CHRISTMAS ROSE ~ EASEL CARD

Hi Stampers,

I'm back today with an easel card that we made at Stamp Club on Monday. Jamie, a very talented stamper in my club, graciously taught how to make the card.....and then also gave us a lesson in watercoloring!! It was quite a treat!!

I should have taken a picture of Jamie's sample.....because it was WAY BETTER than the one I made, which is pictured here.

We stamped the Christmas Rose image on watercolor paper with StazOn ink and then watercolored it....we cut it out using some Nestabilities that she had brought and mounted it on some retired Handsome Hunter cardstock that I had and then used the scallop corner punch to add that "just right" touch.

This is an easel card.....so we put a piece of Handsome Hunter on the inside, along with a sentiment and there's the finished product.....

It turned out really nice!!! The "real life" cards are always so much better than what my camera is capable of portraying....but, gotta work with what I have!

This is the last day of school for the kids before Christmas vacation.....so, with that said.....I may or may not be back before Christmas.

If I'm not....have a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Until next time,

find some time for stamping!!

Blessings......Cindy

ELEMENTS OF STYLE ~ CLUB CARD

Hi Stampers!

Today's card uses the Elements of Style stamp set from the new Summer Mini. This is a GREAT set.....so pretty!!! I sure hope this set stays around!!!!

This card's inspiration came from the demonstrator only website Stampin' Connection. The demonstrator's name is Kim Ransom. I changed this card up just a bit.....and I LOVE how it turned out!!!

The card is pretty simple.....I used watercoloring to color the flowers and what you can't tell from the photo is that I sprayed the flowers with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz which is also in the Summer Mini. These Smooch Spritzes are SO COOL!!!! I hope SU carries them over to the new year!!!

This was the second card that we made at my monthly stamp club yesterday evening.

Well, that's all folks!! Until next time, find some time for stamping!!!

Blessings..........Cindy

HAPPINESS ALWAYS CARD

Hey Stampers! I can't believe how quickly a week can go.....it seems like just the other day that I posted something. Anyways.....been busy finishing the baby quilt and doing some preparation for my stamp club on Monday evening.

First, the quilt. I haven't yet taken a picture of the finished product. I have washed it and am in the process of picking all the fray pieces off it. Right now it doesn't look that great....looks kind of "stringy" from all the lose strings. I will finish that up and hopefully take a picture this weekend and post it as well.

This morning I made a card for a friend of mine who's daughter is having a bridal shower this Sunday. I cased this card from a gal named Sherri Barron .....click on her name to visit her blog. I wanted something that was EASY and very springy. Here is the card.....

I think pretty much all the stuff used for this card came from the Occasions Mini and the Sale-a-bration catalogs. Those two catalogs are the BEST that I think Stampin' Up! has come out with in a long time.....although I'm sure I say that about each new catalog :-)

Well, that's it for me today....I will work at getting pictures of the baby quilt and posting them.

Until next time, find some time for stamping!

Blessings.........Cindy

PS: Case means.....Copy And Share Everything

I'M BACK & WITH A NEW CAMERA!!

Hey there!!! WOW! Where do I begin....it seems like so long ago since I last posted??

Well, first thing.....we purchased a new camera at the beginning of last week. I really like it....it's pink! So, now I'm back in business! I'm going to work at getting caught up and trying to remember what I've posted and what I haven't.

We bought the camera just in time to go out of town so that my husband could go to a water ski school and get some individual coaching/instruction. He is already an excellent skier, but like anything else....there's always room for improvement. Below is him skiing. Also, this ski "ranch" was close to an IKEA.....so we had fun browsing and looking at all their cool stuff!! It was all VERY relaxing and refreshing!
The place we went to was Sunset Ski Ranch.....and it was the "Disneyland" for water skiers. Absolutely beautiful grounds, dock, and cottage where we stayed. The owners/hosts are extremely gracious and accommodating. Soooo, if you EVER want to go on a water skiing vacation, they are the place to go!!! And they are not just for advanced skiers.....they told us that they teach lots of first time skiers too. We HIGHLY recommend them.

And now down to the real reason I even have this blog......I made baby shower invites for a gal in our church. They were easy and fun!!! I made a pocket card and printed the shower information onto cardstock from my computer.
I didn't really use any fancy techniques with this card....just some watercoloring using the Stampin' Pastels and an aqua painter, and I also sponged around the edges of the insert. I was able to use my Classic Squares, Large and Classic Scalloped Squares, Large Nestabilities that I recently got.....and which I LOVE!!!

THANKS so much for hanging in there and being patient with me. I'm looking forward to getting back into blog mode again.

For those of you who don't know....yesterday Stampin' Up!'s mini catalog went live. There are some adorable new things....namely the Build A Bear stamp sets and Big Shot dies. More on that and other great SU promotions tomorrow (or if you can't wait....click on the link above).

Until next time, find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings.....Cindy

Card Ingredients:
Stamps: Teddy & Train, Nursery Necessities
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blashful Blue
Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip (textured and regular), Whisper White
Accessories: Eyelet border punch, word window punch, modern label punch, horizontal slot punch, Crop-A-Dile, brown eyelets, 1/4" grosgrain blashful blue ribbon, Classic Squares, Large and Classic Scalloped Squares, Large Nestabilities, Stampin' pastels, aqua painter, light blue button, white crochet thread

UNFORGETABLE FRIEND

Yesterday I didn't get the opportunity to stamp due to the absolutely GORGEOUS weather we were having. I just couldn't stay indoors when it was so nice and sunny outside!! I am so ready for the spring and summer.

And speaking of spring and summer....this card is so "springy". The image, stamped on Whisper White cardstock, is from the Happy Heart Day stamp set (page 26 of the 2009 Spring-Summer Catalog). It has a Bashful Blue base, DSP paper from my now famous grab bag, and I think Rose Red liner....the red liner was also a piece from the grab bag so I'm not exactly sure of the color, but Rose Red would be my guess. I used my Aqua Painters to watercolor the image. I was really pleased with how the coloring turned out because I'm not very good at watercoloring.....I need to make more cards with this technique so that I can keep improving. Then for accents I stamped hearts from the retired Bitty Basics level 1 hostess set with my versamark pad, threw in a scalloped edged piece and tied a knot.....and kaboom!! Easy card done!!

Stamps: Happy Heart Day, Bitty Basics level 1 hostess set (retired)
Paper: Bashful Blue, DSP, Rose Red (?), Whisper white
Ink: Black StazOn, Versamark
Accessories: Scalloped edge punch, 1/4" bashful blue grosgrain ribbon, aqua painter, also used various ink pads for paint colors.

I would like to add a quick word about the Scalloped Edge Punch. I LOVE THIS PUNCH!!! This simple punch can add so much to your projects. It can make a card go from "good" to "great" very quickly. Anyway, if you're looking for a way to jazz up your work.....the scalloped edge punch is it!!!

Find some time for stamping!!!
Blessings, Cindy