SIMPLE AND CUTE

Pick yourself up -- yes, I'm posting twice in one week!!! Only because I have to clean up the studio for class tomorrow, so needed to get these posted before they were gone. Here are the rest of the cards we will be doing at my Saturday card class. Again, easy but cute cards. I mean, come on ladies, how can you go wrong using Stampin' Up stamps. I could have made dozens of cards using these stamp sets, I love them that much. And as you can see, there are two layouts using the Picnic Parade Stamp Set (free Hostess Level 2 set in the Occasions Mini catalog). I couldn't make up my mind which one to use for the class, so they will make both if they wish (they love it when I can't make up my mind).

Using the Picnic Parade and Sincere Salutations Stamp Sets; Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon; and Polka-Dot Embossing Folder

(Sorry about colors -- camera angle must have been wrong -- it is much softer in real life.) Hello card (2nd layout) using the Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pad (Free Sale-A-Bration) and the Picnic Parade Stamp Set (Free Hostess Level 2 Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog).

And then there is the equally simple and cute Easter Card using the Animal Crackers Stamp Set. And yes, I created four different layouts with this one before I decided this was the one for the class. I used the Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper again, punching borders with the Scallop Trim Border Punch, and wrapped with Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon. The Scallop Circle punch was used before stamping the bunny (using the Stamp-a-ma-jig of course) and little feet tracks were made using Chocolate Chip Marker on a few of the Itty Bitty Background stamp spots. And yes, that is Liquid Appliqué on his tail (believe it or not I still have some of this from when Stampin' Up sold it years ago -- and it still works!!).

Hope you like my cute and simple cards -- and I guess even more important I hope my clients like them!!

Thanks for stopping by and see you around the corner!!
Sandi

Class Sneak Peek

Below are a couple of the projects we will be doing at my card class next Saturday. I am focusing on Stampin' Up's fabulous designer series paper. There is so much more you can do with this paper than use it for your scrap books. I often forget this myself, so this was a challenge for me to incorporate in my class. I also used products from the new Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration. I'm telling you, it was very hard to narrow it down because I am so in love with everything in these minis -- and the majoriety of it was FREE!!! Please contact me if you would like to get in on the free product -- only 5 weeks left!!

Both of these projects were inspired by Ronda Wade's make'n takes at our Sale-A-Bration Event.  All of the Designer Series Paper is different and card layouts somewhat.  I had forgotten how much I love doing the gift cards, and I loved the way she did her simple wrap to put the cards and envelopes in for storage.  Without further ado, here are some sneek peeks:

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack in the Occasions Mini Catalog and Movers and Shapers Die with Oval Punch used on both cards.

Gift Cards made with Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pad (Free Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper) and Flower Fusion felt flowers.

Wrap for cards using new Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch and Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper.

 

All of the Flower Fusion felt flowers were frayed with the Paper Piercing Tool to give them more deminsion and shabby chic look.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Sandi

BABY SHOWER

Yesterday was such a fun day because my daughters and I attended a baby shower for my nephew and niece in Marine City.  So that meant we visited with my younger sister and nieces and nephews while we were there.  The weather looked terrible (snowing) when we left my place, but by the time we got on the highway the sun was shining (yes, I was blessed again).

Anyway, I want to share with you my baby shower card and gift wrappings.  I have to admit the colors are not my favorite for "baby" cards/gifts -- but they do not know the gender of the baby and these are the colors they picked (Chocolate Chip and Sage).  The baby's maternal grandma uses Stampin' Up products in her crafts and did all the invitations, table decorations, and gifts for attendees using the same theme.  Even the games were Stampin' Up, which I had never played before and soooooooo cute!!!  I will save that for another post, but will definitely offer it to my clients.

I stayed with the Chocolate Chip and Sage theme for my card, etc.; used the Stampin' Up Pop-Up Look Here Big Shot Bigz XL and Scallop Circle Bigz Dies for the gift card; Nursery Necessities, Animal Stories, & discontinued Buggies and Booties (?) stamp sets; and Build A Bear Bigz Die for decoration.

Card Front -- Check out my first try at ruffles (I peeled my cardstock in half so it wasn't as thick & it gave me 2 layers of ruffle).

Inside of Card

Gift before wrapping.

Close up of name tag made with discontinued Stork from Babies and Buggies set

Wrapped gift (clear bag) using SU's Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

My card peeking out!!

Build-A-Bear topper in PJ's (sex to be determined at a later date -- LOL)

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Sandi

NON-TRADITIONAL VALENTINE

Hello all!
Wasn't it beautiful out today?  Two days of sunshine, the driveway is melted, and white snow everywhere else!!  What more can we ask for, right?  Well, I would feel really blessed if we had no more snow until Sunday being as I am going out of town and want some black pavement to travel.  I know, that is asking a lot for Michigan's weather, especially when we haven't really had a bad Winter (yet??).  So we shall see.

I have a real quick card for you today.  At the last minute (as usual), I ran out of Valentine's Day cards so needed to make some really quick, simple cards.  I wanted to show you this one because I am sure nobody but I would make a Valentine's card in these colors.  I just couldn't see sending my almost 18-year old grandson a red and pink or Chocolate Chip and Real Red card -- it had to be something REALLY different.  As for my husband, I can get by with red and black -- but not for a lively teenager who thinks anything "different" is cool.  Make sure you are sitting down before you scroll down to this:

Are you okay?  I told you it was different and it really does look nice in real life.  So do you think this will grab his attention?  Actually, now that I look at it; I could have made it a St. Patrick's card too.  Well it's too late because I have already stamped the traditional "Happy Valentine's Day" and all the "love you" stuff on the inside.  I know you are just dying to know the deets on this card, so here they are:

STAMP SET:  "Love You Much"

PAPER:  Green Galore Cardstock, Whisper White Cardstock, and Patterns Pack III Designer Series Paper (Level I Hostess Set).

ACCESSORIES:  Heart to Heart Punch and Green Galore 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Have a "sweet" Valentines Day and thanks for stopping by!!

Sandi

TOTE-ALLY TESS!!

Happy Saturday!

For me, every day is a Saturday, although it hasn't been that long for me to remember what it was like to have a work-week.  But then "work" is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?  I have always defined it as, "work I have been given to do" vs. "work I choose to do."  Sometimes it makes all the difference in the world when you feel like you have chosen to work your hiney off.  That is probably where the saying, "Life is about choices" came from originally.  Another reason why I always look at a half-glass of water as "half-full" vs. "half-empty."  I even tried to keep this in mind a couple of weeks ago when Wallie (my teenage Yorkie), chewed up my new eyeglasses and then the next day he chewed up my "backup" pair of eyeglasses.  Yes, the poor guy was bored and still has one baby tooth left.  The bright side of it was that I was able to find the missing lense about five hours later in his mouth, so I had all the missing pieces, and I finally made my appointment for a checkup, which was overdue.  Aaah yes, God does work in mysterious ways!  And on top of that, I can finally answer in a positive manner when the doctor asks me:  "Do you ever see spots in front of you?"

Anywho, you didn't stop buy to read my theories on work, you want to see some new creations.  I have been working in my studio, but forgot to take pictures of a lot of my new stuff before I gave it away (but hope to get back, as they were samples for a customer to choose from).  I did remember to take a couple of quick pictures before giving my grand-daughter Holly her birthday card and hair clip.  Of course I used my new Tote-Ally Tess, which I so love because it looks so chic and modern.  This time however, it is a birthday card for a female.  Nothing fantastic, just simple and very fast 10 minutes or less project (same for the clip), using the Viola cake stamp with Tess and Extreme Elements "Splat" stamp.

Doesn't she look gorgeous with her suede slacks!

Holly is still into the "black & white" gothic look (starting to transition into a lady now) so I thought this hair clip would be perfect for her in the black lace and antique white, with some tulle. Every since she started kindegarden, her teachers have always commented on Holly's attire; she has to add 1 personal touch of her own to make her "different" than the others (bold scarf around her neck, in her hair, or hanging out a pocket of  her jeans was a favorite).  Funy how the teachers loved it when she was in elementary school, but in high school they think of you as "different" in a negative way.  Reminds me of her mom when she was about 14 years old and we all went to a nice restaurant.  When the waitress came to take Tricia's order, Tricia pulled her hands up with the menu and what did she have on??  A lacy glove with the fingers cut out (notice, I said "a"; meaning one hand only).  I wanted to crawl under the table, especially when I noticed she had my rosary around her neck when she took her coat off.  Yes, Madonna was "hot" then.  So, I don't sweat the small stuff now when Holly is eccentric -- I just know "that too will pass."  There are so many more important things to worry about, and I love it because they have "personalities."  I just don't know "where" they get it from????

And here is the birthday girl (in the middle), with her mom and sister, at her birthday dinner.

Happy 15th Birthday Holly!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Sandi

DIRECT TO PAPER SWAP CARD

Good Morning!!

Now that I have had about 12 hours of sleep, I feel a little more refreashed!  I took a nap yesterday from about 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. (had to make sure I woke up in time for "48-Hours" that I usually always miss).   

Below are a couple of my swaps for the RubberQueens' meeting yesterday.  I'm showing more than one so you get the idea of how each of them turned out different -- there were no two alike out of the 20 that I did -- not even close!  Again, I did a Michelle Zindorf card -- I so love her style (but for those of you who follow my blog, I guess you know I have a lot of "styles" that I love -- basically anything different).  You can find the tuterial for this card here. 

You will notice below that my cards look NOTHING like Michelle's, except the use of the same stamp!  So technically I guess you can say Michelle provided the directions (I don't want you to think this even comes close to Michelle's work).  Sometimes I don't know why I keep trying, but someday that "practice make's perfect" theory might work -- so I keep trying.  The good news however is how much FUN it is trying, and how easy-peasy this card was to make. Oh, one more thing:  I still liked all of them because (1) I love the "Direct to Paper" technique; (2) none of them looked the same; and (3) the fun and ease of creating!!

  

 

And the winner of the card swap contest was CHRIS KOLLY!!

 

Congratulations Chris!!  She had some stiff competition this month, as there were many beautiful swaps, but  I wasn't surprised she won as this was one of my favorites also.  Everybody who attends gets to vote on their favorite card (even those who do not bring swaps), so it is really special when your peers vote your card as the "favorite."  I will post some of the other beautiful swaps in my upcoming posts.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!
Sandi

MORE CLASS PROJECTS

Here are the last of my samples from my card class last Saturday and pictures of my two-page album spread for my scrapbooking class.  We really had a lot of fun, even tho the class size was small.  I actually like it when there are less attending, as I can spend more quality time with my clients.  I am posting these a different way today, directly from Picasa -- so far, so good.  I hope it will bring in all my notes for each picture.  I'll let you know at the end of this post if I like doing it this way or not.

This was a new card layout for me, called a Flip-Flop card.  My inspiration for this card came from Rhonda Griffin, who was kind enough to direct me to different blogs to get the directions.  For some reason, I kept reading the directions wrong, missing the key sentence to create the heart.  Finally after many attempts, the lightbulb went off and I had my "DAH" moment.  It was so easy after that, and really a quick card for my class (the ladies loved it).

This is how the inside of the Flip-Flop card looked.  Supplies: I (Heart) Hearts, Holiday Best, & Tiny Tags stamp sets; Very Vintage Wheel; Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die; Medium Jewelry Tag Punch; White Satin ribbon, Twine.

I just loved this little "Love Bugs" card.  Perfect for your significant other.  Supplies:  Love Bugs & I (Heart) Hearts stamp sets; SU Markers; Dimensional, Heart to Heart Punch; and Whisper White, Basic Black, and Real Red Cardstock.

Sorry, I had already added my pictures/Christmas Cards before I took these pictures for the scrapbooking class, but I think you can still see the layout.  I always add our hand-made cards we receive each year to my Christmas album -- there is no way I could ever throw them away.  I know the time and attention each of these cards took to create and they are all beautiful (I have lots more to add to additional pages -- these just fit on these pages the best).  This is Album Page 1 for Christmas 2009, with one of my Christmas Cards I did in the top left.  My sister, Kathleen's, card is in the bottom right.  Supplies:  Soft Suede & Real Red Cardstock; Christmas Cocoa Speciality Designer Paper; Go Go Boots Embossing Folders; Ornament Punch, and Gold Cord.

This is Album Page 2 for Christmas 2009 with my sister Lois's Christmas card top right, & another of Kathleen's Cards bottom left.  I did a little experimenting with the stencils (after I did this page) and came to the conclusion that it was much easier to apply the red acrylic paint with the sponge attachment on my brayer (the sponge is no longer sold by SU, so I am so glad I got mine before they discontinued selling).  My clients really enjoyed trying this new technique, and I learned a lot for future layouts or applying to my walls.  Supplies:  Soft Suede & Real Red Cardstock; Christmas Cocoa Speciality Designer Paper; Go Go Boots Embossing Folders; Vintage Ornaments I Decor Stencils, Christmas Greetings & Tree Trimmings Stamp Sets; and Two Tags Bigz Die.

Well, I didn't figure out how to import my notes from Picasa (so did a copy and paste).  I will have to experiment a little more -- or maybe somebody out there will take mercy on me and post directions in my comments?!?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!  It's back to our freezing weather again -- drats!

Sandi