Birthday Bash Card #2

Hello, here's the next card I created for my Birthday Bash Stamp Camp. Like the card in my last post, it's gender-neutral and can be given to just about anyone.

This card  needed just a little more details to liven it up.  A few polka dots and some sponging did the trick!

I cased this card from fellow demonstrator Jenny Peterson.  How do you like it?  The ladies made a real mess of my carpet with all of the confetti pieces from the cupcake builder punch - nothing that my vacuum cleaner couldn't handle.  Maybe I should call it, "A mess with a purpose!"
  
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess set - retiring on May 31st!), Create a Cupcake
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Subtles Patterned Designer Series Paper
Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Big Shot, Circles #2 die, Perfect Polka Dots tiff, 1 3/4" Circle punch, Cupcake Builder punch, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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A Bunny ATC Turned Greeting Card - HSS Inspiration Challenge - Easter

Last weekend I created some ATCs to trade at my local ATC club called the Transit Traders.   WOW!  That group of ladies is amazing!  I came home from that meeting inspired to create using a few new techniques!  However, there is NEVER enough time in my day. Someone is always hungry at my house!

Anyhow I had a few cards leftover, so today I created an Easter card with one of them to enter into the Hand Stamped Sentiments Easter Challenge.

I made the bunny from an idea taken from Jackie Topa's Blossom Petals punch class.  What I was going for in this card was to create a picture frame image. So I added a Soft Suede layer, then a Very Vanilla layer stamped with the Woodgrain stamp in Soft Suede and sponged with Crumb Cake ink.  Then I added a 4 1/8 x 5 3/8" layer of So Saffron designer series paper and added that to a Soft Suede card base.  It's almost like you're looking out your cartoon window to the outdoors.  If there was a caption, what do you think the bunny would be saying?

Stamps: Woodgrain
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Garden Green, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Wisteria Wonder, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Garden Green; Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink markers
Accessories: Blossom Petals punch, Cupcake Builder punch, small oval punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, White Signo gel pen, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions embossing folder, Snow Burst textured impressions embossing folder

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Doggone it!

I was a bit surprised when I read the announcement from Stampin' Up! earlier this week about the Stocking Punch.  Here's what they had to say: 

December 20, 2011
Our occasion-specific mini catalogs allow us the opportunity to share the latest seasonal products.  We often carry over a few select products from our mini catalogs into the following Idea Book & Catalog. This time, however, we have decided not to carry over the Stocking Builder Punch (item 124095) from the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog into the next Idea Book & Catalog. Instead we will offer other great designs in its place--not to mention a trendy, new design planned for next holiday season.  Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase.

I was lucky enough to acquire this punch for free a few months ago from one of my uplines, Janet Wakeland.  I entered a contest for free merchandise and won. The last time I remember winning a contest was when I was about 13 years old.  I won a case of motor oil.  So I was tickled to win this one!

By the time I got the punch, I had already seen many different items being crafted from this little guy.  Well, as soon as I pulled it out of the packaging, I saw a dog!  Yes, a dog! And here is my creation:

Here's the original dog that I made in a dog house, but I never got the inspiration to finish him on a card.  I used the Well Worn dsp for the dog house and his collar.

 And here is a visual of what punch pieces I used to created the dog:

To add a little bit of trivia, I researched the etymology of the phrase, "Doggone it," and here  it is. I am using it as a play on words, of course.


Stamps: none
Paper: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Basic Black, Frostwood Lodge dsp
Ink: Early Espresso, River Rock, Basic Black marker
Accessories: Stocking Builder punch, Bird Builder punch, Owl Builder punch, Cupcake Builder punch (for the circles on the card), Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, My Digital Studio (for sentiment), Big Shot, Square Lattice textured impressions embossing folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

If you haven't already purchased the Stocking Builder punch, act now because once it's gone, it's gone for good!

I wish all of you a very merry Christmas!

Susan

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Pennant Parade Day 3

This is another card that I created for my Open House.  It uses a few different punches and a returning product, the red glimmer paper!!!  I stamped the Baroque Motifs flourish onto Blushing Bride with Blushing Bride ink, then I punched out the icing.  Then I punched a Very Vanilla icing and ran all three through the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  Along with the sponging, it really adds dimension to the ice cream : )


Stamps: Pennant Parade, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, Just Add Cake designer series paper, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride (for sponging on the ice cream)
Accessories: Cupcake Builder punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch, Big Shot, Elegant Lines ef

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Alaina's Birthday Card

Trying to get back in the swing of things...  The kids had three birthday parties to attend this week.  I only had time to take photos of one card.  Dide helped me make it.

Dide and Clarice will be leaving for Alaina's birthday party in a few minutes.  So, I'd better sign off!

Stamps: Pennant Parade
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Just Add Cake designer series paper
Ink: Marina Mist
Accessories:  Cupcake Builder punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, Chocolate Chip scallop dots ribbon, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots ef, Square Lattice ef

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Beary Birthday Card

This card was made using my new Create a Cupcake stamp set and the Build a Cupcake punch.  I entitled this post "Beary Birthday" because I used the Build-a-Bear Pawsitively Prints II designer series paper that coordinates with all of the Build-a-Bear items.  The colors are bright and cheery.  Just what we need to welcome spring to this cold and dreary northwestern PA.

All I had to do was choose a few coordinating colors from the dsp and I was in business.  The opposite side of the flowered paper is a Poppy Parade and Whisper White checkered pattern. So, this card could easily be made into a "boy" card.  Can  you see the glitter on the frosting?  Next time I make a similar card I'll make the Whisper White piece a bit smaller.

Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Build-a-Bear Pawsitively Prints II designer series paper
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig

My five year-old daughter Dide had a birthday party to attend last Saturday.  I suggested that she send the above card to her friend.  However, she insisted that she make her own card. I was okay with that.  She used some scraps that I had on my work table.  Here's how it turned out:

Can you guess what items were scraps? I'm so glad that I let my daughter do her own creating. She was so proud of her work.  Should've gotten a picture of her holding it.

Okay, last night was a busy night.  Annika had to be at Girl Scouts at 5:00 pm.  As soon as I dropped her off, I drove to Marcey's house to close out her workshop.  This meant that I had to have supper ready before 5:00 pm.  This was so that Annika could eat supper and the rest of my family could eat while I was gone.  Dide and Clarice ended up going with me.  Marcey has daughters that they played with.   It takes planning, but I try to put my family ahead of my Stampin' Up! business.

Right before I left Marcey's house to come home I called Randy and asked if he had eaten supper.  He then told me that he went to Subway because he "didn't feel like eating chicken."  Apparently he had eaten chicken at lunch time while at an out-of-town meeting.  And because I took the girls with me and Bradley was off playing with friends, Randy was home alone to do what he wanted for dinner.  Of course, I was a little hurt by his actions.  I worked hard to make homemade macaroni and cheese and baked chicken breasts - and have it ready to eat on time. 

In reality I know that Randy appreciates me.  But now that I'm writing about this incident, maybe I'm not completely "over" the incident.  The two of us ate chicken salad sandwiches and soup for lunch today.  And guess what we're having for dinner tonight - chicken!  I think chicken - in one form or another - will be on the menu for the next few nights.  Tonight is garlic/balsamic marinated chicken. ...  Let's think -- grilled chicken, chicken and dumplings, chicken a-la king, fried chicken, chicken pot pie, chicken soup, coconut chicken, chicken fingers, baked chicken, .... 

Okay, I hope you all understand that I'm writing this all out of fun.  But I am serious about serving chicken for a few more nights  ; ) 

Happy stamping!

Susan

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Prayers needed



This card was inspired (copied) from the February Stampin' Success magazine.
I basically just changed the colors.



Last Wednesday night I had the opportunity to have a workshop with my friend Barb.  She invited some of her closest friends to be there.  All of them took advantage of the Sale-a-bration going on with SU!  It was a great workshop.  We made a gender-neutral birthday card that could also double as a Valentine's Day card.  All you'd have to do is change the sentiment.

Stamp: Create a Cupcake

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Springtime Vintage designer series paper, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede

Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, Pear Pizzazz ribbon, dimensionals

My new friend and downline Linda came to observe me.  Near the end of the workshop, Barb's phone rang. It was Linda's husband. I could tell right away that something was terribly wrong.  Linda got off the phone and said that her 13 year-old grandson who lives in Massachusetts collapsed at hockey practice and was in the hospital on a ventilator.  She said that she had to leave immediately.

A strange silence took over the room.   Linda and I have only known each other a few months, but it seems like a long time.  We've not really talked at length about our religious beliefs, but I thought that she was a believer.  Now, I am not one who feels comfortable praying out loud with a group of people.  But I felt the overwhelming need to pray right there with these ladies.  So I did. 

Linda drove me to the workshop, so I was with her for most of her ride home.  She talked about what she needed to do to get ready for the drive to Massachusetts including packing her clothes, finding a temporary home for her dogs, etc. I told her that we would all be praying for Nick to make a complete recovery.

In the days since Nick's collapse, I have texted Linda a few times to get updates on Nick's condition.  I put Nick on my church prayer chain and also asked for prayer via Stampin' Connection, an online community for Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Several of the other ladies including Barb have added Nick and his family to their prayer chains, too. 

Today I received an email from Linda that said that Nick is still undergoing tests to determine the cause of his heart problems.  Tomorrow he will be having an internal cardiac defibrillator implanted.  They do know one thing: he will never be allowed to play sports again.  This news has been very hard for Nick to accept because he's been playing hockey since he was four years old.  The doctors say that it is a miracle that Nick is alive and made it through this ordeal.  Linda wrote that Nick's earthly mission is not over.  God kept him here on this earth for a reason.  Please pray for Nick while he recovers.  He is not only suffering physical problems, but is also grieving that he has to give up hockey and completely change his lifestyle.   Also pray for his parents as well as his teammates. 

Happy stamping!

Susan



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Big Cupcake

Have you ever seen the commercial for the giant cupcake pan?  Well, I think it looks so cute.  I found one of the pans marked half off at CVS a few days ago. To make things a better deal, I had a $5 off coupon.  So I paid $5 for it.  Gotta love that : )  When I brought the pan home on Monday I didn't feel well.  After all, the reason I was at CVS was to pick up prescriptions for myself.  I have some kind of upper respiratory/sinus infection.  Moms aren't allowed to be sick - ever!  The doctor even prescribed some antibiotic ointment for my eyes because they were all red.  I'm trying to use it, but it's really difficult to function when you can't see.  Since I'm a mom, I have to take care of myself -- and sick eyes don't feel good either.  (That reminds me, I haven't use the ointment yet today.)

Yesterday right before my kids got home from school, Clarice said, "Let's make tuptakes, Mommy!"  I asked, "Do you want to make little cupcakes or one big cupcake?" She said, "One big one!"  So I got the pan out and gave it a try. We used a confetti cake mix.  I thought I greased up the pan enough, but some of it stuck inside the pan. You can't tell the difference once it's been frosted.

 

Look how quick Clarice is in sneaking a lick!  (Actually, Randy had the wrong setting on the camera, but I thought it looked funny!)



We let her do it again so we could get a "proper" photo.

By the way, the cupcake cake was just for our family. That's why we allowed the licks.


Annika's best friend Sophie is turning eight today.  Annika reminded me that I needed to make a card.  But since I spent half the night making the big cupcake, I didn't cook dinner OR make Sophie's card.   At the not-so-bright and early time of 5:32 am the phone rang. It was a recorded message from the school superintendent announcing a two-hour delay because of snowy and icy conditions.  After shoveling snow for a half hour, I still had plenty of time to make a card.  And here it is:

I used some new products from the Occasions Mini catalog - the Create a Cupcake stamp set and the Build a Cupcake punch.  The pretty in pink taffeta ribbon was tied using the fork bow method that I saw on Diana Gibbs's blog.  (I should've straightened the bow a bit before taking the photo. It really did turn out cute!)  Annika was really impressed with the fork bow.  I used a serving sized fork to tie it and joked to her that I should keep the fork in my stampin' studio.  She wants me to tie A LOT of bows for her after she gets home from school - in every color! It's hard to tell from the photo, but I added dazzling diamonds to the "frosting."  I told Annika have Sophie show the card to everyone at school.  Maybe I'll get some workshops scheduled. You never know :  ) 

Happy birthday, Sophie!!!

Stamps:  create a cupcake

Ink:  early espresso, pretty in pink

Paper:  whisper white, pretty in pink, crumb cake, early espresso

Accessories:  pretty in pink taffeta ribbon, build a cupcake punch, big shot, polka dot embossing folder, dazzling diamonds, glue dot

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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