FYI . . . IT'S FALL AND YOU'RE AWESOME!

Here it is almost 3:00 a.m., and I just finished making this card for my dad.  He's still in the hospital--improving--but I thought he needed to know that I think he's awesome (that's what the sentiment inside the card says).  All images and designer paper (with the exception of the moose) are from Stampin' Up!  I reached into my HUGE stack of retired designer paper and thought the three designs I chose worked well together.  Stamp sets used were "Autumn Harvest" and "FYI".  I can't believe it's already Fall, but I am sooooooooooo ready for cooler temps . . . and for daddy to get home from the hospital!  Keep him in your prayers, will you?

SNOWFLAKE BOX

Thinking ahead to cooler weather, I wanted to share a project that I have worked on this week.  It's a box designed to hold 3x3 note cards and, possibly, envelopes--I haven't checked yet to verify that envelopes will fit inside the interior pockets, but I think they will.  As you can see, this box opens to reveal two pockets and ties securely closed with ribbon.  Another demonstrator shared the instructions for this box design but, at this writing, I cannot locate her name.  I can't even find the instructions on my desk, which desperately needs to be cleaned off.  I will eventually get the cards made for this project.  I will.  I certainly will.  I promise myself that I will get the cards made.

IT'S FRIDAY . . . YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS

It's time for "Feminine Fridays," and Julie has a pretty design to share!  I really like her color combo, and I especially like the stamp set she used this week!  I have attached a sneak peek photo of her card, but you can see the real thing and read all about it on her blog.  Julie has posted a "mission" for my "Feminine Fridays" project next week, and I don't think I'll have any trouble with it.  I'm supposed to find inspiration from the monthly magazine that Stampin' Up! sends to demonstrators and, since I haven't had a lot of creative time lately, I can really appreciate my mission!  If you get in a stampin' slump sometime, look to magazines, catalogs, TV ads, etc. for layout/design and color combo inspiration.

"WINTER POST" QUICK CARD

I'm participating in a vendor fair this weekend, and this is one of the proposed make-&-take cards that I designed.  I have decided to not use this design for the M&T due to the number of steps involved from start to finish.  It's still a quick card idea--just not quick enough for the vendor fair.  ;-) 

"FEMININE FRIDAYS" ALTERED CHALLENGE

Last week, with her "Feminine Fridays" blog post, Julie challenged me to use three colors of card stock and three stamp sets.  As you can instantly tell from the picture, I didn't accept the challenge exactly as it was presented.  Not counting the Whisper White card stock, I used three of Stampin' Up!'s new (In Color) colors . . . Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, and Concord Crush.  My intention was to use three punches to make the flowers and borders (Scallop Circle, Boho Blossoms, and Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border), but I had to use the Small Oval punch as well to make the leaves.  To even things up, I added two more punches (the small and large tag) to complete another "set" of three punches.  For the card itself, I used a Sizzix Scallop Card die, and completed the flowers with a glittered brad.  Other Stampin' Up! products used include 1/4" white grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, and the crimper tool.  So, Julie, I didn't totally complete the challenge as presented, but I did use three colors of card stock and three punches (times two)for this week's "Feminine Fridays."

A GESTURE OF KINDNESS MAKES MY DAY

When I returned from visiting my grandmother yesterday, I checked the mail to find a little envelope addressed to me.  The envelope was on top of the stack of bills and junk mail, as if the mail carrier had sorted everything in order of importance.  A demonstrator friend, Martinette Horner, had sent me this card with the sweetest note inside and TOTALLY made my day!  She said the inspiration for this card was taken from page 73 of Stampin' Up!'s Idea Book & Catalog, and what a great card!  One of my favorite new colors is Cherry Cobbler (don't you just love the textured card stock).  On this particular card, I think my favorite design elements are the way the ribbon holds the sentiment tag and the natural hemp twine holds the watercolored image.  Other Stampin' Up! products used include pattern paper, watercolor paper, "Loads of Love" stamp set, Pear Pizzazz card stock and ribbon, circle punch, and designer button.  Martinette, thank you so much for sharing this great card (and the sweet gesture of friendship) with me!  I. too, have re-created some of the catalog samples because the catalog is full of great ones, and they always look even better in real life.  BTW, my dad is a real "pick-up" kind of guy, so this card was even more perfect for having a truck on it!

ETA:  The more I looked at Martinette's card, the more I thought my daddy would probably like to receive a card with a truck on it, so I got busy!  Thanks for inspiring me, Martinette!

"JUST BELIEVE"

On Monday, I'm taking my grandmother to her quilt class where they will be celebrating the birthday of one of her good friends.  Even though she probably has a birthday card that she could give to Elizabeth, I wanted to make a special one for her.  Maybe it was just my excuse to do some stamping.  ;-)  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include "Just Believe" and "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp sets, Scallop Square Sizzix die, Scallop Oval Frame Sizzix die, white gel pen, flat-back pearls, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White card stock, Word Window and Modern Label punches, and retired striped grosgrain ribbon.  Monika Davis shared a card today on one of the demo groups where she had the same stamped image in the scallop oval frame, and I fell in love with it.  I needed that inspiration from her, too!

"FEMININE FRIDAYS"

It's Julie's turn this week to share a project for "Feminine Fridays," so be sure to check out her blog.  She has presented a new challenge for me, and I hope to get home to accept it and see what I can come up with.  I apologize for not having a sneak peek photo to post here, but this little Netbook doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that I enjoy at home.  Why don't you try Julie's challenge and show both of us what you design?

DADDY AND ME

Many of you who visit my blog know that my daddy has been seriously ill during most of this Summer, and he's still in the hospital.  I found this picture today, which was taken during my birthday celebration last November, and I love this picture!  Seeing my daddy look and feel so good and smiling is comforting, but he really needs healing arms around him right now.  He's every bit as sweet, loving, and caring as he appears in this picture!  Please remember him in your prayers.

"JUST BELIEVE" COLOR BLOCK

Since I won't have internet for a couple of days, I thought I'd go ahead and share a project that I created a couple of weeks ago.  The basic design of this project was copied, but I added some fun embellishments, diagonally-split embossed background panels, and simple sentiment.  I really, really like the cleanliness and simplicity of this design!  Doesn't it just scream "FRESH"?  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include:  "Just Believe" and "Tiny Tags" stamp sets, mini library clip, jumbo floral brad, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Jewelry Tag punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Corner Rounder punch, and Whisper White, Baha Breeze, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait card stock.

VINTAGE CARD BOX

I haven't spent much time in my stamp room lately and was trying to straighten it up a bit today.  In doing so, I uncovered some beautiful vintage Parisian paper that I have had for a couple of weeks but not worked with yet.  When I bought the paper, I thought it would perfectly accompany Stampin' Up!'s "Artistic Etchings" stamp set.  This project is a card purse/box, but I haven't decided yet whether I want to put a handle on it.  I also haven't designed any cards to go inside.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this project include Champagne glass glitter, Crystal Effects, crochet trim, Curly Label punch, and Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, and Basic Black card stock.

A HOLIDAY "FEMININE FRIDAYS" POST

It's time for "Feminine Fridays" again, and it's my turn.  Last week, Julie challenged me to use one of Stampin' Up!'s stencils on my project, and I did!  I also used several brand new products on this card, such as the glitter brad, Champagne glass glitter, crochet trim, "Deck the Halls" fabric, Big Shot Fabric Adhesive, and "Welcome Christmas" stamp set.  To begin this project, I ironed the Fabric Adhesive to the fabric and then used one of the Vintage Ornaments stencils and Chocolate Chip Craft ink to transfer the stencil image to the fabric.  I then folded the edges of the fabric to the back of a piece of card stock, and I used the iron melt the adhesive to hold the fabric to the card stock.  Using the iron also set the Craft ink on the fabric.  This project could probably have been completed without the use of the Fabric Adhesive; however, this iron-on adhesive made it possible to get the fabric the way I wanted without making a wrinkly mess.  The sparkly glass glitter was adhered to the stamped image with Crystal Effects, which also gives dimension to the stamped tree, which was topped with a glitter brad.  I used a Stampin' Sponge to apply Early Espresso ink to the edges of the stamped layers.  It was fun to see how many new products (from the Holiday mini) I could use on this one project, and it was easy to use them because the order had just arrived.  This is the first stamped project I've made all week, and it felt good to do a little stamping.  Be sure to check Julie's blog next week to see what she creates.  I wonder if she'll suggest another challenge for me.