Sr. Center Cards...

Just cleaning up loose ends from the Spring. It was a busy summer at our house...it always is. These are the 4 cards the ladies made in May. The photos were taken in natural light and the colors are "off". We used the following sets:

~Always for the bird card.

~Simply Said for the pink card

~Very little stamping on the 3rd card...ink and CS

are River Rock that matched the printed vellum exactly, just not in this photo.

~And finally, Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set.

I'll post more cards from the class Sept. 11 soon.

Thanks for stopping by...

Oldie...

My Mom was looking through her stash of cards I've made for her. She pulled this one out and I was shocked! Yep, it's a card! I didn't remember making it! For me, once the cards leave the house, I can't remember what I make/send. Notice the "scallop" edge. I punched 3/4 inch circles and layered them under the pink CS. I'm excited to be able to create a neater scallop edge with Stampin' Up!'s new Scallop Edge Punch. Watch for a new version of this card using the punch....I can't wait to try it!

Glass coasters...

Here is a photo of all 4 coasters in their rack.

Watercolored background...

I gave these elegant glass coasters for a b'day gift recently. I created inserts for the coasters (set of 4). They are sold to hold photos, but I opted to watercolor and stamp my own inserts. I liked the finished look. It seemed a little more personal to me. Ink and Stamps are all from Stampin Up.

Where, oh where has my...

Mojo gone??? I had big plans to get caught up on cardmaking on my vacation. I drug a bunch of supplies with me. My Mom and I managed to create these 2 cards and that was it. Mine in the one on the left...her's on the right. I'm hoping "Stamp Camp" will help me get back in the groove.

before and after...

Before smoke...
On our recent OBX family vacation, we stayed on the Pamlico Sound...it's simply beautiful and peaceful. Unfortunately, wildfires ravaged Hyde County (inland) and the second photo shows some of the smoke that kept us indoors. Fortunately, when the wind shifted direction, it took the smoke with it. Click on pics to enlarge.

And after...

Sweet and Simple SWAP...

I was in another SWAP recently...this time, a Shoebox SWAP at Pennie's. I created this sweet and simple card using a color combination inspired by Pennie...Pale Plum and Purely Pomegranate! I love these colors together! The little glob in the center of the flower is actually a Mini Glue Dot, used to hold the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter in place. This didn't photograph very well...it's much better IRL. I also used a Glue Dot to hold the Ribbon Slider and Double Stitched Ribbon in place. It's a little hard to see, but I scored 2 lines down the left side of the cardstock panel for extra "texture".

DD prom pics...

Well, you all picked the same gown my DD liked. It is actually deep purple in color but photographed almost blue. Doesn't she look beautiful?!!!! more pics soon...

Last of the Swaps....

Mary Ann R. sent these swaps to me...all the way from Florida! Although I loved this set (Live Your Dreams) when I saw it in the Ocassions Mini catalog, I resisted purchasing it. After seeing Mary Ann's beautiful cards made with this set, I had to own it. I especially like the greeting for upcoming graduations. The Afternoon Tea Designer Paper is so pretty and coordinates with the stamp set. I now own the stamp set and a small, yet growing stack of the Afternoon Paper....shhhh!

Swaps, part 3...

Another group of great swap cards...this time from Janice L. Janice used Lots of Dots jumbo wheel, Phrases for a Friend and Friendly Flowers stamp sets from the Occasions Mini catalog. Didn't Janice do a great job!

more swaps....

My sideline, Kim Mullin created these wonderful cards. She used the set named Big on Spring from the Occasions Mini catalog. I love the variety of cards here and the colors are so soothing. The Dazzling Diamond glitter on the bride card really pops!

Swap results...

My creative, talented Upline, Pennie, made these SWAP cards, using a new stamp set named "Just Celebrate". Aren't these great! The versatile set is available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Stampin Up has extended the deadline to order from this "Mini" until June 30. All the swap cards I'm posting use sets from the Occasions Mini. Check back in the next few days to see more Swap results from Mary Ann R, Janice L and Kim M.

Carrie...check this out!

My DD is going to her first prom...guess which dress she chose?!?

Love Notes

These were the Make and Take projects from my recent Workshop. Each of the 17 ladies made all 3 cards. The 3 x 3 inch size makes them easy to embellish. You can use them as they are or attach them to a standard 4.25 x 5.5 inch card. The pink card was colored with Stampin' Up! Pure Color Pencils. The center card was simply stamped with Tempting Turquoise ink and punched using the Scallop Circle Punch. We added some Ginger Blossom Designer Paper and layered. The final card uses Kraft Cardstock and Berry Bliss Designer Paper. We added a Chipboard heart and the greeting from Define Your Life was stamped in Purely Pomegranate ink. PP ink was also sponged on the heart to color it. Thanks to Dawn and Margie for helping me the day of Eileen's 7th Annual Workshop! It was wild!

Sr. Center Class projects 4/24/08

I had 17 ladies sign up for class this time. I created these simple, easy cards for them. (click on each card to enlarge)
It's a challenge for me to create cards that use only one ink pad.
Keeping the cards simple is the key. Using different techniques and tools helps.

I generally used makers and punches for the Sr. Center cards. These are great for adding some "punch" to simple cards.

Rub-ons + Scallop Notes = Easy

Although this photo doesn't show these cute Scallop Notes very well...they are really sweet. Scallop edges are all the rage. I made this note card for a Party I held recently. No cutting, scoring or stamping involved. I simply applied Stampin Up Rub-ons! These are superior quality, in my opinion. This was a fun, easy project.

My SWAP cards...

I was recently invited to participate in a SWAP with 4 other Stampin Up Demos. I love this new set from the "Occasions" mini catalog, called Bloomin' Blossoms. (Pgs 2&3) Card #1 Reverse masking: Used the Coluzzle to cut an oval shape in a piece of scrap CS to create the oval template. I held the template over the card front and sponged Old Olive ink to create the look of a layer of CS. While the template was still in place, I stamped the flowers and the bee. Removed the template and colored the images with Stampin' Up PURE COLOR pencils. I added the new Ribbon Sliders and Olive Poly Twill ribbon, also found in the Occasions mini. Card #2 This card was water colored using the AquaPainter and ink from my Purely Pomegranate ink pad. Card base is Purely Pomegranate. Designer Paper is Certainly Celery and the image was stamped on Whisper White using Black Stazon ink. River Rock ink was used for the vase color and Old Olive for the leaves. Card #3 Pretty in Pink card base. I used Shimmery White CS for the flower image and added a simple layer of vellum. Again, water coloring the flower with Old Olive and Purely Pomegranate ink. I love the simplicity of this card. I want to make one in every color.

My Hero...

My family and I have had a tough couple of weeks...the toughest we've ever had. We have suffered a devastating loss. My Dad passed away...suddenly and unexpectedly. Although we missed him terribly, we have to be thankful for the 75 years he graced this earth. He was a good man...actually an exemplary human being. He loved his family deeply and we all knew that. He loved his neighborhood, his community...he loved life. My Dad was kind and gentle, smart...a consummate teacher, loving and fun. You couldn't find a more devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend or neighbor.

Dad probably wouldn't like this picture I've posted...but it was the most recent. He came to my house to do a few "jobs" for me. My son took this one of Dad in one of his signature flannel work shirts. Dad was smart and skilled...there wasn't a problem he couldn't fix or job he couldn't do. I will miss Dad everyday and can't possibly explain the emptiness I feel.

More pictures of my Dad are listed under Sept 7, 2007 entry. We went on our annual family vacation and I posted a few photos from that trip.