TX JENNYWREN'S NEST

SWEET SHOPPE CARDS - OCCASIONS MINI

2012-02-09T10:31:00.002-06:00

Good morning! How are all the stampers out there? I am fine - it feels like spring in my part of Texas. The birds are all chirping, the wildflowers are starting to bloom and it is a cool crisp morning. LOVE IT!

This week I had stamp club and we had a ball. We ALL decided that we LOVE the SWEET SHOPPE SUITE in the Occasions Mini. We used the designer stickers on page 32, the specialty designer series paper on page 33, and the fun Jelly Bean Brads on page 35. Oh and also the new In Color baker's twine on page 35 as well. Isn't it GREAT how all the items coordinate so perfectly by subject AND colors?

Here's the first card:

This card has a base of Island Indigo. The Sweet Shop speciality designer paper is so fun - this one we chose has lollipops and candies on it. I layered Calypso Coral underneath it and love how those colors now pop on the dsp. The image on the left are the stickers layered with lucky limeage and the image on the right is from the Birthday Bakery stamp set layered also with lucky limeage. There you see the bakers twine underneath one of the Jelly Bean Brads. Because it was such a simple card, I decided to put a little tab sticking out from underneath the large panel and made it out of pool party with a shadow of lucky limeade. There you have it. Simple and a good way to start the night out slowly to get into the "mood".

Now we are getting our heart rate up with this adorable cupcake card., We used the cupcake builder punch on top of the extra large scallop punch in calypso coral with just a hint of the pool party shadow popping up on the top right. The cupcake has dazling diamonds on the frosting and a heat embossed cherry in Cherry Cobbler (what else!). Both the base of the card and the baker's twine is Pool Party. The layers are Soft Suede and Calypso Coral. Another bit of the Sweet Shop SDSP, this time the cupcake side of the paper, and we scalloped off the additional cupcakes to leave only one row. We used a small circle punch to make these scallops. I thought it went well with the scallops underneath the cupcake. Inside is another Jelly Bean Brad, this time the cupcake one to match this paper.

The final lap is this ADORABLE AWNING CARD (thanks for the idea, Diana Gibbs!) Wisteria Wonder and white is all that was needed to make this special card. The awning was punched with the word window punch and the bottom panel was both punched at the top with one of our border punches and then put through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder. LOVE IT. The pastries are from the Birthday Bakery stamp set and then colored with chalk to keep that pastel feeling. Then of course a little bit of BLING with dazzling Diamonds here and there on the cakes. Again, inside is another Jelly Bean Brad, this time the Wisteria Wonder heart one. ISN'T THIS CARD ADORABLE!!

Hope you enjoyed our cards from Card Club this week. Get going on some fun cards of your own today and get some INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!!

ANOTHER VALENTINE - THIS ONE FOR FRIDAY MASHUP #44

2012-02-04T23:44:00.001-06:00

I LOVE this card. The colors, the shape, the shine on the hearts...everything about it.

Red and Rose or pink - they are so pretty together for Valentine's Day, aren't they? I especially like the green as the accent color. I chose the polka dot ribbon to go with the polka dot DSP.

What do you think of this card? It is last year's stamp set but I just love this set and can't part with it.

Thanks for looking. See other cards for Friday Mashup @44 HERE.

Here's to inky fingers y'all

FREE, TOTALLY COMPLETELY FREE...

2012-02-01T20:05:00.002-06:00

FOR 30 DAYS YOU CAN ENJOY USING THE MY DIGITAL SOFTWARE (MDS) FREE!! YOU GET THE TRIAL DOWNLOAD OF THE SOFTWARE PLUS FREE USE OF $50 WORTH OF EXCLUSIVE ARTWORK THAT COMES WITH MDS EXPRESS.

GO TO MY ONLINE STORE BY CLICKING THE ORDER 24/7 NOW ON THIS WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE TRIAL OF THE SOFTWARE. THE ITEM NUMBER TO ADD TO YOUR ORDER IS #129600. You don't have to buy anything but it does have to be an "order" by adding this FREE item and then when you checkout it will allow you to download this free item. That's it!!

YOU CAN ALSO SEE OTHER IDEAS, DOWNLOADS YOU CAN PURCHASE, INFO, ETC. ON:

MYDIGITALSTUDIO.NET

I, TOO, AM TRYING OUT THIS PROGRAM FOR SCRAPBOOKING, PHOTO BOOKS, INVITATIONS, CARDS, ETC TO SEE IF I WANT TO PURCHASE IT LATER ON AS WELL.

LET'S COMPARE NOTES ON WHAT WE LIKE, WHAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, ETC. AND SEE HOW WE DO, OK?!!

WAY TO GO STAMPIN' UP!! YOU HAVE OUTDOWN YOURSELF AGAIN!! YIPPEE!!

More quilt blocks finished to show you

2012-01-30T17:05:00.000-06:00

I am enjoying the stretch it takes to do these pieced quilt blocks. I don't know how it will all come together at the end because I am not as accurate as those with experience, but we shall see.

I REALLY like this turquoise and black block. I think it is sharp and grabs your attention. Unfortunately, if you look closely my seems are slightly off. Man, I am so careful and try so hard to get them perfect, yet they still come out kitty-whampus. What am I doing wrong? Can anyone help me?

This is a "tamer" color than some of the others. There will be more of these tamer colors.

Here are all the blocks together so far. See how the turquoise one is like 4 blocks together? Isn't that interesting??!! It all adds to the suspense for me to see what happens next...

Stay tuned.

P.S. Don't forget, if you want to place an order and get a FREE SAB item PLUS free shipping from me, you have one more week to do so. Don't wait and miss this free shipping from me. Contact me soon, ok?

Inky fingers y'all and straight seams too!!

NEWS RELEASED AT LEADERSHIP

2012-01-26T19:55:00.001-06:00

Upcoming Catalog Changes and Simply Scored Triangle Wedge coming soon!

Hi Everyone! Some Stampin' UP! news was announced at Leadership this past week and I wanted to keep you all in the know!

Changes in the Catalog and Mini Catalogs.In a nutshell, starting June 1, 2012, Stampin' Up! will release one annual catalog, comparable to (but smaller than) the current Idea Book & Catalog, and two seasonal catalogs, comparable to (but larger than) the current mini catalogs.

Annual Catalog

The annual catalog will run from June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013.
The annual catalog will be reduced from over 240 pages in the current Idea Book & Catalog to 208 pages.
The annual catalog will be printed on lighter-weight paper.
While it will still be packed full of ideas, it will not be sold as an item for purchase but rather like any other handout catalog.

Seasonal Catalogs

The Occasions, Summer, and Holiday Mini Catalogs will be replaced by two seasonal catalogs called the Holiday Catalog and the Spring Catalog.
- The first Holiday Catalog will run from August 1, 2012 through the beginning of January, 2013
- The first Spring Catalog will run from the beginning of January, 2013 through May 31, 2013.

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, developed exclusively for Stampin' Up! This exciting addition to our Simply Scored line of products is perfect for scoring envelopes, boxes, and more. The Diagonal Plate will be available beginning March 1. Look for details coming soon!

FABRIC OR PAPER?

2012-01-25T14:51:00.001-06:00

Do I REALLY need to choose between fabric or paper when I am feeling creative? I DON"T THINK SO!! Recently fabric has been whispering to me to come touch it and create with it - so I AM!!

Besides the folded fabric heart I posted a few days ago (scroll down to see older postings), I am now in the first stages of a quilting bee online!! We are given 5 quilt block patterns to create every two weeks. So far I have 4 blocks done so I am only 6 blocks behind because Feb 1st comes 5 more blocks to create.

Want to see what I have done so far? Ok, here goes. (For those of you Strict Paper creators, you can do the same thing with designer paper.)

Right out of the chute is HAND APPLIQUE. OUCH...I am not good at that at all. But I was a brave gal and did it.

I really like this one a lot. As you can see, I am going scrappy with the colors and my background color is black. WHAT YOU SCREAM - - BLACK??

Yes I chose black as my background color because I am making this for my grandson Collin. He is the one who does not have a quilt by Nannie yet so I am making this for a gift for next year for him. (SHHH - it is a surprize!!)

Third block:

This half square triangle block was a fun one to make

I am really liking these colors together so far. Lots more fun colors and patterns coming up in more blocks.

The blocks will be different sizes. It is a mystery quilt because we don't know how it will go together until they tell us by units. It is a fun idea and I am really enjoying it.

If YOU are interested in doing this Just Take Two Quilting Bee, hurry and get on the website and download the first 5 blocks because they will be going away by Feb 1st.
www.justtakes2.com

ANOTHER PIG REPORT AND sale a bration starting tomorrow!!!

2012-01-23T16:36:00.000-06:00

GRANDSON, KYLE HAS BEEN SHOWING HIS YORK PIG (Wilson) at prospect shows to get experience and to train Wilson what to do in the ring. He weighed in at 101 lbs!! He is growing at a great rate! Plus his muscles are looking good!! Here is the latest photo of Kyle with Milton in the ring. Kyle has to remind Milton with the lead stick to keep his head up. That makes his posture correct for the judge to see his muscles and build.

This photo is actually 2 weeks ago. It was a very cold morning in the ring for both Kyle and Wilson and of course for DAD too!!

The "BOYS" looking good. Look how Kyle has Wilson's head up nicely. Great job!!

Spencer is enjoying this experience with Kyle, too. Hard work but fun too. Love you guys!!

Sorry no cards to show you. My camera is not working and all of them were fuzzy. As soon as hubby takes a look at it and fixes it, I will show you what we made last week at our valentine's class.

SALE-A-BRATION STARTS TOMORROW. WOO HOO. WHAT IS IT? YOU GET A FREE STAMP SET OR OTHER ITEM FROM THE SPECIAL CATALOG WITH EVERY $50 ORDER. AND IF YOU ORDER DIRECTLY THROUGH ME, I WILL PAY YOUR SHIPPING TOO!! JUST EMAIL OR TELEPHONE ME AND I WILL SUBMIT YOUR ORDER AND PAY THE SHIPPING COST. WHAT A DEAL@!@@ HURRY, THIS SPECIAL FREE SHIPPING IS ONLY THROUGH ME AND IS ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME. DON'T WAIT TOO LONG TO ORDER!!

Keep crafting and having fun!!

QUILTED VALENTINE HEART

2012-01-21T12:09:00.001-06:00

It is made from fabrics, but it is NOT sewn. I started with a 3" circle of fabric, then folded it in half and in half again. Put a little Tacky glue to hold it folded and starded layering it around. In the middle are 4 pieces, then around with 8 pieces, then so on all the way out until it is as big as you want it.

I used my BIG SHOT and one of my dies to cut out all the pieces, then folded and glued them into a heart shape. Then die cut the scalloped heart and the underneath heart shape before I framed it.

CUTE LITTLE BOX OF THANK YOU CARDS

2012-01-16T16:01:00.001-06:00

I HAVE BEEN BUSY THIS WEEKEND IN MY CRAFT ROOM. I MADE THIS DARLING BOX OF 3 X 3 THANK YOU CARDS IN PEACH PARFAIT AND PEACH PARFAIT DSP. IT IS FOR THE FRIDAY MASHUP! STOP ON OVER TO SEE THEM AND WHAT THEIR OTHER PARTICPANTS HAVE MADE.

Here is a top view of the box. Made with card stock and covered with DSP.

I love how cute this 3 x 3 cards are. Perfect size to attach to a home made goodie as a special "thank you" or "best friends" gift.

I would love to know what you think of this cute little gift of cards. It was easy to make and I enjoyed the process. I am giving this to my mystery "hostess" at my valentine's candy hearts class this week. One lucky lady will be the HOSTESS of this class and receive the $25 of FREE merchandise.

PIGGY TALES/TAILS

2012-01-13T09:49:00.001-06:00

My grandson, Kyle, has another FFA project PIG this year. It is a pink pig, which is a Yorkshire Pig. He named him Wilson. Remember the movie: "W-I-L-S-O-N." ?? Which movie does that quote come from, do you know? The first one to answer that question will get a card mailed to them that I have made.

Anyhow, it is so fun to see photos of Wilson and Kyle and to learn what Kyle has been doing with the pig. He took Wilson to a Prospect Show last weekend and Wilson won 2nd place. Here is a photo of Wilson and Kyle:

They bought Wilson on Dec 3rd and he was small enough to fit into a large dog carrier. Here they are arriving home from the farm.

Wilson got a special reward for winning the Prospect Show - bubble gum. His friend in the pen next to him is a Duroc pig - brown with floppy ears.

Here is Kyle with his ribbon. This boy is on some kind of special feed himself because he has grown so TALL!!

Kyle is talking Wilson back into his food pen to get his dinner for the night.

Pigs are really quite smart. At least the two that Kyle has owned are. They learn quickly and remember well. Some have asked what are the green things in his ears. This means he has been tagged for a certain show. They can only be shown in one show so the owners have to decide which one will it be and then they are taken and weighed in, get a picture drawn of the shape of his ear and even a nose print is made of the pig. Then they are given a number and these ear tags are put on them. This keeps everything "legal" so that no one will substitute a different pig at the show. Quite sophisticated, I think. And fashionable too@!! ha

A full view so you can see how much he has grown in just a little over a month!! He weighed in at the Prospect Show at 73 pounds!~! He was around 30 last month when they purchased him. In 5 months of ownership they can grow to about 300 lbs!! But they have to have muscle so they must be exercised every day. IF they don't develop muscle, the judge will disqualify them from the show.

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me and my family and my grandson's FFA Pig.

VALENTINE FUN

2012-01-09T10:30:00.000-06:00

Holidays are so fun to celebrate, aren't they? I love HEARTS so I LOVE Valentine's Day. I love wooden hearts, metal hearts, JEWELRY HEARTS (hint, hint) ha!! I have a few fun items to share with you that you could use for Valentines.

I made this CUTE candy holder out of the scallop square die and my BIG SHOT. Isn't it adorable?? This paper is in the clearance rack so I have lots to get me through all the valentine's workshops and classes I have planned. I am going to use whatever is leftover for my mother's day classes as well.

Here is a side view so you can see how I just put a small strip of paper between the two die cuts to make the cute candy gift holder. I also used the scalloped heart embosslit and the large heart punch for the deco on the outside. LOVE IT.

I made this for a friend and filled with jelly bellies. It is made with the mini milk carton die and my BIG SHOT. (see a pattern here about how versatile the BIG SHOT is for all occasions??!!) You can decorate your cartons anyway you like. I used some fine glitter on the heart and used a cute stamp on the other one. T

This is a one-sided holder that only holds two cartons. I usually make a double one that holds four cartons. But this one is sweet and was quick to make up for my friend. I used glimmer brads to hold the tops closed.

This is a die you MUST GET. I LOVE my mini milk carton die the best of all my dies I own. Wait till you see my larger carton I made with the same die next time.!!

go have some fun and get some INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!!

NEW OCCASIONS MINI

2012-01-04T09:35:00.000-06:00

IT'S HERE!! IT'S HERE!! THE NEW OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG IS NOW ACTIVE.

Occasions Mini

Stampin' Supplies Used

I have a special GIFT for the first stamper to host a workshop in January. It is a stamp set from the mini and it will be FREE in addition to all the other lovely hostess benefits you get.

Inky Fingers Y'all!!

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END.......{SNIFF}

2012-01-03T08:23:00.001-06:00

IT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT? IT SEEMS ALL GOOD THINGS CAN'T LAST FOREVER. BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHAT THE END DATE IS FOR A FEW OF THEM:

just in from Stampin' Up! ..

CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ ends Jan. 5, 2012..

shop now for discounts of up to 80% off!!

CLICK ON MY SHOP NOW BUTTON AND THEN LOOK FOR THE CLEARANCE RACK BUTTON TO GET YOUR DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ITEMS BEFORE THEY ARE GONE.

HOLIDAY MINI CATALOG ends TODAY, JAN 3RD...

HOWEVER, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE OCCASIONS MINI STARTS TOMORROW AND IS CHOCK FULL OF NEW FUN GOODIES.

ALSO, STAMPERS, DON'T FORGET TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE LARGE IDEA BOOK AND CATALOG TO SEE WHAT YOU MISSED LAST TIME YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT. CUSTOMERS ALWAYS REMARK TO ME, "really, I didn't see that in the Idea Book!!" IT IS SO FULL OF FUN AND WONDERFUL IDEAS THAT IT IS REALLY EASY TO MISS THINGS. THAT IS WHY I TRY TO SHOW NEW IDEAS AND ITEMS AT EACH OF MY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS.

ARE YOU READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR OWN VALENTINE'S WORKSHOP?? CONTACT ME NOW TO GET ON THE CALENDAR

INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!!

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

LAST DAYS TO ORDER FROM THE HOLIDAY MINI

2011-12-30T10:07:00.001-06:00

END OF HOLIDAY MINI Catalog!!

Just a super quick reminder..

LAST DAY TO ORDER

from the Holiday Mini Catalog

is

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3rd

For those of you who have procrastinated in ordering and now are freaking out - don't despair - you still have a few days to get your order together and get it ordered!!

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE

NEW OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG

STARTS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4TH

If you do not have a demonstrator, I would love to be yours and can send you both of the new catalogs - the Occasions Mini and the Sale-a-Bration catalog full of FREE Stamps you can have during the special.

INKY FINGERS, Y'ALL!!

SANTA PHOTOS

2011-12-27T19:53:00.001-06:00

Hope you will indulge me a bit and let me post some adorable Santa photos. My hubby LOVES to be Santa each year at church. He needs no padding and is so tall he just LOOKS like Santa!! I had him wear his suit home instead of changing back into his street clothes because I wanted him to visit our neighbors next door with a cute little toddler and give her a candy cane. When we got home, our neighbors were gone to get their tree. However, our dog, JEWEL, was a bit scared to see this great big man in red in our driveway. She was going to fully protect me until she got right up to him and smelled it was her DADDY. She got all excited that it was not a bad stranger and loved on him. I had them come inside so I could get my camera and get a photo of Jewel and Santa Daddy.

She had to lick his nose since he had so much hair everywhere else. She loves her daddy, even in this crazy costume.

This little girl had written a list for Santa and brought it with her when she visited him. The photo is precious, isn't it??!!

Here is me and the jolly old man. I am so proud of him and how he loves to be Santa every year.

Hope YOUR holiday was filled with bright hope, tender peace and pure love.

LAST MINUTE LITTLE CANDY HOLDERS

2011-12-19T17:05:00.000-06:00

HEY Y'ALL, Today I want to show you the CUTEST EVER candy holders I made. I saw this idea from Angie Juda - Hey Angie!! It is with a piece of card stock 6" x 3" and looks like a little purse. But the cutest part of it is the goofy reindeer on the front. Here it is:

Isn't the little reindeer so goofy it is CUTE?? He is the owl punch with the feet cut off. Then the antlers are two parts of a punched snowflake. LOVE IT!!

I embossed the riding hood red card stock with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder. The scored to fold up to look like a purse. It is glued shut and the nuggest or little candy bar goes inside. I put a pack of lifesavers and it just poked out a bit on each end and still looks cute. Just make sure you put glue on the bottom of the candy papers so they don't fall out. On these in the photos, I used the 1/8" taffeta red ribbon for the purse handle. You can also use the gold cord for the handle of the purse or anything else you choose. You draw on his funny mouth with a marker any way you want.

Sorry for the bad photos. I used my cell phone because my camera's batteries are dead. Enjoy making these quick and fun candy holders for little "thinking of you" gifts for friends and neighbors.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

PPA TAGS CHALLENGE - GIFT TAGS

2011-12-16T22:25:00.001-06:00

PPA CHALLENGE - MAKE A GIFT TAG. HERE IS MY ENTRY:

WOW!! ONLY 8 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS - ARE YOU READY?? I JUST DO THE BEST WE CAN AND LET GO OF THE REST. I AM INTO SIMPLIFYING MY LIFE AND REMOVING STRESS. SO I AM FINE WITH WHERE I AM IN THE HOLIDAY PREPARATIONS AND TRYING TO ENJOY THE SEASON.

THIS WEEK I HAD A GIFT TAG CLASS AND WE DID SOME FUN TAGS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH YOU.

This first tag above was so fun to make. First we die cut some snowflakes with the BIG SHOT. We placed it on the left side of the tag and sponged gold ink around it, then removed the snowflake. Next we stamped some snowflakes on the tag with versamark ink and then heat embossed with a mixture of wild wasabi embossing powder and iridescent ice powder. It was starting to look pretty good, but we were not finished yet. Next we punched the round tag punch out of wild wasabi card stock and glued it on the top of the tag. We punched a hole for the ribbon or string with our crop-a-dile. We sponged some wild wasabi ink around the edge of the tag.

To finish off this tag, we ran the northern frost strip die through our BIG SHOT with the silver glimmer paper to cut out some small snowflakes. We glued one on the bottom left of the tag, but there is a hole in the middle of the die cut. NO PROBLEM - we filled it with some galaxy fine glitter in a green color and VOILA - all finished. All we added was early espresso 1/8" ribbon for the tie and we were DONE!!

I got the idea for these cute tags above from Heather Summer's blog. Hi Heather!! I used the two tags DIE and my BIG SHOT with more mustard card stock. Next we sponged around the edge of the tag with espresso ink. We stamped the tall snowman on shimmer white card stock in basic black and fussy cut them out. We also stamped the snowman onto the tag as well. When cutting out the snowman from the white, you don't need his arms, but do use the very small circle punch for the two birds. We colored parts of the snowman with the many marvelous markers. We used crystal effects on his buttons, and used stamping dimensionals to pop up the snowman on the prestamped image on the tag. We then added the punched birds. We sewed on the ribbon through the tag with linen thread through the Christmas buttons. LOVE IT.

Here is the chubby brother of the snowman above, from the same stamp set. He is stamped on shimmer white card stock and surrounded with red glimmer paper die cut with the BIG SHOT and scallop oval frame die. We used the galaxy fine glitter stacks for the scarf and some crystal effects for the buttons and the snowball in his hand. One has bells sewn on his other hand like he is ringing the Christmas bells. Again added ribbon and some with some linen thread also. SO PRETTY WITH ALL THE BLING.

I REALLY LOVE THESE TAGS ABOVE. I cut out the designer paper into the shape of a tag. This piece of paper has glimmer dots already on it!! Awesome. I used the NOEL stamp and the designer tag punch to punch it out as well as the shadow behind it in wild wasabi. Also sponged wild wasabi around the edge of the tag. Used the punch on the top two corners to shape the strip of paper into more of a shape of a tag. Used the Stars 2 die and my BIG SHOT with white cardstock. We used the larged of these 3 stars and stamped the snowman offset on the star and embossed it with gold embossing powder. Rubbed the edges of the star into versamark and gold embossing powder and heat embossed it again.

Lastly, we punched out with the round tag punch for the top, used some metal hardware pieces and our crop-a-dile to punch the hole, then added either a button or a brad to hold it all together. We used gold stretch cord for the string to hold it on the package. We used the NEW cherry cobbler bling along his scarf, which in the upcoming Ocassions Mini starting JAN 4th for ONLY $2.50. LOVE THIS TAG. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT??

Final piece we made is this fun tag/convertible ornament. On the white part when the tag is closed, you can stamp TO and the person's initial or name. On the other side we decided we should put "this opens up to be an ornament for your tree" in case the recipient didn't know what it was. When you open it up and push the button back down, you have a fun star ornament (Christmas designer paper). Isn't it cute??!! How great is a gift tag AND an ornament all in one??!! At Hallmark last year they were selling similar tag/ornaments for $8.99!!

Merry Christmas to y'all. May you find peace, hope and love this Christmas Season!! Won't you please leave me a little comment to help me feel the love??!!

CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ = UP TO 80% OFF

2011-12-15T15:25:00.000-06:00

Ribbon, punches, designer paper, buttons, dies, albums, and so much more. Click below to go to my online store, then click on the "SHOP NOW" button and look on the left for CLEARANCE RACK.

DON'T WAIT - WHEN THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE. I shopped this morning and got so many YUMMY things!! Can't wait until the package arrives!!

TAGS, TAGS, TAGS

2011-12-08T10:44:00.000-06:00

I have been "blurfing" (what I call blog surfing) and seeing so many fun and wonderful Christmas gift tags. Got my mojo going for MY gift tag class next week.

This first one is from the framed oval die and my Big Shot. I cut the outside edge from red glimmer paper and the inside from shimmer white card stock. Then I stamped the chubby snowman and colored his boots with markers and put color on his scarf and hat with glue and the fine glitter stacks. He is holding a string of mini bells from our Christmas mini catalog. His snowball in his other hand has been touched with the fun little glitter accents (can't remember the exact name, so sorry) from the Christmas mini.

More tags tomorrow. Can you make one with this same die and YOUR big shot to share with me? I would LOVE to see it!!

Here's to Inky fingers and snowflakes in your hair!!

HAPPY DECEMBER

2011-12-01T10:58:00.000-06:00

Wow!! November FLEW BY, didn't it? It is now DECEMBER already!! Here in Texas we are in a cold snap so it really is feeling like December AND Christmas.

I have been working on my Christmas cards to mail out. I showed you what I am sending out before, but here it is again so you can see it. Looks clean and simple, but it is NOT simple with all the embossing. However, I LOVE IT.

Very vanilla piece for front is textured using the embossing folder and the big shot. Then a layer of wild wasabi and cherry cobbler underneath the very vanilla piece that has the stamped images.

I stamped the images in versamark and then heat embossed with fine gold embossing powder. I then used a versa marker to color in the sections of the ornaments and used wild wasabi and cherry cobbler embossing powder, some with iridescent ice mixed in for sparkle. The center of the largest ornament has microbeads glued on.

I would love to hear your comments and suggestions. I just felt like a ribbon did NOT work on this card so that you would totally focus on the ornaments and the embossing. Inside you can use any sentiment you want. I used a simple one form the Four the Holidays in French: Joyeux Noel.

Here's to inky fingers for all!!

BIG BIG BIG SALE ONLINE

2011-11-18T09:51:00.003-06:00

Online Extravaganza

How fun!!

The Online Extravaganza, our annual sale to kick off the holiday shopping season, will begin Monday, November 21, 2011, and run through Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

It's important to log into my online store to place your order: that will get you the best possible pricing.

There is going to be great deals like FREE digital downloads valued at $40 when you buy My Digital Studio Express, 60 percent off select Designer Fabrics, and 30 percent off an exclusive ribbon bundle!

In addition, there will be two surprize items on sale for 24 hours only (November 21, 12:01 AM - 11:59 PM [MT])-so make sure you don't miss the first 24 hours of the Online Extravaganza!

YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE SALES YOURSELF ON SUNDAY EVENING AFTER MIDNIGHT!!

DON'T MISS OUT!!

www.jenniferkay.stampinup.net

ANOTHER AMAZING CHRISTMAS CARD

2011-11-17T14:32:00.000-06:00

HI Y'ALL!! I am back with another Christmas card like I promised. We ran out of time at my class so we never got to make this card, but they are coming back again so we can make it. It is an awesome card even if I do say so myself. And I give a lot of credit to Ann Schach because she gave me this idea with her painted ornament card. However, no paint used here, only embossing powder.

Ok, where to begin? Well, I used very vanilla card stock and put it thru the big shot with the square lattice embossing folder. That is adhered to the base of the card. Then I used layers of wild wasabi and cherry cobbler card stock underneath the stamped image.

I stamped the image with versamark and then used fine gold embossing powder and my heat gun. After heating the gold embossing powder, I then used my versamarker and painted in the ornaments and used wild wasabi and cherry cobbler embossing powder mixed with iridescent ice embossing powder to make sure it shines a bit.

On the round image I used the iridescent ice mixed with the colors. On the harlequin ornament I used more straight color without the ice. On the main gold ornament, I adhered multicolored mini beads (retired) with glue.

I would love to hear what you think of my design. And again, thanks out to Ann for her beautiful card and the inspiration to make mine.

I am going to use this card for my mail outs to my family and friends this year. I really enjoyed making it.

If you decide to make a card like mine, I would LOVE to see what you do. And if you post it on your blog, please give credit back to me. Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving next week. I won't be posting until the holiday is over.

MORE CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM CLASS LAST WEEK

2011-11-14T10:30:00.000-06:00

My all-time favorite creation for Christmas is the J-O-Y banner that I store in the tin DVD cases from the clearance rack. We made these for class last week and we had a blast with them. They all turned out so beautiful too!!

I put it longways on the stampin up desktop protectors so you could see the length we made it. the squares are the scallop square die for the big shot. The ribbon is the 1 1/4" stripped ribbon, then we punched out christmas trees and ornaments with the SU punches. Also used buttons and ribbon for deco as well. Now below is each letter up close to get a better view.

With the square scallop punch we stamped out from the designer Christmas paper to decorate the J.

Used the ornament punch and the Letters to Santa DSP to punch out an ornament and hung with gold cord, bells and a ribbon

For the Y we used the Pennant punch to make the Christmas tree, used the pearls to decorate the tree and then glued on a designer button with a 1/8 ribbon tied to it.

Here is the Y block again so you can see the bottom of the banner. We tied a 1/2" ribbon onto the large ribbon and snipped the ends to add detail. Then glued a large pearl onto the knot.

What do you think? The back is the same color scalloped square to make it finished AND can be the place where you journal, etc. to make it your Christmas card!!

I decorated the dvd tin with the Letters to Santa designer paper cut outs and some ribbon to tie it shut. What a pretty Christmas "card" to receive, don't you think? IF you use my idea, please send them to my blog here in your description as a courtesy. Thank you!! Enjoy making this FUN banner with no ink involved this time!!

CHRISTMAS CARD CLASS LAST NIGHT

2011-11-10T15:57:00.001-06:00

HEY Y'ALL, We had the best time last night at my Christmas Card class. We were a smaller class than normal, but that just made it more personal and more fun. We made some awesome cards that I would like to share with you. IF you decide to use my ideas, PLEASE be kind and give me credit for them. It is how we roll, right?

The first card below is what I call a funky fold card. The base of my card is cherry cobbler card stock.

The two outside edges went through the big shot with the petals a plenty embossing folder, then I added dots of Dazzling Details for accents. I stamped the Stocking stamp with old olive ink on white card stock, then punched it out with the Stocking Builder punch. I punched out the top, heel and top of the stocking out of silver glimmer paper. It adds a special bling. I used designer paper behind the stocking. I stamped with cherry cobbler ink the sentiment on pear pizzazz card stock and fussy cut the top. I think this is the LAGNIAPPE or special finish to make the card special, don't you? I love how it sits up on the designer paper - it is just the perfect touch.

Thanks to Create with Dee for the idea of just embossing the two outside edges with the embossing folder. Hi Dee Slater!!

I would love to hear your comments on this card.

Card Two: This card is from an idea from the web = I can't remember whose site it was, but I love the idea. I used the northern flurry embossing folder that was brayered with ink first. This is how I got the white snowflakes on the card.

Marina mist and bashful blue ink and card stock, decorative label punch for the sentiment, rhinestones in the middle of the die cut snowflakes, and then dazzling details here and there on the embossed snowflakes are what make this card. I used the ruffled Island Indigo ribbon on the top. You can't see the bling very well but it is quite elegant in person.

Card 3:

Got Treats stamp set is what I used for this card. Love this little gingerbread boy. Last year's designer series paper was used as well as old olive card stock. Red fine glitter was used on his little buttons and it was all finished off with olive and white striped ribbon. Last night we also added a layer of red glimmer paper behind the dsp and in front of the old olive card stock. It really made it POP.

This candle matches the card for the perfect gift.

It is just a belly band around the candle that can be removed when it is lit. Such a cutie patootie gingie.

Two more projects I will share with you tomorrow. One is my absolute favorite!!

Still cleaning up and putting supplies away from last night's fun. Go get some inky fingers y'all!!

NEW COMPUTER, NEW POST

2011-11-04T11:13:00.000-05:00

YIPPEE, YAHOO AND HORRAY. I have a BRAND NEW LAP TOP. I got my Christmas and birthday present early from my daughter and son in law. They are so AWESOME!! I was limping along with a very VERY old desktop (over 10 yrs old) and it was, as my mom would say, "slower than death on crutches." But now I have my super ROOMIE ZOOM ZOOM (Scooby would say) lap top and am ready to burn up the internet with speed.

I have been planning for my Christmas Card Class and Christmas Tags Classes coming up starting next week. Now I am cutting and cutting all the supplies for these events. It will be SO VERY FUN. Don't forget to sign up with me ASAP because when they are full, I will have to close the classes. You will be so sad if you miss these!!

I am also in the planning stage of a CHRISTMAS ADVENT GIFT BOX CALENDAR class that goes along with the 25 Days and Counting stamp set for a wonderful GIFT. As soon as I complete all my details, I will be giving you the dits on this.

Do you remember that I am a Hallmark Retail Merchandiser for my local grocery stores? WELL, this is HELL WEEK for me. I am putting up all my Christmas and Thanksgiving cards, gift wrap, gifts, etc. and it takes many, many hours per store to first get the displays up and then to fill with all the merchandise. My back is killing me from hauling the large boxes that were shipped with all my merchandise, I smashed my hand and have a huge lump and broken blood vessels on the back of it. (Now it is turning a lovely shade of purple, thank you very much!) BUT I only have a bit more to go on one store and it will all be up and completed!! WAHOO I really enjoy my Hallmark job, but this hell week is pure hell and I am glad when it is over.

Sorry to ramble on in this post. I will show you a card and then sign off.

TRYING SOME NEW TECHNIQUES THESE PAST FEW DAYS

2011-10-30T19:35:00.000-05:00

Hi y'all,

I saw a wonderful technique I wanted to try over at Sandi Maciver's blog. Thanks for the info, Sandi! It is clear embossing that resists rubbed ink on the card. Emboss resist it is called. I have seen it before, but never really saw any card I HAD to make with it. But this winter scene made me want to give it a try.

I used the pine tree group stamp from PLANT HOPE stamp set, with versa mark ink on white card stock, then clear embossing powder. Then heat set it.

Next I used a piece of sponge and rubbed on 3 different colors of blue - pool party, marina mist and not quite navy. I tried to use the darkest color as a shadow around and under the trees.

I didn't like the greenish color of pool party for this card. Next time I would use Bashful Blue I believe. But I still like the overall look. I matted not quite navy and pool party card stock behind the stamped panel.

I have not put any sentiment yet. I keep cards like this a lot until I need a card. Then I choose the sentiment I need and attach it then.

Hope you enjoyed this wintery looking card. A lot of states got snow this weekend so I thought this card was appropriate for them. BRRRRRR

Have a happy Halloween and be safe to all!!

GET A FREE BIG SHOT - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT!!

2011-10-28T19:29:00.002-05:00

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT FOR THIS AMAZING, FABULOUS OFFER. BY JOINING STAMPIN' UP! AS ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS, YOU WILL NOT ONLY RECEIVE THE FULL STARTER KIT, CUSTOMIZED TO YOUR CHOICES, BUT YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A FREE BIG SHOT MACHINE!!

Never before has this offer happened at SU. You are getting a $99 new big shot for free by joining Stampin Up, PLUS you get 20% discount on all orders, PLUS you get 30% off your first order of $150 or more, PLUS you get to customize your starter kit, PLUS you get 2 months FREE of a demonstrator order website, PLUS you get STAMPIN SUCCESS, the Demonstrators free magazine full of ideas and samples each month, PLUS you get to know all the SU news, info and new product coming BEFORE your customers.

Not interested in selling? That's fine and is called a HOBBY DEMO. You can still get all the above AND the Free Big Shot and not be obligated to purchase any more at any time. However, I am sure you will at least want to order those products you have been wanting from the current Holiday Mini or the large Idea Book and Catalog - all at 20% discount!!

Contact me this weekend before this amazing offer is over.

We can get INKY FINGERS together!!

I AM BATTY FOR BATS

2011-10-22T20:48:00.000-05:00

Last year we drove over to Austin with my son and family to watch the bats leave out from under the bridge at sunset. There was a lot of teasing towards me because I arranged the trip and at first there were only a few bats to leave. But then they all woke up and started flying out and down the river. These are Mexican free tail bats here in Texas. It was fun, even with the teasing.

Not sure what kind of bats these are that I made. In my card swap group, I received an adorable treat box with an adorable bat on it. I knew immediately I had to make some of my own. Here we go:

Aren't they the CUTEST LITTLE GUYS you have ever seen??!! I mean, look at those goofy eyes and that funny smile!! ha ha They make me laugh every time I see them!

Here is a closeup to get a better view. The box is a template I used. Not sure if there is a die for it or not, but I just used a template. The sponging on the bat and the top of the box was done with vanilla craft ink. I tried gray first and it didn't even show. The moon is actually so saffron 1" circle sponged with gray, but the flash washed out the color. So sorry.

In this photo above, the box is still "NAKED" on the bottom while I decided what to do to decorate it.
The branch is an sizzlet.

I decorated the bottom front of the box with designer paper called Cast a Spell. The "SPOOKY" is from Wicked Cool stamp set, punched out with the 1 3/4 by 7/8 oval punch (called large oval punch in the catalog). It was stamped with black on pumpkin pie, but here it looks like pumpkin pie on yellow. Weird what the flash did, huh? The layer behind it is basic black with the scallop oval punch.

Little Goofy Bat is looking for bugs to eat before he flies off to catch them! I also used a bat punch in basic black for the bottom of the box. For the shreds inside, I used white, black and orange.

What is the bat made with you ask? So glad you asked!! It is the OWL PUNCH from Stampin' Up! The wings are his little vest on the same punch!! The only thing I added to this bat that is NOT the punch is white gel pen for the goofy smile and fangs!! LOVE THIS PUNCH!! SEE - NOW you love him even MORE, don't you??!!

So if you NEED to order the OWL PUNCH, the LARGE OVAL PUNCH, the SCALLOP OVAL PUNCH, BASIC BLACK CARD STOCK, PUMPKIN PIE CARD STOCK, or CAST A SPELL DESIGNER SERIES PAPER, just click right below and it will take you to shop at my SU! site - any time and at YOUR convenience!! Also available to order is the 1" CIRCLE PUNCH and the Sizzlet Little Leaves die.

Everyone who orders from me online this month will get one of these adorable BAT boxes for a THANK YOU GIFT.

Inky fingers y'all and have fun!!

SWEET COOKIE PRESS - NEW AND EXCITING

2011-10-18T14:56:00.000-05:00

Stampin Up! has come up with another amazing idea - rubber stamps for COOKIES!! Well, a silicon cookie press that is.

Watch this video here for all the information:

I have even MORE information for you - if you cook your cookies first, then when you take them out of the oven, press the stamp into the cookie it works PERFECTLY!! VOILA as they say.

Contact me to order YOUR cookie press kit, complete with 2 different recipes, or click below to order at your convenience.

Cook away my friends, BE CREATIVE

MY CUTE LITTLE BUDDY

2011-10-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

I had an hour before I needed to get ready for church and decided to make this cute little guy below. I saw it on the Dream, Create and Share website. It is so stinkin' CUTE. Perfect to put some candies in it for a quick gift. It also reminds me of that car commercial where they show the sock monkey, a robot, a teddy bear and something else all in lifesized people and doing funny tricks and stunts. Have you seen that one? "how do you like me know?" is the music in the background. Anyways, here he is:

Isn't he DARLING??!! Sorry for the shiny glue spot on his ear that shows up on this photo. I couldn't see it with my naked eye, but the camera caught it for sure!! He is made with the top note die and the square lattice embossing folder.

I would love to hear your comments. Hope it gives you a good laugh this morning!!
Thanks for stopping by!

WE HAVE A WINNER OF THE BLOG CANDY!!!

2011-10-15T15:24:00.000-05:00

Hi Y'all,

Using Random.org, I now have a winner of my blog candy from our FUN BLOG HOP last week. it is KATHY, who said:

Beautiful lollies. But, those gift bags knocked my socks off. Love them! Thanks for sharing this week.

Congratulations Kathy!! I just need your reply to my email I sent to you and I will get your blog candy out to you. Enjoy the card kits to make the cards from my BLOG HOP!!

Thanks to EVERYONE for your lovely comments. I sincerely appreciate knowing you enjoyed my efforts.

Don't forget to keep checking regularly, because we will probably do another blog hop in a few weeks.

In the meantime, visit me to see what new projects I have up my sleeve!! ha

And to all of you, here's hoping YOU get INKY FINGERS y'all!!

YNS CHALLENGE #53

2011-10-14T18:42:00.000-05:00

Welcome! This is my FIRST Your New Stamp Challenge AND my first challenge with a DIGI STAMP!!

YNS was kind enough to offer us a choice of FREE digi stamps to participate in this challenge, and I chose the hairy spider with the smile! What a juxtaposition for sure!! ha

I did another of my funky fold cards that I have been enjoying creating this month. It is a 6 x 11 piece of cardstock cut and scored to fold in an unusual way. I used pumpkin pie for the cardstock, basic black behind the Stampin Up designer paper. And the FREE digi stamp from Your New Stamp challenge #53 to create my entry into their challenge. I colored the spider with basic gray marker and backed it with basic black card stock and fussy cut it out. It hangs from it's web with TRICK OR TREAT stamped in black at the bottom of the card.

Here is a bit of a side view so you can see the slits that are cut and how it is folded several times to create this FUN and FUNKY card. Inside I stamped BOO. After all, what else does a Halloween spider say??

Thanks for stopping by!! Inky fingers y'all!!

DAY THREE OF THE GLITTER QUEEN BLOG HOP - FALL HOP

2011-10-12T00:05:00.057-05:00

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET? Didn't you just love those cards at Stephanie's blog? She is so creative.

More fun is awaiting you here at my blog as well. I have tackled how to make a medallion or "lolly" as our Canadian friends seem to call them. The pretty folded materials that are the main part of an award ribbon. What do you call them? I call them medallions. My card below has one of those medallions on it for your viewing pleasure.

Aren't the colors so fun? I used Perfect Plum card stock for the base and the "lolly", the designer paper is Cast a Spell, and I also used whisper white and pumpkin pie card stock I also used pumpkin pie satin ribbon, and the scallop oval and scallop circle punches. Also the circle punch.

Here is a nice closeup of my Lolly or Medallion. I used 1 1/2" wide cs, cut across the width of the paper, or 8 1/2 inches, and used two pieces. I used my Simply Scored tool (LOVE IT) to score every half inch. Then I adhered the two pieces together with sticky strip so it will hold well, and bring the ends together to form a circle and adhered them the same way. Then I pushed down on the middle until it all flattened out into this beautiful rosette medallion. I TRIED EVERY TAPE AND GLUE UNDER THE SUN, I REALLY DID!! Most would not hold, some held but then popped open later and were a sticky mess. You know what worked for me and is still holding? HOT GLUE. I punched a circle of scrap and put hot glue all over it, then put my rosette medallion on top of it and held it down with my fingers until the glue cooled, just a minute or so. VOILA. It was stuck permanently. No need to worry how the back looks, because it was then glued to the card so it does not show. I used sticky strip for that part. It doesn't matter what kind of glue you use for the top decorations because they do not have any stress of the folds pulling because those were taken care of by the hot glue on the back. LOVE THAT HOT GLUE GUN WHEN YOU NEED SOME MUSCLE!!

On the right side of the rosette medallion, I put some sticky strip and then pinched and pleated some ribbon until it was as full as I wanted it to be. Looks like I gathered and sewed it, but I did not. I wanted easy after fighting with all those glues to figure out the lolly!! ha

The Stamp sets I used were: Scaredy Cat for the BOOOO, Wicked Cool for the witch hat and boots. I also used markers to color in the details on the hat and boots.

Here it is again for one final look. Click on the photo for a large photo to get a good look.

Hope you enjoyed this card. I saw this idea somewhere on the web and forgot to write down whose it was. If it is your original idea, please let me know so I can give you credit, ok?

Have you tried the wonderful Simply Scored tool yet? It is precise and so easy to use. I LOVE how I can do so many things easily and quickly with it. Here is an idea with these Lollies, medallions or rosettes. This is from Stampin' Up!, but I am working on my own version.

LOVE the fall colors of the card stock and Spice Cake designer paper. AND look at the size of those buttons - these are made to go with the Spice Cake suite of paper and cloth. Also included is the 1 1/2" espresso ribbon, antique designer brads, other buttons and brads. FUN FUN FUN.

Here are some smaller lollies/medallions on goodies bags from a recent party. The First Edition designer paper with black or black and white striped ribbon is such a classic look. AND we cut out some vinyl monograms for each person who attended. CUTE CUTE CUTE

Close up of two of the goodie bags with their lollies on them. Buttons, large pearl buttons, brads, small ribbon rosettes, etc. can be used for the middle of the lollies.

Another Halloween card but this time NO lollies. I call it my BAT Masterson Symphony. I took the Newsprint designer paper sheet that has music notes on it and then I stamped bats where the notes are and heat embossed black embossing powder mixed with irridescent ice embossing powder. After I was finished with the bats, I sponged Concord Grape, Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade ink on the music script. It made it look a bit like a Halloween sunset, I think. It is a fun card for my grandkids. SPOOKY

One more idea for Halloween - we got some of those little mini pumpkins and decoupaged newsprint all over them. Then cut out vinyl Halloween characters to stick onto them. Black and white ribbons on the stems and we had a hit with all those who attended the party. They took them home for favors when the party was ovet/

You NEED this wonderful tool in your craft room too!! I am offering a special discounted rate of only $24.99 for the SIMPLY SCORED instead of the regular $29.99 - BUT ONLY TODAY AND TOMORROW IF YOU ORDER AT MY STAMPIN' UP! STORE. So if you are considering purchasing the Simply Scored, order it today by clicking below. Once Iyou order, contact me by email and I will send you a $5.00 check rebate. This is a special for my Blog Hop guests.

Thank you for looking at my creations. I would love to hear from you - won't you leave me a comment?

Also, if you want to be considered for the BLOG CANDY, don't forget to leave a comment AND be a follower of my blog. Thanks for visiting!! Inky Fingers Y'all!! Next stop is HAWAII and Cely's blog.

DAY TWO OF OUR OCTOBER GLITTER QUEEN BLOG HOP

2011-10-11T00:05:00.027-05:00

Happy Fall, Y'All. Do you remember the stamp set we used to sell with that saying? I LOVED that stamp. Made me feel right at home! ha

How are you enjoying the blog hop so far? Hope you are getting lots of ideas from our creative gals. We certainly love to "show off our stuff" for you!! Did you know we are from all over the United States? I am in Texas, some are in Michigan, some in California and one even in Hawaii!! We LOVE the internet so we can communicate with you all and share our ideas!!

For my card today I used the WICKED COOL stamp set. I LOVE this set. The boots and the hat are awesome, but so is the candelabra and the word stamps. I got this idea from my new swap group member. Didn't she come up with such a FUN idea?

This is to be like the Witch's dresser or bureau with a mirror. See the legs of her dresser at the bottom? I punched those with the decorative punch. Then I put on 3 "kitty-wampus" drawers to her dresser with dimensionals. (that's Tex-speak for crooked!) I have mini gold brads as the handles to the drawers. And look at that - she got stuck inside the dresser upside down!! It was a wild night, I imagine!!

Her mirror is made with confetti cream card stock, then I sponged some basic gray around the edges, and stamped some spider webs as well. I added her candelabra just a little crooked to show what a wild night it had been. Inside, I stamped "Have a Wicked Halloween" also from the same stamp set. Isn't it a HOOT??!! LOVE IT.

The card stock colors are concord crush, lucky limeade, confetti cream. The ink is basic gray and basic black. Markers were used to color the stamped images. A tad bit of Crystal Effects looks perfect on her candelabra, even if it doesn't show up well for my camera phone.

Your next stop is all the way over in HAWAII to Cely's Blog. Get some golden sand in your toes for me while you are there!!

Don't forget to leave a comment and make sure you become a follower of my blog to be eligible for blog candy!! INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!!

WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER GLITTER QUEENS BLOG HOP - DAY 1

2011-10-10T00:01:00.024-05:00

HELLO EVERYONE!! Welcome to our October Blog Hop. We had so much fun last month we just had to do it AGAIN.

I am going to be featuring Halloween and Fall cards. I am wishing for cooler weather here in hot Texas, and I think making fall cards will help, don't you?

My first card I made is called a Funky Fold Card. It is made by making cuts in the card into 3 sections and then scoring it so that it folds unusually (middle taller than the two sides). I really like this type of card.

Here is my daffodil yellow and black card stock card, made with the Wicked Fun DSP from last year. I made the candy corns by gluing strips of yellow and pumpkin pie onto whisper white card stock, and then punching them out with the pennant punch. I then coated them with Crystal Effects and put them on dimensionals to have them stand out as the focal point.

This color combination is my favorite. The pumpkin pie textured card stock, then a layer of basic black card stock and topped with the Frightful Sight designer paper. LOVE those little pumpkins on the designer paper. Those candy corns look almost good enough to pop into your mouth, don't they? Inside I stamped the word BOO.

Here is my final candy corn card using black card stock as the base of the card, with daffodil yellow layer underneath the Pumpkin Pie designer series paper. This is the one we made at my Ghoul's Night Out classes I have had this month. Everyone LOVED the colors. Since these cards are square, you need to apply a bit more postage - it seems the USPS does NOT like square cards so they charge extra.

Thanks for visiting with me and seeing my FUNKY FOLDS cards with my CANDY CORN. My sister used to call candy corn TOOTH POUNDERS because they gave her tooth aches when she ate them. It got stuck down into her teeth and I guess she must have had a cavity there because it hurt her. I still remember that from so many years ago!! ha

Make sure you leave a comment AND are a follower of my blog for a chance to win BLOG CANDY. I have some kits of the cards I am featuring, as well as some other fun things to send to the winners.

On to our next Glitter Queen's Blog, Cely Havens. Lucky Cely lives in HAWAII.

GLITTER QUEEN BLOG HOP COMING MONDAY - 3 DAYS OF AWESOME

2011-10-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

Starting Monday, Oct 10th, our GLITTER QUEEN BLOG HOP will begin. It will be three days of awesome projects AND blog candies. Come back on the 10th and enjoy our hop. We are all team members of DAWN GRIFFITH and are anxious to share some wonderful ideas with you.

See you on MONDAY!!

GHOUL'S NIGHT OUT CLASS - GREAT PARTY IDEAS

2011-10-05T09:36:00.003-05:00

Hey Y'all, I have had two Ghoul's Night Out Halloween classes so far and am loving it. Halloween is one of my favorite times of year and so much fun. I love the colors, the treats, the fun, etc.

Here are some treat ideas for YOUR Halloween parties that we either made or I showed them and then gave them as treats at my class.

In the Holiday Mini catalog on page 11 are these fun skinny and tall treat sacks. Mini treat sacks are what they are really called. I layered the fall M&M candies in colors organized to make them look even MORE fun. All the attendees LOVED this idea and many bought the treat sacks so they could do this for their kids, parties, etc. At only $2.50 for 50 treat sacks, this is a REAL BARGAIN. I made different kinds of toppers with the hand held punches and a stamp. FUN FUN FUN

I am holding another of these treat sacks with candies lined up in it and it has a scallop circle punch topper with bat punches on it. I left an area blank so that you can write the child's name on it if you wanted. THE BAT PUNCH IS DEEPLY DISCOUNTED ON THE CLEARANCE RACK FOR ONLY $6.99 IF YOU GO THROUGH MY WEBSITE TO SHOP FOR IT. WHAT A DEAL!!

On this topper I stamped a pumpkin and colored it in with chalks. It was punched with the scallop circle punch and then attached to the top. I sponged ink around the outside of the circle with pumpkin pie ink for some added color.

I made some of my fun flags as decorations for the candies on the table at my party/class. This flag is unusual because I used a bat punch and then sponged ink around the punch and removed it. It created a negative effect with each bat. I think it is a cool look. The small pennant on top of the flag is made with the pennant punch and I added a bat punched out on it. ALL THE FLAGS ARE MADE WITH THE NEWSPRINT AND EARLY EDITION DSP.

This flag was sponged with pumpkin pie ink in the middle to be the harvest moon with the bats flying around it. I used black and orange plastic straws from the grocery store for the sticks of the flags. I used the 1/8" black ribbon to tie the flags to the sticks. Cute, huh?

More flags to decorate the candies. This one on the left is sponged with pumpkin pie ink around the edges.

With the stamp set "Wicked Cool", I stamped and colored the witch hat and then fussy cut it out to glue to my food picks. I then did some bat punches and glued them to picks as well. These were stuck in small fudge squares and cheese squares for the refreshment table. Make sure you use two with the pick in the middle when you make your fun picks.

A closeup of the bats flying near the harvest moon on my foodie flag.

Take home gifts in brown paper bags decorated with First Edition designer paper, lollies or medallions made with the designer paper, buttons, pearls, brads and rub on monograms.

Prizes decorated with Wicked Cool stamp set.

Cute table with black and white table cloth of spooky, boo, etc, as well as black and white decorations.

More fun black and white decorations. Small pumpkins decoupaged with First Edition designer paper.

Shop with me NOW so you can get your own treat sacks, the clearance rack bat punch and many more fun things from Stampin' Up. It will come right to your door step once you order, and the delivery is very fast - usually less than a week!!

Inky Fingers Y'all!!

GET A FREE BIG SHOT FOR JOINING MY STAMPIN' UP! TEAM

2011-10-02T14:25:00.000-05:00

YES YOU READ THE TITLE CORRECTLY - join my Stampin' Up! team of demonstrators during this month AND receive a FREE BIG SHOT!!

YOWZERS, THIS IS THE BEST SPECIAL DEAL I HAVE EVER SEEN STAMPIN' UP! OFFER TO NEW RECRUITS.

If you have been thinking about the advantages of becoming a demonstrator, even if it is just to get the 20% discount on your own hobby items you use yourself, this is the PERFECT time to join my team!!

The Big Shot is a Big Deal...

...and during October, when you join my team of Demonstrators you will GET ONE FOR FREE!! If you already have one, no worries, how would you like $100 inadditional free Stampin' Up! products instead?

Things to Remember:

Product Bonus

Any new recruit who signs up during the promotion period will receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or $100 in Stampin' Up! products of their choice from any of our current catalogs.

New recruits who use the online Independent Demonstrator Agreement (IDA) will be given access to the Promotional Product Bonus order type in Order Entry Express (OEX) approximately one hour after they complete their online IDA (they will be provided a link to OEX for this redemption via e-mail). In this order type, they will either enter the item number for the Big Shot (item 113439) or the item numbers for up to $100 in Stampin' Up! products. Products can be chosen from any current catalog and shipping is free!

New Recruits should ensure that their free total comes as close as possible to $100 without going over since the Promotional Product Bonus order type will not allow items beyond $100 to be added to the order.

Starter Kit

New recruits may purchase the Standard or Digital+ Starter Kit for $175, and may add the Stampin' Memories, Definitely Decorative, or My Digital Studio Software Add-On for the regular add-on price.

New recruits may substitute a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder ($7.95 or less; see pages 218-219) for the Always Bird Décor Elements (p. 233) that comes standard in the Starter Kit.

New recruits who join Stampin' Up! during this promotion are still eligible for any programs available to a new recruit, including but not limited to the extra 10% Instant Income offer, Stampin' Start (where you can earn up to 6 stamp sets free), and the opportunity to purchase a Business Booster Kit.

Starter Kit order form deadlines:

Online: Monday, October 31, 2011; 11:50 PM (MT)

CONTACT ME NOW AND LET'S TALK ABOUT ALL THE FREE THINGS AND DISCOUNTS YOU WILL RECEIVE BY BEING PART OF MY TEAM.

QUILTING WITH THE BIG SHOT -- A BIG TIME SAVER

2011-09-28T17:07:00.000-05:00

Hi y'all out there in Blogger Land. Today I have a photo of a quilt that Kelli, a friend of mine, made using the scallop square die and my BIG SHOT. This little machine is amazing how quickly you can cut out your squares to get ready to sew. Kelli cut out 5 or 6 layers of recycled blue jean fabric at one time. She made this cute TV quilt for her kids when they are watching television or playing video games.

It is what we call a rag quilt because the seams are on the outside where you can see them. The scallops of the scallop square die are perfect for this. After you have all the seams sewn, you clip each scallop and then wash it so it gets frayed and raggedy. Kelli used a nice warm flannel for her backing to make it extra snugglie while curled up on the couch. You can click the photo to get a closer look. She tied it for ease and more texture.

Until next time! Get crafty and get some inky fingers y'all!!

SOMEONE IS WATCHING YOU....

2011-09-26T15:19:00.001-05:00

Sometimes do you get chills at your neck and the hairs get all prickly and you think someone is watching you? That is the feeling kids love to have a Halloween time. It is scary but fun for them at Halloween. This card is kind of like that. It is simple but scary and certainly fun. I saw the idea at Becky Roberts blog and knew I had to CASE it with a few changes to make it my own.

Isn't it just too fun!!! Reminds me of a mummy because of the black and white - like bandages wrapped around a mummy. I used Confetti Cream and my top note die for my BIG SHOT to cut out the card base. Fold your card base and put it just inside of the one cut mark on the left side. That way you have a folding card in the top note shape. Then I cut it again single only in black and cut it in half. I used the fun 1/8" black ribbon with the tiny white stripes. I love this ribbon and have it in every color SU! makes it in. I use it all the time!! You NEED this ribbon, I promise you!! I used two different sized punches for the eyes and sponged around the eyeball with black ink. That's it. Took less than 5 minutes to make.

I am using them for Thank You cards for my customers so I put a simple "thank you" from Kindness Matters stamp set on the inside. It fits perfectly into the small notecard envelopes.

Hope you enjoyed this card. Won't you leave me a note to tell me what you think of this Clean and Simple and FUN card??

Here's to Inky Fingers y'all!!

THIS STAMP SET IS THE MOST ADORABLE ONE I HAVE SEEN...

2011-09-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

Oh my stars, this cute new hostess set in the Holiday Mini, entitled Warmest of Wishes (#122672) is so adorable. Specifically the cute little owl with his/her trick-or-treat costume and bag. It just tickles me every time I stamp it. So here is a treat bag I am making for my "Ghoul's Night Out" event next week. I have 12 attending so far and it is going to be a riot. I have fun games, prizes and adorable cards and items to create. Also yummy treats too. Here is the treat bag for each attendee:

I got grape purple colored lunch bags at the store at a price of 4 for $1.00. Perfect color to match our Concord Crush color in SU! I stamped my little new friend, the Halloween Owl with his little mask on and holding his bag in concord grape ink on white card stock and punched him out with the owl punch. (Oops, forgot to tell you I wiped off his feet and used my pumpkin pie marker to color them BEFORE I stamped it. Sorry) Then I used the marker to color around the trick or treat bag and just stamped that on white cs and then cut it out with snips and put it on a dimensional so he is carrying an orange bag. Colored in his beak after stamping with the pumpkin pie marker as well.

This close up you can see his treat bag and feet are pumpkin pie. The large scallop circle is pumpkin pie and I sponged ink on the edge in Concord Crush as well. Then I attached the owl to the scallop with a dimensional and used snail to attach the whole decoration to the lunch sack. Isn't it adorable??!! I am going to have jars of candies at the party and they can pick and choose what they want to take home with them for treats, and/or can carry their prizes home.

We are going to have a blast. Can't wait. I have been cutting out paper all day today to get my kits ready for them to put together.

Good night and here to inky fingers y'all!!

FMS#3 CHALLENGE - BABY CARD WITH STOCKING BUILDER PUNCH

2011-09-22T17:01:00.002-05:00

This is for the freshly made sketches challenge this week. Hope you like it.

My neighbor, Ashley, is overdue in having her baby. Bless her heart, she is gigantic but just her tummy only. She is thin everywhere else. Looks like a watermelon jutting out from her middle. They decided not to know if it is a boy or girl until it is born. So I made her a welcome baby card in daffodil yellow and certainly celery.

The STOCKING BUILDER PUNCH (#124095) is actually something to use all year round and not just for Christmas. Want to see one way how? See below: (click to get bigger photos)

Isn't this card so sweet? I stamped the baby booties using daffodil yellow and the STITCHED STOCKING STAMP SET (#123784 CLEAR) I then cut off part of the top and the fold down part and glued the fold down part back on. Immediately it looks just like baby booties or little sockies. My fellow team member, Candice, gave me the idea and it is wonderful!!

Here is a closeup of the booties with their yellow satin ribbon ties. With the stamped image that looks like stitching, don't they look just like a pair of knitted booties? LOVE IT!! You can also see the stickers I used from one of the scrapbook kits that just seemed to be perfect for this card.

This is blurry and hard to see, but I wanted to point out that I used the SIMPLY SCORED SCORING TOOL (#122334) and diagonally I made score lines one direction to the halfway diagonal, then I turned my card and scored in the other direction. Just a little added detail. I also sponged all around the edge of the card with old olive for some depth.

Hope you liked the card and the unusual way to use the new STOCKING BUILDER PUNCH and the STITCHED STOCKINGS STAMP SET. If you would like to purchase these or any other supplies, just click on my name below to go to my Stampin Up website where you can purchase at your convenience.

Thanks for shopping by. Here's to inky fingers y'all.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BOX - click on images to enlarge

2011-09-21T11:04:00.001-05:00

I forgot to post my completed special Christmas Box that I received as a special kit from SU! for recruiting during a promotion this summer. Both me and my new recruit got this kit to make this over the top decorated Christmas box.

I have to admit I had a bit of trouble following the directions (I always seem to) so I branched out and did my own thing on it. I think it personalizes it to be my very own!!

This is the box completed. I put it on real red paper to photograph it and maybe that is confusing. The solid red behind it is just a backdrop of paper to take the photo. The box is a sturdy white box with this wonderful "lip" at the bottom to hold while you open it. Reminds me of those old fashioned candy boxes.

This is the left side where the bows and flowers are. The striped bow is the 1 1/4 striped ribbon and then it has a pop of "wow" with another ribbon solid red tied as a knot on top of it. I love the detail of the forked ends of the red ribbon. I added a large pearl from our sticky pearls sheet right on top of the knot.

Along the edge of the ribbon there are 3 flowers: one is scallop punches of first edition dsp crumbled and made into a flower, the first one you see is 1" of torn fabric rolled and wrapped into a rose (MY FAV) with a button on top, and the top one is lace gathered on one edge and pulled into a rosette. They are awesome and I love these details.

This is the right side of the box. A very large button (Holiday Mini from the spice cake collection) sits on top of the large striped ribbon. I used cherry cobbler striped baker's twine to tie it and then a pearl in the middle. As you can see, there is glitter all over the box for extra BLING. The polka dotted paper is Letters to Santa dsp and has some dimension to it with glitter on the red dots. Love this paper!! Underneath the wide ribbon is more early edition dsp.

This is the middle of the box with the focal images being the stamped images from the Pines and Boughs stamp set (Holiday mini). I used glimmer mist on the red tag underneath the "Christmas" image. The pinecones are inked up with markers to get all the color details and I stamped them on a scallop circle and sponged the edges red. Behind that peeping out is another scallop circle in red. Attached to the bottom red tag is a ribbon like banner made from the Early Edition dsp and then glittered along the edges. Another large pearl is on the top of this ribbon banner.

One last photo of the whole box now that you know what all the elements are. You can just see on the right side of the box the edging that goes all the way around the box. It is the scallop edge border punch in green, red and Early Edition dsp, along with pearls along the entire edge. Some spray glimmer mist makes it complete.

I had so much fun making this kit from SU! FREE is something I LOVE, and I got it free for recruiting during the special promotion. Stampin' Up! is always doing fun promotions for us demonstrators to earn free things like stamps, supplies and special things like this kit. YOU can earn these free things while doing something YOU love too! Contact me and let's talk about how YOU can get big discounts on supplies, as well as earn lots of fun free things.

Thanks for stopping by. Here's to inky fingers y'all!

OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD

2011-09-16T10:41:00.001-05:00

Even in this devastating drought here in Texas, there is some cheer blooming at my little corner of the world. We have a cute little arbor with benches at the front of our home. I planted Passion Vine last year and never expected it to make it with this horrible weather we are having. We are 40 inches behind in rainfall this year!! Anyways, I wanted you to see how this awesome vine is blooming to bring cheer to us all here at my little cottage. I planted it and put the arbor to make it look like a little English cottage. With the passion vine blooming, doesn't it look just like that?

Be CREATIVE in your corner of the world - gardening, landscaping, painting, decorating, scrapbooking and paper crafting. It is so fulfilling.

Did you know that the Passion Vine is the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly? That is why we planted it because we have a little eco system going on here for the butterflies. An added bonus - the hummingbirds love the flowers!! CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE IT LARGER AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE WONDERFUL PURPLE AND WHITE BLOOMS.

The other vines in the front left are what is left of my yard long beans. They were so fun all summer. It is just too hot and too dry now for them to do anything, but I left the strings up that they grew on for other vines to climb up.

Happy creating and inky fingers y'all!

PPA111 entry

2011-09-15T10:51:00.000-05:00

Hi Y'all,

I have a cute Christmas card for the Paper Pals Arts Challenge 111 this week. I have been trying to keep abreast of the holidays and did most of my halloween last week, now I am working on my Christmas cards.

This stamps set is so cute and so versatile. It is the GOT TREATS stamp set.(120627). I love LOVE LOVE it. I made this card rather clean and simple so the gingerbread man would stand out as the thing your eye goes to first.

I used last year's dsp called Jolly Holidays. It is cherry cobbler and old olive as the main colors. I used some fine glitter on the buttons of my little man, but used real glimmer brads for the accent up at the top of my card. The ribbon is striped old olive ribbon from the clearance rack. I LOVE this ribbon and got several rolls so I am well stocked before it is all gone.

I also used the scalloped circle punch for the main image second layer, with just the circle punch, sponged on the edges, for my little man.

Isn't he cute? I love gingerbread men/folks/people...what would be the politically correct name these days? ha

Thanks for stopping by. Won't you leave me a comment? I love hearing your thoughts and look forward to seeing what everyone says.

Thanks! Inky fingers y'all!

BLOG CANDY ON IT'S WAY TO THE WINNERS

2011-09-13T17:30:00.001-05:00

OOPS...

I just realized that I never showed a photo of the blog candy after our hop was finished. Here is a photo of what Carrie, the Grand Prize Winner won!! Lots of brads, buttons, flowers, mini brads, button brads, ribbon, and 6 x 6 designer paper pack, as well as one of the stamp sets I used called Funky Four.

Christy, the other winner of the blog candy for visiting won the same items above, without the stamp set.

And just because I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY SO MANY VISITORS AND SUCH WONDERFUL COMMENTS, I also included several different pieces of HODGE PODGE HARDWARE, as well as one of my PROJECT PENNANT FLAGS too!! Because you are WONDERFUL.

Thanks again to all who visit my blog and for those who take the time to leave kind and thoughtful comments. I sincerely appreciate it. It keeps me going for sure!!

Good night and inky fingers y'all!!

I HAVE BLOG CANDY WINNERS!!

2011-09-11T10:29:00.000-05:00

I used Random.org to find out who wins the blog candy from our blog hop this past week.

The first winner is CHRISTINA W. She wins the packet of designer papers, buttons, brads and ribbons.

Our grand prize winner is CARRIE K. She wins the same as above PLUS a Stampin' Up! stamp set.

Congrats to these ladies and thanks again to EVERYONE who visited my blog and left such wonderful comments.

I had so much fun with our first blog. We are going to do another one in the beginning of October, so don't miss it!!

Inky fingers y'all!!

FRIDAY: GLITTER QUEENS BLOG HOP - LAST DAY OF THE HOP

2011-09-09T05:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all of you for visiting us on this FUN HOP - I have enjoyed your comments and praises. Thank you very much, I hope you have enjoyed seeing all our projects from both the New Idea Book and Catalog as well as the Holiday Mini Catalog.

If you do not have a current Stampin Up! Demonstrator, please consider letting ME be your Demonstrator and crafting coach. I can mail you a Holiday Mini Catalog to get you started. OR you can easily order from my website 24 hrs a day by clicking on my signature below.

I did some more flags, but for a more mature recipient this time. I used You're a Gem stamp set to stamp "Queen for a Day" words, the Artistic Etchings stamp set for the crowns, and Funky Four stamp set for the poppy parade color flag. The fleur de les is from a retired stamp set.

I used a clear blue plastic cup and filled it with skittles which holds up the straws or the flagpoles. I used the mini pompoms in daffodil delight from an earlier mini catalog to edge the cup. I tied the two stamped tags onto the trim with bakers twine. More mustard card stock is punched with the large tag punch, and the stamped images are punched with the small tag punch. They layer so nicely and make perfect partners to any of your punched items. I really use my punches a LOT, almost on EVERY project. LOVE PUNCHES!

I used the First Edition DSP for this flag and pennant. The penant was cut out with the Pennant Builder Punch. I used pool party card stock and ink, as well as early espresso ink for the stamped image. To tie the flag on pole I used Early espresso 1/8" ribbon. To tie the pennant onto the pole I used linen thread.

I like how bright and cheery the poppy parade ink and card stock is on this flag and pennant. I used 1/8" ribbon in poppy parade to tie the flag to its pole, and linen thread to tie the pennant. I again made "Cheerleader PomPoms" on the top with crimped pieces of card stock and glued them with Tombow Multipurpose glue. Tombow is very tacky and adheres quickly and strongly. Give it a try.

This is the most important flag and pennant in the set, because it tells my friend how I feel about her. Don't you love the Wild Wasabi card stock and ink I used on the First Edition DSP here? My friend is a WILD girl, so the color fits her perfectly!! ha just kidding.

Hope you have enjoyed our blog hop. We plan on doing this again soon. Keep checking in on my blog to find out the date of our NEXT blog hop, won't you?

I will be announcing the winner of my blog candies in the next few days. Stay tuned - if you didn't leave your email address or blog address, the only way you will know if you won is if you check my blog. GOOD LUCK
HINT: blog candy includes a stack of DSP tied up with a ribbon, some buttons, some brads and for the GRAND PRIZE winner (those who visited and commented EVERY DAY) they will get a stamp set as well as the rest of the prize items!!.

Your next stop is Stephanie Lorenz. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, please email me and I will get back to you.

INKY FINGERS Y'ALL. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

Thursday: GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP - DAY FOUR

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

WELCOME BACK TO THE FOURTH DAY OF OUR GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP. We have had so much fun working together as a team to put this blog hop on for YOU. We are members of Dawn Griffith's GLITTER QUEENS and we are glad you are visiting our blog hop. WE LOVE TO STAMP!!

Isn't this awesome that the Pennant Parade stamp set can be used to make CHRISTMAS TREES!! HOW VERSATILE IS THAT??!! I stamped 3 of the pennants and 3 tree bases, then I also stamped one more pennant and popped it up on dimensionals in the middle. The star is also on a dimensional after I punched it out with the 1/2" Circle Punch. I used some Letters to Santa Christmas DSP for the card base front, then Brushed Gold card stock, and on top of that a layer of cherry cobbler card stock. I used whisper white card stock for the layer I stamped on.

For BLING (DON'T WE LOVE BLING!!) I used cherry cobbler dry embossing powder on the tree bases and heated it with my heat embossing tool. (all in the IBC) I wish it showed up in the photo. It is really pretty in real live! And - wait for it - BASIC PEARLS on the middle tree. On the sheets of basic pearls, there are some small ones all in a row that are on one long strip of sticky strip. I used those and put them on the tree where the design showed the lights to be and TAH DAH - PURE AWESOMENESS.

(Sorry for the bad lighting in this one) I forgot to mention that I punched out the stamped star first with the circle punch that comes in the set of three punches called Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack That circle is a little smaller than the 1/2" circle punch which I then used to punch out the brushed gold card stock and layer behind the star.

I forgot to mention one more thing - I used the Cherry Cobbler 1/8" ribbon with the white edges and just tied a knot. My card itself is pear pizzazz card stock so it is that color on the inside.

Your next stop is Stephanie Lorenz. If you get lost, we have all the participants posted at the end of each post.

Blog Hop Order:

Tracy Bradley
Eileen Cassisi
Anji Clements
Candice Crawford
Tamara Gadbury
Cely Havens
Jennifer Kay (ME)
Stephanie Lorenz
Bridgett Owens
Joan Robertson
Dee Slater
Deidra Williamson
Gina Wrona

Don't forget to leave a comment and become a follower to be eligible for the FREE BLOG CANDY I am giving away!!

BLOG CANDY HINT: In addition to the stack of DSP all tied up with a ribbon, I also have some ribbon, some buttons, some brads and... (find out tomorrow)

Inky Fingers y'all!@! SEE YOU TOMORROW

Wednesday: GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP - DAY THREE

2011-09-07T09:19:00.002-05:00

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING OUR BLOG HOP. IF YOU HAVE MISSED ANY DAYS OF MY PROJECTS, JUST CLICK ON "OLDER POSTS" AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE ALL MY PREVIOUS PROJECTS.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments you have left me. I sincerely appreciate them and am glad you like my projects.

I am featuring the Pennant Parade Stamp Set as well as the Pennants Builder Punch from Stampin' Up! all week. Today I have a Halloween card and a 3-D fun item.

I used the Mini Milk Carton Die and my wonderful BIG SHOT from Stampin' Up! (both are in the big IBC) LOVE MY BIG SHOT. You absolutely MUST get one - you can do so much with it - like cut 80 different materials with it. So the cute little SPOOKY carton comes cut and scored when it is run it through the Big Shot.

I used Halloween Fright DSP as a border on both the mini carton and my card. Also used the PENNANT BUILDER PUNCH and stamped from the Wicked Cool Stamp Set the words HAVE A WICKED HALLOWEEN. Cute, huh? I added some strips of the DSP to look like ties on the pennant, as well the flags I put into the mouth of the carton "full of candy". Pixie Sticks hold the the Pennants punched out, as well as crimped card stock foofoo (kind of like Cheer Leader Pompoms) at the top for decoration and it will be a winning treat for someone sweet.

For the card I stamped the spider web and the word SPOOKY from the same Wicked Cool stamp set, layered it with basic black card stock and lucky limeade card stock for the card base. I then used CRYSTAL EFFECTS on the word and it makes it look like it has a plastic bubble on it or a puffy shiney effect. When the Crystal Effects (IBC) dries it is shiney and dimensional. I punched out the spider from the paper and used some old olive retired ribbon on the side.

Here is a closeup of the mini milk carton with the yummy candy in it. Isn't it spooky and fun all at the same time? I used a mini clip to keep the top closed and put a 1/2" circle punched spider on that as well. FUN FUN FUN

Here you can see my SPOOKY card up close. I also put a drop of the Crystal Effects on the body of the punched out spider to give it dimension. CREEPY and FUN. ha ha

Your next blog to hop to is Stephanie Lorenz. Don't forget to leave a comment AND become a follower of my blog to be eligible for my FREE BLOG CANDY before you go!! (HINT of blog candy: Many fun designer papers in a nice stack all tied with a ribbon is PART of the candy).

Our hop order:

Jennifer Kay (ME)

DON'T FORGET TO BECOME A FOLLOWER AND LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE IN THE DRAWING TO WIN FREE BLOG CANDY.

Thanks for stopping and hopping WITH ME.

Inky Fingers Y'all. SEE YOU TOMORROW.

Tuesday: DAY TWO - GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP

2011-09-06T08:19:00.000-05:00

HELLO, HOW DID YOU LIKE OUR BLOG HOP YESTERDAY? We have lots of fun stuff today for you as well!!

I am spotlighting all week the Pennant Parade stamp set with the Pennant Builder Punch. I LOVE THEM. They are so cute and I have had fun with them making all these projects.

My projects for today are from my daughter and I stamping together trying to come up with fun things for YOU:

Above we made the banners HAPPY and DAY. We created a flag and glued it to wooden skeweres. The pennants were sewn to a fun ribbon before attaching it in front of the newsprint banner. At the top we crimped some cardstock and glued it with Tombow Multipurpose Glue for a topper. Kind of like a cheer leader's pompom, right? Rah, Rah, Rah!!

You can see both words on this pennant banner. Again the pennants were decorated with punched out letters to spell BIRTH DAY. The pennants were sewn by machine onto a fun ribbon before being glued onto the wooden skewer. Besides the rah rah pompom deco on top, we added a large pearl topper.

Here we made a HELLO banner with wide ribbon flowing from the deco straw. We also used the little decorative stamp from the Pennant Parade Stamp set - looks like it could be a snowflake, a flower or just an accent. It could be a pixie stick if you wanted to do that - wouldn't that be cute for a child or for anyone? After we took the photos, we realized we needed to sponge some ink around the edge of the newsprint DSP to give it some depth, which we did but forgot to take another photo. We were just talking and laughing and having too much fun, I guess!! I hope you can imagine how cute it looked with the shadow of colorful blue ink all around the edge of the decorator paper.

We also made a WELCOME banner to use as a decoration with some home made goodies like cookies or cupcakes to take to a new neighbor, a new teacher, or a new member of your church. We used some designer series paper for the large flag, and the pennants were made from solid card stock again sewn onto ribbon by machine.

Don't forget to BECOME A FOLLOWER AND LEAVE A COMMENT to be entered into the drawing for BLOG CANDY.

Your next blog to hop to is Stephanie Lorenz

Order of our hop:

Dawn Griffith (our fearless leader!!)
Tracy Bradley
Eileen Cassisi
Anji Clements
Candice Crawford
Tamara Gadbury
Cely Havens
Jennifer Kay (ME)
Stephanie Lorenz
Bridgett Owens
Joan Robertson
Dee Slater
Deidra Williamson
Gina Wrona

Don't forget to leave a comment and become a follower to be eligible for the FREE BLOG CANDY I am giving away!!

Inky fingers y'all. SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR ANOTHER FUN PROJECT.

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST EVER GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP - DAY ONE

2011-09-04T14:17:00.002-05:00

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH: Welcome to our first ever GLITTER QUEEN'S BLOG HOP. We are some of Dawn Griffith's team of demonstrators and we LOVE STAMPIN UP. (I am posting a few hrs early because of scheduling conflicts, but all demos in the hop will have their items posted on Monday)

We hope you enjoy our fun blog hop. It will be up this whole week - Sept 5th until Sept 9th. Please come back to visit my blog EVERY DAY - I WILL HAVE NEW PROJECTS POSTED FOR YOU EVERY DAY OF THIS HOP FEATURING THE PETITE PENNANTS STAMP SET AND PENNANTS PUNCH..

ALSO, I have blog candy available for you. What is blog candy? It is non-sugar, no calories FUN STUFF THAT IS FREE FOR YOU, OUR VIEWERS. All you have to do is become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment at the end of this post. When the hop is finished, I will randomly choose the winners and contact you to tell you what fun prizes you have won. PLEASE VISIT AND LEAVE COMMENTS EVERY DAY SO THAT YOU HAVE MORE CHANCES TO WIN. I EVEN HAVE A GRAND PRIZE FOR THOSE WHO VISIT EVERY DAY AND LEAVE A COMMENT EVERY DAY. How fun is FREE??!! we love free, don't we??!!

On to the hop: My first entry is my BONJOUR card. I felt like I should say HELLO and WELCOME to my blog. What a fun way to say hello with BONJOUR. I ordered the Hello Friend stamp set in French so that I could have it say BONJOUR on my cards. Many of our stamps come in both French and Spanish, as well as in English. Isn't that great!!

P
I used the wonderful new in-color pool party card stock, the new Spice Cake designer series paper in our HOLIDAY MINI CATALOG for the banners, and crumb cake and soft suede card stock (from the Idea Book & Catalog or IBC) as well. I used my sewing machine to sew the Petite Pennants to the 1/8" very vanilla ribbon (IBC) and two mini gold brads (IBC) to attach the banner. (The pennants are punched out with the Pennant Builder Punch (IBC). The other brown stitching is actually done with my mat pack (IBC) and then a soft suede marker to make it look like the thread.

See how well the designer paper and the card stock go together? Don't you LOVE how all Stampin' Up! items coordinate so well? I SURE DO.

Don't forget to leave a comment at the end of this post to get in the drawing for FREE BLOG CANDY.

You probably arrived here from Cely Havens' blog. Your next stop is Stephanie Lorenz .

Here is the list of hoppers.

Dawn Griffith (our manager)

Jennifer Kay (ME)

Before you leave, DON'T FORGET TO BECOME A FOLLOWER AND LEAVE A COMMENT EVERY DAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN FUN STAMPIN UP PRIZES, AKA BLOG CANDY!!

Inky Fingers Y'all!! Enjoy the hop. SEE YOU TOMORROW

BEAUTIFUL CARD WITH NO STAMPING!! (REALLY??? - YES REALLY)

2011-08-27T16:03:00.003-05:00

MOJO MONDAY CHALLENGE: (http://www.mojomonday.blogspot.com/

I KNOW, IT SEEMS AMAZING, BUT I ACTUALLY MADE A CARD THAT IS BE)AUTIFUL AND INCLUDED NO STAMPING. Now I did NOT say no INK or no Designer Paper, and I did NOT say no punches or ribbon. ha

Here it is - what do you think? It is the beee-u-ti-ful NEW DESIGNER PAPER called SPICE CAKE. The colors in this pretty paper are pool party, soft suede, more mustard, pear pizzazz, and river rock. I chose a few of those colors to highlight this amazing paper. First I used pool party as my card base. Then I layered more mustard under soft suede. I used my fancy flower punch and punched out the patterned flowers from the paper, used snail to put it on the soft suede layer and then ran it through the big shot with the petals a plenty embossing folder. This makes it look like a piece of an old quilt from grandma, doesn't it?

Now, I hear some of you murmuring to me saying, "hey, I recognize that patterned flower. I think you stamped it with the NEW TRIPLE TREAT FLOWER SINGLE STAMP." To you I say, NO I DID NOT, BUT IT DOES PERFECTLY MATCH THAT SINGLE STAMP. How cool is that? You could use the DSP and the stamp together on one card, not to mention the fancy flower punch with it!!

Don't you just LOVE how everything coordinates here at Stamin' Up! I sure do!! I LOVE this company. Ok, back to my card, I digress...

For the middle I flipped the DSP over and it is a more mustard pattern which I punched out with the fancy flower punch BEFORE I did the embossing in the bigshot. That ended up being the bottom layer of my 3-D flower in the middle. I added two layers of punched pool party card stock, which I bent the petals a bit to go under, and I rubbed the middle to make it cup a bit. Oh, and I also used a sponge and pool party ink to edge the flower. Then I fussy cut (with scissors) the flower pattern and rubbed the center to make it cup also. Then I used Stampin' Dimensionals in the middle to layer the flower all together to make it 3-D and more mustard card stock cut in slices thinly is the stamen. You like??

I LOVE the new Pool Party ruffled ribbon. I added a knotted tie at the bottom of the card and VOILA - a pretty NON STAMPED card made all with SU supplies.

Please consider leaving me a comment - I enjoy hearing your thoughts or questons. Happy Saturday to you all.

p.s. Did tell you that today it is 109 degrees here in my part of Texas??!! They say the hurricane on the east coast is causing it to be hotter than normal. I believe we set a record for this high of heat. I am inside stamping and my hubby - he is outside working on the lawn!! Stubborn man would not wait until this evening when it got down below 100 degrees. I have been taking him glasses of water every 30 minutes so I won't find him passed out in the grass. Love him and am grateful for all his hard work.

Inky fingers y'all.

TWO CHALLENGES, TWO CARDS - FRIDAY MASHUP #20 AND STAMPING ROYALTY #59

2011-08-19T19:11:00.003-05:00

HERE IS MY FIRST CARD FROM THE CUTE SUMMER SUITE STAMP SET FOR THE FRIDAY MASHUP CHALLENGE (http://fridaymashup.com/). I HAD SO HOPED FOR THIS SET TO BE IN THIS CURRENT CATALOG. MAYBE IT WILL BE IN NEXT YEARS? ANYWAYS, I USED BUTTONS IN TANGERINE TANGO, MELON MAMBO AND DAFFODIL DELIGHT ON THE BUTTON CARD THAT WAS STAMPED FROM THE SET. I MADE A TAPE MEASURER WITH YELLOW CARD STOCK AND THE STAMP, AND BROKE DOWN THE FIBERS SO I COULD MAKE IT BE UP AND DOWN ALONG THE CARD BY USING GLUE DOTS UNDERNEATH CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE TAPE. I PUT A REAL NEEDLE IN THE SPOOL OF THREAD.

I USED TANGERINE TANGO CARD STOCK AND PRINTED PAPER FOR THE CARD ITSELF. YELLOW SCALLOP OVAL BEHIND THE STAMPED SPOOL. MELON MAMBE BEHIND THE BUTTON CARD.

I LOVE BUTTONS!!

MY STAMPING ROYALTY CHALLENGE (http://stampinroyalty.blogspot.com/) ENTRY IS THE FOLLOWING CARD:

I USED CAJUN CRAZE LAYER ON THE BASE. ON THE I USED AN UNUSUAL TEXTURED WALL PAPER SAMPLE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS BAMBOO OR STRAW. I LIKED THE TEXTURE AND THE COLORS MATCHED MY CARD. I STAMPED MY ONE LARGE IMAGE USING MY MARKERS TO COLOR IT WITH OLD OLIVE, GARDEN GREEN, DAFFODIL DELIGHT, AND CAJUN CRAZE. I LIKE HOW THE DIFFERENT COLORS ALL WENT SO WELL TOGETHER AND GAVE IT A MUCH MORE DECORATIVE FEEL. I USED 3 BRADS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STAMPED IMAGE IN THE ORANGE, GREEN AND YELLOW COLOR.

I FINISHED IT OFF WITH TWO RIBBONS TIED INTO A KNOT AND GLUED ONTO THE WALL PAPER SAMPLE ON THE LEFT.

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING.

Please leave a comment. I love to hear from YOU.

IT'S FINISHED, IT'S FINISHED, YIPPEE

2011-08-18T16:58:00.001-05:00

I can't tell you how happy I am that I finally finished my grand daughter's graduation/off to college quilt. If you look at my older posts, you will see that I started this several months ago. I did not finish it for her grad party in June, but I knew I HAD to have it done this week because she is leaving for college on Friday.

I DID IT - IT IS DONE. And the best part - SHE LOVES IT. The fabrics, quilt pattern, etc. were a total surprise to her. She just picked shades of purple for the colors and I did the rest.

I used the Pinwheel quilt pattern with some boarders around it. It is an extended twin size for those dorm room long twin beds.

The only way I got it finished in time was that I hired my friend, Patty, who has a long arm quilting machine, to do the quilting part for me. Then once it was quilted I applied the hand sewn border to finish it off.

Here are two photos of last night's going away party for Miranda:

Here we are wrapped up in the quilt for the photo.

Here is Miranda modeling the quilt for Grandpa taking the photo and for my son, in the background.

Grandpa took the photos with his cell phone, so the photos are not as good as they should be. Once she gets her dorm room all set up and the quilt on the bed, her mom promises to get me a better photo.

We will miss seeing her regularly and look forward to family weekend in October to go see her at school.

Creativity is peace for my soul. Whether it is with fabric, paper, wood, paint - I am happiest when I create. And when I can create for those I LOVE, it makes it doubly wonderful.

What are you going to create next? I am only an email away to help you with YOUR creative projects.

Inky Fingers y'all!!

TAX FREE WEEKEND FOR CERTAIN SUPPLIES

2011-08-13T11:08:00.001-05:00

NEXT WEEKEND IN TEXAS (AUG 19-21) IT IS TAX FREE WEEKEND FOR CERTAIN SUPPLIES FOR BACK TO SCHOOL. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FALL UNDER THE GUIDELINES. WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS CHANCE TO SAVE A LITTLE COIN AND GET SOME FUN THINGS?

Catalog Item # Description Price

100425 2-Way Glue Pen $ 3.50

103305 Dotto® $12.95

100902 Dotto® Refill $ 6.50

103579 Paper Snips $ 9.95

103683 Mini Glue Dots $ 4.95

104045 2-pack Anywhere Glue Sticks $ 3.95

110755 Multipurpose Liquid Glue $ 3.95

104294 Sticky Strip $ 6.95

104332 Snail® Adhesive Tape Runner $ 6.95

104331 Snail® Refill $ 4.50

104330 Stampin’ Dimensionals ® $ 3.95

102845 3-pack Blender Pens $ 9.95

105021 uni-ball® Signo Gel Pen $ 3.95

105394 Stampin’ Write Journaler (Basic Black) $ 3.50

119801 2010-12 In-Color Markers (5) $14.95

123002 2011-13 In-Color Markers (5) $14.95

pages 176-180, and 202 Stampin’ Write Individual Markers $2.95 (each)

CLICK BELOW TO ORDER ANYTIME. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR STAMPIN UP DEMONSTRATOR.

Enjoy the savings!!

DEMO GROUP CARD SWAP LAST NIGHT

2011-08-12T10:15:00.001-05:00

We had so much fun at our demo group card swap last night. It was at Carolyn's home and she had the cutest card for us to make. Have I mentioned before that I LOVE all the wonderful embossing folders for my BIG SHOT?? Well I do and Carolyn used the Framed Tulips embossing folder for the front of this beautiful card, along with the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set and some yummy satin ribbon. Early espresso and crumb cake are some of my favorites for a clean and simple look. Wonderful!!

Rhonda made this next card in fun bright poppy parade. She used the Strength and Hope stamp set, DSP, and some little pearls. She also used the poppy parade polyester ribbon to match. She fussy cut the butterfly out and popped it up so it's wings could flap. I love how she put the butterfly on the white circle and had it slightly askew off the page. Great Job Rhonda.

This next card is mine. I used the Season of Friendship set for my card, stamped on Sahara Sand. The card base is crumb cake (see I told you it is one of my all time favorites). I stamped each leaf image three times to get the different gradation of the leaf colors for some depth. And for a fun touch, I heat embossed the tummy of each bird with tangerine tango. The sentiment is from the same set and I finished it off with our bakers twine in chocolate chip. What do you think? I would love to hear your comments please. I enjoy hearing from you.

This next card is so cute and bright. I believe it is Susan's card. She used her Fun Flowers die for the Big shot to make the bright flower, added glitter inside the center button of the flower, and used brads to hold her sentiment on the card. She used a border punch for the green dsp and Pacific Point striped ribbon down the center ties it all together. I love this paper and am still hoarding some of it from this year's Sale-a-bration. Really cute card Susan!!

Pat used her new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch for these flowers. Such a bargain to get three different punches in one! The leaves are stamped and then fussy cut individually and she added a border punch at the top. Brads were used as the centers of the flowers. Bright and fun. Who wouldn't love to get this card in the mail?

The last card here is Dee's card. The two tone blues are so pretty together, aren't they? She used a delicate DSP for her background and some layered punches for the flowers which have brads in the center. Her Baja Breeze striped ribbon. That is what is so wonderful about SU papers, inks and ribbons, as well as accessories - they all match perfectly. I LOVE IT.

Sorry about the shadow on my photos at the bottom. It is not my finger in the way, there is something inside the camera blocking my lens. I can't get it out so will have to take it to a camera shop to see what I can do.

As always, I am just an email or phone call away. I would be happy to help you in all your crafting projects, won't you drop me a line? You can order anytime from your home, on line at my stampin up website.

Have a great day and inky fingers y'all!!

Fun Card to Share With You for FRIDAY MASHUP CHALLENGE

2011-08-04T20:23:00.002-05:00

Hey Y'all - you trying to keep cool in this oppressive heat? It is awful here in Texas - with the humidity, the feels like temp for today was 112 degrees!! OUCH.

Here is a cute card I made for a friend of mine. She was without her mojo and needed a card to swap in her card group. So I designed up one for her and I think it came out really cute. It is an anniversary or a wedding card with congratulations stamped inside. But this design can be used for other cards as well.

I used the First Edition DSP and aged it with my sponge with daffodil delight and some early espresso. I ripped a few places and rolled it up a bit and sponged some extra on it. It looks like an old newspaper that is torn and wearing away on the edges. I used my big shot and the embossed hearts embosslet to cut and emboss two hearts - real red and black. On the red heart I put the 1/8 inch taffeta black ribbon with the white stripes on the edges. The black heart needs the red taffeta ribbon 1/8 inch but I don't have it.

I used the Artistic Etchings stamp set for the Amour on crumb cake card stock, using early espresso ink, then punched it out with the modern label punch and sponged the edges. I used a cordory crumb cake button (from clearance rack) on the left of the label punched word. My inside "congratulations was stamped with early espresso from the Swirls & Curls Verses hostess set (I think it is retired).

The base of the card is white with a black layer underneath the First Edition DSP.

Please let me know what you think of my original creation, won't you? I really appreciate your comments.

Inky fingers y'all!!

AUGUST DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIAL ---FREE, FREE, FREE

2011-08-03T13:50:00.000-05:00

I LOVE FREE, DON'T YOU? For the entire month of August, you get a FREE package of Designer Series Paper when you purchase 3 packages. This is the regular designer series paper at $10.95 and not the speciality paper that is $12.95.

FREE, how cool is that??!! Stock up now for all your projects or for a wonderful gift for someone for Christmas, etc.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jenniferkay/promotions

Click on the link above to see which paper is on sale.

Let me know if there is anything I can help you with. I am just an email away.

Inky fingers y'all!!

I'M BACK - DID YOU MISS ME??

2011-08-01T13:13:00.001-05:00

HI Y'ALL, I am back from a mini vacation to go get some grandkids lovin'. My daughter and family live in Utah and I don't get to see them enough. So every chance I get, I JUMP ON IT. It was so fun to spend time with them. They are growing waaaay too fast. 9 and 11.

We even got some crafting time in at the end. and GUESS WHAT?? My 11 yr old granddaughter taught me how to make jewelry!! She is so talented and amazing. I made some cute necklaces and some earrings (well, my daughter made the earrings for me - it was a bit harder and I wanted to watch how she twisted the wire). Another thing to add to my list of FUN THINGS TO DO. I can't wait to get to the store and get some more stones and beads and make MORE JEWELRY. I will show you a few photos next time, ok?

This posting I wanted to share a scrapbooking workshop I held just a day or so before I left on my grands vacation. ha, get it? grands vs grand? I know, kind of lame...

We made 6 x 6 flip and fold albums with the designer paper of their choice. It was so fun to see their books come together and then they started having ideas about decorating them, etc.

Here they are working so diligently on their albums. Each of their albums showed their own personality and special touch. It was awesome.

For the front of the album, we used my BIG SHOT and designer paper that matches their album to create a FUN FLOWER. After cutting it out with the FUN FLOWER DIE, we crinkled and crumbled all the pieces up. (Very hard for some of them!) Then carefully unfolded them and using my mat pack and the "pokey tool" we put a hole in the middle of all layers to attach them together with a BRAD.

Here is one flower attached to the front of an album. Cute, huh?

My FAVORITE NEW DESIGNER PAPER is MOCHA MORNING. It is very elegant and several sheets have velvety embossing. LOVE IT.

One little SMARTIE ( I won't mention any names GRIN) figured out how to make all the pages inside to be the same pattern. then as you open them up, they are again in matching different patterns. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED!!

They PROMISED to show them to me once all the photos are attached. I can't wait to see how cute they are all filled with memories.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A FLIP AND FOLD ALBUM with some yummy designer paper and card stock? Email me and I can get a kit ready for you and mail it out.

Here is one of the albums nearly completed. It is an album for a little one "LITTLE WONDER" is the stamp on the front. Isn't it darling??!! GREAT JOB EVERYONE.

VISITING DAUGHTER AND FAMILY

2011-07-23T21:41:00.001-05:00

Hi all,

I am away for 9 days visiting my grandkids and their parents (my daugher and hubby). ha - GRANDS always come first, right?!!

The weather here is so wonderfully cool compared to our 100+ degrees we have in Texas this summer AND there is a cool breeze. Highs in the 70s and 80s - feels like heaven!!

I have been following my regular bloggers I love to follow each day so I know what is going on in the stamping and crafting world. But I don't have any stampin supplies with me so can't make or post any cards until I get back home.

Hope you are having a fun summer. Here are a few photos of my granddaughter, grandson and daughter as we did a picnic in a park by a little creek.

My daughter made us ham and swiss panninis, fresh sliced peaches, pudding and lemonade. Awesome picnic and awesome company. Kids had a ball.

Hope you are getting some stampin' in this week and next week. If there is anything I can help you with or anything you want to order, I am only an email away.

Inky fingers y'all!!

OH MY GOODNESS, HAVE YOU SEEN IT??

2011-07-13T16:35:00.001-05:00

Have YOU seen the NEW Specialty Designer Paper called Mocha Morning? It is absolutely YUMMY and so elegant!! Two of my club members ordered this paper for my FLIP FLOP PHOTO ALBUM class and it came out so wonderful!! Here is a sample view of the paper and the catalog info so you can ORDER FROM ME ONLINE;

Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper (item #122366, p. 183).

The last two papers on the right side are FLOCKED!! They are so awesome!! The flocked sheets are not double sided, but the rest are double sided.

Stay tuned for tomorrow for photos of stamp club and what we created with this designer paper and more.

Inky fingers, y'all.

JOIN STAMPIN UP FOR ONLY $99 NOW

2011-07-10T11:46:00.001-05:00

Join Stampin' Up! & the Luv 2 Stamp Group for only $99

CLICK THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT TO LEARN MORE!!

$99 Starter Kit

During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit--valued at $185--comes with the following high-quality products:

•Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*

•Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*

•Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad

•Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

•Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

•Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

•Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock

•Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*

•Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*

•Note Cards (20)

•Clear-Mount Block C

•Blender Pen (1)

•SNAIL Adhesive

•Business supplies

*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit--a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful--isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.

As an added bonus, first-time demonstrators can get two free months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) when they sign up during their first 21 days as a demonstrator. Subscribing to DBWS means having your own online store, blog, hostess portal, and much more!

Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit--all for just $99! CONTACT ME NOW AND I WILL HELP YOU WITH THE PAPERWORK.

FIGHTING THE DROUGHT HERE IN TEXAS

2011-07-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

HERE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS WE ARE FIGHTING A BATTLE WITH THE HORRIBLE DROUGHT WE HAVE THIS YEAR. WE HAVEN'T HAD BUT ONE OR TWO SMALL SHOWERS SINCE NOVEMBER LAST YEAR!! WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE OUR BEAUTIFUL OAK AND ELM TREES SO WE ARE ON A WATERING SCHEDULE TRYING TO KEEP THEM ALIVE. HERE IN OUR TOWN, THERE ARE DEAD OAK, ELM AND PINES EVERYWHERE. I WOULD SAY ABOUT 15% OF THE TREES HAVE DIED OR ARE DYING. IT IS SO SAD. I HATE TO SEE THE BIG, OLD GROWTH TREES DIE LIKE THIS.

CHINCH BUGS HAVE INVADED MOST LAWNS DUE TO THE STRESS ON THE GRASSES. IT IS A HORRIBLE SITE, BUT CAN EASILY BE FIXED NEXT YEAR. I AM MOSTLY WORRIED ABOUT THE TREES AND THE CRITTERS THAT LIVE IN OUR FOREST.

SPEAKING OF CRITTERS, WE HAVE HAD A PAIR OF CROWS COME EACH SPRING AND NEXT IN SOME TALL PINES IN OUR NEIGHBOR'S YARD EACH YEAR TO HAVE THEIR BABY. SEEMS THEY HAVE JUST ONE BABY EACH YEAR. THEY ARE A NOISY BUNCH SO I ALWAYS KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE FLEDGED THE BABY AND ARE TEACHING IT HOW TO EAT AND HUNT. THE LAST YEAR'S FLEDGLING SEEMS TO HELP WITH THE FAMILY ONCE THE BABY FLEDGES BUT BY SUMMER IS GONE AND THERE ARE ONLY THREE TOGETHER AGAIN.

ANYWAYS, THERE WAS A BIG, I MEAN HUGE RUCKUSS IN THE BACKYARD WITH THE CROWS CAWING. A CACAPHONY OF NOICE. HA HA THERE WER SIX CROWS IN THE BACK YARD MAKING A FUSS SO I WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEN I SPOTTED THEIR PROBLEM. THEY WERE UPSET BECAUSE A POSSUM WAS WALKING ALONG THE BACK FENCE. I GUESS THEY DON'T USUALLY SEE ONE DURING THE DAYTIME SO THEY WERE ALL IN A TIZZY ABOUT IT. DO POSSUMS EAT BIRD EGGS I WONDER? ANYWAYS, ONCE I SPOTTED THE POSSUM AND WENT NEAR IT, THE BIRDS DECIDED THE HUMAN HAD IT UNDER CONTROL AND FLEW OFF.

IT TURNS OUT IS WAS OUR OWN MR POSSUM WHO WAS A BABY LAST YEAR IN OUR BACKYARD. I KNOW THIS HOW? DOESN'T ONE POSSUM LOOK LIKE ALL OTHER POSSUMS? NOPE...OUR LITTLE GUY WAS BRIGHT WHITE AND NEVER GOT THAT GRAY OR GRIZZLE COLOR LIKE OTHER POSSUMS DO. WE FIRST SAW HIM LAST YEAR IN MY WASHING MACHINE...YES, HE HAD FALLEN IN BECAUSE I LEAVE THE LID OPEN DUE TO HUMIDITY. HE HAD COME INTO MY GARAGE AND SOMEHOW FALLEN INTO THE EMPTY WASHER AND WAS SLEEPING IN THERE WHEN I WENT TO DO THE LAUNDRY. YIKES!! THERE WAS POSSUM POO EVERYWHERE. HE MUST HAVE WORN HIMSELF OUT TRYING TO GET OUT. HUBBY PICKED HIM UP AND I SNAPPED A PHOTO OF HIM BEFORE WE SET HIM LOOSE. A MONTH OR SO LATER WE SPIED HIM AGAIN IN THE BACKYARD AND WITH GLOVES THIS TIME HUBBY PICKED HIM UP AND WE GOT ANOTHER PHOTO SHOOT OF HIM.

SO, BACK TO THE CROW/POSSUM SITUATION---HE DID NOT LOOK WELL. HE LOOKED DAZED AND CONFUSED AND JUST SAT ON THE FENCE AS I TALKED SOOTHINGLY TO HIM. I WENT INSIDE AND GOT HIM A PIECE OF BANANA AND PUT IT ON THE FENCE AND LEFT HIM ALONE. I THINK HE WAS HUNGRY OR THIRSTY OR BOTH. WHEN I LOOKED AGAIN, THE BANANA AND THE POSSUM WERE GONE.

IT WAS FUN TO SEE MR POSSUM AGAIN A YEAR LATER. I BELIEVE HE WAS A RUNT OR HAS HAD A HARD TIME THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE HE WAS QUITE SMALL.

SO THE CROWS WERE GONE AND WENT ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS, MR POSSUM WENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS, AND I WENT BACK TO MY CRAFT ROOM TO GO ABOUT MY BUSINESS OF HAVING FUN WITH PAPER, INK AND SUCH. AND WATERING MY TREES, AND ITTY BITTY GARDEN.

MORE SAMPLES TO SHOW YOU NEXT TIME!

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORIES ABOUT CROWS, POSSUMS OR CRITTERS IN YOUR BACKYARD. WON'T YOU LEAVE ME A COMMENT?

WE ARE GROWING YARD LONG GREEN BEANS IN A LITTLE GARDEN THIS YEAR. THEY ARE SO FUN TO WATCH THEM GROW. I SWEAR THEY GROWN SEVERAL INCHES OVERNIGHT. I PICK THEM WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT 12-16 INCHES LONG. YUMMY.

HERE IT IS A VERY SMALL BEAN JUST FORMING.

ALSO GROWING YELLOW GRAPE TOMATOES. HAVE TO DO SMALL CHERRY OR GRAPE TOMATOES BECAUSE THEY BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS GET THEM BEFORE WE CAN OTHERWISE.

INKY FINGERS Y'ALL.

NEW CATALOG GOES LIVE

2011-07-01T10:53:00.003-05:00

THE NEW CATTY IS UP AND AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD OR TO VIEW. CLICK ON THE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT TO DOWNLOAD YOURS.
ALSO, A NEW WONDERFUL PROMOTION FOR JULY ONLY - JOIN STAMPIN UP IN JULY AND GET YOUR KIT FOR ONLY $99, PLUS GET A FREE PROJECT KIT PLUS MORE.

ENJOY perks of becoming a demonstrator, like

•A 20 percent product discount!

•A free monthly issue of Stampin' Success, Stampin' Up!'s demonstrator-only magazine!

•Sneak peeks at brand-new products!

•Invitations to exclusive Stampin' Up! events!

•Regular get-togethers to stamp!

•Free access to a community of 30,000+ crafters/stampers and creative artists, as well as 160,000+ project samples!

In addition, you will be eligible for TWO FREE months of Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS)--including you own business website and Online Store, access to a blog, calendar, a monthly e-newsletter, project gallery, and e-cards--if you sign up within 21 days of becoming a demonstrator.

click here for details:
http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/20918.asp

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN MY SU GROUP!!

Happy Independence Day and inky fingers y'all!!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND - THANKFUL FOR OUR COUNTRY

2011-06-30T14:40:00.000-05:00

I LOVE ALL THE PATRIOTIC DECORATIONS EVERYWHERE THIS WEEKEND. WE ARE SO BLESSED TO BE LIVING IN THIS SPECIAL COUNTRY WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL FREEDOMS.

I CREATED A CUTE STAR SHAPED BUD VASE HOLDER (SAW THE IDEA ON A BLOG LAST WEEK AND DIDN'T WRITE DOWN WHOSE IT WAS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE THE ONE WHOSE BLOG HAD THIS SO I CAN GIVE THE PROPER CREDIT)

I CHANGED IT A BIT BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE DECORATIVE PAPER IN STARS OR STRIPES. I USED SMALL RED STRIPES OF CARD STOCK, AND A SMALL STAR STAMP IN PACIFIC POINT FOR THE STARS AT THE TOP. WHAT DO YOU THINK??

YOU CAN SEE THE PATRIOTIC CARD I ALSO MADE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PHOTO.

I CRIMPED SOME BLUE AND RED CARD STOCK AND CUT IT VERY THIN FOR THE LOOK OF SPARKLERS COMING OUT OF THE TOP. I AM GOING TO GET SOME RED, WHITE AND BLUE FLOWERS TOMORROW TO HAVE THEM FOR THIS WEEKEND CELEBRATION. STAMP SET: land of the free single stamp
CARD STOCK AND INK: pacific point, real red, whisper white, (and daffodil delight for the tag)
OTHER: very slim bud vase from Dollar Store

UNTIL NEXT TIME, INKY FINGERS Y'ALL.

FUN TIME AT THE NEW CATTY OPEN HOUSE

2011-06-26T20:50:00.002-05:00

We had a fun time stamping and also drooling over the things we want from the NEW CATALOG that goes live this week on July 1st!! We laughed so much--especially at Dee who kept dropping the caps to the markers! Her long nails made it hard for her to put the caps back on and they would pop out of her hands and fly across the room.

WE MISSED YOU!! What happened that you couldn't make it?? Well, I hope you can make it to my next class - a FLIP-FLOP album class. What is that? It is a 6 x 6 album you create out of cardstock and the sides flip open and then flop over to show several pages. It is then decorated with the DSP pack of your choice and stamped and embellished on the cover - all in one class!! Then you can take your time to lovingly enter your photos into your album and add embellishments of your choice and journal those special memories. What a wonderful gift this would make for anyone in your life. I have made mine a grandchild album and am almost finished with all my photos and journaling, embellishments, etc.

The deadline to sign up for this class is July 3rd. Then I will order your paper and ribbon for the closing and will get the card stock all cut and scored and ready for you at the class on July 12th. What could be better than THAT!! Well, I will tell you what - this class is FREEEEE. Yep, it is. All you need to do is order the DSP and ribbon from me and pay for that and I will do all the rest. Then you arrive fresh and ready to get down to the fun of creating this cute album. In case you forgot what it looks like I am including some photos below of it.

Tell next time, inky fingers y'all.

OPEN HOUSE FOR ALL MY LOCAL CUSTOMERS

2011-06-22T14:22:00.001-05:00

I AM HAVING A FUN OPEN HOUSE AND NEW CATALOG PARTY FOR ALL MY LOCAL CUSTOMERS. I HAVE MADE 3 FUN MAKE AND TAKES FOR THEM TO DO.

I CHOSE THIS PATRIOTIC CARD IN HONOR OF INDEPENDENCE DAY COMING UP. I USED THE STAR DIE FOR MY BIG SHOT, BRIGHTS BRADS, THE RIBBON PUNCH AND LACED UP CHERRY COBBLER STRIPED BAKERS TWINE THROUGH THE HOLES. INSIDE WE WILL STAMP THE FLAG A LA CART STAMP FROM THE SUMMER MINI. NAVY, REAL RED AND DAFFODIL DELIGHT ARE THE CARD STOCK WITH SOME RETIRED BLUE FOR THE DIE CUT STARS.

THIS CARD IDEA ABOVE WAS TAKEN FROM THE ONLINE DEMO SITE FOR OUR STAMPIN DEMONSTRATORS MONTHLY MAGAZINE. I CHANGED THE STAMP I USED TO THE NEW HOSTESS SET SIMPLY SOFT WHICH IS A 2-STEP STAMP ( I LOVE 2-STEP STAMPS), AS WELL AS THE FIVE NEW IN COLORS BEING INTRODUCED IN THIS NEW CATALOG. I USED MY DOTTED SCALLOP PUNCH TO MAKE THOSE LAYERS ON THE RIGHT. I USED EARLY ESPRESSO AND ONE PART OF MY STITCHING WHEEL WHICH I CUT APART TO MAKE INTO SEPARATE STAMPS. THIS IS THE STITCHING ALL AROUND THE CARD EDGE. LOOKS PRETTY REAL I THINK. THEN I USED A CLEARANCE RACK CRUMB CAKE CORDOROY BUTTON WITH ESPRESSO STRIPED BAKERS TWINE TIED ON THE BUTTON. I AM LETTING THEM CHOOSE THE SENTIMENT THEY WANT INSIDE THEIR CARD.

MADE A CUTE BOOKMARK WITH ALL FIVE OF THE NEW IN COLORS. CALYPSO CORAL, WISTERIA WONDER, LUCKY LIMEADE, ISLAND INDIGO AND POOL PARTY. USED THE BUNDLE OF FLOWERS FROM THE LOAD OF FUN STAMP SET, AND THEN HAND LETTERED THE NAMES OF THE NEW COLORS WITH THE NEW MARKERS. SPONGED THE EDGES WITH LUCKY LIMEADE AND STAPLED A BIT OF RIBBON AT THE TOP. ON THE BACK IS ALL MY WEBSITE AND TELEPHONE INFO SO THEY CAN CONTACT ME WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING.

I HAVE LOTS OF SAMPLES FOR THEM TO LOOK AT AND A WISHLIST FOR THEM TO FILL OUT AS THEY STUDY THE SUPPLES AND STAMP SETS I HAVE AVAILABLE AND AS THEY POUR OVER THE NEW CATALOG. MY WISH LIST IS VERY VERY LONG!!

PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT TO TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE MY CARDS/MAKE AND TAKES. I REALLY ENJOY HEARING FROM YOU.

INKY FINGERS Y'ALL.

CREATING WITH FABRIC

2011-06-19T10:18:00.000-05:00

I LOVE paper. I also LOVE fabric. I am working on a quilt for my grand daughter, Miranda, to take with her to college in the fall. Her favorite color is purple and her high school colors were purple and white, so I am making the quilt in hues of purple.

First step: I cut out 6 1/2 inch squares of all my fabric choices.

Step Two: put right sices together and draw a line down the middle. Then sew down 1/4" away from the line on both sides and cut apart. This makes triangle squares.

Another example of the triangle squares.

Step Three: Put the triangle squares together in the pattern you choose. I chose a pinwheel pattern. Pin and sew together.

Then put the rows together and sew those together. Make sure your points are sharp and meet exactly with each addition. This is where I still am - putting all the squares together so I can complete the rows.

I will post the quilt top once it is completed.

If you remember my posting back a few weeks ago, I made her graduation card to look similar to this quilt. Here it is again:

I keep getting this shadow on all my photos, but I don't know what it is. I moved my fingers, my head, my hand, etc. but the shadow is still there. IF YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO NOT HAVE THE SHADOW, PLEASE leave me a comment so my photos can look better. H-E-L-P please!!

Inky fingers, y'all. and Happy Father's Day to all husbands and fathers.

SCRAPBOOKING WORKSHOP THIS PAST WEEKEND

2011-06-13T15:34:00.002-05:00

HEY Y'ALL

I HAD A SCRAPBOOKING WORKSHOP THIS PAST WEEKEND AND WE HAD 12 ATTENDEES. IT WAS SO FUN AND EVERYONE HAD A BLAST.

I HAD CREATED 4 DIFFERENT PAGES FOR THEM FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE. I USED THE SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT CALLED PRIMARY COLORS. HERE ARE THE PAGES I CREATED FOR THEM. THEY ARE 6 X 6 INCH PAGES:

THE COLORS OF THE PAGES ARE REAL RED, BLISS BLUE, MORE MUSTARD AND WILD WASABI. THE PHOTOS WILL GO SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE WITH A CS FRAMING THAT WILL MATCH. HERE THEY ARE UP CLOSE SO YOU CAN SEE THE DETAIL:

WE TORE THE DSP DOUBLE SIDED PAPER INCLUDED IN THE KIT TO ADD AFTER WE STAMPED THE BACKGROUND FLOWERS WITH BLISS BLUE. ONE OF THE SELF ADHESIVE LABELS WAS ALSO STAMPED WITH BLISS BLUE LARGER FLOWERS TO COORDINATE. THE THREE DOTS ARE FROM THE KIT AND ONE HAS A BRIGHTS BRAD IN THE MIDDLE.

THE REAL RED PAGE WAS STAMPED WITH THE LARGE BACKGROUND MEDALLION STAMP WITH PACIFIC POINT INK. A MORE MUSTARD FLOWER BRAD WAS ADDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEDALLION STAMP. MORE TORN DSP IN TWO PATTERNS FINISH THIS PAGE.

THIS MORE MUSTARD PAGE IS MY FAVORITE PAGE AND A LITTLE MORE TIME INTENSIVE. FIRST WE STAMPED WITH SUNNY FUN ACROSS A 6" PIECE OF CONFETTI WHITE CARD STOCK. THEN WITH AN AQUA MARKER AND THE INKS WE WATER COLORED THE PICTURE OF THESE LITTLE CUTIES IN THEIR TUBES IN THE WATER. SO CUTE. RANDOM BACKGROUND STAMP SAYS "FUN IN THE SUN" FROM THE SAME SET, THEN SELF ADHESIVE CIRCLES TO LOOK LIKE BUBBLES IN THE WATER, AND PHOTO CORNERS FROM THE KIT.

THIS GREEN PAGE IS THE LAST ONE AND THE MOST STAMPED. WE STAMPED OLD OLIVE AND WILD WASABI LEAVES ON THE 6" CONFETTI WHITE STRIP, AND THEN THE HYDRANGEA FLOWER ON THE ENTIRE BACKGROUND OF THE PAGE. THEN MORE MUSTARD INK SMALL BUTTERFLIES HERE AND THERE. WE EMPHASIZED AREAS OF THE FLOWER WITH AN OLD OLIVE MARKER TO MAKE THEM STAND OUT. WE SPONGED THE EDGES OF THE WHITE STRIP WITH WILD WASABI AND THE GREEN PAGE WITH MORE MUSTARD. A SMALL BRAD ON TOP OF THE POLKA DOT FROM THE KIT COMPLETES THE PAGE

ALL PAGES HAVE COLORS EITHER IN INK OR THE DSP TO COORDINATE WITH ADDITIONAL PAGES. THAT MAKES IT ALL FLOW AND COORDINATE SO WELL - THESE DESIGNER PAPERS FROM STAMPIN UP ALL COORDINATE AND ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.

I HAVE MORE PAPER AND CARD STOCK LEFT FROM THIS SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT AND WILL FINISH MY SCRAPBOOK WITH THEM.

HAPPY SCRAPPING AND STAMPING TO Y'ALL.

PAPER BAG ALBUM

2011-06-08T16:24:00.001-05:00

I made a paperbag scrapbook album from those tall thin paper bags that the grocery store gives out for wine bottles. I put them all together every other one facing to the right with the opening. Then I sewed them together with a small zigzag stitch down the middle. After I then folded them, I used my crop-a-dile to make two holes and threaded my ribbon through and tied a bow.

Then I used a SU scrapping kit to decorate the pages.
I would love to know what you think of this cute little book. I used some of those craft letters made from foam to put MY .....BOOK. I will provide more letters to the one who wins this at my next workshop so they can complete the title as to what kind of book they want this to be.

This is the front cover with the foam letters.

This is the back cover with the same DSP as the front cover.

Here are two facing pages using the paper and card stock from the scrap kit.

Two more pages and a die cut fabric flower.

You can see one of the pockets for memorabilia in this photo.

More fun paper and cardstock that coordinates.

I decorated the right page a little differently with the die cuts from the kit. This is a pocket page.

So the colors in the scrapkit are red, garden green, more mustard and bliss blue.

There are several pages of borders, die cuts and decos all ready to stick on your pages included in each scrap kit. If you don't have a Stampin Up Demo, I would love to be yours and help you with your papercrafting such as scrapbooking, card making, etc.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this paperbag scrapbook. I also have worked on 6 x 6 scrapbook pages
for my workshop this weekend. I used ink and stamps as well as the sticky die cuts included. I will post that next.

Inky fingers y'all. And happy crafting.

BLOG CANDY FOR MY BLOG-A-VERSARY THIS MONTH

2011-06-03T10:23:00.001-05:00

HEY Y'ALL: HAPPY HAPPY BLOG-A-VERSARY TO ME THIS MONTH. ONE YEAR I HAVE BEEN A STAMPIN UP DEMO AND HAVE HAD MY BLOG. I AM STILL LEARNING HOW TO DO SO MANY THINGS, BUT I AM REALLY ENJOYING THE EXPERIENCE OF BLOGGING AND MEETING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AS A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU TO ALL WHO VISIT MY BLOG (I KNOW THERE ARE MANY WHO VISIT BUT NEVER LEAVE A COMMENT) I HAVE SOME GIFTS FOR YOU.

I HAVE SOME NEW AND GENTLY USED CLEAR STAMP SETS, RIBBON, AND SOME CARDS TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO:

1. LEAVE ME A COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS POST AND TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE ITEM IN ANY OF THE PAST CATALOGS THIS YEAR FROM SU.

2. BECOME A FOLOWER OF MY BLOG AND TELL ME WHEN YOU LEAVE THE COMMENT

3. MAKE SURE THERE IS A WAY TO CONTACT YOU FROM YOUR COMMENT. YOU CAN LIST YOUR BLOG PAGE WHERE YOUR CONTACT INFO IS LOCATED, OR YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR EMAIL IN A "CODED" WAY WITH THE WORDS "DOT" AND "AT" SO THAT BLOG MINERS CANNOT GRAB IT FOR JUNK EMAILS.

THAT'S IT. AT THE END OF THE MONTH I WILL USE RANDOM "DOT" ORG (SEE HOW I DID THAT WITH THE WORD RATHER THAN THE CHARACTER?) TO CHOOSE THE WINNERS. THE MORE WHO FOLLOW AND LEAVE A COMMENT, THE MORE GIFTS I WILL BE SENDING.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING MY PAGE. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT, WON'T YOU?

ALSO, FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, I CAN SEND YOU SOME TUTORIALS BY EMAIL SINCE IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REGULAR MAIL YOU SOME GIFTS. YOURS WILL BE SPECIAL TUTORIALS AND INFORMATION I HAVE GLEENED IN MY YEAR AS A SU DEMONSTRATOR. I WANT EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO GET GIFTS FROM ME!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!!

JUNE 1ST IS AN IMPORTANT DAY

2011-05-31T20:24:00.000-05:00

SEVERAL REASONS WHY JUNE 1 IS SO IMPORTANT:

1. IT IS THE OFFICIAL START OF SUMMER AND EVER SINCE I WAS A CHILD I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED SUMMERTIME.

2. TOMORROW IS THE ANNOUNCING OF THE RETIRING LIST OF STAMPS AND SUPPLIES FROM THIS CURRENT CATALOG. STAMPIN UP WILL TELL US WHAT WILL NOT BE IN THE NEW CATALOG THAT COMES OUT JULY 1ST. CHECK BACK WITH ME TOMORROW AND I WILL HAVE THIS LIST POSTED. IT MEANS IF YOU WANT ANY OF THE ITEMS ON THE RETIRING LIST, IT IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. WHEN THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE. SO CHECK WITH ME FOR THE LIST AND THEN ORDER FROM MY SU SITE ASAP.

3. IT IS MY BLOG-A-VERSARY. HAPPY VERSARY TO ME, HAPPY VERSARY TO ME.... I HAVE BEEN POSTING HERE FOR A YEAR ON JUNE 1ST. SO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS....

BLOG CANDY, FUN STUFF, CHANCES TO WIN, ETC. ETC. ETC. ANOTHER REASON TO CHECK BACK WITH ME FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN SOME FUN BLOG CANDY AS MY WAY OF CELEBRATING YOU AND ALL YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENTS.

SEE YOU HERE TOMORROW. IN THE MEANTIME, INKY FINGERS Y'ALL.

ANOTHER PAGE IN MY CREATED SCRAPBOOK

2011-05-28T12:53:00.000-05:00

SO, REMEMBER MY SCRAPBOOK I CREATED HERE:

IT IS A FLIP AND FOLD ALBUM THAT I CREATED WITH BOTH CARD STOCK AND DESIGNER PAPER FROM STAMPIN UP. I USED RIBBON AS THE CLOSURE AND MADE THAT CUTE FLOWER ON THE FRONT. IT SAYS "GO IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS". LOVE THAT QUOTE

IT IS A MY GRANDCHILDREN'S SCRAPBOOK WHERE I HAVE A 2 PAGE LAYOUT FOR EACH ONE OF MY 5 GRANDCHILDREN. HERE IS THE PAGE FOR PENELOPE, OUR YOUNGEST GRANDCHILD:

HER BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT IS ON THE RIGHT. SO CUTE.

AND HERE IS OUR OLDEST GRAND DAUGHTER, MIRANDA. THESE ARE HER GRADUATION PHOTOS. SHE IS GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL THIS NEXT WEEKEND. WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER AND ALL HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THE BLANK ON THE RIGHT PAGE IS TO PUT HER GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT, ONCE I FIND WHERE MY HUBBY PUT IT. HE THINKS HE MIGHT HAVE THROWN IT AWAY!! WHAT??!! I HOPE NOT. :<(

THIS UPCLOSE OF THE LEFT PAGE IS TO SHOW YOU RANS WITH HER SAXAPHONE WHICH SHE PLAYED IN THE MARCHING BAND. ALSO THE TAG SAYS "GOOD NEWS" BECAUSE IT IS GREAT NEWS THAT SHE IS GRADUATING. BUT SAD NEWS THAT SHE WILL BE LEAVING FOR COLLEGE IN THE FALL.

LUCKILY SHE IS STAYING IN TEXAS SO WE WILL STILL GET TO SEE HER OCCASIONALLY. YIPPEE

MORE PAGES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. WAITING ON A FEW RECENT PHOTOS TO ARRIVE SO I CAN COMPLETE IT.

HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED TO KEEP US SAFE. WE LOVE YOU.

INKY FINGERS Y'ALL!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN??!! I'VE BEEN ZENTANGLIN'

2011-05-27T10:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry you have not heard from me in a little bit. You see, I have two paying jobs (not mentioning the millions of jobs we do that we DON'T get paid for!) ha. I work as a Hallmark Retail Merchandiser for stores in my area - mostly grocery stores. So when you are grocery shopping and decide to purchase a card because you need it ASAP, think of me...I put them there and take care of the ordering, displays, etc.

My OTHER paying job is ALSO CARDS - Stampin' Up Demonstrator. I LOVE BOTH MY JOBS - creative, colorful and they are both pretty much my own hours.

So, besides my two paying jobs, I was feeling a bit stressed with personal life and needed another outlet that would be helpful to de-stress but not require too much thinking. Enter ZENTANGLE. Have you heard of it? Google it and you will be hooked! I am. It is basically doodling like we used to do in elementary school, only now they call it ART. ha

Here is my first official Zentangle. It is very soothing and I love how smoothly the pen goes along the cardstock.

What do you think? Zentangles have different names for different kinds of tangles. The large main ones in this Zentangle are called Muchas. It looks like several different shepherd's hooks, but if you follow the lines, it is just one line that goes back on itself over and over again. I shaded with pencil and then I framed it with some DSP from Stampin' Up! Christmas paper and then with black. The pen is a special fine tipped marker for artists, but you can probably use any fine tipped marker you want. Mine was Sakura brand as they suggest for Zentangles.

Here is another photo with better lighting so you can see how nice the black and white plays against each other. This is being framed for my Grand daughter, Kayleigh, who is the family artist-in-residence. But it would make a wonderful card front, wouldn't it?

Wouldn't you LOVE to get a card with an original piece of artwork on the front??

If any of you are also doing Zentangles, Please share with me. I would LOVE to see what you have been doing. And Google Mucha Zentangle to see the description of this kind of tangle.

Are you still scrapbooking this month? Only a few days of the month left so get a couple pages completed so you feel like you accomplished something, ok? Hopefully this National Scrapbooking Month is just the PUSH we need to get some of our pages completed. I love when there is someone helping me along, don't you?

Happy scrappinig, tangling and cardmaking. Inky finger y'all!!

A flip and fold 6 x 6 album

2011-05-10T22:20:00.001-05:00

In honor of Scrapbooking Month, here is another album I created this past weekend. It is a flip and fold album. There are many different ways to make a flip and fold. I chose to do full and half pages that flip open, then in the middle I put a z fold. It is my Grandchildren album.

Here is the cover of my album. I used Word Play stamp set for my cover, as well as the big shot die fabulous flowers.

Here is the album flipped open and with my DSP on each page. But before I started adding my family photos.

The first page is our newest grandbaby, Miss Penelope. She was born just a month ago and we are so pleased to have her in our family. She is such a tiny little girl and so very special and perfect.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my flip and fold album. I will show it again once I get all the other grandchildren's pages completed.

Do some scrapbooking this month. Inky fingers y'all.

PLANNING MAKES IT HAPPEN...

2011-05-09T09:58:00.001-05:00

Have you ever taken a cooking class even if you know how to cook? How about a sewing class even though you know how to sew? I enjoy taking classes in areas I like to do things because it gets me to do the things I like!!

For instance, I just took a sewing class to get myself back into sewing again. It has been a long time since I dusted off my machine and made anything. Because of the class I made some awesome curtains for our bedroom. And now I am working on a graduation quilt for my oldest granddaughter. I like when there is a class or meeting that helps me get into an area that I enjoy.

That is how I feel about National Scrapbooking Month. I have so much to scrapbook that I just haven't done anything in a loooong time. But I set a goal of doing scrapbooking once a week for this whole month of May so I can get back into it again. I am having a good time too!!

I first blurffed (my name for blog surfing) some scrapbooking ideas before I did my first week of scrapping. And I found several very interesting scrapbooks to make - unusual ones. I like unique and different...

One was a mini scrapbook made from one sheet of 12 x 12 paper. I believe it is called the Meander Book or Meander mini album. Beate on Splitcoast Stampers has a great tutorial on it. Here is the address for her tutorial: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/meander_book/ It was so fun to fold and cut slits here and there, then fold it up and presto, a mini album with pockets for tabs to pull out. Can't picture it in your mind?? Voila - here is a photo of mine I created:

Sorry for the poor quality photo. I am thinking I need a Photo class next, huh? This is a very very mini album the size for those school wallet photos per page. I made the cover from 3 x 3 coasters and covered them with dsp. The little tabs are just pieces of dsp with a stick on deco on the top as the pull tab.
Isn't it darling? So little yet holds so much. I am going to give this to one of the grandkids for their school photos of all their friends for this year.

Come back tomorrow for another new album in honor of scrapbooking month - FLIP AND FOLD ALBUM.
Happy scrapping and inky fingers y'all!

JOIN MY TEAM NOW WHILE YOUR STARTER KIT IS AN AMAZING PRICE

2011-05-03T09:17:00.003-05:00

Digital+ Starter Kit Special

This is the perfect time for you to join the Stampin' Up! family. During National Scrapbooking Month, you will get 30 percent off the Digital+ Starter Kit. You can also purchase the Stampin' Memories Add-On for 30 percent off as well!

Digital+ Starter Kit* (valued at more than $320!) Sale Price $122.50
Contents:

•My Digital Studio Software

•2 Wood-mount stamp sets - you choose which sets

•1 clear-mount set with clear block - you get to choose

•2 card stock packs of your choice

•4 Classic ink pads, your color choices

•2 Stampin' Write markers, also your choice

•Buttons

•Ribbon, you pick

•Stampin' Scrub

•Stampin' Mist

•Stampin' Dimensionals

•Mini Glue Dots

•SNAIL Adhesive

•Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

IF you want to purchase the additional Stampin' Memories add on:
Stampin' Memories Add-On (valued at more than $75!) sale price $35

•1 stamp set
•1 card stock pack
•1 Designer Series Paper pack
•1 Quick Accents pack
•1 Designer Printed Album (12" x 12")

Contact me and I will discuss how fun it is to get all these products at such a discounted price. There is no obligation to ever order any more items if you don't want to. You can quit at any time. But I think you will enjoy all these products and want to order more as well. :-)

AND THE WINNERS ARE.....PLUS NEW CONTEST

2011-05-01T11:39:00.001-05:00

I decided to choose TWO winners of a free hostess stamp set!! More is always better isn't it? Especially if it is MORE FREE STUFF!! Congrats to Jackie and to Dee for being my TWO winners for the "end of Occasions Mini" event last week.

Wow, giving away free stuff is FUN, FUN, FUN. I think I am going to do this more often. I said MORE FREE STUFF MORE OFTEN! (that was a big shout to those who missed out on their chance to win with this last contest.) ha

NEXT CONTEST

My NEXT contest is going to be with the new STRENGTH and HOPE stamp set. Everyone who orders this set from me in the month of MAY, then submits an email with the card they made with this set will have a chance to WIN WIN WIN. And there will be more than just YOU who wins - this STRENGTH and HOPE stamp set is very special - we at SU! are donating $2 from every stamp set purchased towards breast cancer research in hopes of finding a cure. YOU can help by purchasing this stamp set and then you can win by also sending me a photo of your card you made to enter into the contest.

This stamp set is on the last page of the new Summer Mini catalog so you can see all 4 of the stamps in the set.

Wood stamp set item #118100 $17.95

Clear stamp set item #123660 $13.95

Digital kit item #124475 $9.95

I will post a photo of WHAT you will WIN if you are chosen in this contest in my next post. (Getting it all together so it will look nice and pretty in the photo. . .)

as they used to say on the TV - STAY TUNED FOR MORE...

Inky fingers y'all!

MAY IS NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH

2011-04-29T14:30:00.000-05:00

May Promotion Starts Today!

Stampin' Up is starting the May National Scrapbooking Month Bundle special TODAY and it will go throughout the month of May!! YIPPEE.

What is this special? Glad you asked!! Take 30% select stamp sets from the IBC:

Party Hearty (p. 54) wood only, item #111532, sale price only $18.87

Grunge Rock, (p. 87), wood item #117080, sale price $14.67; clear item #120555, sale price $11.17

Animal Stories, (p. 94), wood only item #116716, sale price $11.17

Printed Petals, (p. 106), wood item #116679, sale price $13.97; clear item #120444, sale price $10.47

Simple Friendship, (p. 108), wood item #113397, sale price $18.17

Word Play, (p. 147), wood item #120308, sale price $29.37; clear item #120651, sale price $20.27

Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Lower, (p. 162), wood item #120272, sale price $22.37; clear item #120648 sale price $16.77

You can order from my online SU! site at any time convenient for you. I would enjoy seeing your pages you create this month. Please send me an email so I can see what you have created.

Inky fingers y'all.

FRIDAY MASHUP CHALLENGE - B & W AND SQUARE CARD

2011-04-23T20:48:00.001-05:00

Here is my entry for the Friday Mashup Challenge of a black and white card that is square. I did a 5" square white card with a black layer under the newsprint dsp. The newsprint DSP and it's layer I put assymetrical on the square card. I used my fancy flowers die and my BIG SHOT and cut out fabric in black, beige with black polka dots and then a small black circle in the center. An antique brad holds the flower together. I used stretchy black cord at the top, and stamped "Elegant Thank You" on white with a layer of black behind it, punched out in decorative label punch. Hope you enjoy my card. Please leave a comment, I enjoy hearing your comments.

BABIES, BUNNIES, FLOWERS = SPRING

2011-04-23T09:34:00.002-05:00

Oh how I love spring. The flowers - the baby birds and animals - the breezes - and the colors of green. Green is my favorite color and each spring I remember why I love green so much. There is nothing quite as beautiful as new green growth in all it's splendor.

I also love spring when I remember this verse, "Who seeketh thou? He is not here, but has risen." What a glorious statement and what a glorious promise of resurrection for all of us. I am grateful for the promise of the resurrection and eternal life with our family and loved ones.

I finally got a photo of the cute onesie I made for my new granddaughter, Penelope. Wow, sometimes technology really sucks and is frustrating, eh? Cords missing, things not working, bad photos, etc. whew - finally!! Here it is made from the Sew Suite matching fabric and the rose red striped ribbon from the clearance rack. Don't you just love the pompom trim along the edges of the ruffles?? To make the ribbon rose I just did a running stitch along one edge and gathered it up then hand sewed it in place.

Before I go I wanted to share a beautiful ruffled iris from my garden. This is an amazing bloom because they don't do well in this part of Texas because it usually doesn't get cold enough in the winter. But we had some freezing weather this year and it finally bloomed. I got a piece of it 3 years ago from my mother in law's garden in Utah and it makes a nice green plant, but it never bloomed until this year. PRETTY!!

Happy Easter to you and your family.

Creative Sketches TECHNIQUE WEEK!! CS29T AND PPC Specialty Challenge #6 - EASTER

2011-04-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

I am entering my Easter Bunny "Happy Hoppy" in this weeks Creative Sketches Technique Week Challenge. Here is the sketch they issued:

with the technique of using pastels on the card. My take on this challenge is as follows:

The layer they show for the front I took the liberty to make larger and double layer it - rich razzleberry solid card stock in the back and a hand stamped decorative layer of bunnies for the front. For the ribbon I used rich razzleberry taffeta ribbon and for the punched element I used the decorative label and the four frames stamp colored with markers and chalked. The created the wording "Happy Hoppy" by putting a self sticking pearl for the "o" in Hoppy. This has a layer behind it of rich razzleberry as well. Clean and Simple and cute!!

So sorry my photo shows a little bit of yellowing on the left, it is a shadow. There is no yellow on this card; it is just the shadow from taking the photo.

I would enjoy receiving your comments.

Inky fingers to all y'all!! AND Happy Hoppy.