FLOWERS & CACTI

Have you had enough rain yet????  It's hard for me to decide because with all the rain, the tree foliage is so vibrant and full that I am nothing but mesmerized when I'm sitting here looking out my window.  My laptop PC sits in front of a window looking out to the back yard and all the oak trees, the pond, and woods behind.  This is one of my favorite spots to sit when I am in the house.  My studio and PC is in the lower level of the house and we are on a hill so the view is gorgeous.  I wish I could paint a picture or Stampin' Up would create an irregular oak tree stamp (you know, one of those big gnarly ones with all the imperfections).  Boy oh boy, can you imagine all the different scenes you could create? 

And that leads me into one of my pictures I'm showing today.  This comes as no surprise to everybody that knows me, but I am known for killing all plants and flowers (i.e., I do NOT have a green thumb).  That is why I love looking at trees obviously, but also why I buy so many flower stamps for my cards.  I may not be able to grow them, but don't get me wrong, I love to look at them.  All that being said, I can't believe that I have found a plant that I can't kill:  CACTUS!!!  One of my customer friends brought me a few pieces over, and I just dropped them in between rocks (no dirt added or anything) and they just stay alive.  Don't ask me what they are called, because there is no reason for me to know the names of flowers/plants when I can't grow them - LOL.  I am so proud of the fact the cacti are still alive that I had to share.

This same customer friend who gave me the cacti, gave me some pansies she had crocheted.   For me, anything that is not Stampin' Up product (when crafting), can be duplicated.  I told her that SU sold beautiful crochet flowers and they could be colored to match our card stock, and promised I would do this technique to show her the effect.  So one of the cards uses her hand-made pansy and the other is Stampin' Ups'.  This is just to show you how awesome they are and how Stampin' Up makes it easy to shop for all your crafting needs in one place (one-stop shopping).


This is the flower my friend crocheted that I used with Stampin' Up product (see below).  The colors came out beautiful with my Classic Ink Refills.

  

This is the same card with different colors using the following product:  Happy Greetings and Flower Fancy Stamp Sets; Daffodil Delight, Concord Grape, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White Card Stock; Concord Grape, Daffodil Delight, and Perfect Plum Classic Stamp Re-inkers; Aqua Pen; Always Artichoke, Concord Grape, and Old Olive Classic Ink; Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon; Fleurettes II, and Big Shot Top Note Die.

 

And here are my cacti  just starting to bloom.  Today there are many more that have opened up, but as usual, too much rain so I couldn't get a picture.  If anybody knows the name of this plant/cactus, please leave me a comment and let me know what it is.

 

This is a close-up of one flower.  Isn't it beautiful.   I can't even believe that it is growing in my rocks and isn't even in the ground.  Plus, they are still alive after more than 2 years.  So there is hope for me!!!


Have a wonderful weekend (even tho I believe it is suppose to rain both days)!

Sandi
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." -- Ephesians 4:32
"Lord, let the power of forgiveness be at work in my life today and always."  -- Eric Fellman

MORE FATHER'S DAY

Hello all!!  Thought I would just jump in with a quick update tonight to show you one of a couple of cards I made tonight for Father's Day tomorrow.  I decided I did not want my son-in-law's to feel neglected because I make my daughters Mother's Day cards, so after dinner I thought I better get busy.  I could not use any of the new nautical stamp sets or embellishments because my daughters already made a lot of cards using those product for Father's Day.  Of course, I did get to use it for my husband's card (previously shown).  So I decided I better not trust my memory as to what I have given them before (good thing huh?) and did a design I have never tried and a stamp I have never used. 

Yes, the products used (stamps and designer paper) will be retired at the end of the month (another reason you should buy it before it is gone).  I have wanted to do an origami (sure am glad spell check caught my spelling error on this word, I almost had an x-rated post) shirt for years, just never got around to it, so it was really fun doing these cards.  And I'm ashamed to admit how easy it was.  Yes, even with the kids coming over to swim and me taking a break with them, it probably took me 15 minutes total to do a few of these cards (most of that was deciding what designer paper I was going to use -- decisions, decisions!!).  I will definitely be doing this in a class, I know the ladies would love it -- anything fast and easy is loved.

So here it is:

Yes Tami, I thought of you the whole time I was doing this card (black and white/vanilla only).  Kinda crazy with all the patterns but I like it and this is the way men dress anyway as they don't have a clue when it comes to not putting stripes with patterns together.  Actually I think anything goes in today's world.  Products used:  All Holidays and Smarty Pants Stamp Sets; Love Letter Designer Series Paper; Very Vanilla Card Stock; Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; and Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

I am going to sooooo miss my Smarty Pants stamp set.  I have used it for so many different occasions and totally love the sayings.  Of course this is one that I will keep forever, so you better get yours before it is gone forever at the end of the month (mine will never go on sale no matter what someone wants to pay for it).

Enjoy your time tomorrow celebrating Father's Day, until next time,
Sandi

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. . . ." -- Romans 12:6

CARDS, CARDS, CARDS

Do you ever wonder (especially if you are a demonstrator) what to do with all those cards you have accumulated (from swaps, card class samples, presentations, etc.)?  Of course we all send out tons of cards through the year for special occasions, etc.; but, I still have tons left over.  I've been saying for years that I should sell some, but I just don't do it.  I always think it is not worth the work involved, nobody will buy, I don't feel it's right, and the list goes on and on.  So a couple of days ago I came up with this brainstorm of an idea when I was working on my heritage album.

Everybody knows that the most important thing we can give to our children is love.  (No, that wasn't part of my brainstorm.)  Besides monetary things like food and housing, second on my list would be teaching them about how to live and providing them with memories.  These two things include many things you do on a daily basis.  But why not include our knowledge and memories with something we love to do:  STAMPING!!  So here is what I am going to do for at least the rest of the year -- not only for my family but my friends.

I will be sending out "Remember When" cards on no specific date or time -- just at least once a month to many people.  My "Remember When" cards will include a printed note telling them about a memory we shared or one that I or my ancestors had when growing up.  In my first card to that person, I will tell them that they will be getting these cards throughout the year, and that I hope they will create a scrapbook using their cards and "Remember When" stories on their album pages.  If I have a picture, I will include that with the card.  How awesome that would be to create a heritage album based on actual stories from the past.  This will be especially important for my children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews because they are always asking me questions about their family heritage, or what it was like when I grew up (I know, that is not the "norm" for kids, but I guess my personality has rubbed off on them more than I thought).  Actually, my mother passed it on to me and my siblings so they would love to do this too.  It also helps because most of my family has scrapbook albums.  I would love to get a handmade card in the mail with a "Remember When" story -- wouldn't you????  I will keep you posted on how this works out, but wanted to share my idea to all those that love to pass on memories.  After all, memories teach us so much about life and values on how to live, plus they can pass them on to their family.

Okay, this is about the most serious post that you will ever read of mine again so don't start thinking it will continue.  What will continue is pictures of my projects.  So with that in mind, here are some pictures of my thank you gifts this month for my customers.  These were so fun and fast to make.  I got the pattern measurements from Holly Krautkremer if you would like to check it out.


I used the Two Tags Bigz and Fun Flowers Bigz L Dies for the boxes, that were embossed with the Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.



The gift tags for inside the box were made with the same Big Shot Dies.



And you thought I was going to posts lots of cards, didn't you!!!  Sorry about that, but I will next time.

Until then,
Sandi

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. . . ." -- Ecclesiastes 3:11
"Every day is a gift, Lord, each moment a treasure, give us eyes to see beauty, hearts to hug pleasure." -- Fred Bauer

FATHER'S DAY AND MORE

Okay, I know you are all wondering what is more important in my life than updating my blog?  I hate to let you down, but there really has been a lot going on that was more important.  This is always the busiest time of the year for me with birthdays, dinners, and cleaning inside and out.  And before you ask; yes, stamping is more fun than all of those things but a girl has to get the "obligatory" jobs done so she can make others happy.  For those of you with husbands, you know how important it is to keep them happy so they don't feel neglected when you stamp every day in your life (sometimes for me it is the whole day long!!).  So there is a method to my madness, as I think anybody who does those mundane/obligatory jobs has to have a very big reason!

Trust me, I have been stamping a lot this last week but couldn't quite fit in the time to update my blog.  I'm going to get back on schedule by posting at least twice a week.  If I start to fall off, please leave me a comment and tell me to "make time."

Today I am going to post the last two cards from my stamping event last month.  I made both of these cards at Ronda Wade's last Baggie Book event featuring product from the Summer Mini Catalog.  I loved them so much that I added them to my card event.  Everybody totally loved them, especially the bleaching technique used on the "Sail Away" card.  The first card below is my swap card from last night's RubberQueen meeting.  I can't wait to show you Ronda's make'n take cards we made at the meeting -- but you are going to have to wait because we used all new product featured in the "2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog."  I don't like showing product before it is released because it takes away the joy and surprise (plus, I feel like it is old before it even comes out).  So make sure you stop back, as I have some really good posts coming up.


Watercolor Crayons swap card product used:  Happiness Shared Stamp Set; Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, Garden Green, and Watercolor Cardstock; Watercolor Wonder Crayons (cardstock colors and Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, and River Rock); Pearls; and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.

 

Father's Day Card products used:  The Open Sea and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets; Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake Card Stock and Classic Inks; Very Vanilla Card Stock; Baker's Twine, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder; and Sponge.



Sail Away Birthday Card products used:  Sail Away, Sanded, and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets; Basic Black and Marina Mist Card Stock; Whisper White Craft and Versamark Ink; Black Embossing Powder; Neutrals Brads; Hemp Twine; Distressing Essentials Kit (Precision File).

Well I guess it is time for me to get some "wifely" duties done, as I am expecting company and probably should at least get dressed now that it is after 1 p.m. and I am still in my PJs (aaah, I live such a hard life).

Until next time (when I hope to have a very interesting post for you).
Sandi

"He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. . . ." -- Isaiah 33:6

"When we are puzzled Lord, and wonder why, assure us we'll know in the sweet by and by." -- Fred Bauer