Post It Note Clipboards

Happy Saturday!!

What a beautiful day out there!!!  Strangely when it's nice OUTside I get the urge to clean and purge INside.  Naturally that makes my clutter-a-phobe husband happy as a pig in poop so he is grinning ear to ear today *lol*.  I'm on a roll gathering items for my upcoming garage sale.  At the end of May Mom and I will be setting up shop at her place (in St. Albert).  Gotta get rid of the old to make room for the new ... between Christmas. Easter and Rebecca's birthday this place is overflowing with cookbooks, clothes, kitchen gadgets and toys that just can't stay.  Add in a new stamping catalogue and I'll also be selling of my retired stock.  Sooo - mark your calendar for Thursday and Friday May 24th & 25th and if you're around St. Albert pop on by - 23 Bradburn Crescent ...

So ... since I've been distracted with cleaning and Rebecca's birthday (which being on Wed meant 3 parties spanning a week!) I haven't had a lot of time for stamping.  I did make my club gifts a while back but haven't had time to post them ... so here they are ...

Post It Note Clipboards - cute, yes?  Thank you Peggy L for the inspiration - I use the one you gave me every day so I figured everyone had to have one!  They are quick and easy to put together and are a great way to use up your scraps of Designer Series Paper.  I have hundreds of 4 x 4 coasters in my stash of toys (there's that hoarding behaviour again!) so they are the base.  I covered both sides with DSP (in this case my left over Sale-a-brations paper).  Before taping the DSP down I rounded the corners with the corner rounder punch (did I see that one on the retiring list??  Better check .. it's one you have to have! ... then again, I say that about everything, don't I *lol*?)  I have a case (yes, a CASE) of bulldog clips for just such stamping emergencies when you need 25 or so of them ... I grabbed my never-yet-opened paper flowers, my (now out-of-stock) Summer Smooches Designer Fabric Brads as well as my Designer Polka Dot brads and my glue gun and 15 minutes later they were done.  I stamped the Thank You with the "A la carte" Thank You stamp in Calypso Coral and Wa-low!  Club Girl gifts done for another month :)  Here are some close up shots ...

I ran out of the paper flowers with 2 clipboards left to go so I made my own.  Check it out up close:

To make these you simply punch out 3 flowers using your favorite flower punch - I used the Blossom punch but I have also made them using the Fancy Flower Die or the Scallop Circle punch.  Once they are punched you spray them with water and then scrunch them up into a ball.  Then you go wash the dishes ... or go to bed to let them dry.   When the flowers are dry you can un-scrunch them (new word for the day :)) and they look like the picture above.  Tack them together with a brad.  In this case I covered the brad with some buttons using my hot glue gun.  I really like these little flowers ... I think I'll have to make them part of my Technique Class in May ...

Now ... have no fear .. I shouldn't be AWOL quite as long over the next few weeks - I have DOZENS of projects I need to come up with in the next few weeks so I WILL be crafting (... I just hope I have time to post them!)  Check back soon and see what I come up with!

Have a fun day :)

Tam

Oh!  I promised some before and after pictures of Alicia's new hair-do ... se here ya go ...

Before:

And after:

AWOL

Happy Saturday!

Had you given me up for lost??  Sorry I've been AWOL for the last 2 weeks ... sheesh!  I can't remember the last time I went so long without posting!  I'm not sure what happened ... I think I was on such a roll for a while there that I ran out of creative juices!  Yesterday I had 4 HOURS to myself ... the DOG wasn't even home (he was at the groomers) but I just couldn't get "it" going!  I tried card after card - they were all epic failures.  I guess I just don't have enough pressure on at the moment ... and I always create best when I have a REASON to create i.e. a wedding or birthday for a friend.  I DID manage to come up with a quick little card for Rebecca last night ... her birthday is on Wednesday and for ONCE I remembered to make her a card BEFORE her birthday, not the day OF (usually while she is at school!)  It won't set the stamping world on fire but I know she'll like it.  She is turning 9 and BOY has she grown up in the last year.  No more princess and butterfly cards - we are now into "rock star" cards ...

Cards using these stamp sets really seem to design themselves ... I used the Extreme Elements set (a "staple" set you should add to your collection) for the background splotch and Grunge Rock for the rest.  I used Whisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant with Melon Mambo.  I added LOTS of splurtz of color using the Color Spritzer Tool (page 203 of the catty - if you haven't seen this in use remind me at the next Technique Class and I'll demo it - lots of fun!).  Of course I had to add LOTS of bling ... I got through those darned rhinestones like crazy these days!!

That's it for stamping this week ... I hope to get some mojo back next week.  I'll leave you with shots of me, Rebecca and Koda, the dog.  Rebecca and I went to the hair salon last week as part of our annual "Special Mommy / daughter Day" pre-birthday-day-together and we both came out looking TOTALLY different than when we walked in ... Koda went to the groomer on Friday and I couldn't believe it was the same dog!  So here are some pics for your viewing pleasure :)

This is me March 23rd when I thought I was having a pretty good hair day ...

This is me April 19th after my hair appointment ...

I LOVE it!!  ... Craig loves it too!

Here is Rebecca at Christmas:

... and after her hair appointment:

Wow.  This picture just takes my breath away.  She looks so much older ... and mature.  Wow.

And lastly Koda.  The day before his "do":

... and after ...

*lol*  OMG this picture cracks me up.  For the first time since we got him I can see his eyes!  Doesn't he just look like a great big stuffy??!!  ... and one that just came out of the dryer all fluffed up?  MAN I love that little fur ball ... well, he's not so little anymore ... and still growing 2 pounds a week!  He'll be about 56 pounds when he's fully grown!  Yikes!

Well ... that's it for today - I'm pooped .. gunna go wind down by finishing off my gifts for my Club Girls for this month ... stay tuned for those!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend ... I'll post again soon!


Tam

Golf, Anyone?

Happy Wednesday!

Not much to report this week - I've just been catching up on little bits and pieces.  I spend about 4 hours trying to find the floor and the desk in my craft room after last weeks crafting blitz!  MAN I make a mess when I craft!  Aside from spending a few hours coming up with my daughters' Easter Scavenger Hunt rhyme I spend a few hours designing Rebecca's birthday invitations.  It occurred to me last Friday that her birthday was fast approaching and I hadn't made her invitations yet.  I like to give mom's 2 weeks notice which meant I HAD to have them ready to hand out Tuesday morning.  This card was PERFECT for the occasion - we are going to the Putt n' Glow - glow in the dark mnini golf at West Edmonton Mall.  It took about 5 minutes to come up with this:

The picture just doesn't do it justice!  The green and hole are cut out of felt using the Scalloped Oval Die and the Oval die.  The flag pole is a popsicle stick and the flag was made using the Pennant Punch,  I used a hot glue glun to glue a styrofoam ball onto the green.  I used the retired "Introducing" stamp set for the sentiment (I use this set every year!!) and the birds are from Up, Up and Away.  Quick and easy!  The great thing is that it very easily turns into this:

The "Dad" is from "Loved Ones" in the current mini catalogue (I sure hope this set makes it into the main catalogue in June!!).  The "Best" is from the "Best Dad Ever" set in the main catalogue.  I think I just might have to make it again using card stock, just for fun.  Of course the Word Window would work for the flag pole and the green would be made out of card stock instead of felt.  I could use a jumbo brad or card stock for the ball.  Well see ... I have a few other projects up my sleeve before that happens :)

Have a great evening!

Tam

Spring Fever

Happy Easter!

Just a quickie today as we're heading to Mom's for dinner and I haven't even brushed my hair yet ... but I Realized I didn't post my latest project yet!  So here it is ... my Spring Fever (15) Card Kit:

I put these 15 VERY quick and easy cards together using less than half of the Spring Fever Simply Scrappin' Kit.  I'm offering them for sale to my local customers  - $20 for the "contents only" version (i.e. no sentiments) or $30 for a pre-made set or $50 for the contents AND the Sincere Salutations stamp set and a FREE Basic Gray ink pad.  Heck of a deal!  Let me know by Tuesday if you would like any of the kits (they are easy enough for the children to do!).  Here are the cards up close:

That's it!  Have a very Happy Easter Everyone!


Tam

Meal Planner Board

Well HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!

I'm having the BEST day today!!  We woke up this morning to this beautiful sight:

Isn't it pretty?  On the one hand I was sad to see the snow again (it was 95% melted inour yard yesterday) but it's just so darned pretty!  On top of that I didn't have to drive anywhere (and let's face it - it's all about ME! *lol*)  The major downside in MY world is that I havea pup who LOVES the snow and everytime I let him out he brings about 100 little snowballs in stuck to his fur ... which then get deposited throughout the house ... which I then keep stepping in ... and I don't like wet socks!  ... but I digress ...

The snow was POURING down from the sky so I made an executive decision that we were having a SNOW DAY!  The girls only have half a day of school on Thursdays so I thought "What's the point?!"  They were thrilled ... and I later found out that most of those who DID attempt to get their kids to school ended up getting stuck or couldn't even get their garage doors open.  So .... it was a good decision all 'round.  Things just kept getting better (well, for me ... Craig ended up back at home after being on the road for an hour ... Gretzsky Road was closed so he had to abort!).  The snow didn't keep the couriers away today ... our new iPad3 arrived ... and then my stamping order ... and I also found out my new coffee maker is on-route as we speak.  WAIT!  It gets even better!  The kids decided to quit fighting like cats and dogs and settled in to watch a few hours of TV in the basement.  That allowed me to finish off the project I was telling you about.  I just LOVE it!!!  Check it out:

It's a Meal Planner!  Isn't it fun?!  My friend Helen (hi Helen!) had shared a Pinterest post with me a few months back showing a picture frame that had been turned into a meal planner.  I loved the idea but had my own ideas for the actual execution of the final product.  Ta Da!  This is 100% my version!  (*sniff* - I'm so proud ...).
I am offering this as a class ... and as a kit to go (for my local customers).  To come to the class the cost is $25.00 - that includes all materials EXCEPT the board itself.  You come to the class, stamp and assemble everything yourself.  The kit-to-go costs $35.00 and includes all the pre-stamped and pre-punched supplies EXCEPT the board itself.  If you want to buy a completed board the cost is $55.00

Here are some details about the project:

I purchased a cork board at my local big box store for about $10 (I'm sure you can find them cheaper elsewhere if you look hard enough.  The board itself is about 16" x 20".  I used (4) sheets of So Saffron to cover the cork (I used sticky strip to attach it).  I then punched out the MTWTFSS letter in black with my Big Shot Alphabet dies.  I made little pockets for the recipe cards to sit in by cutting Very Vanilla envelopes at 3" and taping them to the board (oh - I used 2-way glue to attach the letters). 

See the little chef in the corner?  He is a coil notebook to use to make my shopping list each week!  Aren't I clever?  Check it out:

 I had a bunch of "Mead" 4x6 coil notebooks in my stash of supplies so I took the coil out - cut some vanilla paper to 4x6 then lined it up with the front cover and traced the little holes.  I took my Crop-a-dile and punched the holes with the small holed punch.  Then I re-threaded the coil.  Voila! (hee hee ... that's the name of the retired stamp set I used ... Voila .. hee hee)
Now for the recipe cards:  These are discontinued but still available on the Clearance Rack through Stmapin' Up!  I LOVE these .. and bought 3 of them at full price way-back-when.  My plan was/is to write out all my favorite recipes and give them to my girls when they get married ... one of those major projects on my to-do list!

Here is the recipe card box closed:

You get 8 dividers and lots of die cuts to stick to your recipe cards:

The recipe cards are double sided:

And then the box opens and you can place the recipe you are working on in the front and the box acts as a stand.  LOVE this kit!

Clost up of a card and some stickers:

I used my retired "Voila to go" set to stamp the images for the front of the envelopes - I used black Staz-on and then colored them with Certainly Celery and So Saffron markers.  I punched them with the 1 1/4" circle punch, then 1 3/8" circle for the celery mat and then a 1 3/4" circle punch for the black mat.  I used a dimensional to pop it up ... and attached some celery satin ribbon to the back of each circle with a mini glue dot.

That's it!  It took me about 4 hours from start to finish.  The only flaw ..... I made it upside down *lol*  If you look at the first picture again you can see a white logo in the top left hand corner of the frame.  That should be in the bottom right hand corner.  The mounting brackets for the board are now on the bottom, not the top ... so I can't hang the darned thing *lol*  Oh well ... I'm sure Craig will be able to figure something out for me!

So that's my snow day for you.  It's now 3:41 and I suppose I should try to take the dog for a walk.  ... then again ... he IS sleeping ... and don't they say to let sleeping dogs lie? ....

Hope you're having a fun day too :)


Tam

Petite Purse Video

Happy Wednesday!

Hope youère all having a crafty day :)

I'm HOPING to make it downstairs today but it's already 1:08 pm and I'm running out of time!!  I'm working on a GREAT project .. another one that I've been meaning to make for about 3 months now ... it's coming together really nicely ... I just need a few hours of deep, quiet, creativity mode to finish it off.  I'm at the fun, decorative stage ... I can't wait to share it when it's done!

Right - since I don't have an actual completed project to share today I wanted to post this great Stampin' Up! Video that showcases the new Petit Purse Die that is only available from April 1st - 30th.  After that it will be locked away in the Stampin; Up! vault until the new catalogue release in June.  I love the different looks you can get from this die.  It's a MUST have item!

Have a fun day!

Tam

Summer Smooches!

Woo Hoo!  HAPPY MONDAY!!!  Is everyone having a great day?!  I am.  I've had a great day filled with a beautiful morning walk, light chores, a little Costco shopping, a gorgeous day, a QUIET house (!!!!!) and some fabulous crafting!!!

Can I just say .... I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THE NEW SUMMER SMOOCHES SUITE OF PRODUCTS!!!!!!!!!!!  The promotion started yesterday (yes, the e-mail is in my draft folder - just need to tweak it!) - you can purchase select items from April 1 - 30 ... after that they aren't available again until the new catalogue is released June 1st (ohhhhhhh - I sooooooo like the sound of that "the NEW catalogue" ... my heart skips a beat everytime I think of flipping through those 100+ pages of perfection .... *insert heart palpitations here*) ... but I digress .... back to the fabulousness that is the Summer Smooches products.  Sigh - look at this little gem:

Just LOOK at the designer series paper!!!  Isn't it delicious??!!  I just can't stare at it enough!  Once again the picture isn't as crisp as "real life" - the bright colors just POP off the page - I love, love, love, love, LOVE it!!!!!  I have already bought 3 packs of the paper (demonstrators get to pre-order items :)  ) and I'm pretty sure I'll be buying more ... it's rare that I like every single pattern in the package but this time I DO!!  Here are all the images:

So ... back to the card ... I used the DSP and matted it on Pacific Point cs - I stamped the sentiment (From "Pursuit of Happiness" in Pacific Point and mounted it on Tangerine Tango.  I punched a 2 1/2" circle in Daffodil Delight and a 1 3/4" circle in Old Olive.  I then used the eyes from the owl punch to make the small circles in Pacific Point, Real Red and Rich Razzleberry.  Quick, easy and a real WOW!  I just love it ... of course I will now prop it beside my computer and stare at it for 3 days :)

OK ... duty calls ... I'm off to help make "melted cheese on crackers" ... the staple bed-time snack around here!

Have a fun night ... big SMOOCH :)

Tam

Petite Purse!

Happy Sunday!  Man ... Mother Nature is obviously playing an April Fool's joke on us this weekend!  She has us thinking Spring is here with 12 degree temperature yesterday and then a dump of snow, snowfall warnings and 15 cm of snow forcasted for today!  :p to her!!  Oh well ... I guess it's a crafting day :)

Just a quickie today.  There is a new Stampin' Up promotion starting today where you can buy a few products in advance of the June 1st New Catalogue Release.  I'll have more details later but this is one of the products you can buy from April1 - 30 ... The Petit Purse Big Shot Die.  LOVE it!!!  We will be making one of these at our next Technique Class.  SO fun!

And just for fun ... here is a a new pic of my not-so-little-pup ... he gains 2 pounds a week and is now 26 pounds.  He will be 4 months on Friday ... that means he will be about 56 pounds when he is full grown.  Gulp.  I better sell a lot of stamp sets just to FEED the big galloot!

Have a fun day :)

Tam