did somebody say FREE?!

walk - don't run - to Liz's Cornish Heritage Farms Blog for a chance to win A Perfect Summer’s Day free stamp! I just did! 'nuff said!
later, alligators!
- SueB

Christmas inchies

Inchies? Well, sorta! These are some 1-1/4" shapes but it's the same concept, right?!

I first heard of inchies from my buddy Claudia, and made this card at Crystal's "Punch It Up" card class this past October. I love this snowman stamp set and can't believe it's soon to be retired! Last year I only had a half dozen or so remaining stamp sets of my SU wish list on the retired list; this year there were SO many! At last count I'd picked up 3 of the 14 on my "A" wish list via eBay or demo sales tho' ... making me extra glad for that Christmas cash I'd received!

stamps: SU's Bold Snowflakes, Cold Play; paper: SU's Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White; ink: SU's Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, unknown Black and White; tools: SU's 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" square punches (those are on my wish list, Crystal!)

a stampin' poem

Ode to My Wife (A Stampin' Poem)
Ode to My Wife
by Author Unknown

She learned to stamp on Monday
Her embossing was quite fine.
She forgot to set out dinner,
So we went out to dine.

She brayered backgrounds Tuesday
She says they are a must.
They really were quite lovely
But she forgot to dust.

On Wednesday it was birthday cards
She says that chalking's fun.
Shading, blending, and watercoloring --
But the laundry wasn't done.

Her card swap was on Thursday
Using green and blue and red;
I guess she really was engrossed,
She never made the bed!

It was shaker cards on Friday
Using techniques she just adores,
But she never seemed to notice
The crumbs on all the floors.

I found a maid on Saturday!
My week is now complete
My wife can stamp the hours away;
The house will still be neat.

Well, it's already Sunday,
And my forehead's feeling damp.
I cursed, I raved, and I ranted --
The MAID has learned to stamp!

I've recently discovered Colleen's blog (see above link) where I lifted this poem, w credit to Rush'd Lady at Splitcoaststampers for posting this and several other wonderful stamping related poems for sharing.

peace

it's a simple word my Dad would use as a holiday greeting or parting gesture - peace - and I think of him whenever I use this stamp.

stamps: GinaK's peace, Studio g's Merry Christmas (inside sentiment); paper: American Traditional Designs' Snow Day - Earthtones' Big Snowflakes, Happy Snowman, Snowflake Sky DP, SU's Brocade Blue cardstock; ink: Brilliance Jet Black; accessories: sparkly organdy from one of Jody Morrow's ribbon shares

Merry Christmas!

Sometimes simple's best; I purchased this soon-to-be-retired stamp set used from Crystal and though I've colored in the images in the past, I think it looks wonderful just stamped too!

My boss gave me a cash gift for Christmas this year (God bless her! She knows I'm into stamping and needlework and USED to give me a local mall gift card, but as the mall had nothing to fulfill either addiction she's since seen the light and I'm SO pleased! Thanx, Susan (wink)!) so I've been hitting eBay auctions and blog posts of Stampin' Up! reps who I admire scoping out their "for sale" posts, and supporting the local economy! What a blast! ... more about that later!

I celebrated with family and friends today and we had a wonderful time. If you've not tried the Portabello mushroom and black pepper rubbed pork loin from Sam's, run - don't walk - and pick some up! Everyone raved and I thanked 'em all graciously ... but quite honestly, all I did was wrap it in aluminum foil and set the stove at 350 degrees! My sis' brought up her Cheesy Potato Supreme, my youngest bro' brought up rolls, and I made green bean casserole and opened a can of cranberry jellied sauce. For dessert one niece brought muffins and cut fruit, my Mom brought my fav dessert - her raison spice cake (it's recipe is on an earlier post) - and Boston creme pie (had I mentioned I hail from Boston? we have some family property that's located next to some cranberry bogs just outside Kingston and cranberry sauce is a staple in my family get-together meals). Another niece brought up some light blush wine but I'd supplied 3 bottles of sparkling cider that we went thru and we all forgot about the wine ... so it'll wait 'til we ring in the new year!

Hope you all had a merry Christmas too!

stamps: GinaK's believe script, SU's City of David; paper: SU's Whisper White, Prism's Road; ink: Brilliance Jet Black and Ranger's Walnut Stain (BTW the combo looks AWESOME in person! I MUST pick up more of that cardstock!)

is it Cuttlebug ... or?

You've seen that Cuttlebug full-page spread in various papercrafting mags, haven't you, where it shows 4 pears in a row on the front of a card? Three are punched out of cardstock with the cardstock edges roughed up a bit, and one is the negative - the punched out pear shape. I've made a couple cards based on that format, but this one borrows the layout from one of Tricia Ulberg's cards in a recent Papercrafts mag.

stamps: Impress' Hope Your Holidays (inside sentiment), SU's Loads of Love; paper: SU's Old Olive, Bazzill (dunno name - was from Stella Ruby collection); ink: SU's Old Olive, American Crafts blue glitter marker, Tri-C's watercolor markers; accessories: dotted swiss organdy ribbon

little things mean alot

You know the old saying, "little things mean alot?" I think the card from the previous post looked fine in person ... but decided to add the black border.

The little change seemed to make it "pop!"

a change of venue

I've not posted in a week's time (sorry 'bout that - busy with work, Christmas preparations, just plain life, and too pooped lately to accomplish much else lately) and have a few new cards to share!

My Mom's birthday is fast approaching and I made this card for her yesterday. We'd planned on a visit, beating out a winter storm due to hit us Saturday evening but it ended up beating us to the punch. We started out but, what with the condition of our car's tires, we were sliding around before we left our neighborhood and eventually turned back for home. So ... I did what any of us would've done, what with unexpected free time, right?! ... pulled out the card-making supplies and got busy! I played, making cards, while my youngest did homework on the PC.

I'd picked up the stamp this year from A Muse to use in Christmas cards but think it's appropriate for birthdays too - don't you think?! It's their "Wishing you laughter and cheer throughout the year" sentiment. I made the card to look like a wrapped present but it also meets the requirements of a couple challenges - Stephanie Mayne's Black Tie and also loosely fits Jen del Muro's Nov 3rd sketch. It was going to be a one color with white card based on some plates my Mom likes ... can't recall by who, though ...

stamps: A Muse's Laughter & cheer; paper: Prima Marketing's Iron Orchard, unknown black and white cardstocks; ink: StazOn Jet Black; accessories: Deja Views' Birthday rub-ons, Jo-Ann's snowflake bobby pins, and dotted swiss black organdy ribbon

CAM Christmas Cards

Here are a few more cards made at Capture-a-Memory's Christmas Card class last Monday. The DP's from Penny Black and the top left card has a QuicKutz poinsettia flower. Other than that they all were embossed in advance of our class.

Pretty paper, eh?! It wasn't 'til I got home that I realized the music notes were upside down! Such is life!

I purchased a Krylon 18kt gold leafing pen at the store used for the top right card. I may have used it a bit too heavy-handed though. It reminded me of a couple paint pens I used to have in gold and silver that you shook to mix before using; you shook this one before using also. This pen was different in that it had a hard plastic chisel point whereas I recall those paint pens from my olden days' points eventually wearing down.

Frosty the Snowman

Today's card is based on a challenge by Lauren Meader, a new sketch find for me. I picked up these cute DPs at Capture-a-Memory this past week after the Christmas Cards class I'd taken there and found a cardstock to match in my stash at home. There's a 3rd DP also, with cute snowmen, and I'd originally used it where I now have the solid blue, but it seemed a bit much.

Only 18 more days 'til Christmas, folkes!

stamps: SU's Warm Words (inside sentiment); paper: American Traditional Designs' Snow Day - Earthtones' Big Snowflakes, Snowflake Sky DP, SU's Brocade Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Shimmery White cardstocks, vellum on hand; ink: SU's Brocade Blue, Brilliance Jet Black; accessories: Deja View's Holiday Fun rub-ons, Hedgehog Ink white eyelet share; tools: QuicKutz w Snowman die (isn't he adorable?!)

Santa's Coming to Town

Isn't this stinkin' cute? It was one of my favorite cards at a Christmas Card workshop at Capture-a-Memory, one of the brick 'n mortar shops I frequent.

The card uses a couple of Cuttlebug dies - the mittens, for one. I'm not quite sure WHAT the shape was that we used for the beard ... but it looks like a swirly pinwheel. I thought it may be useful to cut in white and back on red for peppermint candies.

recipe: unknown red, white, dark green cardstocks; black ribbon for belt; cute brass piece for the belt buckle

got chipboard ornaments

I picked up a few chipboard ornaments the other day and here's the first card I made with the teardrop one. The dp is flocked and absolutely stunning. This layout's CASEd from Julia Stainton's Be Merry Ornament card that I saw in a Papercrafts magazine.

stamps: SU's Short & Sweet, Warm Words; paper: Heidi Grace Jolly & Bright flocked dp, SU's Mellow Moss, Color Mates' Spring Green; ink: SU's Mellow Moss, Color Box Olive Pastel; accessories: unknown brand chipboard piece, SU ribbon; tools: UTEE (2 coats)

it's beginning to look alot like

I started decorating for Christmas a week or so ago. This is a departure from cards, I know, but Maria over at Stampin Inspirations wants to see how we're decorating lately. Well, I have some favorite decorations that show up annually, but I like to shake it up a bit ... that's why I have boxes of asst'd Christmas decorations in the basement. One consists of the ornaments I've collected or made or rec'd as gifts over the years for the tree, another holds the decorations I place on the tables around (mainly) the living room, and another for those I'd used in recent years that I may recycle back into the group. I'm lately more drawn toward rustic-looking items. Christmas and Halloween are my favorites, but I like to add touches around the room for various holidays.

This pic is how the mantle's set up this year. I have a string of lights with twigs and rusty red 'n white berries that stays up year round ... over Halloween it was joined by small jack-o-lanterns ... I've picked up metal 'n berries 'n stars for patriotic holidays, and I don't recall what for others ... but it gets added to for whatever holiday's closest. The tiny grill is last year's tree ornament I picked up for my DH; the small pumpkin is my eldest son's addition to the mix (you never know what he'll add to the mix next - it's kinda cute - you oughta see all the stuff he's pulled together for my sofa table - grins). Happy holidays, folkes!

retiring Stampin' Up! lists

FYI - the stamp sets retiring on January 2, 2008 are posted online, and the wheels will be posted on December 10th!

I made it out pretty okay this year - of those I'd earmarked for future purchases, there's only one that I MUST have!

later, alligators!
- SueB

mama's got a brand new toy

Hey, happy December!

Speaking of Jody Lynn (yesterday's post), I rec'd a new toy in the mail this past week! Jody'd made reference on her blog to a 1-day sale on the Janone Mini Sew sewing machine. I'd scoped 'em out before (normally $59.99, often on sale for $49.99) but they'd been out of stock when I went seriously looking for them on the Hancock Fabrics site. Well, now they were reduced to $39.99, and I dunno whether it was just late and I was tired, or the lure of the sale, or WHAT (I'm NOT the domestic diva type!) ... but I ordered one!

It's mini, alright - measures only 11x9x5" and weighs less than 5 lbs, but it has 4 straight stitches and 3 zig zags.

I told my DH it could be a Christmas present from the kids and he could put it aside, but we opened the carton to make sure it arrived all in one piece and it's still sitting on my kitchen table. I dunno ... maybe I'll check it out this weekend ... or put it away for a month. Time'll tell! But I like the look of stitching on cards, so we'll see how often it gets pulled out!

Time to hit the hay! later, alligators! - SueB