Easter Card

I found this card on Splitcoast Stampers last night and just had to try it!  I was definately work and I didn't begin to do as good a job as the original or the one I first saw, but it's cute and I'll give it to my girls and maybe, just maybe I'll make another some day.  I loved the side step card,which I had never made before so  I learned something new and had fun!  All the credit goes to "Serenity Stamper" at Splitcoast and the originator Jackie Topa - her link is http://http://www.jackietopa.typepad.com/.  The instructions for this card are on her blog along with some other great projects and cards.  Thanks to all for the idea!

Stampin' Up! TopNote Die

Following the post of my Februay Christmas Card I have had several questions about how I got the double Top Note - so I've taken some pictures - See below!

This first picture shows the folded paper placed on the top note die.  You can place it where ever you want to determine size as long as it's below the top cutting edge.  The second picture shows it cut and the third picture shows it open.

This last picture shows how you can place the fold at the center point - cut and have it ready to go on a bag as a topper!  It's always folded perfectly this way.

Hope this helps!

Sally's March Projects

As many of you know Sally Keller is my upline .She is a fabulous and creative friend as well!  I go to  her house once a month for her club and get such great ideas and learn new techniques and this month was no exception.  Here are the three cards she had for us to make this month, of course, I had to change things up so they're a little different that she had planned, but I think she's used to me by now and doesn't mind.  So  here they are! 

I love this first one.  It's my first time to use bleach.  Other than the smell I loved the effect and plan on doing it at one of my next club gatherings.  I love this stamp set!

This Bloomin' Beautiful set is also one of my favorites - we used the Three Little Words sentiments - so on the inside it says I Love You!

This card is made with Cheap Talk, I called it cheap trick, but it's really Cheap Talk - the stamp set not the band.  Anyway, I love making vases using the small oval punch and the flower was part of the On Board So Tweet.  I placed my DSP too high so I had to tear the bottom so my scallops could be seen - at least this was a fix!

This was a very fun time.  It's especially fun for me because all I do is show up and stamp!

Mini Occasions Catalog - April Special

April 1 is Mini Occasions catalog opening sales date and there's a special for orders placed from it during the month of April! Love those specials - for every $40.00 ordered from the mini catty you can order one of the under $10.00 sets from page 208 of the Spring/Summer catalog for free. Yes that's right - free! Can't beat that - so check out the Occasions catty and get your order reay to go.

Bluebonnet Picture

Just wanted to tell you that the picture in the header of this blog is from my yard!  My flowers have been beautiful this Spring and if you would like to see more go to http://www.bevvictoryphotos.blogspot.com/. 

March Christmas Card Challenge

Well, the challenge is supposed to be that I will complete a minimum of ten cards a month and five friends joined me in this challenge.  We meet once a month and make our cards together as we laugh and talk and snack!  Well, the challenge this month for me was to find a card to make.  You see I've decided as have some of the others to make different cards each month - last month was a breeze.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do and had my paper cut ahead of time, ready to go and the cards all got done.

Now there's this month!  I picked out a card and was going to do one similar to it, but I couldn't find the snowflake stamp anywhere.  I handn't written down what sets I had used last year and this was what I was basing the card on and so I hunted and then I tried to find another design.  It's like finding another restaurant after the one you wanted to go to is closed or has an hour wait!  Nothing ever really makes you happy even though you eat, it still never satisfies you.  Well, thats what happened last night with my cards.  So here's this months card - however, there are only eight.  It's not my favorite, but my challenge is met well almost - I did say there are only eight!

On the good side - today I found the snowflake stamp and so one month I may make those cards I wanted to make so badly last night.  You see it won't be next month because I've already got next month all planned out.  Yes, I have the stamps ready to go, the layout with the stamps and when I finish with this I'm gathering the paper and placing everything in a box labeled for next month!   Hopefully, the only challenge will be to get the cards made!

Friends & Wedding Favor Update

Well now you know what the project was all about.  I am happy to say (the bride is very happy) that all of the wedding favors are complete and have gone home with the bride to be!  She came over and after a quick bite to eat we settled down and wrapped the ribbons and stuck on the "L" and packed them away in a box.  The wedding is April 4th so I didn't leave her a lot of time to relax - kept her guessing all the way as to whether she would have them or not!  Anyway here is the picture of the finished product 0packed up and ready to go- hopefully, we'll soon have pictures from the wedding and the favors in place on the tables!  Here's one more picture with it all by itself - my sample to keep!

Friends

I've been working on a project today and it has allowed me time to contemplate friendship. As I worked I thought about the thousands of people, both male and female who have come throughmy life. I've always heard that some are for a reason, some for a season and others for a lifetime and I've found this is to be true in my life.

I've had friends that I thought would be around forever and now it's been years since I've heard from them - don't even know where they are now. Others came into my life and I really didn't expect them to stay, but stay they have and for this I'm glad.

It just has caused me to think about why some become such an important part of our life and others just come in, stay awhile, go, come back and go and it really doesn't impact our lives or theirs.

Since I started stamping I've had so many wonderful women come in to my life. Some I've actually known for a long time but not really known until now. Some are young, some are middle age and some are older - at least, older than me! All have brought me new insights both in what we do and in myself. They've brought me laughter, lots of laughter and a few have brought tears, but all have brought something special to my life.

Enough contemplation - life is good and my new friends have made my life more special than I ever imagined!

Now for that project - here's s shot of what I've been doing tonight! One of you will recognize these and know that you are a very special friend and I thank God for you. More later!

March Stamp Club

We had a small group this month, but we had fun and created some great cards! They are all shown above - My samples used different stamps so they could see the options. These cards were cased from Stampin' Up web site, and designed by Mercedes Weber. I changed up some stamps and other small items, but I give her the full credit for great ideas.

The St. Patrick's card was designed after one I cased was just more than I thought my ladies would enjoy. I knew they would think I was crazy to cut this little guy out, so I modified the design.

This is the one I cased from the SU site and unfortunately I can't find the designers name at this time. I will keep looking and update this when I find it.

I have some more fun cards I've made and will try to get them up over the weekend.

Card Challenges

I thought it would be tomorrow, but I just can't wait to get this card up - I wanted to do the color challenge for this week (Splitcoaststampers) and a new friend (fellow demo) offers a weekly challenge and invited me to do it - so this meets both challenges! Is that cool or what?

The color challenge was to use Kiwi Kiss, Passion Pink and Chocolate Chip and I did! The other challenge was a sketch challenge and that's how I came up with the layout. I love the way these challenges make me think and most of the time I like the results. Tonight I like this one a lot! Hope you enjoy - Follow this link to the challenge - http://www.kerinstamps.com/stampin_with_kerin/2009/02/thursday-sketch-challenge.html

March, it can't be!

Where is the time going? Seems the older I get the faster time flies by - what is that all about? Seems like it should be the other way, but . . . .



I've been doing more stamping lately and was surprised to see I hadn't been here since 2/22 - but then it hit me - I've been uploading to my Split Coast Stampers Gallery. So here are some of my more recent cards. This first one was a SCS Sketch Challenge - first one I had entered - turned out ok - hated those 1" squares - definately need a 1" punch!




Next is the Valentine I gave my sweetie Bill - always love that "Loads of Love" stamp set!





My dear friend Kathy celebrated her birthday February 24th. I made this Live, Laugh, & Love card for her and also made her a "mini" scrapbook of pictures of her various drama characters. I used the Big Shot and top note die to create the pages. Kathy is an amazing writer and actress and does a fabulous one woman show - I've been fortunate to be with her since the beginning and the pictures are ones I took - I used the title "Drama Queen" in the most complimentary way - as in my mind she is the "Queen of Drama."

This is my post for today, but I'll be back tomorrow. I completed the color challenge for SCS and will be uploading it tonight along with some other fun cards.


Happy Stamping!