Simply Sent Valentine

Whew!  The end of another busy work week.  Even though I had Monday off, it seems like this week was 6 days long instead of 4.  Shortened weeks get the kids out of sorts and sometimes they can be worse than a 5 day week.  All I can say is TGIF!  Unfortunately, the weekend is only 2 days. :(

The month of January is almost over and I thought I'd get a jump on my Valentine Cards.  This is a simple one, and one I think I will do at this month's club.  It is easy to prep for.  I used the second of the two designs that come in the Designer Cuts Cards and Envelopes Set (125414) in the Occasions Mini.  I love these cards.  All of the work is practically done for you.  I added a rosette that I made using a 1/2" x 12" strip of News Print Specialty dsp (121878).  If you aren't sure how to make these flowers, the March issue of Card Maker Magazine has an excellent tutorial.  I scored my strip of dsp every 1/4 inch and adhered it to the Blushing Bride punched out circle using a glue gun.  I also adhered a piece of Blushing Bride card stock to the inside of the card so that you could see it through the pre-cut heart.  I bannered two 1/2" wide strips of the News Print Specialty dsp and adhered them to the underside of the rosette using a glue dot.  The entire thing is attached to the card using a dimensional.  The sentiment comes from P.S. I Love You stamp set also in the Occasions Mini (125460/wood or 125462/clear).

Hope you like it!  Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Take It to Heart Friendship Card

I just can't get enough of working with my new stuff from Occasions Mini.!  As I've said previously, I love all of it.  I made this card last night and wanted to keep on making things, but it got to be pretty late and my body kept telling me to go to bed.  I don't think a person can go wrong with any of the things in this Mini catalog.  They are all so beautiful, and everything coordinates so well.  I don't have much time today, so I will get to the card.  After that, I am going back to my stamp room to play some more.  If only I didn't have to stop to make dinner!  :)

On this card I used the Take It to Heart stamp set (125520/wood or 125522/clear) that is in the Mini.  I don't consider myself as very good at water coloring, but I think this one turned out pretty well.  The sentiment comes from Language of Friendship (122752/clear) that is in the current IBC.  I also wasn't sure about the bird, but there is something about this one that said I absolutely had to have it.  I'm glad I listened to that little voice when I placed my order.  Other things I used from the mini are Twitterpated DSP (125406), the Paper Doily Sizzlits Die ( 125592), and the Baja Breeze 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon (125571). When I saw this ribbon I knew that I had to have all of it, so I got all four colors.  The card base is Island Indigo and the border around the dsp is Baja Breeze.  

Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Happiest Birthday

I finally placed and received all of my Occasions Mini order and boy have I been having fun!  I received the order on Monday, and I wasn't able to get into my stamp room to play until last night.  Now if you don't think Tuesday and Wednesday were painful while all of my delicious new stuff just sat there...you have another "think" coming!  :)

I love everything in this catalog and didn't know what to start with, so I chose the Apothecary Art (125525/wood or 125527/clear) stamp set to get things rolling.  The conclusion I came to was it is a  B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L  set!!!!  I sure am glad I got it.

To create this card, I started with one card from the Designer Cuts Card and Envelope Set (125414) for the card base.  For only $9.95 you get 8 cards and envelopes; 4 cards of 2 designs.  The scallop is already punched so you don't have to mess with that!  I then cut 2 pieces of 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" dsp and adhered 1 piece to the inside back of the scallops of the card with snail adhesive  and one to the outside top of the card base.   Oooops!  I missed a step.  I sponged around the edges of the card base and dsp with Soft Suede Ink before I adhered the dsp to the card base.

Next, I wrapped a piece of Pool Party 1/2" seam binding around the front of the card and tied a bow off to the right.  Then, I stamped the largest image from the stamp set on a 5  1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of Very Vanilla card stock in Soft Suede ink.  I cut out the image using one of the Framelits Dies from the Labels Collection (125598) which coordinates absolutely perfectly with this stamp set.  I used my Watercolor Wonder Crayons to color in the image and sponged around the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Finally, I stamped the Happiest Birthday sentiment from the stamp set on a 1/2" piece of Very Vanilla card stock and bannered the edges with my paper snips.  I attached the banner with a dimensional and added a Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577) and then attached the entire stamped image to the card with dimensionals as well.  I was done!  In no time at all, I had this beautiful birthday card

If you need any more information on what I used to make this card, I would love to hear from you.  I also enjoy reading your comments on my creations so please feel free to leave one if you like.

Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Playing Catch-Up

It has been so long since I last posted and and I am truly sorry for that.  My family and I spent the week between Christmas and New Year in Ohio with family, and shortly after we got back I had to return to work.  So I am way behind on my stamping and posting.  That isn't my only excuse though!  :)  Work keeps me pretty busy too.  I am teaching a new grade this year, 8th Language Arts. And, although the basic concepts are pretty much the same as 7th, I am still learning a new curriculum and creating new lesson plans for things.  I was fortunate in that I got all of my work done early this weekend, and got the chance to play in my stamp room today.

This is a calendar for 2012 that I created with the help of Andrea Walford's Paper Crafters Library.  The basic pattern and calendar was designed by her.  I just added my own touch.  This one is for me!  How many times do we stamp a beautiful thing and we give it to someone else?  I decided this would be mine...ALL MINE!   :)  I made a similar one for a friend of mine as an early birthday gift.  Her birthday is the day after mine next month, but I thought she should have it early before the month of January is over.

I used 12 x 12 Crumb Cake card stock for the calendar base, along with Naturals Patterend DSP and First Edition Specialty DSP.  The First Edition Specialty DSP was also used to make the flower along with one scallop circle cut out of Cherry Cobbler card stock.  An Antique Brad is in the center of the flower.  The button is from the Regals buttons in Cherry Cobbler.  Other things I used were Linen Thread and Victoria 5/8 inch Crochet Trim and 1/2 inch seam binding in Crumb Cake. The black lace and eyelet are both retired.  The cut out chipboard shapes are from On Board Merry Medley.  Finally, the numbers were cut out using my Big Shot and the medium sizzlits dies called Timeless Junior Alphabet.  All of these items can be found in the current IBC or you can find them in my online store. 

Well, I need to iron my clothes for work tomorrow.  I know, who irons?  I usually don't but I forgot to get the pants and shirt I want to wear out of the dryer before the got too wrinkled. :(

Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Occasions Mini Catalog & Happy New Year

The Occasions Mini Catalog for this year went online today and I and Stampin' Up! are ready for your orders.  :)   That's how I plan on spending my Christmas money this year!

One suggestion I have is to click on the link on the right to view the catalog, make your wish list, and then wait until January 24 when the Sale-a-Bration catalog goes into effect.  You will then be able to get one FREE item from the Sale-a-Bration catalog for every $50.00 in other products you purchase.

Happy Shopping and Happy New Year

Josie