Saturday afternoon

Hello,
I was doing really great at posting each and every week....had my blog all ready to post and was ahead on everything but that went to crap when I lost my computer several weeks ago.  It decided to crash on me for the second time so a long story short, it ended up having a virus and competely need to be remade.  I finally got it back so hope to start posting again for you this next week, I have lots I can share with you at this point.

In the past 5-6 weeks of not having a computer, I have still made some projects...went to Convention and had a fun time.  Made a few trips to Colorado unexpectedly when my father in law passed away and got some great pictures while there and Utah. 

I am sorry if you have been missing my posts but I am back so watch for one nextTuesday.

Hope...red, white and blue style

My friend Emma is such a talented lady, she showed us a way to make a square card using the embossing folder by cutting it off on the bottom portion but here is what happens when you dont cut it off.  I think it turned out very cute.  I added seam binding acros the middle portion to blend it some.  I kept everything red, white, and blue.  Using colors that I don't normally use is going to be my new goal because I tend to use ALOT of pink.  It is my all time favorite color but there are so many other wonderful colors out there.

Thanks friend

Another one from the strength and hope stamp set...also another from the splitcoast sketch challenges.  I embossed the background, again stamped and cut out the butterfly...added rhinestones.  I love them, they are a quick and easy way to add some bling to your card.

Circles of hope

The strength and hope stamp set was used for this card along with the in colors of blushing bride and concord crush.  I stamped my butterfly w/concord crush on blushing bride before cutting it out.  I curled his wings some and added some rhinestones down the middle to give him some dimension.  The layout is a design from one of the splitcoast stampers sketch challenge but I don't remember which one now.  I think this card is simple yet cute.  I also included a close up of the butterfly so you could see just how wonderful it turned out.

Calendar

So yup...another project I made while at Memories Manor, I told you all I kicked butt this year while there.  Last year, I think I made one card out of the whole weekend.  This calendar (yup, I spelled it wrong on the project) is one I picked up at a local scrapbooking store.  I didn't take pictures of every page, due to there being so many and not having my pictures on the pages (have to add my family, kids, etc.) but this is  the outside...I like how cute it is.  Not just the outside but the inside as well. I took close ups of each flower so you could check them out and when I was done w/it all I spritzed it with shimmer spray.

Whisman shadow box

I have seen these shadow boxes in quite a few places and I really like them.  While I was on my girl trip to Novi in March, we had a detour to a local scrapbooking store where I found mine.  I love how it turned out.  I put black and white pictures from our family vacation to Virginia Beach on there, used lots of embellishments.  I so wish all of you could see it up close and personal because the picuture really does not show all the detail there is.  This was one of the first projects I made on my weekend to Memorie Manor this year.

In color hope

Another one of my favorite new sets in the mini is the Strength & Hope stamp set.  Not only is it a cute set but $2 from the purchase of this set go to breast cancer research...I don't like using just breast cancer because there are so many types out there, however this particular foundation is a great one and it focuses on preventing breast cancer and finding a cure.  I used all the in colors on this card because I had a new customer asking what the new in colors looked like. She asked if I could send small sample to her.  I thought I could do better than that, so I made this simple card.  I also included a quarter sheet of each color for her to use on some cards of her own.  I am hoping that she liked the new in colors enough to go ahead and place an order for them.

Bonus week again

So this week is going to be a bonus week again because next week I leave w/my friend Ann on a road trip to Salt Lake City, Utah.  We are headed to Convention 2011....yeah, it is finally here.  We have both been so excited and looking forward to this trip all year I think.  Ann and I are so much alike I think we should of been sisters.  We both love to sight see, travel, stamp, make cards, hang out, and most of all having FUN!!!  I am going to post each day this week just to get caught up again so that next week while we are traveling and having a blast at Convention I can share w/you all about both. 

Chairs

This card is seriously just thrown together while I was in my hotel room at training waiting to go to dinner w/my new friends.  I had this stamp set in my stack of stuff FOREVER now and wanted to use it but didnt know what to do with it.  One of the things I am loving about the clear stamps is being able to arrange my stamp to look like I want it to instead of having to stamp-a-ma-giging it.   This set consists of these three chairs and a double seated chair...I honestly didn't care for it much when it came out but I have seen some extremely cute cards with it so decided to get it. 

Pink Open Sea

I had training a few weeks ago in Bloomfield Hills/Troy so while having extra time in my hotel room I thought I would try to accomplish some cards.  I ended up with not as much time alone as I thought, I made some new and wonderful friends....we had such a fun week.  I can't wait to see them all again.  I did find time to whip out this card and one other.  I used the new Open Sea stamp set in the Summer Mini and wanted to do something more girly.  The stamp set I think is more of a man set however I like how this card turned out.  The background is one of the stamps using Melon Mambo ink, I roughed up the edges on the frame.  To me it kinds of looks like a picture hanging on a wall.

Open Sea swap

This was my second swap for the new catalog swap that I am in.  I got this idea from a flowery card a friend at Memories Manor had with her.  I again was not sure at first what I thought of this card but I ended up liking it when I was done.  It uses the new stamp set called Open Sea.  I am really loving this stamp set and hope they add it to the new catalog coming out for the year.

New punch, swap

So this is one of the cards I whipped together while at Memories Manor this year....it is also the card I used for the new catalog swap that I am in.  I used black as my base and all the in colors along the side.  This picture I don't think shows the color as well as I would like it too but it turned out cuter than I certainly thought it would. 

Time to say goodbye to the old, hello to the new!!

It's that time again this year to say goodbye to retiring stamps and accessories.  I am sad to see some of the stuff leaving but so excited to see what new is on its way. Here are links to the retiring stamps and accessories.  Be sure to get with me if you want anything before it is gone.

STAMPS!!

ACCESSORIES!!

and last but not least

DEFINATELY DECORATIVE

Memories Manor 2011 roommate gift

I had my buddy Ann whom I do alot of scrapbooking/cardmaking stuff with as one of my roomates and this year we were in a room with new friends Roxanne and Jen.  Jen had made us a cute little notepad and Roxanne a square paper thing.  I felt horrible not having gotten them anything (I always want to do that and then always forget when it comes time to packing what I need for the weekend) So I made this scrapbook page for them.  There is a So Saffron base piece under the Memories Mannor decorative piece of 12x12 to make it a little stiffer.  I used pretty in pink for the letters cut out w/a die cut machine and to layer the picture.  I used retired paper for the butterflys and of course the grograin wide ribbon.  To add a little bit of sparkle threw on some rhinestones and called it good.  I took a close up of the ribbon. It is one long piece just layered on top of itself held w/tape in between each layer.  I should of used sticky strip to hold it better but didn't have any with me. 

Memories Manor 2011

I spent this past weekend w/the most amazing and wonderful ladies...we stayed at Memories Manor in St. Clair.  I got alot accomplished for once instead of just my great socializing skills, hehe.  Normally I accomplish a whole lot of talking rather than making anything - this year I accomplished both.  I made apx 45 cards, 2 scrapbook pages, and two 3D projects...and YES, I will be sharing off of them with you over the next couple of weeks.

These are all my girls, I am not in the first couple because I took those but the last couple I am in w/them. We got the wonderful owners to take some pictures for us.  Starting left to right w/me this year was Shari, Jill, Kathy, Michelle, Emma, Laura, Dawn Marie, Ann, Lorien, Jen, and Roxanne (I am the one up in front w/the blue shirt on the right).  We had such a fun time and I can't wait to go again next year.  Love you girls.

Open Sea



This was the first card I made from the new summer mini catalog.  The summer mini goes from May 1 - August 31, there are some really cute items in the catalog.  Be sure to check it out. 


My card base is Night of navy, on top of that vanilla confetti cardstock stamped and sponged using night of navy and the Open Sea stamp set.  My scallop was made using the Scallop Squares Duo die also out of the new mini and the ship is also in the Open Sea stamp set.  I researched nautical knots and came up with this one, I think it was called a figure 8 but can't remember for sure.

My friend Emma inspired me to make this card after she showed off a card simular that she made.  Her card showcased a techinque from splitcoast stampers to make her scallop.  She has all the details on her blog.  She is one great girl whom I love and she makes some wonderful projects too.  Thank you Emma for being and inspiration to me.

All caught up

So here we are finally, all caught up.  So starting next week I will have more current cards to share with you and the first will be a card from the New Summer Mini using the Open Sea stamp set.  It is one of my favorite sets out of the summer mini and I used it for a swap with some of my girls.  I will also share some of the swap cards I get back from them and let you see all their talented work as well.  Thanks for sticking with me and hanging in there.

Deadliest Catch - Mike and Travis

And to finish up our Mingle, we got to meet some AWESOME well known boys.  Does anyone got it, do you know who they are?  This is Mike Fourtner and Travis Lofland from the Time Bandit on the show, Deadliest Catch.  The top picture w/them has alot of my girls....the girls whom I have become such good friends w/and chat each day with.  I would be lost without these girls, I just LOVE them.  I am so thankful for them and could never come up with enough good things to say about them. 
Next is a picture of Mike signing his picture for my friend Robin, and then a picture of just Mike and Travis.  And to follow that up is one of just me and Mike and lastly one of the three of us.  They hung out with us for a few hours and even stopped by breakfast the next morning for a few minutes to say goodbye before they headed out to the Novi boat show that they were in town for.  The are really great down to earth guys.  And to finalize all of this, Mike shocked us with posting the picture of everyone and saying "Travis and I found ourselves in the midst of the Michigan Minglers Scrapbooking/Stamping group in the conference room at our hotel.....Travis and I got our stamp on as well as numerous pictures that were immediately sent off to their husbands because they "would be sooooo jealous".....with one husband replying "well that's cool and all, just make sure you don't become THEIR Deadliest Catch tonight"!!"  Like I said, some really great guys....and the most fun weekend away with my girls.  Can't wait for next year to do it all again .

Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Course 10 - Coffee/Tea

• Starbucks no cream, no sugar
• Oolong Tea
• Cinnamon Dolce Latte
• Green Tea
• Iced Tea

This one was a tough choice as I don't drink coffee or tea so I went with the Cinnamon Dolce Latte because I do like cinnamon.  In doing so I was to do a clean and simple card with a sprinkle of bling.  It is very hard to see on the bottom but music notes was used again, the butterflys are a punch from my local craft store and then I added bling to my large butterfly.

Cupcake

Course 9 - Dessert

• Apple Pie
• Steamed Pears
• Cherry Creme in Chocolate Cups
• Cupcake
• Chocolate Volcano Dessert

Let me just say it's a darn good thing we could only pick one of each course because dessert is by far my favorite part of any meal and I could of picked all of these to make up five of my courses.  I narrowed it down to a cupcake though and in doing so my instructions were to have texture and at least one red embellishment.  I used

 the vintage wallpaper embossing folder for my texutred background.  And made my rose with the owl punch.  My friend Sylvia showed me how to make this and in a few posts from now I am going to post my tutorial, my version.  If I knew how created this doll of a thing then I would love to give you credit however I have no clue at this point who created it.  I spritzed it w/shimmer paint to make it shine.

Bacon

Course 8 - Pork

• Bacon
• Mu Shu Pork
• Roasted Pork Tenderloin Encrusted w/Hazelnut Paste
• Stuffed Pork Chops w/Cranberries
• Pork Stir Fry

Bacon, yup that was my choice - I have no clue what the rest of these are because I am not a big meat eater as it is so I picked the only one I knew.  By picking bacon I had to make my card brown and w/wavy texture.  I used an embossing folder for that.  First is a picture close up of my bird w/his blingy rhinestone eye.  Can you tell I love the new rhinestones and pearls yet.  And the second is my whole card.

Coney Hot Dog

Course 7 - Beef

• Cheeseburger
• Mongolian Beef
• Short Ribs Braised in Brooklyn chocolate Stout
• Coney Hot Dog
• Beef Stroganoff

This card had to consist of being long with red, green and yellow.  Could you guess what I picked...if you guessed a Coney Hot Dog then you guessed correctly.  I used the music notes wheel on the background, some dies from the local craft store and buttons.

Popcorn Shrimp

Course 6 - Shellfish

• Popcorn Shrimp
• Spicy Shrimp w/Ginger-Garlic Long Beans
• Steamed Lemon Grass Crab Legs
• Rock Lobster
• Oysters Rockefeller

I picked popcorn shrimp - I was to incorporate curls and swirls.  I used elegant bouquet embossing folder, some die cuts, and punchs.  I added some rhinestones for bling and a butterfly.  This is not one of my favorite cards out of the bunch and I definately have to say at this point I was trying to hurry because the first 10 people done won a prize.  They were up to 5 people being done so I needed to step it up some.

KFC Fried Chicken

 Course 5 - Poultry

•  KFC Fried Chicken
•  Peking Duck
•  Pheasant Pot Pies w/mushrooms
•  Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken Skewers
•  Thanksgiving Turkey

I bet from my card that you guess I picked KFC Fried Chicken.  I was to use red, white, and black with stripes.  I used the Lattice die for my backgrounds, the cupcake punch and big shot.  My cupcake has a glitter on top to give it some bling.  And to get my checkered on cupcake wrapper I used my embossing tool and ruler.

Chicken Noodle

Course 4 - Soup

• Chicken Noodle
• Hot and Sour Soup w/Shrimp Chips
• Canadian Bacon Soup
• Spicy Tomato Soup
• Southwestern Surprise

I picked Chicken Noodle, which was to use an Off white base in the vintage style. I don't feel I am super good at vintage so this was a challenging card for me but I do like what I came up with.  I used vanilla paper, a stamp from my local stamp store, the music notes wheel with Choc. chip ink.  I did sponge the edges and added some ribbon, and keys to top it off.  I think this could be used for a man card along w/a female card.

Fruit Salad

Course 3 - Salad

• Salad Puffs w/Nouvelle Waldorf Salad
• Oriental Cabbage Salad
• Fruit Salad
• Cobb Salad
• Creamy Potato Salad

 This top picture is a close up of my flower made with the petal punch and embellished with a button.  The below picture shows my whole card.  For this course I picked Fruit Salad.  For this I was to use bright colors, and 3 different shapes (circle, triangle, rectangle, etc.) and Flower Soft which was provided to us.  My card is filled w/colors but I had a really hard time trying to fit in the flower soft, so it is aligned by my rope incase you are not sure what it was.

My small flowers have some glitter in the middle of them and my Queen for a day is up on dimensionals.

Deviled Eggs

Course 2 - Hors d' Oeuvres

• Deviled Eggs
• Asian Lettuce Wraps
• Meatballs w/chunks of diced apple & apple glaze
• 7-layer Dip w/Tortilla Chips
• Bruschetta

I picked Deviled Egg which you probably could of guessed by the colors.  It entailed using a bird or egg image, and ONLY using white, yellow and red colors.  My bird and saying are up on dimensionals,  and hard to see in the background I did stamp using daffodil ink some flowers.

A Kiss Goodnight

The next 10 posts are all going to be about a 10 course Meal, first we were given a sheet w/different courses listed.  Under each course were five things to choose from.  As I list each card, I will share w/you the five options we had, which one I picked and what it entailed.  We turned these sheets back in and then were given a different copy back showing what we had picked along w/a description on how to make our card.  For example: this card is

Course 1 - Cocktails

• Fuzzy Naval
• Mojito
• A Kiss Goodnight
• Mah Tai
• Shirley Temple

I picked A Kiss Goodnight - I had to use a Raspberry color, add some texture and a splash of shine.

So on my card I used Rich Razzleberry, and Melon Mambo paper, embossed it w/an embossing folder from my local craft store.  Added some pearls to the flowers, and put my saying up on dimensionals.  To top it off and give it my shine I added some spritzing shimmer paint.

3D Cupcake

This was one of the challenges we did at the mingle.  We were provided with the cupcake and cupcake wrapper template which are from here.  I used some dsp that I had with me for both my cupcake and cupcake wrapper.  I embellished it w/some ribbon, a crown, and some butterflys.  To top it off I spritzed it with shimmer paint to add some sparkle.  There were some really cute cupcakes made.  The winner I believe was my friend Jill. 

I wanted to try and include a picture of her cupcake however my picture did not turn out really well.  She put the cutest rose on top and her cupcake looked so yummy.  Great job Jill!!

Fight for a Cure

Cancer research has been important to me for awhile now knowing that cervical cancer ran in my family and having to deal with that myself, however apx. a year ago my grandma (whom I take care of) was diagnoised with ovarian cancer.  We have spent the better part of this year in/out of U of M's cancer center for surgery, treatments and checkups, etc. so it hit home even more than before.  I am part of a great relay for life team each year and I feel SU is just the greatest for finding a way to help donate to such a great cause.

The Strength & Hope Stamp Set and Digital Kit are both available from Stampin' Up! today! You can find them on the last page (pg 27) of the Summer Mini Catalog.
You can help Find a Cure for Breast Cancer by purchasing the stamp set and/or the digital kit... $2 of each purchase is being donated by Stampin' Up! to The Breast Cancer Reasearch Foundation - they are dedicated to preventing Breast Cancer and to finding a cure! I love being a part of such a wonderful cause which is so dear to my heart.
It is a beautiful set, and I will have pictures to share soon from this set. Follow this link and it will show you the images from the set.

3D I recieved

These are a few of the 3D swaps I recieved back, this first one was made on a metal sign from a local craft store, covered w/dsp, she added some ribbon and for the magnets she used buttons decorated w/some ribbon.  Its a very cute idea, and will be used in my scrap room.

My roomate Ann made these cute candles, this first picture is the close up for the embellishment.  She used cork board, punching out a circle and punching a flower design in the middle, added a pink flower and brad along w/some butterflys.  It really is sweet looking in person.

This picture shows the whole candle, it is wrapped w/dsp and ribbon to hold the embellishment on.  The candle is also very good smelling.  A quick, and easy idea to give to a hostess or friend.

And last is this cute little basket filled w/some candy.  It was made out of a soda can.  Wrapped in dsp, and embellished.  Also another cute ide for a hostess gift.