ESTABLISHED ELEGANCE

This is your lucky day!!!  Because I goofed off and went swimming in the pond all day yesterday, I am way behind on my schedule with tons of things to get done yet before my family gets here, so this is going to be short.  In the process of cleaning up my studio this morning, I realized I had a scrap left over from my post the last time, so made another card before I took care of the materials.  (At least that was my excuse.)  So forgive the pattern because it is very close to my larger, long card before.  Just used different stamps.  Here is what I came up with:

The base of this card is Crumb Cake Card Stock, with the stamped panel also on Crumb Cake layered on Close to Navy, with a strip of punched Riding Hood Red Card Stock.  The other panel is from the Well Worn Designer Series Paper (that was my left over from card before -- LOL -- my excuse to make a card this morning instead of working).  I used the new Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate, inked with Very Vanilla Craft Ink.  The panel is stamped with the  Notable Ornate and new Established Elegance Stamp Sets.  Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Distressing (Blue) Ink were used to color.

So there you have it, hope you like.  I see there are around 10 people down in the pond, and here I am stuck in the house cleaning and baking.  Oh well, I will play all next week.

Until next time,
Sandi
"Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths."  -- Psalm 25:4
"Heavenly Father, when a new path seems too steep for me, help me pause and listen for Your voice telling me whether to go ahead."  -- Mary Brown

TIMELESS TREASURES

Good Evening Everybody!!
I took the day off today from Spring cleaning (there is a method to my madness, just don't ask) to get my fingers inky.  I was surprised when my granddaughter called early this morning to ask if she could come over to scrapbook and swim.  Well, being as I already knew I was taking the day off, I told her to get herself over here so we could get started.  She scrapbooked when she was younger, but is really starting from scratch almost because she is using the "best" product now.  So yes, she had to be shown how to use SU's big cutter, Color Coach, and a few of their other tools.  Before I was introduced to Stampin' Up, I already owned tons of product from that "other" company that doesn't sell stamps.  However, I can't even get her to use it (and she used to love it) because none of the colors coordinate, they didn't have ribbon or any accessories, and after stamping cards with me for a couple of years she absolutely refuses to use "those stickers" from that company (I don't blame her, I wouldn't either -- no comparison with a piece of real rubber).  I just look at all those thousands of dollars I spent on product from the other company (which at the time I thought was the best) and shake my head.  The only thing I will use it for now is when the little ones come over and they want to "play" with crafts.  Long story short, she ended up doing a beautiful 2-page spread with awesome Stampin' Up product, learned a lot, and was very happy.

So back to my original plan to create a card to update my sorry blog (don't worry, I will get back on a schedule again sometime).  I didn't actually get to "really" work on it until after dinner because all I got done when my granddaughter was here was make decisions on my color scheme, designer paper, and stamp set.  The layout of this card was inspired from a card my BFF sent me for my birthday.  I actually saw it when I was at her house in Arizona last November, loved it, and asked her to send it to me for my birthday (only good friends can do that you know).  So this is what I came up with, and I hope you love it as much as I do:

All Stampin' Up Product Used:  Timeless Treasures and Notable Ornate Stamp Sets; Textured Basic Black, Crumb Cake, and Night of Navy Card Stock; Mocha Morning Speciality, First Edition Speciality, and Well Worn Designer Series Papers; Vintage Ink Distressing Essentials; Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Neutrals Button Collection; and Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim Ribbon.

This was a fun card to make and I am so in love with the Mocha Morning Speciality Designer Paper.  The flocking makes it look so rich, and of course, I love all vintage-looking designer paper!!!

Until next time,
Sandi
"And lead us not into temptation, but deliever us from evil. . . ." -- Matthew 6:13
"Lord, You bore the agony of the Cross for us.  Have mercy on all who are in pain." -- Mark Collins

REMEMBER WHEN: SUNNY FUN

Wow, I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks since I last posted.  Talk about setting a record!!!  The last two weeks have flown by -- busy, busy, busy.  I did manage to get in a Scrapbook event the last week of June, put in some orders, and finally get a chance to stamp for myself a couple of times this week (very short times). 

This last week has been a "week in a dust bowl."  Usually every Spring we have something major done to our house to either update or just repair.  Well early in March we contracted with a company in Wisconsin to come and restore our log house.  Specifically to remove all the layers of paint to restore it back to its original log finish.  No problem right?  They come in, do their job, and it is done.  Ha, ha the joke was on us; or me, specifically.  My husband failed to mention to me that they would be "corn blasting" -- notice I did not say "water blasting" -- to remove the paint.  And you know me -- the ditsy blond that I'm not -- I just figured that was a term they used in Wisconsin for water blasting.  The 1st day I pulled my drapes so they couldn't spy in and didn't notice much, only that it was really noisy and seemed like it was foggy in the house (of course my husband said it was in my head).  The 2nd day I decided to go downstairs to my studio to get away from the noise so I closed the patio doors to our 4-season porch because they were blasting the back of the house.  Well I came up when my husband got home and opened the patio doors to go out on the porch and about had a heart attack.  The entire room, going the length of our house was covered in a thick layer of corn dust!!  I mean EVERYTHING!!!  What is in the room:  bookshelves loaded with books, DVDs, family videos, my sewing machine that was open, another antique sewing machine, TV, satellite dish, DVD player, speakers, tons of toys for little kids, 2 couches, table and chairs, popcorn maker, 5 quilts (it gets cold out there and the kids like to snuggle when watching TV), and lots of do-dads.  I wanted to just close the door and hope the whole porch would fall in.  That is when I found out 2 major things:  "corn blasting" means fine-ground corn is used with the water blaster; and more important, "four-season room" means it is not well-insulated!!!  Four hours later we had most of the top layer done but I will still have to take everything out again when they are done (hopefully in another week).  The other rooms just need a good sweeping and waxing; along with washing all the bedding, curtains, etc.  Now you know why I have not been around -- shouldn't even be here tonight, but a girl has to take a break.  Plus the workers left to go home to their families until Monday, then they will be back.  They really needed a break because they were here every morning at 7:30 or before and worked 12 hours every day with only a couple of 15 minute breaks. 

MORAL OF THE STORY:  "Corn Blasting" means exactly like it sounds!!

See what happens when I don't blog for 2 weeks -- you get a novel!!  But I do have a couple of samples to show you.  I completed my first set of cards to send out for my "Remember When" series.  I talked about this in my June 12 blog.  I used a card kit from Stampin' Up when they were offering their "grab bags."  Some of the product is discontinued but I added current product to finish the card and album pages.  The last pictures are my album pages I made with my card as an embellishment when scrapbooking (Card Versatility).


The cards feature the Summer Fun and Word Play Stamp Sets.

 

Same card kid just different design.

 


Card Versatility:  My album pages (12 x 12) using one of the cards for an embellishment and the new Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper.  I also used some discontinued Vintage Letters Rub-Ons.  (Click on the picture to enlarge).



Close-up of left page.

 

Close up of right page.

I have one spot left to receive my Remember When cards, so leave me a comment and tell me why you would like to receive them, and I will pick a winner.  (You might want to make sure your go back and read the first post so you have an idea of what I hope individuals will do with the cards.) 

Until Next Time,
Sandi

"The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches." -- Psalm 104:12
"Thank you, God for teachers who open our eyes to the beauty at our feet and the glory in the skies."  --  Fred Bauer