Valentine's Day ATCs and Faith

Happy Valentine's Day!  I'm not only sharing with you the Valentine's Day ATCs that I made a few weeks ago, but I'm also going to try and add a video link to my blog today.  Can't be that hard, right?

I wrote once before about being part of the Transit Traders, a group of lovely ladies who share their talents and dedication to making ATCs.  For January's meeting I made Valentine's Day ATC to share/trade.  Here they are:



Sorry, this photo is a little blurry.

 Stamps: Paisley Prints (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, red glimmer paper
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Real Red marker
Accessories: Full Heart punch, Small Heart punch, Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder

I didn't realize until I wrote the supply list how many items it actually took to create this ATC!  Sure hope this stamp set comes out of retirement and makes it in the new catalog because I really love it!  The only special thing I did on these cards was ink up the Paisley Prints heart stamp with pretty in pink ink, then color over a few of the paisley shapes with my real red marker.   My cousin Kate also attends the Transit Traders group. A few days before the January meeting, she seemed a bit concerned that I didn't have my ATCs completed yet.  Maybe it takes her a long time.  After all, some of the ladies make more than one type of card to trade.   That's too complicated for me; I prefer to mass produce in an assembly line method.  I simply whipped up the ATCs the morning of the meeting!  I can do that because I am the "Stampin' Mom of Four!" 

Now onto the faith part of my post.  As you know, my friend and downline Linda has been with her 13 year-old grandson Nick and his family in Massachusetts as he recovered from a cardiac arrest.  Well, miracles can happen and Nick is back to school.  He still has a lot of healing to do.  Have faith, Nick!  This one is dedicated to you!

Happy stamping!

Susan

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Valentyine Defined Bouquet

No, that's not a typo!  We've got two computers at home that aren't completely networked.  The one that I'm on right now is the one with the camera software on it.  During the Superbowl Clarice watched a cartoon on Netflix while eating some cherry yogurt. Some of it dripped on the keyboard between the T  and  Y keys resulting in my double-typing on the first few keystrokes.  Most of the dried yogurt has loosened up enough so that I'm not typing the "ty" every time.  I just thought it was a funny way to get your attention.  I am one of those people who can find the typos of others quite easily. Sometimes you can read over them and not even notice.  Did you notice my typo in the title?

The card I'm showing you today has two versions.  I got my original inspiration from the Occasions Mini catalog as part of my Valentine's Day stamp camp.  I wanted to make a card that could be used for other occasions.  Here's what I came up with:

Part of my original idea was to stamp the buttons with different colored inks.  In a stamp camp setting, that idea would not work well with having to clean the stamps, possibly contaminating ink pads, taking too much time, etc.  That's why I chose the versamark.  And I chose the buttons in the first place because they're so cute!

Here's my second version, a little more Valentine specific:

Instead of the buttons I punched several of the smallest hearts from the heart to heart punch and adhered them atop the tiny heart images on the stamped stems.  Then I stamped "L is for love" from the Grateful Greetings stamp set with versamark onto the card base. I also used a different pattern from the Springtime Vintage paper.  I love the difference it makes!  As much as I love the Button, Button stamp set, I'm gonna have to showcase them in a future project.
 
Here are the combined supplies:

Stamps: Valentined Defined; Button, Button; Grateful Greetings
Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, River Rock, Naturals White, Springtime Vintage designer series paper
Ink: Always Artichoke, versamark
Accessories: itty bitty shapes punch pack (circle), 1/2" circle punch, ticket corner punch, heart to heart punch, pretty in pink taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

I'm doing a lot of laundry today including the bedding.  Even though all I have to do is move the laundry from the washer to the dryer, it does take all day long.  I think I just heard the dryer turn off.  Better go check it.  ... Oh, and I still have to clean the keyboard LOL!

Happy Stamping!

Susan

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Superbowl Sunday,a Prayer Update and a card

Well, I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be stamping (or eating chocolate!) than watching the Superbowl.  Football seems to be a top priority across the nation.  Loads of food are being served to an audience glued to the TV.  In fact, a few nights ago the cream cheese case at Walmart only held a  few dozen containers of the fat-free variety.   I assume that lot of people will be eating way too much cream cheese tonight in the form of Buffalo Chicken Dip or maybe veggie pizza..  If people put as much priority on worshipping God as they do football, our world would be a different place.

My friend Linda's grandson, Nick, has been released from the hospital.  In fact, he will be able to return to school tomorrow.  The pediatricians said it's a miracle that Nick survived.  Because of what's happened Nick is no longer allowed to play sports.  This news has been incredibly difficult for Nick to deal with because he's played ice hockey since he's been four years old.  So he and his family are still in need of prayer as they adjust to a different lifestyle.

Onto the card... I got the inspiration for this card from Sharon Field.  I made this card to give to my two co-hostesses as part of their 'thank-you' gift for having a workshop with me.

Stamps:  Tiny Tags
Paper: whisper white, real red, red glimmer paper
Ink: real red
Accessories: full heart punch, medium jewelry tag punch, Big Shot, vintage wallpaper textured embossing folder, white organza ribbon, linen thread, 1/16" circle punch, dimensionals

These cards came together quite fast.  I really didn't have time to make more than two yesterday, but I think I'll put some together while watching the game. I might even mail one to Randy's office and stuff it with a bunch of small hearts!

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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Snow Day!

I've been MIA from my blog for a few weeks. No real reason other than I've just been busy.   And for the last few days I've had a blog update on my "to do" list, but it just kept getting pushed down the list.  So, of course, I choose today - a snow day for my four kids - to share another creation with you.

This card uses the new Valentine Defined stamp set found in the Occassions Mini catalog.  I created the hills using retired old olive designer series paper.  I colored the tree with markers then stamped and cut it and placed it atop my tallest hill with dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped in chocolate chip. This is one of the cards that stampers can create at my Valentine's Day stamp camp.  The next session will be held on Thursday, February 10th. Please contact me if you're interested in attending.

Stamps:  Valentine Defined
Paper: bashful blue, real red, whisper white, old olive dsp
Ink: chocolate chip plus old olive, chocolate chip and real red markers
Accessories:  stampin' dimensionals

I'm off to shovel some more snow!

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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Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have a younger sister.  Well, I also have a younger brother named Joe. He's the baby of the family, but he's all grown up now.  In fact, he's a successful pharmacist currently living in Winchester, Virginia (and he's single ; )  ).

When Joe came home to visit in the first week of December, he made a stop to the Victorian Christmas Bazaar where I had a table selling my Stampin' Up! goodies.  (I didn't sell many cards, but I did make a profit.  That will be the topic of another post.)  Anyhow, it was really the first time that Joe had seen what I do and all that Stampin' Up! has to offer.

Joe's passion is Beachbody. He signed up to be a Beachbody Coach about a year ago.  You may have seen those Insanity/P90X workout infomercials on TV.  Well that is part of what Beachbody sells.  He has really gotten into this whole workout thing and thinks everyone else should too. 

Beachbody is also a direct sales company.  After just a year, Joe has sponsored several other coaches.  When he saw some of my Christmas cards, Joe asked if he could buy some to give to the coaches in his down line.   I said, "Yes!"  To make a long story short, Joe forgot to take the Christmas cards with him that weekend.  The next time he came home was a few days before Christmas, and it seemed too late to send them.

Joe still wanted to send some kind of cards to his team. I agreed to make them for him, but didn't know exactly what.  Then last week I had an "Ah ha!" moment and reached for my Word Play stamp set.  I inked up the stamp "Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams," made a sample card, took a photo, and emailed it to Joe.  I thought that this would be the perfect card to send:

Stamps:  Word Play
Paper: marina mist, pacific point, poppy parade, soft suede, whisper white, designer series paper patterns pack brights, designer series paper pack in color (hostess level 1)
Ink: marina mist, soft suede, and poppy parade markers
Accessories: dimensionals

Joe loved the cards!  Said it was perfect for the occasion.  He printed the Beachbody emblem small enough to punch out with the 1 3/4" circle punch and glued it to the inside of the card (sorry, no photo.)  Joe said that the Marina Mist color that I used for the card base was almost the same as the Beachbody emblem color.  Joe is writing an encouraging message to each member of his team to do well in the upcoming year.  As a bonus, he said he would enclose a copy of my Stampin' Up! business card in each envelope.  Thanks, Joe! 

Here is link to Joe's Shakeology web site.  Shakeology is a nutritional product marketed by Beachbody.

Happy stamping!

Susan

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