COLOR, STAMP, STAY

Are these adorable or what???  My daughter gave them to me for Christmas, and I just LOVE them!  I decided to use them for snacks in the Stamping Tower. 

One for chocolate, one for chips, one...nah...I'll use all three for chocolate.

CAT-LESS IN NEW JERSEY

It was a busy Christmas season and a wonderful celebration.  The tree is trimmed with blue lights, 100 pine cones, 40 birds and a dozen glass icicles (as in years past.)  However, there are no longer any cats and, although we miss them, we are enjoying our new furniture in the family room.

The sectional couch was 30 years old, so it was way overdue for an update.  We chose a more modern sofa and a leather swivel chair.  We also purchased an end table with a drawer.  The piece in front of the sofa is a family heirloom and very handy as a coffee table.  The bottom shelf holds a box with puzzles and small items that would otherwise make the room look cluttered. (and we don't want that...)

The little table next to the swivel chair was made by Rick.  On top is a stuffed squirrel in front of the sliders where we watch the "real" squirrels play and try to get to the hanging bird feeder.  They are always fun to watch!

By the way, the carpet looks like new thanks to the Hoover Dash shampooer that magically "erased" all the pet stains.  It's amazing!  My sister was so impressed with the results, she ordered one for herself.

In preparation for Christmas and two house guests, this house got a thorough cleaning upstairs and down.  So if you've been wondering why I haven't posted in over a month, these photos should give you a clue.  I can't go and teach "De-clutter de House" with my house a mess, can I?  I also made and sent over 100 Christmas cards, shopped for gifts in brick and mortar stores (and small shops,) caught up on the laundry and visited my chiropractor numerous times.

Thanks for visiting.  Have a Happy New Year full of good health and happiness!


P.S.  Watch for another Decluttering series -- coming soon!

Shiny Metallic Birthday Card

This card and front panel were sitting on my table for ages because I just couldn't find a way to use it that I liked.  When I ran across some large scraps of the same copper paper, I had the best solution (finally!)

After punching out the flowers and gluing them together, I discovered that the large flower fit the stem of one of the large flowers in the dsp design.  The smaller flower fit the greeting strip.  All I needed to finish were two clear gems and the greeting.

As Frenchie would say, "Voila!"

PAPER PLAYERS #420--Sketch

Thanks, Paper Players, for a quickie sketch!

This came together in about

15 minutes total.

Great way to use up some scraps, too!

MORE FANCY FOLD CARDS

This is the first card with my new SU Sprig Punch, and I think I'll be giving it a lot of use.  These double gate cards are fun to make!  You just have to remember to use adhesive only on one side. (Ask me how I know...)

The flower makes use of layered SU punches that are sponged and stacked with glue dots and embellishments on top..

This second card is a creative mistake with the folding.  It was to be another double gate fold card, but I cut off too much on the one side.  Instead of throwing it away or using the paper for scrap, I folded back one side and kept the right side triangular. 

The flower and sprigs are mounted to the left side.  I tucked the right flap between the petals to keep it closed.

I plan to add a greeting when I'm ready to send it.


TIP:  My "rule" for how many scraps to keep, I save only those that are bigger than an index card.  It used to be business card size, but I still had too many to keep.

DOUBLE-PLEATED FOLD CARD--Snowflakes

The more double-pleated cards I make, the easier they get.  I plan to use this for a January birthday.  The greeting will go to the right of the large snowflake.

This design and dsp would make a good masculine card.

DIE CUT NATIVITY

Thanks to Evelyn, who lent me this die, I now have 20 of these cards ready to go.  The inside reads:   "May your season be peaceful, your New Year be bright."

Sharing supplies is a great way to expand your possibilities!

I MISS SUMMER ALREADY!

...AND INDIAN SUMMER, TOO!

I sure hope the weather improves by winter.

We had very few hot days without rain,

and the wet weather followed right through this week.

I have a feeling we're going to have a lot of snow this year.

At least it's still summer in the Stamping Tower--

Bring on the pink flowers!

PAPER PLAYERS #417--Give Thanks

It's my favorite squirrel again!  Just in time for this week's Paper Players challenge.


For a peek at other entries, click HERE

THREE OF A KIND--Always Artichoke panel

I had some precut green panels laying on my work table, so I used them for these cards.  The wreath was very simple to make and embellish.


The second card was even easier. I used glitter pens for
the ornament and silver cording for the bow.  The "blessings" die cut was time consuming to cut and glue, so I made only one card with it.  (Not practical for making a lot of cards.)

The large oval ef served the purpose well with the flower on the side and the gold embossed verse in the center.

ALL 101 CARDS DONE--yay!

This was the very first design I came up with for this year, and I really like the way it came out.

Starting with the top panel, I used my MISTI to stamp the words.  Next, I die cut the largest star and mounted it to the card front with dimensionals.  Then I die cut the silver fancy star and glued it to the white cs underneath.  For embellishment, I glued a smaller gold star in the center and later added a small gem (hard to see here.)

Thankfully, the MISTI made stamping the front sooo easy!

75 DOWN & 25 TO GO!

With everything that was going on here this Fall, I got off to a later start than usual with my 100 cards for Christmas.  I'm coming into the final stretch now, though!

This is the only design I came up with this year that uses dsp.  Thanks to Evelyn for loaning me her pine ef and SU Peaceful Wreath stamp set.  I like how this turned out--not only for the look, but also for the ease of using the assembly line technique.

I highly recommend using a stamp positioner like the MISTI or the ones from SU and Tim Holtz.  It really helps things go much faster with less errors, especially when you have a bunch of cards to make at one time.

PAPER PLAYERS #415--A CAS CHALLENGE

One of the advantages of CAS cards is that they can be made quickly, and this was no exception.  Once I found the stamps to use, it took about 10 minutes to put this card together.

For more CAS card examples, visit the Paper Players blog HERE.

HALLOWEEN POP-UP CARDS

 Just finished making two Halloween cards, one for each of our children's family.  These pop-ups are quick and easy to make, especially when you can make good use of some SU dsp.  I wrote "Have Fun!" on the inside after finishing them off. 

 Enjoy!

TIN CEILING ANYONE?

This paper and embossing folder remind me of a country kitchen, so the basket of wild flowers fits right in.

...and I loved pulling out my peg stamps again!

DOUBLE PLEATED HARVEST CARD

One of the birthday cards I received last month inspired me to revisit this technique. 

After watching Frenchie on YouTube, I was able to put this together.  (It's not as easy as it looks, for me anyway.)  When it comes to doing the pleats, it gets a little tricky--but it was fun!

BIRTHDAY CARD FOR A 90-YEAR-OLD

This was a fun card to make, in spite of the fact that it took over two hours to die cut, sponge and assemble.  It was well worth the effort, though!

Thankfully, the recipient has a great sense of humor!




TIP:  To make a greeting fit the way you want, stamp it on a piece of cardstock or dsp.  Then cut the paper instead of cutting the stamp.


PS> 10/15:  She loved it!

SIMPLE SATURDAY #54--Happy Harvest

GOOD STAMPING WEATHER!

Forget about raindrops on roses.  These were the kind that stick to the windows, obscuring the view (yesterday.)  I'm not complaining, though, while others down south are suffering severe losses from Florence and Michael.  It's wonderful to be able to retreat to a nice dry stamping tower!

This view is from the kitchen window over the sink.  Ordinarily, you can see across the valley from here.

This photo was taken from the sliders in the kitchenette.  What you can't see (besides the view) are the puddles that have formed from the drenching rain.



Today is a different story:  bright sunshine and strong, gusty winds--another good day for stamping.

The weather we've been having lately gives new meaning to "stamping up a storm!"

PAPER PLAYERS #413--Trees and Leaves

This was a fun and easy card to make using the SU Seasonal Wreath embossing folder.  The dynamic texture is what makes this ef so elegant.  Since there are no pine branches in the wreath, it can be used for any season or occasion.

To make this a Fall card, I applied two shades of green chalk for the leaves and copper Nuvo drops for the berries.

Check out more of the challenge entries HERE.


JUST A NOTE:  My last card was one of the ones chosen for recognition at the Papee Players last week.  YAY!

PAPER PLAYERS--Tic, Tac, Toe

I just love Autumn with its cool nights, low humidity and bright sunny afternoons!  So this card is my attempt to capture the beauty of the season, thanks to the Paper Players Challenge #412.  I chose the bottom row of die-cut, orange/rust and sequins/glitter for my top fold shaker card.

I plan to use this card (and a few similar cards) for Thanksgiving cards this year.

For more Paper Player cards, click HERE.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH!

...RIGHT TO THE DAY!

A lot has happened since my last post.  Sometime before the end of August I started feeling extremely tired.  I thought it was just a case of anemia, so I took iron pills; but other symptoms started up.  When I went to the doctor, she took a urine sample.  Since it was Labor Day weekend, it took a week to come back--I had a serious kidney infection.  The first round of antibiotics had to be repeated before it finally started to clear up.  It was actually quite scary, and it took 3 weeks to regain my strength; but I'm fine now.

Meanwhile, my elderly diabetic cat was also quite sick and losing weight.  After running numerous tests, the vet could not find any reason for her deteriorating condition, so we had to put her down.  It was very sad, especially since she was our last pet.

Yesterday was my first day back in the Stamping Tower, and I made 15 Christmas cards to give our pastor for his use.  Love that MISTI!  

TWO OF A KIND

These two cards were made as a result of pressing the leaves between 2 panels of cardstock or watercolor paper, placing both panels in a folded  piece of typing paper and running it through the die cut machine. I then cut each panel using a stitched die.

Next, I added the greeting and glued the panel to some fun foam to keep the warping to a minimum.  The only embellishments I used for this card were the three tiny pearls.

You can do this with any green leaf that is still moist.  The chlorophyll in the leaf acts as a natural ink that is transferred to the paper "sandwich" giving you two prints at a time.   Try it--it's fun!

TWO OUT OF THREE

Jennifer McGuire inspired me to try "having fun" with water coloring, so I used the three roses from the SSS "Beautiful Flowers" stamp set.  I clear embossed them, coated them with water, and added Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade, then fussy cut them and mounted them over some green leaves.

It was sort of fun, but I still don't have it down when it comes to using water colors.  To "pep" this card up a bit, I added the dsp strip on the side, the copper thread and the tiny tag.  After I took the picture, I also added a few sequins.

For card #2 I used the third rose, the leftover leaves and a few gold sequins.  Both cards will make good summer notes since I already have quite a few birthday cards made.  I'll be moving on to Christmas cards soon!

FEMININE WINDOW CARD

This was sooo easy to make!  It's hard to see the depth of the window here, but it's mounted over the embossed piece with dimensionals.

The flowers are punched and the centers brushed with white WOS.  (Did you know it comes in white?)  The pearls were added to the centers, and the flowers are mounted with one on the top, one attached to the back of the green cs, and the 3rd one attached to the white cs beneath; so they're on three different levels.

The butterfly is sponged lightly with Marmalade Distress Ink and mounted with glue dots.

I like the scalloped edges peeking out from beneath the green cs.  That die should get used more often!

PAPER ROSES

I CASEd this from a few cards on Pinterest that used the SU die set.  I'm not sure I really like the open-ness of the flowers.  I finally settled on this arrangement.

For embellishment, I used the leaf sprig from the same die set and added matching pearls.  They matched the pearlised cardstock perfectly.

This will make a handy note card for someone who needs a lift.  It's good to have these on hand.

PAPER PLAYERS--Humor

This was an easy card to make with the Sizzix die set.  However, it was tough getting it through the machine having two layers plus the die to cut.  I was a little nervous that it might break the machine, so I don't think I'll use this set again.  Thankfully, it was borrowed; and I'm glad I got to try it.

The die set includes one for the sprinkles, but I chose to use the stick-on dots from my stash--much easier thank cutting, coloring and gluing paper ones. 

This cupcake/food group stamp is just one of many humorous ones in my stash.  I love to make cards that will make someone laugh.


Paper Players are HERE.

FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY BIRTHDAY

Today is the first day I've used this tag die (using scraps, of course.)  I started by cutting the whole die in white.  Next, I cut the top part from green cs, and again the light blue; then I glued the leaves and birds on top of the white.

After stamping the verse and sponging the edges with the same Distress Oxide ink, I tied the silver cord around the tag and mounted it on the card front.

This is one of those cards that looks better IRL!

SIMPLE SATURDAY #53

NOTE TO A FRIEND

It's that crazy chick stamp again!

This note will be going to Joan.  She quit stamping (horrors!) about a year ago and gave all her supplies to her daughter-in-law.  I thought it was time to send her a personal invitation to the Stamping Tower, just to see what's new here and throughout the stamping world.

No, I'm not going to pressure her to stamp again.  Her mind is made up for sure.  She quit to pursue other things, and I respect that.  I simply would like to have her company again.

The card is fashioned from scraps on my table (what else??) and is self-explanatory.

Shadow Box Card, NOT!

Somehow, every time I try to make a shadow box card, I get turned around and can't put it together.  I WILL get it eventually, but this card had to be cut apart and reassembled as a window card.  Maybe it's the heat and humidity...

I'M BACK!

We're home from our week at the beach house on the Outer Banks.  I know you're supposed to get wet at the beach, but not from rain!  After 4 days, one day with the road closed due to flooding, the weather improved enough to use the pool.  The beach was closed the whole week because of the undertow.  We heard 8 people had to be rescued.  At least I got some much-needed rest.

We came home Sunday exhausted from the 9 1/2 hour ride.  All I did was unpack the car, cook dinner and go to bed.  Monday I picked up our cat the the vet and caught up on the laundry; then yesterday I went to our Bible study meeting and met a friend for lunch.  Today I'm in the Stamping Tower--finally!

 Check back later for today's post! 

WINDOW GREETING

Yet another opportunity to use up some scraps!

After die cutting the circle off the edge of a panel of shiny gold dsp, I mounted it on the cardfront with Tombow glue.  Normally, I would have used dimensionals, but this paper was a bit too thin.  Then I stamped the greeting (W plus 9) in the opening

For embellishment, I die cut three leaves and punched out 2 glittery flowers, arranging them as shown.  For a final touch, I added the dark green embroidery floss on the left.

I could probably make hundreds more cards  without buying any more dsp or embellishments, but...  well, you know how that goes!

ANOTHER CARD FROM SCRAPS

Since I won't be doing any card classes for awhile, it's safe to use up leftover die cuts and embellishments like these.  The only new items here are the light blue gems on the butterfly.  Even the flower had the blue gem already affixed.

The blue panel came in a fully embossed sheet, so it must have been bought that way.  All I did was cut it into fourths and trim to fit the card front.

At the end of the summer I will be discarding or giving away whatever older scraps are left.   Some of what I have goes back 5 or 10 years!

SIMPLE SATURDAY #52

SUMMER BIRTHDAY CARD

Thanks to Tina Smith of Cards and Coffee Time, I made a few cards from the scraps on my table.  If you want some inspiration, take a look at her videos on YouTube.  The link to her blog is HERE.

Thanks, Tina!

NEW CARD FROM OLD LEFTOVERS

It's amazing what I can find when I clean up my tower!  The circles I found were from a card kit where I omitted the circles.  Here, they're used as a background for the dragonfly I found in my stash.

After running a white panel and ef through the Sizzix, I mounted it on a panel of brown cs that matched the scalloped circle.  I then mounted both on the yellow card and added the circles and dragon fly.

This will come in handy as a thank-you note.

JUST FOR YOU

Here's a card I made using scraps found on my table when I cleaned up (again!)

The die cut leaf matched the greens in the dsp and banner, and the sequins matched the dsp colors also.  All I had to do was to trim the dsp to size, create the banner with the SU punch and assemble.

Easy card!

JUST BECAUSE

I'm really lovin' the SU Vertical Greetings set, as you can see here.  I also used the SU cat punch for a card to go to a Silver Stamper cat lover for her birthday.

The fish tails on the tags were done with another SU punch.  I guess it was a SU day!

PAPER PLAYERS--Celebrate!

After watching  "Happy Friday Series/Using What's in Our Stash" on YouTube, I was inspired  to make this card.  I thought it worked very well for the Paper Players "Celebrate" challenge.

Using just one SU 6x6 pad, I chose several patterns that seemed to work well together.  I die cut three of them in different sizes and used a small balloon punch from my stash to create a birthday theme.  For the greeting, I white embossed it on a scrap of black cs.

Birthdays are fun to celebrate.  Just remember, it's not how old you are--it's how long you've lasted that counts!


Click HERE to view other entries.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

This is posted late because today was my husband's birthday, and I didn't want him to see his card on line.  We actually won't be celebrating until Saturday night at our son's house, but I gave him his card today.  Then we went out to lunch, just the two of us, at Applebee's.

We are so blessed to be able to live in this wonderful country.  Sure, we have problems now and then; but it sure beats anywhere else.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!


Paper Players challenge can be found HERE.

THREE OF A KIND--Cactus

This trio started when I came across a 6x6" dsp pad I forgot I had.  I had just received my order of a Hero Arts bundle called "Color Layering Armadillo," and these background papers were just right for the stamp set.

The first card features some copper threads and a copper foil tag, (although it looks red here.)  The hardest part of all three cards was getting the flowers on top of the cacti due to their small sizes.

This second one was the easiest of the three due to the dsp providing the background.  All I had to do was use the dies in the bundle and attach to the light green oval.

The black and white greeting stands out nicely.

Finally, this third card was fun to assemble.  The terra cotta pot turned the cactus into a house plant.  The twine gave it some texture, and the hand-written greeting gave me a card I need for a sick friend.  (I added two sequins on the label after the picture was taken.)

I was a bit unsure of how to use this set when it first arrived, but it worked out well once I incorporated the cactus dsp and the planter.  Now I just have to find a use for the armadillo in the set...