a measure of Grace

a case for Christmas~

Here it is November and we are in a heat wave!!  I really have a hard time getting in to the swing of the holidays when the weather is in the wrong season...but I know it is right around the corner.  I was on one of my favorite blogs; http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/, when I saw a wonderful Christmas card she had made.  Well, if you know me, you know I had to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it!  I did a little less in the layers and changed the colors and ribbon.  This will be the card for the next workshop (November 29th).  Here is my spin:
 
Click on the picture to get a closer peek.  The base is Soft Suede layered with Whisper White.  The next layer is Real Red punched with the Eyelet Border punch.  The snowflake paper is Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP; it has a great sheen to it!  The ribbon is Mistletoe.   The stamp set is Wandering Words; I can't wait to use the mailbox image in February!  I hope this gives you some inspiration like Di's card did for me!!  ~thanks for stopping by 

November Hostess meeting~

The hostess club met for their November meeting and here are the projects we made.
 
The first was a votive candle cover.  I got the pattern for cutting it out from the Amazing JanTink on her blog.  We used one of the leaves from the Autumn Splendor stamp set.  I suggested using one of the batttery operated candles as a safe way to leave it on!
 
The card was also "stolen"; this time from Sweet Diana Gibbs.  We used Autumn Meadows DSP and tried out the new Shimmer Paint in champagne mist.  Beautiful!

 
I am using my little netbook right now...so I can't type very much due to just not liking the keyboard angle!  So that's it for now~ thanks for stopping by!
 
 
 

More October goodies~

I have been on a search for the pink M&M's that come out for Breast Cancer awareness month.  I couldn't find them, but did find some yummy Bliss chocolate in brown wrappers with pink ribbons.  The inside of each has inspirational sayings from survivors.  You can get 3 in a pillow box, here is how that pillow box I made looks filled:

I think it looks nice!  The Big Shot class had to be rescheduled, so we will be making these Friday.  If you would like to attend, drop me a line in the comment section.  We will be meeting at 3:30pm.

I made a bunch of Pixie Stick holders for daughter's class and her soccor team.  We have a game Halloween morning; and what better than a tube of sugar to get the girls motivated?!?!  

(ps~did you know you can "click" on the picture to get a better look?)
They were easy to make.  I had a base of black paper and added some DSP (old stuff from the stash of SU retired papers!).  I made the slot with the Word Window punch.  We (yep, daughter helped) stamped the Franky image from Batty For You (in Old Olive), punched the head out with the 1" punch.  The image was stamped again (in Basic Black) and punched with the 1 1/4" punch so the Franky head could be layered on top (with a dimensional).  The whole thing was layered on a Scallop punch in Old Olive.  The saying is from Smarty Pants and fits perfectly!  We cut a panel, stamped in Basic Black and adhered it on.   We made a total of 40 and it went fairly fast with the two of us working.  
The container is a "after holiday" sale.  I think I paid $2 for it.  BUT...the spider and spooky is a Decor Elements transfer that I added!  I love the Decor Elements.  They make it so easy to add a bit of "WOW" to something plain! 

Here are the "Deals of the Week" from Stampin' Up! for 10-12:

Item	Description	Special Price
115961	Perfect Setting Bigz XL die	$25.99
114515	Flower Burst Embosslits die	$5.99
116760	Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL die	$25.49

Have a wonderful week!  ~thanks for stopping by
 

Halloween make'n'take~

I will be having a make'n'take class on Saturday, October 10th at 1pm.  Here is the project:
 
They are matchboxes (made with the Big Shot) using the Cast a Spell DSP, large Pewter Grommets, ribbon, and Batty For You stamp set.  You can fit lots of different goodies, I am showing 4 Hershey Nuggets in the open box.  If you can't tell, the grommet is at the end where the ribbon pull is.  The images are embossed, so they really stand out!  This stamp set has 8 images total and you can use whichever suits your needs at the class:

The class price is $1 per box.  Make a few, or make a lot!  If you would like to attend, just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.  Hope to see you at the class.  ~thanks for stopping by

ps~ Stampin' Up! has added a "clearence" section on it's site.  They have some retired items that are priced at super saver prices! 
They also have started a "Deals of the Week" for the month of October.  This week they have 3 punches on sale.  The Trio Flower, My Way and 5 Petal punch.  Each is priced at $10.99 (a $4.96 savings). 
If you would like to make a purchase, just put me as you demonstrator when checking out.  Or contact me and I'll be happy to place the order for you!
 

You can be a Big Shot~

My big Big Shot class is just around the corner.  Sunday, October 4th to be exact!  I have 5 projects for all attendees to make!!  I think that is the most I have ever offered in a class.  We will use the Texturz Plates, Swirls and Scribbles, Naturally Serif, Birds and Blooms, Scallop Envelope, Pillow Box, Beautiful Butterflies, Matchbox and Movers and Shapers dies.  I wanted to fit in one more (ok, really wanted to do 3 more!) but I don't think you want to be here all day!  I will make up some other samples to just show how some of the dies we aren't using look when completed.  I copied a few things off the sites of fellow stampers.  The "hi" card is based on one by Dawn Griffith, the purse is by dianebeckman over at SCS.  When you look at the clear pillow box (in the front with the big polka dot pink ribbon), imagine it filled with some yummy pink candy.  Here is the group:

Would you like to come play and be a Big Shot?  There are 2 ways; if you have purchased a Big Shot from me (or would like to at the class) the class is FREE!!  Isn't that fantastic?  Or you can pay a $30 fee.  But really...don't you just feel the need to own the Big Shot?!?!  LOL  It really is such a fun and versatile tool.  Stampin' Up! has 57+ exclusive dies along with many more that are part of the Big Shot line of dies.  If you would like to come to the class (it's at 2pm) just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you with a confirmation.  ~thanks for stopping by

It all comes together~

As promised, I am going to show how a lot of my cards and other projects come together.  I don't think I have ever sat down and just made a card/project.  It usually takes some time for me.  I see an idea (another card!) or decide I want to use a certain stamp set/paper/embellishment.  I then have to make a rough copy.  I learned to do this after wasting countless amounts of "good' paper!  Computer or copy paper is what I usually use.  Or I use some of the stock of old paper I have (have you noticed that paper "goes out of style"?!?!).  This card started with my daughter's teacher asking that I make two thank you cards for the upcoming marine biology trip.  She had a stamp set for me to use, Fishy Friends.  I wanted to make a sea life scene, and remembered that the stair step style card is a good way to show off multiple images.  I stamped a few of all the images on some copy paper and cut them out.  Then I grabbed a piece of "out of style" paper and created my stair step.  This took a few attempts, as I wanted to have the finished size fit in a 5 x 5 envelope.  I also thought about the text for the card.  My first idea was to print or stamp it directly on the card.  But it made it look a little too "flat".  So I found a font I liked, printed the text and played around with placement.  It still needed something, so I hand cut a few reeds.  Here is my rough idea (the blurred out image is my daughter's school name, internet safety!):

 
I now had the right number of fishy and knew the placement.  I stamped them on my Whisper White card stock, colored with pencils and cut them out:

You can see that I played around a bit with the colors in the empty areas of the paper.  Coloring isn't my strong point...but I am fairly happy with what I came up with!  Next was the dilemma of the text.  I had just watched a tutorial on making a fabulous wood grain (JanTink), but I didn't have the right stamp to do it.  Since it was such a small area, I thought about those little wood signs that are made for fish bowls and such.  I got a piece of Very Vanilla card stock and just started laying color on it.  I used a background stamp and jumbo wheel just to add texture.  I then ran it through my computer, using the font I had already picked:

 
So now I had most of my elements.  For the base of the card I used some non-SU blue paper I had.  It had a slightly distressed look along with an interesting subtle pattern.  The reeds and and the "signs" are hand cut.  Here is how it turned out:

 
The crab is holding up the "thank you".  I fashioned a kind of kick stand for the back, so it can be set on a desk. 

So, that's a glimpse in to how I create a card.  I hope it helps you in laying out some steps for when you are making your own creations!! 

My next post will be showing the make-and-take class that will be in October.  I am making up Halloween favor boxes. The fee will be based on how many you would like to make.  More to come on this later~ thanks for stopping by~

 

Sweets, Treats and more Sweet Treats~

My hostess clubers met this past Sunday.  I thought I would share what we were up to!  This was the first chance they had to play with the new Sweet Centers stamp set and the treat cups.  Our first project was the hot air balloon along with the heart that is in the set.  We did a technique to make clouds.  Very simple...just cut a template that looks like a cloud skyline, sponge on some Bashful Blue ink and move the template up the paper to give depth.  Here is the card:

The base is Blush Blossom.  We also used Garden Green and Rose Red.  The sentiment is from my favorite Teeny Tiny Wishes and we used the Modern Label and Word Window punches. 
Next we did a tent card or place card for Thanksgiving.  Using the petals stamp from the set we made turkey feathers!  With a bit of punching we created his head (circle), eyes (circle), feet and beak (petals from the Boho Blossom punch). 

We used Only Orange, Yo Yo Yellow and Chocolate Chip.  A bit of hand drawn squiggles completed our mini masterpiece!  The card opens at the bottom, so he can sit at the dinner table. 

Upcoming will be my "how it all comes together" post.  I am making some special thank you cards.  My daughter is going on a marine biology trip and her teacher has asked if I would make thank you cards for the leaders of the course at the camp.  I will show how my process of making a card goes~prepare to be entertained!  ~thanks for stopping by

Boy in a Bubble of fun!~

Do you wonder where I've been?  Here's the short version.  On Saturday (9-22) the groomer cut the bottom of Max's ear off (he's in my very first post, in the front).  We spent the day at the emergency vet.  The next day my parents were evacuated due to the fires in our area, and I left to go fly.  Monday began with G having a 103 fever (stomach bug).  By the time I returned I had an injured dog to take care of and a sick child with lots of homework.  I was only home for 2 days and had to go out again, so this week has been a game of catch-up for me.  I really like a nice, boring life much better!

Now on to why your here!  I'm still playing with those Sweet Treat cups.  I had an idea to make a kind of shaker card or snow globe.  Orignally, I thought "snowflakes" but decided I have done enough Christmas lately.  I looked around and noticed I don't do many young boy cards, so I put myself up to a challenge!  I rumaged through the stamp sets I have and saw "All in the Family" (page 84).  It has body parts that you use to make people.  Perfect!  Just the right size! 
 
I stamped the little boy, and stamped his clothes again on some DSP.  Cut the clothes out and glued them on.  The presents in the background are from the "Loads of Love Accessories".  I only colored the ballons and hat (with my SU markers) because I wanted to have the main focus be the bubble area.  The frame was made using the same DSP (which is retired, it's the only boyish paper I had).  I added some Chunky Glitter as well as three presents stamped on cardstock and cut out into the cup.  The sentiment is a Chit Chat rub-on (page 177).  Here is a close up of the cup:
 
I love this idea!  It just adds another idea to use those cups for.  And one that won't need to be torn open!  thanks for stopping by~

One solution~

The riddle of how to make a card with the Sweet Centers stamp set and treat cups, and make it so the whole card will not have to be destoyed has kept my mind busy.  I came up with my very own idea!  There is a tool in the Idea Book and Catalog called a Cutter Kit (page 191, $16.95).  It has four tools: a rotary cutter, scoring tool, 7-sided distressing tool and a perforating tool.  I thought using the perforating tool to create an "x" in the back might work.  Here is how the back of the flower looks and the tool is next to it:
 
 
Here is the completed card.  The flower can be removed and the flaps made by the "x" easily pop open! I used the petals and leaves from the stamp set to create the flower.  After I assembled it (with some Mentos in the cup), I attached it to the card on dimensionals to make removing it from the card base a bit easier.  I curled the edge of the Razzleberry Lemonade paper up, to show the yellow which matches the candy.  Here is a little tip to make ribbon wrap around the front nicer.  With the card base closed, make a tiny slit in the edge where you would want to thread the ribbon to the inside of the card.  Like this:
 
And here is how it looks with the card open all the way:
 
Now, you just thread one end of the ribbon through that litle slit and the other wraps around the open edge.  Super easy!  ~thanks for stopping by!

EEK! How sweet~

You know how excited I have been about this upcoming mini catalog?  Well, this set is one of the reasons!  I have a Halloween project to show you, but this stamp set (Sweet Centers) has many other uses.  There is a heart, hot air balloon, flower and ornament top.  The idea is to punch out the center then add the new Sweet Treat cups and fill it with a treat!  Here is my Halloween card:
 
The card base is Certainly Celery (a 4" by 4" card).  I stamped a little swirly background.  The main image is stamped in Black Craft ink and embossed, so it's really shiny.  I matted it on Pumpkin Pie.  I gave Frank a little color with my Certainly Celery marker.  The "happy halloween" is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and it was also embossed.  The ribbon is also Pumpkin Pie.  Now here is the genius thing about this:
 
See how the back (actually the inside of the card) opens to get the candy out when the ribbon is pulled up?!?!  This way the card doesn't have to be torn in the back to get at it!  Genius!  No, I didn't come up with it...you know I'm not that clever!  This was the brain child of Mike Funke (yes, a MALE demo!!) and here is the link to his blog, it has the step by step directions:
http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style/
The "EEK you're sweet" is what was punched out of the center of the main image.  So you don't have to use the treat cups if you didn't want to. 
This is a very fun set, lots of uses and so many things you could fill those centers with!  You get 12 treat cups for $2.95, a very good price!  I'll be making more samples to show you over the coming weeks, so be sure to check back!  As a reminder, the special price of $85 to become a demonstrator ends this month, as does the button special.  Details of both are here on my blog.  Or leave me a comment and I'll be happy to go over them with you!  ~thanks for stopping by!