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.