SAB - Heartfelt

Happy Sunday!  Wait, WHAAAAT??? (as my kids would say!)

How can it be that I haven't posted in over a week???  I seriously have 4 posts started … just not completed!  Where did the week GO???  I DO remember our evening were pretty full.  For our Mommy/daughter time this week Alicia and I went shopping for new bedding for her new room (it's looking AWESOME and the colours make me want to run to my craft room to make a card with them!!  I'll post pictures next week once it's all done … well … I PLAN to post pictures once it's all done!)… Rebecca and I did the same for OUR time together - although we didn't find anything for her room yet.

I remember spending a LOT of time posting things for sale on Facebook and Kijiji … I guess that's why I haven't posted here … it's SO time consuming!  Taking the pictures, researching what things cost new, posting pictures, writing descriptions/dimensions/captions …  We got a call Friday that Alicia's new bed is being delivered Monday … EEK!  I haven't sold her OLD bed yet … I think next week is going to be a bit of a gong show!!  I have furniture and bags of clothing/toys/donations EVERYWHERE … I have 3 steaming gigs next weekend that I haven't started to prep for yet … I have a hair appointment …I'm volunteering at the school Wednesday … add to that the normal laundry, lunches, homework, "special time", workouts, dog walking and paperwork and yep … gong show *lol*

Oh well .. better busy than bored, right?  Right!

So!  Let's beta few posts out of the way, shall we?  OK.  I'm going to finish off these videos I have in the queue so at least THAT will be done!  Today's is hi-lighting the free Sale-a-brations Heartfelt Banner Kit.  Even if you don't have much use for a banner this kit has a LOT of great pieces in for cards and/or scrap pages.  Remember those little gift bags I made for the teachers last month?  The pompoms that I cut in half and glued onto the bags are from this kit.  It's worth $24.95 … but free with a $60 order.  Free.  My favourite price *lol*

Pop in again soon.  My mission is to get caught up on these posts!!  Until then, have a stampy Sunday!

Tam

Celebrations Entertaining Kits by Stampin' Up!

Happy Saturday!!

Too.  Tired.  To.  Type.

Here's … a …. video …

Fun … kit …

Buy … one … or two :)

Must sleep now.

Have a stampy night … zzzzzzzzzzzz


Tam

Paw Print Birthday

Happy Thursday!

Not too much to report this week … just keepin' on keeping' on … this whole healthy lifestyle gig is very time consuming!  Between the exercise (and mandatory shower afterwards), walking the dog and buying and prepping healthy snacks takes me to 11:00 am every day.  The purging and organizing continues as we are now into redecorating both girls' rooms.  This weekend we sand Alicia's walls and prep them for painting … a lovely TEAL!  Eek!  So just quickly, as the girls are having their bedtime snack … I thought I'd share two cards Rebecca and I made on the weekend.

Rebecca was going to a birthday party at the Humane Society.  I thought one of my paw-print cards I had cased from Mary Fish a while ago.  My original was earth tones,newsprint DSP and black … not colourful enough for Rebecca so she altered hers.  Here it is:

Great job, yes?!  She used my designer paper stack .. what's it call, Fresh Prints?  Can't remember and I'm too lazy to go get my catty … so let's go with that, shall we?  It's in the 2014 Occasions Catalogue - $8.50 … I think :) The mat and paw print is from the Coastal Cabana card stock.  The paw is made from the large heart punch and the small oval punch.  Rebecca used the sentiment from … umm … dunno … some stamp set she found on my desk … Perfect Punches?  Sure.  Let's go with that :)  She used some retired 5/8" grosgrain Real Red ribbon to finish it off - great job!

Next up is my version:

i used the same DSP but I used Soft Suede card stock and the sentiment for mine is from Sassy Salutations.  The ribbon is the taffeta Soft Suede …

Thee cards are REALLY quick and easy to make up - we did ours in about 10 minutes.  Good thing - we only had 11 minutes before we had to leave for the party!

That's it for now … I have a couple other posts in "draft" mode …  I hope to get to those soon … until then - have a stampy evening!


Tam

Retro Fresh Treats

Happy Monday!

I've said it before, I'll say it again … I.  LOVE.  MONDAYS.!!!!  Today was an AWESOME day!  I had NOTHING on the calendar which meant the day was my oyster :)  I took the kids to school (who got up on the right side of the bed - woo hoo!), picked up a few groceries and then nailed my workout. I was a little worried it wouldn't go very well as I really tweaked my back Friday but … I was careful and nailed it!  I.  Felt.  So.  Good!!!  I'm so much stronger in just 2 weeks of doing the videos.  Did I post my profess here?  No, I don't think I did.  I've only lost about 1-2 pounds, but I've lost INCHES!  1.1" off each thigh, almost half an inch off my waist and over 3/4 of an inch off my butt.  Woo Hoo!
Aside from the exercising the Weight Watchers is also going amazingly well.  I have a new mentality.  I'm not just eating and counting points, I'm eating to FUEL my body!  I'm eating so ridiculously healthy I don't even recognize myself!  Oh sure, I'm still having the odd cookie here and there but it's mainly yoghurt, berries, chia seeds, quinoa, edamame, fish, chicken and lots of fruit, veg and water.  Seriously.  I feel amazing!

Wow!  Sorry about that!  Spontaneous trumpet blowing there … and totally non-crafting related!  (You're surprised?  Is this your first time visiting my blog??!!)

SO!  How about we get to one of my many projects?? These are the little treats I popped in my orders this month.  They are little envelopes with a package of hot chocolate inside:

I made a variety of different envelopes but all were made using one pack of the new Retro Fresh DSP from the Occasions Mini ($13.50):

I made 24 treats.  Each sheet of DSP make 2 envelopes - there are 12 sheets of DSP per pack

These were SO quick and easy to make it was ridiculous!  I got the inspiration from Melissa Davies, fellow demonstrator.  Melissa does some great work and posts projects every day.  Check her out at rubberFUNatics.blogspot.com

The envelope is simply made using our Envelope Liner Framelits.  Start with a 10" x 10" piece of DSP:

Fold it in half and place the largest framelit on your paper:

*** Notice that the fold line is JUST ABOVE the bottom of the framelit!  You need to make sure the fold isn't any lower or the framelit will CUT the DSP along the fold … you don't want that - you want the envelope to be one piece.  Here it is cut (with fold in tact) and unfolded:

When I made my first envelope I a) used some of the free Sweet Sorbet SAB DSP and b) folded down the top flap.  To do that I simply scored just below the flap and folded it down:

I also STAPLED the envelope together on my first try.  I was gong for quick and easy and figured staples were the way to go.  Ya no.  I didn't like them.  What I DID like, though, was using coloured staples!  How did I get them colored?  My beloved Sharpie :)  Yes, I LOVE Sharpies and here is just one more reason why.  You can colour staples with them.  Love it!

OK - back to our project.

I used snail to tape the envelope together but then I stapled a strip of Coastal Cabana on the sides just to make sure it stayed closed.  I used my 2 1/2" circle to punch out some Tangerine Tango and So Saffron circles, I stamped the "Thank You" in Soft Suede and then I added two small 1/2" circles (attached with glue dots) to hide the staples on the left.  (The So Saffron circle hides the staple on the right).  The sentiment is from the Simply Celebrate set in the mini.  I think I cracked off all 24 in just over an hour. Perfect!

So that's it for today … think I'll go sort that last box of Barbie "stuff" in Rebecca's room.  Pop in again soon to see some of the other things I have been working on.  Until then …have a stampy night!


Tam

SAB - Party, Party, Party! Bundle

Happy Sunday!

I know, I know, I haven't posted in a few days.  Maybe today.  I DO have 3 projects to share … just haven't done the pictures, editing or posting (it's time consuming ya know!)  I actually haven't been working on cards lately - I've been working on some other crafty projects and continuing to purge/organize the house.  The girls decided to go back to separate rooms last week so that started a whole new process of organizing, shifting and purging … not to mention furniture shopping, redecorating and painting!!!  It's been fun, but exhausting!  Friday night my friend Holly came over and we crafted together - it was great to just kick back and "do".  I put together 3 of my Paper Pumpkin kits in no time.  3 down, 5 to go *lol*.  Yesterday I carried on crafting - I took a sharpie to some coffee cups for a little fun, and decorated a magnet board for my office area.  Until I get my butt in gear and post those projects I thought I'd share another video.  I'm not normally a "banner-kind-of-girl" but I just might be getting this banner kit.  Craig turns 50 in a few months (yikes!!), his Dad turns 80 (yikes again!) and Rebecca turns 11 (OMG I can't wrap my head around THAT one!!) …so there are plenty of opportunities to get my money's worth out of THIS item!

Pop in again soon to see those projects I mentioned above.  In the meantime, stay warm and have a stampy Sunday!


Tam

Bright Blossoms Flashback!

Happy Monday!

A relaxing but full day today - NAILED my cardio workout this morning, had coffee with a friend then walked the dog (in -35 degree weather!!!!  ARGH I'm pretty much DONE with winter!!!).  A little "work" then off to the vet to have Koda's paw checked out.  He has managed to cut his carpal pad (the one up the leg a ways) on the ice snow and it was bleeding quite badly yesterday and a little again today so I took him in just to make sure everything was ok.  $135 and a band-aid later all is good.  ... and I have now decided both of the girls are going to vetrinarian school.  $82 for 22 minutes of work.  Seriously.  Vet school it is!

Thought I'd post a few more of the cards I've been putting together from my "left overs".  I love this card ... and's rediculously quick and easy ... and a great card for the boy birthday parties we are going to this month!

 I was sad to see this "Need for Speed" set retire.  It's a "keeper" for sure!  The other 2 images are a quad bike and a jet boat.  GREAT set!

This next one coordinates with a set that I was surprised is still current - Bright Blossoms:

I had it tucked away and haven't used it in AGES ... I think because I was sick to death of it!  This set was one that was available on a pre-order before it hit the main catalogue a few years ago.  That meant it was oneof the only new stamp sets I had to play with ... so I played with it ... a lot ... and then was sick of the sight of it!  I didn't actually use the Bright Blossoms set on this card - but I did on the envelope ... but the retired DSP paper coordinates with it.  The sentiment is from "Happy Day" - another set that you wouldn't think you would use very often but you DO! ... check out page 112 to check that one out.

OK ... I'm off to search for food for dinner ... I'm thinkin' fish ...

Pop in again soon - until then ... have a stampy day!


Tam

Timeless Talk Thank You

Happy Sunday!

Yes, aside from walking Doodle Dog it's pajama day for me, I think!  Back to "too cold for me" so flannel jams and a craft room are in my future!

Just a quick one today - I wanted to show you the card I made with the templates that were leftover from this card:

 This one looks a lot more like the original than yesterday's card *lol*.  Here it is:

Fun!  It was quick and easy and makes a nice little thank you.  I changed it slightly from the template in that I got rid of the extra white mat layer and added a crumb cake mat.  The rest is pretty straight forward.  The Timeless Talk and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets stamped in Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.  Hard to see here but the centre of the bike wheels have Crumb Cake Candy Dots in the centre for a little texture and interest. 

See the envelope?  Check out the return address stamp in the corner - FREAKIN' LOVE IT!!! 

Thanks to Sara T for ordering one of these stamps last week ... it reminded me that I wanted to order one for myself.  Am I ever glad I did!!!  These are the new personalized stamps that are available - the Circle Monogram Stamp.  $29.95 Canadian and worth every penny!  I purchased a personalized return address stamp last year and to be honest kinda hated it.  These stamps are outsourced and the rubber isn't etched as deeply as the "regular" Stampin' Up! stamps.  As such whenever I stamped the image I would get edged of the stamp inked too - drove me crazy.  If I pressed lightly the image wouldn't always come out clear - if I stamped firmly I would get the edges.  Not with these new photopolymer stamps - they ROCK!  I'm going to order another one for the back of my stamps ... and maybe one for Alicia too ... I feel a mini-addiction coming on!  These personalized stamps have SO many possibilities!!

Right - I'm off to make another cup of joe ... and kick back .. before I have to put on my flannel boobie holder, thermal socks and wool toque to walk Doodles!  Until next time - have a stampy day!


Tam

Blessed Easter Fun Fold Card

Happy Saturday!

Hibernating most of the day as Mother Nature has decided to be mean again ... I'm starting to dislike her ....

As promised, today I'm going to show you the "ther" card that I made using the leftover templates I found to make this card:

Ok ... are you ready:

 Ta Da!!  *lol*  No - I'm not drunk and I didn't make a mistake.  THIS is the card that came from the black and white card templates.  It totally cracks me up!  SERIOUSLY!  I started with the black and white stuff ... and that's what I ended up with!!  No lie! It just kept changing little by little ... the rectangles turned into an oval ... then the black turned into Artichoke sponging ... then the fold of the card changed and it morphed into what you see.  Crazy!

Here is the inside:

 

 

Wanna learn how to make the fold?  Okee Dokee!  Start with your standard half sheet of card stock ...

 ... and fold it in half so it is standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". Then fold the front of the card in half again so it is 5 1/2" x 2 2/16" like so:

 Open the front again and centre your oval framelit along the fold like so:

 Now.  We only want to cut HALF of the oval ... the inside half ... so when we place the top cutting plate thingy on top of the framelit we only place it UP TO the fold line .. like so:

 This way there is only pressure on half of the framelit when it goes through your big shot and thus only cutting where the pressure was ... like so:

Now you just refold it so the half-oval pokes out to the right and decorate it.  For my card I cut a second oval and stamped THAT so the fold line is hidden.

I stamped the Blessed Easter stam with black Staz-on and used my finger dauber to ink the edge of the oval with Always Artichoke.  I outlined the flowers with my Real Red marker and then my blender pen to pull the color into the rest of the flower, making it look pink.  I did the same with the leaves - used my Always Artichoke marker to outline it and then my blender pen to pull the color into the white spots.  I used the YUMMY Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon for an easy accent.  When you open the card this is what you see:

I didn't originally plan to punch out the sentiment (which is froma retired set, Blessings from Heaven ... I think!) but I smudged it when I stamped it so a do-over was in order!  I stamped it and punched it out with my framelits, sponged the edge in Artichoke and popped it up on dimensionals.  I also added a little Delicate Details Lace Tape along the left hand side just to jazz it up a bit.  I love how this turned out ... especially considering it started out like this:

*lol*

Pop in again - I have a Thank You card to share that I made with another left-over Christmas template.  Until then - have a stampy Saturday!


Tam

So Very Grateful ...

Happy Friday!!

How is it that I look forward to weekends even though I'm a work-at-home-mom?  It's not like a LOT changed in my day from a weekday to a weekend!  ... I suppose I just like having my peeps around even though we tend to do our own thing most of the day.  I DO have reason to celebrate the weekend THIS week ... NO WORKOUT TOMORROW!!  Woo Hoo!!  Oh.  Em.  Gee.  I've been doing my new T25 workout videos ... and I can't believe I'm still alive!  *lol*  Monday was a cardio workout.   I made it to the end but seriously - I thought I was going to throw up.  And really.  Should a woman at my age and in my level of fitness (or lack thereof) REALLY be doing "jump squats" ... REALLY??  OBVIOUSLY Shaun T has never had children.  I won't provide you with a graphic overshare on the workings of my bladder control but let's just say jumping jacks + squats + 2 litres of water are NOT a good combo!  Just sayin'!!  Tuesday - Thur were all different videos working different areas.  Some I nailed ... some not so much.  Today was a fresh new hell as I got to do TWO of them back to back.  Oh yes - 25 minutes of agony wasn't enough.  Shaun recommends TWO workouts on Friday "but if that's too much don't stress about it, just do the second one on the weekend".  Uh, ya, Shaun.  Right.  Given that my legs were so shaky after the "lower focus" workout I had to hold onto both handrails going down the stairs I figured I'd be lucky if I could STAND on the weekend, let alone workout ... so I pushed through another 25 minutes of cardio. Whilst I didn't feel like throwing up this time it wasn't my idea of a great time.  The only thing keeping me going was knowing that I didn't have to do it tomorrow!!!  So YAY for Friday!!  ... and bring on 9 Friday's from now when I'll (apparently) be "Beach Ready" ...... or in traction ... time will tell *lol*

SOOOOOO!  My organizing / purging / sorting has slowed down a bit the last 2 days.  Not just because all I get accomplished by noon is working out, walking the dog and showering but also becasue the "fun" organizing / purging / sorting had been done.  Now it's the REALLY time-consuming stuff that makes me not wanna play anymore.  I managed to get down there last night for Rebecca / Mom time and while she painted I made cards.  That's one of my projects!  I have a box FULL of all the old "left overs" from old parties and classes.  Ziplock bags FULL of cut card stock.  Sounds like it should be quick to slap the cards together since they are already designed and cut right?  Ya, no.  Not in my world.  First of all I'm lucky if I can figure out which card was MADE with which bag of stuff ... and then I have to hope I still own the stamp set that I used ... and then I have to still LIKE the original card I made.  See?  It's complicated!  Be that as it may I pressed on ... and managed to purge one bag of templates.  The first card came from the leftovers from this Christmas card:

I loved this card!  It was made with the now retired Watercolor Winter.  It was so quick and clean!  I thought I would crack off the extras using the same layout and just change the stamp set so I could maybe use the design again in a future class or party.  Ya.  No.  What was supposed to be quick ended up taking about 2 hours!  This was my first attempt:

 Hmmm ... It's ok ... not as awesome as I hoped it would be.  I used theAdorning Accents folder for the embossed part and the So Very Grateful stamp with Staz-on Black Ink.  I colored the centres of the flowers with my Raspberry Ripple marker and then used the Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details glue to bling it up.  (Did you realize there IS a Silver glue?  I didn't until it had been around for about 6 months!  Check out page 166 of the catty!  I knew there was the Dazzling Diamonds and Cherry Cobbler glue but that one slipped under my radar!)  The little flowers are from none other than the SAB FREE set Banner Blast!  AND the little flower coordinates with the tiny flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch pack - who knew??!!)  The top left flower was punched out and popped up on a dimensional and then I added a grey Candy Dot in the centre ... and then used the silver glue to sparkle it.  The others are punched out but not popped up and just have glitter in the centre.  Yay - I like it but it didn't blow my hair back.  Since I had more templates to use I tried again.  Here was my second attempt:

Hmmm  I dunno.  Not an award winner.  I just wasn't feeling it, I guess.  Same idea, just no color.  I sued a gimmer black brad this time and some DSP - the Kaleidoscope DSP from the Occasions mini.  Meh. 

I grabbed another stack of templates and made them up pretty much as-was ... I just changed the sentiment to one from the current hostess set "Express Yourself".  This was a CASE of a Mary Fish Card:

This is a fun, easy little card.  I spend about half an hour trying to change it to use some of the new DSP from the mini ... but ended up with what I started with.  It really is great just the way it is!  The butterfly is punched out with the butterfly punch and then paper pierced using the Occasions Paper Piercing pack.  The paper, DSP and ink are all Rich Razzleberry (which is just fun to say!).  A few rhinestones finish it off nicely.

So that's what I've been up to ... oh!  I DID make an easter card with this template that looks NOTHING like the original card.  I'll a) find it b) take pics of it tomorrow and c) post it.  Until then, have a stampy Friday!!!


Tam

SAB - Birthday Bash Bundle

Happy Thursday!!!  And a big WOO HOO to the Canada Ladies Hockey Team on bringing home the gold!!  How do you know when Tamara is highly emotional?  She cries at the outcome of a hockey game! *lol*  … yes, I admit, I shed a cheer of happiness for our team but also a tear of sadness for the US ladies.  Oh I know, there is supposed to be this rivalry and hatred going between Canada and the US but really!  I felt so bad for them losing like that!  They lead the game 2-0 until the last 3 minutes of the game- we manage to tie it up and then steal the medal in overtime!!!  How absolutely heartbreaking for the US :(  … and especially those US players who won't see another Olympics.

Right … no time to "chat" today … I have 5 children 5 and under destroying my house and there has been a request for popcorn.  OK!  I aim to please!  (and anything to lower the decibel level around here!)  I just thought I'd post another video on another one of the SAB Bundles you can order.  The cost of this bundle is $77.55 wood (item #135316); $69.55 clear (item #135317)  - which gets you your choice of a free SAB item.

The purging is coming along nicely … just not quickly!  I DO have some projects planned in my head … so hopefully those will come to reality soon!

Until next time, have a stampy Thursday!


Tam