Stampers Rock

I know - as if you didn't already know that!

Stamp Camp was last night and this morning, and I had an absolute blast!  If you were one of the fleet who graced my home with your presence - thank you!!!  You always make me smile, laugh, and have a great time.  What a great way to pick up your spirits!

In the entertaining news department, y'all know how angelic my little humanoids are........  Well, Little Miss Redhead had been scarfing those little mint patties all afternoon.  So when I was on the phone and she ran the other direction when I told her to hand it over, I really wasn't majorly concerned.

Until I discovered what was ACTUALLY in her sweet little hands.  Shimmer paint.  Yep, she wanted to see what was in the little container, so she very sneakily opened the top, stuck her dainty little flanges in there, and wound up with a mess of platinum on her hands!

So .... we have learned that it doesn't stay on black jeans nearly as permanently as I had feared.  And it comes off little fingers pretty quickly (damp dishrag).  AND, most importantly, she was actually quiet and listened as we discussed how to handle a similar situation in the future (as in TELL mommy so we can get it fixed BEFORE the mess gets too big and mommy explodes and duct tapes you to the ceiling!). 

We'll see if that last part actually happens .... don't hold your breath. But it sounds good, doncha think?!

I hope your day was full of less mess ..... but the fun factor may have out-weighed the whole trauma part ...... interesting how life sort of evens itself out, huh?!

Happy inking!!!!!

Fun Fold and Tweak-age

Greetings and aloha!

OK, so I saw this awesome concept on a blog somewhere in the universe.  I have been through my notes and have evidently eaten the original info.  Or one of the kids deleted if from my computer (highly unlikely at this point in their lives).  So if it was your ingenious idea, you rock!  If not, then know that someone out there is awesome ...... when I find the details, I will provide appropriate credit.

All that aside, here's the card:

To make the punch-out happen, you need the Movers and Shapers Curly Label die for your Big Shot (you NEED this tool!!!!).  After doing one backward and inside-out and upside down, finally all the braincells clicked at the same instant and voila!  Half of a punch that layers with a regular punch! Next one is to try the heart from the Punch Window group (pg. 201).  I think that would be awesome!

Liza, if you're reading this, I designed it for you.  Yes, I know you never got it.  I ended up sending you a different "happy engagement card," but this was my first idea!  You're welcome.  :-)  So yes, it took some figuring out, but I had a great time playing and experimenting.

I used Friends 24-7 (seems I like that set) and Bella Bleu DSP (Designer Series Paper).  It's Not Quite Navy that matches so spiffily, along with Very Vanilla.

That's it - now go play with your Big Shot and see what trouble you can cause!!!!!  (have fun!!!!!!!)

It's NOT My Fault!!!

Stampin' Up! came up with the whole Deal of the Week thing - they didn't even ASK me if I thought it would be a good idea.  Imagine!

So I have been looking at the cute little Princess and Pirate Party thingies ever since the catalog came out in July.  We have birthdays in January and February, so I wasn't in a rush.  Now Stampin' Up! decided that those very items need to go on sale.  I HAVE to get 'em ..... there really isn't a discussion.  Don't you agree?!?!?!?!

So here's what they look like:

Are those too cute for words or what?!  It seems the pictures don't want to enlarge when you click 'em, so go HERE, click on your favorite, and then hit the little (almost hidden at the bottom left of the image) "More Images" thingy and have fun.  Cool, huh?!  

Yes, because you're shopping at my Stampin' Up! business website, you get the "Preferred" pricing (which, conveniently, is the same as in the big catalog).  To get that price, you just have to say that you are ordering from me and it's OK for me to know that.  If you wish to remain incognito, that's fine, too.  So you know, the profit from all the folks who want to remain anonymous goes into a giant pool (not the liquid kind).  At the end of each month (or quarter, depending upon how much $$$ is actually there), that money is split between ALL active demonstrators who have websites.  Amazing, huh?  Typically, I make four to six cents a month on those sales.  Takin' it to the bank!!!!!!!! 

OK, I am all better now.  It rained all day and I am kind of wiggly.  Time to run away from the computer and finish my last project for Stamp Camp.  It's not 'til Wednesday .... plenty of time(?!?!?!?!?).  Happy inking to all and to all a good night...........

Christmas Lattice

Christmas is such a joyous time of year - too bad we don't take such good care of each other throughout the entire year.  Imagine how different this world would be if we took the time daily to allow Christ's love to shine through us and to make another life just a little more pleasant.  I think I need to be the one to begin .... starting now.  (thanks for listening!)

I copied this idea from somewhere, but I have seen it sooooo many places, I have no idea who the originator is.  So thanks to all of Blogland for sharing your incredible ideas with all of us.  You rock!!!

This is the Lattice die cut twice - with the indispensable Big Shot (do you have yours yet?!).  Before adhering to the card, I mushed VersaMark all over one side, coated it in Iridescent Ice embossing powder, and then heated.  Holding that little booger still gets exciting, just in case you need to know that.  Then I just kept wiggling the pieces around until all the sudden it looked like a snowflake.  You want the pieces at 90 degrees from each other - attaining that exact angle proves to be more exciting than previously imagined!

To attach it to the card front, I used well-placed dimensionals.  Where two different papers crossed, I added the stickyness there.  Holds really well!  Here's what it looks like:

The sparkle in the picture is pretty much non-existent.  IRL (in real life) it's WAY fantastic!  Also hard to see in this photo are the background snowflakes done in VersaMark.  Such fun!  The most striking version of this card I have made is with Basic Black, Real Red, and Very Vanilla.  It also looks nice with Night of Navy instead of the black.  I am sure there are about a bazillion other color combinations that will work. 

Have fun, and may you have an inky day!!!

Birthday Stack

Happy Birthday!  OK, someone probably has a birthday today, but I don't really know who.  But we all need birthday cards of some sort to be able to send to everyone we have ever met.  Or something like that.

I am not usually a turquoise sort of a girl, but this one was pretty fun to play with!  I love how the layers of On A Pedestal stack.  Using your Stamp-a-ma-Jig, you can make this cake as tall as you like.  OR, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, mask off the part of the pedestal that holds the cake, then make the flat part of the cake be up - now you have a fancy drink glass (margaritas, sangria, etc.!).  Such a fun and versatile set - and under $20!!!  This one is not my original idea at all.  As a demonstrator, we have an EXCELLENT (pardon me for yelling) resource online called Stamper's Showcase.  All sorts of card and project samples exist for us to play with and get more ideas from (don't end a sentence with a preposition).  I love that when my braincells stop working, I can borrow someone else's!!!!!

Here's my (cased) card:

Fun, huh?!  Because I didn't anything that specifically says "birthday," I can send this for any occasion.  Life is grand!!!

Here's how I made it:

Stamp Set: On a Pedestal

Colors:  Bermuda Bay, Night of Navy, Pink Passion, Shimmery White paper

Accessories:  Top Note Bigz Die (a must-have!), Eyelet Border Punch, Ribbon, Felt Fusion, Rhinestone Brads

May you have a wonderfully inky day!

Classy Bird

Aloha once again!  It's mildly freaky that I am posting daily after ignoring this little blog for soooooo long.  I am not ever gonna promise that I will post daily, but I will post as often as my schedule allows.  How'z that for a good non-answer?!

Here's a spiffy (and classy) bird card that we made in a stamp camp a while back.  It was one of those cards that made everyone drool.  Got all over my stuff.  Silly stampers.  Well, that or they liked it a whole bunch!  Here's what it looks like:

After running the So Saffron piece through my Big Shot (you NEED this!!), I dabbed on a little adhesive (the Tombow liquid stuff ).  I then covered the world in Dazzling Diamonds glitter (my daughter rolled in it).  There's a wonderful sparkle IRL (in real life), which makes it less subtle, but still classy.  Really.  I wouldn't kid you about something like that!  (probably)

The sentiment is from Wonderful Favorites.  I didn't know who I was gonna give this to, so I didn't put a label on it (sister, friend, daughter, grandma, etc.).  But I do like how it looks with just the "wonderful" part.  I think I won't change that.

There's also a bunch of sponging on this card.  Before adding glitter and glue, I sponged the edge of the Saffron piece.  I also sponged the edges of the vanilla pieces, just 'cuz it was fun!  Although making a billion of these would be annoying, this really wasn't a majorly time-consuming card.  Pretty fun to put together!

I hope you have a wonderfully inky day!!!!

Parts to make this:

Stamp Sets:  Friends 24-7, Wonderful Favorites

Colors:  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Sponges, Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (OR Two Way Glue Pen), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

Aliens Everywhere!

This little Greetings Earthling set is thoroughly entertaining!  I love that you can stack the little guys, or even use the squiggle in different ways (brain cell departing, laser ray gun waves, boinging ailens,....).  I found a tutorial for Wiper Cards on Splitcoaststampers and had some fun.  When the card is closed, the "wiper" with the sentiment folds into the card.  It makes me giggle to play with this one!  (now you understand more about me, don't you?!)  Anyway, here's the cute little alien guys:

May you have a beautiful day, whether you're dealing with little blue aliens or not!!!

Here's the stuff I used to make 'em so very cute:

Greetings, Earthling

Paper: Watercolor Paper, Kraft, Brilliant Blue, Razzlebery Lemonade Designer Series Paper (DSP)

Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Aquapainters, Bead Duo (orange), Crystal Effects, Ribbon

Playing with Scrapbooking

OK, so it seems that my time playing on the computer is starting to be productive.  Who knew?!  Below is one of the pages of the Zoo scrapbook that has arrived at my house!!!!!!!!  Is that the awesome-est news ever or what?!  Anyway, here's one of the pages:

Is that precious or what?!  Yes, I know, as the mommy I am supposed to be prejudiced, but come on!!!

I hope that your day is amazingly wonderful!!!!

~Tricia

Halloween Treat

Happy Halloween, all!!!  OK, it's a tad early, but if you have urchins, you're preparing now....

I saw several blogs with a lollipop made out of Sweet Treat Cups from the mini catty. I was then "forced" to make my own version! I'm gonna make these for the kids we go trick-or-treating with in a couple weeks. We're out in the country enough that we only get one or two kids ringing the bell that night. Dianne, one of our buddies down the street, started taking out their hay wagon one year, and now it has become a tradition! We gather up the munchkins and sit on the hay bales and go trick-or-treating together. I will make these, Dianne has glow sticks, and we'll all have lots o' fun! Last year, the Headless Horseman followed behind us for a couple blocks. His horse kept eating hay off the back. What a treat!!!

Enjoy your day, and have a great time Gettin' Inky!

Here's what I used to make this treat:

Sweet Centers (mini catty pgs. 6 - 7)  119232  $29.95
Sweet Treat Cups (mini pg. 7)  116802  $2.95 for 12
1-3/4" Circle Punch (pg. 186)  112004  $15.95
Ribbon - Black and White Gingham and Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain (pg. 183)

Deal of the Week

Greetings and happy Tuesday!  Yesterday, posted on the Stampin' Up! website, was yet another Deal of the Week.  We get to order the cool toys below at a nice discount through this coming Monday morning at 10:50am our time.  Then, at 11:00am, the final Deal of the Week will be unveiled.  No, I don't know what's gonna be next.  I only know that this is now:

 Deal of the Week #3

Item #	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special
114348	179	Basic Jumbo Grommets	$          6.95	$    4.49
109857	179	Mini Library Clips	$        12.95	$    8.99
112571	179	Circle Designer Brads	$          5.95	$    3.99
112581	179	1/2" Library Clips	$          6.95	$    3.99

May you have a great time shopping!!!

I'm Back .....

I know, you have missed me (thanks, Annette!).

I have been playing with My Digital Studio (MDS). Actually, it's way more fun than I ever thought! I made a scrapbook of our travels to the zoo (a very frequent trip with munchkins), and I made a card. I know, I can't imagine that I will actually mas produce any cards digitally, but there are folks who think this whole create-it-with-paper-and-ink idea is silly. Can you even imagine?!

Anyway, here's my digitally produced card:

I have lots more to learn using the program, but it's a ball to play with! I keep trying to create a scrapbook using the traditional method, but have not been successful completing anything. But I have an actual book that will arrive at my house in the next few days that should be darn spiffy - come on over and I'll show ya!

It's a beautiful day here in central Texas .... time to go enjoy it!

I'll be back later with more inky-ness!