Beyond the Garden

Hello Everyone!

You would never know it is May 14th here in Colorado Springs.  The weather today is downright yucky!  It was cloudy all day, and now it is raining.  The rain is good since we had such a dry winter.  But it is May 14th and a little warmer than the 50's would be really nice.  I am sick of the cold.  On Mother's Day weekend, we had temps in the 80's and it got progressively colder as the week passed.

Today, my hubby and I went out to buy flowers for the flower beds, but it is too cold to go out and plant them.  It is supposed to clear up sometime tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully I will be able to get out there and get them in then.  We have such a short growing season in Colorado.  The rule of thumb is to not plant anything before Mother's Day because there is always the chance of frost.  Well, it got pretty close the other night.  It went down to 34 and we had to cover our potted azalea plant that I put out last Sunday.  It seems to be none the worse for wear.

Just wanted to share a card that we made at a workshop I had last Saturday.  We used a lot of new product from the Summer Mini on this simple little card.  I think it is perfect for summer and your best friend, just to let  her (or him :) know you are thinking about her.

Here is what we used.  Whisper White card stock for the base.  The blue scalloped border is Pacific Point card stock and the DSP is Beyond the Garden (#122342).   I also ran the card base through the Big Shot using the Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#123112).  For only $7.95, I think these embossing folders are really neat.  Heck, they are so reasonably priced you could order one of each...they just add so much to a card.  And they sure to beat the old fashioned way of embossing a design on a card!  The stamp set I used to create the flowers is in the Summer Mini as well.  It is Fabulous Florets (#123027-clear/#123025-wood).  I stamped them in coordinating ink that goes with the DSP: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, and Tangerine Tango.  The bird is cut using the Two-step Bird Punch (#117191) out of Pacific Point.  And finally, the sentiment is from one of my all time favorite stamp sets, Season of Friendship (#111776-$23.95) found in the big IBC. 

This is a super easy card to make and I hope you like it.  Until next time...

Happy Stamping~

Josie

Nature Walk Thank You

Hello Everyone!

I know this stamp set is no longer available, but this is something that I wanted to share anyway, because let's face it, if you own the stamp set (Nature Walk) you are probably using it.

This is a thank you card that I created for all of the wonderful people that attended and donated online to my step-son's fundraising event.  It was held back on April 2nd at a local restaurant.  It was called "A Night Out with Trevor Cauler." 

As some of you may already know, on October 27 of this past year, he was in his apartment when someone drove past his apartment complex around 11:30 at night and fired randomly into his apartment.  As he was entering his bedroom, one of the bullets hit him in the shoulder and traveled to the fifth vertebrae at the base of his neck, leaving him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life.  They haven't yet found the person who has done this.  At any rate, Trev spent most of the last few months in rehab at Denver's Craig hospital that specializes in spinal cord and brain injuries.  He was unemployed at the time of the incident and without any type of medical insurance, so you can bet he's drowning in medical expenses.  He needs all kinds of special equipment now.  Trevor is doing well emotionally and is living with his mom. 

On the brighter side of things, shortly after the  incident he learned that he was going to be a father this coming June 20th.  Which only means  one thing, dare I say it...I am going to be a...Grandma! :)  That makes me feel old!  :)  But this little baby, Noah, has been a blessing in disguise in that it has given Trevor something to look forward to and live for.  We can't wait for his arrival.

The colors I used on this card are Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  The tag on the front was printed on my computer as I didn't have the stamp set with this sentiment, but I thought it fitting for the occasion.  I also used the Framed Tulips embossing folder (121809--$7.95) which is still available from the Occasions Mini and the Top Note Die for the Big Shot.  The Crumb Cake seam binding is also still available (122332--$6.95).  The First Edition dsp is also a carrry over (121878--$11.95).  You get a big bang for your buck with this dsp as you get 24 sheets of double sided paper.

There is a link on the right had side of my page that will take you to the entire list of carry over items from the Occasions Mini, and a link at the top right that will take you to my online store.

Hope you like what I've had to share today.  Until next time...

Happy Stamping~

Josie

Four Frames & Paisley Petals

Hello Everyone!

Here's a little card I made for my mom's upcoming birthday.  I've had this set and paper for a little while now and finally had the time to get my hands on both.  Needed a card for Mom and that was the perfect excuse.  You can't get this DSP or stamp set yet, but it is just a little something to wet your taste buds for the new IBC that comes out on July 1st.

I used versa mark ink and the Fabulous Florets stamp set that is in the current Summer Mini. (123025--$23.95 wood/ 123027--$17.95 clear) on the Baja Breeze card stock.  The ink I used on the polka dot frame is Not Quite Navy.  And of course, the Happy Birthday sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes in the IBC.  (One of my favorites because it has so many sentiments in the set!)

Hope you like it.  Until next time...

Happy Stamping~

Josie

Hello Blossoms

I am soooooo excited!  Not only does the Summer Mini Catalog go online today, but there are a whole lot of neat things that are being carried over from the Occasions Mini as well.  Life couldn't be better. 

You can access both the Summer Mini and Occasions Mini carry-over list by clicking on the link on the right hand side of my blog.

This little stamp set, Hello Blossoms (#123102--$7.95), is one of my new favorites from the Summer Mini.  I paired it with the Framed Tulips( #121809--$7.95)  textured impressions embossing folder (on the Occasions Mini carry-over list), card stock and ink from Stampin' Up!'s brights family, and I got a simple and pretty card for spring and summer.
Hope you like it!  :)  Until next time...

Happy Stamping~

Josie

Blessed Mother

Boy am I behind the power curve!  The last few months have been crazy hectic, and it seems that some things have been put on the back burner.  My blog posts and stamping are two of the things.  I am soooooooooo sorry. 

We are winding down the school year (only about 3 weeks left) and it seems that I am running the minute my feet hit the floor at 4:45 a.m. each morning.

March and April were spent getting ready for a fundraiser that we had for my oldest step-son.  Many of you don't know that he was injured in a drive-by shooting into his apartment bedroom window back in October.  He was left a quadriplegic and just got out of rehab in the middle of February.  He was in Denver's Craig Hospital which is THE BEST in spinal cord and brain injuries in the nation.  Well, since he didn't have any insurance, we held a fundraiser at the beginning of April for him.  He is doing well given his situation and the fundraiser was a HUGE success, thanks to my wonderful daughter and her awesome husband.   Between that and trying to get in the rest of my curriculum at school, grading essays  (yuck!!!!!) and all of the other stuff that goes with the end of the school year, I have been busy, busy, busy.

I've had this card done for awhile.  It is partially CASED from the Occasion Mini  (p. 18) that expires today.  I loved this mini and I am going to miss many of the stamp sets and dsp that were in it.  I can only hope that some of them reappear in the big IBC that comes out this coming July. 

Since Mother's Day is only a week away, I wanted to get this up to show all of you.  I put my card to my mom in the mail today!

Hope you like it and I promise to be better a posting in the future.  Until my next one...

Happy Stamping~

Josie

Easter Blossoms Class

The beautiful spring blossoms on the Springtime Vintage DP are an amazing backdrop for these four lovely cards! Add in the color blocking technique and you have a match made in heaven! The co-ordinating two-pocket portfolio will bring the whole set together in a stunning spring-time gift set! Also included in this class are two Mother's Day cards (not pictured).



Date:  March 27, 2011

Time: 2:00 - 4:00 P.M.

Cost:  $25.00 or FREE with a $25.00 order OR with a $50.00 order, receive the class and a Sale-A-Bration stamp set or other Sale-A-Bration item FREE.

Location:  Email me for location.

Please RSVP by March 18th  to sign up for this class: caulerjosanna@yahoo.com

Just Because

Hello Everyone!

Happy President's Day.  The weather here in Colorado Springs is bright and sunny, but we have a very strong, chilly wind going today.  I am not complaining.  As long as the sun is shining, I am happy.  Did you know that Colorado Springs gets 360 days of sunshine a year?  That is one of the many awesome things I love about living here.

I know, it has been a few weeks since my last post.  Things have been busy, busy, busy around here.  But I have a few minutes today since I have this President's Day off from work and I thought I'd share something that I made awhile ago.  I haven't had much time to stamp lately.  But I will be spending this evening in my stamp room.  I need to get ready for a stamp class I am doing after school tomorrow.  I'll make sure to take pictures of the project I am doing with the kids so I can post them here.

I think the Aviary stamp sets is one of my favorites.  I got it awhile ago and just recently started using it.  I also just love this dsp (Springtime Vintage) in the Occasions Mini.   I can't get enough of it.  I've already managed to work my way through one package of it, and I am started on my second.

If you have any questions about this card, please feel free to email me and I would be happy to answer them.

Until next time...
Happy Stamping!

Josie

P. S.  You know you can have this beautiful paper too.  Click on the Order Now link to the right or let me know if I can help you place your order.  Remember, it is Sale-A-Bration, which means you can get free stamp sets and paper with every $50.00 order.  :)