WT205 Fabric.....

I was so excited when I saw this cute hinged card idea from Stampin' Up! I immediately CASE'd it for the WT205 on Splitcoast which was to use fabric on your card. I think this is a pretty print, and it happened to have some squirrel-like brown as the background color, so I frayed the edges and glued it with mono liquid glue in the green bottle. It also coordinated with the Simple Friendship set I think so I stamped the flower on the top in Versamark on Celery. I needed to make my 3 year old daughter a Valentine so I used the Squirrel from the Animal Crackers set for the main image....fun and fast to make!

Cupid Gifts Day 1

We Swappers Anonymous demo friends are having a cupid exchange. (My gifts to my cupidee will be posted on Sunday.) Today was the first day to open, and I have a rockin' cupid!

I just munched a Godiva chocolate-topped shortbread cookie! It was in this gorgeous cone made of Raspberry Tart paper and embellished so delicately and with my inital too! (It also matches my dining room, so I'll have to display it there for a while!)

That isn't all--Look at this adorable little wooden handle box covered in the Tea Party striped paper with a Playful Petals flower on the front! How stinkin' pretty is that?!!
Inside? Inside was Bath and Body works shampoo and conditioner in mango mandarin scent. yummy!

Thank You sweet cupid!!!!

IC166 SC213 Inspired by a Pink Pear

For today's Inspiration Challenge on SCS, I chose the pear and apple lampshade shown here http://www.hunkydoryhome.co.uk/hunkycat/retro-fruit-pendant-drum-p-590.html as my inspiration. I found a recent Sketch Challenge (#213) for the layout and used Cheep Talk for the stamp set. I enjoyed using the pears in versamark on the Certainly Celery to repeat in a slightly different spacing from the shade, but used similar colors omitting only the red. I rock and rolled the edges of the pear in Pixie Pink after inking it with Pretty in Pink. The pink pear is unusual, and I love this fun set!

Workshop Ever After Valentine

I wanted to show off Poppin' Pastels, but I wanted a heart on the card too, so I just stampedthe heart in Versamark as a background on the base of the card. It does make the card look quite different and yet the same as the layout I used on the Real Red and Mellow moss card on my events blog.

Cheep Talk

I used some leftover pieces to create some little Cheep Talk cards for some friends....but my "talk" is from the Blooming with Love set :) I enjoy this set's easy style that is quick and cute.

Swappers Anonymous Swap Card

This is my swap card for our SA group....I LOVE the colors right now! I chose to use the new Petal Pizazz set that will be in the new Stampin' Up! Spring and Summer catalog.

Happy Healthy Pregnancy Wishes to my demo friend Alison!

I made this simple card for Alison using the new level 2 hostess set Goody Goody Gum drops and took a few cookies to her house to welcome her expected third little sweetie! She's a more energetic girl than I am! Goooo Alison!

Waiting in Line for the Mailbox!

I made this card last week and considered for a half of a second having my club members make one.....there's a lot of cutting here though! I used the stair-step fold from TLC190 on SCS as well as the Love Owlways and Happy Heart Day sets with plenty of paper piecing and grass cutting.

Stamp Club Last Night

Last night at Hostess Stamp club, we made several projects including a Coaster calender shown in this post from November: http://thestampinbunny.blogspot.com/2008/11/2009-coaster-calendar.html They chose their colors from the Hostess Level 1 patterns pack.

We also made an explosion card with a heart shape like Kelly Gettelfinger's shown here on SCS: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1171937?si=kellyjg Open view: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1171932 I've made explosion cards before, but adding the heart shape made this fold so useful for Valentine's Day or Anniversary cards! I simplified using just Kraft cardstock and layers of Very Vanilla and Ridinghood Red. I used the solid tiny heart from Big Bold Birthday in Ridinghood Red on the inside and the Lovely Letters set to spell LOVE on the front. The chocolate chip sponging made it a bit masculine to me....I wouldn't be afraid to give it to a man anyway :). Adding a few favorite things about the person to whom you are giving it on the inside and maybe a picture would step it nicely too.

I was stuck on the tiny heart from Big Bold Birthday and used it as the background in Versamark on Celery for the top of this card which was inspired by the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS which was to CASE JulieHRR (Ebersole), a legend in stamping. Mine doesn't quite follow her style, but it made a card with which I was happy :). To follow the thin profile of Julie's card http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/779930?cat=500&ppuser=362, I cut the width of the card from 4-1/4 to just 4 inches wide for a change of pace. The polka dot stamp was used in Only Orange on the Pretty in Pink Cardstock. I punched one inch circles from Only Orange Cardstock for the large scallop edge look and used the heart from Priceless in Regal Rose with Only Orange Sponging. I thought the colors were fresh and cheery.

For a simple candy holder, this 3 inch wide piece of Close to Cocoa is simple and quick. (I think these were really popular last year, but I missed the trend with my group, and it is still cute I think.) They are simply 3 inches by 9-1/4 inches with scores at 3, 3-1/4 and 6-1/4. I used the Designer Series Paper from the Level 3 hostess bundle in Pink Pirouette for both the scalloped square layer under the main image and for the 2-1/2 inch layer under the candy on the inside. I simply used Whisper White cardstock and provided SU! markers in Old Olive and So Saffron as well as Pink Pirouette reinker and an aquapainter without water for coloring so that the cardstock wouldn't become warped or pilled. Pink Pirouette finished off the front for a feminine touch.

The inside is pretty self-explanatory, and I do love how the scallop circle is easy to use with a 3 inch square. Just slide the cardstock to the inside, center left and right by sight and punch. Easy Peasy!

Warm Up! to the New Catalog make and take

This card will be one of the make and takes at my Warm Up! to the new Stampin' Up! catalog party on the 22nd and 23rd. This uses the new Petal Pizazz set (available January 19th) as well as a sentiment from the new Level 2 Hostess set Goody, Goody, Gumdrops. I hope this is a card you would like to stop by and make!

Stamp A Stack design....

I like that this card is gender neutral and uses my favorite colors right now....Celery, Baja and Saffron! I made it for Limited Supply Challenge 201 on SCS. I kept it simple to use for my birthday Stamp A Stack on February 19th.

CD folder Scrapbook from my Elf LIZ!

My secret elf was, as suspected, my buddy Liz! Look at this gorgeous scrapbook she gave me this morning...it is soooo gorgeous!

Sorry the page pictures are sideways, my anger at blogger has no bounds....I can't fix it! Here is the lovely front cover:

Secret Elf Days 8 and 10

My Super Secret Elf has been so generous and fun! Day 8 was this amazing Candy Bar Holder--I was thrilled! (I'll take it apart a bit and use it on a Christmas Scrapbook page soon!)

On Day 9, I received Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon! And today, Day 10.....this gorgeous tin embellished with all the lovely ribbons from the winter mini and Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon....don't they coordinate wonderfully with the pail? To top it off, she included an adorable watercolored snowman paper clip, chocolates and a....Sock Monkey Ornament! Too cute and SU! spirited!!

Elf Gift #6 and sneak peek

My elf gift today is this adorable snowflake cube ornament....isn't it a cutie pie? Took the picture and put it right on the tree! Since we are allowed to post our demo preorder sneak peek cards now, I had to post this card I made with the new Raspberry Tart paper and Goody Goody Gumdrops hostess set for today's Sketch Challenge on SCS. (Search SC207 to see them all) It was a quick card--just some masking and crystal effects did the trick!

More SA Elf Gifts!

My Elf was so sweet on day 2 and 3! I opened a Regal Rose Ink Pad and a package of the big flower brads. Yippee!

Today (day 4), my daughter opened a gorgeous LOVE table decoration for me! (I hadn't order this set and paper so even more wowie.) The letters are yummy VELVET....hmmmm....perhaps made with the Big Shot? Which of my SA friends has that big nice Alphabet???? Hmmmmmmm......

We are now allowed (per demo support-I have an incident number in which I was told NO earlier and YES today) to post preview and promotional sets on blogs and websites as we wish.

SA Elf Gifts-WOWIE!

On SCS/splitcoast, I chat with a great group of demonstrator friends I met at SU! Convention last summer. We decided to do a secret elf exchange for 12 days before Christmas. I listed my favorite color as Baja Breeze, and could this be more perfect? I can't wait to show it off at my new catalog open house! Even the big mod mum rub-on will console me in the loss of the big mod mum in Fabulous Flowers which is retiring!!!

And such a gorgeous card with it too! (I can only hope my Secret Elfette likes her things as well as I do, but her gift is goofy for today. hee-I'm bad!) Here's a picture of my entire fabulous haul in wrapped glory! (Well, I took day 8's present to stamp club last night, so I'll keep you in suspense until Day 8) What a great Elf! Even the paper is coordinated! I admit I gently shook -yep I do that- the boxes (which are mostly stamp boxes by the way), and I think I may have a stamp set one stamp at a time in different boxes! :)

Not a Creature was Stirring....but a Peanut Butter Mouse!

Peanut Butter Mice

1 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup butter (no substitutes), softened
½ cup sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ cup peanut halves (roasted not raw)
2 tablespoons MINIATURE M&Ms
Red shoestring licorice-separated into strings 2 inches long



Cream peanut butter, butter, sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour/until easy to handle.

Roll into 1 inch balls…..place 2 inches apart on baking sheet, and pinch one end into a taper for the nose. Insert 2 peanut halves in the center of each ball for ears. Add a brown or red M&M for the nose and use two brown, blue or green M&Ms for the eyes.

Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes or until set. On pan, gently insert a read licorice piece into each cookie for a tail. (Yield 5 dozen)

TLC198 Vellum Shade

This is a simple little shade embellished with only iridescent ice embossing powder and markers (on the back side). I promise it is better in real life. I really enjoyed today's challenge. It was simple and fun.

I used the Winter Post snowflake on both the top and bottom edges in Brocade Blue craft ink and the house from To You and Yours in the middle as well.

I stamped the dove from this set on each side of the house as well for a little more sparkle....I wish you could see it glisten in the photograph....sorry!

Ho Ho Ho Candy Bar Holder and Emma's tags

When I made a Candy Bar Holder with the Snowman from Merry and Bright in a square punch, my daughter said it was silly for it to have Ho Ho Ho on it with a snowman......touche'. So here it is re-done with Santa's smiling face from Deer Friends.....I stamped the Sweet Treat ring in Old Olive (it has the gingerbread man in the center) since this is a candy bar holder :)

There is a notch in the sleeve that allows the Santa scalloped circle (stapled to the end of the candybar) to tuck into the holder. The HoHoHo's were made with the Short Order Alphabet, and the designer series paper is the Ski Slope.

My 6 yo (mentioned above :) ) made these two tags, and I helped tie them onto the presents and wrote our names on the snowflake one. She loves to stamp!

Enhancing a Simple Tag

This tag is an example of creating something and then enhancing it to a More is More level. It is done by the dirty dozen team on SCS to show how embellishments can add to a project.

The original was a cute and simple tag--perfect for creating a quick batch for many gifts. To step it up (for a special someone perhaps) I changed the ribbon to the wider striped ribbon and added the sponging technique in Always Artichoke both on the edges of the Very Vanilla/image layer and on top of the leaf areas. I also added an Always Artichoke cardstock layer, Always Artichoke brads, dimensionals, and an Always Artichoke cut out with punched berries in the same Ridinghood Red cardstock.

I also re-inked my inkpad which goes to show how important that can be too :).