Valentines

I've also been working on my Valentine cards. Not waiting until the last minute this year. The second one is for a swap that I'm going to. Do you think they'll like it? I used the Christmas Cocoa DSP for the first and the Wondering Words stamp set. The second is made with A Happy Heart stamp set and the new punch in the current Occasions Catalog Stampin' Up! has out. I like both, but I think the Happy Heart one is my favorite.

Thanks for visiting!

Josie

Soft Summer Sypmathy Card

Hello Everyone!

I didn't think I'd be back for another post so soon. I had completely forgotten about not working today, so when a co-worker reminded me that today was a day off I was completed surprised! Anyway, just because I haven't been posting, doesn't mean I haven't been stamping.

The day we returned to work after the holidays our staff learned that a co-workers husband had passed away early that morning. It was a totally unexpected thing. He was very young; only 37 and had found out he had cancer only two weeks before. What a shock for all of us. Sort of makes you put things into perspective when someone so young passes. My heart is with his family. This is the card I came up with on the spur of the moment. I don't usually keep these kinds of cards around.

Thanks for looking.

Josie

Inspired

Hello Everyone!

The Inspired by Nature stamp set is probably one of my most favorite. I just love the flowers that go with this set. This card is probably one of the most complicated I've ever done. I didn't do anything that was difficult; it just took a lot of steps and time to complete. First I had to sponge in the clouds in the background. Then it took me several attempts to get the grass in the background just right. Finally, I used the stampin' write markers to color in the flowers. The colors I used are chocolate chip, whisper white, old olive, brocade blue and pretty in pink. The butterfly is cut out of perfect plum.

This will probably be my last post for awhile. I head back to work tomorrow after two glorious weeks off for the holidays. My next extended time off will be spring break. I can't really complain, because not many other professions give so much time off. Although, a pay raise would be nice!:) With the economy the way it is, we've seen many budget cuts in my school district, so a raise will definitely be out of the question for a while. To be honest, I didn't become a teacher because I would get rich at it. I did it because it is my other passion next to stamping. I will see what I can do regarding a new post on my next three-day week- end, but no promises.

As always, thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy what you see here.

Josie

P.S. Happy New Year too!

Flowers Abound!

It truly is amazing what a person can do with the Big Shot, Stampin' Up!'s Flower Folds die, a hot glue gun, buttons and left over material. I must have made at least 25 of these before Christmas that I used as gifts for practically everyone! When all is said and done, you can either glue a hair pin to the back of the flower (for younger girls and women) to wear in their hair, or a broach pin (for women my age or older) to wear on their coats or sweaters. Mom lucked out this year, she got two; a black and white and a green and maroon. Lucky mom! She deserves one in every color, really.

Josie

Christmas Tile

My third post today is of this holiday tile I made for a friend. I used last year's ribbon because I have a ton of it. This is a small tile, 3" x 3", but with a bigger stencil of the ornament, it also looks great on a larger tile as well. These are simple to make, they only take a few minutes and are easy to mass produce. I think I'll do a class on these sometime within the next few weeks. Of course, we won't be using Christmas ornaments on our tiles, but none the less, it will be fun. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for looking!

Josie

Cards for Mom

Last Christmas, I sent my mom a box of handmade cards that she could use through out the year. She loved them, because it saved her money and time going to the store to purchase a card every time she needed one. (Mom is good at sending cards.) Well, she told me a few months ago that she needed more so I've been busy making her a new set of All Occasion greeting cards. Here's one from the bunch. It is a sympathy card. Unfortunately at her age shes needs these a lot. Sympathy and Birthday cards are what she uses most. So here you go, Mom. One of the many in the next batch you'll be getting soon.

Josie

Oooops! I Did it Again!

Okay, so it has been over a month since I've been here last. A friend ever so gently reminded me that I haven't updated my blog since Thanksgiving. I have been really busy with work and getting ready for the holidays that something had to go on the back burner, and unfortunately it was this. But it doesn't mean I haven't been creating, I just haven't posted it here.

The first thing I want to share is a little card set that I just recently made as a shower prize for a friend's baby shower. They are little 3 x 3 cards and a box. I used the Together Forever stamp set, Forever Flowers wheel and Fundamental Phrases. The paper is Kraft, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White. This was easy and fun to make and I hope you like it.

Josie