Would you like to Swing on a Star?

I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours.  We've been spending time with family, reading, relaxing, napping, reading some more, napping, reading some more ... well, you get the picture.

It's been FOREVER since I have posted!  I know ... what have I been doing with all that "spare" time?  Brendan's birthday party in coming up fast and it is a Medieval theme.  So, we've been researching games and activities that from that era.  Did you know that they bowled back then?!  Of course a catapult is a must (with sheep and cows to toss - LOL) and Sabrina wants to be in charge of the stockade.  I'm still thinking on that one. 

On to the card!  Under the Stars is a great "outdoorsy" stamp set.  I think the bear is kinda scary but holding a string of stars he's adorable.  Especially paper-pieced in silly patterns.  Think of all the possibilites with colors and stringed shapes!  He could be holding hearts for Valentines and paper-pieced in reds/pinks.  (Real Bears Wear Pink!).  We have a wonderful heart punch that gives you three hearts in one punch.  And they are just the right size for "stinging".  Just click on the link to the left access our catalog and place your order!  The stars are made with our Star Punch from scraps of Designer Series Papers and the string is a natural hemp.  The buttons are simply a small one on top of a large one.  I tied them together with floss and stuck them on with a glue dot.  Both buttons come from our Stampin' Up collections.

As you can see the words are in an arc.  This stamp is actually from our Crazy for Cupcakes set.  I've always been puzzled by what to do with a stamp that have the words in an arc.  I have never really used them because I felt the arc had to match the image I was stamping around.  Yep, that's the perfectionist in me ... with a dash of engineer.  If the arcs didn't line up (meaning if they weren't concentric) well, forget it.  I just couldn't deal with that.  The stamp went back into the box.  But here's a solution to the problem.  I stamped the words on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, punched it out with a Circle Punch, and added the buttons to mark the center.  I think it works well, what do you think?  See that "comment" thingy below?  Click on it and leave me a message.

Check back tomorrow, I've got a New's Year card that is just begging to be posted!

From Our House to Yours

I did it!  I FINALLY am going to mail some Christmas cards!  Of course this brings challenges that I am not used to.  I typically give my cards to people.  Sometimes on the top of a gift, or dropped off at a desk at work, or handed over in person at the school.  But mailing?  No way!  (I'm sure some of you are grinning right now ... and I deserve it!) 

You know how I like to layer and embellish!  "Just one more layer of pattern paper."  "Another button would look great in this corner."  Or ... here's a famous one ... "that bow just isn't big enough!"  No wonder I run out of dimensionals all the time!

You'd be proud of me.  I held back and came up with this.  I admit the house is raised on dimensionals and so is the greeting.  The button might add some bulk too.  Our Stampin' UP buttons lay so nice and flat that I hope it's not a problem.  And look, no big bow!  What do you think?  Does the card "lose" anything?

I'll let you know how it goes at the post office tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Home decor with Stampin' UP!

Shelli Gardner started Stampin' UP over 20 years ago and she is GREAT at demonstrating new ideas.  Here is a video link to a short clip where you can learn to make beautiful heart shaped ornaments.  Use them on your tree this holiday season.  I think with the right color combinations they would make for wonderful Valentines ... with little gifts inside! 

Enjoy! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTIV2BcNATQ

I know what you are thinking ...

... doesn't that women own an iron?!  I mean REALLY, just look at those wrinkles in the background!  Shameless!

Yes, I do own an iron.  Actually I own two and one is a Rowanda.  You'd think I'd use it, huh?

And lose all that time away from stamping?  Are you crazy?

How do you like this card?  I think it's "simple elegance".  I'm really loving our wide striped ribbon!  You saw it in black and white a few weeks ago and here it is in Chocolate Chip.  It's sooooo easy to tie.  The buttons are just what I had laying around ... any of our button collections would work for you.  With so many different color combinations in our Designer Series Papers - it's simple to find coordinating buttons.  Before you ask me how I tied embrodery floss in the button holes (or whatever you think that is) let me tell you it's actually card stock.  Yep!  Cut thin strips of card stock, bend them in a "U" shape, and thread the ends thru the button holes.  Fold it flat in the back to hold it in place, snip the ends if it's too long, and adhere to the card front with a glue dot.  How simple is that?!  Gotta love it!

The stamp set is Thoughts and Prayers.  It's a wonderful sympathy set and the verses are thoughtful without being "over the top" - if you know what I mean.  It's the perfect set when you need a card such as this.  Don't you agree?   

I Robot

Don't you feel just terrible for this little guy?  He's falling apart and he has a headache!  Sound familiar?

I used our latest In Color palette for this adorable card.  The Rasberry Lemonade design series paper made it easy!  You'll find Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie along with splashes of Basic Black to really set off the colors in this project.  The Lots of Bots is a perfect stamp set for this house ... everyone knows robots abound in our family! 

Did you recognize the grid paper in the background?  Yep, you guessed it ... a piece of our pad paper punched along the edge with our Spiral Punch! 

That is actually a very nice bow created with our Melon Mambo polka-dot ribbon.  I kept standing it up and it would fall over, I'd stand it up and it would fall over, etc.  I just couldn't snap the picture fast enough!

I hope you enjoy this post!

12 Days of Christmas Sale!

From December 11 – 22nd Stampin’ Up! is offering a 12 Days of Holiday Sale on Big Shot dies and vinyl sheets. These vinyl sheets are offered in 18 new colors plus there are now clear sheets! You can mix and match colors and images to create vinyl elements of your own to place on picture frames, vases, mirrors and walls. The possibilities are endless. Don’t miss out on this sale as it is only good through December 22nd.  Click on the link at the left and shop thru my website!

Things to Remember:

• Orders may be placed online or in person.
• The sale begins Friday, December 11, 2009, 12:01 AM (MT), and ends Tuesday, December 22, 2009, 11:50 PM (MT).
• Items must be ordered by December 15, 2009, in order to arrive in time for Christmas.
• Discounts range between 15-25 percent.
• All items on sale will be posted on the first day of the promotion and can be purchased for all 12 days.
• There are no quantity limits.
• There are no qualifiers to receive the discount.
• For online orders, discounts will be reflected in the “regular price”; “catalog price” will show the non-discounted price.

WAHOO! I'm back on-line!

Oh my gosh, I've missed you guys!

My wonderful husband has the computer (actually the NEW computer) up and running.  I am sooooo thankful that he is good at the technical stuff because I know absolutely nothing about it!  I can handle office software packages but hardware and such?  Forget it!

Here is my latest creation.  I hope you like it! 

I used Sage Shadow and Basic Black.  It's a really strong color combination and that may be why I like it so much.  The background papers are from Nouveau Chic package.  Aren't they great?!  (You'll recognize them from my "Rhino" card below.)  I just love those Designer Series Papers.  The primary colors in the patterns are Basic Black, Basic Grey, Sage Shadow, and Apricot Appeal.  The button is in Apricot Appeal and from our Fresh favorites I collection.  And I'm sure you recognize the stamp from Baroque Motifs.  I can't tell you how many times I've used that stamp!

Enjoy your evening ...

Where did I go?

Hi  Everyone!

You are probably wondering "What about the Sunday Sketch?" and "How come there aren't any new posts?"   Well, it's not for lack of trying!

Our computer decided to take a vacation.  I think it is someplace warm.  And it took all my files, photographs, and stuff with it!  So ... my wonderful husband bought the pieces and parts to fix it.  He has it running again (that's obvious or I wouldn't be able to post this note) but I have no ability to upload my photo's yet!  ARGHHH!

I can't wait to show you what I've been working on!  Check back soon, you'll love the projects!