A Morning Cup for a Kind Friend

Did you miss me yesterday? Ü  I was not ill, I am feeling a lot better. I did work and create a beautiful card yesterday using the new Aviary Stamp Set. I was so excited to post it on my blog, when I was invited to participate in a Card Swap. I decided I would use the card I just completed. I will be sure to post the card design after the swap. I tried to get another card done, but I ended up preparing the upcoming Card Swap, and then I actually went to bed quite early.

I woke up feeling great today, but still found myself running a bit late. Usually I leave home at 7:15am, but today I loaded my kids in my truck at 7:30am (not too bad!) When I turned the key, nothing but clicks. OMG! I accepted my situation, and explained to Mariah that she would not be going to school today. Bad idea, Mom! She started to cry.

I called my mother-in-law to see if she had any suggestions, and she told me she would be over to take my daughter to school. I was unsure how this was possible, since she did not drive to work. Well, she came not more than ten minutes later. Her friend/co-worker drove her to my house to pick up Mariah and drive her 3 miles to school. I am so lucky they work not even a mile from my home.

I was so very grateful that her co-worker was kind enough to do this for my family. Ü So, I made her this card.

Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Morning Cup Stamp Set, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Scalloped Edge Punch

*This layout is from this week's Mojo Monday sketch. (Another blog I visit for inspiration! Ü)

I normally don't design the inside of a card, but while I was stamping my name stamp on the back, the inside brushed the edge of my ink pad. I had to cover up the boo-boo! Ü

I planned to enclose a Starbucks Gift Card, so at the last minute, I made a gift card holder for the top half of the inside. I wish I had taken a picture of it, it was just perfect.

In case you were wondering, my truck is doing better. My father-in-law (aren't my in-laws wonderful?!) cleaned up my battery, got my truck started, and I only had minor start problems throughout the day. And now, as I blog, my husband is putting a brand new battery in! Ü Yay! Tomorrow, it should be running cherry!

Hope you enjoyed this card... it is absolutely perfect for coffee joint gift cards!

"TEA"rific

Tonight I am starting to feel under the weather. I feel a cold coming on... not good! I made myself a cup of black tea, and came to my stamp room to clear my mind of germs and illness. Yuck! To complete the theme, I brought out my Morning Cup stamp set. My first thought was that it would be cool to have a holder that fit my tea bags. Envelopes were too big and I didn't want to make a card with pockets and ribbon.

Thinking about projects I've complete in the past, I remembered Matchbook Folders. So simple to make, requires only half a sheet of cardstock and scraps.

Matchbook Folder Front: Stamped in Early Espresso, Colored & Blended with Watercolor Pencils

Top flap tucks into the bottom to close

Tea bag fits perfectly. This project can also be used to hold candy/chocolate.

 

Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Morning Cup Stamp Set, Old Olive Brads, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, Sticky Strip

Crumb Cake Cardstock was perfect for this project. If you click on the pictures, you may notice the fibers in the paper (SU! Cardstock is made with recycled paper). It greatly resembles an actual matchbook.

I am hoping to have a tutorial posted for this soon. If you cannot wait, contact me to attend a stamp class. I would love to teach you how to complete this fast and simple project! Ü

Rush Job: Imperfection is Perfect!

Ü I can't stop giggling. This morning, my 4-year-old girl saw the framed page I posted yesterday. She asked me questions about her brother and the train set. But, it wasn't until we got into the truck to go to school, she asked me, "Mommy, where's my pictures?" I wasn't sure what she was talking about... "Like Braddah and the trains. Are you going to make for me, too?" I told her, "Of course!" ... "You're going to have it when I come home from school?!"

"Oh, babes! Rush job is gonna cost you extra!" Ü

I should have known better. When you have more than one child, everything has to be duplicated!

I made her this 12x12 Scrapbook Page using her favorite Stampin' Up! colors and her favorite stamp set. (Yes, I allow my daughter to craft with me! Ü) It's not embellished much, because I rushed it. I still intend on making one with a hula girl theme, so this page won't be in this frame for very long. She'll love it!

Tempting Turqoise Textured Cardstock, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Cottage Garden Stamp Set, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware- Very Vanilla, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch

This is the same 12x12 picture frame from Ben Franklin Crafts, $7 each.

This was not my original layout. I dropped an open ink pad on the page, and I was forced to move things around to cover up the spill Ũ.

One of the greatest things about crafting is that imperfection is perfect. The little smudges of ink, differences in pressure, and uneven lines are all evidences of love's labor.

Chug-A-Chug-A ... Choo! Choo!

Man! I missed blogging this weekend. Friday was a State Holiday, and my parents were visiting from Honolulu, so I was unable to get any time in my stamp room. But I had a great time! I meant to raid my dad's camera for pics before he left tonight, but I totally forgot. I'll have him send me a CD.

We went to the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, and spent an entire day at my grandma and brother's house. My kids had so much fun, and they (me, too!) are so exhausted. It was a wreck trying to get my daughter out of bed this morning. Ü

Today was a busy day also, but I completed my 12x12 Choo Choo Scrapbook Page. Click here to see my first layout. I kept the same layout, only added one more 3 1/8" square, and stamped another set of tracks with the Right on Track Stampin' Around. I decided not to journal on the page, because I wanted to frame this project.

I bought two of these white frames at Ben Franklin Crafts in Hilo for $7 each. I gave much thought to embellishing this frame, but I chose not to, because I plan to change the page as my son grows, and this page will end up in a scrapbook for safekeeping. Ü  I also have a lot more pictures of Isaiah and his train set, so I will make another page to go alongside this in the scrapbook.

Since I bought two of the 12x12 frames, it would only be fair that I use the other one to frame a page of Mariah. Right now she really enjoys hula, and I will build on that theme. I will need to take some pictures of her with her hula skirt.

It's so sad, I used to take so many pictures of my kids. Now, I rarely bring my camera along, and my Blackberry takes horrible pictures! I have thousands of pics on my computer, and I must only actually have a fifth of them printed... And those are still in the print envelopes. I gotta get back on it! Ü

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Happy 27th Anniversary to my Mom & Dad!

Today I wanted to create a card that was different from the rest on my display shelf. So, here, I admit that I am a fan of another stamp collection that is not Stampin' Up! That collection is from The Greeting Farm. Their character designs are so cute and so much fun. They definitely have a character that every individual can identify him/herself with. Although I have been browsing their online store for quite some time, I only made my first purchase yesterday. Normally, I can keep control and just think of all the wonderful things I could do with their stamps, but not this time. I have been drooling over their digital stamps that resemble the Twilight characters (FYI: I'm Twilight-obsessed!) since I layed eyes on them months ago. I finally got them! Ü Yay!!

Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Sticky Strip, 1" Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool

 Images by The Greeting Farm

This is a 5 1/4" Medium Square Card. I printed the images on Whisper White cardstock, outlined with Watercolor Pencils, and blended with Blender Pens. Then I used my Paper Piercing Tool to pierce holes, and then stitched them with baby blue tread. I punched 1" circles to create the scalloped edge. I like larger scallops than the Scalloped Edge Punch.

As you can tell from the TGF Image, the male character resembles a Twilight character... Can you guess which one? Ü So the female is assumed. Oh, but no, I did not use the wrong colors. I mentioned today is my parents' wedding anniversary... my dad is a blonde, and my mom is beautiful.

Pardon the smudges. Just a note, when you use digital stamps that print to your home printer, and then watercolor, the ink bleeds. I never stopped to think about it before I began, because SU! inks don't bleed when I watercolor. Only realized that now! Ü

I really had a rough time embellishing this card. If it had not been a digital stamp, I would have embossed, maybe added some Crystal Effects or glitter. But for now, plain and simple works great.

EXTRA! EXTRA! Hostess Promotion

HOSTESSES EARN AN EXTRA $25 IN FREE MERCHANDISE THRU AUGUST 31, 2010

From July 27 to August 31, Stampin' Up! hostesses can earn an EXTRA $25 to use toward Stampin' Up! products of their choice when they host a workshop totaling $350 or more!
This extra benefit is included along with the standard hostess benefits they receive when they host a workshop. The standard hostess benefits include:

•A free 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog worth $9.95!
•Free stamp sets only available to hostesses (with qualifying orders; select from the products on pages 10-16 of the Idea Book & Catalog)!
•Free Stampin' Up! products of your choice!

Click Here for Extra! Extra! Hostess Promotion Flyer

**This extra hostess benefit is only being offered until August 31, so contact me TODAY to schedule a workshop!**

Types of Qualifying Workshops:

•Catalog Party - Pass around your catalog to friends and family and collect orders.

•Traditional Workshop - Book a date with me and we will have a fabulous time with your family and friends learning fun, new techniques and projects.

•Virtual Catalog Party - Invite your friends and family via email to view the catalog online from the comfort of their own homes and have them email you their order.

To get your party started, contact me today.

Play Date DSP & Apple Blossoms Stamp Set

To my surprise (and maybe yours now!) I was not motivated to step into my stamp room today. I'm not sick, not lazy (I Zumba'd this afternoon), I guess I just wasn't inspired. Finally, while my kids are napping, I decided to blog surf. It's been a while since I visited Split Coast Stampers, so I did. Every Wednesday, a Card Sketch is posted, and all members are challenged to create a card accordingly. Immediately, the wheels in my head went cookoo when I came across this week's sketch. If ever you are in need of inspiration, visit Split Coast Stampers.

Play Date DSP, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White, Apple Blossom Stamp Set, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, 1" Circle Punch, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip

 The more I work with the Play Date Designer Series Paper, the more I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! It's so lively. If I were in bed sick, these are the colors I want to see! Ü  Did you notice that commercial-made Get Well cards are made with dull, sad colors? Give sick people COLOR!!

What I really love about Stampin' Up! is the way all colors, DSPs, stamp sets, accessories, and even punches match with other products. You will never browse the catalog and think that it will be too hard to find something to match.

Before I joined Stampin' Up! I remember buying a single stamp from one store, going to another store to find a background stamp for it, then hunting for the perfect paper and ink to fit perfectly. Are you going through it now? Doesn't it make paper crafting very difficult and time consuming. In reality (with SU!), it's not so complicated.

SU!'s papers, inks, and DSPs all fit together. There are some stamp sets designed to fit paper punches so you don't have to cut. When you buy Designer Series Paper, the catalog shows you exactly what colors are used. SU! is a one stop shop for paper crafting. 

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up! 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog ($9.95 + tax & shipping), contact me. Pick up is available in Hilo, Hawaii.

Click here to see the SU! Idea Book & Catalog in PDF, and place your orders here (click "Shop Now" at bottom of the page).

Hostess Exclusive: Silhouette Sentiments

This set is just so lovely. If you like this stamp set, you can earn it for free by hosting a a workshop with $150 or more in sales, or join my stamp club and get your turn at receiving free hostess rewards.

The Silhouette Sentiments stamp set was perfect for this 3x3 card holder and cards. This holder is 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" with a depth of 1" and holds 12 cards (no envelopes) or 6 cards (with envelopes). Mine currently holds 12, 3 each of 4 designs.

Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive (Textured & Smooth), Silhouette Sentiments Stamp Set, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive

What I really like about this set is that it is really clean and pretty. I think it looks best in bright, bold colors. I played with the subtles, but it was just too wimpy (sorry, I lack a better word!) Ũ

I will have a tutorial on how to construct this set soon. Check back often! Ü

Always & Forever

My husband and I have been together for 9 years today. Every year on this day, I go through our old photos. This year, I made an 8x10 to be framed and displayed in our home.

Love Letter DSP, Very Vanilla, Basic Black brads

We celebrate today, rather than our wedding date (Christmas Eve), because the change in our relationship from "just good friends" to something more was extra, extra special. I am truly grateful that I will have Always & Forever with my Best Friend.

Happy Anniversary, Michael!

Paradise

When I started this blog, I told myself I wouldn't blog on Sunday. But since I spent all day cleaning yesterday, I had to create and blog today! I just can't stay away!! Ü

I kept today's card simple; however, I challenged myself to ONLY use scraps from my scrap paper drawer.

The Paradise Stamp Set reminds me so much of home, the Big Island of Hawaii; but more specifically, my grandma's house. My grandma is quite the Green Thumb, and her yard is so beautifully landscaped. I would be completely content laying in her grass and reading a book. Ü

Garden Green, Old Olive (textured), Wild Wasabi, Paradise Stamp Set, brass brads

Okay, so the brads weren't in my scrap paper drawer. It just needed a little something. Ü I really, really love this set. I think I may just own it forever, even long after it retires. I wish Stampin' Up! would design Definitely Decorative products from this set.

I plan to use this set in an upcoming stamp class. If you are on the Big Island, come stamp with me! Click here for my events schedule or email me for more information.

co-QUI! co-QUI! co-QUI!

While the coqui frogs are singing of the great night they are having on this hot, humid, and sticky night, I am awake... and stamping, of course!

For those who don't know what coqui frogs are, they are cute (quarter-sized) tree frogs that feed off of insects. They sing their mating song at night, and on most nights I find it so soothing, it lulls me to sleep. On hot and wet nights, they are quite loud and very annoying. Because of the large population of coqui frogs on the Big Island (and their lullaby "co-QUI!"), there have been movements favoring the extermination of these critters. For more information, click here.

Back to business... I received the Choo Choo Stamp Set and Right on Track Stampin' Around in today's (or should I say, "yesterday's") order. When I first saw this combo, I had to have it! My son owns a train table set. The older he gets (he's 16-months-old now), the more destructive his play gets. I created this 12x12" Scrapbook Page, so I will take pictures of him playing with it before it is completely destroyed. And when he's a teenage boy, he will look at this scrapbook page and say, "Wow, Mom! . . .

12x12" Real Red Textured Cardstock, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Choo Choo Stamp Set, Right on Track Stampin' Around, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

I apologize, I haven't gotten around to taking pictures yet... will do this weekend. The focal pic will be 4x6" and the 3 squares, 3x3". I haven't yet adhered the photo frame pieces to the page. I may end up moving them around after I add my photos. I'm not really happy with the empty spaces, so I have to see what happens. I do have room for journaling, though.

It's hard to tell in the picture, but I really wanted the train to stand out, so I used Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some POP! I stamped each train piece in Basic Black, then again in Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Marina Mist on Whisper White cardstock. I cut them all out, omitting the wheels on the colored ones. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to prop up the colored pieces. I also stamped the smoke using Whisper White Craft Ink on Basic Black cardstock and adhered using Stampin' Dimensionals.

I promise I will update this post once I have my photos and journaling. Keep checking back for the final page result!

Who's Having a Baby?!

No, I'm not posting late tonight because I didn't play today. I was working on another 3D project, that isn't coming out so well. I haven't given up on it, it's just placed to the side, for now. When I came home from picking my DD up from school and treating her at Yogurtland (Friday is "Ice Cream Day"), a Stampin' Up! box was at my door! Yay!

Off topic: I have never met my FedEx delivery guy/girl. This person makes me so delightfully happy, yet I have never seen his/her face. I wait for the truck all day, and my deliveries always come within the 30 minutes that I'm gone. And I must say that he/she does a great job, my box is always close to my door out of the sun and rain. My old delivery guy in Honolulu would just throw (literally, throw!) my box at my door. It would scare the life out of me... only for a second, until I plop up and run for my box.

I unloaded my box, reorganized my stamp room, and I left my new Baby Bundle Stamp Set out for play. I've been anticipating playtime with this set for 2 days!! Ü

I had so much fun, and I want to make more... but who's having a baby?! My sister gave birth in June and my cousin in July... is it too late to send a card now?

Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride, Tempting Turquoise, Baby Bundle Stamp Set, Watercolor Pencils, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

I am so going to play with this set again. Maybe I'll whip out my kids' baby pictures for a scrapbook page, since I have not yet posted one and I have about 100 photos in a box that are screaming for some love. Ü

I LOVE/HATE Love Letter DSP!!

When I don't know what to do with a certain something, I ignore it. I had a pack of Love Letter DSP at the bottom of my DSP stack. Last night, I opened it, looked through the different designs, and wondered if I was half asleep when I ordered it. This DSP is not at all my style. For the first 30 minutes, I hated it!!! I had no clue where to start. The colors, blah, the prints, blah, the matching stamp set... well, I didn't buy the matching stamp set. Ü Hehe. I continued to just stare at them... literally!

This morning, I looked over them again, "classic" came to mind, and all I could think of was wallpaper! I started to hate more. Called "Love Letter," I would never write a love letter with this!

I was very proud that I didn't put it back on the bottom of the stack. I refused to give up. I was tracing my fingers along the designs, and I started to notice the shapes, the patterns, the symmetry... Okay!

I played with it for hours, and now I LOVE IT!!! Concentrating on the shapes and patterns (not the colors and designs), I was able to find wonderful things. Working with the shapes and patterns made me feel like I was doing geometry homework! (I really like geometry Ü )

Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Love Letter DSP, All Holidays Stamp Set

3 1/4" x 3 1/4" Box, fits 8 3x3" note cards & envelopes

I cut out the designed circle from the Very Vanilla DSP and layered it out on the Riding Hood Red DSP with Stampin' Dimensionals

I used a 5/8" Satin Ribbon in Basic Black across the center.

Stamped using All Holidays Stamp Set

This was fun! I used the same corner on each color DSP to cut a square, then cut each square diagonally, and placed them together to create one two-toned design.

I have a few more ideas for the Love Letter DSP, but since I have a Stampin' Up! delivery coming tomorrow, I don't think I will be playing with it again for a while. Ü 

What a Tease!!

I was working in my stamp room, which is at the front of my house closest to the road that connects to my street (I live on the corner.) I heard a truck slow down as it passed my room and turn onto my street. It stopped suddenly, and immediately I knew it was the FedEx guy. I practically stalk the man when I'm expecting a delivery, I know the sound of his truck!! My order is expected to be delivered tomorrow, so I got excited and ran to the front door. Yup! It was him... but for my next door neighbor!!! Nuts, that's what I am... I can't ever wait to get my new stuff. Ü

Moving on to my first project of the day... These mini milk cartons are so adorable! I learned a couple of months ago how to make it, and only now tried to actually create with it. I measure, score, cut, and fold. The Sizzix template is awesome, too; but I haven't yet bought myself a Sizzix Big Shot. I have been a Cricut Expression owner since before joining Stampin' Up! and I have no room in my home for another die cutting machine and all its parts.

Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, Marina Mist, Play Date DSP, Got Treats Stamp Set

The main body of this milk carton is a 2.5" cube. It can fit quite a bit of goodies in there. I may have to shrink the template for my next milk carton. A tutorial to come soon. Check back often.

Didn't I Say That I Loved It?!

I love love love the Sunny Garden DSP so much I couldn't even wait 24 hours before using it again! I have had this cardboard/chipboard frame for a few months now. I bought it at Ben Franklin in Hilo at 75% off, plus my BF Craft Club discount. It was a steal, and I am not regretting not buying more than one. I have great gift ideas for this product. It is a 16x16 frame that holds a 4x6 photo. I covered it with a corkboard tile, and well, you can see for yourself...

It's quite heavy. I'm not yet sure how I'm going to hang this up Ũ

Cardstock: Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride, Sunny Garden DSP

Stamp Set: Cottage Garden

5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon Old Olive

Sunny Garden DSP to cover binder clip, hanging from push pin embellished with Cottage Garden Stamp Set butterfly.

Last, but definitely not the least, my `ohana.

I just checked BF's ad for the month. They have 12x12 frames on sale. I have about (12) 12x12 magnet, chalkboard, and corkboard tiles that I bought last month for under $2 each. I may just be using them this month. Yay! Check back later to see how those turn out. I think I'll play with the Play Date DSP again. Ü

When Insomnia Attacks ...

... and even my $100 cable package Rx can't remedy... I stamp! Ü I was awake until 3am this morning. And even after I completed these 3 cards, I still was not sleepy. Well, I did force myself to take a 3-hour nap. Wow! Looks like THREE is a magic number here!


These are truly my fave colors... for now! Ü
Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist
Flight of the Butterfly Stamp Set


I have no words to explain how much I LOVE Sunny Garden DSP!!! It's soooooo ME! Ü
Old Olive, Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride, Sunny Garden DSP
Cottage Garden Stamp Set


Play Date DSP is so adorable... I just don't know what I really want to do with it yet. This one is okay for now. I may add to it later.
Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Play Date DSP
Apple Blossoms Stamp Set

I'm currently working on another project. I hope to post again today!!