Up, Up and Away!

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Who’s old enough to remember that tune?

We did this card at my hostess club this past week.  It was a lot of fun, and everyone agreed it had a great WOW factor.  I know it’s a winner when I hear that kids and spouses really loved the card.

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The colors from this card were directly driven by the M&M’s.  I also decided to use the slider technique that allows the recipient to access the candy without ripping up the card.  It just so happened that there was a lot of media attention recently focused on a balloon, and with my admittedly twisted sense of humor, I decided to embellish the tag with a nod to the Boy in the Balloon:

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  • Sweet Centers, Teeny Tiny Wishes, All in the Family and Best Wishes and More stamp sets
  • Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Brilliant Blue and Whisper White card stock; Designer Series Paper scraps
  • Real Red and Brilliant Blue Classic Stampin’ Pad
  • Real Red and Yoyo Yellow Stampin’ Write Markers
  • 1 3/4″ Circle punch, Tag Corner punch, Sweet Treat cups, piercing template, Mini glue dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Somebody missed me…

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Since I’ve been home from the East Coast, I’ve had an orange shadow.  The kids were home while we were away, but this goofball cat thinks I’m his mother.  In a way, it’s true – when he comes home after losing yet another argument with the neighborhood cats, I’m the one who patches him up, not to mention feeding, brushing and general babying.  While I was gone, he didn’t get his usual in-the-door, out-the-door service and I think he missed being able to plant himself in the exact spot where my feet need to be on the kitchen floor.

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I was deep into a number of projects and he kept coming into my tiny craft space, talking to me and demanding my attention.  Apparently I wasn’t responding with enough enthusiasm, because he managed to get up onto the counter and plant his orangeness where he couldn’t be missed.  Fortunately, he has a sufficiently dopey expression to be endearing, and he purrs at the drop of a hat.

Now to get the cat hair out of the Snail and Sticky Strip.

Super Simple Halloween Treats

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This is a quick and easy treatment for some simple Halloween goodies…the stamped image is 3″ square, the mat is 3 1/4″ square, and the packaging is 3 1/2″ wide x 8 1/2″ long.  Punch holes in the center of everything and double punch some Only Orange cardstock to create a ring and you’re almost done.  It doesn’t show in the photo, but I used the absolutely magical Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to give it all some sparkle – a couple of drops in a small spray bottle with some rubbing alcohol and you are ready to sparkle…and it doesn’t come off the project!

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  • Sweet Centers Stamp Set
  • Only Orange, Basic Black and Whisper White card stock
  • Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Ink
  • 1 3/4″ and 1 3/8″ circle punches
  • White Gel pen, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Crop-a-dile, Sticky Strip and small cello bag
  • Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive 1/4″ grosgrain; non-SU 1/8″ black grosgrain

These would be easy to make in quantity!  Trick or treat!

Whale season

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It’s a little early…but I’ve seen the first Humpback…

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  • Animals Stories and Family Phrases stamp sets
  • So Saffron Classic Ink pad and Whisper White Craft Ink pad;  Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker
  • Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, and Very Vanilla cardstock; Tall Tales Designer Series Paper
  • So Saffron 5/8″ grosgrain; Chocolate Chip 1/4″ grosgrain

OK, so it’s not a Humpback, and we hardly ever see them until at least the end of October.  But I am really looking forward to seeing them out there in the Pacific again.  There’s something so amazing about seeing just a little sliver of shining black skin break the surface of the water, knowing that beyond that sliver is a school-bus sized whale that can propel it’s entire body out of the water.  It never ceases to astonish me, and during whale season I love to sit on the beach and just watch for a spout, flipper slap, or distinctive tail sighting.  And maybe, just maybe, a breach.

Check out the National Marine Sanctuary and the Hawaii Whale Research Foundation for more information.

I’ll be sure to let you know when they arrive.

Deal of the Week, Week 3

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What a great deal this week!  Oh, and Boy Howdy, am I glad to be home.  When we moved to Maui almost 20 years ago I quickly realized this was where I was meant to be.  I am a tropical flower with a temperature comfort zone of about 6 degrees – 77 to 83.  The fall colors are gorgeous, but you sure have to wear a lot of stuff to get out and see them.

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This week’s deal is well timed to allow you – and me – to stock up on embellishments before the holidays.  When your card needs that extra oomph, these are the goodies to reach for.  But hurry – these little gems are only Deals until Monday, October 26 at 9:50am Mountain Time – that’s 5:50 am HST!

To shop, click HERE

Starting to think about Christmas

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I generally object to any kind of Christmas marketing before about the middle of November, but when it comes to crafting I have to make an exception.  Cards, tags and decorations take time and planning.  Leave it too late and they just don’t get done.  I go through a lot of paper, ink and accessories in the process of choosing our annual family card, and I need time to let the ideas and examples simmer before I make my final selection.

This won’t make the cut – literally – with those hand-cut pines.  Sure are cute, though!

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  • Patterned Pines and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
  • Handsome Hunter and Real Red Classic Stamp pad; Champagne Mist Shimmer paint
  • Kraft, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White and Glossy White cardstock; Riding Hood Red Designer Series Paper (retired)
  • Kraft Taffeta ribbon
  • Modern Label punch, Stampin’ Sponges, Sponge Daubers
  • Metallic eyelets and Crop-a-dile

This concept actually began as the embellishment on the top of a box for A-2 cards.  The tutorial is HERE and don’t miss it – the first box is two pieces, base and lid.  Scroll down to the bottom and look for the dimensions for the pizza box.  That’s what I made.

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Cute, isn’t it?  And easy as can be.  But please don’t ask me about that evergreen garland.  It’s a retired wheel.  Use Soft Holly (112968) instead.  It’s better.  Really.

And no Christmas Carols in the stores until after Thanksgiving, OK??

The message comes later

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Nope, this isn’t some weird puzzle.  It’s how I make my cards most of the time.

I usually make a card for the creative satisfaction and don’t add the sentiment until I’m ready to send the card.   That way it’s easier for me to choose the right card for the right person.  Once in a while I make a card that insists on a particular message – red and green cards with pine trees are a good example – but that’s the exception.  When it’s time to send the card, I pull out the message I want, ink it up, and add it to the front…or in the case of this card, I’ll put it on a word window and attach that to the striped paper.

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  • Flight of the Butterfly stamp set
  • Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Bashful Blue Classic ink pads
  • Whisper White and Certainly Celery (the carde base)  cardstock and Sale-a-bration 2009 Designer Series Paper
  • Sale-a-bration Certainly Celery Poly-twill ribbon
  • Stamp-a-ma-jig

This card looks a little empty and off balance now, but when there’s a message nestled into those stripes, it’ll be just right.

Et tu, Boson?

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We’ve had a great visit with Sara in Boston despite the cold. We sent her back to the dorm to study for a while and settled into the Morrison House bed and breakfast for a little rest after a full week. Before too long, the rain turned to fat flakes. Looks like they’re just getting fatter, too. I’m starting to take it personally.

Maui, here I come.

Big Shot Daisies

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It took me a while to break down and buy these daisies.  I already had some Big Shot flowers.  Why did I need more?

I kept seeing samples.  Creative people doing beautiful things.  Cards.  Scrapbook pages.  Package toppers.  It went on and on until I couldn’t stand it any more.  Shoot, it only cost $19.95 (114520), and I could use my demo discount, so what was the big deal?

I’m so glad I bought this Bigz Die.  These graduated flowers are such fun.  It took me a while to figure out that they need an itsy bitsy curve in the petals to look their best.  You can do it with the side of a pencil or even your finger – just give a little roll to the edge of the petal and suddenly you have dimension!  Don’t whine, it’s not that much effort, and it looks great…

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  • No stamps!!  No Ink!
  • So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Kraft cardstock; Sale-a-bration 2009 Designer Series Paper
  • Big Shot, Daisies #2 Bigz die, and Stampin’ Up! backgrounds 1
  • Piercing tool and mat pack; retired colored buttons (substitute Fresh Favorites)

You could easily add a message on an oval punch – this card was for a custom order without sentiments.

Why you should invest in Ink Refills Part II

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Ink refills plus an Aquapainter equals simple watercoloring.  A drop or two in the lid of your stamp pad and you are good to go.  Mix in some Shimmer paint and you won’t be able to stop yourself!  I’m no Monet, but this is really fun.

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  • Sweet Stems stamp set
  • Mellow Moss Classic Stamp pad; Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, and Barely Banana re-inkers
  • Barely Banana, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla and Pink Pirouette (retired) cardstock
  • Scallop Square, Scallop edge and handheld rectangle (retired) punches
  • Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon
  • Aquapainter and Champagne Mist Shimmer paint

I didn’t think I’d use these stamps much.  Crystal (middle name Give) gave them to me when she realized she had a duplicate  set.   Turns out they’re just the thing for a sweet little card.  She  gave me the layout, too.  I played with it a little – added the scallop on the edge and a little Shimmer to the pink – but it’s her design.  She’s good, no?