It’s Friday!  Weekend on the way!  Even though I am retired and now a full-time homemaker, I still look forward to the weekends.  I am always excited about the Sunday morning message and having the freedom to worship our Savior without penalty or threat.  Our God is an awesome God, He reigns!!!

I am just crazy about these two stamp sets from Stampin’ Up!- Trendy Trees and Forest Friends.  They are among the least expensive sets, but I knew right away they would get a lot of inkin’ from me.  This card is for Beate’s Fresh and Fun Weekend Sketch Challenge and I chose to use  four of the new In Colors.  I didn’t think much of the colors until I made a few cards and now I think they are terrific.  Soft Suede is a real keeper and Bermuda Bay- yumm, yumm!

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend,

Diane

Stamps:  SU! Trendy Trees, Forest Friends, Pocket Silhouettes

Paper:  Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango

Ink:  Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Embellishments:  Dusty Durango ribbon

Tools:   Dimensionals, Scallop Circle Nestie and Circle Nestie, Big Shot, Little Leaves Sizzlit Die, Stamp-a-ma-jig

One of my new favorite Stampin’ Up! sets is the very special Thoughts and Prayers set.  One of my dear friends asked me if I would make a gift card set for a silent auction recently.  I was thrilled to be asked and honored to participant in the annual Morgan McCarty Scholarship Foundation fundraiser.  I thought of the beautiful tree image in this set and decided it would be perfect as a symbol of hope and renewal.  So I made this cute tote and 8 cards- four with Thank You and four with Thinking of You for the sentiments.  These were so easy to make I am going to work on several sets just to have available when you need a quick gift for someone special.

You can’t really tell from the photo but I overstamped the Chocolate Chip with Certainly Celery.  I really miss Soft Sky- maybe they will bring it back along with another fave- River Rock!

Many blessings for a wonderful week,

Diane

Stamps:  SU! Thoughts and Prayers, All Natural, Essence of Love

Paper:  Whisper White, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Walk in the Park DSP

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery

Embellishments:  Certainly Celery ribbon, Soft Sky ribbon, Silver Brads

Tools:  Push pin, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch, MS Butterfly punch, Big Shot, Dotted Swiss EF

Whoo-hoo, I got my Big Shot this week and just love it!  I already had a few dies that I was using in my CB, but I am excited about being able to use such a vast array of elements in the Big Shot and not be limited to cardstock, paper and lite chipboard.  Also got the Little Leaves die- a whoppin’ $5.50 for this too cute die that I know I will use over and over again. 

Here are a couple of cute CAS (Clean and Simple) cards that I made this week using the very versatile Pocket Silhouettes set.  What great images for making notecard sets!  You will also see those cute Big Shot leaves on one of the cards.  Check out the score lines on the bottom of the Thinking of You card.  So easy, but so elegant, I think.

Happy Stampin’ and Blessings,

Diane

Stamps:  SU! Pocket Silhouettes, Sincere Salutations, Essence of Love

Paper:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Dusty Durango, Bashful Blue Patterns Pack DSP

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Dusty Durango

Embellishments:  SU! White Organza ribbon, Gold brads, Little Leaves die

Tools:  Push pin, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch, Score blade, MS Butterfly punch, Big Shot, Dotted Swiss EF

I hosted my first official workshop as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator this week and had five sweet and fun gals come to my home for a play date – Amy, Linda, Dianne, Judy and Colleen.  When I was working on the demo cards earlier in the week, I decided that a scripture card would always be one of the sample cards for all my workshops.  Whatever talent I may have comes from the master Creator and I want to praise Him in all that I do- and that includes teaching others.  I’ve used this verse from Psalms on other cards, but as I was “building” this card it immediately came to mind.  The sketch is also a near catty case.

I also used some of the awesome new In Colors.  I wasn’t sure that I was going to like them at first, but fell in love with them after this card.  I made a little easel to go on the back so that the card is free-standing when not in my Scripture box.  I also highlighted the daisies with a white gel pen.  When I finished I was worried that it may be too aggressive for virgin stampers- but I knew that these gals were already very creative and that they would enjoy a little challenge at the end of the evening.  And they did a terrific job on this card.

 This little easel was so easy to make.  The card is A2, front only.  I cut the cardstock 3.75 X 5 and scored the long end at 1”.  I measured 1.25’ from the top of the card and drew a line with a pencil from side to side.  Then folded on the score line and attached along the line (centered on the back) with sticky strip.  The same formula would work for any size card.

Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Diane

Supplies:

Stamps:  SU! Upsy Daisy, Inspired by Nature

Paper:  Rich Razzelberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Rich Razzelberry, Melon Mambo

Embellishments:  Regal Rose ribbon, Antique Brass HPH

Tools:  Push pin, Dimensionals, White Gel Pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Computer generated sentiment, Ticket corner punch

I am still on a high from this weekend’s classes with Michelle Zindorf.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Michelle, she is the brayering master and was in Tennessee this weekend for a beginner and an advanced class on this technique.  Brayering is layering inks to create backgrounds and scenes and the Gang of Four, Leisa Jane, Cleo, Lisa and me headed off to the Tennessee River to get some learnin’.  I’m gathering photos and hopefully can get them posted in a day or so.  You can see Michelle’s fabulous work and wonderful tutorials here.

Here is my first semi-original card using this technique.  The SCS Color Challenge today spotlighted Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Going Grey and Basic Black and White.  I used the banana and lavender to create my sky, the lavender for one mountain and the gray for the other.  The grassy area uses a little olive, gray and yellow.  I added a little dimension to the flowers with a white gel pen, then stamped that pretty floral at the top in eggplant.  The main panel started out white.  I am pleased with the result and amazed at how quickly it came together.  I can’t wait to try another one.

I hope your weekend was as grand as mine and that this week will be a blessing to you,

Diane 

Supplies:

Stamps:  SU! Essence of Love; Innovative Stamp Creations Art4Frames II

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Going Gray

Ink:  Basic Black, Going Gray, Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant

Embellishments:  White sheer ribbon, Silver brads

Tools:  Push pin, Dimensionals, Rubber brayer, Sponges, White Gel Pen

Just a quick post and photo of my recent bounty from Nanny’s garden.  Peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes………….yummy! yummy!

Blessings,

Diane

**Nanny is my wonderful mother

Hello all, I know I promised to post more often, but I just haven’t found the time to do a challenge lately- until today and I just couldn’t resist.  The Technique Lovers Challenge today was to try a new fold from Penny Wessenauer and it really looked interesting.  Penny was so gracious to share her template with us which you can find here along with many other wonderful tutorials.

One of my dear stampin’ friends has a birthday this week and these are the hardest cards to make.  First, you want it to be special for a special friend; then, it must be outstanding because that friend is also a stamper!  And finally, you know she will display the card- so there is even more pressure.  This stand up card was just perfect along with my very best and favorite Designer Paper from Stampin’ Up and a little silver bling.  I used white shimmery metallic paper and clear embossed the image and the punched butterflies.   I love how it turned out and the back is as pretty as the front, don’t you think?

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend.  Ours was quiet, but we did enjoy a great visit from our son Scott and attended an awesome church service.

Blessings,

Diane

Supplies: 

Stamps:  SU! Inspired by Nature; CTMH For Every Occasion (Sentiment)

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Wausau White Metallic, Parisian Breeze DSP

Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate

Embellishments:  Baja Breeze ribbon, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Filigree Brad, Pretties Rhinestone brad

Accessories:  Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly punch, SU! Scallop Edge Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Versamark, Heat tool, Dimensionals, 1/4 inch punch

We’ve had another busy week and I haven’t had a chance to spend much time in my craft room.  My hubby is the coach of my great-nephew’s All-Star baseball team and they have played every night.  I’ve also been working on some church projects- what can I say? – I LOVE being retired!!!  And, as you might have noticed, I have changed the look on my blog and would love to know what you think of it.  I am still fine tuning and would love your suggestions.

I’ve decided that SU!’s Parisian Breeze DSP is my all time favorite and it is being retired, so I have stocked up for the future and used a little slice of it on today’s challenge card.  It’s a two-fer, sort of.  Today’s Limited Supply Challenge was to use stamps with a different language in our design to give our cards an International Flair.  Also, I thought Tuesday’s Color Challenge sounded interesting – Breezy Ruby Whispers- so I thought I would combine the challenges.  My sweet DIL Jennifer is from Shanghai and I was glad to get to use a sentiment from an old SU! set called Kanji, along with the pretty retired set Brocade Basics.  I heat embossed the brocade image with a new to me embossing powder from American Craft’s Zing collection which is very close to the Ruby Red color.  I was so lucky to win an American Craft’s package in a Stampin’ Out Alzheimer’s drawing that included a set of embossing powders and two marvelous stamp sets.  It is just too cool to support such a worthy cause and get free stuff too!

Have a wonderful Father’s Day weekend!

Blessings,

Diane

Supplies:

Stamps:  SU! Brocade Basics, Kanji

Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Parisian Breeze DSP

Ink:  Basic Black

Embellishments:  Baja Breeze ribbon

Accessories:  American Crafts Zing Red Embossing Powder, Versamark, Heat tool, Dimensionals

It’s a quiet and rainy Monday here in Jackson and I am spending the day in my craft room, or in the “bunker” as my hubby and son call it.  My space is a small two room area off the dining room with shelves and a L-shaped craft table.  It has a window and pretty good lighting.  We haven’t found out the original purpose of the previous owners, but it is absolutely perfect for my papercrafts.

I had a marvelous day last Friday.  Two great friends from church, Marie and Pamela, came over to learn how to make cards.  I came up with a few projects and we spent the day laughing, sharing and creating.  What a blessing to have such good friends!  They are certainly a gift from God.

So, back to Monday and the Clean and Simple SCS sketch challenge that you can see here. I pulled out one of my first Stampin’ Up sets and used the dryer sheet technique that my great friend and demo Lisa taught me last year and made this simple anniversary card for my nephew and his wife-Nathan and Amber.  It was so pretty and so easy I made four of them in just under an hour.  How’s that for simple?

I hope your week is off to a wonderful start!  Our little 7-8 year old All Star baseball team play every night this week.  My sweet little great-nephew Anthony is on the team and my hubby is a coach- so I will be traveling to the ball park to help cheer them on.

Blessings,

Diane

Supplies:

Stamps:  SU! Petal Prints, Small Script, Warm Words, American Crafts Large Sentiments

Paper:  More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Soft Sky, Whisper White

Ink:  More Mustard, Really Rust, Soft Sky, Always Artichoke

Embellishments:  Soft Sky ribbon, Always Artichoke ribbon

Accessories:  Used dryer sheet, Krylon Spray adhesive, Dimensionals

What a wonderful challenge on the Stampin’ Out Alzheimer’s website this week sponsored by Clear and Simple Stamps.  I just purchased a 5X5 mini album yesterday and can’t wait to add some memories to give to my mother-in-law (age 89) who is suffering from this horrible condition. In the meantime, here is a single page with a little frame easel (how clever!) and an envelope made of coordinating paper.  I will be sending this to her this week and on the back I have listed our names.

This is my family- hubby, two sons and DIL. MIL only recognizes her son (my hubby) every now and then-and me occasionally, but isn’t sure of who we really are. Very sad, but we are grateful that she is physically healthy. She is with us right now and we enjoy every minute with her.

Supplies: Stamps: SU! Always; Paper: 7 Gypies DSP, PTI Dark Chocolate, PTI Spring Moss, SU! Soft Sky; Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate; Accessories: Moss brads, Antique Brass hardware, PTI Spring Moss ribbon, SU! Top Note Die, Cuttlebug