tagged and awards

Hans gave me this award! Yeah. So, many people make my day and Hans is one of them.

So I am going to award the following people:

Joanne, my talented friend who helped me start blogging: http://stampedbyhand.blogspot.com

Etha who does cool work, maked me laugh and sends me email:http://www.moregreenwool.com/

Finally Samm, who always leaves me comments and I just love to see her work:

http://samm-l.blogspot.com/

I was also Tagged by : http://sallyhsworld.blogspot.com/

Sally has tagged me with the Middle Name Game! These are the rules:-
*You must post the rules before you give your answers.

*You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name.

*Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.

After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.
At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details.)

My middle name is BRIDGET

B- buyer of stamps, yarn and chocolate

R-reading the Kite Runner

I- imaginative

D-dedicated, diligent, detirmined

G- green is my favorite color

E- exercises almost daily

T- ticklish

Alright, I am going to tag Han, Lois, Kelly

hump day challenges

Su had another challenge on her Stampin up UK blog.http://stampinupchallengeuk.blogspot.com/ To make a valentine using Stampin Up images but no red or pink. Over on SCS, the workshop wow challenge was to use vellum.

And snap, I solved three challenges in one. The third being, I have my husbands valentine done now!

This was a quick one, I embossed image from Summer by the Sea with gold embossing powder and then used wonderful words to do the same at the bottom. I then used my markers (one of my favorite items) and colored in the image from the back. Using my tool kits I just punched the holes and used eyelets to secure to basic black cardstock. Vellum can be tricky to adhere without showing the adhesive.

I didn't stop there, I checked out sketch challenge today at SCS also. This is sc161, I choose to use and image vs. what looked to be a flower in sketch. I also made another valentine not using red or pink. The heart I colored in with bravo burgundy. I choose these colors off color wheel, since I wanted to use mellow moss for frog and my cardbase. I used ticket corner punch and canvas background stamp on so saffron piece. Then used mellow moss eyelets on pale plum. I did use a marvy giga oval scallop punch but used the oval coluzzel template for the whisper white. I colored him in with my watercolor crayons. (another favorite). This one will probably go to one of my sons.

I was also given an award by Han today! For making her day... She makes mine with all her great creations. Thanks to all my blogging sisters who inspire me everyday :}

more treats to share

I have wanted to try one of these Qbee boxes I saw on Splitcoast back around Halloween. It was just a template you printed out, cut out, stamped and taped up. So easy!

I cut a cellophane bag to make the window and filled with M & M and I only ate 3 while I was filling the box.

So, if you want to make some up you can check it out here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289773&highlight=Qbee+box

last chance for Valentine's bundle

January 31st is the last day to order the current Stampin Up promotion-Valentine's bundle featuring Happy Heart day set.

Happy Heart Day stamp set
$20.95
Real Red wide grosgrain ribbon
$7.95
Medium cellophane bags
$4.50
Regal Rose wide grosgrain ribbon
FREE!
111903
Valentine's Day Bundle
$33.40

Here is a little treat tin I made up. I love going to Target dollar spot, picking things up there for $1 and have great intentions of doing something with it. I have a closet full of these tidbits. This was a mini lunchbox that had redhots in it. I covered it with SU's new Berry Bliss Designer paper and used the cute little mouse image from Happy Heart day.

I filled the tin with Hershey nuggets. One of the coolest things I ever learned was that a standard computer address label fits perfectly around a nugget. Just stamp or wheel and voila, instant decorated treat!


this is the other side

This one shows the inside of the tin with decorated nuggets.

Helping out stamping friends

I started blogging last month. My intentions were to stop looking at everyone Else's great stuff and challenge myself to stamp for myself more. Basically use all the great inspiration from these great bloggers, websites and challenges and just stamp! My very talented friend Joanne who has a blog I peek at everyday, helped me with my initial questions about posting. If you want to check out a great blog you can find her here: http://stampedbyhand.blogspot.com/. In the nature of paying it forward, my friend Lois just started blogging and asked me to help her out this week. If you get a chance please stop by and give her a comment:http://stampedforyou.blogspot.com/.

Finally, when I started one of the best things I did was join the sisterhood of blogging stampers. I get daily inspiration, feedback and get to meet other stampers I might have never met. One of my blogging sisters Su is a new Stampin Up demonstrator. She asked me to do her sketch challenge she started for UK Stampin Up Challenge blog. I was happy too!! Plus, it got me to challenge myself and stamp something today to share with all of you. The reason I started blogging in the first place. In addition, I got to pull out one of my all time favorite sets-Roses in Winter. It retired last year from USA catalog but the lucky UK stampers can still get this one. It is a two-step stamping set, again one of my favorite things to do to show great depth with the image. If you want to play to visit her site: http://stampinupchallengeuk.blogspot.com/ It is a simple sketch, great for new stampers or quick card for veterans.

card recipe:

cs:mellow moss, glossy white, pretty in pink,

ink: pretty in pink, regal rose, mellow moss, always artichoke

stamp: rose in winter, curvy verses

access: 5/8" rose grosgrain ribbon, irridescent ice embossing powder

technique: faux diamond dust.

Happy Heart Day

I finally got to play with one of my new sets, Happy Heart day. This is another card we will be doing at upcoming card club class. A pocket card, they are so easy to make. I think they are another great option, for invitations, announcements, gift cards, and I have even used it for my Christmas cards one year.

I also have yet to breakout my watercolor paper, so this set is a good one to watercolor. I still don't think it's one of my strengths yet. However, watercoloring takes you back to when you were taking out your old crayola sets when you were little. It's so relaxing to do.

recipe:
cs: rose red, whisper white, basic grey cutie pie dsp
ink; black stazon, classic ink pads (coral, rose red, basic grey, pip, banana), craft white
access: purely pomegrante satin ribbon, staples, dimesionals, round tab punch, silver brads, corner rounder punch

diaroma day

This is one of the cards I was playing around with for upcoming card club class. I featuring different ways to make cards using different folds. I made a b00-boo on punch on front, need to get out my sanding block and fix it. I noticed in my last post, my ribbon was crooked on the card, great to see it up close to realize where you made a mistake. It's fixed now.

Anyways, these cards are fun to do. The tutorial is over at splitcoaststampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/diorama_card/. I really just copied what they did but changed up the paper to be more for a boy. They fold up flat so you can put in envelope and send off to someone to give them a 3-D surprise.

sale-a-bration sample

Who doesn't like a sale? Starting February 1st, Stampin Up is offering free stamps made especially for sale-a-bration time, with every $50 purchase you can pick one of these free!!

Anyways, here is a swap I made and I used pink. I must of been inspired by all my blogging sister samples. I used SAB set lots of thoughts, and simply said stamp sets. The cardstock is pretty in pink, pretty in pink prints designer paper, regal rose. The ink is pretty in pink, regal rose and basic black. I used a blender pen and top of ink pad to highlight one of the phrases. I also used some of my favorite accessories 5/8 grosgrain and 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and scallop punch.

You can view Sale-a-bration catalog here:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_SAB_08.pdf

Pay it forward

I got this idea from my blogging sister Kelly. I loved this movie, but the concept of paying it forward is such a nice concept. If you do something nice for someone they entail do something nice for another. Wouldn't the world be a better place.....

Anyways, the way it works is the first 3 people to leave comments on my blog get some prizes from me. Make sure you leave your email address so I can get your home address to send you your goodies from me!!! Only people who blog can participate, because you need to do the same thing on your site and the cycle continues. Way better than a chain letter, hate those things!

So on your mark, get set Go!!!

I was productive yesterday, making projects for upcoming card club, will post later. I will be too busy watching Patriots game! Go Pats!!!

embossed embrace

I combined two challenges this week, the sketch and the ways to use it. The way to use it challenge was to use embossing powder. I love embossing! I started with the designer paper and went with River rock as a my base card. On the color wheel under river rock one of the combinations listed rose red, chocolate chip and soft sky. I was a little leary about soft sky, but it needed something else to pop it. So, I just went for it. I embossed everything after I stamped with craft ink and used clear embossing powder. I am still not loving it, but it will be sent off to my good friend Cathy all the way out in New Mexico.

simple thank you

Blog surfing one day, I came across this card :http://thewillowgarden.blogspot.com/2007/12/another-short-sweet.html.

I liked the simple layout and I have the short and sweet set, so I saved it to play with one day. I needed to send out some thank you cards for customers thanking them for their orders.

I do not have a stamp-ma-jig yet. I like to just wing it, but do have this tool to add to my wish list. But I wanted to have equal spacing. I can't tell you how great Stampin Up's grid paper is!!!

I was able to use the grid and ruler to space equally to quickly mass produce these cards.

To get the idea, I had my 10 year old son stand in so I could take the shot. He does like to stamp on some days though. I just kept going every one inch along using ruler as a guide.

You can see other paper below, I recycle from workshops.

I've been hit, tagged that is~

Anita tagged me today! So here are 7 Random facts about me you might have not known.

1. My first plane ride was when I was 21, Spring Break to the Bahamas

2. Eggplant Parmigiana is my favorite food

3. I believe Chocolate is a food group, especially fudge

4. I worked security for some of the the big Boxing matches in Las Vegas. I got to kick "Mr. Kotter", Gabe Kaplan out of the family viewing area.

5. My first crafting attempt was at cross-stitching. It lasted about a year until I got carpal tunnel during my first pregnancy. Have not touched it since.

6. People think that I am organized. It is a total farce, I live in chaotic clutter.

7. My husband has no idea how much I really spend on stamps, papers and such.

Look out who could be next..........

same design, different look

These were two cards at my recent Stamp-a Stack class. I only planned on the teal one to showcase of felt fusion. However, I realized I did not have enough designer paper for everyone. So, I decided to show how you could use similar design and just change it up by using different color and embellishment. So I have feminine and masculine version. Very simple cards, but awesome papers.

Bali Beate

Like you, I check out Beate's blog most days. I have never done any of her weekend sketch challenges, but had some time today. We got a big snowstorm here today, no school and perfect day to just hang out and stamp.

I needed to do a birthday card to send to Samm for her birthday and having a sketch makes it so easy to start. The embellishment on sketch made me want to grab out one of my new buys from Stampin Up-felt fusion. They come in pumpkin pie, old olive and rose red... so I grabbed my new bali breeze paper in the same color. I clear embossed the birthday greeting from sincere salutations. Also paper pierced the the flowers on designer paper, then grabbed my photo corner punch. I also used some bling by adding a rhinestone brad to felt flowers.

A nice bright cheery card on a snow-filled day.

The view out my front door! Now, out to snow-blow my driveway. Did I mention I am up for the "wife of the year" award?

sas upclose

This is a card out of Stampin Success magazine. Demonstrators recieve this monthly, and this is the first time I used one of their samples. I loved that is showed a valentine set in a different way. Plus, so easy to do for stamp a stack.
card recipe:
stamps: happy heart day
cs: soft sky, wild wasabi textured, whisper white
ink: sky blue, real red marker
accessories: 5/8 real red grosgrain ribbon, 1 3/8 circle punch, scallop punch, dimensionals.

Stamp-a-stack

Tonight is my stamp-a-stack class and also celebrating new Spring Summer collection release. These will be the cards we are making. I will post with individual detail tomorrow. I must confess, I cased 3 designs from other talented people. The celebrate cards, I did come up by myself after I realized, I would not have enough designer paper for everyone to complete two of them. So, I made a masculine version with hodgepodge hardware and more girly version using the fun new felt flowers from Stampin Up.

I apologize for bad shot, the sky blue one is right out of Stampin Success magazine, sympathy from someone at SCS (it escapes me now), the valentine (crayon resist) was a swap card by hugely talented girl in our demo group Dawn Byers.

So, it should be fun to get together and stamp with some friends! Oh, and the best part ....my house is clean to stamp in. Usually, I stamp and have a messy house! We will see what it looks like in the morning.

magic valentine

Today's demo challenge on SCS was to do magic snowflake technique for a workshop Wow. The challenge was also not to use snowflake image and also not any blue ink. This one was a little struggle to come up with design. I did a cool one with garden whismey, but messed it up as it was not dry yet. Hopefully, I will have another shot at it another day.

You can view the tutorial from scs here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/magic_snowflake/

My problem was that I still don't have all the reinkers, or at least groovy guava and cameo coral that I wanted to use. So, I used real red and pretty in pink reinkers. I was trying to come up with some designer paper I wanted to use with the layout, but could not find any that would work. I ended up trying to keep it simple as a card you could demo easily at a workshop. I embossed the "love" also, going with valentine theme.

I do recommend you might want to put on gloves, as I ended up with some ink on my hands. Nothing new for me.

Wild banana

I made this card combining to challenges on Splitcoaststampers. One was the demo challenge of demonstrable cards DC033 and the color challenge cc148 that used wild wasabi, blue bayou and barely banana.

For the demo challenge it was to make a matchbook type card with window. They used all designer paper for front, so I picked out porcelain prints which uses blue bayou and wild wasabi in the paper. Han- you will see this paper on your birthday RAK.

For the color challenge I had to think about what set I wanted to use and I thought about unfrogettable. My original intention was to use the frog image, but as I was putting this together I changed my mind and went with the snail. I watercolored him in with blender pens and ink pads. It's tough to see from photo but I also used dazzling diamonds on the shell.

I used the slit punch to make the the card a matchbook style and cut 3/4 of inch of top half of the card. I used happy birthday from stem sayings. On the inside of the card I used 4 punches- scallop, 1 3/8 inch circle, 1 1/4 circle and 3/4 circle that I popped up on dimensionals.

Okay, I am done playing. I really need to clean my house now!

Join the club!

No stamping to post yet today. I am busy getting ready for my new Catalog stamp-a-stack I am hosting this Friday. Hopefully, I will get a chance to post something later today.

I have a lot of different clubs I am starting up. These can be done by mail also!

Marker club: Does your Stampin’ Up! ® “Wish List” include the 48 Stampin’ Write Markers with the storage case (pg. 183). Do you wonder how you can financially “swing it”? Well, here’s a way to get the full set of markers with the storage case plus cardstock in all 48 colors without hurting your monthly budget.
Team up with three other stampers to form a Marker/Cardstock Club. Each of you will be hostess one of the four months. You will receive a level 1 hostess set, a ½ pack of your choice of neutral cardstock and marker case when it is your hostess month.
Cost: $39.44 + ship/handling = $45.44
Every month (or every other month) you will get: * one set of markers in color family
· one 8 ½ x 11 assorted pack in color family

Ribbon clubs: Do you want great quality ribbon to embellish your cards? Do you realize our ribbon is actually more affordable then your local craft store? I broke up these ribbon shares to be shared by 5 members, but you can take more than one spot. See my sign up sheets.

¼ inch grosgrain (3 yd of 16 colors) $19.50
5/8 inch grosgrain (3 yd of 8 colors) $16
taffeta 3/8 in (2 yd of 8 colors) $14
3/18 gingham (3 yd of 6 colors) $ 11.50
double stitched in color (3 yd of 6 colors) $13.50

Card club: Starting in February, running for 4 month period. We will make 4 cards for $10. I will break this card club into beginning stampers and advanced stamper technique classes if you wish. Great way to step up your card making skills and know how to use your stamping supplies.
We will meet first Wednesday and/or Thursday of each month. Make a purchase of $30 this month and your club fee is free that month.
**This club is available by mail also- cost will be $12 to cover mailing. I will stamp items and forward you directions to assemble and how to do techniques.

6 month stamp club: Do you want to build your stamping supplies on budget? Do you want to do really cool projects and get a night out of the house to craft? Do you want to earn hostess benefits (free product and hostess sets) without having to host a workshop? Join my 6 month club. I need 5 members to commit $25 month. Try first month for free- January 31.
** this can be done long-distance as well, projects will be sent to you.

Gwen's basket

My blogging sister Gwen posted this basket tutorial on her website. Her directions and photos were so great, I knew even I could do that. You can view her tutorial here:

http://mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/2008/01/basket-tutorial.html

Well, I wasn't quite sure... so I pulled out some of SU's retired paper out of my stash. Plus, I wanted to go for valentine's theme. I am still waiting on my order from SU, but I am dying to try this with our new berry bliss paper.

It was soooo easy and fun. The only confetti I had was left over from Easter. But it supported my nuggets just fine. I did not even break into the nuggets!!!

Saturday & Sunday scrapping

I spent the day yesterday cropping photos on a bunch of predone layouts I have completed but had no photos on them. Of course, I still need to journal on them. I got 4 double page spreads and one single page spread with photos now.
Today, I spent the day at a Nikon school of photography course for intro into SLR digital photography. I got a Nikon D40x for my birthday and really have only used it in the auto or "point and shoot dummy "mode. So, I now have better understanding of white balance, exposure, Fstops, shutter speed, etc.... Hopefully, my photos will show it in upcoming posts. I need time to play with my camera first.

Anyways, these photos were taken on a hike of Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire this past September. Again, I can't take credit for layout. My fabulous upline Erica came up with this layout, after I begged her to do a fall layout so I could scrap these photos. She's the best!

stamps: baroque motifs, big deal alphabet, autumn fest, office accoutrement
paper: choc chip, more mustard, kraft, really rust
ink: all craft ink-choc chip, really rust, old olive
access: 5/8 " grosgrain choc chip and old olive ribbon, clear embossing powder

limited supply

The limited challenge this week was to use no white cardstock or very vanilla,etc...

My favorite standby-embossing. I also bought some red glitter before it went on retired accessoies list. So, I figured I would break it open. I stamped with red craft ink then applied heat and stick powder. I heated and then added the red glitter and heated again. Now, I got to try out all the new glitters.

I also figured I should jump on the valentines wagon and get started in my stash. Wow, I got 3 challenges done this week.

card recipe:

cs: pretty in pink, real red

stamps: simply said, holidays and wishes

ink: red craft, versamark, basic black

access: clear embossing powder, red glitter, dimensionals, corner rounder, jersey riboon originals, non-SU heart brads

another challenge?

This is this week's card sketch challenge 157 over at Splitcoasterstampers. I highly recommend trying them, it really helps you make a great looking card and gives you a starting point.

I want to thank my blogging sister Etha for idea of inking up embossed cuttlebug image, so this was added into my plans. I just swiped gold encore ink over embossed circles. I also was told by my husband that I needed more masculine cards in my stash. Apparently, my male cards were more appropriate for my kid's friends. So, I went with my masculine standby-Lovely as a tree.

I used rock and roll technique for the tree. Then I decided to copy the circles and use eyelets with my CAD. I did one on side and one under tree.

Card recipe:

paper: more mustard, old olive, very vanilla, close to cocoa, retired DSP scraps

ink: close to cocoa, old olive, versa mark , gold encore

stamps: lovely as a tree, sincere salutations, it's your birthday

access: hemp, gold embossing, jumbo and regular eyelets

A Banner Day

I got a new blog banner! I am still in process of playing around, but might need my designer to help me have it fit correctly on page. I confess, I am somewhat technically challenged. I learn by trial and error. Ten years ago when I stopped working full-time, my computers were all running DOS programs. My husband has to download music for me on my MP3 player, computer systems is what he does.

So, I am so glad I hired someone to do my design and watermark for me. I hired Melissa Kulesa a fellow SU demo who does make blog banners and watermarks. She was really great to work with and affordable. You can check out her site here: http://stampingthroughthetulipsdesign.blogspot.com/

belated Christmas

This was the Christmas card that I sent out to friends and families this year. I was inspired by the wrapping paper in Stampin Up's winter mini catalog. I used the new in color soft sky (this new one color has gotten me out of my depression of losing Cool Caribbean) and then close to cocoa. I used direct to paper around edge of cardstock to give some more depth and dimension.

This was a fairly easy card to mass produce. The photo was from our summer vacation at Cape Cod at dusk when the boys loved looking for crabs in the tidal pools.




This was a quick scrapbook page to share with you. The only stamping is the Santa and words from Stampin Up's naughty and nice set. It was super quick, and I love that and I got my boys to write on it in gold pen in their own handwriting. I can't take credit for design, we did it at my upline's scrapping club night. She does the best scrapbook pages, I would not get anything done, if I did not go to her house once a month. Of course you notice the boys each supported our great sports teams; 1) Red Sox and 2) Patriots. Next year, maybe we'll sport the Celtics!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, to start my year off right I had some time to do a challenge of SCS. This challenge was splitnegative but no black and white.
I used the the same stamp in SCS tutorial as I also had to make a birthday card for our friend John who turns 40 today!
I was impressed with myself that I was able to keep the image fairly centered equally on both river rock and blue bayou cardstock. So, when the center they matched up fairly well. The tricky part was trying to get them centered together onto outlaw designer paper. Thank goodness for my bone folder to get under to lift it up. I ended up roughing up edges on the one with the jumbo eyelet, since the paper got a little messed up. As my friend Barbara says, there are no mistakes in stamping! I probably would have used some brads or something else to jazz them up but I was limited on time. These 2 cards took about 15-20 minutes, very quick ones.


card recipe:

stamps: bronc buster

ink: versa mark and clear emboss powder (gold for happy birthday)

paper: really rust, outlaw designer paper, river rock, blue bayou


Here is a photo of John's gift. I used brown stazon on coasters. Their family spent their summer vacation at a dude ranch. I chuckle everytime I think of John with cowboy hat and up on horse. So, I made this as a little bit of a joke. However, they did have a great time. So, this is also for a great memory for them as well.