MY FIRST STENCIL ART

I don't know if, by stencil standards, this is any good, but I am superdeeduper excited with how this turned out! This is my very first stencil creation, and I'm HOW old????? I had to take it down the hall to show it to my "boys," and I told them that I used a stencil to create it. Their response? "We heard you tapping away in there." LOL! They never really know what I'm up to, but they knew the "tapping" sounded different from the normal sound of stamps dancing on ink pads. In case you, like me, are in love with this stencil, it's one of SU's brand new additions to the Decor Elements line, and it's the "Parisian Damask" stencil. I knew it was way too big to use on cards, boxes, and my typical project choices, but this was the stencil that kept saying "Choose me! Choose me!!" So I did. About two weeks ago, I purchased a pack of stencil brushes (yes, a whole pack--I wasn't sure how many different sizes and shapes I'd need), blendable stencil paint creme, and a spray can of stencil adhesive. While I wait for the paint to dry, I suppose I should start thinking of what I'm going to do with this. I might just frame it. What do you think I should do with it? Hey now! I know what your first thought was, but be nice!

"YUMMY" GIFT BOX

Since today is the last day to earn FREE Sale-a-Bration products, I decided to use some of them to decorate this box that I made. The band is from the "Delicate Dots" designer paper, and the stamped image is from the "Yummy" stamp set.

SCENE IN A GARDEN "Z" FOLD

Several new SU products are featured on this card . . . "Great Friend" and "Scene in a Garden" stamp sets, and the die cut frame/label from the brand new Sizzix Matchbox die. These items can be found in the "Occasions" mini catalog and will be available for purchase tomorrow. I didn't intend for my garden scene to be sloped, but I bumped the die and didn't notice that the paper had slipped before I ran the die through the Big Shot. Oops! You may not be able to tell, but I used watercolor paper for the stamped image. If you plan to watercolor an image and think you might be adding layers of color and blending a lot, you should use watercolor paper. It holds up really well!! Notice the stick pin? This is the first one I've ever used one on a card, and I wasn't quite sure what to do to keep the end bead from slipping off. I decided to put a drop of Crystal Effects there since it holds ANYTHING, and some of it probably dripped into the bead. All I know is that the bead isn't coming off--yet--so it must have worked okay. Of course, this isn't a card to be mailed with the bulk of the beads, but I like the look of the pin! I just need more practice with them!

"UPSY DAISY" FAUX TILE

This wasn't what I was supposed to be working on today, but I saw a similar design (photo on the left) that I really liked. It was made by another demonstrator and posted on the demo side of the SU web site this morning. The faux tile technique is a favorite, but I never think to use it! I did a few things different from the design that inspired me, and I think it came out well. SU products used to create this card: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, and Whisper White card stock, Upsy Daisy stamp set, Sizzix Top Note die, Big Shot die cut machine, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, and Wide Oval punches, stampin' sponges, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, and Bashful Blue Classic ink, and 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon.

BABY BANNER

I know it's not easy to see, but this is the name banner that I made for my niece's shower this Saturday. Each of the letter blocks has a puppy image, and the puppies are all doing something different. My favorite is the one who's ready to go hunting (on the first "L"). I think Haley will love this banner, and she'll be able to take it home to hang in the nursery. ETA: Each of the onesies have been embossed with a different embossing folder or texture plate and then sponged with Bashful Blue ink. Trust me . . . this banner looks much better in real life! If you click on the picture, it will open in a larger window.

CIRCLE SCISSORS PLUS

You're not going to believe this, but I stamped today. Ha! Actually, there's very little stamping on these two cards. What I really wanted to do is play with my Circle Scissors Plus. Since SU added this product to the Spring/Summer catalog, I figured I should work on my proficiency at using it. Pictured here are two of the pocket cards that I made from three different sizes of circles. I've seen similar pocket cards, but I was really proud of myself for coming up with this design! I used two brand new products in the creation of these cards . . . "Oval All" stamp set and the Scallop Oval punch. Both of these products are in the Occasions mini catalog which goes into effect this Wednesday!

THREE-POCKET GIFT BAG

Remember the 3-pocket gift bag that I made earlier this month or last? As I was getting ready to wrap some baby shower gifts last night, it occurred to me that some of the items would fit perfectly in one of these bags! I took this gift to a shower for my niece today, and it was a hit!

MY KID'S A MUD-SLINGER!

You would think that when you buy your son a nice vehicle, he would want to keep it clean and serviced. Chadrick has kept his Jeep serviced and, until recently, he kept it pretty clean. That's all changed now that he's discovered MUD which, unlike dirt, is a teenage boy's badge of honor and rite of passage! Early Thursday morning, I looked out the window and saw where the rain had caused a "mud pattie" slide from wheel wells (I think that's what they're called) onto the driveway. Yuck! He was disappointed, too, but not for the same reason.

PUNS FROM THE PAST

I created this card for a swap last week, and I kind of wanted to keep it. How many times have I

said that? I think it presents very well for a rather easy-to-make design. The embossed background was created with a texture plate and the Big Shot machine, and I also used the Big Shot and Sizzix Ovals die for three of the ovals. The other ovals were created with punches, including SU's brand new Scallop Oval punch! Card stock colors include Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, and Kraft.

BUN IN THE OVEN

My sweet niece, Haley, has a "bun in the oven," due to arrive in May. If the doctors are correct, we're looking to welcome a baby boy to the family, which is why I chose Bashful Blue as a coordinating color for the oven. I've been invited to a baby shower for Haley this Sunday and need a gift. Since I'm helping host a shower for her on the following Sunday, I don't need a big gift for this weekend so I decided to make this cute project! Of course, I'll give her more than this, but she will LOVE this oven! Isn't it neat that it has a working door? Of course, it would be rather useless if there wasn't a way to utilize the box. I'm not finished with this project, though! Tomorrow I will go to Walmart and try to find some little socks that I can shape in the form of a cinnamon bun to put in the oven, but I don't know what I'll do if my sock bun doesn't come out right. I guess I'll have to buy a real bun! Ha! There's still one thing that I want to add to the oven, and I'll post a picture if it turns out as good in real life as it looks in my head. I used all SU products, except for the silver brads) to create this project: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, and Brushed Silver card stock, Key Tag punch, Bashful Blue brads, "Sketch It" stamp set (for the burners), Basic Black Craft ink, Clear embossing powder, and the Corner Rounder punch. And let's not forget Sticky Strip!

"URBAN OASIS" FRAMED ART

To tell you this was an easy-peasy project would be an understatement! OMG! If you should ever need a quick and inexpensive housewarming gift, this is it! On Saturday, my sister was here doing her own thing, and I was getting ready for my "Big Shot 101" class when this idea popped in my head. I started digging around in my stash of stuff I've bought but never used and found this frame which was perfect for my idea! I'm sure I didn't pay more than $1 for it! I cut a piece of "Urban Oasis" designer paper to fit, and then used the "Birds & Branches" and "Join in the Cheer" Sizzix Decorative Strip dies and the Big Shot to cut the two vinyl elements (bird and "peace"). The designer paper is behind the glass, and the vinyl has been adhered to the front (outside) of the glass. Tied a piece of ribbon around the frame, and called it DONE! Go to www.regina.stampinup.net, click the "shop now" button in the top right corner, and order a pack of "Urban Oasis" designer paper and vinyl so you can make one of these!

"BASKETS & BLOOMS DIE" RE-STYLED

If you have the Sizzix "Baskets & Blooms" die (sold exclusively by SU), this is an example of a "re-styled" basket that you can make. Let me tell you . . . this one is even easier/quicker to assemble, and it's bigger, too! The flower and tag were also cut from the same die, and I used SU's "Pattern Pack" designer paper, which is a level 1 hostess choice. Warning: making these baskets can be addictive.

"ONESIE" INVITATIONS

Ever wonder what a pile of 57 shower invitations looks like?

"SPRING COTTAGE" CARD BOX

Is this the coolest, sweetest box or what????? I apologize for being so proud of myself--that's so rude--but I am REALLY proud! This card box wasn't my idea; however, the embellishing and design is TOTALLY mine so don't forget where you saw it first!!! My friend, Karin, came over this evening to help assemble baby shower invitations and, when that job was done, she and I each made one of these boxes. We didn't get them decorated while she was here--that took another couple of hours of thought, trial, and error. All I need to do now is design the cards to go inside, and this will be a class! Who wants to come????

A PRETTY DUD

A couple of days ago, I got out the brayer and decided to try a really neat brayer trick with the reflection technique. I won't draw your attention to all the ways that I turned this "could-have-been-gorgeous" design into a dud, but you can make a game out of discovering them on your own. Since I wasn't sure I'd ever try this design again, I decided to go ahead and turn it into a card. I'd like to draw your attention to a couple of new SU products . . . the scallop oval punch, which will be available next month in the Occasions mini catalog, and the white grommet. I was a bit hesitant to try the grommet, but it was a very easy way to add a "splash" of hardware--easy peasy to set, too! Go ahead and add them to your "gotta have" list! You'll find them in the Occasions mini, and they come in two sizes and four colors.

BLOG MUSIC

Just for St. Patrick's Day, I added "Wasn't That a Party," but I have some other new tunes here, too. My current FAVORITE upbeat tune is Taylor Swift's, "Love Story," and I also like Plain White T's "1,2,3,4," although I'll probably get tired of it soon. ;-) Scroll down to the Playlist and enjoy the music for a while!

I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO MEET BEATRICE MANCHESTER

Isn't she adorable??? Beatrice actually was designed by Nancy Dawson, a fellow demonstrator,

who named her "Mary Jane," but I made just a couple of changes/additions and think she looks more like a Beatrice. She got her last name from the pack of designer paper that I used, which is supposed to give a hint at what her dress looks like. Yes, she's wearing a dress . . . and patent leather shoes! I wanted her white collar to show, but I'm not sure it's exactly the way it should be. Got any suggestions? Beatrice was created with the Big Shot and a couple of dies (Daisies #2, Top Note) and punches (1-3/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Large Oval, Small Oval, 3/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Boho Blossoms). All products used to create Beatrice are from Stampin' Up!

NO CHARGE, EXCEPT TO MISS ELLER

This morning, I added a new song to the playlist. It's "No Charge" by Melba Montgomery and is a song that I remember from a long time ago! What I didn't remember was Melba's very southern twang. I won't keep this song on my blog very long, but the lyrics are really sweet! Do listen to it, especially if you have children. I was one of those kids who kept a tab of what my parents owed me, but I was also one who ran a tab at Miss Eller's store . . . until my daddy found out. Ha! Miss Eller's name was actually Ella, but everyone called her Eller, and I was an adult before I knew any different! She ran a very tiny, dark little country store near my house that my friend, Robin, and I would ride our bicycles to almost daily. We'd always get a snack and drink "for the road." There was a sawmill behind Miss Eller's store, and some of the best looking guys would come into the store when the bell sounded. Robin and I would just step aside when the tanned hunks with sawdust in their hair would come in, or we'd take a seat that wasn't occupied by the older gentlemen who spent more time with Miss Eller than we did. I guess we weren't old enough to be considered ladies because those men never offered us their seat! What we noticed was that these guys would reach into a box, pull out a little book, and Miss Eller would write the amount of their snack in the book, and they'd leave without paying. Robin and I asked Miss Eller if we could start a "tab" with her, and she said, "sure!" She reached under the counter and gave us each a book and said that we should write our name on the top and then put it in the box. We thought we were $%*#in' in high cotton! Everything was going well until one day my daddy stopped in there and, in general conversation, asked if she'd been seeing a lot of me and Robin. Miss Eller didn't mean to say anything wrong, but she was telling daddy how excited Robin and I were to have a tab. [gulp] He wasn't pleased! Daddy didn't run tabs or credit with ANYONE, and his 13 y/o daughter would certainly not be in debt to a country store! The good news is . . . he paid my tab! The bad news is . . . there was no longer a tab in the box with my name on it! I'm sure I tried to bill daddy, though, the next time he sent me to Miss Eller's to get a pack of Red Man for him while he was mowing. Can you believe it . . . kids used to be able to go to the store and purchase tobacco products, but that was back in the day of little country stores, old men who spent many hours visiting there, sawmill hunks, snacks on credit, and kids who spent the summer on bicycles--even when there were escapees from a nearby prison! But that's another story.

UPSY DAISY WINDOW PANE

This card has some fun things going on . . . for starters, the window pane design! The floral image was stamped twice--the second time slightly offset to create a shadow effect. This card features Whisper White, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, and Sahara Sand card stock, "Delicate Dots" designer paper (free Sale-a-Bration product), Bashful Blue Classic ink, Chocolate Chip Craft ink, clear embossing powder, a rhinestone brad, and two Sizzix dies - "Beautiful Butterflies" and "Lots of Tags." The ribbon is another SU product, but I can't remember which color--I think it's Vanilla. This was truly one of the easiest, most fun cards I've made in a while, and I LOVE the "Upsy Daisy" stamp set! It's so easy to use and comes with three sentiments, making it very versatile! Better still, it's not a pricey set!

TALK IS CHEEP!

These three cards are essentially the same--just minor differences. To create them cards, I used "Good Morning Sunshine" designer paper, "Cheep Talk" stamp set, Kiwi Kiss ribbon, Sizzix Ovals die, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, and Whisper White card stock, and SU's Eyelet Border punch. On two of the cards, I used parts of a die cut branch from the the Sizzix Birds & Branches die, and I also use SU's Mat Pack to create the piercing (faux stitching) on the Kiwi Kiss layer.

SPRING FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

With Spring right around the corner, I wanted to put together a new flower arrangement for my porch. I seem to always buy new flowers instead of using the ones that I already own, and I think I'll gather the old ones (from many years) and let my mother use them for my grandfather's grave. They'd look much better there than they do in storage! Anyway, on the left is the picture that I took of the arrangement. On the
right is an altered "colored pencil" look that I created from my photo. It looks pretty cool, huh? I did this to a picture several months ago (it's on my blog somewhere), and I love the look! When I find my raffia, I'll tie a bow around the watering can to add a finishing touch.

MALENA'S DRAGON

My great-niece (and stampin' buddy), Malena, is 7 y/o today, and this is the card that I made for her. We'll be celebrating her birthday with a party tomorrow, and I can hardly wait! She has her own stash of stamps and ink pads in my stamp room and, whenever she comes to my house, she always wants to stamp! Who can blame her! LOL! I don't know if she likes dragons, but I hope she likes this card! The "name art" is what I designed to adhere to the envelope, and I used temporary adhesive so she can easily remove it and use it somewhere else.

NEW BUGS IN THE HOUSE!

Look what arrived today!!! I love it!!!! I've been wanting a cover for my Cricut and have looked at several (online), but I had in mind what I wanted! This one was definitely worth the wait. Isn't it cute???

BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON . . .

I'm not 100% sold on the color combination used for this card, but I definitely like how it turned out! I began by stamping and coloring the image and then die-cut it with the Big Shot and "Top Note" die. I can't remember the name of the die that has the leaves on it, but the Old Olive leaf is also a die cut on which I stamped (and embossed) the sentiment. Luck was truly on my side to get the whole sentiment on that leaf! Ha! The tree and sentiment are from SU's "Thoughts & Prayers" stamp set, and the leaves stamped on the More Mustard layer are from "Lovely as a Tree."

3-POCKET HOLDER

I hate to say it, but this project was created with the Cricut. The awesome news is that it's one that can easily be made without the Cricut, so look for this to be a class offering at some point in time! I actually have two sizes of cut files for this holder, but I used the larger cut file for this one in case I wanted to fill it with cards and envelopes. The stamped images are from the "One of a Kind" stamp set using Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Point ink. The branch was cut with the Big Shot and the "Birds & Branches" die, and the chipboard bird is from SU's On Board So Tweet chipboard pack. I covered him with some double-sided adhesive from SU's "Sticky Pages" and then sprinkled him with glitter. He is sooooooo sparkly!!! The butterfly was cut from the "Beautiful Butterflies" die and it, too, was covered with double-sided adhesive and glittered. This project can be used for all kinds of gift items--not just cards!--as the pockets can be altered to fit whatever you have in mind (within reason, of course). If you haven't closely examined the On Board So Tweet chipboard, take a closer look (p. 183). It is LOADED with bird and flower images! The chipboard can be covered with designer paper or quickly and simply inked or painted!