Here I sit in a dear friend's house in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brasil. It's been busy and great! I have been helping her in her English School- www.igwtrust.com.br We put together a craft class for a few people today. They loved it! All new to them. We in the U.S. take alot for granted I have realized. I tried to find envelopes to fit the cards I brought, but none to be found. We settled on some larger ones, which they are happy to have. Have 3 moreclasses planned to do before I leave. Most enjoyable. I hope to post some pics. I know that they won't be in order, but I will get stuff up soon. More to come. 

It has been so crazy these past few months and it doesn't seem to be slowing down soon. Here is a little check list of the last 5 months- Do yard sales, quilt raffles to send a son on a mission trip to Panama..check   Take care of mom who has broken ankle, dr. visits & such...check. Send son off to Panama...check.  Welcome him back home after a month....check. Work on school curriculum for son...check. Find respite care for mom...check. Send off for visa for trip to Brasil..working on that one still.  Get crafts together for Christmas boutique in November(110 baby burp cloths and counting) check.  Whew! I keep telling myself that someday I will slow down. I relish the time when I sneak away up to my craft room and work on cards. It has become my sanctuary. Time to ponder and create. So this week includes finishing the Brasil visa, working with my son, taking mom to the Dr., working on a card class workshop, picking  our daughter up from the airport, getting my mom taken care of for when we leave this weekend for an international convention,...ah check. . Yep that's my world.
I will be posting pics of cards soon.

Well Here we are

This week my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. It was quite an interesting few days. All our plans to make this an "event" didn't really come together, BUT, we did enjoy being with each other, talking and dreaming of the next 30....and isn't that whats it's all about. I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband.I love you.  To the next 30 years my dear!

ONE MORE CARD and I'M DONE

This last card turned out to be my favorite for this month. I started out with Daffodil Delight cs, rolled with the In Stitches roller in Basic Black ink. On the Whisper White cs, I place a piece of tissue that has been stamped with the Pattern Pieces stamp in Melon Mambo, wrinkle up the tissue, smooth it out and then glue it down. All the sewing elements on the card are from the Sew Suite stamp set. The buttons are punched out of 4 colors-Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Tempting Turquoise, using the Sweet Buttons embosslit run through the Big Shot. On the thread spool I used the Balsa Wood found in the Idea Book & Catalog. Notice it has a "real"  needle through it with thread. The tape measure is Very Vanilla seam binding inked with Daffodil Delight, stamped with the tape measure in Basic Black ink . I didn't have a sentiment for the card that I wanted, so I came up with one. Did it in my MDS(My Digital Studio)           Used my    1 3/4x  7/8  large oval punch as a template to get the wording the right size. Printed it on Whisper White cardstock. Large scallop oval punch in Melon Mambo. Used WaterColor crayons  and a blender pen for the sewing machine.So there are the cards for the APRIL HOSTESS CLUB. 

THE TECHNIQUE OF THE MONTH

For my club members, I always try to have a new technique for them to try. This months technique is called "Burned Batik". I love the resources available on SplitcoastStampers. I started with Marina Mist cardstock as the card. Layered with a piece of Whisper White cs. Stamp the images from the Nature Walk stamp set in VersaMark. Then embossed with clear embossing powder. Rather than stopping when the powder is melted, you continue on till the powder melts into the paper. Be careful not to get too close with your heat gun as it will scorch the paper. If you hold the cardstock up to the light, you will be able to see the images coming through on the other side. Have your ink refills ready, drop a few drops of 3 colors on a plastic mat or lid. Mist your paper with water, dab your 1st sponge in the 1st ink color. Gently dab on misted cardstock. Do this with the other 2 colors.  I used Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake ink refills. You will probably have to mist it a few more times during the process. Now don't be discouraged how it is looking, the finished product will surprise you(in a good way). I do a little darker ink around the embossed images to let the ink seep in. Use your heat gun to dry the paper. Turn it over on the wrong side for it to curl back out the right way. I finished it with 2 pieces of the Botanical Gazette DSP, Pear Pizzaz seam binding threaded through a Vanilla flower slider. The sentiment stamped with Early Espresso ink on Crumb Cake cs is from the Heard from the Heart stamp set. The tutorial for this card is found on www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/burned_batik  They recommend using a bold line stamp in their tutorial, but I tried it with the fine line stamp set. Some fine line stamps would probably lose their image definition when being heated. Something to experiment with. Have fun. 

More cards for April

This card was done with Paisley Designer Series Paper thats available this month. Cherry Cobbler is the cardstock I used for the card. Then the  Paisley DSP. On top of that is Tangerine Tango cut out of the Top Note die cut. Used the Sweet Stems sizzlet on the same DSP. Gathered Cherry Cobbler seam binding highlighted with pearls. The sentiment is from the Word Play stamp set. A quick and simple card.

APRIL'S HOSTESS CLASS

Had so much fun this month with the stamp class. With this being the last month of the Occasions Mini Catalog, I had so much I wanted to share with them, but had to cut it down to 5 projects. :) The 1st card is done with the Blossom Punch and the Build a Blossom stamp set( at the request of one of the club members). I used Pear Pizzaz, Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White cardstock.. I ran the Baja Breeze thru the bigshot with the Perfect Polka Dot impressions folder. I curled up the petals and put them together with glue dots. After it was assembled, I painted some Shimmer White on the petals and dotted the middle. I also used Crystal Effects on the center dots after it dried. The word is from the stamp set: Perfect Punches, which has the coordinating punch.  The scalloped paper is from the In Color paper pack, using the Eyelet border punch.

For the next card, which were really 4 little envelopes, I  took advantage of the special with the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper that will be in the new 2011/2012 Stampin Up Catalog. We just got a sneak peak, along with a stamp set, Four Frames, which coordinates with the Decorative Label punch. I wanted to have them use all four stamps, so what better way than to do 4 cute little gift cards. Used several  colors that are in the Paisley paper. The die cut was the scallop envelope. Tied it up with Pear Pizzaz seam binding. Check back later for the rest of the class.

A fun Saturday with some great girls!

A few weeks ago I invited the girls from church to come over and craft. I had recently found a great website of two women(who I found out recently are in Utah) who have a weekly webisode.  www.diydish.com has lots of fun projects to do. Several of them are re-using things you already have on hand. I thought it would be fun to try the necklaces with the girls. Here is the link for this project: http://www.thediydish.com/2010/05/episode-10-hardware-store-meets-chic-jewelry-design/. Once they got the hang of it, they were off creating several different styles. This is one of my favorite things to do is to help someone realize how creative they really are. Once they got all the necklaces done, it was into the kitchen to "craft" their own mini pizza's. Granted, my son was a little bit apprehensive about having several girls in the house, but from the picture, I am sure he and his friend "adjusted". So, lets get to the pics shall we. 

Got some catching up to do.

So, I have been busy crafting and stamping. Realized I was falling behind on my blogging. So today will be a blogger blitz! My first pic is an apron I made for a dear friend's birthday...in March. Yes, I know. This is one of my favorite apron patterns. I have several different apron patterns, but have just made this style at the moment. I was very pleased how it turned out. I used my sizzix die cut machine to die cut the flowers for the pocket. Attached it with a safety pin so it can come off for washing. So here it is.

Mr. Darcy- the cat

Thought you would like to see another one of  Mr. Darcy's favorite places to hang out. This is when he is waiting for me to get up in the morning outside my bedroom door.

The last bonus project is a quick bookmark using the Nature designer series paper in the Occasion Mini catalog. Just cut a 2 inch strip, folded. Stamped the bird from the Nature Walk set in the same mini, the word "simple" from the Define your Life stamp set in black craft ink, embossed with clear embossing powder. . Added 2 sticky backed magnets inside and voila! An easy bookmark.
 There you have it, this month's Stamp Club. Enjoy friends.

So realized that it was almost St. Patrick's Day and "meself" being of Irish heritage decided I needed a card to celebrate the day.
 It's easy enough. Garden Green, Pear Pizzaz and Whisper White cardstock. Used the scalloped heart sizzlet. Background set, Tres Chic, Priceless and Define your Life stamp sets. Pear Pizzaz seam bindiing. Most of it is self explanatory. Email me for more information.

Here is the "technique" of the month. Faux pressed flowers. A fun, fun technique that you can use your paper flowers with. Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla and Daffodil Delight are the cardstock colors. The stamp sets are Elements of Style, Baroque Motifs, and the word is from Flight of the Butterfly. You use a glue stick to glue the flowers down.  Remember to stamp the words before you run it through the Big Shot. When you have it the way you like it, you run it through the Square Lattice textured embossing folder. Notice how I let the edges go over the paper. You can use the paper flowers you buy in the store, but I used ones I punched ones. I used the Scallop trim punch for the border  It feels like SPRING!! .

 

Queen for the Day card is with Cherry Cobbler also. Naturals cardstock and Crumb Cake. I used the Clearly for You and You're a Gem stamp sets from the Occasions mini catalog. I also used the beveled window frames that catalog also.Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions plate(can you tell I love these) Finished it off with Cherry Cobbler seam binding.

MARCH HOSTESS CLUB CARDS

Now we are on to the March cards. Posted before my class members come do the class. I promised my dear friend I would have them up before the class was done so she could see them. She was in our Stamp Club, but has moved back east. I miss her. So Jeannie, here are the cards...one's you will be getting soon.

  Our 1st one is quite simple. I "debossed" with the textured impressions folder, inked over it to bring it out. Die cut with the Flowers die cut with Cherry Cobbler and Encyclopedia designer series paper.Misted with water and scrunched up the one flower.  Shadow stamped "friend" from the All my Heart stamp set. Used the Cherry Cobbler seam binding and tied a knot in the middle of the flower. There you have it.

And this is my color inspiration for this card- my eyeglass case from the dollar store. I love it when things come together!

So now for the "technique" of the month. Black Magic is what it is called on Splitcoaststampers. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/blackmagic/  
This was a fun project. I loved seeing everyone's card and how they all turned out just a little bit different.

This card is with Blushing Bride as the base of the card and layered with the Encyclopedia designer series paper. The stamp set is Artistic Etchings and the sale-a-bration set Bliss. Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions folder.

This card is done with the stamp set, Nature Walk with Soft Suede layered on Marina Mist cardstock. The fun technique on this, is that you break down the fibers of the Suede cardstock and pull it apart so you have 2 layers. I love the seam binding.

I'm catching up

So, here I am, trying to type with a cat cuddled on my shoulder, purring away. He is most comfy, while I type one-handed. I have not been too diligent in keeping up with this, but my goal is to be .I will be posting my February and March classes at the same time. I will break them down for you. So lets start!

The rest of January's Hostess Club cards

So friends, here, as promised are the rest of my cards and project that we did at the classes.
 The snowflake card is with the bubble background(it was hard not to giggle when blowing the bubbles), then impressed with the Northern flurries embossing folder-I love those! 
The thank you card is with shimmer white cardstock, then cardstock vellum impressed with elegant lines embossing folder. Added to that was vanilla seam binding ribbon, vintage tags & trinkets and pearls. Finished it off with a little "spritz" of smooch spritz. The idea came from my upline Tami Waddell. Thanks Tami. 

 Here is our last project: A little envelope for your purse, using the springtime vintage fabric from the Occasions Mini catalog and the Sizzix envelope die cut. When you open it, it has a little mirror inside.  I love the adhesive sheets, makes it so easy to adhere things. The stamp is from the "Smarty Pants" set. I love the saying- BE YOURSELF, nobody is better qualified. 
Isn't that so true. Even doing this blog, I find myself comparing myself to others. Its easy to do. But, it's ok to let people know who YOU are, even the quirks. So onward- blog. :) *ha! my finger and phone are in the mirror. ;) 

Here are 2 more envelopes with the other vintage springtime fabric.

January's Hostess Club offerings

Working my way thru this maze of "blogness" Have been reading up on how to post things on the blog. I am sure I will figure it out. I am up for the challenge! My dining room table has morphed back into the table it usually is- homeschool books, paperwork and some occasional meals. Stamp supplies have returned back to my craft room to be put away. So here is one of the cards we did. 

The Classes are done

Finished my last class today for this months Hostess Club. I will post the pics of the projects hopefully tomorrow. Am still learning all this blog stuff. I do admit that I was quite excited to see I have a friend already on my blog...thanks Carol. So off to a meeting for the food bank that is newly started at church. Quite exciting! 

I FINALLY DID IT!

Everyone has been telling me how I "need" a blog. So with the gentle nudging of my friend... I did it. Getting ready to begin our monthly stamp class with some fabulous designs right out of my own little "brain" as my youngest said. I will post pictures later. YaY!!  Some of the techniques we will be doing will be "bubble" background...which is sure to bring out the kid in you. Working with the new Stampin Up!  letterpress plates. A little bit of "ancient" in the polished stone background. Check back later.