Mocha Morning Butterflies May 17, 2012

Just a really quick post today – busy, busy….

Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  Baroque Motifs and Sincere Salutations – both retiring.  Mocha Morning Designer Paper – also retiring.  Butterfly Punch – yep it’s retiring.  The Neutrals 5/16″ brads – I think those are staying.  Also the Simply Scored was used but you can’t see it much in this picture.   Card Style idea from Cindy – we used this style in our MDS club class and I have those to share too – I don’t think I already did it so those will be on another day since we made several designs.  Gotta go….

Mocha Morning Masculine Card May 16, 2012

The Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series paper is a perfect match for masculine cards.  This card is super quick and easy to make.  I used the 1″ square punch to punch out pieces of the designer paper including some of the flocked paper in this pack.  It is on the retirement list so make sure to order it soon before they run out.  Each square is backed with a piece of Early Espresso punched with the postage stamp punch.  Then arrange them on the card base which is Crumb Cake.

I tied a piece of Hemp twine around the card front and tied in a knot.  The Hemp Twine is also on the retirement list.  The the greeting is in the lower right hand corner.  I used “happy father’s day” from the Delightful Dozen stamp set (it is in the new catalog).  But this card could be used for any number of things – very versatile.  Switch out the designer paper and change the whole look of the card.

Just a quick little shout out to my boys – I’m so proud of all three of them.  We were all so impressed by Ryan’s performance at the Spring Band Concert last night – he played in the percussion ensemble and did so good with several key solo and duet parts.  Then Tyler went today for training at his new job – he has been gone most of the day – I can’t wait to hear all about it when he gets home.  I talked to Kyle – he started his internship job yesterday.  They are spoiling him out there – he said they gave him a laundry bag and they’ll do it for him, and they feed them 3 meals a day including any snacks they want – they just have to request it and they’ll stock.  A furnished apartment and a bike to ride the mile to work.

Have a wonderful day!

My Digital Studio – Senior Books May 15, 2012

Over the past few months I have been working on a big project – that has taken quite a bit of time.  I created personalized 8×8 soft cover photo books for each of the graduating seniors in the band.  I did the same thing last year when Tyler graduated and everyone loved them so much they wanted me to do it again.  This year there were 13 seniors.

The basic layout of each book included a group photo of the seniors on the front cover.  The first page was an individual photo taken of the student on senior night with their parents – I also included all their bio information – instrument(s) played, awards, leadership,etc.  Then I had double page layouts – 4 pages for each year freshman through junior year and 6 pages for their senior year.  I included a 2 page spread for autographs and finished with another group photo as the last page and the band on the back cover. Here are a few more pages -

this is the autograph page

I was able to get some photos of the students from the parents and I also used photos that were taken throughout the years and added to our band website.  Each book is basically the same except I replaced some of the pictures that were of a specific student.  A few of the tricky books were the students who weren’t in the band all 4 years or the girls in the Guard that weren’t in concert band.  And a couple of parents didn’t send me any pictures of their student so I had to either find some on my own (which is hard when you don’t know the kids well and they are all dressed alike) or I replaced them with general band photos – like a trumpet player I may have used a picture of a group of trumpet players instead of that specific player since I didn’t know which one he was.    It was quite the undertaking but it is done and all the books were printed through Stampin’ Up!s professional print service and presented to the seniors at our band banquet on Thursday night.

Tonight is the final band concert of the year. Then the focus will be on next years Marching Band Show.  The percussion kids – which is Ryan – will have tryouts for the drumline and pit crew at the end of this month – Ryan is trying out for a snare drum spot – I’m crossing my fingers that he gets it – he has been practicing since last summer – he didn’t get it this past year because they only had room for a couple and the older boys got those spots.

And since it is Tuesday  – Stampin’ Up! has some new digital downloads – You can see them on my website – and view the May 15 digital downloads.

Also remember the Retiring Products – we are winding down to the end of this catalog – can you believe it?  So double check the list and see that you have everything you need.    Call or email me and I’ll place an order for you or place it online – you can add digital downloads and clearance items to an online order.

Have a great day!

 

Butterflies May 11, 2012

I don’t know about anyone else but I love my butterfly stamps, and punches and dies.  I was sad to see the butterfly punch and coordinating stamp sets on the retired lists – but I have seen the new catalog and let me just say that there are new butterflies in there – and I love them too…..I can’t wait until June 1st so I can place an order.  But until then I am still playing with what I got.  Last week Heather posted this super cute card on her blog and I knew I had to make one like it – here is mine -

This one uses the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper and the Daffodil Delight Seam Binding – they will both be in the new catalog starting June 1st.  For my stamp club last week I created this version -

For this one I used the Cheerful Treat Designer Series Paper that is in our current catalog and Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding – both of these will be retired at the end of the month.  I also added a little tag – the “for you” is from the Clearly for You stamp set which is also retiring.

This quick and cute card idea would be easy to do with many designer papers and you could adapt it to use a star punch or some other shape. I think I’ll have to play some more with this design.  Thanks Heather for the great card idea!

Have a great Mother’s Day weekend – I may or may not post again over the weekend.  Tomorrow I’m taking Kyle to the airport – he is leaving for California and I’m a bit sad about that – I’m excited for him and the opportunity that he has, but sad that he’ll be so far away.  Sunday we are going to see my mom and dad for the day and I’m really looking forward to that.

Matchbook Notepad Holder May 10, 2012

I just realized I didn’t post anything yesterday – oops.  I took Kyle and Tyler out to lunch and shopping yesterday.  And I was finishing up senior gifts for the Band Banquet that we have tonight – books created in My Digital Studio – I need to wrap them and add some printed tags, and then I made 8 1/2 x 11 pages in My Digital Studio and sent them to the local photo shop to print as 8×10 – sales yesterday for $1 a print! – bought frames at the store – and put those together last night.  I also came home and made Turkey Lasagna – which seems to be Greg’s favorite meal these days.  It was our last home made dinner with Kyle before he goes to California on Saturday – he’ll be gone all summer working out there.  Plus Tyler got a job yesterday too – yeah!  Then we spent about  2 hours trying to find the social security cards – they were not in the safe place they were supposed to be in  – but I did find them.  Any way on to a cute project.

Do you need a quick little gift for a teacher or mom?  Check out this project that we made at Stamper’s Club Friday night.  I think everyone really liked this one and it wasn’t hard to make.

Cut a piece of card stock – I used Basic Gray – to 10-3/4 x 5-1/2.  Put it on the Simply Scored and score at 4-1/4, 4-1/2 and 9-1/2.  On the end near the 9-1/2 score line punch with the scallop border punch.  I also sponged the scallops with Basic Gray ink to make them show up against the front.  Put an Antique Brad in the center of the folded flap to hold it down.  Then the front just tucks under the scalloped edge to close.  This is a matchbook style folder.

To decorate the front I used two stamp sets – Elizabeth and Clearly For You – both of these are on the retiring stamp set list.  Stamp Elizabeth in Basic Gray on the front.  Stamp the Clearly for You images on some Confetti White card stock (also retiring) – I used Sahara Sand ink and Basic Gray ink – punch with the large oval punch – add a bitty flower with a brad in the center and layer on a Baja Breeze scallop oval punch.  Add a strip of the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper (the gray print) to the front and layer the oval over the Elizabeth stamped image.  Tie a piece of Baja Breeze Seam Binding in a knot and add with a glue dot above the oval.

On the inside I added a notepad with some Sticky Strip – stamp the pages if you like.  I luckily found Baja Breeze pads at the dollar store!  I also added a pen – there is a strip of the Gray designer paper in the barrel so it matches the project and a piece of the ribbon is tied on the top – use a mini glue dot to hold the ribbon.

I hope you like this project!

My Digital Studio – Sand Trap May 8, 2012

Today’s page was created with My Digital Studio – this technique is not something that you can do with traditional scrapbooking.  I added a photo of Greg playing golf as the background of the page and then changed the opacity so it just fades to the back.

The main photo is matted and at full strength.  There is some journaling, a title and a few accents.  There is not much to this page.

Now the story behind the photos – this was on our anniversary trip last summer.  Greg played golf and I rode along in the golf cart and took pictures.  That was my first time to go with him while he played golf so I haven’t really seen him play before. He was not happy to be in the sand trap but I thought the pictures were so much better – because you can see the sand spray in the photos which shows some action.  The other shots of him aren’t as interesting to me.  I guess I’m the only one that likes the sand traps.

And since it is Tuesday  – Stampin’ Up! has some new digital downloads and  a big announcement related to My Digital Studio – Click on the picture below to visit MyDigitalStudio.net and see the announcement.   And check out this quick video – http://mydigitalstudio.net/profiles/blogs/mds-2 – I’m super excited about the few things that are mentioned!

 

 

and today’s new digital download releases -

More stitches!  Yeah!  I do like the stitching – I want to add it on my traditional layouts to but I don’t – maybe one day I’ll try it.  But until then I can quickly and easily add it to my digital pages.  Now there are even more choices.

Enjoy the day!

Bluebirds May 7, 2012

The bluebirds did come back and build a nest – I’m not sure if I told you that already.  But they did and they finally laid some eggs – 4 eggs.

This picture is from April 25th.  So sometime this week they will probably start hatching.  Today I saw the mom hanging her head out of the house – I think she was hot – it was hot until the rain came this evening – thunderstorms with lightening.  I have a couple of other pictures of the bluebirds from earlier in April.

This one has both the male and female at the feeder – the male is up on the top house and the female is down on the peanut feeder.

Some days I see the blue bird sitting on the rail on our porch – he looks around – I’m not sure what he is listening to or waiting for but he usually stays for a little while turning his head in all different directions.  I was able to get some good pictures of him.

Have a peaceful day.

Attic Boutique Petite Purse May 4, 2012

I wanted to try some other Designer Series Paper besides the Summer Smooch with the Petite Purse Die.  My workshop girls from last week – wanted to see the die so this is what I came up with.

I used the Attic Boutique Designer Paper from the Occasions Mini catalog and look how cute it turned out.  This particular paper is not shown well in the mini – it only shows the two strips and the background but in the corner is also has the flowers so it makes for a funky little purse.

To decorate the front I punched with the Boho Blossoms punch and stacked all three flowers together and put a Rhinestone brad through the center and secured it to the front of the purse.  The Daffodil Delight print is the backside of this paper so if you wanted you could have turned it around and had the Daffodil print on the outside of the purse.

These would be cute for a bridal shower which is what I was thinking of when I selected the paper to try.  The Occasions Mini has ended now but guess what there are some items in it that have been carried over and it sounds like some will be in our new catalog.

These are the stamp sets still available – Bordering on Romance, Loving Thoughts, Mixed Bunch, Tea Shoppe, Apothecary Art, Love & Laughter, Mouthwatering, and Baby Prints.  Some of the other products still available are the Big Shot items – Framelits, Dies, Sizzlits, and folders, Dazzling Details, the Baker’s twine and Seam Binding, the Twitterpated fabric and designer paper, Blossom punch, Simply Scored, the pearls,  the scented embossing powder, and the cookie stamps.

I can’t wait to see what other exciting new things are in the catalog!

Have a great weekend – I have stamp club tonight, then Kyle is coming home tomorrow for a week before he leaves to go to California.  Tyler is already home – so a year of college done.  I’ll try to post this weekend about the birds in the backyard – I do have updates for you – I just have had a chance to get them posted.

Big Top Birthday May 3, 2012

This is a fun card I created with the Big Top Designer Series Paper and coordinating Under the Big Top stamp set.  The pin wheel is made from a square piece of the Designer paper.  The center is a circle punch and a mini silver brad.  The birthday image is stamped in Black StazOn ink on Whisper White card stock then colored with Stampin’ Write Markers.  There are circles layered on the bottom.  A fun little birthday card.  The paper and the stamp set are both on the retired list – so you have until the end of May to order.  These are fun for scrapbook pages – circus, birthday and more.  Enjoy!

My Digital Studio – Sledding Adventure May 2, 2012

It’s been hot here – I think we went straight to summer – high 80s and sun, no rain, my new plants out front are not happy – they need some relief.  So because it is so hot I’m posting a cool scrapbook page – the sledding adventure from January 2011 when we had our big snow storm.    I created this page with My Digital Studio – a neat feature is that you can change the opacity on your pictures and the rest of the elements too – I did that with the larger picture on this layout.

I missed posting yesterday when the new downloads came out – I’m catching up….

And awesome pirate party ensemble – my boys are too old for this now but we did have a pirate party when they were younger.  And look at the Fifty Nifty Kit – I see that as a must for school projects and for traveling – I wish we had that when the boys were working on the 50 state projects in elementary school.    And what’s cool is each of those state shapes is a punch so you can fill it with paper or a picture!!   I see lots of potential with this kit.

Have a great rest of your day!