STAMPIN' UP: ELEGANT BIRD GOES CRAZY

I don't know about you, but I am really ready for some warm weather.  I am so tired of wearing a shirt and 2 sweatshirts over the top and then sometimes a jacket on top over everything.  The weather channel is predicting temperatures in the 70s by end of the week, so I guess we have something to look forward too (not sure if I should have added that extra "o" on the word "too" but I can't end my sentence with a preposition now can I?).  We did need the rain today so I'm not going to disk the rainy day.  Besides I always love how everything looks after a good rain.  Looking out the window while I am typing this is so awesome, as there must be a hundred different shades of green bursting from the landscape.  (No, I don't do "flowers" - just not my thing, but love to stamp and color them!!).

As I promised, today I am showing the final 2 card sets my ladies did at my last class.  One you have seen before (crazy birds!), but it is so worth showing again.  It is crazy, crazy!!  So let's just jump right into what I came up with:

Yep, Stampin' Up's Elegant Bird Bigz Die went crazy on me!!  I have been wanting to share this card with my ladies for a couple of months, so when I told them we would do a birthday card for young males, I knew just what card I was going to create.  Of course you can use this for something other than a birthday (I gave one to my grandson after his first performance in a local play -- he "was" one of the very good ones!!).  Stampin' Up supplies used:  Elegant Bird and Lattice (for beaks) Bigz Dies; Big Shot; Smarty Pants Stamp Set; Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper; So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, and Poppy Parade Card Stock; Paper Piercing Punch (retired); and Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, and Black Markers.

This is the same design, just different background designer paper from the Just Add Cake Designer Paper.  I also used the 1/2" Circle Punch for the eyes (so you don't need to go out and buy the Wiggle Eyes).  TIP:  I punched Early Espresso Card Stock with the 1/2" Circle Punch first, then adhered the whole circle to Whisper White Card Stock, then I punched off-center with the 1/2" Circle Punch again -- much easier to get the crazy look -- LOL.

I have also wanted to showcase how beautiful and easy you can make beautiful cards using the Simply Sent Card Kits, especially when you want something in a hurry and don't have tons of supplies.  I didn't add a lot to these cards, as I really didn't want the beautiful lace border and background to get "lost" in the card design.  Adding the punched out dies from the Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit  to the Everyday Elegance Simply Sent Kit made this a 2-minute card -- just stamp a sentiment, add some ribbon, and punch a circle and you are done!!!

This was the 2nd card using the same product.

If you like these cards and/or the product used to create them, make sure you stop by my Stampin' Up Store and click on the "RETIRING LIST PICTURE" -- product used for these cards will be discontinued in 30 days!!  Stampin’ UP! has released it’s Retiring lists and there are so many goodies on there that you are going to want before they’re gone.  Some of the Accessories are even up to 60% discounted from the regular price. WOWOW!!!   Retiring Accessories are "WHILE SUPPLIES LAST."  You know those are going fast!  If you have questions or need help just give me a call.

Until next time,
Sandi
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. . . .  He is like a tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water. . . ." -- Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Lord, what awesome wisdom You've given us in Your creation!  Give me the heart of an oak:  strong, steady and with the will to endure."  Fay Angus

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!

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