STAMPIN' UP CIRCLE & LABEL THINLITS' COLLECTIONS: HORIZONTAL CARDS

Another beautiful fall day here in Michigan!!  I actually spent a day outdoors this week cleaning out the pond shed and organizing it for the winter.  I hadn't been inside the shed since the last swimming party we had, so I was shocked to see how many swimming toys were left behind.  So now I have to go out and buy another huge plastic tote just for the child life jackets.  It also took a lot more time this year because I had to release the air out of probably 10 more inflatable toys.  Those go in a tote also because the country varmints seem to like plastic (plus it keeps dirt and cobwebs off the toys, which I can't stand to touch in the spring).  Bottom line, I have enough water toys for next year!!

So let's get on to what you came here for -- stamping projects!!  I wanted to create a few more cards using Stampin' Up's awesome Circle and Label Thinlits' Dies and try out a new horizontal cut I saw on Angie Leach's blog.  Here are two horizontal cards (both different sizes) that I came up with:

I thought I had all the Christmas stamps I needed for the year (and more), but one of my clients saw a swap card using this stamp set, and I decided I should get it because it would make a great birthday card stamp.  Supplies:  Wishing You Stamp Set; Season of Style Designer Series Paper Pack; Whisper White and Crumb Cake Card Stock; Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon; Label Thinlits Die; Rhinestone Basic Jewels; Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Crumb Cake Markers, and Dimensionals.

Here it is unfolded.  I used the Fun With Christmas Mistletoe Stamp on the label.  The Whisper White Card Stock cut size was 5 1/2" x 8 1/4".  When you run it through the Big Shot, you'll have the left side of the card stock under the Label Card Thinlit, and the right side of the card stock on top of the Thinlit (not being cut).

And of course I had to create a vintage card (it has been way too long).  I have had the Lovely Romance Stamp Set since June (on my first order from the new catalog), and I can't believe I had not inked it up before.  It really is a beautiful stamp set.  Supplies:  Label Card Thinlits Dies; Lovely Romance Stamp Set; Soho Subway Designer Series Paper; Island Indigo and Crumb Cake Card Stock (spritzed with Island Indigo and sponged with Garden Green and Summer Starfruit Ink); Tea Lace Paper Doily; Creped Filter Paper (spritzed with Stampin' Spritzer using Island Indigo and Summer Starfruit Ink Refills); Blossom Punch; Soft Suede Ink (sponged around Crumb Cake panel); Pearl Basic Jewels; and Antique Brads (center of flower).

Here is the card opened.  The stamped  medallion was heat embossed with Early Espresso Embossing Powder.  The pearls were colored with a yellow permanent marker.
How To Make A Horizontal Card—To create a card that fits in a Medium (standard A2-size) envelope, start with card stock that is 7" x 4-1/4".  When you run it through the Big Shot, you'll have the left side of the card stock under the Circle Card Thinlit, and the right side of the card stock on top of  the Thinlit (not being cut).

Let me know what you think of the horizontal style.

Until next time,
Sandi

I AM FALL!!

Don't you just love Michigan's Fall season!!  I really wish it would stay this way all year long.  I don't think I would ever get bored with just this one season -- preferably, just the month of September!  It has been a really laid-back week for me, and I'm loven' every bit of it!!  I can't even think of one outrages thing that I have done, which is probably a first for me to go a whole week without something goofy happening.  I probably shouldn't even admit to this because technically I still have one day left for the week. 

Today's post will be more pictures from my presentation, "I AM FALL," at Ronda Wade's Creative Convention.  See my previous post for more information on my presentation.  The picture at the top of this post was used for my table banner at the Convention (all of the presenters created banners to identify what they were doing for their presentation).

I created this table setting (excuse the piece of lint on this picture, just noticed) based on the measurements of the "Season of Sweets Designer Kit," on page 15, of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog.  I needed a pocket with depth to hold the napkin and tableware -- so this was perfect!!  Product included:  Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric and Designer Paper, Silver Setting  and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets, Pewter Embossing Powder, Framelits Labels Collection, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Early Espresso Classic Ink, and Crumb Cake Card Stock.  (Of course the leaf embellishments are another story to come.)

To go with my table setting is a party favor box with note cards inside.  Besides the above product, I used:  Kraft Gift Box, Designer Naturals Buttons, Jumbo Sticky Rounds, and Island Indigo Card Stock.

Here is a close-up picture of the flower on top of my box and leaves.

Okay, this is my goofy thing I did at Convention -- I forgot to take the note cards out of the box for my display!!  So hopefully some of  attendees will come to my blog to see them -- LOL!!  I love designing these boxes so had to make two of them for my table.  Once you make one, you just can't stop, plus I use these little note cards a lot for gifts.  I used the same Stampin' Up! product as above for the card box, just different design.  Product used for the note cards:  Very Vanilla Card Stock; Stampin' Spritzer (with Early Espresso Classic Ink); French Foliage Stamp Set; and for the sentiments:  Lacy and Lovely, Petite Pairs, Just Believe, and Elements of Style Stamp Sets. 

Okay, that about does it for me today.  I hope I don't bore you with all of my Fall projects that I will be sharing this month.

Until next time,
Sandi

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  -- Colossians 3:13

"No wonder You tell us to forgive a brother not seven times, Lord, but twenty-seven times, because You know how hard it is."  -- Carol Kuykendall

STAMPIN' UP: LACY & LOVELY

Two days and counting!!!  That's what Stampin' Up Demonstrator's love to do:  count the days until Convention.  I missed going last year, so will be making up for it this year.  I'm right on schedule with all my "must do" list of things, so that is kind of scary because that means I must have forgotten something.  I will go over my list one more time, then complete my list of things to do before leaving for the airport (yep, I have lots of lists going right now).

Anyway, thought I would post a card before I left because the only pictures you will see for the next week will be from Convention.  I needed a couple of "new" thank you cards, so this is what I came up with:

Stampin' Up product used:  Lacy & Lovely Stamp Set, Whisper White Card Stock, Rasberry Ripple and Primrose Petals Classic Ink, Dahlia Adornment, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits, and Large Delicate Doilies Sizzlits' Die.

This is a picture of my Prickly Pears -- the only plant that I can grow!!! 

Actually these grow without any work from me -- I don't even have to water them!! 

I love going to Patty Bennett's blog because she has the most beautiful flowers.  And then there are mine -- oh well!!

Come back next week for Convention pictures!!

Until Then,
Sandi

"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst."  -- John 4:14
Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy the thirsty soul.

MORE TALKING ABOUT BABIES WITH BEAU CHÂTEAU

As promised, today's post has more pictures of my album layouts featuring the fabulous Beau Château Designer Series Paper. (See previous post for other pictures.) I really didn't get a chance to use this designer paper until this last month, which is really sad. I love it so much, and it will be gone, gone, gone in 7 days!!! If you love it as much as I do, hit that "SHOP NOW" button in the right margin to buy it now -- I promise, you won't regret it!!
Here are a few more pictures (more to come very soon):

I love this page.   Stampin' Up product used:   Beau Château Designer Series Paper, Labels Collection Framelits Die, Beau Château Side Notes, Victoria Crochet Trim, Tea Stain, Linen Thread, and Twitterpated Designer Buttons.

I water colored the Beau Château Designer Series Paper on these two pages and used more of the Beau Château Side Notes and added lots of pearls.

Added a few punched flowers on the Beau Château Designer Series Paper, butterflies using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die , and stamped on designer paper with the Baby Prints Stamp Set.  

Until next time,
Sandi

"When we love each other God lives in us and His love within us grows ever stronger." 
         -- I John 4:12

"Lord, help me to accept that my ways may not be others' ways."  -- Patricia Lorenz

TALK ABOUT BABIES!!

Hello all!!
It's been another interesting week here at the homestead.  Started out beautiful with my daughters having me over for Mother's Day cookout and fun, fun, fun!!  I love when my daughter's cook because you can always be assured there will be a new recipe to try, and they didn't disappoint me.  It was a beautiful day with family, gifts, games, and music.  Yep, everybody knows how good I am at "whining," and I really had to do a lot of it to get my mom's organ moved from the garage into my daughter's parlor (yes, I said parlor). I actually gave the organ to my granddaughter, but she is still at that age when she moves once a year, so her mom can keep it until she is more settled.   Of course I had to clean it first to make sure there were no spiders on it (you know Tricia!!), and then the grandsons moved it into the house for me.  It has only taken 4 years to get it in her house, after I had it brought all the way up from Texas -- so I was a very happy camper.  It looked awesome in the parlor, and what a tribute to my mother when my middle daughter Deborah played it (and Tricia danced of course).  That evening my granddaughter played, but I was gone so I didn't get to hear it when she played my favorite, "Amazing Grace."  Yes, it was a good day!!

My week has gone downhill since then, and today was hopefully the end of the downhill.  My daughter and I were running errands and kept getting behind cars that smelled like burning rubber.  So she kept taking all these side roads in East Lansing to get away from the smell.  By the time we got to the store I thought something was weird because we could still smell the burning.  So I looked out the side mirror when we parked to see black smoke coming out the rear of MY Blazer -- hmmm, not good I'm thinking.  It actually looked like it was on fire -- just no flames yet.  Long story short, it was my vehicle stinking and hubby came to the rescue to pick us up.  Obviously, the car was picked up by wrecker trailer and carried away also.  It was funny because I had just picked my Blazer up Monday from the repair shop after having the first repairs done on it (it is 12 years old, and I have only done oil changes so thought it was time before I took a trip this weekend).  I really don't think the ole' Blazer liked getting cleaned out!!  So I am now without a vehicle (like I care).  Life does happen, doesn't it!

So let's move on to BABIES!!!  Oh yeah, my favorite thing.  Saturday, I started a 6" x 6" baby album for my niece's baby shower this weekend.  She is having a girl, so of course my pages are going to be all vintage.  I have 12 pages done, and so far I love it.  Previously, I did 22 pages at Ronda's retreat as a class.  My goal is to have a total of 40 pages when complete.  Here are a few pages, with more to come in future posts.  The last picture is of a little gift to my girls on Mother's Day.

I used the "soon to be" discontinued Château 6" x 6" Ring Album. If you love this as much as I do, you only have a couple of weeks to purchase this from Stampin' Up (call me and I will order for you).

And of course I used the beautiful Beau Château Designer Series Paper,  which coordinates with the album. This paper is also on the discontinued list, so get yours now. The stamp set is "Baby Prints," which will be carried over from the Occasions Mini to the new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up Catalog. 

All the same product as before, with the addition of the Labels Collection Framelits Die to stamp on. 

I water colored the designer paper on the borders and punched the circles from the designer paper (already colored) for these pages.  For a better view of the details on all these pictures, you can enlarge by right-clicking and selecting open in new window or tab and then clicking on the image to enlarge.

The girls have been bugging me since Christmas for more of my handmade lotion, so I did a batch up Sunday morning as a little gift for them (and myself -- LOL).  Decorated with Stampin' Up's "Twitterpated Designer Fabric."

Here is the "Recipe" for the hand-lotion:

Denise's Lotion Recipe

15-ounces Vaseline

16-ounces Vitamin E cream

"2" 16-ounce baby lotions

Mix all this together with hand mixer in METAL bowl. (It will look like thick cake frosting.) 

Then spoon into jars with a METAL spoon.

(NOTE: Don't use anything plastic or your utensils may taste like lotion.)

More pictures of the baby album coming soon!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God." -- Ephesians 1 2:8
God's love cannot be explained -- it can only be experienced.

STAMPIN' UP: MOTHER'S & FATHER'S DAY

If you don't mind, I would like to vent a moment before I get to what you came here for.  Just got done talking to my middle daughter, Deborah, and she (being who she is) decided to check to see if I got the best price for my airline tickets for Stampin' Up's Convention (in July).  Well she proceeded to ruin my day when she said she found tickets $300 cheaper than what I had paid -- oh yah, that was a bummer!!  Of course I knew that would happen -- but wasn't expecting that much of a difference.  And to top it off, it was a non-stop flight!#!#!  The only difference was the flight was from Detroit; whereas, I don't do Detroit (the furthest I will drive is Flint!).  But of course, she just had to add, "Mom, you should have told me because you know I would have driven you to Detroit and then picked you back up!!"  I did know she would have done that, but hate to bother my kids and she had just driven me down there last month when I went out west for vacation.  Oh well, it is what it is, and now that I have vented I feel a ton better (kinda).  On a positive note, I left somebody a seat on Delta for a really cheap price (whoever gets my seat can send me a thank-you card, but you better hurry!!).

Now that I vented, how about taking a look at a couple of the cards from my card class yesterday.  I can't show them all in this post because I gave my attendees options on the type of card (sentiments, etc.) making this post way to long.  Some didn't need Mother's or Father's Day cards (brings tears to my eyes just typing that), so I always design those cards to allow them the option of using a different sentiment (ending up with 2 samples).  Here is what I came up with:

I love, love, love this card.  We made these at our last RubberQueens' meeting (designed by Ronda Wade - thank you so very much).  I knew immediately this was going to be my class card for Mother's Day.  Stampin' Up product used:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, and Pretty in Pink card stock; Antic Boutique Designer Series Paper; Labels Collection Framelits Dies; Pearls; Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon; and Apothecary Art Stamp Set.

Don't you just love how it opens!!  Stampin' Up Product used:  Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, and Eyelit Border Punch.

And here is the inside of the Mother's Day version.  Stampin' Up product used:  Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Full of Life Stamp Set, and All Holidays Stamp Set (retired). 

Birthday Card option using Stampin' Up product:  Full of Happiness Stamp Set and Warmest Regards Stamp Set (retired).  I used retired sets because I liked the type fonts for this card.

Father's Day card using Stampin' Up products:  Well Worn Designer Series Paper; Early Expresso, Very Vanilla, and River Rock Card Stock; Extra-Large Oval and Photo Corners (retired) Punches; Hemp Twine; Studio Sketches and Loved Ones Stamp Sets; and Early Expresso Classic Ink.

Birthday Card option uses all of the above Stampin' Up product and Bring On the Cake Stamp Set (instead of the Loved Ones Stamp Set).

Hopefully, these samples depict the versatility of doing one design for different occasions.  I will post the rest of the class cards on my next update.  Have a beautiful Sunday!!

Until next time,
Sandi
"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst . . .." -- John 4:14
Thank you Jesus for giving me the Water of Life -- yourself!