Take a Peek!

Hello Stampers and welcome back to The Classic Card!

Wow... what a busy Christmas we had here on Pinehurst Drive!  Ten people, 6 days, countless hours spent in the kitchen, tons of laundry done, scores of toys strewn about the house, 2 sick children on antibiotics, a train set up on the entry hall rug, a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table, play-dough on the kitchen table... it was truly a zoo!  A fun time was enjoyed by all, but now it is Monday.  The house is once again clean and quiet. Christmas is over.  It is time for a bit of reflecting on how grateful we are for the blessings of family and home.  I hope you enjoyed a blessed Christmas as well.

The new year is just ahead, so I think it is time to move forward and focus on the new and exciting things in the Spring catalog, which becomes active on Thursday, January 3rd.  I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for fresh inspiration.  As a demonstrator, I've had the opportunity to place a pre-order from the new Spring catalog, so I've had some new products to play with for the past several weeks, although I haven't had much time to spend stamping.  But I do have a card for you today that features some fun new products.  Take a peek...

Let's count the new products I used as I briefly tell you about them:

1.  The new Honeycomb embossing folder (page 6)
2.  New Core-dinations paper in Primrose Petals (page 12)
3.  The sentiment, from the new Feel Goods set ( page 21) Best sentiments ever in this set!
4. Chevron background for the sentiment from the Oh, Hello stamp set (page 4)
5. Two sizes of ovals from the Ovals Collection of Framelits (p. 4)
6. Tea for Two DSP (page 3)
7. Rose from the Collage Curios stamp set (page 24)

I also used Crumb Cake and Lucky Limeaid ink as well as Whisper White and Lucky Limeaid card stock.  Other products are the 1 1/4 inch scallop circle punch from the Holiday catalog that has been carried over into the Spring catalog.  Products from the annual catalog include the Ruffled Ribbon in Lucky Limeaid, the 1 3/8 inch circle punch, and markers in Lucky Limeaid and Primrose Petals to color the rose.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to make yourself a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee and sit down with your new Spring catalog and enjoy the beautiful new products and projects that you'll find there.
Oh, and don't forget to come back here on Wednesday, when I'll have another classic card for you, featuring more new products from the Spring catalog!

Enjoy a safe and happy New Year's Eve and I'll see you back here on January 2, 2013 for more stamping inspiration.
Hugs,
Susan

Joyful Thoughts of You

Hello stampers!
Oh my goodness!  We are getting close to Christmas now.  How are you doing with your "to-do" list?
Time is running out, so I hope you are almost finished.  Yesterday I crossed another item off my list--- I made two batches of rolled cookies, the most time-consuming kind to make. First I made some sugar cookies which I cut out in shapes (stars, bells, trees, reindeer, etc.) that the kiddos love to decorate with icing and then I also made a huge batch of gingerbread men that will be simpler to decorate with some piped-on icing and raisins and red-hots.  This afternoon I'll use my Cookie King to make some Spritz cookies.  Then I'll be finished with cookies for another year.... yay!

In keeping with my earlier promise to stop showing you Christmas cards, I have another non-Christmas card today.  I made this some time ago, but realized I'd never shown it to you, so here it is

 

 

This design is called a Joy fold card.  I'm not sure why, unless you think it brings joy to open the top card from the left-hand side instead of the right-hand side.  It's a pretty silly name for a pretty cool card!  The Whisper White card on the top opens from the left, with the fold on the right.  Then the next layer opens from the right, with the fold on the left.  It's just a little something different, but it adds interest to a simple card design.

Here's a very quick list of the products I used.

 

Stamps:  French Script, Betsey's Blossoms, Loving Thoughts

 

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso

 

Paper: Pink Pirouette card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Whisper White card stock

 

Accessories:

Fancy Fan embossing folder, basic pearls, stampin' sponge, Boho Blossom punch.

 

Must run now, friends!  And when I say "run" I'm talking about the COSTCO run.  I will go to the Wilsonville location in hopes of missing the horrendous crowds at the Tigard Costco.  I wish you could see the supply of groceries we unloaded here yesterday from Winco and Trader Joe's.  But when you're feeding 10 people for 5 days, you need a lot of food.  I think I'm going to be the little red hen that cooks all of those groceries up into actual meals, although I'm sure my daughters will offer their help.    With all that will be going on here, I don't think I'll be blogging again until after Christmas. May all of you have a Christmas blessed with the love of family and friends and I'll see you after the big day!  Merry Christmas to all!

Hugs, Susan









She believed she could, so she did!

Hello fellow stampers!

What a sad time we're going through... and of course violence seems even worse at Christmas.  I'm sure your heart is hurting as mine is when we think of those parents and families in Connecticut, not to mention the families here in the Portland area who will be missing their loved ones this Christmas and every other day as well.  I don't know how you feel about guns, but I firmly believe that assault rifles have no place in our country.  They are for use in war and that's their only legitimate use.  But this kind of senseless killing will go on and on, until we decide that we will no longer tolerate it and take measures to stop the sale of such weapons.  Believing that something is possible is the first step in moving toward it... let's keep that in mind.  Problems can be solved if people are willing to work together for the common good.

The new stamp set called "Feel Goods" that is featured in the new Spring catalog is one you are going to want to get.  By the way, you should have received your copy of the new catalog in the mail yesterday.  If you didn't, you'll probably get it today (Wednesday, Dec. 19th),  or soon after.   This set has some great sayings, but my very favorite one is "She believed she could, so she did."  As I mentioned, believing that something is possible is a way of moving toward it.  What challenge will you meet with this attitude of belief?  It could be anything from overcoming a disease to losing weight or even organizing your home.  Once you believe, you can achieve!  I'm going to keep this quote in mind as we move into 2013... might as well start the year on a positive note! 

In an earlier post I mentioned that I would be showing you some of the great handmade gifts that were exchanged at our annual Stamp2gether Christmas Potluck.  Today I'll show you the magnetic display board that I made for one of my demonstrator friends.  Check it out...

 You'll see the "She believed she could, so she did" sentiment at the top center of the board.  This was made with a 12 x 12 shadowbox frame with the glass removed.  I covered a sheet of galvanized metal purchased at a crafts store with some DSP, then made several magnets to use to display cards, photos, or mementos.  It was fairly easy to make and I think almost anyone would love to have a board like this in their craft room or kitchen.  This one was made with Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White to coordinate with my friend's stamp room, but a more neutral board framed in black or dark brown would look crisp and contemporary in a kitchen or home office. 

That's it for today, my friends!  I've got about a ka-jillion things to do and I'm sure you do too!  When the holiday stress gets to be too much, don't forget that you have the best stress-buster there is... stamping.  I know we can't pound on the new stamp pads the way we could on the old ones, but you can still bring that stamp down on your paper with a resounding thud.  So pound away... it's healthy and harmless.  Thank you for stopping by to read my rambling thoughts... I appreciate each one of you!  Have a happy Wednesday and meet me back here on Friday for more stamping inspiration.

Hugs,
Susan

Let's Move On!

Hello stamping friends and welcome to Monday!

Was the weekend wet enough for you?  Windy enough?  Last night I thought the wind was going to blow right through my stamp room window. The wind was blowing hard and the rain was sheeting down the windows, so if we ever have sun again, I'm pretty sure my windows will look a bit cleaner!
A free window washing courtsey of mother nature... sweet! 

Are there any stampers out there who haven't finished their hand-stamped Christmas cards?  I really think that most of you have finished and sent your cards and I'd be willing to bet that there are very few, if any, people looking for Christmas card ideas at this late date.  So shall we agree to move on to other types of cards? 

I have a fun card from you that I received as a swap. Unfortunately, I cannot give proper credit to the demo who created it because there's no name on the back of the card.    I think you'll love the technique that it features, although I don't know the exact name for it.  Or maybe it doesn't have an exact name.  I think we've actually done this technique at one of my classes a few years back.  It is easy and something I hope you'll try.    Here's the card---
 

 

Isn't it great to see a non-Christmas card?  I guess I'm just very easily bored, but I think I've been showing Christmas cards for too long, so it is refreshing to move on to something else.  I have to say right now that I'm not a big fan of the layout on this card, but that's not why I'm showing it to you.  I wanted you to see this technique using vellum card stock, which is sold on page 160 of the annual catalog. 

 

Here's what you do:  First, stamp on the white vellum card stock with Versamark ink.  Then sprinkle with white embossing powder and heat with your heat gun until the embossing is shiny and raised.  Then, using markers, color on the back of the vellum, staying within the lines that show through from the front.  Then add the vellum to a white background panel so that the colors "pop." Adhesive will show through the vellum, so it is a good idea to add the sentiment on a punched piece and perhaps add a bit of ribbon too, because you need something to hide the adhesive behind. 

 

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Bordering on Romance

 

Card Stock: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White, Calypso Coral and White Vellum card stock.

  

Markers: used to color the back are Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Wisteria Wonder.

 

Accessories:  Fancy Fan embossing folder, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch.

                                              

I hope I've inspired you to get out your stamps and try reverse coloring on vellum.  It is easy to do and the results are quite impressive!

 

Thanks so much for coming to my blog each day!  I appreciate each one of you!

Hugs and Happy Monday!

Susan                                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                



A cup o' cozy

Hello Stampers and happy Friday!

Thanks so much for stopping in for a visit today!  Did you notice how c-c-c-cold it was yesterday?  Ooooh, and that chilly fog didn't help anything did it?  Well, you're in luck, because today I have just the antidote for all of that cold gray gloom--- something that will warm your innards while lifting your mood and giving you a shot of energy, and it's all perfectly legal!  Take a look...

Yes, it's one of my favorite cure-alls, hot cocoa!  A steaming hot mug of this chocolately goodness will restore your spirit, especially if some partially melted, gooey sweet marshmallows are floating on top.  I like to call this card my "sweet surprise" card, because you could also slide a couple of Ghirardelli Squares inside, instead of the cocoa.  This fun card was shamelessly "cased" (copy and share everything) from Dawn Olchefske.  I'm not sure if the card was her original idea, or whether she cased it from someone else, but I've given her credit, so now we can move on.

The card is made from a half-sheet of Early Espresso card stock.  The corner is scored and folded down so that the cocoa packet will show.  Two holes are punched on the side of the card so that the ribbon can be threaded through to hold the candy cane in place. There's a bit of Sticky Strip holding the card together at the bottom, so that the cocoa packet will not slide out the bottom.   The DSP is from Candlelight Christmas (page 4 of the Holiday catalog).  The mug, candy cane, and steam were stamped with the Scentsational Season stamp set and then cut out with the Holiday Collection Framelit dies (page 16 of the Holiday catalog).  I used the 2 1/2 inch circle punch to cut the Crumb Cake circle, then I used the 1 3/8 inch Scallop Circle punch to punch out the Real Red circle.  This is a super-easy project that just about anyone would like to find in their mailbox at the office.  And once Christmas is over, you could change out the focal image and use a heart theme for a Valentines' Day treat!

May you all enjoy a relaxing, chocolate-enhanced weekend!  Don't forget to come back on Monday, when I'll start showing you some of the amazing hand-made gifts that were exchanged at our Demonstrator potluck on Wednesday evening.  Until then, happy stamping!
Hugs,
Susan

Tag, You're It!

Whoops, it's Wednesday!  How did that happen so quickly?

 And oh, my goodness, it is also 12-12-12!    I feel like I should be doing something momentous on this day, but realisitically I know I probably won't be doing anything more important or memorable than mopping my kitchen floor and cleaning the bathrooms.  Whoa!  Let's not get carried away with the excitement of it all.  Hopefully none of my grandchildren will ever ask me "What did you do on 12-12-12 Oma?" 

I've been as busy as a little bee getting ready for a gathering of demonstrators at my house tonight.  We get together each month for dinner, stamping, swapping, and sharing business ideas.  Then once a year at Christmas we gather for a potluck dinner and the exhange of handmade gifts.  This meeting is always one the highlights of the year and I'll be sharing photos of the gifts in future posts, just to show you what a talented bunch of demos I have in my group.

Have you ever thought you might like to join us in the Stampin'Up! adventure?  I've been a demonstrator for 12 years now... and what fun years they've been!  If you'd like to explore the possibility, please send me an email and we'll get together to chat.  Then perhaps next year you'll be joining in this fun dinner and gift exchange!

Today I'm going to show you the little gift tag holder that we made at my annual Santa's Workshop on December 1st.  I do this gift packaging class every year and I try to have a nice variety of projects.  This year we made five different projects and this was one of them...

This folder holds 8 gift tags and was designed to be given as a small gift to a co-worker, holiday hostess, or neighbor. The tags inside were cut with the Two Tags Die for the Big Shot.  The colors here are Real Red, Early Espresso, and Very Vanilla and the Designer Paper is from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (page 20 of the Holiday catalog).  The focal panel was stamped with Early Espresso ink using the Tags 'Til Christmas stamp set and punched with the Designer Label Punch.  If you would like to have the directions on cutting and scoring this little folder, please let me know and I'll send it along.  This would also be a fun project for children to make as a gift for their teacher, piano teacher, or scout leader. 

Of course, you could also slide a few $20s in there, or maybe a $50 or two.  That would make a great gift for someone very special.  Another thing you could do would be to print up some coupons to put into the folder for things like "your favorite meal," four hours of babysitting," "washing and vacuuming your car," etc.--- you can be as creative as you wish with your coupons and make them really funny, or silly, or whatever fits the recipient. 

Well, my friends, I'm off to set the table and make the final preparations for tonight's dinner.  Don't forget to come back on Friday for more creative inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Susan

A Monday Treat

Hello everyone and thanks for checking in with me today!

 Isn't it amazing how Mondays roll around so quickly.  I was just getting into the weekend groove and, oops!  Here it is Monday again!  I'm slowly but surely crossing things off my very lengthy "to do" list and I hope you are making progress on yours as well.  There's so much to accomplish during the holidays, but let's try to remember that the world won't come to an end if we don't make all  8 varieties of our traditional Christmas cookies, decorate our house so it looks like Martha was here, or wrap all of our gifts in coordinated paper from The Container Store.  I've quizzed my girls several times over the past few years and as a result, I now make only the three kinds of cookies which they think are an absolute necessity... spritz cookies, rolled sugar cookies, and gingerbread men.  If we have those 3 types, then it seems like Christmas, and that's just fine with me.  I do miss some of the yummier, more adult cookies, but think of the hours and calories I save by not baking them! 

Golly, I sure wish I had a card with a cookie on it to go along with this post!  Sorry, but I'm fresh out of cookie cards.  But a do have a card that's a real treat.  Check it out...

Isn't this a great card?  It was made by Krista Thomas of Roseburg and I received it in a swap on the Hilton Head trip.    Let me give you a quick list of what Krista used to create this gorgeous card.

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  White, Black, and Silver embossing powders, heat gun, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Bitty Banners Framelits, Basic Gray Stitched grosgrain. 

I hope that this card has inspired you to pull out your heat gun and some embossing powder and make something pretty!   Thanks for visiting and please come back on Wednesday for more stamping fun.

Oh, and by the way, be watching your snail mail box, because your new Spring catalog should be arriving in the next week or so!  It's a great catalog filled with so many wonderful new products.  I think you're going to love it!

Happy stamping!
Susan

Fresh Air Friday

Hello there, stampers!  Happy Friday!

I hope everyone is looking forward to a relaxing weekend... maybe one that includes a few holiday activities such as tree decorating, cookie baking, or perhaps party-going.  On Saturday, I have my last class of 2012, Holiday Ornament Class #2.  After that, I'm taking a break from classes and events until mid-January.  However, I won't be taking a break from stamping.   Just yesterday the UPS man brought me a big box of NEW goodies to play with!  I have new stamps and papers from the new Spring catalog as well as new Sale-a-bration goodies.  I wish I could show you some of these fantastic products, but I can't.  I'm going to try to find a few spare minutes here and there to make some cards with the new stuff, as it is OK if you see items made with the new products... just not the new products themselves.  I'm sorry, but I don't make the rules. I just live by them.  The good news is that you should be receiving your new Spring catalog in the mail very soon!

I've got something a bit different to show you today... a card that is like a breath of fresh air.  I feel like I've shown you too many Christmas cards and I'm beginning to think that if I see another card with a Christmas theme, I might break out in a red (and green) rash.  So check this out and see if you like this breath of fresh air.

 I don't know about you, but looking at this card reminds me that spring is on its way!   I know that we haven't even entered winter officially, but we can dream of blossoms and birdies can't we?  I saw a three panel card on a blog somewhere a while back and I thought that Betsy's Blossoms would be a fun set to use with this layout. 

Here's a quick list of the supplies I used:
Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms, Curly Cute
Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pool Party, Basic Black
Paper:  Whisper White, So Saffron
Accessories:  Fancy Fan embossing folder, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, Old Olive 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
               
I can think of a number of sets that would look great with the three-panel layout and I'll bet you can too!  I hope I've inspired you to get out some flowery stamps and create your own breath of fresh air.
Enjoy your Friday and your weekend too!  I hope you'll come back on Monday for another classic card!
Hugs,
Susan

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Hello Stamping Buddies!

Do you have your Christmas tree up and decorated yet?  Are you a devotee of fresh trees, or do you go the artificial route?  We picked out a tree on Monday and got it into the house, into the stand, and John put the lights on it.  Next, he'll start hanging ornaments and wrapping garland.  Since I take care of the majority of the Christmas-related tasks (shopping, wrapping, cards, baking, and decorating), the tree has become John's job.  Now that John has fallen off the ladder twice when hanging the outdoor lights, our adult children have taken over that job.  So the tree has become his sole responsibilty.  I can get away with making a few suggestions, but not many.  He gets a bit touchy if I offer too many observations on the placement of lights/ornaments/garland, so mostly I just keep my remarks to myself.  I'm so happy to have one less thing to do, that if it's not perfect, it's still OK with me.  Over 42 years of marriage there have been more than a few "Charlie Brown" trees, but I've learned that almost any tree, once decorated with lights and ornaments, looks pretty good. 

As you might have guessed, the card I'm showing you today has a Christmas tree on it... a very beautiful tree I might add.  This beautiful image comes from the set Christmas Lodge. I just love the detail on this tree.  It has a very old-world look.  Check it out!

This was the second card that we made at the SOS group on November 26th.  Sorry, SOSers!  I'll have a card that is new to you on Friday.  But meanwhile I wanted to show everyone both of the masculine cards we made at our last get-together. 

This card also features the great Festival of Prints DSP stack (item # 126904, p. 20 of the Holiday catalog $6.95.  This paper is a favorite of mine and will be gone for good when the Holiday catalog expires on Jan. 2nd.  Get yours before it's discontinued!

Stamps: Christmas Lodge, Mixed Medley
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Paper:  Festival of Prints DSP Stack, Cherry Cobbler card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, Crumb Cake card stock.
Accessories:  1 1/4 inch Scallop Circle punch ( p. 7 of Holiday catalog), 3/4 inch Circle Punch (p. 184 of the Annual catalog), Dimensionals, sponge.


Thanks for stopping by The Classic Card today!  I hope that this year's tree will be one of your best ever... straight trunk, full branches, no bare spots, and just the right height!  Have a great Wednesday and I hope you'll join me on Friday for another classic card.

Hugs,
Susan

Ahoy, Matey!

Hello Stamping friends and happy Monday!

The weeks are just rolling by, aren't they?  I can hardly believe that we're into December.  It seems like just a few days ago that we were enjoying warm September days.  I hate how time seems to keep speeding up.  It means I'm getting older faster and faster.  Ugh!  Not a good thing!

I hope you had a chance to go to my Facebook page (TheClassicCard) and answer the question that I posted and while you're there "like" my page by hitting the "like" button.  If you'll do that, I will enter your name into my drawing for a free stamp set.  Who wouldn't like free stamps???  I will draw the winner at the end of the day, so you have until 5pm tomorrow to comment on my post.

If you attended my last SOS (Stamp Out Stress) meeting on November 26th, you've already made this card.  My apologies to the stampers who attended, as I'm sure they'd like to see a brand new card today.  But since 99% of you haven't seen this card, I thought I'd show it to you.  It's the one type of card I usually have trouble making... a "guy card," sometimes known as a "manly" card.

There are several things that one should NEVER EVER put on a card for a man!  First of all, I'll mention ribbon.  You can use twine, linen thread, wire, or other wrap that looks like it came from the hardware store, but never even think of using any kind of ribbon, even if it is dark brown or black.  Ribbon is so not manly!  Another thing you should never add to a manly card is pearls or rhinestones.  I know there's a song about a rhinestone cowboy, but seriously,  just avoid them like the plague.  Stampin'Up! has a cute guy set on page 27 of the annual catalog called Best Dad Ever, that has a row of neckties as one of the images.  You might be tempted to add a rhinestone as a tie tack, but resist the temptation !  Your guy will not appreciate a rhinestone!  Other things to avoid are the colors Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Melon Mambo, or anything that is remotely related to pink (I'm sure there's someone out there that thinks you can get away with pink on a Valentine for a guy, but that is not true).  Valentines for guys should be red and black or Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso... that's it... only those two combinations.  Anything else will look girly.  OK, enough rambling.  Here is the card...

  Here are a few more hints for manly cards: Use a plain font for your sentiment.  Guys don't like curly, swirly anything on their cards, including the font.  DSP should be bold and graphic (like the stripes used here).  Plaids and geometrics are also good, but avoid any small cutesy prints... especially anything that would remind them of flowers.  Fussy coloring is also best avoided.  Just stamp the image in a bold dark color and be done with it.  Guys likely won't even notice your coloring skills, let alone appreciate them.  I used linen thread on this card, but note that it is simply wrapped around.  If you must, tie a knot around it, but never, never, never a bow.  Some sponging ups the rustic and manly look you're going for.  I guess one of the best things about making a manly card is that they are pretty simple and quick to put together... no fussing required!

 

Here's a listing of what we used to make this card:

 

Stamp sets:  The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints Designer Paper Stack (in Holiday catalog)

Ink:  Early Espresso

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Extra Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch.

Don't forget, the Holiday catalog expires on January 2nd, so if you want to get that great Festival of Prints DSP stack (#126904, 6.95), better get it now before it is gone for good!

 

Well friends, we're off to wrestle with a fir today.  I'm sure we'll be using some manly twine to tie it to the top of the car and you can be sure that it will be secured with some knots, not bows. 

Happy stamping!

Susan

 

 

Finally Friday!

Hello stampers and welcome back!

Yay, it is finally Friday!  I have been working like crazy all week, getting ready for my class on Saturday.  It is going to be GREAT... 5 fun projects just perfect for the holiday season ahead.

Let me show you just one of them .....

 

 

This cute box is one of the items we're making at my annual Santa's Workshop class.  It is decorated with the Candlelight Christmas DSP, which you can find on page 4 of the Holiday catalog.  The bow is also made with DSP. 

 

Check your email later today for an instruction sheet on how to create a fun bow using double sided paper.  It is easy and fun.. you'll love it! 

 

 

Sorry this is such a short post, but I've got cookies in the oven that need my attention right NOW!

 

Happy stamping!

Susan

Cool and Cute

Hello Stampers and happy Wednesday!

Today is the last day of the Online Extravaganza and I hope you took advantage of some of the great price reductions on some fun stampin' stuff.  If not, you still have until midnight tonight ... really 11pm our time... (11-28-12) to put your order in.  If you want to, you can call or email me with your order until 8pm.  Then I'll submit all of the orders together so that you won't each pay the $6.95 minimum shipping charge. 

I'm sure you've noticed how cold it has become the last few days.  We went out grocery shopping last night and we needed our heavy coats and hoods to keep from freezing.  I wonder if there's any snow in store for us this winter.   I've always thought of myself as a summertime girl, but for someone who loves the warmth and sunshine, it seems a little strange to admit that I get a little snow-crazy in winter.  Do you love snow like I do... from inside a warm house?  It's just so pretty!  I have no desire to build a snowman or shovel a sidewalk, although in the big snow of 2008 I did get out and shovel the driveway.  I guess that's what "cabin fever" will do to a person who's not accustomed to being house-bound.

For all you snow-lovers out there, here's a card that might float your boat...

If you are one of those procrastinating types and haven't started your cards yet, this would be a super-easy and quick card to produce in quantity.  This card is the work of talented demonstrator Sharon Dungan of Crestwood Kentucky and I received it in a swap at the Stampin'Up! convention last July.

Here's a quick list of what Sharon used to make this fun card:

Stamps:  Frosty Friends (page 9 of the Holiday catalog)
               Petite Pairs ( for the greeting, page 134 of the Annual catalog)
Ink:  Jet Black Staz-On
Paper:  Pacific Point and Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Assorted markers, Two-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Glue Dots, Real Red Stitched Grosgrain ribbon.

She stamped the greeting first, then applied the two-way glue in a zig-zag motion over the bottom half of the card, going right over the greeting.  Even thought there's glitter on top of the sentiment, it can still be seen.  She also added touches of the Two-Way glue pen on the snowmen and then added glitter to them as well, for a sparkly shiny snowy card. 

I'm going to run now and I'm sure you have things you need to get done as well.  Let's meet back here on Friday for another Classic Card, OK? 
See you then!
Susan

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Hello Stamping People!  Happy Monday!

Thanks for coming back for a visit after the Thanksgiving weekend. And what a weekend it was!  With 10 people in the house, the dishwasher and the washer and dryer were in constant motion... not to mention the mom and grandma (that would be me).  I was in constant motion too and now I'm ready to just sit in a corner and read or maybe zone out in front of the television watching sappy holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel.  But it is Monday and the start of a busy week, so I don't think I'll be doing either of those things. 

During a brief break in the rain, we took the kiddos out for a short walk on my favorite walking path that goes through a forested area and I suddenly realized that we're really into wintery weather.  It's time to look through the closets and drawers and finds those hats, gloves, and scarves because.... BRRRR!  It's cold out there! 

If you're thinking I might be showing you a BRRR-ish card today, you are absolutely correct.  Check this one out.

I thought you might want to get busy and make a few cards like this, place them in one of the easy card boxes that we've made at several of my events, and then give them as a great Christmas gift.  We all need thank-you notes after Christmas, so we can take care of thanking all of the people who remembered us with thoughtful and generous gifts, not to mention the hosts and hostesses who entertained us at holiday parties, and the nice neighbors who brought over a plate of cookies and fudge.

This card is super-easy to make, as it primarily uses just one stamp... the new Bold Snowflake stamp that's being offered as a single stamp for a limited time.  The item number for this great snowflake is 132338 and it sells for only $5.95 through January 2nd.  What a great price for such a versatile stamp!  It would also make a great Christmas card or New Year's card.  And another great thing about this super snowflake is that it coordinates with the Blossom Punch (#125603, 16.95) found on page 185 of the annual catalog.  For the sentiment, I used Sassy Salutations (#126317, 17.95) on page 143 of the annual catalog.  I just love that fun font, don't you?  The colors of ink I used were Baja Breeze and Marina Mist.

For a little extra pizzazz, I textured the Baja Breeze background with the Square Lattice embossing folder, then added a strip of the ultra-sparkly Silver Glimmer Paper (#124005, 4.95, p. 160), and topped it off with a snowflake punched out with the Blossom Punch. The Basic Rhinestone (#119246, 4.95)  added to the center of the snowflake adds a bit more frosty shine. The snowflake panel and the punched out snowflake were given extra sparkle with a spritz of Frost White Shimmer Paint (#116854, 5.95)  mixed with a little rubbing alcohol.  Just combine a few drops of paint in a small spray bottle with enough rubbing alcohol bottle to make a milky-looking liquid. Shake well and spray.  The paper will curl slightly when the paint/alcohol mixture hits it, but as the paint dries, the paper will relax and lie flat again.  Hmmm, relax and lie flat.... that sounds kind of good right now, but no naps for me today!  I'm off to Symposium Coffee in Old Town Sherwood for a fun afternoon of stamping with my SOS (Stamp Out Stress) group.  You could join us sometime!  It is only $3 for two cards plus envelopes... what a deal!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll look forward to seeing you again on Wednesday!
Susan

The Magic of Papercrafting

Hello Stampers and welcome to Wednesday!

Oh my goodness... here it is the day before Thanksgiving and if you're like me, you have a to-do list that's grown to a frightening length!  Last night before I went to bed, I wrote down everything that I need to get done today.  I find that when I have a lot to do, that really helps me sleep.  Then I don't lie there going over and over everything in my mind.  If you're one who has trouble sleeping, try it.  Making a list might help you as well.

As I mentioned on Monday, I thought I'd show you the ornaments we made at Ornament Class #1 last Saturday.  I was a bit concerned about leading 12 people through the multiple steps involved in making the Christmas ornament that is shown on the front cover of the Holiday catalog, but my customers are so crafty that they took to ornament-making like ducks to water.  They came, they cut, they scored, they glued, they assembled, they hot-glued and in no time at all, everyone had crafted a gorgeous ornament.

Take a look at some of their creations...

 

 

 

 

 

Aren't these great?  I won't show you all twelve, but I'm sure you can see that they turned out beautifully!  These will make a wonderful tie-on for a special package, and of course they'd also look great on a Christmas tree, but I think they'd also make a wonderful "neighbor" gift or a gift for a co-worker.  Once you've made one, you'll see how easy they are. 

 

If you'd like to make an ornament like this, sign up for my Ornament Class #2, coming up on Saturday, December 8th at 1 pm at my house in Sherwood.  Send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com or give me a call.  My contact info is shown at the top of my blog page.  After you've enjoyed an afternoon of paper-crafting, cookies, hot cider, holiday music, and door prizes, I promise you'll go home with not only a beautiful ornament, but also a happy holiday mood!

I hope you'll come and join the fun!  The cost is only $10, or free with a $30 purchase.

 

Well, friends, I'm off to tackle that list now!  I hope you'll accomplish your list in record time and have a bit of time to relax tonight before the big day tomorrow.  We'll have a house-full, but thankfully the adults still outnumber the children so there's a good chance we'll all survive.

 

I'm thankful for YOU, my wonderful customers and blog readers!  May you have a great Thanksgiving Day tomorrow!

Hugs,

Susan



 

A Patchwork Christmas

Hello Stampers and happy Monday! 

Well, wasn't that a wet and windy weekend?  A couple of times a gust of wind hit my stamp room window with such force that the window rattled and shook.  Yikes!   But as I've said before, it's good stamping weather!  I had a lot of fun with the stampers at my ornament class on Saturday and again on Sunday with a group from Hillsboro/Beaverton.  I'm happy to be so busy!

Speaking of the ornament class... I'm thinking there may be more people who'd like to learn how to make the ornament on the front cover of the Holiday catalog, so I'm adding another class, which will be on Sunday, December 9th at 2pm.  Just send me a quick email and I'll save a spot for you.  The cost is only $10 or free with a $30 purchase.  The ornaments turned out great on Saturday!  Everyone's was a little different, due to the different colors of DSP used, but all were beautiful.  I'll show you those later in the week.  The process is not complicated and once you make one, you'll want to go home and make a bunch.  They make gorgeous tie-ons for packages and would also be a great gift for neighbors, co-workers, and people you like to remember with "a little something."

Well, let's get to the card I have for you today, shall we?   Check it out right now...

This great card is the work of Shannon Carrier, one of the talented demonstrators who attends our monthly Stamp2gether meetings.  I love how the ornament looks like a patchwork quilt.  Here is a list of the supplies used to create this fun card:

Stamps:  Sassy Salutations
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Champagne Glimmer paper ( p. 18 of the Holiday Catalog)
            Snow Festival Designer Paper ( p. 10 of the Holiday Catalog)
            Cherry Cobbler Card Stock
            Soft Suede Card Stock
Accessories:   Holiday Ornament Framelits  ( p. 3 of Holiday Catalog)

This technique is great for using up small strips and scraps of DSP, so don't ever throw any of it away. Start by glueing a strip of the DSP diagonally, then randomly add other strips (you can vary the width of the strips), butting the strips tightly together.  I think it might be easiest to work with a 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inch piece of card stock, which will easily fit into the Big Shot.  Once you have the whole sheet covered, then you can cut out several ornaments out of the same piece of paper, using the round ornament framelit in the Holiday Ornaments Framelit set.  I love the Sassy Salutations set... what a fun and contemporary font!  The Champagne Glimmer paper gives just the right amount of shimmer and shine. 

Don't forget the great Online Extravaganza sale that starts today (actually, it started last night at midnight) and runs through November 28th.  For every $25 you spend on the Online Extravaganza, I will enter your name into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate.  To shop, go to my business site at www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net.  You can also click on the shop now button at the top of my blog.  Over the weekend I emailed you a flyer showing all of the discounted products... there are some fabulous bargains!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope your happy Monday will be just the start of a great week for you. 
Hugs,
Susan



    

The Last of the Leaves

Hello stampin' people!

Happy Friday and welcome to the (almost!) weekend.  Wasn't yesterday just the most glorious sunny day?  I had planned to stay home all day and work on many different stamping projects, including my upcoming Santa's Workshop class and a couple of stamping parties, but it was such a pretty day that I just couldn't bring myself to stay indoors all day.  I played hookey in the afternoon, but by evening I was back at work.  I hope that you had a chance to get outdoors as well. 

Yard Man has now filled 17 large black bags with leaves and is looking forward to dumping them on Saturday at our town's leaf dispoal event.  I think we've almost seen the last of the leaves, and you who read my blog are about to see the last of the leaves here as well, as it is time to turn from fall and embrace the wintery look with cards that feature snowy scenes, bare trees, snowmen, and all things Christmasy.  Just so we don't become bored with winter, I'll throw a birthday card, a baby card, and other assorted cards into the mix occasionally. 

So for today, here's one of my "last of the leaves" cards for you...

I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that this is another Hilton Head swap.  I love the bright saturated colors and the way that the maple leaft was crumpled and sponged to make it look more realistic.   This pretty card was created by Cat Power, a demonstrator from New York. 
Here's a quick list of the products, in case you'd like to copy this card.

Stamps:  Day of Gratitude
              Gently Falling
Ink:  Cajun Craze
         More Mustard
         Cherry Cobbler
         Early Espresso
Paper:  More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Autumn Accents Die for the Big Shot
                      Stitched Satin ribbon in Midnight Muse

Stay tuned to your email inbox, as Stampin'Up! will be announcing the details of their Online Extravaganza to demonstrators today, with discounts up to 50%.  As soon as I have the details, I'll send you a quick email so you can take advantage of some great savings. 

Thanks for being my customers and blog readers and sharing this Stampin'Up! journey with me.  All of you are greatly appreciated.
Hugs,
Susan

For the Troops, part 2

Hello stampers and welcome back to the Classic Card!

On Monday I spent a little over four hours at Curves in Sherwood, teaching the ladies how to make cards.  I'm grateful to everyone who stopped by my table and took a few minutes out of their busy day to make a card for our troops overseas.  We made a total of 35 cards and while that might not seem like a big thing, it will definitely make a difference to a solider who is able to send a card home to his/her spouse or child. And think of how that card will be treasured by the wife, husband, or child who receives it. 

As promised, here are the three cards we made that day.  I won't apologize that they aren't the most thrilling designs I've ever done.  I deliberately kept them very simple as I realized that many of the ladies have never stamped before. Also, most people who work out at Curves are on the run, literally.
They have a small window of time for their workout and then they need to return to work, pick up a child from school, etc.  So I knew that the cards would need to be not only simple to stamp, but very quick to assemble.  Take a look...

These are the three most-requested types of cards--- Love You, Miss You, and Happy Birthday.  The birthday card is pretty much gender-neutral, as is the Miss You card.  I admit that the Melon Mambo and Tangerine Tango "love you" card is pretty girly.  No one in their right mind would ever send a card like that to a guy.  Each of these cards is easily stamped and assembled in under 5 minutes, so that's a real plus for people like us who tend to over-schedule ourselves. 

Thank you, Curves friends, for your time and willingness to thank our troops in this important way. I would especially like to thank Cheri, Kelsey, Carol, and Leslie, some of my stampin' "regulars" who took time out of their day to make several cards with me.  You are the best!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to come back on Friday when I'll have another card for you.
Susan

For Our Troops

Hello Stampers and happy Monday!

I hope your weekend was more relaxing than mine!  Oh, yes, I had a lot of fun stamping with some very nice ladies on Saturday and Sunday, but now that Monday is here, I feel like I'd like to stay in my jammies all day and read.  However, I'm not going to be doing that!  I'm well aware that the official Veteran's Day was yesterday, but today is the day that I'm doing my "For Our Troops" event at my local Curves (in Sherwood, Oregon).  If our troops regularly put their lives on the line for us, I think the least we can do is to get up, dress up, and show up to do something for them. 

So today, from 9 am to noon, I will be at Curves in Sherwood, helping the generous and loving ladies there make cards for our troops.  We have three different cards we'll be making and I'm sorry to say that you'll have to wait until Wednesday to see them, as I left my display board at Curves in hopes that more people will join us when they see these fun cards.  One is a birthday card, one is a "love you" card and the third one is a "miss you" card.  These are the three most-requested types of cards.

Here's how it works.  After we create the cards, we'll package them up (along with an envelope) in a clear cello bag and we'll send them to an organization called From Our Hearts.  The Stampin'Up! demonstrators who run it have military contacts in Afghanistan and Iraq and they send the cards to the Chaplains of various units.  Then when a soldier wants to send a card home to his wife, son, daughter, mom, dad, etc., he or she can look through the cards and pick one to send.  This is a great morale booster, knowing that a loved-one will be receiving a hand-stamped card. 

If you have any cards you'd like to contribute to the troops, please bring them the next time you come to one of my classes, events, or parties.  I'd be happy to send them on to From Our Hearts.

I know I cannot get away with a post that doesn't show a card... that would be just so, so WRONG!  I hope this card will provide a little inspiration to get you going on a rainy Monday---

 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, my time to show you leafy fall cards is limited.  So in the next few days, I'll be finishing up with fall and we'll move into more holiday cards.  Believe it or not, this is another swap card I received on the Hilton Head trip.  Let me give you some info on the products used to create it.  First and foremost, the name of the demonstrator who made this pretty card is Janice Urke.  She didn't print a "recipe" on the back, so I'll do my best to list the products.
Stamp Sets:
                  Gently Falling
                  Itty Bitty Banners
Ink:  More Mustard, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, and More Mustard card stock
Extras:  Comfort Cafe Designer Paper, Scallop Border punch, Bitty Banners Framelit Dies, Argyle Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Regals Brads, Dimensionals

I must run now, stampers, but before I do I want to remind you to come back on Wednesday for more classic cards.  Thanks for visiting me today!
Susan

A Cup of Comfort

Hello stamping friends and welcome back!

 Hurray for Friday and the upcoming weekend! I've got a whole lotta stampin' going on and I hope you have some fun things on your horizon as well!

Have you noticed how the weather has turned a bit colder lately?  Yard Man has coiled and stowed the hoses and covered the faucets with those styrofoam covers, but he still needs to close all the vents under the house... then we'll be all buttoned up for the coming winter.  Once old man winter arrives, one of my favorite things to do is to stay in my jammies a little longer than usual and drink hot cocoa while gazing out at a frosty wintery scene, and if that scene includes falling snow, well then that makes it perfect!  Are you a snow fanatic like me?  I fondly remember "snow days" when I was working in school libraries and how exciting it was to have a whole day off just to putter around the house, make cookies with the girls, and just generally slow down.  We could all use a few more days like that!  Well, we're not quite to snow season yet, but we could break out the hot cocoa, couldn't we?  Here, take a look at this and maybe you'll get in a hot cocoa mood...

This fun card was cased from fellow demonstrator Kathy Milano.  I changed the colors, but the idea and the layout are hers.  If you'd like to make this cute and Christmasy card, all you need to do is come to Kelsey's stamping party this Saturday at my house, as this is one of the cards we'll be making.

Here's a quick list of the "ingredients."

Stamps:  Scentsational Season
               Greetings of the Season  (both sets are in the Holiday catalog)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green
Paper:  Whisper White and Gumball Green card stock
           Designer paper is Be of Good Cheer ( in the annual catalog)
           Silver Glimmer Paper ( for the snowflake)
Accessories:  Snow Flurry Bigz Die for the Big Shot (Holiday catalog)
                       Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder  (annual catalog)
                       Holiday Collection Framelits (Holiday catalog) to cut out the mug and "steam"

I'd love to stay and chat some more, but must run now, as I have about a ba-jillion things to do today.
Have a great weekend, everyone, and don't forget to come back on Monday!
Hugs,
Susan

The Pale Blue Dot

Hello Stampers and Happy Wednesday!

When I first saw today's card, I knew I had to re-create it for you!  It is the work of super-stamper and fellow demonstrator Debbie McNeill.  I love its simplicity and also its message.  Check it out right now...

Isn't that just a great card?  Thanks go to Debbie for sharing it with me! The earth (from the stamp set The Open Sea, p. 104 of the Annual catalog), stamped in Baja Breeze reminded me of noted astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan's well-known comments on photos of the earth taken from deep space.  In case you aren't familiar with his book Pale Blue Dot here is an excerpt:

"We succeeded in taking that picture from deep space and, if you look at it, you see a dot.  That's here. That's home. That's us.  On it, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever lived, lived out their lives.  The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings, thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilizations, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every hopeful child, every mother and father, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar, every supreme leader, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam.
The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.  Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.  Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of the dot on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner of the dot.  How frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.  Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe are challenged by this point of pale light.  Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.  In our obscurity-- in all this vastness-- there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.  It is up to us.  To my mind, there is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.  To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish that pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." 

I'm writing this on Tuesday afternoon and I've purposely tuned out election returns so I have no idea who is ahead or behind, but I'll just say that if you find yourself on the losing side of things, take heart.  Because if you give the state of our world any serious thought, you'll realize that we're all pretty much losers.  Until we can suspend our proud, self-satisfied, and judgemental views and take action for the good of all, until no children go hungry, until no young women are forced into the sex trade, until we can learn to use our brains instead of guns to solve problems, until we can learn to put people before profits, until we can respect the earth, and the issues go on and on ... yep... we're all losers.  So we've all got a LOT of company and no one needs to feel left out today!

OK,stampers, I'll get down off my soapbox now and get back to stamping--- a very teensy, weensy
thing that happens on the pale blue dot, but one that gives joy and happiness. 

Don't forget to come back on Friday for another classic card.
Susan

Super Simple Sympathy

Hello there stamping friends!
Happy Monday to all!

I have a very quick post for you today, as I'm running in all directions like a chicken with its head cut off.  Well, maybe not quite that frantically, but almost!  Why did I ever think retirement would be relaxing?  Silly me!

I had a great weekend and got to stamp with 10 fun stampers on Saturday at my Soup-er Saturday class.  Then I had more fun on Sunday with a great group of 12 stampers, mostly from the Hillsboro area.  We did a lot of stamping and laughing!  And since laughter is supposed to be healthy, I'm sure we're all healthier today than we were yesterday... a great side benefit of stamping!

Today's card is one of those cards that is so simple, yet so pretty.  I received a similar card at convention made by "jillibling" (don't have her full name) and thought it would make a perfect sympathy card, so I just changed the sentiment and here it is...

We made this card at a recent party, but for most of you, this will be something new.
The base of the card is Very Vanilla, embossed with the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder that's in the Holiday catalog.   The stamped panel is first stamped with the Hello Doily background stamp (p. 129) in Crumb Cake and then the Flowering Flouishes stamp (p. 121)  is stamped over it in Early Espresso.

The sentiment is from Loving Thoughts (p. 136) and it is also stamped in Early Espresso. Then I just added a pearl on three of the flowers for a bit of dimension.  This whole card can be done, start to finish in under 10 minutes... a lot less time than it would take to drive to the store and pick out a card.
And you get to have the fun of being creative!

My suggestion is to pull out some stamps and stamp up a few sympathy cards in advance.  Then when you need one, you'll be able to quickly get it in the mail.  I've got to run now, so I'll look forward to seeing you again on Wednesday, when I'll have more stamping inspiration for you. 
Thanks for stopping by today!  I appreciate all of you, my faithful readers!
Hugs,
Susan 

Stand up and say "Happy Birthday!"

Hi there, stampers!  Yippee, it's Friday again and that means the weekend is almost here!

And what a weekend I have planned....packed with stamping on Saturday AND Sunday!  But that's the way I like my weekends to look, so that makes me happy.  I'm hoping that you've got some fun things planned as well.

Today turned out to be my day to babysit the adorable Miss Allie, so this post is going to be super quick!  This fun stand-up card is something I don't think we've made at any of my parties or classes, but if you'd like to learn how, I'd love to teach you.  It really isn't as complicated as it looks.  One of my demonstrator friends, Shannon Carrier, showed us how to make this at one of our Stamp2gethers, where demonstrators get together to share business tips, stamping ideas, and mutual support.  We all made one as a make-and-take so we'd have an example to show our customers.  Here it is...

Isn't this just great? Believe it or not, this little beauty folds flat so you can stick it into an envelope and mail it.  The directions are a little too complicated to go into here, but I'd be happy to include this as one of the projects at your Stampin'Up! party. Just give me a call or send me an email and we'll get a date on my calendar.  It isn't too early to book a party for Sale-a-bration... that wonderful time of year when you get a free stamp set for every $50 you spend (this year it starts on January 22nd and goes until March 22nd).  The paper is from Floral District (it's on page 163 of the Annual Catalog).  The base of the card is Tangerine Tango and the ribbon is Lucky Limeaid (page 172 of the Annual Catalog).  Floral District is one of my favorite designer papers in the big catalog... just love its cheerful saturated colors that bring to mind sunny skies and summer days (remember those?)  The sentiment is from a great hostess-only set called Wacky Wishes ( p. 204) and the flowers are from Bordering on Romance (page 120).

Thanks for stopping in today.  Thank you for being my faithful readers and my loyal customers!  I
appreciate each one of you.  Have a relaxing weekend everyone!
Hugs,
Susan

A Baja Christmas

Hello Stampin' Peeps!  Welcome to Wednesday at The Classic Card!

Despite the title of this post, I must admit that no, I'm not going to Baja for Christmas this year.  I'll be staying right here in Sherwood, up to my neck in decorating the house, cooking, cleaning, baking, wrapping, and entertaining family and friends.  And I'll be enjoying every minute of it!   The only thing tenuously connecting Christmas to Baja is the pretty Christmas card I have for you today, done in Baja Breeze.  Take a look and tell me what you think...



 

I received this card in a swap at the Stampin'Up! convention this summer.  Isn't the combination of Baja Breeze, Whisper White, and silver just so crisp and fresh and cool?  It reminds me of freshly fallen snow.  This beautiful card was created by Jessica Budacki. I think she did a great job of creating a cohesive card where all of the elements are well-balanced, don't you?

 

Here's a quick list of the supplies Jessica used, just in case you'd like to re-create her card:

 

Stamps:  Star Tree (single stamp, shown on page 19 of the Annual Catalog)

               Sentiment is from More Merry Messages, page 15 of the Annual Catalog

Ink:        Versamark stamp pad, embossed with Pewter Embossing Powder (both on page 159 of the 

               Annual Catalog)

Paper:     Whisper White and Baja Breeze card stock

                 Silver Glimmer Paper, page 160, Annual Catalog

Accessories:  Delicate Designs Embossing Folders, page 188, Annual Catalog

                      Basic Rhinestones, page 175, Annual Catalog

                      

Don't forget, you can shop with me 24/7 at my business web site www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net

 

Before I sign off today, I just want to say that I'm sure we're all thinking of the thousands upon thousands of people without homes, power, or the basic necessities of life.  Stampin'Up! always steps up when tragedy strikes and they have done so again this time, with a donation to the American Red Cross.  I'm thankful to be associated with such a caring and generous company.  My heart hurts when I contemplate the magnitude of the destruction and the lives lost. 

 

Well, that's about all for today, stampers!  I'm so appreciative of those of my customers who faithfully stop by each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to read my ramblings.  You are the best and I'm grateful to have you as customers and friends! 

See you on Friday!

Susan

 

 



Today's the Spooktacular Sale!

Hello to all of you soggy stampers and happy Monday!
Looks like it's going to be another wet week, but at least we aren't preparing for a mega-storm, so that is a blessing!

Wasn't it just a spectacularly wet weekend?  To tell you the truth, I was so busy that the weather didn't really register.  The weekend was full of fun with the grandchildren and fun with stamping customers, so it was great even though the weather wasn't the best.  Friday night my customer Amy held her party here and then Sunday was my annual Think Pink event.  And let me say... it was PINK!  We had raspberry lemonade, strawberry cupcakes with pink icing and pink sprinkles, and even some rolled sandwiches that were pink (well, ham is pink).  We made 2 fun-fold cards (both were pink, of course) and almost everyone who attended wore pink. Even the door prizes were pink!  It was a pinkalicious day indeed! 

But let's get to today's news... the Sell-a-stamp Spooktacular Sale... where for one day (today, Monday October 29th), you'll get 15% off all stamp sets, single stamps, personalized stamps, and cookie stamps. (The fine print...   bundled products are not included, nor are hostess sets or digital stamp brush sets that are used with My Digital Studio).

If you would like to order a stamp set or two, contact me by phone or email to place your order if you'd like to save on the $6.95 minimum shipping charge.  I will be placing an order this afternoon, so get your order to me by noon today.  That way, you'll only pay 10% for shipping.  I will take your credit card number over the phone, or you can send me a check.... whatever you prefer works for me.

Since today is the Spooktacular Sale, I thought I'd show you a spooktacular card.  Check it out...

This is yet another swap card, so I can't take credit for the great layout and choice of stamps.  This card is the work of an anonymous demonstrator who was on the Hilton Head Getaway trip with me.  I'm not sure why anyone would go to all the trouble of participating in an organized swap and not bother putting their name on the card, but there is nothing on the back to identify the creator.  So, while I would like to give the proper credit, I cannot. 
I'm not a big fan of scary, gory, or creepy Halloween cards and decorations, but I think this card has just the right mix of gothic-looking elements (the gate, the raven, and the ornate pattern stamped in Basic Black on the Tangerine Tango strip) and a Halloween-y color scheme.  Let's go over what Ms. Anonymous used:

Stamps:  Toxic Treats (p. 25 of the Holiday catalog)
               Etruscan Elegance Jumbo Wheel (also on page 25)
Ink:        Basic Black, Tangerine Tango
Paper:    Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray
Accessories: Lacy Brocade embossing folder ( p. 6 of the Holiday catalog)
               Label Collection Framelits ( p. 191 of the Annual catalog)
               Dotted Ribbon Scallop Border punch (p. 183 of the Annual catalog)

Speaking of Halloween... do you have your candy yet?  I have a giant bag of Tootsie Roll pops... my "go to" candy for Halloween for many years.  There are two big reasons I keep buying these year after year.  First and most importantly, I do not like Tootsie Roll pops.  I'm not the least bit tempted to even open the bag, let alone eat one.  The same cannot be said for yummy goodies like Twix bars
(love those!) or the dark chocolate mint 3 Musketeers bars (addictive!) or any kind of Milky Way bars (dark or regular... I don't discriminate!).  The second big reason I buy the Tootsie Roll pops is that they come 300 to a bag, which I find very reassuring, as I don't want to run out of Halloween candy just when the high-schoolers show up with their king-sized pillowcases.  That would be truly scary!  And the thought of my house draped in toilet paper is not at all appealing, so I want to make sure I have plenty of candy!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!  Don't forget to come back for a visit on Wednesday when I'll have another card that I hope you'll find inspiring.
Susan