NewNewNEW!!

Get ready, Friendies!! Tomorrow the Holiday Mini catty makes its debut ... and there is a LOT of good new stuff in there!! This card is COVERED in NEW ... Pines & Poinsettias Stamp Set; Peek-a-Boo Frames Bigz Die; Frosted Cottage DSP; 1" Square Punch, Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon; Snow Burst Textured Impressions Folder, Dazzling Details Glitter Glue ...

I went a little PUNCH CRAZY on this baby, too!! Dare I say I used SEVEN PUNCHES??? (Not to mention that the "Peek-a-Boo Frame" Bigz Die is a punch, of sorts, too!!) It's a good thing I didn't hafta buy all of those at once!! Sheesh!!




See the little pinecone inside??? I added a little bit of the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter Glue to the berries on the images - inside the card and out. Sometimes ya goes to have a little bit o' bling!!







I did this card for the most recent Control Freaks Swap (featuring stuff from the Holiday Mini). We have been a swap group for YEARS (the Blog Tour is a more recent addition to our group ... we are first and foremost a swap group, though!). I realized, early on, that I wasn't gonna have enough Early Espresso cardstock to finish all the bases for the swap, so here is the alternative I came up with using Cherry Cobbler as the base piece instead. It helped me stretch out the ribbon, too, since I was able to use the Cherry Cobbler AND the Early Espresso cardstock to complete all 32 of the cards I created.

I have been frantically creating some pocket envelope setups for my friend's daughter for her wedding invitations (Hi, Hannah!). 560 of them!! NOPE!! That is NOT a typo!! 560!! And we're trying to finish them in a week!! AAaaaaaackkkk!!! No pressure ... I guess the best part is that I got to watch/listen to "Funny Girl" while we were cutting and folding last night (thanks to Becky, Hannah's mom and my BFF, for the gift of these movies for my birthday!). I {{heart}} Barbra Streisand!!! Such a GREAT movie. I've you've never seen it, you SHOULD!! Tonight I'm gonna watch/listen to the sequel, "Funny Lady" (both movies are based on the life of the legendary Fanny Brice). Classic!! Good thing Hannah and Becky are helping me cut, fold, emboss, punch and score!!

Stamps: Pines and Poinsettias, Petite Pairs
Paper: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Frosted Cottage DSP
Ink: Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Peek-a-Boo Frames Bigz Die, Snow Burst Textured Impression Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Postage Stamp Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1" Square Punch, Snowflake Punch, Basic Rhinestone, Cherry Cobbler/Early Espresso Quilted Ribbon, Dazzling Details Glitter Glue, Dimensionals

ONE Last One!!

Couldn't resist making ONE last "nautically-themed" card before this stuff is put on the officially-retired list! (Not that I'm NOT gonna use any of it after today!!) My brother in law's birthday is today, and he loves to sail, so I figured this was a perfect match!!

My favorite treatment of this little sailboat has always been to paper piece it. I love how I can change up the color of the sails each and every time, and still have them coming out looking great!!

Stamps: Sail Away, Bring on the Cake
Paper: Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Corduroy Button (can't resist using these, even though they retired FOREVER ago!), Large (Wide) Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Had a WONDERFUL birthday weekend!! After my hubby flew up to Bear Lake on Saturday, he decided he'd better get the plane back home, since thunderstorms were on their way (which means he didn't stay with us ... big frowny face!). BUT, when we arrived back home yesterday - the house was clean; there was a two-layer chocolate cake frosted on a pretty plate on the kitchen counter; a dinner of grilled salmon with fresh veggie relish, a garden-fresh salad, delicious cubes of watermelon and honeydew, roasted garlic bread AND, if that weren't enough, HOMEMADE blackberry/raspberry ice cream made with berries from our own garden!! Do I have the BEST husband or WHAT???!!??? Additionally, my aunt and uncle came over with the most BEAUTIFUL basket full of WONDERFUL German goodies (Ritter Sport chocolate bar, German cookies, etc.), some sparkling apple cider, our Oma's FAVORITE dish cloths from Switzerland, a gorgeous scented candle jelly bellies, pistachios, a great new paring knife ... OHMYGOSH!! There was sooo much great stuff in there!!! ANNNNDDDDD ...

My darling son brought me a baseball cap (LOVE those things!!) and a box of chocolates from our favorite little neighborhood chocolate shop (where he also happens to work). Notice the EMPTY box??? (Sorry 'bout that ... I had a hard time waiting to eat them until I could get a photo ... an empty box is as good as I could manage!!) Best. Birthday. EVER!!!

We Barely Knew Ye ...

Here we are with only a few days left in August .... where on Earth DID the summer go??? Kids are back in school, schedules are returning to normal, and the SU Summer Mini Catalog will be replaced in a few days by the Holiday Mini.

I was soooo loving all the nautically-themed stuff in this Summer Mini. And I was soooooo hoping that it would make the transition to the the BIG Catalog ... which it didn't ... sigh ... I just hafta console myself with all the wonderful new stuff in the Big Catty and the Holiday Mini (of which there is MUCH!).

Stamps: Open Sea, Perfect Punches
Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Nautical Expedition DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Beveled Window Pane, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribobn, Wide Oval Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles Embossing Folder, Ticket Corner Punch, Vintage Brad, Pop-Up Glue Dots

We've been having a GREAT time during our last summer fling up at our family condo on Bear Lake. All the girls had a manicure/pedicure party yesterday afternoon (my toenails are now sporting a fresh new coat of "A Grape Fit" nail polish ... not sure what is on my fingernails!) My hubby flew our plane up yesterday, and my daughter and I both took rides out over the lake. The weather was gorgeous ... here we are after landing (and my hair look like we were riding with the canopy open ... which we WEREN'T ... one of the things I love about a mini vacay at the beach ... hair and makeup are secondary ...

Here is a picture I took as we flew over the condo. The little speck I am pointing to on the beach is actually my niece and my nephew (we zoomed in and checked)! Kinda cool that the ended up in the photo!! (You may hafta click on the photo to see where I circled our condo and my speck-of-a-niece-and-nephew!) Ahhhhh, Summer ... we barely knew ye ...

Up, Up & Away

I was soooo very happy when I saw these SMASHING hot air balloons when I got my first look at the 2011-12 IBC. I think the ONLY thing this set needs is a cool punch to cut them out (although, I am a self-confessed fussy cuttin' JUNKIE, so .... whatever ....)

I needed a card for my nephew's birthday ... once again I took a little inspiration from the awesome Mary Brown (and a card I created a while back for the Dirty Dozen gallery - and I can't show that one to ya!!). Here is a link to Mary's fun balloons:

Mary's Up, Up & Away

I am really proud of myself! I decided this year that I was going to send out birthday and anniversary cards to everyone on my husband's side of the family. We are all quite close and do a lot of things together as a family. Total number of cards by the end of the year??? 100!! Total I have done so far??? ALL OF 'EM!! (Not sure how many that is, but considering I am just finishing out August, I'm doing pretty darn good!)

We are headed out for one last summer fling to Bear Lake. I {{heart}} our summer excursions up there!! Considering that this weekend is my birthday, I am TOTALLY excited to get outta Dodge!! (If you don't' get the reference, look it up!!) AND, I'm gonna be 27!! (again!) YAY!!

Stamps: Up, Up & Away
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Rich Regals Patterned Paper, First Edition DSP, Crumb Cake
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Circle Cutter, Simply Scored, Mini Silver Brads, Dimensionals

CASE-ing a GENIUS!!

When I first starting stamping way-back-when, I was pretty awful (and it didn't take me long to realize I had a LOT to learn!!). Along came Splitcoaststampers ... at least it was new to ME when I joined it back in the day! The gallery was a virtual cornucopia of beautifulness ... and I saw sooo many things that I fell in love with that I was CASE-ing stuff - EXACTLY - all the time!! Not only would I CASE things (for those of you who don't know, CASE means Copy And Share with Everyone), I would then make FOUR of each to place in my "stash" of cards.

As time went on, I started to find my own style. After a while, I would only use other peoples' creations to help INSPIRE me to make something slightly SIMILAR. Most of the time, I'm just wingin' it on my own. HOWEVER ...

Once in a while I come across something sooo wonderful ... sooooo GENIUS .... that I just can't help myself!!! While I still don't ever copy something EXACTLY, I sometimes come pretty close. Case-in-point with this card (which I sent to my aunt and uncle for their anniversary). One of my fellow Control Freaks, Mary Brown, is one such Stampin' Genius. I swear, I can't tell you how MANY times I have come across a card in SCS's gallery or the gallery on Stampin' Connection that I just LOVE ... and it turns out to be Mary's!! She is pretty much BRiLLIANT!! Soooo ... in order to give credit where credit is due, here is a link to Mary's BEAUTIFUL card (on which I based the card I am posting today):

Mary's Field Flowers

I know, I KNOW!! AMAZING, right???? I {{heart}} you, Mary Brown!!

Stamps: Hello Doily, Field Flowers, Occasional Quotes
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Crumb Cake, Basic Black Craft
Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Basic Pearls

Scott & Jessica

This is a wedding announcement I did up for one of my online friendies, Jessica. I have met some of the neatest people and made some of the bestest friends online. I know it sounds strange, but it's true!! Jessica and I met through my blog ... amazing how small technology makes the world ... very cool.

She wanted something simple and elegant. Since she lives in Indiana and I live in Utah, we connected via Skype. Another piece of technology that I absolutely LOVE!! We were able to talk, laugh AND see what we were talking about as we planned out what to do. Made it sooo easy. This is what we came up with ... I just mailed them out to her last Thursday (which means she should be getting them today or tomorrow). I sure hope she likes them once she sees them in person!! The white paper has a pearly sheen to it. I wish it photographed better ... it really is purdy!! She is actually going to use her calligraphy skills and write out everything for the insides ... TIMES EIGHTY!! I can't WAIT to see how that comes out. I think anything done by hand any more sure beats stuff printed out on the computer ... makes things so special and unique!!

Last week I made 121 cards and a pair of earrings ... sheesh!! My stamp table is SMOKIN'!! To top it off, I have a friend who phoned me over the weekend and asked (begged??) me for help with her daughter's wedding announcements ... 500 OF 'EM!! I have a feeling I'm gonna be busybusybusy for the next couple of weeks, as she would like them done by Labor Day!!! YIKES!! "Calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!" (If you are too young to remember that, then you are gonna hafta look it up on youtube, 'cause I ain't EVEN gonna explain it!! It makes me feel OLD!!)

Stamps: None!
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Pearlized White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant (on printer)
Accessories: Emily's Bouquet Embossing Folder, Marvy Scallop Corner Punch, Pearl Stickers, Whisper White, Satin/Organza Ribbon, Pop-Up Glue Dots

Freakin' Into the Holidays!!

Welcome to the Control Freaks Holiday Mini Blog Tour!! You should just come from the MUI-FABOO blog of JanTink. I'm in LOVE with her Halloween Treat bag!! AWESOME!!

I cannot BELIEVE that the holidays are a-sneakin' up on us ALREADY!!! I'm still just starting to get into Spring!! (Even though Summer is nearly over!!) Sigh ...

My first card is made with a set that I think is gonna be an oh-so-favorite of mine ... Christmas Lodge!! OHMY!! LOVELOVELOVE those images, friends!! I see myself using this one over and over and OVER again!!! (C'mon ... you KNOW you want one!!)

Stamps: Christmas Lodge, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Frostwood Lodge DSP
Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Pearl Stickers, Word Window Punch, Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Paper Piercing Tool

And ... OHMYGOSH ... A TEENAGER!!! Bwahahaha!!! Look closer ... EARRINGS!!! I {{heart}} making jewelry. In fact, before getting into stamping BIG TIME, I was into making jewelry BIG TIME. I even have been known to teach a class or two at the local bead store. When I saw the pinecone image from Pines & Poinsettias I KNEW I was gonna hafta Shrinky-Dink me a pair of earrings ... so I DID!! And isn't my darling daughter BEAUTIFUL???? I think so!!




Here is a close up ....

Stamps: Pines & Poinsettias
Paper: NONE!
Ink: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Shrink Plastic, Earrings Findings, Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Acrylic Sealer




And last, but certainly not least ... a little bit o' Fall. I {{heart}} Fall, too!! The colors are awesome ... the FOOD is awesome ... the smells are AWESOME ... it's the BEST!!

Stamps: Warmest of Wishes, Grateful Greetings, Woodgrain Background
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Crumb Cake, Old Olive
Accessories: 2 1/2" Scallop Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Circle Punch, Circle Cutter, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Antique Brads, 3/8" Twill, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, 1" and 3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Sewing Machine

NOW ... you NEED to go and check out what the ever-amazing Gretchen Barron has created (oohhhh soooooo ca-YOOT!!)!!

Trying to Hold On ...

... to a little bit of Spring!! Holy sa-MOKES!! The kids will all be headed back to school next week. UNFAIR that spring and summer went a-screamin' by ... especially because we didn't really even start to warm up around here 'til JULY!! (This is what I wish I were doing this week ... I LOVES me a good river trip!!)

I took another stab at creating a card using the Paper Punch Flowers tutorial I did a few months back. I think is forever gonna be one of my mostest FAVORITE embellishments to make myself. If only the paper roses could will the real flowers to stick around for another two or three months!!!

In about another week I will be caught up on all the things that I kept putting off while I was running around and doing fun things with the kids from church ... wouldn't trade ANY of the experiences I have had with them this summer ... but I WILL be glad when I feel like I am a little more in control of my life instead of it being in control of ME!!

Stamps: Easter Blossoms
Paper: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo
Accessories: Fancy Flower Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Decorator Label Punch, Paper Crimper, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Folder, Glue Dots

Poppies & Miracles

Whew!! What a week! Girls' Camp last week was AWESOME!! We all had such a good time! When I got home on Friday I think even my HAIR was tired, but it was all worth it! (Isn't this a GREAT photo??? LOVE these girls!!) I'm STILL trying to catch up on all the sleep I missed!

I spend the better part of the weekend creating things for the August Dirty Dozen Gallery over on SCS. Six months gone already!! WHOOSH!! Can't believe this was my last official month in the Dirt Pile. Time sure went FAST. I still feel sooo honored to have been asked. SUPER cool! I hadn't created a THING for the gallery before I left for camp, so I was stamp-stamp-stampin' all week. If you wanna see what I made, be sure to join the Fan Club over on SCS. Lots cool perks if ya do!!

The sentiment on this card has long been a favorite of mine ... I have used this stamp many, many times!! And I kinda used the embossing folder BACKwards on this, but I like how it turned out! And thanks to my friend Deb (Deb Felts) for inspiring me on this one. We were Skype-stamping one day and she showed me her lovely dishes ... LOVED the color scheme and flowers, so this is what was created as a result!!!

I guess I'll hafta clean the disaster I created in my craft room ... maybe ... today ... or maybe not ...

Stamps: Word Collection by Stamp Oasis
Paper: Marina Mist, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla
Ink: Marina Mist, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Large Oval Nestabilities, Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, MS Butterfly Punch, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Pearl Stickers

Last, But NOT Least ...

Here is the last thing I have to share with you that I made to take up to my girls at camp. I had posted earlier HERE that I learned how to make this grrrEAT little boxes uses the milk carton Bigz die at Convention. They are WAY. TOO. COOL!!! My daughter actually said she thought I should make these for camp once she saw the one I had made earlier. Knowing that they would probably take more time than I had, I KNEW I was gonna do 'em anyway!!

Our theme for camp this year is "STAR" ... Stand for Truth And Righteous. That is what inspired these boxes. (And once again I was happy to be able use up some of my retired, yet much-beloved retired SU DSP - this time it was last year's "Sweet Pea" ... LOVE the stuff!)!!

I am going to be heading back home from camp today ... I am sure tired, but happy to have had the experience. Have I mentioned before that I LOVE going to girls camp????

Stamps: Workshop Words
Paper: Sweet Pea DSP (retired), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Gold Metallic Paper
Ink: Gold Encore
Accessories: Bigz Milk Carton Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Wide (Large) Oval Punch, Silver Thread, Starburst Candies (hidden on the inside!!), Large Star Punch

Secret Sister Nugget Purses!!

Aren't these just the ca-YOOT-est???? I fell in love with them when I saw them on Mary Fish's blog. Quick, easy, and oh-so-adorable!!! These were actually the LAST thing I made for my girls at camp for their Secret Sister clothesline ... couldn't resist "whipping up a batch" to give to them. LOVELOVELOVE these!!

I'm still up in the mountains enjoying the fresh air and the fun times with the girls (and my friends who are also up helping out ... AND my daughter, too!). No phone, no computers, no tv's ... it's sooooo nice to get back to basics once in a while!! Another one of the many reasons I love camping ...

I have one more project to share that I made for camp. Tune in Friday to check it out!!

Stamps: None
Paper: Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Berry Blossom DSP
Ink: None
Accessories: Boho Blossoms Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch, Ice Rhinestone Brad, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Hershey's Nuggets

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho ...

... It's off to camp I go!! One of the highlights of my summer every year (at least most summers when I am blessed enough to go!) is when I get to go to our church girls' camp. I love the girls, I love the outdoors ... there's pretty much nothing about it that I don't enjoy.

One of the tasks that I really enjoy preparing for camp is the "Secret Sister" line. Basically, it is a clothesline hung in camp that has a ziploc baggie with each girl's name on it. All the girls draw names on the first day, and then they become "secret sisters" to one another for the remainder of camp ... they put treats, little handmade gifts and nice notes to each other in them through the week. I usually start the ball rolling by putting something fun in everyone's bag when I hang the line on the first day. I kept seeing so many cute things all year, that this year I went a little overboard and did several things ... and this is the first one.

I cut these cute little purses out with my Cricut ... saw the Forever Young cartridge last year and couldn't wait to make these. The flowers on these were made with the Daisies #2 Bigz Die ... and the best part about them is that they are attached to a clip so the girls can wear them in their hair, put them on their book bag or purse, or hang them from a necklace. Cool, eh??

And don't these just look like a garden all tucked together in this box??? I am sooo happy about how they turned out. The BEST part is that I used up a bunch of old patterned paper that I have had FOREVER ... AND I used a bunch of retired SU cardstock for the flowers. It's great to find something fun AND useful to do with supplies that seem to gather dust!! (And I should mention here that these are full of Dove chocolates!!)

I have a couple of other posts scheduled to show up this week while I am at camp. If you check back you will be able to see what else I made for the girls!! (And did I mention that I am in charge of all the food/cooking this week??? CRAZY lots of prep for that .... sooooo glad the shopping/packing are behind me!!)

Stamps: None
Paper: Unknown Patterned Paper, Retired SU cardstock
Ink: None (printed the names out with my computer/printer)
Accessories: Daisies #2 Bigz Die, Corduroy Buttons, Forever Young Cricut Cartridge, Decorative Label Punch, Dimensionals