Summer Mini Blog Hop

I'm so excited to be participating in this blog hop celebrating the new Stampin' Up! summer mini catalog on Stampin' Addicts. SA is my favorite online stamping community. It is a free website dedicated to supporting Stampin' Up stampers and demonstrators. It is loaded with awesome ideas and friendly stampers who are always willing to share their ideas.
If you are following the hop, you just came from Krystal's blog. Krystal is awesome! Don't you love that Go, Graduate stamp set? It's really versatile! If you are starting here, no problems. Keep hopping through; the blog makes a complete circle. I guarantee you won't want to miss a single stop out of this lineup! If you get lost along the way, you can find the complete list of all stops on the hop HERE.

The set I featured is First Day. I fell in love with it when I saw it and imagined all kinds of cute things I could do with it both as a parent and a teacher. So, let's get right to the projects:

I knew I wanted to make one of the gift boxes that were so popular at Christmas that held all the little gift tags. My daughter will go into third grade next year and they get lockers for the first time. There is a special day before school starts for students to go up to the school and decorate their locker. She's already excited. I thought this would be cute to sneak in her locker after she's finished. I resized and rearranged and this is what I ended up making. It contains pencils, a hand-held pencil sharpener, a stack of sticky notes (with a message from Mom), Hershey nuggets, shaped paper clips, and some binder clips. Notice that I stamped her initial "E" on both sides of the binder clip in Stazon ink. It makes it a little more personal.

My second project is a direct case from the Stampin' Up! big catalog. The bookmark is simple but makes an impact. You can find the original bookmark on page 147.

My final project is a card I will give my daughter on the first day of school. It's an odd size - 4.25 x 4.25. I based it on the Mojo Monday sketch 136. I bought First Day in the clear mount stamp so it made the placement of letters on the ribbon fairly easy. The sentiment is from the Crazy for Cupcakes set.


One final look at all three projects.

There is a story for this card. Check back the week of Monday, May 3, and I will post details about each project including supplies. Thank you for checking out my stop on the hop. Jump right on over to Rhonda's blog where she features a super-cute collection of summer items - including a DSP with fab colors, a new Big Shot die, and a matching stamp set. You definitely don't want to miss her projects. I can't wait for you to see what she made!

Non-stamping Sweet Pea card

This is another card my April class made. It is a fast put-together so it's really great for people who are in a rush and need a card fast.


Supplies I used for this card:
So saffron cardstock (#105118, $5.50)
Sweet Pea DSP (#117161, $24.95)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Sweet Pea stitched felt (#177266, $7.95)
Old olive grosgrain ribbon (#109054, $7.95)
Corner rounder punch (#109047, $6.95)
Scallop trim border punch (FREE during SAB but will continue in the new catalog)

Painted Inspired by Nature

This is one of the cards we made at my April card class last week. I have loved the Inspired by Nature stamp set since it first came out. For some reason, I never bought it. It was on my list so many time, but somehow it always got cut. I ordered it a couple of weeks ago when I saw yet ANOTHER gorgeous card using it. Isn't it fabulous? I colored the image with my Stampin' Up markers (always start with the lightest color and add progressively darker ones so you don't stain your lighter markers) and added accents to make the flowers more life-like.


Supplies I used for this card:
Ruby red cardstock (#102030, $5.50)
So saffron cardstock (#105118, $5.50)
Certainly celery cardstock (#105125, $5.50)
Sweet Pea DSP (#117161, $24.95)
Whisper white cardstock (#100730, $7.50)
Pumpkin pie grosgrain ribbon (#109030, $4.95)
Ruby red stampin' marker (#100.075, $3.25)
Summer sun stampin' marker (#100077, $3.25)
More mustard stampin' marker (#100076, $3.25)
Old olive stampin' marker (#100079, $3.25)
Close to cocoa stampin' pad (#103139, $5.95)
Inspired by Nature (#111656, $23.95)
Ticket corner punch (#107214, $6.95)
Stampin' sponges (#101610, $3.50)

Donna's Card

On Friday my very good friend - Donna - defended her dissertation and officially became Dr. Donna. I am so proud of her! We have gone through so much together over the past three years. I absolutely couldn't miss her defense and wanted to take her an extra special card in honor of the occasion. I forgot to take a picture of it, so I had to ask her to take a picture and send it to me. I made those roses using a technique that a sideline taught me (Julia), but she got it from Julie Williams' blog. Aren't they gorgeous? I think it's much more beautiful in real life. The card is 5.5 x 5.5, an odd size, I know.


Supplies I used for this card:
Pretty in pink cardstock (#100459 , $5.50)
Barely banana cardstock (#102701 , $5.50)
Whisper white cardstock (#100730 , $7.50)
Versamark pad (#102283 , $7.50)
White embossing powder (#109132, $4.75)
Regal rose stampin' pad (#105130 , $5.50)
Bone folder - very important for the roses (#102300, $6.95)
Extra large fancy flower punch (#118073 , $15.95)
Pretties Kit (#109114, $29.95)
So saffron grosgrain ribbon (retired from SAB a couple of years ago)
Happy Everything stamp set - inside the card (#115235, $18.95)

Sidebar Updates

I realized this morning that I had not updated my sidebar. Oops. I've removed the Sale-a-Bration flyer and I've added two widgets addressing the color renovation at Stampin' Up! The first widget will take you to a PDF of the new color families that Stampin' Up will be introducing this summer (I can't wait!). The second will take you to a PDF of the retiring colors. While I'm very excited about some new colors - Stampin' Up sent us samples of the five new ones - I'm going to be boo-hooing over the loss of a few of my favorites. I adore ruby red and summer sun (you'll see it on my blog several times this coming week!) and I don't know that I can sponge my edges without close to cocoa! I know I'll grow to love the colors and and how I think about and use the remaining colors. Can I say STOCKPILE? I predict a little bit of hoarding coming my way.

Week in Review - April 24

It has been another wild week around here.

Monday night was the Night of Pops and Praise for my orchestra. We've been working hard on that music for the past couple of months. It went very well - it's always a fun night. We play, there is a small vocal group that sings, and the World Famous Apache Belles dance a few numbers. This year we did a Broadway theme with My Fair Lady, Irving Berlin, Magnificent Seven, Lord of the Dance (this one was a beast to play!), and several others. Lots of fun!

Eva Grace had her dress rehearsal on Tuesday for a dance recital. The theme of the show was "When I Grow Up..." and her class was "... I may be a Cowgirl". It was very cute.

On Thursday I defended my dissertation. After you make your presentation (about an hour long), they question you (about 30-40 minutes in my case), and then they send you out of the room while they deliberate. It's a nerve-wracking, nail-biting 10 minute wait but it's an AMAZING feeling when your chair comes out and says, "Congratulations, Dr. Carnes!" Then you walk back in the room to your other committee members standing to shake your hand and congratulate you. I still have edits to complete before it's published, but it's awesome!

I had a card class on Thursday night (scheduled when I thought the defense deadline was April 16) and made some pretty cards I'll be showing you over the next week.

On Friday, by very good friend defended her dissertation. I couldn't miss that! I made her an absolutely amazing card (well, I thought so!) and gave it to her without taking a picture of it. I'm trying to get a picture so you can see it. It was definitely a WOW card! After her defense we had a wonderful leisurely lunch to celebrate our successes. Then we went back to campus to run a few errands. I bought my graduation regalia. I finally have a velvet robe and a tam! It makes me want to jump with glee!

This morning was EG's dance recital. Very cute! This afternoon, I had a Simply Adorned class where participants received the chain and the 1x1 1/4" char and made 5 inserts for it. I think they turned out well!

Look for posts of cards beginning on Monday. Also, we are getting very close to the new Summer Mini Catalog which means a Stampin' Addicts blog hop! I absolutely LOVE the set I'm featuring. I can't wait to show you!

Week in Review - April 17

This has been a super crazy week. I've been preparing for my dissertation defense which is scheduled for this coming Thursday at 10:45. I'm excited but very nervous. I have four people on my committee and I know that one friend will be there for sure, another is trying to make it, and my husband will be there. I hope I don't embarrass myself!

The week at work was very long and hard. I'm sure glad that one is over! That's about all I can say about that.

On Tuesday of this week, I went to my upline's monthly meeting where we learn techniques and make things. We make three projects each month. There is always a technique that we learn and usually a card and a 3-D item. This month we made two 3-D items.

The first project I'm showing is the notepad we made. Inside is a junior legal pad. The project features the new Awash with Flowers set. This is a special deal from Stampin' Up. If you hostess a workshop of $350 this month, you can earn the set for FREE this month only as a sneak preview. The set will be one of the new ones featured in the 2010-2011 catalog that comes out in July.

The next item was a heated Big Shot flower. I used the scallop circle die and the scallop circles #2 die. I think the spring colors are very cute. Now I just need a spring cardigan in a certainly celery or mambo melon color. What do you think?

My favorite project of the night was featured by Julia Lassiter, one of my sidelines. She doesn't have a blog, but she got the technique from Julie Williams' blog. These are the most beautiful, gorgeous, amazing flowers you have ever seen. I'm going to spend some time working on these this afternoon. Isn't this fabulous? It's paper! I think it looks like a sugar flower from a cake. The paper is so saffron and it is sponged with regal rose. Expect to see some projects using these flowers soon!

Review of the last week

Whew! It's been a crazy, wild, scary, and exciting week. I started the week with very little sleep as I finished my dissertation and prepared it for submission. I finally sent it for submission on Wednesday morning around 2:30. I had some preliminary edits from my chair by mid-morning and sent out my (most recently) edited version to my committee on Wednesday afternoon. I'm in the process of scheduling my final dissertation defense right now. I'm nervous and very excited!Yesterday, we went to Athens to visit the Freshwater Fishery. It was Outdoor Fools Day. I'm definitely not an outdoorsy type of person, but we had a lot of fun. We saw fish, tried our hand at geocaching, painted, built boats and rockets, walked four miles, and tried archery. It was lots of fun. Pictures follow the post.

Roy is doing some landscaping at the cemetery where my grandmother is buried. I received two Stampin' Up orders this week, including a box with my pre-order for the new Summer Mini Catalog. I'm so excited about the cute new stuff. I have tons of ideas I can't wait to try. Tonight I'm headed downstairs to play. Look for some fun stuff this week! Thanks for reading.

Cherry Cream Cheese Pie

Raspberry Tart

Spring Song Recipe

This is the first of three swaps I designed for my mother. She had to create spring-themed 6x6 recipe scrapbook cards.

Personally, my life is like Nemo - keep typing...keep typing...keep typing... Wednesday is the "drop dead deadline". I don't like the way that sounds because it sounds too prophetic. I went to the eye doctor this afternoon to renew my glasses prescription. He told me I'm getting very close to the bifocals step - I completely blame the dissertation. Am I that old?

Supplies are listed below. Enjoy!



So saffron cardstock
Mellow moss cardstock
Whisper white cardstock
Spring song stamp set
Watercolor pencils
Blender pens
Stazon ink
Mellow moss ink
Eyelet border punch
Crimper
Sticky strip
White brads

Simply Adorned Swap, Part 2

This is the second part of the swap I participated in. Stampin' Up now sells a charm bracelet with both square and round charms. I participated in the square charm insert swap. It's really hard to design something so tiny! I didn't expect it to be nearly so difficult. I decided to make a happy/fun insert and used the Picture This hostess stamp set from the spring mini catalog. It was a stamp set I initially didn't order and I've seen so many cute things with it. It's really versatile and super cute! The back of the insert is supposed to look like a honeycomb. I cut out the tiny bees and painted the wings with champagne shimmer paint (yes! it's still available!) and popped it up on a tiny piece of a dimensional. I've listed all of the supplies below. Enjoy and come back tomorrow. I'm still not done writing (last ditch effort to meet the "drop dead deadline" by Wednesday, but I've scheduled several posts to keep you entertained until after the deadline. Drop in and leave a comment - I need all the positivity I can get!

Supplies used:
Yoyo yellow cardstock (#102824, $5.50)
Whisper white cardstock (#100730, $7.50)
Basic black ink (#101179, $5.95)
Yoyo yellow stampin' write marker (#100050, $3.25)
Circle Circus stamp set (#115778, $28.95)
Picture This stamp set (#116928 - wood; #118538 - clear, Level 1 Hostess Set)
Champagne mist shimmer paint (#116806, $5.95)

Simply Adorned Swap, Part 1

Today's post is about the first of two inserts I made for the swap I participated in. This insert is for the necklace charm. Below are pictures of the front (tree) and the back (flower). Yes, you can decorate the back of the charms! Isn't that great? I do a little more elaborate front and then put less on the back. The space between the back glass and the front beveled glass on the charms is enough to add in some dimension and embellishments. You can see that I added in some of the mini brads. Because there is only one layer (don't stick the brad through the paper!), I cut the legs off the brads with my craft scissors and applied the brad with mini glue dots. I think it turned out cute! I've added the supply list below. Have a good day and a beautiful Easter weekend.

Supplies:
Simply Adorned Chain - 24" (#116800, $10.95) - 36" is available
Simply Adorned 1" x 1 1/4" rectangular charm (#116798, $18.95)
Whisper white cardstock (#100730, $7.50)
Close to cocoa stampin' pad (#103139, $5.95)
Green galore stampin' pad (#102122, $5.95)
Glorious green stampin' pad (#103040, $5.95)
Tempting turquoise stampin' pad (#100814, $5.95)
Real red CRAFT stampin' pad (#101190, $7.50)
Clear embossing powder (#109130, $4.75)
Heat tool (#100005, $29.95)
Trendy Trees stamp set (#113258, $17.95)
Little Flowers stamp set (#115020, $11.95)
Sanded background stamp (#109294, $17.95)
Bold Brights Brads (#106957, $8.95)
1/2" circle punch (#104390, $5.95)

Simply Adorned Jewelry

I bought a Simply Adorned chain and charm from Stampin' Up. I love the quality. I've had them a little over a month but I've not had time to do anything with them. Enter a swap I joined a couple of months ago and I now have some inserts to wear my jewelry. I'll show you some of what I made over the next few days.


The charm I bought was the 1 1/4 x 1 " locket. These are a little small. I didn't want to get one that was too big. I've seen some of the larger ones, though, and they look very nice. These are the first two inserts I made. The one on the left has a tiny butterfly I cut out, popped up with a dimensional (well, a sliver of a dimensional), and painted with champagne shimmer paint. The one of the left was colored with my Stampin' Write markers. After I stamped it, I colored over it with my two-way glue pen and sprinkled dazzling diamonds over it. It gives it a nice shine!

If you are interested in the Simply Adorned Jewelry line, you can order from my demonstrator website. Better yet, if you are in East Texas (or don't mind a little road trip), I'm having a class you will love:

This class will use the Simply Adorned jewelry line to create a beautiful gift for Mother's Day, a birthday, graduation, or for yourself! The class fee includes a charm (1" x 1 1/4") and a chain (24"). You will create 5 different inserts to give with your gift. This will make a perfect accessory for any outfit. I can't wait to share the Simply Adorned line with you!

The cost of the class is $40 and includes the charm, the chain, and five inserts to get you started on your collection. You will also create gift presentation for the box as well as a card for your recipient.

Your payment will be your RSVP and must be received by April 10 so I can order the supplies in time for the class. Join us for this class - I know you will love the jewelry. It's absolutely gorgeous!

Still Here

You can still count me among the living. It's been a crazy week. Basically, I have to have the full version of my dissertation to my chair on Sunday night, the final version to my committee by next Wednesday, and then defend it by April 16 in order to graduate in May. I'm trying. I'm not so sure about it working right now. I've added three chapters. I still have two chapters to write. Fortunately, one is pretty short (maybe 12-15 pages?). I designed some recipe cards for my mother for a swap she signed up for, so I even have some crafty stuff to show! I honestly haven't had time to take pictures or upload them in the past week.

I leave for work around 6:30, drop both girls off with brother and sister-in-law (it is a HUGE help for them to take the girls to school for me), work all day, then head to a local university library (not the one where I'm getting my degree - this one is 20 minutes from my house rather than 75 minutes) where I write for 4-5 hours. I've been getting home between 9 and 10. I've been spending weekends (7-8 hours a day) there too. Hopefully it will all be finished soon. I have so many plans for what I want to do after I graduate. Peace and blessings to you.

Bitty Mail

Some time ago, my oldest invaded my 3D stash and decorated a little mailbox (How dare her! I was going to get around to altering that mailbox. It was only down there - what? two years?).

She promptly put it into the living room and directed everyone to send her mail on a regular basis. My mother does a much better job at getting mail to her (mostly daily), but I've put things in there for her as well. I knew it was time to send some mail, so I headed downstairs to make something quickly. I couldn't just scribble on a legal pad, right? This card took me five minutes - LITERALLY. I used scraps on my desk and made them fit into something that would work. Everything on this card is a scrap - even the ribbon which I used to hold the card closed! Um, yes, I did use a cameo coral marker because my earth element markers were already on my desk and I would have had to get up and walk across my room to get my soft subtles. It really looks fine (don't judge me!). I think it turned out just precious! The card measures 2x2 - it really is tiny!

Supplies for this card:
Pretty in pink cardstock, cut 4x2 and scored at 2" (#100459, $5.50)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Sending Love DSP (#117153, $11.95)
Very vanilla cardstock (101650, $7.50)
Picture This stamp set (Level 1 Hostess; #116928 - W; 118538 - C; FREE)
Chocolate chip stampin' write marker (#100071, $3.25)
Cameo coral stampin' write marker (#100475, $3.25)
Chocolate chip taffeta ribbon (#109065, $6.95)
Sweet Pea felts (#117266, $7.95)
Word window punch (#105090, $15.95)

Scrapbook: Me

I've been busy (trying) to write on my dissertation this week. It's been horrible. For the last two years I have written - literally - hundreds of papers, thousands of pages. And I sit in front of the computer all day and eek out one page? Where is the justice in that?

I haven't been downstairs to create in quite a while and I've run out of pre-scheduled posts. I started looking through my old pictures at some projects I never blogged. This is one. I like it for several reasons - the colors and style are different than I normally do, the pictures are ones I love, and it was a project that I worked hard on and incorporated some time-consuming techniques I don't often have the luxury of completing. Most of all, I love it because it is scrapbooking.

I got into this whole crafting thing for scrapbooking (read the "More About Me" on my sidebar). I adore scrapbooking. Try as I might, I can't get any of my customer to develop a love for it and the only classes I have are card classes. I like cards and they are fun to make, but my heart is in scrapbooking. If I ever finish this dissertation (I'm not holding my breath today), I can't wait to spend time scrapping and teaching my daughters to make their own memory books. Sigh. Until then - keep typing ... keep typing .... (Remember Nemo).

I made this a couple of years ago and several of the materials had been retired even then!
Chocolate chip cardstock
Cranberry crisp stampin' pad (retired)
Afternoon Tea DSP (retired and STILL one of my favorites!)
Silver brads
Non-SU metal clip
Very vanilla cardstock
Pretties kit
Chipboard
Big Shot die cutting machine
Top note die
Chocolate chip taffeta ribbon
Curly label punch
Cutter kit
Sanding blocks
Tab punch
Crop-a-dile
Eyelets

Techniques: sewing, sponging, distressing, sanding

Thanks, Sweet Pea

I needed to make a card for a customer-friend this week. She's moving and I don't envy her a bit. Ugh! I hope she likes it - and I hope it gets there before this posts on my blog later in the week since I know she reads it (Hi!). I used the Mojo Monday 129 sketch for this card. When I first looked at it, I had a lot of trouble conceptualizing that how it should look. Once I sat down and started creating, it just fell together. I love all the layers (I added a couple, I think) and these colors! And guess what? I can make a card without using my Big Shot! (Nevermind that had originally envisioned using an embossing folder.)

Supplies I used to make this card:
Old olive cardstock (#100702, $5.50)
Taken with teal cardstock (#101584, $5.50)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Sweet Pea DSP (#117161, $24.95)
Chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109051, $7.95)
Trendy Trees stamp set (#113258, $17.95)
Good Neighbors stamp set (#118378 (W) or #119116 (C); FREE with $50 purchase during Sale-a-Bration)
Chocolate chip stampin' pad (#100908, $5.95)
Taken with teal stampin' pad (#103257, $5.95)
Ruby red stampin' write marker (#100075, $3.25)
Old olive stampin' pad (#102277, $5.95)
Ballet blue stampin' pad (#100907, $5.95)

Mail Call at Kids Camp

My baby is growing up. (Sniff, sniff.) Each year our church holds a camp during spring break for 3-5 graders. They are gone four days and three nights. During the second grade year there is a preview opportunity where the kids are able to go for one night. Eliza is a second grader this year and was very excited to have her turn for camp. I would normally sign myself up to go as a sponsor, but I've never had the luxury of having the same spring break as the rest of my family. So ... off I sent my baby to her first overnight camp. I was a little teary and she was completely stoked. One of the ladies in the orchestra with me was a sponsor, so I had an insider who would take extra good care of her. She told me that Eliza had the best time and never held back - she did everything! I'm so glad she was able to go and had an amazing time. It made it easier on me.

One of the things that parents could do was send mail that would be delivered each day after lunch. I got up super early last Friday morning to make this card for Eliza. In honor of my little girl going off to camp, I even decorated the inside - something I rarely do. It came together very quickly and had only a little stamping. I was happiest with the ribbon rouching. I had a couple of "leftover" sketches on my desk and grabbed one to make this card. I believe this is Mojo Monday sketch #120.

Supplies I used for this card:
Big Shot die cutting machine (#113439, $99.95)
Perfect polka dots embossing folder (#117335, $7.95)
Scallop trim border punch (#118402, FREE during Sale-a-Bration with $50 order)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Pretty in pink cardstock (#100459, $5.50)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650, $7.50)
Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (#117153, $11.95)
Corner rounder punch (#109047, $6.95)
Sticky strip (#104294, $6.95)
Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (#109056, $7.95)
Sweet Pea stitched felt (#117266, $7.95)
Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set (#111618, $23.95)
Chocolate chip stampin' pad (#100908, $5.95)

Top Note Dresser

I saw one of these top note dressers on someone's blog (I'm so sorry, but I can't remember where I first saw this) and have since seen them on several other blogs. When I planned my Big Shot class for last week, I knew that I would have to reproduce that dresser as a sample. Isn't it just precious?

I used the stiff backing from packages of DSP to make the core of the top and bottom. I then covered that piece with DSP on both sides. I think it's very important to use the correct adhesive on this layering. I used the Tombow and it worked beautifully. I was able to get close to the edge and hold is tight. Nothing short of a tornado (or my three year old!) is separating those layers! As a reminder, with Tombow, a little dab'll do you!

Everything else was easy as pie! I didn't have a template, but the project is self-explanatory and just takes a few cuts. I didn't do a lot of embellishment because I fell in love with the simplicity of the paper. It's one of my favorite patterns and the color is fabulous!

Supplies I used to make this project:
Big Shot die cutting machine (#113439, $99.95)
Top note die (#113463, $21.95)
Tombow multi purpose adhesive (#110755, $3.95)
Sticky strip (#104294, $6.95)
Matchbox die (#114890, $42.95)
Pewter jumbo eyelets (#108432, $9.95)
Elementary Ribbon Originals (#116231, $9.95)
Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper (#113974, $9.95)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650, $7.50)