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We had our local demo meeting last night. It is one of best things about being a demo, hanging out with these amazing and talented women.

I am going to show one of their work.... Cathy Watson. She is so talented, we all tell her to enter the artisan awards. She manages a super market by day, she should have been an architect or engineer.

She just took idea of ribbon Christmas balls and applied it to egg with designer paper made in parallelogram shapes and applied it with snail.

Here are two others she did and wrapped in cellophane wrappers.

Aren't they awesome???

Now wait to you see her swap card....

She did origami folds and a gate fold card. Not just a card front.

She is seriously the first person you seek out to swap with! Sadly, she does not have a website she just really is a demo to get the discount.

this is inside, she score the inside of card to create an embossed, basket weave affect as well.

swaps for my peeps

Sorry for the pun! These are some of the swaps I made for upcoming demo meeting tomorrow night. I couldn't get away from this chick, plus I had cut this cardstock for a birthday party and we did not need it, so no wasting!

I paper pieced the egg on chick's body and cut it out above his head and used a dimensional to attach it.

I watercolored him using watercolor crayons-but in new way. I scribbled the crayons on stamp case and then used my blender pen to pick up the color.

recipe:

stamp: you crack me up

cs:pip, ww, so saffron, prints dsp

ink: black stazon, craft white, certainly celery

access: boho flower punch, word window punch, soft subtle brads, 5/8" celery grosgrain ribbon

Still time to sale-a-brate!

There is still 3 weeks left in Stampin Up's US promotion-sale-a-bration. For every $50 you spend you can earn one of 6 sets. This one is birthday whimsy. We did it for a make and take last weekend for a workshop. I was trying to keep it simple and make it a universal birthday card. So, I was pleased with what I came up with.

card recipe:
stamp: birthday whimsy
ink: pumpkin pie, old olive
cs: ruby red, taken with teal, whisper white, old olive, bali breeze dsp
access: striped pumpkin pie ribbon

Mom's aren't allowed to be sick

The flu went around our house the last two weeks. I thought I missed it, took airborne, vitamins, cleaned, disinfected. However, yesterday terrible headache and cough. No fever though. I went to bed early. Today same headache and no voice.

Today armed with some motrin and big cup of Tea, I took the advice of my blogging sister Marge and went to my craft room to make me feel better.

Having SBS8 sketch challenge posted by Anita, I was ready to create and play with some new paper and embellishments.

card recipe:

cs: lovely liliac, regal rose, tempting turquoise, dsp flowers for you.

stamps: loads of love and accessories

ink: black stazon, lovely liliac

accessories: flower slide from new hodgepodge hardware, cosmo glitter, 2 way glue pen, watercolor crayons (bold brights, neutrals), slot punch, celery grosgrain.

shhh... I have been bad, brought to other side..... I could not resist the new Riley the moose stamps from Hanna stamps. I try to be only an SU girl (got to support myself). But they are too darn cute. I got the St. Pat's day one as well, nothing like a moose with a beer in his hands.

Anyways, I needed to make a card for my Sisters birthday coming up in Early March. She is a big coffee fan like myself. So, I used same SBS8 Sketch challenge and did this card as well...

Isn't he cute???? I used all SU paper, ink and embellishments though.

cs: purely pomegrante, close to cocoa, whisper white, berry bliss dsp

ink: stazon black, used ink pads to water color

access: pomegrante stitched ribbon, pip brad, slot punch, cosmo glitter, ticket corner punch.

Crafting made me happier, now off to finish laundry then maybe a nap!!

Sorry I am not up to leaving any comments on all my blog roll buddies today :{

Simply scrappin good time

Did not get a chance to post yesterday, it is school vacation and don't have the time to spend crafting if the boys are home.

Anyways, this is class I have been working on. Stampin Up has a great product in these Simply Scrappin kits.

I have been wanting to do a class making cards with them, and after reading Patty's idea on making 4 x 4 cards out of 12 x 12 cardstock, I had a direction to go with it. These are just 12 I made, but you can make up to 36 with cardstock still left over. Plus tons of diecut stickers. I did very little stamping on these also, either sentiment or rub on sentiment. There are so many possiblities to create.

I am offering class over two weekend times; Saturday March 29th or Sunday March 30th, from 2-5 PM. Cost is $35 which includes a simply scrappin kit and package of (40) whisper white medium envelopes. I will provide ribbon, white cardstock, stamps and inks. It can be done by mail for $40 to cover shipping and you will get directions and cardstock cut for you. You can contact me at sacwhite@comcast.net if you are interested.

Ready for Spring and a challenge

Today's color challenge was to use pumpkin pie, certainly celery and orchid opulence. Since all our snow is melted and it was a balmy 42 degrees F here today- I am desperate need of a sign of Spring. I can't believe Easter will be next month. I always find it easier to do a card with a sketch, so I did Beate's weekend sketch challenge also. Having pumpkin pie in the challenge and Beate's sketch of having to embellishment on top left, I knew I was going to grab my felt flowers. I also decided to try the easy scallop edge method that Patty Bennett posted on her blog. She has the best tips. check out her site:http://pattystamps.typepad.com/


Anyways, I am going to show you how. Just in case you are like me and haven't broken down to get nestabilities. I am so trying to be good....






First step, is to punch out 1 3/8 circle punch on cardstock and then you line up your scallop punch over your punched circle. You will get an image like the one on the left.



Second step is to cut the scallop shape up in two or three bumps










Then put adhesive down, double stick tape works well and line up the scallop pieces on back side of cs.









So, this is up close shot of the scallop edge. My first time playing with it,
I think I might have been more anal about it, if I didn't have to take my son to guitar lessons.

card recipe:
cs: orchid opulance, pumpkin pie, watercolor paper, certainly celery prints dsp
stamp set: a good egg
ink: stazon black, orchid opulance, craft white
accessories: pumpkin pie striped ribbon, felt flowers, celery brads, scallop punch, watercolor crayons (earth elements), slot punch

cards you always seem to need

Both my kids were home with the flu during most of the week. As I was confined to my house I got caught up on some projects. I had extra cardstock already cut, leftover from workshops. Unfortunately, I had to send out my last sympathy card in my stash. These cards are always the ones I tend to be low on as you never can plan for this sad event. I used close as memory stamp set, my stampin up markers, floral background, basic grey cardstock and ink or pretty in pink ink.

Award Alert

Tracey gave me this award! So, honored as I have only been blogging for a less than 3 months. I enjoy the experience and checking out everyone else's work. You can check out her blog here:

http://www.lakeshorestamper.typepad.com

I was trying to give it to someother people and low and behold most people have gotten this award too! Well, definately out to all my SBS 8 blogging sisters and most of my SU blog roll friends. I did not realize I left off Robin and I just checked her blog out. She has cool projects so I am going to nominate her for Excellent blog award:

http://Robinlea.blogspot.com

post it key chains

In the words of one of my idols Jan Tink (may she live forever)...
Aren't these stickin' cute? They were listed on SCS demo challenge of 3-D item. I would like to say I came up with this idea all on my own, but alas it was Angie Juda. She is way too talented! You can find the video link here:
http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/chic_n_scratch/2008/02/post-it-note-ke.html

I am going to use these for door prizes so I chose not to go the monogram route, but used Garden whimsy and one of kind stamp sets and some bali breeze and berry bliss designer paper.

Don't forget I have stamps for sale, check my 2/14/08 posting :}

stamps for sale

This is a photo of some of my new stuff I got on Monday. The hodgepodge, tart and tangy, and for father, new chocolate chip twill ribbon are from the new Occassion mini catalog starting on March 1st.
You can see a sample I made from yesterday's post using for father set.

Anyways, I just don't have enough room on my shelves for more stamps. Note to self, resist buying anymore stamps. I think I will give that up for lent. That's not to say I can't buy more paper and embellishments. Anyways here is a list of stamps I am giving up cheap! Contact me at sacwhite@comcast.net
I will let you know about shipping costs.

Retired sets for sale (you can check out SCS gallery to see what they look like)
updated 2/17 (new sets in blue, sale pending in red)
riveting (hostess) $8
alphabet soup $5
best blossum $5
send a celebration $5
double line doodles $12
A is adorable (hostess) $8
Alphabuilders $10 sale pending
Big blossum (SAB) $3
Daisy $12
Figures of Speech $11
frolicking frogs 12
Greeting 4 you $5
Good Times $12
happiest of holidays $7
In full bloom $15
lexicon of love $5
light heart $10 sale pending
Little layers 2 $5 sale pending
Merry $10 sale pending
Noteworthy (sab) $3 sale pending
Paint prints (SAB) $3
Petal prints $15
Simple sketches $12 sale pending
Stipple shells $8 sale pending
spring fling $4
trick or treat $4 sale pending
tags and more $6
wee water colors (hostess) $3 sale pending
weather or not (hostess) $3 sale pending
wish for you simply sent kit $20, ink has been opened all cardstock, adhesive and embellishments in tact. pending

I will update as I get offers. I will also go through my recently retired sets and see which I can part with and put those up as well.

New Rubber!!!

I got a shipment on Monday, it included my pre-order from the Occassions mini catalog which starts March 1st. They are all die-cut, so I just had to pop out and start stamping.

I went to SCS to do the sketch challenge, a little behind in doing some of those. I used the set for father, which is great for watercoloring! I stamped in brown stazon and used ink pads and blender pens to watercolor. The set looks somewhat antique to me, so I decided to do the cracked glass technique. Doesn't this puppy have the sweetest face?

card recipe:

cs: creamy carmel, very vanilla, choc chip, western sky dsp

ink: creamy carmel, choc chip, more mustard, ruby red

access: gold brads, distresser on 5 in 1 tool, glassy glaze enamel embossing powder

Wait- there's more, I did another one...

This is same sketch and technique. I think I should have changed out the chocolate chip mat to creamy carmel, might have to go rip it apart.

I also started watercoloring before I picked my dsp- I think I would have changed the hat color to soft sky. But I had fun playing. If you have never done cracked glass- it so much fun. You get to melt stuff then pop it into freezer. (I am impatient) and then you get to bend it to make it crack. It is almost like popping the bubbles in packing wrap.

another post for today, check out this blog

Su pointed out this link,http://melissafrances.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/index.html
free blogcandy and wonderful story. I need to get some of the Thankful line. I lost my mom to breast cancer and always try to support and charitable work in this area, not to mention beautiful papers.

Something for the teachers

So, I wanted to give the teachers something for valentines day. I usually go with chocolate. However, seeing how I wanted to get rid of some of the chocolate in my house, too much temptation and need to still drop the holiday pounds. I thought they might appreciate a gift card. I am going with my other daily need, coffee! They are going to get Dunkin Donuts gift card and can get whatever treat or nontreat they need.

Super fast gift card! You ask how Kathy? I will tell you, Stampin up sells them already done. They come in sahara sand (seen here), so saffron and old olive. It is tough to tell from photo, but the slits for the giftcard are already there as well as for closure. I will show picture once I get a chance to run out and get some gift cards. (My son is still home sick today)

I was stumped, as they were not any common valentine colors. Thankfully, I still have a stash of retired paper, and last year's winter mini had this paper that went well with sahara sand.

I then, just cut the paper to have a 1/4 inch matt around. Used my crop-o-dile to punch through the tab (all 4 cards at once, such a time saver). Then made a tag, used the slot punch and threaded some grograin ribbon through and tied. It does close up nicely all by itself, but saw jmazur on SCS do something similar for Christmas gift card and wanted to jazz it up. So simple about 15 minutes for 4 gift cards!

valentine frenzy

Quick post to show the valentines I made for my son's class. My oldest, told me they weren't exchanging, just bringing a snack in for one friend.

the so saffron with elephant is for girls, the sage shadow with mouse is for the boys. I kept them simple as most 8 year olds care more about candy then card.

I finished these off this morning as my youngest is home sick with a fever. My husband had it first, hopefully it won't go through our house.

I better go take my airborne now!

Thanks to all

Thanks for all your help picking cards, I was at a stampers

stump. I decided with your suggestions to go with the butterfly one, and I will give them options of using lots of thoughts and they can make the card what they want.

Here is a picture of my hostess gift, it uses a retired doodle set and one of my favorite designer papers that also retired au chocolate. What stamper does not like chocolate? I saw the box first from my friend Joanne Basile. It is actually a pretty easy box to make you can find the directions on the blog running with scissors (lol , great name):http://leslierich.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/07/30/ruby-tuesday-stellas-tote-n-tutorial/.

Yesterday I did a birthday party for 11 nine year old girls. They decorated their party bags with stamps and then covered our 5 x 5 chipboard journals and made scrapbooks using our simply scrappin kits. I was so pleased they had to be dragged to get pizza and cake. Then they all went back after to finish. They were well behaved, quiet and so creative. I love hooking them so young to be life long scrappers. Of course, I am way behind myself. I am still doing Halloween from October.

Stamping Sisters SOS-Help

I have workshop on Sunday and I was trying to decide on what do for my second make and take. I am already doing a outline image to watercolor, so I wanted to do a bold image stamp. I have to remember these are new stampers, I don't want to overwhelm them, keep it simple.

So, the garden whimsey one is a case from Fall cattie, great card the only issue is cleaning the large butterfly stamp to do it twice.

The birthday one, I went with color combo I know hostess likes. I also tried to include a set from sale-a-bration that I currently have (lots of thoughts). I am not thrilled with it, I tried to jazz it up with a little dazzling diamonds glitter.

So, I am looking for some help? Changes, ideas, input on which one I should do for Sunday.

Thanks so much for your help :}

last card club post

Last card to post for card club we are doing tonight. (Han might recognize it, as I sent her a similar one for her birthday). This is a Z fold card.

To make a Z fold card:

1) Start with a 4 ¼ x 11 piece of cardstock
2) Score it at 2 ¾” and 5 ½ “

That is your basic Z fold. You can make any size card into a Z fold. All you do is take the width of the card (our card is 11) and divide it by 4. Then score ¼ of that and 1/2 .

I have a few workshops/parties this weekend. So I will be busy prepping for those. I will try to post some of the cards I will be demoing soon.

cards by kids

I did not post anything yesterday, too depressed over Pats loss to stamp. Okay, disappointed but really just a crazy day of being busy. I spent most of the day volunteering at school then getting kids to their after school activities.

However, I did go into my son's 5th grade class to make cards. We originally were going to make valentines to send home. The kids voted on making cards for kids who are in the hospital instead of making ones to send home to give to their family. I am one of volunteers under Stampin Up for the Boston Ronald McDonald House. So, I contacted them and the kids made cards for the people at the house to use. Normally, we send in about 200-300 cards monthly for their house stash when we go into the house once a month to prepare a homecooked meal and do some stamping projects with them. These cards are always depleted when we return each month. Barbara Lash, my friend and fellow demo is the one who leads us all at RMH.

It did get a little chaotic with 20 kids at once and two stamping stations. They seemed to all have a good time and enjoy learning to stamp and make something for someone else. They weren't perfect but made from the heart, which is what counts the most. They made 40 cards in about one hour.

Here are some shots upclose.

cowboy up

This is another card we will be doing for upcoming card class this week. A gate fold card, shown here closed and opened. I used a 1 inch circle punch on a dimensional to hold the card closed. I distressed the edge of the close to cocoa cs with the 5 in one tool. I can't see to stop grabbing this cowboys image, thank goodness for sale-a-bration to have some new stamps to play with as I just placed my big order on Feb 1st.

Have a great Day. Go PATS!!!!

the most wonderful time of the year

Today is the first day of sale-a-bration at Stampin Up in US. Free Rubber!
For every $50 you spend you can earn one of 6 exclusive sets or rub ons, now through March 17th.
You can view the sale-a-bration catalog here: http://stampinup.com/us/documents/US_SAB_08.pdf


The card was done by our wonderful group executive for Stampin Up, Amy Czuba. She is does so much to help all us demonstrators! We love her! This set features a set from sale-a-bration called friendship blooms. I recieved it at our last demonstrators meeting in our swap. The tin is another Target find, and I used the rub ons that go with the set. I was a little leary of rub-ons as I never have had must success with them. I must say these go on great. They are little addictive. I need to find some more things around the house to rub!