Nevada State Bird (MMTPT122)

This is for this week's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. To find out the whole story, go here. We've been offered free lessons at this party. If we want to learn to bungee jump, we are to bring a cat to the party, but if we'd like to learn to fly, we are to bring a bird. If we want to learn both, then we should bring a cat AND a bird. Well, I cannot see myself bungee jumping, but I wouldn't mind learning to fly, so I am bringing a bird. This is the Mountain Blue Bird which is the state bird of Nevada AND Idaho. I'm such a bird brain!! I should have brought the state bird of Texas, the Mockingbird, because Texas is the destination for this card!

I used Pacific Point, Creamy Caramel, Wild Wasabi, Basic Gray and Basic Black card stock plus Autumn Meadows DSP (retired). The corners are die cut with the Cuttlebug Vintage corners, the center die cut is a Labels Nestie, the bird was punched with the Bird & Branch Punch from SU! and the pine branches were punched with Martha Stewart's Branch Punch. Thanks for stopping by!!!!

December 2010 Club Projects

Project #1 is a gift card holder or you could put cash or checks in it. I got instructions from Kim Score's blog to make the punch art reindeer. Her card has three deer on it, but I thought one would be enough for my ladies. The base card is Baja Breeze. The top has Wintergreen DSP (retired) and the bottom is just stamped with the Wood Grain background stamp with lines drawn for the boards with Early Espresso Marker and then it's sponged. This would work for a last minute Christmas gift.

Project #2 will be this easel card with the 2011 calendar in it. Don't let the red and green "Season's Greetings" fool you. When you tear off December, 2010, it only has black and red on each page. That's why I chose to use the flower from "Happiness Shared". If someone keeps this on their desk all year, it doesn't need to have holiday images on it. That's just my opinion!! I used Marina Mist, Whisper White and Real Red card stock plus Brights Collection DSP. The flower was colored with Water Color Pencils and blended with a Blender Pen and baby oil. There's some Dazzling Diamonds around the center. Everything here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Simple Flower (CAS95)

The Clean And Simple challenge is to use flower accents. They could be Primas or cut out. Mine is die cut. I used the Birds & Blooms Sizzlits to create the layered flower and the leaves. I used the back end of my bone folder to curl the petals and leaves a bit, and I sponge them with Early Espresso ink. I put it all together with a brad (Soft Subtles, retired) and adhered the flower to the Naturals White card with a Pop-Up Glue Dot (retired). I stamped and embossed the sentiment from "Sincere Salutations" with Gold EP. I think that's the first set I ever bought from Stampin' Up! Everything here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!!

CASEing Kris (FS199)

Well, I guess I'm still into CASEing! This is for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. Our Featured Stamper this week is krischir. Kris has a fabulous gallery, and I chose to CASE this card. I don't have any more Kiwi Kiss card stock, but I do have the ribbon. I used Summer Sun and Kiwi Kiss, but I didn't use any orange. I moved the flower and scallop circle to the center, stamped and punched out the flower and popped it up. The DSP is the In-Color Paper Pack (hostess) Pear Pizazz. I added Basic Pearls to my little embossed flowers and to the sentiment panel which I matted with the Modern Label Punched Summer Sun Piece. The base card is Naturals White with a layer of Certainly Celery Textured Card Stock (TCS). The scallop circle is Pear Pizazz. The flower stamp is the single stamp, "For You Flower". Notice that tiny little heart on the flower: There's a heart there on the stamp, so I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch and adhered one of those tiny little hearts over the stamped heart. It took a bit of patience to get that thing straight! Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Charlie Brown Tree (C4C65)

This is a CASE of patsmethers' card that she called "Lil Gems". Her little Charlie Brown tree came from a retired set. Mine came from the "Loads of Love" set. I changed the embossing folder and the ribbon and ribbon placement as well as the actual stamp. The two trees sure do look alike though! This is also for the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge to use script. This is my second card for that challenge today! Thanks again for stopping by!!!

Magazine CASE

I'm into CASEing today, I guess. This is a CASE of some cards in CardMaker Magazine's November, 2010, issue. It's a great way to use scraps which I have plenty of! I used Naturals White for the base card, scraps of retired DSP, and Whisper White for the main panel. The panel was punched with the Eyelet Border Punch, some retired Taffeta Ribbon was tied in a knot and added to the top of the panel. The sentiment from "Four the Holidays" was embossed on each and either rhinestones or pearls were added. The whole panel was popped up on Dimensionals. Thanks again for stopping by!!

Snow! (C4C65)

The Crazy 4 Challenges challenge was to use script on a card; either embossed or designer paper. First of all, I got a 6" x 6" piece of this patterned paper from a friend. I also had this little penguin already made. I put the two together and created this card. It's going to my friend who gave me the DP; her hubby loves penguins, too! Thanks for stopping by!

Favorite Food (TSC1126)

This week, it was my turn to present the Twisted Sistahs' Challenge. Since it's the day after Thanksgiving, I thought of FOOD!! LOL! The challenge is to have food on the card, and there must be a ribbon. Also, there must be gingham or checks which could be the ribbon. Now, this had to be food, not drinks like coffee, cocoa, tea or other kinds of drinks. My favorite food is Ice Cream! Also, lots of things are better with a cherry on top! The stamp is an old dollar stamp made by Vap! Scrap which I think I got years ago at the dollar store. I also used SU!'s "Tart & Tangy" for the cherries. I used Liquid Applique for the whipped cream and added Crystal Effects to the cherries so they would shine. I love that gingham ribbon I got at WalMart. Thanks for stopping by!!

CASEing Pat (CCEE1047)

Well, I was in patsmethers' gallery this morning and found two cards I definitely want to CASE. The first card by Pat can be found here. I loved the idea of using the DSP for the main image and just stamping the sentiment on it! I changed the colors, sentiment stamp, border punch, embossing folder and bling. Also, I don't have the wonderful supply that Pat has when it comes to silk flowers, etc., so I made my own rose and leaves. The CCEE Stampers' Challenge was to use lace, but I looked high and low in my craft room and only found black lace. I hope the punched border will count as "lace" trim since I seem to be out of luck in the lace department! Thanks for stopping by!!

From the Heart (DDMCC03, SC308)

This is for that new challenge presented each Saturday by DellsDani. It's a musical challenge. She gives us a song, we use it to inspire us to make a card, the card goes out to someone in need. In this case, the cards are going to a relative of one of our stampers at SCS because she needs to get some SCS love and cheer. She is battling health issues plus she recently became a widow. I thought if I combined this with the Sketch Challenge, more people would see it and learn about this new challenge and the needs of this lady in Australia. The card is Regal Rose and Whisper White. The stamp and sentiment on the front and envelope are from "Watercolor Trio". The inside sentiment is from "Butterfly Prints" and it reads, "Love is like a butterfly...it goes where it pleases and pleases where it goes." I used Regal Rose DSP from the Brights Collection for the patterned papers. Everything is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

Tea-rriffic! (MMTPT121)

Well, what with going to Reno in the snow and playing with Pipsqueak, our new puppy, I'm amazed that I got this card done! It's for Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday Challenge. We were supposed to bring Victorian, fine china, lace table cloths, nice silver and floral tea sets and bring feminine, fancy, sophisticated and fine, bring roses and pearls, lace and taffeta, bring ruffles and collars and fine Pattin leather, bring your fanciest jewelry, your fanciest hat, bring colors of red wine, burgundy and some pink, some ivory, soft white and a smidge of silver! Well, I brought quite a few of those things, even the roses and pearls! The base card is Basic Black with Old Olive DSP and Silver Metal Sheet embossed with the Victorian EF. The stamps are from Rubbernecker Teatime set. The Real Red Textured CS is embossed with Leafy Branch EF. The roses are from Michael's and the leaves were punched with the Bird & Branch Punch. Thanks again for stopping by!!!

Pipsqueak

I brought Pipsqueak home today. I couldn't wait. I was supposed to pick him up tomorrow, but I called and asked if it would be OK to pick him up a day early. I brought him home for a little bit so that my mom could meet him and my son could get to know him a little bit; then, I headed for PetSmart in Reno (at least 40 miles each way) to get him a sweater. When I put him outside for a few minutes to work on house breaking him, he shivered so much! He's so tiny! I found an extra small sweatshirt with a hood that says "Harley Davidson Motor Cycles" on the back. In the photo above, you can see the back of his shirt. It cost more than MY sweatshirts!! LOL!

He's getting to know my son and looking back at me. He must have been curious about the camera.

Isn't he cute in his little sweatshirt?!! It's still too big for him, but he'll grow into it! Extra Small is the smallest they had!!

My son was sitting on the floor with Pip in his lap, and my son took this photo. He won't look like this when he's fully grown and his ears stand up! I just thought I'd share these pics; it's such an exciting time! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Cardinal Tutorial

I've been asked to explain how I made the cardinal for yesterday's Clean & Simple Challenge card. I found instructions online, but now I can't find them, and I wanted to time myself anyway, so I made this picture tutorial. While the photos were uploading, I made a few more cardinals. After I took all these photos, I timed myself and it took less than 5 minutes to create one bird, but that was with all the pieces already punched. With another minute or two to punch those pieces, you've got yourself a birdie!
Please forgive the glare in the first couple of photos. I use the glass cutting mat in my work space. I cut scraps of Cherry Cobbler card stock into 1" and 3/4" strips to be able to insert them into the Bird & Branch Punch easily. The wider strips are for the bird body and the narrower for the wings.

I also use scraps of More Mustard and Basic Black for the beak and the area around the beak. (Does that black part have a name?)

I trim off about 1/3 of the bottom of one wing. Cutting the beak out of the black piece, I use a narrower cut than I do on the red so that no red will show.

After adhering the top (crop?) to the back of the head, I sponged the bird and the other two wings with Early Espresso.

Now, I adhere the beak behind the main body that has the beak cut out. Remember to make this cut just a little wider than you do on the black piece.

Adhere the black piece. Remember to make the cut narrower than on the red when cutting out the beak.

Adhere one wing behind the body (adhesive on the body) and one wing on the front of the body (adhesive on the wing). I added a tiny black half pearl for the eye.

Turn it over and attach a Dimensional to the back so that it will be popped up on your project.

You could use the branch on the Bird & Branch punch, but I thought the Martha Stewart Branch Punch looks more like a Christmas tree.

The bird I made while taking all these photos is on the top. When I made this other one, I timed myself, and it took less than five minutes. Of course I had all the pieces punched already. Add punching time, and it should take only about six or seven minutes to make one cardinal! I hope this helps!!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Welcome Christmas (CAS94)

I had Stamp Camp on Friday, finished Friday's post on Saturday but didn't get around to making any new cards on Saturday. Yesterday, I didn't feel well, so we just watched movies after we got home from church and lunch. Now, I guess I'm back at it!

This card is for the Clean & Simple challenge which was to do sponging. This card actually only took about 10 minutes to make. I'm getting good at making those cardinals! In fact, I made an extra one while I was making this card, and the card still only took about 10 minutes! I did some reverse masking and sponged the small oval with Always Artichoke, I punched the branches from Always Artichoke card stock. I made the cardinal and sponged him and popped him up on a dimensional. The sentiment is from "Heard from the Heart." Everything except the branch punch is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

November 2010 Stamp Camp Projects

I started to upload these yesterday, but had to get ready for Stamp Camp. Here's what we made:
This is a simple card, but the technique was important. We used Crayon Resist or Wax Resist technique. My second card that I made to demonstrate turned out better though. It has less white. You have to use glossy white card stock, stamp with Stazon and highlight with a white crayon; then, you sponge ink all over (in one direction). After that, you use a tissue to rub off the wax or crayon leaving the highlights. It's supposed to look like the star is shining down on the Holy Family. Everything is from Stampin' Up! This card is a CASE of the sample in the Holiday Mini. Instead of using the tinsel garland, we used the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch with a line of Chunky Glitter down the middle. The image was stamped in Soft Suede on the Crumb Cake tag, then it was stamped with Baja Breeze on Whisper White, cut out, sponged and popped up on the tag. Everything here is from Stampin' Up! too.

The info for this one may be found in my post, "CASEing Greenie". I thought it turned out so cute, I used it for a Stamp Camp design! Everything here is from Stampin' Up!

I basically used this week's Sketch Challenge card for this, except that I eliminated one matted layer. See my "Lotta Layers" post for more info on this one. I used a Cuttlebug EF and an EK Success Punch, but everything else is from Stampin' Up!

This was already posted as "Stamp Camp Project" because I used it for a challenge last week. I love Punch Art!!! Everything here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Fall Synpathy (CCEE1046, TSC1119)

This is for two challenges. First, the CCEE Stampers Challenge which was to use buttons on our projects. This is also for our Twisted Sistahs' Challenge which was to make a fall themed sympathy card. My niece's husband passed away a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't sent her a card yet. This is for her. I used "French Foliage" to stamp the background on the Ruby Red base card and also for the leaves on the main image panel. I used the same set to stamp more leaves, cut them out, sponge them and crinkle the edges a bit. I tied them together with Linen Thread that was threaded through the button and tied in a bow. I popped the whole arrangement up with a Pop-Up Glue Dot. The sentiment is from "Thoughts and Prayers". The inside sentiment reads, "Sharing in your Sorrow." Everything used to make this card is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

Lotta Layers (SC307)

Today's Sketch Challenge has a lot of layers. I'm going to use this for stamp camp, but I will eliminate one layer. You'll see! The only non-SU! products used here are the Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug EF and the EK Success Border Punch. This is Real Red and Very Vanilla card stock with Real Red DSP (Brights Collection). The stamp set is "Peaceful Season". It's a hostess set, and I just love it! Thanks for stopping by!!

I stopped on the way... (MMTPT120)

The Tea Party will be in Massachusetts this week. For the whole story, go here. We are to use route 88 to get there because the party will be for one of our partiers' moms. Evelyn is her name, and she will be 88 years old on the 27th. Well, I found a wonderful bakery on the way. All of the cakes were displayed on red glass cake stands. Every one looked so delicious with the fluffy whipped cream frosting! I think I bought enough for all of us! There was a florist next door, so I bought her one red rose. I know she likes irises, but she can get those right out of her yard! Besides, her daughter loves red!!!

I used the Birthday Bakery hostess set with liquid applique for the frosting. The background was embossed with the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder and the rose is store-bought. Thanks for stopping by!!

Lori's Sketch (CAS93)

This is for today's Clean & Simple Challenge which was to use a sketch by ltecler as shown here. I changed the circles to a wreath, used Real Red DSP from the Brights Collection and used Poppy Parade ribbon. For the bow, I used Taffeta Ribbon from last year's Holiday Mini. I couldn't find my black Stazon, so I used Black Craft ink and embossed it with Clear EP. I'm glad I did! Everything is from Stampin' Up! Thanks again for stopping by!!!

CASEing Angela (FS197)

This is for yesterday's Featured Stamper Challenge. Our Featured Stamper this week is Jellybean74. The card I picked from Angela's wonderful gallery is shown here. Since hers was a sketch challenge card, I changed the layout a little. I changed the location of the sentiment and added a brad. I also changed the stamps, papers and ribbon and eliminated the button. Everything used here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

Two challenges (DDMCC02, WWWXMAS)

The two challenges are: patsmethers challenged us to make a Christmas card using images from the retired Wild Wild West set (SU!), and DellsDani is in her second week for her new Musical Card Challenge where she picks a song and we use it for inspiration to make a card. Her song this week is by Clay Walker. It's Chain of Love. If you watch the video, you'll know what the inspiration might be. Seeing as how the song is Country/Western, I thought it would work with the Wild Wild West cowboy, and I added a store-bought holly sprig to make it a Christmas card. I think he's hoping for a new hat, a new pair of boots and some help rounding up several hundred longhorns come spring!!! The main image is stamped, die cut and sponged. The hat and longhorn (from "Old West") were stamped with Craft Black and heat dried, and the boot (also from "Old West") was stamped with Basic Black Craft and embossed with Clear EP. Everything was popped up on Dimensionals. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Camp Project

This is for my next Stamp Camp, but I'm posting it now for the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge which is to make a Christmas card. I bought instructions from Kim Score for her Holiday designs. This cute little punch art elf was among the designs in the set. All the punches, card stock, designer paper and the brad came from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

New puppy

Well, it wasn't all that long ago that we said good-bye to Minnie Mutt, our faithful companion for over 16 years. We are now waiting for this little guy to turn 8 weeks old so he can leave the mama doggie. 8 weeks will be up on Thanksgiving Eve. I can hold this little guy in my two hands. The lady that owns the parent dog was holding him here so I could take pics. I have to get a crate for him and have it ready for when he moves in with us. We're looking forward to it! Thanks for stopping by!

CASEing Greenie (QFTD35)

This is for the Queen for the Day Challenge. Our queen is none other than my friend and Sistah, irishgreensue!!! Congratulations to Greenie, as I call her!! Sue is such a talented stamper, and I was pleased to be able to CASE her!! I picked this card to CASE. I changed the stamp set from "Big om Spring" to "Big on Christmas". I also changed the colors from mostly blue to mostly white and embossed the white panel instead of stamping a background. Everything used here is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!!

Yellow Flowers (CCEE1045)

This is for the CCEE Stampers Challenge which was to use store-bought flowers on our cards. I have this bottle of Primas that I should use often, but I wind up making my own flowers. I'm happy to participate in this challenge so that I can use up some of my flowers that I bought! The base is a big 5 X 7 pre-folded card base that comes with matching envelopes. There's a layer of Whisper White that has been embossed with a CB Asian Set folder. The sentiment is from "Occasional Quotes". Gingham Ribbon came from Michael's. Thanks for stopping by!!

Early Christmas

Well, I've received many cards from my Twisted Sistah friends, but I've never photographed and posted them before. I've decided to start posting all my RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness). This one is from Coffeestamper. We also call her "Perk" among other nicknames! Sue sent me this because I was rooting for the S.F. Giants to win the playoffs and then the World Series. I had said that, if the Rangers won, I would send a RAK to Tater who lives in Texas. Well, Sue said she'd send me one since the Giants won the series. I told everyone on the Twisted Sistahs bus that they do NOT have to send me any RAK's for the Giants winning. Well, Sue didn't listen!! She sent me this Christmas card early with some stamped images and clear stamps! Her lovely card is traditional red and green with lots of punched embellishments and pretty bling. I love the image and the sentiment that reads, "Be naughty....Save Santa the trip!!"

One More Teapotter Card

This card was created by JD From PAUSA. Jill made this A4 size card with the "quilted" design. She used various patterned papers with white on one side to make the design. She punched circles and then folded them into squares creating this lovely quilt affect. Adding pearls in the centers of the designs really tops it off. Jill sent me such a sweet letter describing how she was a care giver for her mother for a while. She lost her mother to cancer last February. She even sent cash to add to the donations for the respite care for my mom. I now have $434 which will pay for what the Alzheimer's Association grant doesn't cover, plus it will pay for at least one night's stay in a hotel. That will be wonderful!

Peace on Earth (SC306)

Today's Sketch Challenge (on SCS) takes advantage of DSP. The main image is on a square instead of a circle because I stamped on a scrap and had no room to cut it out as a circle. I used Deck the Halls DSP for the first layer and the horizontal strip. The stamp set is "Peaceful Season", and it's a hostess set in the Holiday Mini. The main panel is popped up and so are the cut out holly sprigs. My color combo is Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except the Nesties. Thanks for stopping by!!

On My Mind (MMTPT119)

You'll need to go to Mothermark's challenge post to find out the whole story behind this one. There's probably 42,000 cards with white daisies on the front in the gallery, but I went ahead and made this one anyway. I die cut the daisy, sponged it, curled the petals a bit and popped it up. The leaves were just hand drawn, cut out and sponged. The green layer is debossed with CB Floral Screen EF. The sentiment is from "Upsy Daisy". Cindy said they wanted white flowers for the outside of a canoe and colored ones for the inside, so I put a couple of yellow poofy stickers on the inside like the one on the envelope. Everything except the stickers and EF is from Stampin' Up! Thanks for stopping by!

Joy (TSC1112)

This is actually for Friday's Twisted Sistahs Challenge, but I don't think I will be here to upload, so I'm doing this early. I won't put it on SCS until at least Wednesday. Anyway, I've wanted to make a card like this one for about a year now. I received a similar store-bought card last year from a friend and just loved it. The first photo shows the front of the card. It measures 3" X 6". There's patterned paper from DCWV Christmas Stack in two different patterns here. I stamped with Versamark on Green Galore and embossed with Red Tinsel EP using a stamp from "Season of Joy". That main image is popped up, but underneath on the edges is some fiber. There's sheer ribbon at the top with a square Fire Rhinestone. There's also a 3/4" punched circle behind the ribbon to hide the brad points.

When it's open, you can see all four panels. I traced around some chipboard letters on DSP and then cut the letters out. I used more patterned papers from the Christmas Stack on every panel.

This photo got washed out for some reason, but you get the idea. This view shows the back of the card with the last panel for writing your message. It also shows that I did include a border!! Everything is embossed with the Red EP and the tree is cut out and popped up. It took a while to complete this, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. irishgreensue is the one who presented this week's challenge. She gave us three options: 1) EASY - Make a card that is mainly green, 2) MEDIUM - Make a card that is green with a border of some kind, and 3) HARD - Make a card that is green, has a border AND has an unusual kind of fold (other than the standard A2 cards) As you can see, I went with option #3! Thanks again for stopping by!