Quilt and card

 Has it really been that long since I posted???  

I am having knee replacement surgery December 5 - (don't want to but "have" to).  My sweet friend Ruth made me a beautiful lap quilt - which I know I will be using a lot during my recovery.  

I made her a thank you card going with a "quilt" theme.  I have had this die for ages - and use it mostly for Christmas cards but I thought it was perfect for a thank you card.  I went through my "stash of DP" and found this cherry paper - not the same color but I think it works.  I also used black tiny gingham and red tiny polka dot.  Die cut the word Thanks.  Not only was this card fun to make - it was made with appreciation for such a good friend and her talents. 

 A personal note of appreciate and thanks on the inside.  

Fractured Card

 This technique seems to be taking Pinterest as well the internet by storm.  It is called Fractured Card Technique - or Faux Shutter Technique.  It is fun - easy - all you really have to do is figure what Designer Paper and Image you are going to use.  

We made this one at our Cuppa and a Card get together two weeks ago - and I am thinking it will make some fun fall and winter cards.  Our image in the middle was on a 2" white square.  The strips are 1/4 inch.  You can use about any white base - as long as it has straight edges.  I am going to have fun this weekend trying different punches and dies that I have with straight edges.  

Christmas Stamp a Stack

 A couple of weeks ago we had a "Christmas Stamp a Stack" at a dear friend, and fellow SU demonstrator.  She has this every year - usually in July but this year it was in August.  There were 12 crafty, fun, and great, girls present.  Ruth made 2 different soups and the rest of us brought all kinds of goodies from sausage bites to homemade cheese cake to Cowboy Caviar. Besides 12 cards we all went home with a full tummy.  Didn't eat much supper that night.  

We made 3 cards of 4 different designs - Ruth had everything cut, ink and stamps, embellishments on the table - we just had to really stamp and put together.  

Her cute dog Heidi was allowed to stay in the room and keep us company - and Ruth said Heidi she was worn out when everyone left.  

The dove was my favorite - and probably the easiest, stamp with versamark and gold heat embossed.

Early Christmas Cards

 Went to one of Diane Lanfer's classes a couple of week ago - and we made 3 beautiful Christmas cards.  Plus I got to see some familiar faces and meet new ones as well.  Donna T. lets me share her mom with her and she was there - so happy to get to see her.  What a sweet lady.  

Three beautiful Christmas cards ready to go.  Next week I will share the Christmas cards we made at a dear friends annual Christmas stamp camp.  

Final Fun Cards

 Below are the additional cards we made during my extended birthday week. There are three I can't share as I am in a swap and we haven't had the swap yet. 

  The Hello blue card - was my technique which I did before I read the instructions so we did another one after watching a short u-tube and I have already mailed it out in the morning mail.  The technique is called fractured card or faux shutter - fun and easy peasy to make.  I am sure I will make more and I will be putting them on my blog.  

Have a great week - I'm off to finish my chemo letters.   

Fun cards

 What a fun birthday "week" I had this year.  One of the best.  Started off with Cup and a Card here in town - got so many beautiful birthday cards.  Dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  Wednesday was our 32nd anniversary - late lunch at Mary Janes in Perryville MO.  Great food.  Thursday off to St. Louis to stay all night with a dear friend and fellow crafter - here below are two of the cards we made at her house.  Friday Cup and a Kraft at a Paneras in St. Peters with more friends, more birthday cards and seeing friends that I had not seen for a while.  Whew - quite a week.  

The Hello card was made using a Simon Says die (thank you Donna for a great gift), I really like it.  The Nature card Donna already had things laid out for me to make this box card - Pink and Main Die - decorated with pine trees and deer.  This will be perfect for my chemo man that lives in CO.  

I will be sharing more cards that we made plus the cards we made at Panera's this past week.  

Back to School

 Yes, I have been MIA - no real reason except I haven't had much mojo and had a lot going on here for the past few weeks.  Our kids from Portugal came and stayed for a week - what a nice visit - we really miss them.  My son came for a week.  Then we have moved my son, and well the rest of the time it simply gets away from me.  I don't think I manage my time wisely.  LOL

I made a card for my chemo boy and his siblings - a Back to School card and I made a box full of back to school supplies including snacks.  He has 3 siblings so the box was packed full.  Headed to the post office this morning to mail - can't imagine how much the postage will be.  But it was fun getting everything together.  

Fun card to make - I used a really OLD set from TAC - "Back to School", Lawn Fawn, stickers, and some cute Echo Park Back to School paper that was 1/2 price at my favorite brick and mortar Stamp Pad.  

Craft Shadow Box

 Below is a picture of our latest shadowbox squares - the theme for this one was - crafting. Such a great swap this one was - (as they have all been).  There are really no two alike - we have quilting, crocheting (with hand drawn hands and a real crocheted piece), stamping, painting, scrapbooking, friends getting together to craft, sewing, and little mice crafting - that has a really cute play on words.  

Zoom in to see all the great detail on each swap squares.  I bought a separate shadow box from Hobby Lobby - (they run them 1/2 price just about every 2 weeks).  I wanted this one to stay in my craft studio.  Hmmm that means something has to come down off the wall to make room for the shadow box.  Then will get hubs to hang it for me so it will be straight.  

I'm hoping this is not the last one we will do - as these have been so much fun - we have all four seasons and Christmas.  Open for suggestions - I thought maybe outdoor activities, healthy squares, (not so much), favorite technique.  

We have had a great group participating in these swaps - one from Canada, one from out of the state of MO. one from St. Louis MO., the rest being local girls.  You just never know where this hobby will lead you.  LOL

Stadium Wave Cards

 Our project at Cuppa and a Card Tuesday was to make a Stadium Wave Card - and Ruth was our instructor for this card.  Looks complicated - but - Ruth had it all mapped out for us and it was really not hard at all.  In fact it was fun!!! We made the Balloon card at Cuppa and a Card - I then came home and made my "Girly" one so I wouldn't forget how to make it.  Have some friends coming next week so this is one of the cards we are going to make. 

              

The balloons are by StampinUP - cute set of balloons - complete with dies as well as matching 6 x 6 designer papers. 

The next pictures is the one I came home and made

The girly one also uses StampinUP (retired) no dies so I fussy cut the images, purses, perfume, shoes, coin purse.  Again matching 6 x 6 designer paper to match.  This one is going to daughter for her birthday in July.  

Both card have a 1 inch decorated belly band to hold it in place, as it is thicker than just a normal A2 card.  The Happy Birthday was cut from a holographic paper plate.  Yes a paper plate.  It goes through the die cutting machine with no problem and there are so many cute paper plates at Walmart and Dollar Tree.   
 

Worm at the Beach

 On Friday I was able to stop and shop at a "local" stamp store- well ok it is a 45 minute drive but well worth it.  Wasn't looking for any thing but little bitty bug eyes which she didn't have.  Well no problem - I found a darling stamp set Little Worms by leanecreatief.com so I came home and had to make a card.  

DP from my stash - bit of bling Amuse - colored with copic markers.  Sentiments - in my stash.  But what a fun card to make - I fussy cut everything by hand popped up the goofy worm - cut out a circle and did some blending.   Note - see his SPF 30 - just a note wear your sun screen when out. 

This will go in the mail next week to my young tween boy chemo buddy.   

Sneakers Cards

 Masculine cards are always a struggle for me despite the fact that I have several masculine stamp sets.  I have a younger preteen chemo buddy - so I have been trying to make a few for "tween" boys that aren't too juvenile.  Here are a couple using sneaker stamps.  

 

Love the red tennies - made this at a class - so the die is not in my collection, but it comes with the little bitty eyelets, shoestrings, and star.  The first card is in my collection - no die but I fussy cut them out - not as much detail as the red ones but I like the way it turned out and is ok for a "tween", teen, or....a younger male. 

Which one is your favorite?

 

April Birthday Cards - Envelope Flap Card

 I have already posted the 4 other cards we shared this past week when the "girls" got together to celebrate April birthdays.  

I wish I could take credit for this card but I have to give the credit to Karen Titus and when she says easy - it truly is a 5 minute card (depending) on how much you add.

I used StampinUp Playin in the Rain - and the matching DPs.  The dies cut out the fun characters which are part of the DP so it was easy to get 5 kits together quickly. I can see me making some masculine cards using this design as well - well the possibilities are endless.  I have made a couple of masculine ones which I will be posting later.  

My gifties were not handmade but I thought they fit the occasion perfectly. At each place setting I placed:

 

I was truly happy that everyone was here and I liked that the saying flipped over to say Home sweet Home.  Everyone got to take theirs home for their craft room or island  or where ever they chose to put it.  

Gifties

 Our crafty group got together for April birthdays yesterday - there were 5 of us - Ruth P, Sally M, Patti G, Cheryl G and myself.  We often share gifties - usually homemade - (sometimes bought), so below are some of the gifties we shared yesterday.  

Patti - chocolate - chocolate - the girls best friend, and the cute handmade container, Sally individual little trash bins (on wheels as well), they were put to use yesterday during our crafting get together.  Cheryl brought a handmade pillow box stuffed with hand tied little bows in a rainbow of colors.  She ties the best little bows and they will be greatly appreciated when I need that little bow as an embellishment.  

Thank you for a great day dear friends. 

April - End of Month

 Our little group of crafters had 3 birthdays in April so we did an April birthday lunch/craft session.  Here are the projects we shared - 

Left top Ruth, Right top Sally, left bottom Patti, Right bottom Cheryl, the instructions were to make them simple, quick and easy, and I think everyone followed instructions.  We had 5 cards done in 2 hours, (mine to follow).  

Lunch consisted of homemade "Panera" chicken and wild rice soup - which everyone said they liked.  Betty Crocker and I made cheddar biscuits and Sally brought Better than Sex Cake.  

So much fun to get together with our favorite hobby and great friends. 

Cards from Cheryl's Class

 I have really built up my stash of cards the last couple of months but still when I see a new idea or technique I "have" to try and make it.  My friend Cheryl has had two classes and is getting ready to teach another one - and here are a couple of cards from her class.  

I have already mailed out the other cards we made in class - they were masculine cards and I needed two man cards - how handy to have them on hand.  Both of these cards used SU stamps - love the little doggie - on the inside I just put Woof - so I can use it for any occasion.  

I have a free afternoon to "play" a little in my craft room so off I go.  

Cuppa and a Card

 At our last Cuppa and a Card at Paneras Bread Company I gave Sally a little break.   We usually get a cup of coffee, tea or even hot chocolate.  Oh did I mention a pastry - Bagel, muffin, or cinnamon roll.  We usually meet at 8:30ish and share our weeks creations, visit, socialize, and then try and start at 9:00 ish on our card of the week.   The theme was "What is your Shape".  We often tend to forget about shapes when we look at a current catalog of SU,CTMH, etc. and there are so many possibilities with litterally shapes.  I used Water Color Shapes - and when the girls came in  I asked them if they were square or round!!!  Just to mix up the seating a bit. 

What a fun time we had - my friend Donna who came from St. Louis on Monday and stayed all night came to Cuppa and a Card as well and we all stayed for lunch.  

So next time you go shopping either in person on on line or from a "new catalog" don't let the shapes pass you up.  There are so many possibilities to use these stamps.  All stamps used in these cards are from SU. 

Marathon Stamping

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Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Marathon Stamping

One of my besties "Donna" came for an overnight on Monday March 20th.  I met Donna when she was pregnant with her first born son when we were both RN's at DePaul Hospital.  Well her son is now 40!!!  She has 2 beautiful grandbabies with this son and 6 (yes) 6 with the youngest son.  So she is truly blessed.  

We both come up with "shoebox" projects - with projects usually  cut, scored, and ready to put together and either color with Copics, watercolors, or ink smooching.  We had a 9+ hour marathon on Monday, when at 9:30 I told her I was going to bed!!!

We made several cards - we each had 5 shoebox projects (I think).  When she got here she "dog sat" our Buddy dog as a neighbor passed and hubby and I went to the funeral home.  She was such a good sitter.  And Buddy likes to be with her as she "bribes him with treats".  Hubby cooked lunch for us as well as cleaned up and we started on our marathon.  This is a few of the cards that we made!!!

The first card on the left is a lattice card - oh so much fun - and then Happy Thoughts on the right.  Again another fun one.  

These two cards - first on left is done with the DP paper from Dainty flowers from SU and a darling cute bumble bee for some extra bling.  The card on the right is a creation by Donna - the die cut is a SU die, and then she die cut the flower and did some in water coloring on the flower and leaves.  

The card on the left is a "twisted ribbon" - once you get the first and second placement you have it made.  The card on the right is a twisted angle gate fold.  We decided to go with Easter Bunny theme on this one.  

 The card on the left is a ink smooching background - in which we smooched some ink and then used coarse salt on top.  Using coral, seahorse, and some cute little fishes we completed the card.  The card on the right we used some DP that worked perfect for the beautiful sea creatures.  

Like I mentioned at 9:30 I told my guest I was done and going to bed!!!  The next day we had Cuppa and Card at Paneras Bread company and I was the "guest" instructor.  The theme was "what is your shape.  Cards to follow.  

Platform Card - Playing in the Rain

Despite having had a flu bug - which lasted almost 3 weeks I was still able to find time to stamp.  I went to a class - and this is one of the creations our SU instructor Ruth Petzel had a workshop.  We worked on our cards first - took a break for a lunch at the Marketplace (which has really good food) then we finished up our cards.  One of my favorite cards we created was the Lawn Fawn platform card using Playing in the Rain stamp set that as offered in the Sale-a-bration catalog this spring.  It was a very popular stampin/die/DP/bling set that was very popular asSo much fun and it sold out quickly but thankfully it is back in stock.  

 So much fun to create with - plus the Paper Pumpkin stamp for February featured this set plus some additional stamps etc. to go with this set.  

Lawn Fawn really knocked it out of the park with this die set Lawn Fun Pop-Up .  It works with so many applications as well as so many stamp sets.  I LOVE this card we created.  

The stamp set is back in stock as well as DP, dies, stamps, bling.  It is a set that is well worth the investment. 

Spring Animals Shadowbox

 So - been under the weather for almost 2 weeks now - NOT COVID - tested negative - but just the "seasonal flu" .   It is still hanging on with no energy.  I get a couple of things done then it is time to rest.  But hopefully this will improve as the week goes on.  

Our "shadow box" group did our spring animal swap a couple of weeks ago and I did manage to get it done and a picture taken.  

 Aren't they adorable???  This group has been a lot of fun to work with and now we have completed all 4 seasons.  We may think of another one this summer but I love this.  I keep my displayed on my bar between the kitchen and living room.  Rabbits seem to be a favorite of the spring animal but check out the skunk, the little fox, oh and the sheep jumping over the fence.  I didn't forget about the darling owls or the cute little hedgehog.   

Feels like Monday

 I am having so much fun with this set from Close to my Heart - so many cute images as well as great sentiments.  

No coloring on this card - just stamped and die cut the cat and dog.  This card looks really displayed open on the mantle or end table.  

For us retired folks everyday is Saturday.  Or whatever day you want it to be.  I have been retired for 5-6 years now and love being at home.  Although most weeks I'm not at home much.  Lunch is my favorite hobby - next to stamping - and I love to get together with my crafting friends.  

This card will probably go in my stash - and will be ready when I need a card for a working 9-5 friend.  LOL

Bearable

 This is one of those sets that you see and think "I have to have this set".  It is from Close to My Heart - and has so many cute images (and diecuts) as well as a lot of sentiments.  

How many times have you thought UGH Monday (for those of you that work).  I don't really remember Mondays as I was a RN and weekends required coverage and everyone had to take their turn.  

This style is a faux step card - another fun fun card to make, there are several different instructions on Pinterest.  Easy Peasy - so much easier than a regular step card and still get the same punch.  

Frog - You can do anything

 I was running out of cards to send to "pre-teen" and teen boy chemo buddies.  I again saw this on Pinterest with easy to follow instructions - thank you Tami for the easy instructions to Angled Gatefold  I printed them out and will keep them in my binder of how to.

I used an OLD - and I mean really OLD stamp set from SU with frogs and it had diecuts.  I used parts of my May22 Paper Pumpkin from SU to die cut the fro and the balloon.  Paper Pumpkin has so many things you can use.  

I chose to use a belly band to hold the card together but you can also use tiny velcro dots or magnets.  I liked the sentiment included in the set - hoping this will give him a smile as well as encouragement.  

Songbird Card - take 2

I at least have my email back up and running - but am taking this sweet laptop in for a tune up this morning.  I now have a picture to post with my blog.  This is the card that took me almost all afternoon to make and it looked so simple on Pinterest.  

 This style is an offset gatefold card - and I really like the DP I used - the floral is Dainty Flowers which was a freebie from with Sellabration and the plaid was an in color combination paper pack, again from SU.

I may try another one - now that I know what I am doing.  It was the punch that gave me fits but finally figured it out.  

Enjoy and have a great weekend.  

Songbird Card

 Do you ever see something that you want to "CASE" and it looks like easy peasy but when you try to make it it drives you crazy???  Well this was the case when I made this card - took me "most of the afternoon and then I wasn't super pleased with the outcome but here goes:

And to really top things off my computer has been hacked I think.  So off to the computer shop this afternoon.  $$$.

Welcome Lucky Pup

 One of my dear sweet blogging/stamping friends recently adopted a new dog - so I made a faux step card to send to him and "Mom".  

The stamp is from Technique Junkie - and the paper is my last scrap from SU (retired).  They both went together very nicely.  The sentiment in the stamp from Technique Junkie describes a happy dog.  I liked the paper as it had a variety of dogs.  

I love to do the faux step card fold - easier than a regular step card - and fun.  

I sent a bag of treats to the new puppy who has found his forever home.  blessings to the new pet "mom and dad".  

Valentines

 Headed to the post office to mail my Chemo Valentine boxes - so much fun finding goodies for each individual box.  Here are 3 of my favorite:

The kitty cat card uses SU set - talk about easy peasy - no coloring - just a couple of embellishments and good to go.  

The chocolate card - another SU set - and who doesn't love chocolate.  All of my chemo buddies got some chocolate in their box.  We made this card at a day of fun get together a couple of weeks ago. This was Sally's project - she had almost everything die cut for us so it went together pretty quickly.  Loved coloring the chocolates.  My favorite in a box of mixed chocolates are the maple flavor.    We each brought a "shoebox" project and shared - then we went out to lunch at one of our favorite places The Old Mine Crab House and Bar - yummy fish tacos.  

The last card with the mailbox is for my DH - love this die set from Spellbinders as well as stamps to fit the occasion. This was my shoebox card project and I had almost all of the die cuts ready to go.   Hubby doesn't look at my blog so he won't see this one.  Going to fix a "special" dinner at home - either lobster tail or Coho salmon.  Have not decided yet. 

Sending Valentine Wishes out to all of my friends.