Sprinkled Expressions Stamp A Stack

On Thursday evening my (SO much older *giggles*) sister and I went to Terri's FABULOUS Stamp-a-Stack (SAS).  This was the first time my sister had ever been to one and she just loved it.  It was fun to stamp with her and the cards were fabulous (as always)!  Terri does such a great job on her card samples.  

This image is from the Sprinkled Expressions Sale-a-Bration set.  It was a very fun set.  I've played with a two of the three images.  I'm sure I will hang on to the set for a little while before I decide to put it up for sale in my webstore.  I have a box full of new retired sets that I need to get put in my webstore.  I'm hoping to find some time to do it one day this week.  Well, not entering all of them but a lot of them!!! It would be nice to get them all entered!  It's one of those "monkeys" I have on my back.  Some days I think I have the whole tribe of them!!!  I love it when I can get some of those bigger jobs finished.  I have been working on getting my beads organized and put away (at the same time).  I am just about done too!  I have two shoebox size containers to sort through and two small photo holder containers to sort through.  Not photo boxes but the containers that go in the photo box.  I use them for my beading projects and when the project is done the stuff never gets put back where it belongs.  Probably because it really didn't have a place to "belong".  Well, now it does and let's hope I can break that bad habit of not putting things back.  I'd take a photo of my worktable to show you how much I do NOT put things back (and these things have a place to go!) but I am too embarrassed to.  And when I'm done posting this I will be cleaning off one of the worktables!  Having one done gets me motivated to get the other one cleaned up!

Anyway, back to the card (I get sidetracked SO easily).  I am not sure what the decorative paper is called so if you know you can leave the name of it on a comment please.  It's fun paper and I know I don't own it!  It looks like something my sister would want.  She loves the bright bold colors more than I do.  And of course she LOVED making this card at the SAS.  And naturally, we HAD to shop too!  I was surprised that she didn't get this paper but she did have a ton of things to order and between the two of us it was a workshop order!!!  That's what happens when we go to these things!!!  There's always "stuff" we need or want!  But most of all we had a LOT of fun together and the cards were FABULOUS!!!  I will share them with you too.  Tomorrow I have a fun card/project to share with you.  It's SO colorful and has such a "spring" feel to it!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sprinkled Expressions Notebook

Here is a notebook I made a few weeks back and forgot that I had it!!  I put it in a tote so I wouldn't lose it and I forgot about it.  UGH!!  Which is worse, losing stuff or forgetting stuff?  I guess they are about the same.  Forgetting stuff ranks up there with losing your mind so they must be the same!!! LOL

I had fun making this and I must say it was SO simple to do too.  I just took a notebook I had gotten at Michael's and wrapped some of the Spice Cake decorative paper around it.  I marked it and trimmed it to fit the notebook.  Then I taped it on top of the notebook.  

I stamped the flower from the Sparkled Expressions set and added the word "notes".  I had a custom stamp made for that.  I layered the image on top of a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock and then taped that in place on the notebook.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the front of the notebook and it was done! See, I told you it was SO simple and it was quick to make too.  I think I'm going to do up a few of these for the fall craft fair!  And hopefully make some quick sales too!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Decorating a Plain Notebook

 Isn't it fun when you can turn a plain ordinary notebook into a work of art?  Ok, not a true work of art but it's not plain and ordinary anymore!!!

I still had the pack of the "Everyday Enchantment" decorative paper out and I was looking for something and ran across this notebook.  And somehow the two got together and this is what i came up with!!

I did cover both the front and the back of the notebook.  I didn't want the front to be decorated and have the back being purple. That would look a bit tacky.

I taped the decorative paper in place and then stamped the image.  It is from the "Fresh Vintage" set.  Soon to retire too!  I may hang on to that set for a while though, it is very pretty and fun to make notebooks with!

The word "notes" was done on my computer and I found the RGB code for the Real Red color so it would match.  The "notes" was punched out and then layered on top of a scalloped circle.  I set it in place on the notebook using Dimensionals.  I made it for a friend, I thought it would cheer her up. 

And on the front bottom part I did add 3 of the larger pearls.  It was exactly what that bottom corner needed!!  And last but not least I used the ribbon punch and placed the piece on top of where the original binding and the decorative paper met.  There was a bit of a gap at the bottom and the purple was showing.  I had to cover it and this worked perfectly.  I guess the binding piece was not on even so it didn't match up.  But it was easy enough to hide and it added a bit more color to that side.

I like how it turned out and I'm sure my friend will like it too.

These are fun to make and you can often get a good deal on them at Walgreens.  They have coupon sales on them several times a year.  I have a few of them and I plan on making more notebooks for the fall craft fair and for stocking stuffers.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sprinkled Expressions Sketch Challenge

This was a very fun sketch Split Coast Stampers put up today!  I LOVE all the layers.  I am a bit disappointed in how the card stock and the ink do not photo well and I didn't even use a flash.  Odd!!

Anyway, I had a lot of fun because of all the layers on this card.  I SO love making cards with lots of layers.  I thought I would use an image from the "Sprinkled Expressions"  set since it will be retiring in a few days.  It's the only image in the set that I have used.  I saw some cute cards made using some of the other images but I never got around to reproducing them.  That is really telling me something about how I should be buying my stamp sets in the future too.  I buy too many and then I don't have time to use them all before they retire. 

My card was made using the Everyday Enchantment decorative paper. It's such pretty paper and I think I have used every sheet in the pack now!!  That is not like me.  Though I don't hoard the pack anymore.  They retire too quickly to hoard!!  

On my card I opted for the wording on the #4 panel and used the punched flower for the #5 panel. I thought I would mix it up a bit!!  

Tomorrow I am going to a Stamp-a-Stack (I have not been to one of those in a very long time.  I am taking my sister who I think is looking forward to it more than I am (if that is even possible!!).  It was at the Open House I was at that I suggested we go and she was all for it.  So I will have some cards from there to show you too!  I am also making another bracelet.  I actually considered to do the "A Bracelet a Week" thing but then realized that I didn't need the stress in making bracelets and I don't always have time every week to bead!  I wish I did!  

It was a fun challenge so if you have time I highly recommend you playing along!

Tomorrow I will have a fun project to share with you so be sure to stop back.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Perfectly Penned Birthday

The only image I have used in this set has been the "thank you" one.  Little did I know there is a very beautiful "Happy Birthday" one in the set as well!! LOL

I thought I would make a card using only a word set.  And yes, it is possible!!!  

This was actually a quick card to make too.  I cut my strips 1-1/2" wide and just ran with the length.  I cut whatever looked right with the words   Here the long strip on the left is 3-1/2" long and the horizontal strip is 3-3/4" long.  

I stamped the words and then trimmed them later.  Normally when I stamp my words and most images I measure the wood block.  But here I didn't have a wooden block, this set is the clear mount type.  So I stamped and then trimmed.  I trimmed this to 3" x 1-1/4".  All pieces have a back layer that is 1/8" larger than the pieces on top of them.  

I used the Lattice texture for the background of the Pool Party piece and layered that on top of a half sheet of Very Vanilla card stock that was folded in half.

And there you have it. A very quick and easy card to make!  And with no image stamping.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faith in Nature Thank you Card

I started out making this card using the "You're my Type" set but I didn't like the typewriter in the middle of this layout.  I set it aside figuring something would come to mind to use on it and it did.  What surprised me the most was that it didn't takes weeks for me to find something to do with it!!  Shocker, I know!!! LOL

I have not played with the "Faith in Nature" set much and I was looking at some blogs and saw this set on a few cards.  SO I got out the set and thought I would play with it today.  And this is what I ended up with!  It's a simple card but yet colorful enough without being blah or boring! 

I like this layout and I have used it on a few cards but not many. 

The decorative paper here is from the Spice Cake pack.  It's a very fun pack of decorative paper and I won another package of it at an open house last month so I'm going to have some fun making cards.  My goal is to use up all the pieces in the pack before it retires!!!  Now that's a BIG challenge for me!!!

The card stock here is Pool Party and so is the ink used on the background of the image.  It doesn't really match the card stock very well in the photo though, does it?  It does blend better in real life though.

I'm working on a quick project that will be fun for gift giving, stocking stuffers, teacher gifts (useful teacher gifts), hostess gifts, customer appreciation gifts and even a fun Make n Take that serves a purpose!!  I like getting things like that, things I will actually use when I make them or things that I can give away after I make them. So until tomorrow!!

Thank you ever so much for visiting today,

Wanda

You're My Type Birthday Card

I was playing with the "You're my Type" set again before I have to give it back to my sister in a few days.  I want to make a couple more cards to give her to say thanks for letting me play with the set.  

This was a fun and quick layout.  It is actually a Split Coast Stampers Sketch Challenge layout.  It's SC118.  I chose that one because of the focal image was the perfect size for the typewriter. I also chose it because it looked like it would be a quick and simple card to put together. 

My sister is going to be thrilled with this card and I have a couple more I want to make so I can give her a set of 4 cards.  I'm hoping to see to that on soon.  I've got a very busy day tomorrow and I'm sure I will be too exhausted to jump into that.  I'm off to work on a new bracelet and of course I'll show it to you when I'm done. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap Gift Box

 It's a Wrap (holidays and occasions) sets are among my favorite ones to play with.  I LOVE being able to stamp on a label and wrap it around a candy nugget and make some fun gifts and party favors!!  It's quick and easy to do too!

Here I used the Happy Birthday image and wrapped them around Hershey Nuggets.  Six of them fit in this recycled Build a Brad box.  I save everything because I never know when I'm going to need it.  Ok, not quite everything but everything I think is cool and can be used for something in the future.  Sometimes it's the near future but most of the time it's way off into the future.  I have been running across "stuff" and actually using it now!!! Amazing and a bit shocking, isn't it?? LOL

After setting the candies in the box I tied it shut with a ribbon.  Then I stamped the happy birthday from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  I punched the words out using the Word Window punch and then I used the Label punch and taped the words on top of it.  VERY easy and super quick too!  What more can you ask for?? Well, more empty Build a Brad containers would be nice but I only had a couple of them!!  This is a fun gift.  My other container is going to be filled like this but in a Christmas theme and will be used as a stocking stuffer. 

This was a lot of fun.  I may have to make some more soon but using a die cut box!!  A little more work but not much, it is a die cut after all and they not only cut but they score too!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

You're My Type Notebook Weekend Project

Tuesday night when I was at Terri's FABULOUS Technique class there were LOTS of samples of cards and projects to see and take photos of.  There was a notebook that she had gotten in a swap that had this typewriter on it.  This is from the "You're My Type" set.  I didn't buy this set, my sister did and left it here with me when she came to pick up her part of the order.  This set and the whole "theme/era" of it is SO out of my element.  That is probably why I didn't buy it.  I have seen LOTS of cute cards made using it but it didn't tempt me enough to buy it.  I was glad my sister ordered it and even happier when she left it here with me to play with.  Now this has been several weeks that I have had this here and had not had time to play with it.  Seeing the little notebook on Tuesday night inspired me to play with her set.

I had taken a photo of the notebook and decided I was going to deviate a way from that one and try something a little different.  I added some background paper to my notebook.  I stamped the typewriter on white card stock and cut it out. It wasn't that bad to do since there wasn't a lot of coloring or anything special you had to do to the image.  Stamp and cut, not a big deal!!!  

Next I stamped the words on the paper in the typewriter and it was ready to tape to the front of the notebook.  I took the decorative paper and used a glue stick and stuck it to the front of my notebook.  I tied on a ribbon and ran the coil through the punched holes and it was done.  I am going to give it to my sister when I see her next week.  We are going to be going to Terri's Stamp a Stack.  My sister has never been to one of them and I know she is going to LOVE it!!  It's part of her birthday present.  I do have a feeling I'm going to have to take her there again sometime!!  But that's ok, Terri has fabulous cards to make and I love spending time with my sister.

A note on the punch here.  I use the RubiCoil punch machine to make my notebooks.  You can find a notebook that is big enough for the image, remove the coil, cover the front, punch holes individually (matching the holes in the cover) and putting the coil back on.  Altered notebooks are always fun and make great gifts.  I find that my little notebooks sell well at craft fairs!  They are priced low enough and sell out fast.  People LOVE to find little bargains to use for stocking stuffers!  Who doesn't?

And that's it, there you have it.  My little notebook for my sister.  I am going to make a couple of cards with that set and then get it back to her next week when I see her.  Well, probably a few more cards because I will have to make extra ones for her too!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Spiral Netting (Bracelet is Sold)

Today I am going to break away from the cards and card projects to share with you a bracelet that I made.  I am going to be posting this on my beading website The Shape of Beads to Come.  It is available in my web store. 

What I love most about this bracelet is that it will fit most wrists.  If your wrist is between 7" and 8" it will fit perfectly.  I have a smaller wrist and I can bend the metal to make it fit but I didn't because I knew I was making it to sell. 

We have a family we buy for at Christmas time.  I am told they live nearby (in our town) and there are 5 children.  These children are getting bigger and a Fischer Price toy just doesn't cut it anymore.  So we need to buy more age appropriate gifts and of course they cost more.  So I thought I would make and sell some bracelets to raise the funds so we can get these kids nice gifts this Christmas.  

So back to the bracelet.  It is made using black 1.5mm cubes and #15 silver lined clear seed beads.  A Briolette is in the middle of each end of the bracelet along with Swarovski bicone beads.  

This bracelet is not my original design.  I got the pattern from the April/May issue of Beadwork magazine.  It's one of my favorite magazines, that and Bead & Button or any other magazine that catches my fancy at the time!!! LOL

I'll have a fun project for you to view tomorrow.  Yes, a stamping one!!!  I'm off to post this on my beading website and then get it posted in my web store.

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florets Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 I kept the sketch pretty simple and clean.  I was going to add some words to it but when I got it all together I thought I would just leave it as it is and use the card for whatever occasion I need and write something on the inside instead.

This was a very fun sketch to play with.  I LOVE that big oval in the center and I can see myself making more cards using this layout.  

I have not used the Pool Party color much and I thought I would open up the pack of it that I bought last summer and play with it some more.  I wanted my card stock to match the decorative paper so that I why I went with the Pool Party color too.  

The decorative paper is from the Everyday Enchantment pack.  I've used almost all of the sheets in it except for the one I used here on this card.  I was surprised I let that little gem slip by.  It's SO pretty with the card stock!

The image is from the Fabulous Florets set. A set I have used a lot and still like very much.  

The flower was stamped using black StazOn and colored in using a blender pen and the Pool Party ink pad.  I also colored in the center of the flower using the blender pen and the Daffodil Delight ink pad. 

The layer marked in blue on the pattern was set in place using Dimensionals as was the oval and the cut out flower.  Yes, I did cut out the flower. In fact I stamped the larger flower at the same time, colored them both and cut both of them out but I ended up using the smaller one.  The larger one was WAY too big for that oval. 

It's a sweet and simple card and can be used for quite a few occasions.  I'm not sure what I will use it for but for now it's getting a protective sleeve and going in the file on the ledge and in a few weeks it will end up in one of the two drawers I have FULL of cards.  I'm going to be going through them soon.  We are having a HUGE garage sale and I am going to be putting them in there to try to get rid of some!!

So, to recap:  the card went together quickly, it was easy to make and fun to do!  If you have the time I highly recommend this layout!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Sew What!!! Weekend Project

 Ok, here is the long awaited project!!  I hope you are not disappointed and were expecting something HUGE.  It's just something average but it took a while because I didn't have much time to devote to it each day.  Though I am glad to say I'm done with it.  I am one that likes to finish up my projects ASAP and when they linger I lose interest.  Though this one did linger but I didn't lose interest.  It was fun and I think I would like to make another one but using more layers.

You take the idea from one of those exploding boxes.  Add some padding where needed and put it all together.  It's not difficult to make, it just takes time because there are so many steps to it.

You start out with the base which is pieces of thick cardboard and not corrugated cardboard, you want something like book board.  My cardboard came from some Stampin' Up! decorative papers like the ones that have textures or glitters. They seem to use thicker cardboard in those.  I save it all.  If you saw my workroom you'd know I save it ALL!!!  You never know when you will need it, right????  The sounds of a true crafter or hoarder?  Is there much of a difference?  LOL

Anyway, back to the exploding sewing box.  The top photo shows the outside of the box.  I have only one regret about that.  I wished I would have sewn a button in the middle of the padded top before gluing it in place. 

The sides all drop down to expose the inside square.  The inside square opens as well.  I tied it together with a ribbon in the even that you needed to get something stuck at the bottom.  I just tied it in a bow but of course I took the photo of the side and not the front of that ribbon but you all know what a ribbon tied in a bow looks like so it's nothing new to you.

I was going to try to make it with all Stampin' Up! products but I had to revert to using elastic.  I was hoping to use ribbon and just tie it but it wouldn't hold the items as well.  The elastic holds everything in place nicely so I had no other choice.  The fabric is all Stampin' Up! products and it was a perfect print for this project.

My squares started out at 3" x 3" and there are 5 of them.  The padded layer on top of that measures 2-3/4" x 2-3/4".  I don't have any instructions for this.  You just glue and wrap fabric around cardboard pieces and assemble it as you go.  I do want to make a bigger one with more layers inside that drop down too.  I would like to be able to add more needles and a tape measure too, plus a nicer pair of scissors and more threads.  It took me this long to get this one done I wonder how long it will take me to make another one the size I want??? It will be weeks before it is done!!! LOL 

This makes a very fun gift to give to someone who sews.  You can have all of your important sewing needs in one little cube.  Just grab the cube and go!!!

I hope you liked this project!

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today,

Wanda

Easter Gifts Weekend Project

These are quick fun little projects that the kiddies can get involved with too.  You can stamp the image(s) and the kids can color them.  Once they are all assembled the kids can give them out to their friends, teachers and Sunday school teachers!! 

Aren't the tiny chocolate bunnies adorable?  They are made by the Russell Stover company.  I think the package said there was something like over 60 bunnies in it or it could have been more.  Just look at it, there's LOTS of bunnies in it and these two little baggies were from just one package!!

The bunny image is from one of the dollar stamps at Michaels.  I just thought he was a cute bunny!  I thought it was something fun that the kids could do.  Kids love to be in the workroom/craft room and they love to get their hands on your "stuff!"  What a perfect project for them to have some fun with and be creative too AND without a lot of mess!

The bunnies were colored in using watercolor crayons and a blender pen.  For smaller kids you could color in the images and then just hand them the blender pens to blend (and probably mix) the colors!!!  It's just nice when you can get the kids involved in some creativity and away from the tv!!!

Ok, great news here.   Tonight I have one more "thing" to do on the project I've been talking about for what seems like months!!!  And it will be ready to show you tomorrow!!  So be sure to check back tomorrow to see what all the hype was about!!  I am happy with the way it turned out.  For my first one I know there's a few things I would have done differently but like I said it was my first one and I'm sure I will be making more!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today!
See you tomorrow,

Wanda

Goodbye Millie

October 26, 1999 - March 19, 2012

Tonight we had to say goodbye to Millie.  She was an interesting cat.  She was a lot of fun when we first got her but when we took her to the vet to be declawed and spayed something happened to her there and she  was never the same.  She was so traumatized that she became afraid of everyone and everything.  She would run and hide when the doorbell rang or even if you just said the word "company."  She was no longer cuddly and you couldn't hold her for very long.  She did let us cut her bib hair. It would get so long that she couldn't bend her head back far enough to get it out of her mouth.  In this photo the bib hair was trimmed about 2" or so.  She would let me trim it but I had to be quick.  And it took two to trim the hair between her toes, which grew over 2" too.  And she HATED to have her feet touched at all.  She even growled because she herself touched her back foot with her front one while she was sort of sleeping.  WOW, huh???  LOL

She did occasionally climb up on my lap but she preferred to sit on the arm of the chair, especially if the TV remote was there.  I guess she liked to keep it warm!  She didn't really associate much with the other 2 cats either.  She preferred to be by herself. 

She was a soft fluffy kitty.  She was part Ragamuffin.  They are a branch off the Ragdoll cat family.  

She got diabetes and her health just went down from there over time.  The last few days her health declined SO much.  And today she was just laying around, not eating and barely moving.  She struggled to lift her head.  It was a tough decision but we had to take her in.  I just didn't want her to die of starvation. 

She had a good life here.  We tolerated her behavior and allowed her to be who she was.  Unlike KC, Millie's death was expected due to her age and failing health.  It is much easier to accept when you know it's coming.  So tonight we said goodbye to Millie.  I gently held her for one last time and I kissed her head one last time and now she is free of any pain and she didn't suffer.

Wow, that is two cats within 9 months.  I told Boo she better stay healthy.  And Bella Jean, well... I didn't say anything to her. She's only 2 years old and is full of life and the naughtiness that goes along with her age!!!

I'm missing her already,

Wanda

Flower Fest Birthday Card

I cased this card from Mary at Stamper Camper's Corner. 

My lighting was bad.  This card was done on Bashful Blue card stock.  The flowers and words were stamped on using VersaMark and embossed with white embossing powder.  

The center of the flowers were sponged in using a Bashful Blue ink pad and a sponge. I had used a dauber but I think a sponge would have had a better effect.  I do like how it turned out but I like how Mary's card looked better and I think the difference was the sponge vs the sponge dauber.  

The words are from the retired "It's Your Birthday" set.  I like to hang on to the word sets.  I have quite a few of them and it's nice to have more than just a few sayings for the inside and even the outsides of cards.  

Anyway, back to the card.  After the sponging you just tie on a piece of white ribbon and it's done.  It's a very quick and easy card to make.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

It's a Wrap!

I just LOVE the "It's a Wrap Occasions" and "It's a Wrap Holidays" sets.  This image came from the "It's a Wrap Occasions" set.  The center of the bandage read "get well soon but I taped that part off so I could add the "ouch" I made on the computer. 

This was a fun little project and useful too.  This really is a small first aid kit but once the original wrapper was taken off it all you were left with was a white plastic box.  It needed to be labeled but I didn't want to write on it with a marker so I thought I would make a fun belly band that could be slid back on when you were done getting what you needed out of it!!  

It's just a fun way to dress up something that needed labeling!  OK, back to working on that fun project!  I have a few minutes tonight to play with it.  I'm hoping that within the next 2 days it will be ready (finally) to share with you!!!  I'm excited because it is really starting to take shape now and I'm liking what I'm seeing!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fabulous Florettes

Ok, I'm getting very close to being done with that fun project and after this much time (time passed not time invested in it) I'm starting to thing it's not so fun anymore.  I don't like having a project sitting around unfinished for so long.  But when I can only work on it for a few minutes at a time you don't get very far on it very fast.  But there is a light at the end of the tunnel!!  Saturday evening is open for me and I am going to head down to my workroom and pop in a movie and finish up that project, take a photo and finally post it on my blog!!!  If all goes as planned that is!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Today's card came from Sue's blog Still Stamping with Sue.  I had it in my download stash for a while now and when I was looking for some card samples with flowers on them I ran across this one and still liked it.  Now what I mean by that is, I have downloaded TONS of cards and sometimes I will run across one that just didn't strike my fancy as much as it did when I downloaded it and at times I will even ask myself "what were you thinking when you downloaded that one?"  LOL 

This is one of those CAS (Clean And Simple) cards.  It was very easy to make and it can be used for quite a few occasions.  Ya gotta LOVE cards like that!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,

Wanda

Everybunny Easter Candy Wrapper Weekend Project

Once again this is NOT the project I've been telling you about.  This is one I started a couple of weeks back and finally got around to finishing it up.  I had a buy one get one free coupon for Hershey Air Delights candy bars.  Well, you just can't pass up deals like that now can you??  LOL  I thought it would be fun to make an Easter wrapper for them.  I LOVED this hot air balloon/egg bunny and hoped it was thin enough to fit within the space on the wrapper and sure enough it was. 

I stamped the bunnies and then colored them.  Once I was done with that I did cut out the bunny in the basket and the balloon/egg.  I glued them in place because I knew tape wouldn't stay.  I glued them to some decorative paper I wrapped around the candy bar and also glued in place. Glue holds SO much better on these than tape.  And yes, the Red Line or Sticky Strip are very sticky and will work too but once you stick it down you are done.  Glue lets you move it around a little before it starts setting, that is why I prefer the glue. 

The Happy Easter is from the Teeny Tiny Words set and I punched them out using the word window punch.  After punching them out I stuck them to a piece of copier paper and moved the punch down further and punched it again to make a smaller oval. 

Now to make the cute little label punched out piece I just folded the card stock and slipped it under the punch and punched out a piece big enough for the ovals I made.  I was lucky it came out right the first time.  I did mark the inside of my punch with a pencil so I could make the second one the same size.  I didn't think I could get that luck twice!!!  LOL  Normally I would have taken a piece of copier paper to practice on to get the size right.  Maybe all this stamping experience has made it so I'm really good at eying it?   LOL  That would be SO cool if it were true!!! LOL  Now these labels do have a fold in them but the untrained eye will NOT pick it up and the fold lines that show are so small that it really is hard to detect.  Click on the photo for a close up and see if you can see the folds!!! 

Well, that is it.  There isn't a whole lot to these.  The coloring took about the longest and it wasn't bad at all.

I will get to work on that project because I'm SO excited to show you and with all the hype about it I am hoping that you will be excited to see it too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Elebration Baby's 1st Birthday Sketch Challenge

 I really really really enjoyed today's Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  I don't need this card until May but it's always good to be ahead of the game.  I just wish I was caught up for this month!!!  Oh well, it seems that I have been working better lately under pressure!  And by that I mean, that the card has to be out in the mail in the morning and I haven't even started it.  And I do have one birthday this month that I totally forgot about so I need to send a belated card (as soon as I get it made!!!).  I'm so far behind this month! 

So we'll leave that info behind us and get onto the card of the day!  As I said, I really did enjoy this sketch.  I was going to keep it the way it was but once I saw this Elebration stamp that I have not used yet I thought I would flip the sketch and make a 1st birthday card for my great-nephew.  His birthday is not until May and he won't even be aware that it is his birthday or that he got this card.  LOL  But that's ok.  It was a fun card to make and I would love to give the sketch another try keeping it the way it was.  

I don't know if you can see it in the photo (click on the photo for a closer view) but I did cut out the elephant and balloon.  

The #2 layer was done using the doily sizzlet die and I did cut it down to fit. The images were colored in using a blender pen and markers.  One of my favorite ways to color!!  I also cut the images out and set them in place using Dimensionals.  

The "1" was done on the computer because I didn't have any letter stamps that would fit.  

I think it turned out cute and I will be playing with this sketch in the near future.  It is a fun one and if you have time, I highly recommend you give this one a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda 

Mixed Bunch Thank You Card CASE

Once again I found myself just in awe of a card I found made by Gwen at "Gwen's Paper Expressions" site.

I thought I would use the "Sincere Salutations" set to make a set of these using the "thank you, thinking of you, get well and happy birthday" ones.  I wanted to make it in a set using the card holder box.  It always makes the set complete and is appreciated by the one who gets it.  

I also want to make some of these for Mother's Day.  We have this HUGE garage sale in our neighborhood the day before Mother's Day and I thought I could whip up a couple dozen and sell them during the sale too. 

This is actually a very simple card to make since it just involves a few layers of card stock and stamping the image on.  The 3D flower is punched out and the edges sponged and then the petals are fringed so they look more real.  A button (which was hard to find the right color) was added to the center.  I may use an off white or even a white button for the center on the future cards I make.  

Isn't this just a stunning card?  Ok, back to that project.  I have a few minutes today to work on it.  I am SO excited to show you, I just wish I could fine more time to work on it.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Hand-Penned Get Well

These "Hand-Penned" words are just stunning and they sure do make a card look extremely elegant.  

I made this card for a friend of mine who was in a car accident.  I felt so bad for her.  Can you imaging trying to sneeze with broken ribs?  OUCH!!!!  The poor thing.  

I decided to run with a card I saw on the net but I forgot to write down the web site I found it on.  Though I did change it up some too so it's not a complete CASE.  Perhaps it's an "inspired by" card.  But honestly, it's VERY close to the one posted  a week or so ago by someone else.  If you recognize this card/layout, please let me know so I can give the proper credit. 

Field Flowers was used here.  I cut them out and set them in place using Dimensionals.  I did the same with the flower centers as well.  Now I know the original card did not have a butterfly on it and the ribbon and bottom of the layered piece was different.  And I'm not sure if there were words on that card either.  But this is my take on it and I delivered it to my friend last week and she just loved it.  These are more fall colors than spring but after all, they are still flowers!!!  I'm SO ready to go shopping for flowers but alas, there is still some snow on the ground.  Mostly by the end of the yard and street where the snow plows piled it up this season.  The ground is not thawed though I think with this week's temps hitting near 70 or more the ground will warm up considerably.  And I have the fun task of going out on the squishy lawn and removing the snowman parts.  They have now melted away and it's time to say goodbye until next season!!  

I know I keep promising you this project I've been working on and I'm trying to get it done by stealing a few minutes here and there to add a piece or cut something on it.  I would like to have some time to just sit down and finish it.  I have the day off tomorrow, sort of.  I don't go to work but I do have TONS of errands and that dreaded grocery shopping to do!  UGH!!!  But I am hoping to steal a whole bunch of minutes tomorrow night because I need to get some laundry done as well and I will be in my workroom just in case the washer or dryer need me!!  Such a great plan!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Easy Easter Candy Gift Jar

Wow!  I guess it paid to whine.  The photos are now downloading just fine on here!!!  I wonder if that works for stuff around the house??? LOL

Today I am going to share with you a fun Easter project I whipped up!

The thing that probably took the longest on here was cutting out the chick.  The rest of it all went so quickly that it was amazing!  And actually, cutting that chick out didn't take that long to do!  Not that I would want to do a hundred of them but to cut out a dozen wouldn't be bad.  

Recycling is always fun to do.  I turned this jar into an Easter candy gift.  I did run it through the dishwasher. I somehow, in the recesses of my mind think it cleans things better than hand washing!  Probably just the fact that I didn't have to hand wash it justifies me using the dishwasher!!! LOL  

The flower on the top of the jar lid is from the Blossom Builders designer printed kit.  What a fun kit this is.  I don't usually buy them but I got it with my Hostess bucks and was glad I did.  I set the flower in place with a glue dot.  You need something sticky there.  Red Line or Sticky Strip tape will work too. After coloring it, the chick was attached using a Dimensional.  And that was it for the top.

The front was also SUPER easy. I took a piece of decorative paper and wrapped it around the jar and taped it in place.  I tied a ribbon around the jar and that was it.  Now how much easier could you make this? 

Fill it with some fun candies and set it out or give it as a gift!  Baby food jars will work for this too, it just won't hold as many candies.  They still make baby food jars, don't they??

Ok, I'm off to work a bit more on my project.  I am not getting very far on it because I have not had a lot of time to play lately.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Notes Holder Weekend Project

Once again I had trouble downloading my photos.  I use to be able to just highlight the two photos and click the button and the two would download at the same time.  I tried it twice and I ended up having to download them individually.  I was just about to just use the one photo but I did manage to get both of them on here.  It never use to be that difficult to do.  The software must have been updates.  That's usually when things go wrong!

Anyway, on to my project here.  I saw this cute note holder on Angie's Chic'n Scratch blog.  I would love to have taken credit for this fun idea but alas, it was not me that discovered it!  Though it is SO me!! LOL

To make these you just use the tags die cut.  It was a lot easier to make than I thought it would be.  The die cuts the shape, makes that slit and scores the center at the same time. What more could you ask for? 

You fold the tag in half.  Add your image to the front (rounding the corners of the background paper) and add your small post it notes to the inside along with a note. 

I used the retired set "Teacher's Pet."  I cut out the elephant and after I colored it I then tied a piece of Bakers Twine around the trunk.  On the inside I stamped the "don't forget" words from elephant stamp.  It's such a great image and great words for these note holders!!  You can use any images you want on yours.  

Once you are done you tuck the bottom of the tag into the slit on the top part. Add some ribbon and it's done!  How easy is that?  And how cute is that?  Can you see making these in a winter theme for stocking stuffers, or for make n takes, hostess appreciation gifts, customer appreciation gifts, craft fairs, teacher's gifts and don't forget about a Stamp Camp project!!!  You can even get the kiddies involved with this project!!!  These are VERY fun to make and I can assure you I will be making more of these.  I want to try to figure out some thing with them so I can use them at the bridal shower coming up this fall!  I have lots of time to figure out what to put on them.

Anyway, if you have time and the die for this go make some, they are SO fun!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Birthday Wishes

I was playing with one of the Sale-a-bration sets, "Up in the Air."  This one had a bird house hanging form it but I thought I would combine the "Aviary" set with this one.  I like how the bird cage hung down lower than the bird house did.  And the birdhouse image also had the words "welcome" on it and I taped over that too so I could add the bird cage. 

I did color in all of the flowers and after I got done with that I thought it looked too flat so I punched out some flowers.  I took the stylus and rolled it around the center of the  little flowers so they would curl up a bit and in the center of them I added little pearls.  Click on the photo for a closer view. 

I used the Wisteria Wonder color card stock for the base of the card.  I textured the front and then added a piece of Daffodil Delight under the Whisper White.  Before I taped the white on top of the yellow I added the ribbon.  I also waited to add the flowers until after I taped the layers together. 

The two layers are added to the base of the card using Dimensionals. 

This was a very fun and fairly easy card to make.  On the make or not make again scale of 1 to 10.  1 being not very likely to make again and 10 being very likely I would give this card a 9!  

I'm still working on that project and I'm hoping to have it done in a couple of days.  It will be so well worth the wait so be sure to check in to see if it's ready yet!

I'm off to bead for a while tonight.  I've been working extra hours at work and I have not had time to bead at all.  Imagine this:  you're in a bead shop all day working and you have no time to play with any beads!!!  Isn't that a sad story?  LOL  We've had a busy week at the shop and busy is always good!!  So tonight I'm done in my workroom early and I'm heading upstairs where it is warmer and I'm going to bead for a while.  And of course, I will show you what I am beading, one - if I finish it and two - if it turns out!!!

Thank you every so much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Fun Technique Birthday Card

Today's card comes from a very talented stamper and Stampin' Up! demonstrator Terri.  This was one of her cards she used to show how to do the Kissing Technique. 

This is a very simple technique with such fun results.  If you have not given this technique a try, I highly recommend it.  You just need a fun background stamp and a solid or mostly solid image stamp.  Here the background stamp was the "Netting" one and the image stamp is from "Mixed Bunch".  You just ink up the background stamp and you then press the image stamp onto it.  Here the image stamp was also stamped in a lighter color (or stamped off once) and then pressed onto the background stamp (which is done in a darker color).  Then you stamp the image stamp onto your card stock and the background stamp shows up on the image stamp.  Isn't that fun and SO cool?  Oh and SO easy too, huh?  So why not give it a try?

I have not done a technique on here in a while and I should post another one.  I have one almost ready to go. I started it last fall because I really wanted to do it outside since it requires a well ventilated area and my workroom, though it is somewhat large is not as well ventilated as one might think.  I will try to get that technique page finished this weekend to share it with you.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Perfectly Penned Thank You Card Sketch Challenge

 I had a very difficult time getting the photos on this post.  I have no idea what the issue was but it took me several times to get them posted.  Maybe it's because of the card itself.  I am SO not into this card.   I did like the sketch but I just had trouble with it.  I wanted to work the circle part with flowers in it but I couldn't find a circle punch big enough.  SO I went with the flower and I really had no where to go with it.  This is a very blah card and I don't feel I did the sketch justice.  I know the gals over at SplitCoastStampers (SCS) are always nice in their comments but I don't think this is as nice of a card as I am capable of making.  I just lost my momentum on it when I couldn't do the circle the way I wanted.  It didn't dawn on me until just a few minutes ago that I could have gotten out my big circle cutter "thing" and made the circle the exact size I wanted.  Oh well, what's done is done and there's no going back.  Well, maybe there is. I could make a new card tomorrow and just delete this one!  But I won't because I have an extremely busy day tomorrow.  It's my day off this week and I have a list a mile long of errands to do. 

I printed out the sketch and I will trim it up tomorrow night to fit in my photo album for future reference.  Hopefully I will run across this some day in the near future and play with it again.  Or better yet, someone playing with the sketch on SCS will make a card that catches my eye and I will CASE it.  It seems that CASE is the word of the day lately!!

Ok, back to working on my fun project!  I am so excited to get it done so I can share it with you!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Field Flowers Birthday Cards

Today's card is one I found on the net and just had to try to copy.  I've been finding a LOT of them lately.  I look at them and think, "now why didn't I think of that?"  I am wondering where my creative juices are lately.  Well, they are not so much into the card making as they are in the 3D stuff.  For now that is.  I sway back and forth between cards and 3D stuff.  For a while I will be seeing 3D stuff I want to make and then it goes back to finding card things.  I guess when I run out of mojo for the 3D stuff I lean towards card making and then vice versa.  It's a fair exchange!!  It keeps me from getting burned out and it keeps the creative juices flowing in one area and then to the other.

So moving on to this card that didn't have my juices flowing but did perk my interest!!!  It's such a pretty card and I did NOT do it justice.  If you look at Kirsty's card you will see that she used clear embossing powder on each of the flowers.  I didn't.  The thought of getting out the Stamp-a-ma-jig didn't thrill me and eying it was TOTALLY out of the question!  It was very simple to make and fun muted colors around the stems is just the More Mustard and Pear Pizzazz added with a dauber.  VERY easy and it's still pretty.  I did use a retired stamp in the background.  Sometimes they just come in handy!!! And speaking of retired stamps.  I have 4 boxes of them (banker size boxes) and I will be putting them in my web store soon.  I will post them on here first so you will know to go to the store and see if it's something you are interested in.  

Anyway, back to my card!  The words are from the "Petite Pairs" set. It's one of those sets that I'm beginning to find a lot more cards I'm finding myself using a lot more than I thought I would.  Which is a VERY good thing!  

So that is it for today.  I'm heading back to my worktable to get that EVER SO fun project going.  I've been waiting to find the time to work on it and tonight is the night!! I'm not sure if it will be ready until the end of the week.  The boss is vacationing in Mexico and I am working extra hours (which is a good thing, I can use the money) but it really took a bite out of my spare time!  But it's only until the end of the week and then it's back to life as usual.  I almost said "normal" but I haven't a clue as to what "normal" is.  Do you?  LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Mixed Bunch Birthday Card CASE

I tried my best to CASE this card from Angela at North Shore Stamper.  I am SO in the mood for spring colors and flower cards lately.  I do so very much LOVE winter and snow but it's time to move onto the spring stuff and since we are in the month of March, it is time for these colors and flowers!

When I laid my eyes on this card I knew I had to make it.  I actually made two.  I thought it would be a perfect birthday card for my sister but I ended up giving her a different one in the end!  But I did send this card home with her too.  Lucky her!!!  

This card was easy to make.  I really liked the little flower petal leaves in the background.  Those are from the "Blossom Builders" kit.  I don't usually buy kits but this one had a lot of fun stuff in it and I thought I could whip up a lot of cards in no time with it.  We'll see!!!

I have learned in stamping for so many years that images with larger solid surfaces need a little help to get a nice crisp print. What I do is ink up the stamp and then test it out on scrap copier paper.  Keep in mind that copier paper absorbs the ink differently than card stock does so don't accept what you see as correct.  I do it to see if there are any "dry" spot on my ink pad.  If it stamps nicely then I ink up the image again and I huff on it two or three times to get the steam from my breath to moisten up the ink a bit more.  Then when I stamp the image I (most of the time) get a nice rich solid looking print.  I was happy with the way these flowers turned out.  A little huffing and puffing is a good thing!!! LOL

My sister liked the card and I now have one for my stash!

Be sure to check in on here during the week. I have some fun projects to share with you!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Weekend Project Time!

I love these weekend projects, don't you?  Well, most of them anyway!!!  I especially love the ones that don't take very long to make.  

A few weeks ago I had made a St. Patrick's Day birthday card for hubby's aunt.  It was a fun and quick card to make.  I had gotten these cute St. Patrick's Day stickers at Michaels because they were not only cute but on sale for under $.70 for the strip of them!  When I saw them I knew I was going to be making a card for hubby's aunt since there are really not a lot of St. Patrick's Day stamps out there and even less that are for a birthday on that day.

I let the gals use the rest of the stickers when they came here to stamp last month and there was one left.  Well, I didn't want to store it with the rest of the TONS of stickers that I have so I thought I would just use it. 

I took one of those cute little clear containers I had gotten at Clear Bags and I filled it with green Sixlets. I LOVE that color of green and it's perfect for what I was doing with them.  Next I tied a bow around the clear box and then I just stuck the sticker on.  How simple is that??

A couple of weeks ago at the Stampin' Up! Open House I was at my sister and I bought the Stampin' Up! stickers.  I don't know what they are called since we split the package and I gave her the vital information part!!!  Some of the stickers, like the cake are too big for this box but there are some other ones that would be adorable on here.  I was thinking on how to go about doing this and I would do it much like this sticker is done.  I would punch out a round circle and add the stickers to it and add another one matching one on top of that one using a Dimensional.  Then I would have the layered look of the sticker like this one has.  I think it will work!  I'm going to see if I have time later in the week to give it a try.  I have a lot of hours at work coming up this week so it may be tough to sneak some time in at home to try this but I'll try my best to see if I can.

I can see these little containers showing up in Christmas stockings too, can't you?  I would love to make one up but I think I'm going to save that idea until fall because I am really not in the mood for winter projects now.  I want spring!!!  And I can see these as a fun Make N Take, a Stamp Camp project and even selling them at craft fairs.  Though I think Christmas ones would sell better at craft fairs.  I may have to try out a few of them this fall myself.  And don't forget the kiddies.  This could be a fun gift for the kids to make for the grandparents or teachers!!! You can make them for co-workers, the mail carrier and the UPS delivery person too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Simply Soft Birthday Card

I saw this card by Kelly at "A Stamp Above" and I just HAD to make it. I'm trying to gather up a bunch of cards that I think would look great in the card holder I made a week ago.  I LOVE making those card holders as gifts and those receiving them love them too!  Well, who wouldn't love a 4 pack of cards to use when needed? I always add a birthday, get well, thinking of you and a thank you card in the pack.  It seems to cover the basics.  The thinking of you can also be used for a sympathy card and even a get well should you need another one!  Actually "thinking of you" covers a lot of things, doesn't it?

This layout may work for what I want to accomplish!  I used my favorite word set "Sincere Salutations."  I've had that set for years and will probably still use it long after it retires.  I guess word sets don't really matter if they are retired or not.  Not every one has all the sets that are used in cards and they just find what they have and what fits in the space provided and run with it!  That is what I do when I am making a card that someone else made and I don't have the same words or sometimes even the image.  I just take what I have that fits in the space and work with it!

For this card I used the "Simply Soft" hostess set and the Wisteria Wonder DP and card stock.  Though the camera makes it look like Perfect Plum.  I assure you it is not but that would be pretty too! 

This was a very easy card to make and that is why it is a candidate for the card holder. 

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Fresh Vintage Thank You Cards

 I am loving this Fresh Vintage set more and more!  I saw these cards on Jill's Card Creation website and I just had to make them. Of course I had someone special in mind when I made them.  Yesterday was my {SO much} older sister's birthday.  I can say that on here because I know she doesn't read my blog much.  Key word being "much" here and with my luck, today would be the day she reads it!!! But the truth is, she IS older than I am!!! LOL

Anyway, back to these fun cards.  I thought they were stunning and simple to make too.  SO I set out to make them.  First I took a half sheet of Basic Black card stock and stamped the circle flower image thing from the Fresh Vintage set.  I stamped it all over the card stock using VersaMark.  Then I used clear embossing powder and I heat set it. 

I cut the white card stock 5-3/8" x 4-1/8".  Then I stamped the large image on using black StazOn.  I wanted a sharp dark black image and that is what I got. 

I didn't have the word sets that Jill used so I used Perfectly Penned on the sideways card and on the tall card I used the "thank you" from Kindness Matters.  I'm sure I have lots of other sets that have words that will fit in those spaces.  So, back to my card.  I used the scalloped border edge punch and punched away!  I need 4 of them and they don't take long to make either.  After that was done I taped the white stamped pieces onto the black base of the card and then the punched edge piece went on.  And that was it!! Done in no time.  I did stamp my envelopes (yes Ann, they are stamped!!!).  And I put them in one of those plastic card holder "things" and tied a black ribbon around it.  I am giving this to my sister for her birthday.  It was yesterday and I had to laugh.  She was always one who got upset when mile marker birthdays rolled around.  She cried at 30 and she cried at 40 and we honestly don't know what she did at 50, we were all kind of afraid to know!! LOL  She turned 57 and was bummed because she actually thought she was turning 58 and only had 4 more years to work before she is going to retire.  What a nut!!  I think we may be looking for a home to put her in early!!! LOL  Silly girl!  Anyway, I will be seeing her this weekend and this pack of cards will be in the bag with the rest of her birthday "stuff"!  I LOVE birthdays.  I got a TON of birthday wishes on Face Book this year, I got lots of cards and even some gifts!!  Oh and dinner out too!  What more could one ask for??

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda