Category Archives: cards

And the spiders just laughed

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Welcome to Day One of the RemARKable Stampers Holiday Madness Blog Tour!  Buckle your seat belts and get ready for a wonderful Sleigh Ride through the Holidays…although as you all know, there’s not a whole lotta sleigh riding’ here in the islands!  I’m thrilled to be a part of this blog hop for the next week, and I hope you’ll have a wonderful time riding along with me.

To get started, we’re going to visit the holiday closest at hand.  Halloween in Hawaii is huge.  When our kids were small, we lived in a neighborhood full of families.  Everyone would set their beach chairs out in the driveway and watch the enormous parade of keiki (children) as they walked, skated, scootered or got strollered through the streets.  The really organized people had their grills going, and there were a few houses with really elaborate and impressive decorations.  I was always too busy getting three small children into costumes and fed something, anything, that wasn’t full of sugar before we headed out – carving the pumpkins was just about my limit.  Fortunately, our yard was full of contented spiders willing to do a little decorating for me.,

You know that frantic, arms-flailing, twisting and turning little dance you do when you accidentally walk through a cobweb?   You’re trying to get all the webby bits out of your hair and at the same time you are just PRAYING that the spider was out at Walmart getting supplies for the Webber grill…that’s what I was thinking about:

Sparkling Big Shot Web

  • Teeny Tiny Wishes and Season of Friendship Stamp sets
  • More Mustard, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry,  and Very Vanilla card stock
  • Basic Black and Rich Razzleberry Classic ink pads
  • Big Shot and Spider Web Textured Impressions folder
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint; Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon
  • Stampin’ Sponges; Modern Label Punch and Crop-a-dile
  • Googly Eyes (non-SU)

Actually, my spider was sitting in the tree just watching me do the Tarantella and laughing with his little spidery friend.  This new Textured Impressions folder from the Holiday Mini is so vivid you could use it all by itself for a card and it would work beautifully.  I used it with the raised side down because I liked the distance it created, but it is equally awesome when you use it right side up.  You’ll have to try it yourself to find out, but don’t wait too long because these Textured Impressions folders are very popular and you don’t want to be disappointed just before Halloween!  That would be a mean trick and no treat.

Next Stop on the Holiday Madness Blog Tour

Butterfly Pansies that make your heart sing

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This isa shameless CASE, but I was so impressed with this card that I couldn’t see any good reason to change it.  Dawn Olchefske is the original artist and has even made a video tutorial for those of us who are visual learners.  I received a CASE of her card as a convention swap and couldn’t wait to try it when I got home.  Here are my results:

Butterfly Pansies

  • Sincere Salutations stamp set
  • Very Vanilla Card stock and Shimmer White card stock
  • Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink pad
  • Elegant Eggplant and Daffodil Delight classic ink refills
  • Basic Black Stampin’ Write marker
  • Big Shot, Top Note Bigz die and Elegant Bouquet Imprssions folder
  • Very Vanilla 5/8″ Satin ribbon
  • Gold brads
  • Large Oval and Butterfly punches

My apologies for the quality of the photo – photos are going to be a little hit and miss for a while.  My poor little point-and-shoot has been dropped on its head a few times too many and it’s getting a little wonky, not to mention I have to wrap a rubber band around it to keep the battery door from opening and dropping the battery on the floor.  A new camera is NOT in the budget right now, so we will make do with what we have.

If you find a color combination you love, be sure and let me know.  I played with quite a few and this was my favorite, but I’m sure there are more out there!  Happy punching.

Fuzzy Bats and Spooky Eyes

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My friend Kellie came over to play on Friday and brought a couple of cards to share with me.  I don’t make many Halloween cards so I don’t buy many Halloween stamps, but her cards just about had me putting in an order with my favorite Stampin’ Up! demo (yeah, ha ha, three guesses who that might be!!).

Kellie's Spooky bats

Since I didn’t make this card, I can’t give you all of the details but she did say she used the Wicked Fun Specialty Designer Series papers and the Wicked Cool stamp set.  I REALLY didn’t plan on getting that set!

The Wicked Fun DSP has flocking on it so the bats are fuzzy…I like those fuzzy bats…not that I really like bats or anything, but how can you not love fuzzy bats??  Just tell me that.

Kellie's Spooky Eyes

Don’t you LOVE these eyes?  They’re the wing from the XL Two Step Bird punch!  I like them even better than Googlie Eyes, and I really love googlie eyes.  The spider web is from that dog-gone Wicked Cool stamp set too.  Hmmmph.

Kellie CASE-d these two cards and even brought me the names of the stampers, so if you love these cards, be sure to Google these two talented women and give them a little love too.  The Eyeballs card was inspired by Sandi Maciver and the Fuzzy Bats are courtesy of Deb Currier.

Have a little Halloween fun!

Gratitude: Expressing Appreciation

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Gratitude is a feeling I try to keep at the top of my mind.  I have so much to be grateful for, and I find if I focus on those things I can always see the glass as half full.  It takes so much energy to be grumpy, resentful and negative, but being grateful is life-giving.  I look for the Thanksgiving moment in every situation, no matter how serious it may be.

Gratitude in Paisley

  • Paisley Prints and Define Your Life stamp sets
  • Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake and Naturals Ivory card stock
  • Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, River Rock, Always Artichoke and More Mustard Classic ink pads
  • Decorative Label punch
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals and Always Artichoke Seam binding

Have you tried the new 1/2 inch Seam Binding from the Holiday Mini catalog yet?  It is so fun to work with – I’m a seamstress too, and it’s the real deal.  The color is gorgeous but what I really love is that the knot isn’t bulky and I think I might be able to squeak this one past the Fat-Card-Police at the post office.  Now that’s something to be grateful for.

Really? I get all that??

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In case you haven’t noticed (or perhaps have just awakened from a Rip-Van-Winkle-esque 20 year nap) Stampin’ Up! has outstanding enticements for our workshop hostesses.  It seems no matter how carefully I explain our benefits to a new hostess, when it comes time to place her workshop order and I show her what she’s earned her eyes open wide and she says “REALLY???”

YES!!

REALLY!!

I recently was a hostess myself and enjoyed the same benefits as any other Stampin’ Up! hostess, and earned a level two hostess set.  (Read all about benefits on page 9 of the Idea Book and Catalog, and if you don’t have a catalog, call me).

Bright Apple Blossoms

  • Apple Blossom Level II Hostess Exclusive Stamp set
  • Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise and Pear Pizazz Classic ink pads
  • Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise card stock
  • Play Date Designer series paper
  • 1 1/4 inch and scallop circle punches; scallop border punch
  • Brights Designer button collection; white crochet thread (non-SU)

I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately, but I have had a thing for really bright and bold color combinations.  Our Color Renovation has really shaken up the way I look at our colors….in the past I seldom considered Tempting Turquoise, but lately it’s practically a neutral for me!    To tell the truth, if you look into my closet you’ll see that color quite a bit, so the surprise should be that it’s taken me this long to embrace it in paper.

Perkin’ up

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Do they even make percolators anymore?  I remember one sitting on my grandmother’s kitchen counter, and I think every church I’ve ever been to has at least one of the ginormous 30 or 60 cup monsters, but there isn’t one in my house.  We have lots of coffee-making devices:  two regular drip brew coffee makers, one 6 cup and one travel french press, and an espresso machine (two if you count the little silver stove-top one like they use in Europe).   This one is so charming that I’m willing to overlook the fact that it’s obsolete:

A little note to perk you up

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso (ha!) card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pen and Stampin’ Pastels

I started out just fiddling around with the Stampin’ Pastels….it’s been a very long time since I’ve had them out of the drawer.  I liked the slightly uneven nature of the color even though I suspect it’s really Operator Error.  Don’t laugh, but this actually looks much better in person…from about 3 feet away.    I had such fun I tried it again:

Perk Up full card

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry and Early Espresso (ha!) card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pen and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Big Shot and Elegant Lines Textured Embossing Folder
  • Victoria 5/8 inch crochet trim

I’m not ready to go back to percolator coffee, but I’m pretty fond of this little pot.

Starting the day out right

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While the Morning Cup set was on my desk I put together a quick 3×3 notecard:

My Coffee Means Everything to Me

  • Morning Cup and Always stamp sets
  • Whisper White and Early Espresso card stock
  • Play Date Designer Series Paper
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender Pen and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Real Red 1/8 inch ribbon
  • 1 1/4, 1 3/8 inch and scallop circle punches

This sentiment from the Always stamp set struck me as the perfect complement to this image.  That first cup in the morning is what makes my day come to life.  We have an espresso machine and my dear husband makes me a cappucino every morning.  It’s one of the many ways he spoils me, and so in a way this card is all about him, too.

My morning cuppa

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If you know me, you know I love coffee.  I’m a teeny tiny bit of a coffee snob – can’t drink just anything.  If the coffee is weak I’ll pass.  I brew what I refer to as “Manly Coffee”, and if it’s too strong for you, there’s the hot water!

I need that first cup to make any sense in the morning, especially if I have to be up early.  I love the smell, I love the taste, and I admit it, I love the oomph from my morning cuppa.  My daughters used to give me a bad time about my coffee addiciton, but college life silenced that.  The oldest tried to deny she was addicted – I think her exact words were “I’m not addicted, I’m just dependent” – but I’m under no such illusions.  I need my coffee.

Give me my caffeine

  • Morning Cup stamp set
  • Pear Pizazz, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, and (OF COURSE) Early Espresso card stock
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Blender pens and Stampin’ Pastels
  • Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dot Impressions folder

I made a serendipitous discovery:  Many of our retired Stampin’ Pastel colors can pass for some of our new Color Renovation colors.  The pastel chalk colors are soft and you can layer them to the depth of color that you want.

Whoo’s watching?

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Look at these eyes:

An Owl in a Cage

  • Aviary and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • So Saffron, Whisper White, Pear Pizazz and Night of Navy card stock
  • Greenhouse Gala Designer Series paper
  • Basic Grey and Night of Navy Classic ink pads; Basic Gray Stampin’ Write marker
  • 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 inch circle, Scallop Trim, Word Window and Modern Label punches
  • Night of Navy 1/4 inch grosgrain (retired) and Rhinestone Jewels

I finally put a bird inside the cage…the owl, to be exact.  There’s something about leaving him inside that makes me sort of sad.   After all, shouldn’t an owl be flying around outside?  I’m imagining that he’s been hurt and someone is lovingly caring for him until he can be released.  He’s really quite happy there – he feels secure.

A Paisley Pumpkin, Just for You

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One last convention sample for you…I told you I’d overlooked a few!  Actually, I felt badly about posting too many sneak peaks from the Holiday Mini before the products were available so I’ve saved them for this first week.  Wasn’t that thoughtful of me??

Convention Paisley Pumpkin

  • Paisley Prints and Just Believe stamp sets; Paisley Party wheel
  • Old Olive and Whisper White card stock
  • Old Olive Classic ink pad; Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze Stampin’ Write markers
  • Pumpkin Pie 5/8 inch grosgrain and Linen thread
  • Brights Designer buttons
  • Sticky Strip and Glue dots

Look at that gorgeous ribbon and that button!  The perfect color coordination of all the Stampin’ Up! products was the thing that sealed the deal for me when I saw my first catalog.  It’s so hard to find things that really match, especially on a small island 2500 miles out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.   I love our stamps, but it’s the details that make the project and our coordinating accessories really make my day.  Go ahead, Stampin’ Up!

I hadn’t tried the pleating technique with the ribbon and was happy to find it to be very simple.  There’s a line of Sticky Strip underneath the ribbon, and there are Glue Dots under the folds.  I’m a visual person (I know, and you thought I was the Queen of Words) so you may just have to play with it to get it.  Trust me:  it’s really easy.