More Birthdays

We know so many people with birthdays coming up, and they *always* catch me by surprise!  I am trying to get ahead of the curve here, and be prepared.  I did this card for the PPA challenge.  When I first saw the inspiration photo, I thought it would be easy peasy to make a card.  WRONG!  I threw out 4 other cards before making this one.  I am very happy with how this turned out - simple and elegant.

Pals Paper Arts #68

Here's what I used:

Sincere Salutations Stamp Set     115068     $23.95 

Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink     115658     $5.95

Perfect Plum Cardstock     101889     $6.95

Whisper White Cardstock     100730     $8.50 (40 sheets)

Basic Jewels Pearls     119247     $4.95

Whisper White Organza Ribbon     114319     $5.95

Decorative Label Punch     120907     $16.95

1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch     119855     $15.95

Brayer     102395     $12.50

Stampin' Dimensionals     104430     $3.95

Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder     119277     $7.95

Happy Birthday Mom!

Check out this great color challenge!  Curtain Call 55

My mother-in-law is celebrating a birthday today!!  Happy Birthday Mom!!  We love you!  I won't be seeing her until next week, but I want to show off her card today.  Enjoy!

I love the dimension on this card!  I also love that my friend Cristena taught me how to make bows.  I love bows, and now I can do them super easy!  Thanks Cristena!

Here's what I used:

Eastern Blooms Stamp Set     111626     $21.95

Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set     115370     $36.95

Tangerine Tango Classic Ink     111834     $5.95   

Real Red Classic Ink     103133     $5.95

Chocolate Chip Classic Ink     100908     $5.95
Tangerine Tango Cardstock     111349     $6.95
Real Red Cardstock     102482     $6.95
Chocolate Chip Cardstock     102128     $6.95
Basic Black Cardstock     121045     $6.95
Whisper White Cardstock     100730     $8.50 (40 sheets)
Stampin' Dimensionals     104430     $3.95
1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch     119854     $16.95
Designer Label Punch     119862     $15.95
Modern Label Punch     119849     $16.95
1 3/8" Circle Punch     119860     $15.95
Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die     113469     $19.95
Tangerine Tango DSP (Retired)
Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain (Retired)

Noel

I am trying to get started on my Christmas cards.  I obsess every year about making something different from last year.  I'm not sure if this will be "the" card or not - but I do like how this turned out!

Here is what I came up with:

I love the way the ribbon turned out.  

Here's what I used:

Big on Christmas Stamp Set     116578     $19.95

Real Red Classic Pad     103133     $5.95

Crumb Cake Classic Pad     121030     $5.95

Real Red Cardstock     102482     $6.95

Old Olive Cardstock     100702     $6.95

Crumb Cake Cardstock     120953     $6.95

Whisper White Cardstock     100730     $8.50 (40 sheets)

Versamarker     100901     $3.25

Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain     109052     $6.95

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder     109131     $4.75

Stampin' Dimensionals     104430     $3.95

Scallop Trim Border Punch     118402     $15.95

Thank you gifts

I wanted to make some thank you gifts for a couple new customers that just placed their first orders.   I wanted to make something fabulous, but not over the top.  I also wanted to make something holiday themed.  Here they are:

I made them these little bags, with our new Stampin' Up! fabric.

In the bags are sets of 15 of these adorable holiday tags.  I copied these tags from the SBStampers Fall event make n take.  I love this set!!  I see myself using it all season, for lots of things - so, I hope you like it too!

Stampin' Supplies:

Bags:

Deck the Halls Designer Fabric 121716 $9.95

Deck the Halls Big Designer Buttons 121002 $8.95

Top Note Bigz Die 113463 $21.95

Baskets and Blooms Bigz XL Die 115961 $42.95  (for red flower)

Sewing machine

Red Thread

Tags:

Tags til Christmas Stamp Set (clear) 121169 $22.95

Cherry Cobbler Cardstock 119685 $6.95

Chocolate Chip Carstock 102128 $6.95

Always Artichoke Cardstock 105113 $6.95

Very Vanilla Cardstock 101650 $8.50 (40 sheets)

Cherry Cobbler Classic Pad 119669 $5.95

Always Artichoke Classic Pad 105219 $5.95

Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker 119681 $3.50

Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker 100071 $3.50

3/4" x 15/16" Oval Punch 120908 $10.95

Decorative Label Extra Large Punch 120907  $16.95

2-Way Glue Pen 100425 $3.50

Stampin' Dimensionals 104430 $3.95

Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter 102023 $4.50

Happy Halloween

I am not sure if it is all the halloween projects from Cristena's house or what - but I have had an urge all day to make halloween gifts.  Here is what I came up with:

I made my own fry boxes!  These were for my kiddos.

One for Grandma Cheryl.

One for Grandma Cres

I made these baskets for two of my kids' grandmas.  My kids love trick or treating there - prob because of the special attention they recieve.  LOL  But really - grandmas really are "grand" aren't they?

Each basket had a tag at the top.

I made these little milk cartons full of sweets for some of the kids we know.  I love how they turned out!

I couldn't do a halloween post - with out my sweetest halloween treat!  Look at my adorable children!! 

David was "Hop along Harry Potter" and Kassidy was "Rapunzel".  David was going to be just "Harry Potter" but then he fractured his ankle - hence the hop along part.  Kassidy also had a wig for her costume, but she got tired of wearing it by the time we took this picture.  I made their costumes.  It was my first year doing that - and I really enjoyed it!

I hope you and your family had a safe and fun halloween!

Cristena's Shoebox Swap

Last night I went to a shoebox swap at my friend Cristena's house.  I was pretty excited about going - but the day was crazy, and nothing seemed to be going right.  I actually decided not to go, twice.  But, I went anyway.  I showed up 45 minutes or an hour late.  My halloween snacks had failed - so the only thing I brought for the potluck was store bought iced sugar cookies.  (Turned out ok, they call those cookies "crack cookies" at her house.)  I didn't get many of the projects done, but I had so much fun hanging out with some friends!  They totally turned my night around.  I won an adorable door prize, won a free trip to Cristena's November stamp camp - and the projects I did finish were adorable!

This was my project.  I usually do not do halloween themed things.  My kids dress up, and trick or treat - but we don't decorate.  I don't usually do halloween craft.  This was a bit challenging for me, but I love how this turned out!  You can see what I used to make this batty milk carton at the end of this post.

These are the three projects I was able to finish.  The frankenstein card is just hilarious.  I have no imagination for turning punches/dies into things - so I love it when I see other people do it!  The middle project you might recognize from my post a few days ago.  I received a fry box, almost exactly like this as a roommate gift.  Deb was able to come to the shoebox swap, and this was her project.  How fun to be able to make my own fry box!!  The last project here is Cristena's card.  I love all the patterned paper and dimensionals used on this  - they really make everything pop!

Here is what I used on my project:

Wicked Cool Stamp Set (clear) 120600 $14.95

Basic Black Carstock 121045 $6.95 (24 sheets) 

Tangerine Tango Cardstock 111349 $6.95 (24 sheets)

Whisper White Carstock 100730 $8.50 (40 sheets) 

Basic Black Classic Ink 101179 $5.95

Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker 120974 $3.50

Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 109027 $4.95

Chunky Essentials Stampin' Glitter (Black) 108797 $15.95

Stampin' Dimensionals 104430 $3.95

2" x 1 3/8" Oval Extra Large Punch 119859 $16.95

Mini Milk Carton Bigz L Die 117310 $32.95

Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder 120889 $7.95

Enjoy!

My favorite swaps part 5 - Last ones!!

I can't believe we have reached the end of my favorite swaps.  I really hope they are as inspiring to you, as they are to me!

This card was made by Cristena Bagne.  I love the pearls and the shadowing.  

(BTW - Pear Pizazz is my fave in color!!)

This card was made by Frances Freeman.  I love the colors, and the sponging. 

What inspires you?  All of these swaps inspire me to try new things, and to look at things just a little differently.  Thank you to all the fab ladies who swapped with me in portland!