Well, it's been awhile since I've posted on here. I've still been having my monthly stamp clubs but that's about it lately.
We found out on Sept. 1 that our world as we knew it has changed. Our 14 year infertility drought is now over and we're expecting a baby (the kind that comes in 9 months this time!) in May of next year.
Check out my healthy journey blog on the right for the details!
It's been some time since these have been sent out but thought I'd share the rest of my SS items. We made 6 items: 1) a friendship items w/flowers (the flower watercan shown here), 2) a box we hadn't made before (shown here), 3) a birthday card (shown here), 4) an item used with something around the house (I used these drawer pulls I picked up at a old country store and never used), 5) a scrapling and 6) an ATC, I think my all time favorite technique is watercoloring and Hello, I'm from the Beehive State!. My SS liked brown, green and pink so I thought the Bella Rose paper fit so well. The last three items are below, hoped she like them!:
Well, I was able to spend some time at the Stampin' Up Convention with my Stampin' Addict sisters (great ladies, hi!) and a little more motivated to start stamping again. I'm hoping to have more posts and pictures to show. Some will be from what I made a few months back (has it been that long?!) and then I'll post some of my convention swaps, so here's the first:
This is a frame I made for my friends, Clint and Mel. They just had their 2nd baby and after a few complications, were finally able to take her home. I used some old DSP and sets since she really likes green with the new in-colors and ribbon. I thought it turned out pretty cute!
Big apologies to my blog groups for my inactivity. It seems my priorities and time have temporarily been diverted. Where is my time going to lately? Getting off my fat butt and getting in shape. And it's about time. If you want to read the boring and long winded details, look here: http://iwasaskinnykid.blogspot.com/
I still have my stamp clubs and (gasp, so soon!) convention swaps I need to get to and so I have a lot of things to show you, it's just planting my hiney down and working on them and getting them posted. Stay tuned...
Another club/SS challenge project - a birthday card. Our June club theme was baby/wedding but gave them the option to turn this card into a birthday one if they chose. This used SU's new paper Tall Tales and new stamp set Animal Stories. I wan't sure if I would be happy with this paper but it is ADORABLE! (I'm SOOO happy to see more things in the new catalog for little boys!!! So much more now to use for scrapbooking)
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This box served two purposes. We made this for my June stamp club. And it also is the 2nd of the Designing D's Secret Sister challenge: To make a box we haven't done before.This summer has proved to keep me from my blog and craft room! Many apologies for posting this so late! I appreciate all who visited during the blog hop and left such amazing comments!
The winner is:
Bev Dahl said...
I love your little gel card! I haven't tried that yet but will now!visit my blog at http://bevsdahlhouse.blogspot.com for inspiration!
I'll be contacting you!
I'm so glad you all told me the official name of this game. I had no idea what to call it! I'm not a big tutorial poster so this will be very primitive. (Also, as far as I know, I have not seen one of these made with SU products. It's fun to come up with something unique and I'm happy that so many like it. Just asking that if you decide to duplicate this idea, use it for workshops or to sell, please make sure to give credit where due and direct them here. Thanks!)
What you will need:
Textiles: Clear Shrink Paper (Shinky Dink), Thick Felt, Thick Plyable Plastic
Inks/Colors: Colored Pencils, White Stazon Ink, White Craft Ink, White Embossing Powder
Accessories: Sizzix Scallop Circle Die and Machine, Sewing Machine, MicroBeads, Circle Cutter, Cropadile, Ribbon
First, stamp your images with StazOn ink on rough side of shrink paper. I chose white as my images were bold but if you have line art, I would use black. Then color them in with colored pencils, cut out and bake to specifications on your shink paper instructions. Remember the pieces become 1/3 of the original size so be care not to use images that may be too small or too big.
For the blog hop I was limited to the set I was using. I only have about 16 pieces here but I've seen these games that have 30 to 50 so go for it!
I then used my circle cutter and cut out two large circles of the plyable plastic. (I recycled a bag from a comforter I just bought). Then machine stitch (very close stitch) your two pieces of plastic together leaving an opening to put in your shrink pieces and microbeads. Don't over fill with the microbeads as you need to leave room for the pieces to shift and move easily.
Next, stitch your circles completely shut. This was a challenge as the microbeads kept creeping to the opening. You may have to stitch a bit, take it off to shift the pieces away from your needle and start again. As you can see by my oh-so-wonderful sewing, I had to do that several times and even stitched around it again just to make sure it all stayed inside.
This is the point where I stopped taking pictures of the process but the rest is fairly simple. I cut two pieces of felt with the circle cutter at exactly the same size that the plastic was cut. (I'm thinking you could use craft foam as well). I then stamped on the felt with white craft ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The felt I had was very thick and as long as you keep your gun moving, it won't hurt your felt a bit.
Then, take your Sizzix die and cut the scallop out of the middle of one of the felt circles for your front piece. I found the center of my felt circle by folding it two ways and marking on the back where they intersect. Then found the center of the die by measuring two ways and making a mark.
I then printed a list of the "I Spy" items on cardstock and cut a piece of the thick plastic to the size of my list. I placed the end of a piece of ribbon about 6 inches inside the list and used the heat gun to melt the edges together.
Take your back piece of felt, fold in half and cut a slit just large enough to fit your list into.
Next, sandwich your plastic pouch between the two felt circles, insert the other end of ribbon attached to your list and sew together making sure that you stitch a bit further out than you stitched your plastic pieces together. That is important as you will then use your cropadile to punch holes on the outside to lace your ribbon - be careful not punch into the inside of the pouch and lose all the beads! (The pieces may slide as you sew so use pins if needed! And make sure to keep your list free of the needle so you only sew in the end of the ribbon)
Punch holes along the edges with your cropadile, then thread in your ribbon using a whip stitch. Tie the ends on the back and Voila! All done!
Hi all - thanks for stopping in! If you were following the Stampin' Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop (a highlight of stamp sets SU that will be retiring from their 2009 Spring/Summer Catalog), the tour has ended. Hope you were able to get some great inspiration!
The set I chose is "Life's A Breeze". There is a coordinating wheel that is also retiring called "Something Fishy". 
I love this picture of my little boy when we traveled to California and he was still a baby... And had to scrapbook it!
Paper: Basic Gray, White, Real Red and Night of Navy Prints DSP, Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy and So Saffron, Accessories: Star and various circle punches, dimensionals
I still get very fascinated by gel cards! This one was made with a pocket so you could pull out a card to write on.
Paper: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss and White, Ink: Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip, Accessories: Circle Scallop and various circle punches, Circle Cutter, Chocolate Ribbon, hair gel
This is an idea I've had rolling around for awhile. It is one of those toys that kids can play with (hopefully for some time!). There is a list of items that they need to search for and they can shake and spin it to find each of the items. This particular one is quite easy but would be great for little ones who are learning shapes and colors.
This is the view of the back. I cut a slit so the list could be hid behind when not needed. I will post a tutorial of this after the hop so come back after the 16th.
Ink: White Stazon, White Craft; Accessories: Scallop Circle Sizzix, Circle Cutter, Cropadile, White Embossing powder, Shrink Paper, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Felt, Colored Pencils, Heat Gun, Microbeads.jpg)
And on to the Blog Candy fun! Want to win this vinyl art Decor Element? First post on YOUR blog a link to MY blog with a little blurb about the blog hop and this specific post. Then leave me a comment here including a link to your blog. Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 16th. Then check back on Wednesday to see if you won! One entry per person/blog.
For another Blog Hop! Stampin' Addicts are saying Bon Voyage to the stamp sets Stampin' Up! is retiring. The "Tour" will begin tomorrow, June 13th at noon and continue through midnight, June 16th. Come back tomorrow to see which set I chose and a chance for some blog candy!
On another note, many apologies for my lack of blogging lately. I spent nearly a week and a half gutting my stamp room and reorganizing. Let's say it hasn't had that kind of attention in over 3 years! Found a lot of things I thought I lost and others I forgot I even had! It is certainly fun to play with my stamps now that I know where everything is!
Another idea gone well...I saw a flower box made from the Baskets and Blooms Sizzix die and thought - Tool Box for Father's Day! I was hoping I could find some little tools that some store might have been capitalizing on Father's Day but no go. So I raided Jackson's little tool set for props! The paper is Parisian Summer and the stamps are from "All Holidays" and the "Sanded" background on Creamy Caramel CS. I really liked how the jumbo eyelets complete the box!
Sometimes I have an idea and it actually turns out!! I cut two circles out of black CS and then textured the front with the Sizzix SU Texturz. The saying says "It's Time to Party with the Grill Master" from the Only Ovals set and then when you open the card it says "You're One of the Good Ones" from the Smarty Pants set. Great card for all manly grill masters in your house!
Apologies for the blurry photo! This is the first of our May stamp club projects. I've seen so many cute cards with this set. And did you know you can emboss on felt, yeppers, you can!
What is wrong with me? I mean Jackson still has another year of preschool and I sobbed through his preschool graduation like a little baby. His teacher was also emotional and the graduation march song just got me going. I think I'll be passing out when he actually graduates from kindergarten, high school and oh my, college! (note to self: bring paper bags and smelling salts). I wish I had a pict with his teacher but only remembered to bring the camcorder to the program. There's always next year!
I finally finished the teacher gift for Jackson's preschool teacher, Miss Angie. These items included (starting at the top, clockwise): a water bottle with drink mix, a first aid kit, a notebook and pen, a box full of 3X3 notecards, a jumbo paperclip, a bag tag and the thank you card to Miss Angie. And all these items fit so cute in the storybook box.
I chose the textured Sweet Slumber paper and had so much fun with it! All supplies for each project are listed below their photo.
Supplies: Paper - Riding Hood Red and So Saffron CS, Sweet Slumber DSP (Saffron Squares page), Vellum, Transparency; Stamps - Blooming With Love; Ink - Riding Hood Red, Versamark; Punches/Dies - Sizzix Manhattan Flower Impressions, Square Scallop Punch; Accessories - Sponge Dauber, White Embossing Powder, White Satin Ribbon
Supplies: Paper - Close to Cocoa and Riding Hood Red CS, Sweet Slumber DSP (Mulit Dot page), Transparency; Stamps - Hugs and Wishes, Just Jawing (cherries) ; Ink - Garden Green, Versamark, Basic Brown; Punches/Dies - Sizzix SU Backgrounds I Texturz, Wide Oval Punch (cut a little larger); Accessories - Sponge Dauber, White Embossing Powder, Chunky White Glitter, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon 
Supplies: Paper - Whisper White, Baja Breeze and Old Olive CS, Sweet Slumber DSP (Baja Plaid page); Stamps - A Little Somethin' (Hostess II) ; Ink - Baja Breeze, Old Olive Marker; Punches/Dies - Sizzix Pennant Bigz (scallop circle), Scallop Edge Punch, SU Backgrounds I Texturz; Accessories - White SatinRibbon, Clear Button, Linen Thread, Baja and Old Olive Flower Fusion
Supplies: Paper - Vellum, Whisper White, Baja Breeze and So Saffron CS, Sweet Slumber DSP (Baja Clouds, Saffron Clouds and Baja border pages); Stamps - Nursery Neccessities; Ink - Baja Breeze, So Saffron and Pacific Point; Punches/Dies - Sizzix 3-D Star, Scallop Edge Punch, Large Star Punch and Scallop Circle Punch; Accessories - White SatinRibbon, White Signo Gel Pen, Lots' n lots' of diapers 
Would you believe I made all of this out of ONE pack of DSP and with sheets and scraps leftover?! No joke - you can get a lot of mileage out of these! 
And on to the Blog Candy fun! Want to win these stamp/notecard sets?
One of my cards I swapped with my club ladies in April. DSP is Walk in the Park.
We saw Wicked last Tuesday and... lemons, and melons and pears, OH, MY! I had goosebumps through the whole thing (someone tell me that burns calories)! Between the costumes, the music, the set, the acting, the singing, the comedy and the storyline with all the moral decisions for the characters, my mind was spinning! We had never seen it nor knew much of the story (as I didn't want to know so it would be more exciting). What a cool production! I so appreciate such wonderful talent.
Some of my favorite lines:
I LOVE this paper! It is so versatile and I just keep coming back to it, card after card!
Remember this commerical from the 80s? Pay attention please! Tank you... Umm yeah, and I'm not showing you mine, the beauty in the video is much more appealing!
Jackson was a bit gun-shy of the water this time after taking a full dip a few days before. 
And yes, it warmed up that day and my bro and I took in some boogie boarding. We were the only ones out playing in the waves WITHOUT wetsuits - pansys! 
Thanks for the fun time Curt and Mary! Hope to see you in the fall after Jr is born! (And please pick a name or I'll have to keep calling him that!)
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