Sizzix Texture Embossing Machine

 

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Christmas Pumpkin

Isn't this guy a cutie?  Just had to share him with everyone.  I decorated him for a pumpkin decorating contest among the teachers at my school.  Hope you like him.

 

Josie

 

 

 

Halloween Treets

 What's up with this? Two posts in two days!  Is the sky falling?  You would think so because I haven't done something like this in a long time.  I think it's just that I want to share all of the fun things I've been up to lately. 

I cased part of these cute little twizzler holders from my friend, Cathy.  Thanks, Cathy!   I know you won't mind.  :)  After all, case means copy and share everything!  Cathy made a Halloween card with these little badges on the front, so I thought I'd copy them and put them onto little treat boxes that you can give to your friends, your little one's friends, kids a school,...everyone!

Here's what I used for this project:

• Toxic Treats Stamp Set #127898(w)/$28.95 or #127901(c)/$20.95
• Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP #126906/$10.95
• Basic Gray c/s #121044/$6.95
• Basic Black c/s #121045/$6.95
• Tangerine Tango c/s #111349/$6.95
• Black Embossing Powder #109133/$4.75
• Basic Black Craft Ink #102192/$7.50
• Curly Label Punch #119851/$16.95
• 2-1/2 Circle Punch #120906/$16.95
• 2-3/8 Scallop Circle Punch #118874/$16.95
• Heat Tool #129053/$29.95
• Petite Pocket Bigz XL die #123131/$42.95

You can purchase any of these products by going to my online store.

Hope you enjoyed today's project.  Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Bells & Boughs Christmas Poinsetta

Hello All!

Yes, it has been a while again...over a month.  I don't have anything to say for myself.  The last few weeks have been crazy both at work and otherwise.  As for the otherwise, the last few weeks of September were spent getting ready for my groups annual Stampin' for a Cure event which we held on October 6th.  We raised over $6,000.00 again this year for our local Susan G. Koman Foundation.  It was a very successful event, as usual.  We had silent auctions, raffles...you name it and we did it. 

At work, I had about 100 essays that needed grading that took up quite a bit of my stamping time for a few weeks, so needless to say, I didn't get much stamping done.

But I've been busy the last few days with creating some cards for both my own personal use and for an upcoming Christmas card class.  There is no better way to get Christmas cards done is to invite people to a class!  :)

I cased the layout for this card from  Card Maker Magazine , but the products I used are from Stampin' Up!

Here is a list of what I used:

• Base: Very Vanilla card stock #101650/$8.50
• First Layer:  Old Olive card stock #100702/$6.95
• Second Layer: Campaign Glimmer Paper (retired)
• Delicate Doilies Sizzlits L #126999--$21.95
• Bells & Boughs stamp set  #120831(w) $19.95 or #121142 (c) $14.95
• Joyous Celebrations stamp set #128066 (w) $22.95 or #128069 (c) $15.95
• Blender Pens #109845/$9.95
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink #126966--$5.95
• Old Olive Classic Ink #126953--$5.95
• Black Stazon  #101406--$7.95

Hope you like the card.  Let me know what you think.  If you have any questions about it, please feel free to ask.

Until next time...

Happy Stampin'!

Josie

Coming Soon!

I know I've been away for awhile again.  I promise there will be something pretty to see by the end of the day.

Until then...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Holy Molly!

Bird Cage Front View
(Twitterpated DSP)

 I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted.  I noticed my last post was right before my husband and I left for a three-week tour of Italy with my mom, sister and brother-in-law.  It was an awesome trip, to say the least...but we definitely need another vacation to recuperate once we got back.  We spent the first two weeks visiting...are you ready...ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE, POMPEII, SICILY, (we were in Sicily about 5 days...we circled the island) SORENTO, POSITANO, CAPRI, POMPEII...I am sure I left one out.  The third week was spent in Rome.  We have a family friend that has lived there for about 40 years.  My sister and I along with our husbands rented an apartment, while our mother stayed with her.  That last week was action packed too.  We learned to get around on the city's buses and metropolitan (an experience in itself).  We also had the opportunity to visit my mom's hometown near L'Aquila.  In the past we would have spent the final week there...a bit less congested and a slower pace, but it was devastated by an earthquake a few years ago.  Hopefully in the future, we will be able to return and once again stay in her home town.  It is a quaint little mid-evil village in the Appenine Mountains in the Abruzzo region of Italy.  I think that when we go back we will just stay there and enjoy the slower paced side of Italian life.

Shortly after returning from Italy, I had the pleasure of "babysitting" our 10-month-old granddaughter for a week while her mommy and daddy when on their honeymoon.  It was fun and I enjoyed every minute of it.   I do know why, though, we have our children when we are in our 20's and 30's...I was exhausted everyday.  Everyday I thought I'd get some stamping in while she was napping, but Nonna (Italian for Grandma) didn't have the energy...I napped too!

When that was done, a few weeks later I returned to work...school started here in Colorado Springs on August 13th.  This is my 16th year of teaching!  Time flies when you are having fun. :)  I've taught 7th and 8th graders since I first began, and this year I will be instilling the desire to read in my 8th graders once again as I teach Language Arts.  I have HUGE classes this year, larger than they have ever been, with 35 and 36 students in a class.  The kids keep me busy and I really do love each one of them.  They will be the one thing I will truly miss when I finally do retire...whenever that may be.  :)  I won't miss the papers I drag home, I won't miss the politics,  I won't miss the testing, and I surely won't miss the drive in on those cold winter mornings...but I will miss my "peeps" as I call them.  They are funny, kind, at times frustrating, but most of all the light of my life as a teacher! 

So all of this brings me to here...four months since my last post with a lot to share with you.  Most of the stuff was done at the beginning of June before our vacation, and I sort of feel funny showing it to you now since most people are working on their Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas stuff. But, hey!  I made this stuff and it's pretty and just because the holidays are around the corner doesn't mean we can't still do other stamping.  I hope you enjoy my stuff, and I hope I am not away for four months again.  :) 

If you have any questions about the cards I've posted below, please feel free to email me and I will be happy to answer them.

Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie

Summer Smooches Happy Birthday

Summer Smooches again! 

Bird Cage Side View

Zig Zag Gift Card Holder

Hello all.  It has been a few days since my last post, but I have been very productive these last few weeks.  Thought I'd get one more post in before we leave for our vacation this weekend.  We will be gone for awhile, so I wanted to share something pretty to hold you over till we get back.

I got the inspiration for this card from Paper Crafter's Magazine this past week.  They didn't have dimensions on how to cut this little thing out, so I figured them out myself.  I will share them with you.  What I like about this card is there is a pocket in the back for a book mark and on the inside a spot for a gift card.  How cute is this anyway!  I think this would be a perfect to give my school's Language Arts Student of the Year his/her gift, which is usually a gift card to a book store.  One can't read enough, don't you think?

I used the Twitterpated designer series paper that is in the current Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog.  I fell in love with paper when it first appeared in the Occasion Mini and am sooooo happy they carried it over into the new catty.  The item number is 125406 if you are interested.  On the inside and outside of the card I used a small envelope size 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inches.  Item number is107309.  The one on the outside is partially covered with dsp and on the inside it is total covered.  Both are adhered with stampin' dimensionals.

The measurements for the card base are 10 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.  I then placed the long edge at the top of my Simply Scored (122334)  and scored the card stock at 3 1/2 inch and again at 7 inches.  I then cut from the top of the first score line at a diagonal to the 1 1/2" mark from the top of the card stock on the right edge of the paper. Fold on the first score line  (make a mountain) over to the left edge of the paper.  You can make the back pocket here by using sticky strip on three sides, leaving the top open.  Then fold the top flap over to the right.  I know this sounds confusing, so I am adding a picture. at the bottom.  Decorate as you choose.  I don't think you can go wrong with Stampin' Up! products as everything coordinates so perfectly. 

Well, that's all for today.  Hope you like what you see here today and I hope the diagram at the bottom is helpful.  Until next time...

Happy Stamping!

Josie