Valentine Ideas

Happy Saturday!

Phew!  What a week!  Despite catching a cold when I volunteered at school on Tuesday and throwing my back out from the sneezing that CAME from said cold I managed to get quite a bit done around here!  Mind you most of it happened between 1:00 am and 3:00 am while I was NOT sleeping but hey!  I'll take what i can get!  I actually didn't MIND the non-sleeping because the weather has really turned around the last few days.  Nothing like going from -38 degrees to +1 in a few days to improve a gals mood!  Heck … even Koda seems happier now that the deep freeze isn't quite so deep!

Right!  Enough about that!  I don't have a new project to share today … I have better .. I have all of my Valentine treats, notes and cards from years gone by!  My friend Terri asked if I had ideas for her son's class … I thought I'd share with everyone!  I won't describe each project … you should be able to find them on my blog somewhere … generally search on the right hnd side for projects in December, January and/or February of each year.

Hope you find something that inspires you!

Pop in again soon!  Until then - have a stumpy weekend!


Tam

Banner Blast Fun!

Happy Friday!!

OK ... I have class tonight and need to get in dog walking, workout and errands, so right to it!  I wanted to share one of my new favorite cards ... using my new favorite set and punch from the Sale-a-bration brochure (I can't WAIT until SAB starts Jan 28th!!!!)

I TOTALLY cased this card from Brianna Thompson over at www.mommy-stamper.blogspot.com .  Here is her card:

Love it!  I TRIED to make it exactly like hers ... but I did make a few changed ... here is my version:

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!  My version used Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake card stock.  I ran the crumb cake piece through the new Arrows Textured Embossing Folder for a little *texture*.  The pennants are made using the FREE SAB products Banner Blast and the Banner Punch.  MUST haves!!!  I stamped the pennants in different colors - Cherry Cobbler, Pistachio Pudding and Soft Suede and punched them out.  I attached 3 with dimensionals - the other 2 with snail.  I then drew the twine behind the banners with a marker.  I sued linen thread to make 2 bows and attached those with glue dots.  The *Make a Wish* is from the Perfect Pennants set - stamped in Soft Suede.  I then used my Bitty Banners framelits to punch a small banner in Cherry Cobbler.  I inked the sentiment in Pistachio Pudding and then punched out the *a* with my 1/2" punch and popped it up with a dimensional.  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

That's it for today!  Whatever you get up to this weekend - have a stampy time!


Tam

Fresh Prints Hello!

Happy Thursday!

Half day today ... that means short and sweet!

I had fun coming up with this card last weekend ... I love the color combination!

I used the DSP from the Occasions Mini - Fresh Prints paper stack ... I then punched out flowers with the new Petite Petals Punch (LOVE that thing!!!).  I then punched out white centres using one of the punches from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack ... and then added some Candy Dots for a pop of color in the centre.  The colors are Crumb Cake, Real Red and Coastal Cabana.  LOVE it!  Oh - *hello* is from Four You - page 22 of the main catty - that set is a MUST have!!

Right - I'm off and running ... Pop in again soon to see a card that I cased ... and then changed ... and LOVE!  Until then ... have a stampy day!


Tam

So Very Grateful ... Graffiti Style!

Happy Wednesday!

Yep ... all is back "to normal" around here - a busy day of errands and appointments.  I SO missed *normal*!

I'm so excited to share my project with you today!  It is SOOOOO not my *normal* style of card ... I think I've decided that *abnormal* IS my *normal* *lol*.  Ok .... here it is -

Bwahahahaha!!!  LOVE it!!!  No REALLY!  I LOVE IT!!!  As usual coming up with this was a journey!  I headed to Pinterest for some inspiration (if you haven't yet discovered Pinterest you really MUST!!!  Yes, it will suck hours out of your day but it's so WORTH it *lol*)

I found this great card I had pinned made by Elena Forum Smidt over at http://fotomemorias-scrapbooking.blogspot.com.ar/2013/09/mi-smash-book.html ... the site is in Spanish ... but the project says it all!  Here is what she made: 

 I just loved the look of it ... and then my eyes fell upon my new set "So Very Grateful".  It was PERFECT to try to make something similar!!

Here is my card again ...

I started with some Crumb Cake card stock.  Instead of grabbing my retired newsprint DSP (which I really WANTED to use but figured I could make the same thing with current product ... ).  I used some Very Vanilla card stock, stamped the "Dictionary" stamp in Soft Suede and then tore the cards stock into strips.  I MEANT to disctress the strips a little with spinging ... but forgot *lol* so that's how it stayed.  I taped the strips down and then stamped thh flower images in Black Staz-on.  The sentiment is from the new photopolymer set *Countless Sayings 2*.  Then I simply colored all the flowers and the *Happy*.  For fun I added 3 flowers using the new Petite Petals punch (in the Occasions mini) in Whisteria Wonder, Rose Red and So Saffron ... I stamped some black centres using the FREE Sale-a-brations set Banner Blast and then added a WHOLE bunch of pearls.  Is this a card I would ever make in a class?  Nope.  For a workshop?  Nope.  For fun?  You betcha!  I had a BALL making this one.  I challenge you to do something for fun today ... something outside your *norm* just because.

Pop in again to see more FUN cards made with all my new toys.  Until then - have a stampy day :)


Tam

Journal Imperfection ...

Happy Tuesday!

You came back!  *lol* ... yesterday's epic post didn't scare ya off, huh?  Today's post will be much shorter ... but still along the same vein ... doing things I WANT to do and not worrying about it being perfect.  Remember how I said my *word* for the year is "Relax"?  Well I also have a *phrase* for the year ... "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good".  I have the scribbled on a piece of paper and stuck to my wall to remind me ... and notice that I said scribble ... it is NOT nicely printed in a fancy font on pretty paper and framed ... it is scribbled and tacked to the wall with post-it-notes.  Perfect!

Sunday I started a project that I have been thinking about for a few days.  It started when I saw a post on Face Book back on January 1st.  The idea was to take a large jar and then, throughout the year, you would jot down on scraps of paper all the fun / nice / memorable things that happen.  On New Year's Eve you open the jar and go through the year.  I thought that was a really nice thing to do ... but had to *Tam-ify* it ... make it my own!  Rather than a jar I grabbed my Epic Day This & That Journal ... that I have had for ... oh ... 7 months now?  Heaven forbid I should USE it! ... and/or not use it in a pretty, prefect manner!  Not this year Sista!  Rather than scraps of paper in a jar I am writing little tidbits as I go.  It's not perfect - it's not pretty - but it will be done!  Like I said on my Facebook post - an imperfect SOMETHING is much better than a perfect NOTHING!, right?!  This will also reduce some of my stress and pressure to always update the girls' diaries!  I started a diary for each of them before they were born.  It started out as a journal for myself so I wouldn't forget all that was happening to me, my life and my body ... but it eventually morphed into a diary about the girls and our family ... FOR the girls.  Needless to say 11 years later I'm a little sick of the whole thing ... but of course can't let go!  I haven't updated their diaries since the beginning of school back in September!  Oh yes, I PLAN to ... but this mini journal will take the pressure I put on myself that I HAVE to update every little thing and outing we have.  Here is a quick pic of my VERY imperfect journal:

I have to run to get the kids now ... but pop in again soon to see the WAAAAAAY *out there* card I made Sunday ... again ... trying to *do for fun* ... and fun it was!!!  Until then - have a stampy day!!


Tam

RELAX!!

Happy Monday!!

ANY idea how thrilled I am that it's Monday??!!  Come on now ... you KNOW how I love my Mondays ... especially after 2 weeks of spending *quality time* with family!!!  I really do wish Hallmark would stop perpetuating the lie that is the pure love and joy of the Christmas Season *lol* - oh sure ... there ARE those times ... even DAYS where everyone is happy and feeling the love ... but there isn't a lot of mention of the reality of the REST of the time now, is there??  You moms out there know what I'm talking about ... the kids uttering "I'm bored ... can you take us to Toys R Us?" a mere 2 DAYS after Christmas (no lie ... they said that???!!!), or the fighting, the over sugared, underslept nastiness that ensues ... the cabin fever after being cooped up too long due to the -1,000,000 temperatures in Edmonton this month ... yep ... love my family to death ... but SOOOOOOOOO happy it's Monday!! 

So!  Although I've posted a few times here and there I really haven't had anything major to ramble about lately ... well, I HAVE ... I just haven't DONE it!  Why is that?  Because, as every January, I have been spending time kicking back, reflecting, trying to *get a grip* and to relax!  Relax.  A small word but a tough one for me.  Relax.  What does that even MEAN?  I haven't been what I would call relaxed in so long that I don't even recognize it anymore ... and I certainly don't know how to DO it very well ... until now.  I'm really going to examine this word and what it means for me over the next year.  Those of you who follow me ... and are my friend on FaceBook know what I'm talking about.  Each year I try to come up with ONE word that will drive my focus for the whole year.  It took me a week to come up with it this year ... and that word is "Relax".  I'm going to do my best to chill out ... not take everything so seriously ... have more fun ... enjoy the process ... smell the roses ... you get the idea.  I'm going to examine WHY I do the things I do and WHY I get so twisted about them ... and today's long rambling post is a good example of what I'm talking about.

I do a LOT of things because I have always done them.  I do a lot of things to compete with others.  I do a lot of things to compete with myself!! ... and it really is crazy ... and a lot of it has to stop or I will one day spontaneously combust.  There simply aren't enough hours in the day to keep doing everything I do .. and continue to do.  While I already know what my *Big Rocks* are ... and I've been much better at putting those Big Rocks in the jar first as the smaller rocks and sand always manage to fit in around them ... I want to (and WILL) start doing things more *on purpose* and *for fun* rather than *because I always have* or because I feel *I should*.

So!  Why do I blog ... and why do I post every project I have made in the last 3 years?  Because I like to share what I do with others, hoping to inspire them ... and I get a lot of fulfillment when others like what I share.  Now!  *They* say in order to have a successful blog you must blog consistently ... not necessarily every day but consistently.  OK ... I tried that ... but WHY?  Wht is a successful blog, anyway?  Have I ever made a dime off blogging?  Nope ... well ... I did sell (2) of my shoe tags for a grand total of $6.00 ... so I suppose I made $6 in 3 years ... oh sure, maybe one of my customers has seen a project I posted and purchased some of the items I used ... but has it propelled my business into outerspace?  No.  Do I want it to?  Sure! ... that would be nice ... but it's not why I do what I do ... so I'm going to let that go!  If course I will still blog ... but I won't stress if I haven't posted something in over a week ... it doesn't matter!!  And another thing!  I have to stop checking how many *hits* a project has received!  It drives me crazy!  Every day I check my stats ... and every month I hope to exceed my *hits* from the month before.  Why??  It adds rediculous pressure to my day for no reason!  I'm competing with myself and my own popularity.  WHAT??!!  Yep - I need to get a grip.

So!  Having said all that ... I DO have some projects to share ... to prove the above ramblings!!!

I hadn't REALLY made a card since November.  I hadn't spent any real *me* time in my craft room ... any project I worked on had a PURPOSE ... cards for the kids to give, treats for my club gals ... there was always a reason (and a deadline!) behind what I did.  So this weekend I went down to play with all my new toys from the new catty and SAB brochure.  I.  TOTALLY.  SUCKED.  I spent 6 HOURS down there and I just couldn't get anything going.  I sat, I played, I cursed, I threw away ... and I did it over and over and over ... and it was wonderful.  It took me 6 hours to unblock my blocks.  Do I like the projects.  Nope.  In fact I hate this one with a passion.  It took me 2 hours to come up with.  I'm sharing it because it made me realize something.  Here it is:

Yep - still hate it.  What I learned from it ... and after realizing I spent 2 HOURS on it (!!) was that I would have something I liked if I would have just done what I thought looked nice.  It was a white on white on white card ... the *hello* was stamped and cut into and arrow.  It was clean, simple and made me smile ... but I now realize I didn't think anyone ELSE would like it.  WHO CARES?  Why was I trying to make something someone ELSE would like??!!  WTH!!!  So I tried again ... and once again caught myself thinking others wouldn't like it ... but I kind of did ... it is kind of cool ... here it is:

 I used the funky paper that is from the free Sale-a-brations DSP (coming up January 28th) as my base.  It's a crazy busy pattern so I needed a clean and simple image.  I grabbed my new *Another Great Year* set from the catty, stamped it in Versamark, embossed it with white embossing powder and then colored the banner parts of the image with my black marker.  I used a mat of Pistachio Pudding and a strip of basic black to pull it together.  At first I wasn't sure it was *good enough* to use for my class tomorrow night.  I have since changed my mind.  I like this card and I think otherw will too.  Not every card has to have a million different components, embellishments and/or techniques ... sometimes simple is best - and EVERYONE needs a quick and easy card in their bag of tricks!

I was now inspired and felt like I was getting some of my mojo back to I pressed on.  I wanted to use my new "Blessed Easter" set from the new catty - the image is so bold I couldn't wait to ink it up in black Staz-on and color it.  Here is what I made:

 Yes!  Clean, simple and what I was in the mood for!  I only inked the flowers, careful not to ink the sentiment (that is all part of the same stamp).  I cut an oval out with my oval collection framelits and then colored the fowlers with my Real Red and Always Artichoke markers.  I used my finger dauber with black ink to shadow the edge of the oval and popped the whole thing up on dimensionals/  The sentiment is from "Four You" (page 22 of the main catty) - inked in black Staz-on and popped up on a demensional after making a dove tail.  Oh - and of course the background was made using the embossing folder Pretty Prints from the holiday catty that just retired (Oh dear ... just realized it wasn't carried over - so I guess that one is now retired :( )

Right!  I was now on a bit of a roll for creating (and had completely lost sight of my desk under the aftermath of 4 hours!!)  Next I WANTED to created a card for my Technique Class using the *Kissing Technique*.  Now this time I wasn't stressing about my technique.  MOST months I am scrambling to come up with some fabulous technique and project to WOW my gals with.  This time it was different.  I figured *if I don't have a specific technique per se we'll just do 3 projects that are fun!  Nobody dies; nobody loses a limb* (which, btw is the phrase I have used for many MANY years to help me decided if something is worth worrying about!).  I spent the next TWO hours just PLAYING ... and enjoying the PROCESS of playing - I wasn't worried that I didn't have *it* within 20 minutes ... I played and played and played and played ... and came up with something that I love ...

Now this isn't what I would call my usual *style* ... but to be honest I have no idea what my *style* is!  It really does depend on the day and my mood.  My *style* really is anything and everything - some days clean and simple - some days crazy busy and over-the-top (wait until you see one of my projects coming up!!!)  This one just totally fit how I was feeling ... on a Saturday night ... at 11:45 pm (WAAAAAY past my bedtime!)  I used my new set "Simple Stems" from the new catty - which coordinates with the Secret Garden Framelits (which I didn't think I had ... but I should have know better!!!)  The flower image is actually a SOLID image ... but I got the chevron pattern by inking the chevron stamp from "Oh Hello" (page 34 of the main catty) in Island Indigo ink and then *kissing* the stamps together ... the chevron pattern is transferred to the flower stamp ... which was then stamped on whisper white and punched out with the framelit.  The rest of the card took the 2 hours to come together.  I WANTED THAT FLOWER ... but it took a heck of a lot of playing to make it work.  I ended up on my Pinterest board and found a card made by  Mandy over at www.littlespaceofmyown.blogspot.co.uk ... her is her card that inspired me:

I just loved the simplicity of it ... it reminded me of some of the cards I saw 8 years ago when I first started stamping ... I decided to follow her basic layout.  Here is mine again:

The Island Indigo background was embossed with the Chevron embossing folder.  I used some of the new yummy Chevron Ribbon, the new Petite Petals punch (with Crumb Cakse and whisper white card stock) and then aded one of the new Basic Metal buttons to the centre (using a glue dot to adhere).  I stamped the sentiment from the hostess set "Express Yourself" in crumb cake.  It needed just a little something more .. so I grabbed my Linen Thread and made 3 loops ... I attached them together with a glue dot and tucked it behind the flower.  Perfect!  I was giddy once again :)  I went to bed feeling good ... and refreshed ... and inspired ... and more grounded.  Yep.  It's going to be a good year - a more focused year - a more relaxed year :)

Thanks for reading my loooooong ramblings this afternoon.  I make no apologies for the length.  Again *they* say blog posts should be short .. and should have a picture near the top so people don't have to scroll down so you keep there interest.  I say *meh* read it or don't - scroll or don't.  Yes - I blog hop a lot and pop in and out quickly to check out projects ... but the blogs I enjoy the most are the ones where people share themselves, their lives and their thoughts with their readers.  That's what I do.  I *hope* you enjoy it - but really - I do it for me ... and that's what's important, right?

Pop in again soon to see some REALLY crazy stuff I came up with on Sunday.  Until then ... have a relaxed, stampy day :)


Tam

Tag Topper Punches by Stampin' Up!

Happy Saturday!  It's official ... the new Occasions Mini Catalogue is officially available!!!  Did you receive one in the mail?  If not you can check it out over to the right - click on the image of the catalogue and it *should* pull up the PDF for you (of course we know I'm often a little challenged in these technical regards so if it doesn't work DO let me know, won't you?!?!)

Over the next few weeks I will be working on LOTS of new projects using LOTS of the new products available from the mini catalogue ... as well as from the upcoming SALE-A-BRATIONS promotion (starts Jan 28th ... insert squeals of excitement HERE!!!!!).  While you wait to see what fabulousness I come up with I thought I'd share some videos of some of the new products in action.  I'm in the middle of making some little treats using the new Scalloped Topper punch and will share that soon.  In the meantime, check out the viddo above ... and have a stampy day!


Tam



Coffee & Friends ...

Happy Thursday!

I'm not sure WHERE the day went but once again it was a slow and easy one ... and I actually got through a few things!  Surprising, really, since I didn't sleep a wink last night!  Those of you who pop in regularly may recall that my eldest daughter has had some REAL struggles with anxiety over the last 2-3 years but that this year she has made HUGE progress and is a completely different child!  ... except when holidays roll around.  Whenever she spends MORE time with me she seems to be MORE insecure.  I suppose it makes sense - when she's around me 24/7 I'm her crutch - she doesn't HAVE to deal with things on her own - she has me to help her.  Last night she was really insecure.  She knew there wasn't room in the bed for me, Craig, the cat AND her ... so she asked if she could sleep on the floor beside me ... I said yes (she did this for about 6 months straight about 3 years ago!).  Needless to say neither of us slept very well.  Luckily I have coffee to help me through the day ... and I LOVE my coffee these days (we got a new coffee maker a week before Christmas thanks to our old one dying suddenly!).  It's a Hamilton Beach single brewer and I have gone from one cup a day to two ... it's a slippery slope! *lol*.

Speaking of coffee (notice this seemingly effortless transition from lack of sleep to my child's anxieties and then back to lack of sleep?  Amazing, aren't I?!!?? *lol*) ... right ... speaking of coffee(!) I couldn't WAIT to share this project with you for another day.  It is the treat I put in with my club girls' orders this month and I absolutely LOVE everything about it ... Ready?  Ta Da!

Ab-So-Loo-Tly LOVE it!!!  I have had this project in my head for a few months now.  Have you seen all the projects out *there* lately (Pinterest, Facebook etc) with the little MINI coffee cups?  They are hot in the crafting world right now and I REALLY wanted to make some myself.  Trouble was a) the little cups aren't readily available (you have to order them online) and b) they aren't big enough to hold a gift card!  Now originally I wanted to share this project with you pre-Christmas so you could make something similar for teacher/hairdresser/friend gifts for Christmas - alas - time got away from me and I only got around to doing them last weekend.  So!  Shall I share some of the details on how to make them?  Okey Dokey!

I purchased the cups at Costco (my other main addiction ... after Pinterest!).  There are 100 Dixie cups and lids for ... mmmm ... I think it was $9.99 - maybe $12.99 - regardless, not too expensive!  (I wasn't sure I needed 100 ... but you know me ... if 1 is good 100 is GREAT *lol*). 

To make the *belly band* I simply grabbed one of the coffee bands from Starbucks that I had lying around andf traced it with a pencil onto some Early Espresso card stock and cut it out.  You can see from the third picture that the *band* doesn't actually go all the way around the cup - it's just decorative and only covers the front of the cup.  I used my paper snips to cut it out by hand and then I ran it through my crimper to give it that card-board look.  Oh ... and I attached it to the cup with my hot glue gun (actually ALL of the pieces were attached with my glue gun - it just made things a LOT faster and I could be sure everything would stay in place!)  Next up I added a little strip of the 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon (which HAS been carried over to the Occasions Catalogue (page 37 - $9.95)  - WOO HOO!  Another hot item in crafting these days and I'm really learning to love this stuff!) - again, attached with my hot glue gun.

Next I stamped the sentiment re coffee and friends (from the main catty - Perfect Blend - page 37 - $13.95 clear ... GET THIS SET!!!  It's a keeper!) - I stamped it in Early espresso on Very Vanilla card stock and then punched it out with one of the new toys from the new catalogue (one reason I'm actually GLAD I didn't get around to making these right away!!) - the speech bubble is made with the Word Bubbles Framelits - $30.95 (or 15% savings if you buy the bundle with the matching stamp set!  See page 36 of the catalogue ... which goes live tomorrow!!!!)  I just KNOW I'm going to use these framelits a LOT!!  I glued the speech bubble on one side only on purpose - I liked the effect of it not lying flat. 

You just KNOW what my favorite part of this project is, right??  I thought my head was going to explode right off my body when I thought of hot gluing actualy COFFEE BEANS onto the cup for the embellishment - GENIUS, right??!!  I know!!!  (or should that be *I know, right?*  *lol*)  I'm still giddy about it 4 days later ... you KNOW how these things make me happy :)))))

So!  That's all there was to the actual cup.  It really didn't take long to make 30 of them ... maybe 2 - 2 1/2 hours from start to finish ... pretty reasonable, I think!  But Wait!  There's more!  I wanted to put something IN the cups!  I have been keeping my eye out for weeks and weeks looking for coffee flavoured candies, drinks and so on.  Most were fairly cost prohibitive when you start making 30 of them ... and then I was on Pinterest one day (what a surprise!) and I stumbled across a recipe for various home made coffee flavourings ... generally to give away in jars.  That started the old juices flowing and before I knew it I had found a recipe for French Vanilla Coffee Mix over at www.roamingbuffaloranch.blogspot.ca - I ran out and bought all the ingredients needed and then whipped up a double batch.  I had some small bags with ties in my stash o' bags (from Michaels - shhhhhh) which I used for 1/4 cup of the mix.  I then went to my computer, printed off the recipe on Very Vanilla card stock ... then back to the craft room to cut them and stamp the little coffee cup on the front.  That stamp is from the retired set "Voila to Go" ... I loved that recipe card/chef set and will never part with it ... I was glad to dust it off and use it again (with Early Espresso ink).

The recipe card (which just HAPPENED to measure 3" x 4" - PERFECT size!!!) and the bag of mix fits inside the cup for a nice little treat on a cold Canadian day ... in THE.  CUTEST.  PACKAGING.  EVER!!!

I'm glad I made up a few extras of this little gem .. I have already met 2 friends for coffee this week and guess what I brought them???  Perfect - just like Coffe & Friends (SEE what I did there??!!!!  MAN I'm on fire tonight!!! *lol*)

OK - I'm off to Rainbow Loom with the girls now.  Until next time - have a stampy night!


Tam

Oh Hello!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all the very, very best in 2014!!  We didn't get up to too much last night.  The girls BEGGED to stay up until midnight ... I couldn't refuse those little eyes (even though I KNEW it would bite me in the butt today!!)  We watched Despicable Me 2 and Ice Age which took us to about 10:30 pm.  Then I went to watch TV in bed (fully expecting to fall asleep!) while they played on the Wii.  At 11:00 pm Rebecca came to watch TV with me ... 10 minutes later Alicia came in toting her new Rainbow Loom.  All I could do was laugh.  I've mentioned those looms since Christmas Day but they weren't interested ... until 11:00 pm New Year's Eve.  I got dressed, turned on the lights and started crafting with them until the big count down.  Naturally they didn't sleep in (the phone rang at 8:00 am ... Auntie down East totally forgot about the time difference!) and so we've been up and at 'em since then.  I was hoping to craft alas the day got frittered away with this and that ... which is my favorite kind of day so no complaints here :)

I wanted to share my Valentine / Thank you card that I made the other day.  Yes, I know I promised it a few days ago but I DID say *ish* when I made that promise *lol*.  So ... without further adeau I give you my cards:

I really like how they turned out!  I designed them for my Kit-to-Go Club but wanted to give an option of a Valentine card OR a Thank You / love card ... hence the two different layouts.  I got the inspiration from fellow demonstrator Cindt Brumbaugh over at www.cindyLeeBeeDesigns.com - here is the card she created:

I love how the texture on her heart mirrored the striped ribbon ... alas I didn't have any of that ribbon on hand so I had to improvise!  The pieces to both of my card are the same ... a strip of 3/4" x 3" striped DSP from the Season of Style paper stack (with dovetail cut out of it), a scalloped heart in Early Espresso (punched out with the Hearts Framelits) with a Whisper White heart (punched out with the Large Heart Punch and then stamped in Midnight Muse using the Oh, Hello! Chevron stamp) ... that heart is popped up on 2 dimensionals.  I used the small heart punch to make the small heart out of Cherry Cobbler card stock ... and added a rhinestone for a little bling.  On the first card I punched out the *xoxo* with one of the framelits that came with my Circle Flip Card Framlit set - with Early Espresso card stock.  That is adhered using mini glue dots.  For the second card I stamped the *Thanks so Much * sentiment in Early Espresso - the sentiment is also from the Oh, Hello stamp set.  The card is on a Whisper White base - the Midnight Muse matt is 5" x 3 3/4" and the whisper white layer on top of that measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".  I love that the same pieces can make two different cards ... and that it only uses 1 stamp set!

That's it for now ... we could all use an early night!  Pop in again in the next day or two when I'll post the CUTEST little favour I popped in my club girls' orders this month.  It was a little over the top in terms of time ... and expense ... but my girls are SOOOO worth it ... and really - these little treats are the whole reason I got into this stamping gig - I love MAKING them and I love GIVING them away!  (I took one to my neighbour today - I love giving smiles!!)  Until then - have a stampy night ... and a stampy New Year!!


Tam