMP, I just love her site! I am working on ABC Flashcards right now, but I just ran outta real red paper. But luckily I have a box waiting for me at my upline's house that has...Real Red Paper!! I am doing an event tomorrow so my goal is to get it finished tonight to have on display tomorrow. Will post a pic of finished product soon!!! I was thinking of offering it as a class but ...wow...its alot of work so perhaps not.

Trying to Kill two Birds with one Stone.

Here is my attempt at Dawn's newest project(post it note holder) and doing Kristina's Color Challenge. I am NOT in love with this...but I gotta get my butt working on my MI swap...this month, weddings/anniverseries. Im sure I could whip out something better. My creative juices are NOT flowing so well lately.

Recipe:

Stamps- Garden Whimsy

Inks- Brillant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue

Paper- Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Brillant Blue

Accessories- Cho Chip Ribbon from Mini

Ok I take it back...

The part about not getting gifts on your birthday. My armywife friend Katie just showed up on my door step with a bday gift!!!!!! It was such a sweet surprise. She got me the movie 27 Dresses and CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES!!!!!!! Its actually funny that she got my that movie because I almost bought it yesterday but instead got the movie PS I love you...with Gerald Baker....yummm. Thanks again Katie!!

I turn 24 today!!

Today is my 24th birthday....YAY!!! Though after you turn 21, birthdays are not as exciting as before. You reach the age where you just get cards and no gifts...but you're also at the age where you start buying gifts for yourself!! This year I got myself a sewing machine...yes another hobby. I got a super deal on it so I couldnt pass it up. DH is excited about it, he has all these plans for things he wants me to make him. I did recieve gifts from my mom whom as a fellow stamper always gets me the best gifts. This year she got my the light cutter and a subscription to Martha Stewart's Living. YAY!!! Anyways...I didnt get to finish my star book for my mom yesterday. I was waiting for some recent pictures of my nephew from my SIL. I didnt get them till late yesterday so I just finished it today. So here's it is!! Note, you see my new sewing machine in the background :)!

You can find the intructions HERE. Its not perfect being my 1st time trying it. But it was alot easier to do than it appears. I used Summer Picnic Design Paper, Tart and Tangy stamp set, and I also used the retired set Fruity Phrases. I know my mom will just LOVE it, I used pictures of all her grandsons plus an ultrasound picture of her newest grandson Jacob...who is due to be born anyday now!!

Im going to Convention!!!!!

I registered this morning for Convention!!! I didnt wake up at 4am like I wanted to and my alarm clock aka the baby didnt wake up either. So DH woke me up at 8am when he came home for breakfast. So still half asleep I registered!!! Thank God it was so easy to do. Im going to be in Track 8 along with my uplines team. Im sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited to go!!!!! Now I just need to find a baby siter for the boys for the days Im gone while DH is at work.

House is clean, time to stamp!

I have just now finally got my house in order after being away in MI. Today I was busy working on my Mother's Day gift to my mom. Im just waiting for my SIL to email me some pictures and it'll be done. I got lazy this year and used already made cards for my other moms(step,gmas). I got to work on a manly bday card for my BIL. So hopfully tomorrow I'll have some projects to share with you!

SU! Starter Kit 20% Off!!!!!!

SU! is offering another awesome discount on the demonstrator starter kit!!! You get 20% off PLUS a free tin of Hodgepodge Hardware (p. 188) from the Spring-Summer Collection 2008 (a $27.95 value!).*note the hardware in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 is NOT include for this deal* Please email me if you're interested in taking advantage of this wonderful and limited time only deal, you got till the end of May to sign up! Also you can do it all online, just email me and I'll give you my special code so you can order and personalize your starter kit.

Matching colors with Design Paper

Coordinating Colors for Stampin’ Up!’s Designer Series Papers:
Azure: Brilliant Blue, Very Vanilla
Bali Breeze: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Taken with Teal
Berry Bliss: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate
Cutie Pie: Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, So Saffron
East Coast Prep: More Mustard, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Fall Flowers: Old Olive, Really Rust, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red
Flowers for You: Certainly Celery, Lovely Lilac, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise
Ginger Blossom: Cameo Coral, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, River Rock
Jersey Shore: Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi
Le Jardin: Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, River Rock, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Notebook: Kraft, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla
Olive Press: Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Porcelain Prints: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Wild Wasabi
Prints: Monochromatic papers available in Almost Amethyst, Always Artichoke, Blue Bayou, Brilliant Blue, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Groovy Guava, Lovely Lilac, More Mustard, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, River Rock, Rose Red, So Saffron, Soft Sky, Tempting Turquoise
Spring Break: Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky
Spring Fling: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow, So Saffron
Spring Silhouettes: Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi
Western Sky: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Ruby Red, Soft Sky

And in the Occasions Mini:

Afternoon Tea: Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi
Summer Picnic: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

I found this on one of my blogs I like to visit. Its funny that I just now found this without actually searching for it because just yesterday I was saying to myself "I need to find a list of colors for the designer paper" and whala one finds me. LOL!

Playing with Garden Whimsy

Here are 3 cards I made today playing with my new stamp set, Garden Whimsy. Its not my best work but pretty good for coming up with my own design and not casing someone else. I think I got too many projects going on right now. Im working on a quilt, this is my newest hobby and am still learning. I am knitting some dish clothes. Im sick of using paper towels to clean up Riley after he eats, so I thought I make a bunch of dish clothes and use those instead. Im also in the process of thoroughly cleaning the house and for reasons unknown to me. You always make a bigger mess while in the process of organizing and cleaning. But on a good note, I got my rebate check in the bank today!!!!!!!!!! A part of me wants to just put it towards bills but we're getting it to boast the economy right?? So Im thinking of getting an entertainment center. Our current one is just an end table and I am soooo tired of fighting with Riley to not get the cords. I would like to get a new bedroom set but I doubt I could get what I want for only $1000. So a nice entertainment center and probably let the husband buy some ammo.

Back from MI

Ok so I havent be able to get online while in MI as much as I would like to and I didnt take as many pictures that I wanted to. But now Im home and totally pooped!! And on top of having to unpack, do laundry...my husband did not do one OUNCE of cleaning while I was gone so I got two weeks worth of filth in my house. I am too tired to clean but its hard to relax when the house is a mess!! MEN!!

1st here's a pic of Riley eating his cake at his 1st birthday party. Turns out I brought the beautiful weather with me to MI, it was absolutely beautiful the whole time I was there and was snowing in WA!! And now Im home and looks like MI is going to get snow on Monday...sorry guys. The only stamping related thing I did while home was the pinwheel class I did for my mom's card swap club. I was too busy to take pictures but I felt we had alot fun, even though we ran into a problem trying to figure out how to get the pinwheel to spin!! I'll have to make a call to SU! support.

Before I lefted for MI I was putting in an order for a workshop I demoed and I kept noticing this SAB reward link in my order page. I thought I didnt earn anything since I did not recruit and only sold what I bought for myself but I guess the big order I put in was enough to earn me a free stamp set!!! YAY!! So I ordered Garden Whimsey, a set Ive been eyeing for a while. But it came after I lefted but now Im home and cant wait to play with it.

Busy Busy Busy

I have been busy getting ready to go home to MI for a while. I have been making cards but mostly for my secret pal so I dont want to post them till thats over. I'll try to post pics while Im in MI. Im sure I'll still be making cards, sorta hard not to do around my mom! LOL!

Color Challenge #4

Here is a card I made for kwerner's Color Challenge.

Recipe:

Stamp- Fun and Fast Notes

Paper- Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise, Fall Flowers Design Paper

Inks- Cho Chip, Tempting Turq markers

Accessories-Cho Chip wide ribbon, blender pen.

Baby Announcements

My sister in law Karin is due to give birth to her second child in June. Since its her second child, their isnt too much to get her for baby gifts. So I knitted her a cute baby blanket and made these baby announcement cards. I cased the card from Taylored Expressions. I changed it up a bit. My card is 3x6 card with Blue Bayou, the design paper is paper my mother got at Sam's club for me for christmas. A huge stack of 12x12's for only $20!!! What a deal. The baby is from Tag Time(retired) and I used Jiffy font for the accounce text. Since the baby isnt born yet, I made a template inside one of the cards so she can print out all the info onto cardstock once the baby is born. She is pretty sure its a boy but the ultrasound tech wasnt so sure. Though if it does turn out to be a girl, it took me no time to whip out 15 of these, I'll just change the color to pink! And my baby blanket is MSU green and white so no worries there.

Projects from this weekend

Here is what I made this weekend. I am doing a card tin class sunday and was messing around with some designs. I used the summer picnic design paper. It isnt finished, but I wanted to post what I started anyways. The card is cased from Dawn's Stamping Thoughts, you can find the tutorial here. For my card I used Pun Fun, Full of Life, and the flower from Enjoy Every Moment. The paper is Summer Picnic and Real Red.