Kaleidoscope Shadow Box Card

I am so enjoying making these cards! Remember the one I made here?

I made this card for a friend and hope she likes it. I photographed the card on the paper that lines the inside--wild and beautiful, right? I love the colors:)

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White card stock; Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Petite Petals and See Ya Later (free with $50 order) 
• Ink: Crushed Curry, Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay by Stampin' Up! and Memento Tuxedo Black
• Punches: Pansy and Petite Petals
• Big Shot with Oval Framelits
• Other: Glue Dots, Basic Rhinestones

Thank you for visiting today! Have a great weekend. I will be back on Sunday night for Carla's Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat

Spring Sampler

This is the Spring Sampler I made as an example for our Happy Stampers Club this month. We met last night and worked with a frenzy to get all 12 squares finished! I really enjoyed designing all these squares:) I still haven't decided if I want to leave the white background blank or if I want to do a subtle design on it. What do you think?

I made the sampler to fit an 8" x 10" background. The squares are:

• Top square: 2" x 2"
• 2nd square: 2 1/8" x 2 1/8"
• Bottom square: 2 1/4" x 2 1/4"

For this Spring Sampler I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit and Crisp Cantaloupe card stock; Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper (free with $50 order)
• Stamp Sets: Strength and Hope (retired); Happy Watercolor; Simply Sketched (Hostess); Petite Petals; Flower Shop; Petal Parade (free with $50 order); Banner Blast (also free with $50 order); Gorgeous Grunge
• Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party by Stampin' Up! and Tuxedo Black by Memento
• Big Shot with the following Embossing Folders: Delicate Designs, Lacy Brocade (retired) and Decorative Dots (free with $50 order)
• Punches: 1 3/4" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, Pansy and Petite Petals
• Other: Crisp Cantaloupe 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim, Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Water Color Wonder Washi Tape, Lucky Limeade Bakers Twine (retired)

That's quite a list and I think I have everything but if you have any questions, please let me know.

I hope you enjoyed this project. Tomorrow I have another version of my Shadow Box Card to share with you.

Kat

Flower Shop Shadow Box Card

I showed you this sneak peek the other day and now I am ready for the full reveal!

Tada! I know I made it, but I totally LOVE this card! It is a Shadow Box card and will stand up when set on it's end. I chose my colors from the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper that you can get for FREE with a $50 Stampin' Up! order through March 31.

My inspiration for this card was one done by Connie Stewart at Simply Simple Stamping. However, my internet was down when I wanted to make the card so had to just wing it! So, it didn't turn out much like Connie's at all but I wanted to give her credit for inspiration. Actually, Connie inspires me quite a bit because I LOVE her Flash Cards!

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White card stock and Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Sassy Salutations and Trust God
• Ink: Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe and Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pads; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Punches: Pansy and Petite Petals
• Big Shot with Ovals Framelits
• Basic Rhinestones, Sticky Strip and Glue Dots

Well, what do you think? I made another card using different colors that I will share with you later this week.

Tomorrow??? I will share with you the Spring Sampler I made for our Happy Stampers Club! See you then:)

Kat

Happy Homemaker ...ah, Tuesday

I had my Happy Homemaker Monday nearly finished yesterday and then stopped to fix dinner. Well, I didn't get back to it till today! I feel particularly scattered this week for some reason so need to start making some lists and keeping myself on track!

I did walk on the treadmill yesterday and today for 50 minutes each day and used the Infrared Sauna for 30 minutes this morning:) I would really like to keep the momentum going!

Happy Homemaker Monday is hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. So let's get started!

As I look outside my window:::
I see blue sky and sunshine! It is 60 degrees (F); likely our high for today. The wind is blowing ferociously! The foot of snow we had at the beginning of last week melted in two days--strong warm winds blew in two nights in a row.

Right now I am:::
Typing this post and drinking a Zip Fizz!

Thinking and pondering:::
Thinking about what to have for dinner. Pondering on the stamping projects I need to get done this week.

On my bedside table:::
Still trying to finish up The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club and The Girl in the Mirror. I checked them out from the library to read on my iPad (Kindle App) but the library only gives you a week to get it read. Sooo, I keep having to re-check them out and often have to wait in between for someone else to finish reading it. It would be nice to get two weeks at least. When I check a book out of the physical library I get three weeks.

On my TV tonight:::
Nothing I can think of. I really enjoyed Downton Abbey on Sunday night:)

Listening to:::
Hubby has internet radio playing softly in the background. Also the wind blowing outside and the dog snoring inside!

On the menu for this week:::
I really need to plan a menu so I don't get stuck not know what we are having for dinner. When the kids were young, I made up four menu plans and just rotated them. It worked great! Each one of us gave input as to our favorite foods so I put them in and everyone was happy. I think I just get lazy since the kids are grown.

On my to do list:::

• Finish getting ready for Happy Stampers Club (Wednesday night)
• Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges
• Finish making Birthday card
• Swap card 
• Mending
• Laundry
• Clean up my stamping mess in the dining room
• Clean the bathroom

Plans for this week:::

• Visit friends
• Happy Stampers Club
• Work on my "to do" list

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

Just working on stamping projects! I just downloaded a pattern for a crocheted outfit for the American Girl Doll so want to try it. I also downloaded a pattern for a knitted outfit.

My simple pleasure:::

I don't know if I have already shared this one or not, but I truly enjoy a nice glass of iced Zip Fizz! It just makes the whole day go better:)

Lesson learned the past week:::

Not to rely on the Internet too much! Keep hard copies of recipes and projects I want to make! Five days without Internet was a hard lesson. We live in a very rural area so the technicians had to search miles of line to find the problem. But, bless their hearts, they finally did:)

Looking around the house:::

My end table is cluttered with papers and books; dining room table is a disaster with my stamping projects in progress; the dogs have not yet emptied their toy box today so the living room looks pretty good.

From the camera:::

Sneak peek of Spring Sampler I am currently working on for Happy Stampers Club! 

Prayer List:::

• Sister who just had hip surgery--she came through surgery fine:) She will be in the hospital for a couple days then convalescing with a friend for a couple weeks.
• Friend trying to sell her house--she has a buyer who needs to get loan approval.
• Woman with cancer
• Family still needing a house

Bible verse/Devotional:::
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." --Proverbs 9:10

Have a great day!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

My Internet was down for five whole days! It seems that one of the junction boxes on the line we are on (we have have fiber optic Internet) had ice in it so they had to first find the right junction box and then thaw it out. You never know how much you depend on something until you don't have it for a bit.

It's time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. My picture for tonight is a sneak peek of a card that I will share with you later this week.

So, let's get started! I am...

Reading...Nothing at the moment
Listening to...Downton Abbey is on and I am watching and listening to it.
Watching...Downton Abbey, of course:)
Cooking/Baking...I made Snickerdoodle cookies today!
Happy I accomplished this week...I cleaned out the refrigerator (finally) and am just about ready for this week's stamping club meeting.
Looking forward to next week...I am looking forward to my Happy Stamper's meeting on Wednesday night.
Thankful for today...I am so thankful for our new FAR Infrared Sauna! We have used it several times in the last week and it is just as wonderful as I had hoped.
Bonus Question: If I could have Carla make me anything what would it be? I think one of her wonderful multi-pocketed wallets.

Well, that's it for tonight!

Valentine Sampler--Take Two

It is bitterly cold here--8 degrees (F) this morning! We still have snow on the ground because it's too cold to melt. The wind drives the cold right through you!  

This was a super busy day! It seems like I hit the floor running at 6:00 this morning and didn't stop until just a few minutes ago! For this retired lady that's pretty rare because most days for me are quiet and calm!

Do you ever think you have a great idea and then in the middle of it BAM! you realize it wasn't such a good idea after all? Well, that was me today! I decided to offer my customers a paper/ribbon share and had 5 people interested! This is a great way for customers to get a sampling of what's available without having to purchase a full package of each item. Great idea, right?!!! Well, it took me THREE HOURS to cut and package everything for FOUR people--not cost effective...for me. So, lesson learned! 

I promised to show you my finished Valentine Sampler...

Please forgive the shadow in the bottom right corner:(

Isn't it fun to see how all the squares came together?! What is more fun is to see how each person put theirs together; all so different. The little ladybug square at the top helped me decide on my background color--Pool Party. 

Remember, I was trying to decide whether to make two more squares or fill in the spaces with something else. So, I used the flags from Banner Blast, one of the items available for free during Sale-a-bration when you order $50! I also used the new Petite Petal Punch from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Catalog with the Pansy Punch! 

This month Margarita's swap is for Spring Sampler Squares. It's fun to get the squares in the mail and see the creativity of the talented paper crafters.

Till tomorrow!

Kat

Valentine Sampler

Last month I participated in Margarita's Valentine Sampler swap. We had five of us involved in the swap and the 2 1/4" squares I received are so fun! We were supposed to use the colors Real Red, Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette. I will share those with you today! 

My first set of squares came from Charina. I love her little macaroons although I have to admit, I thought they were sliders! Once I was told they were macaroons I said, "of course"! 

My second set of squares came from Jaime! Love her shiny red hearts and the googly eyed owl:)

The third set of squares came from Mieka. Love the glittery butterfly.

These two cuties were made by Margarita! I love how she used the Washi Tape on the butterfly square and how she matted her squares with black.

Last, but not least, are the ones I made. I call the one "Butterfly Kisses" and love the glitter.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these fun squares. I will be back tomorrow to show you how I mounted them.

Happy Stamping!

Kat

Less Stress; More Joy

In January I shared some things I wanted to do this year to help reduce my stress and create more joy in my life. So, how am I doing???

• Spend 1 hour per day in Bible study and prayer-- Need some work on this one
• Send at least one handwritten (or typed if my hand isn't cooperating) note per week -- So far, so good:)
• Practice contentment -- I am content!
• Spend at least one hour per day being creative:) I have been making cards but need to do more sewing and knitting/crocheting.
• Work up business expenses for taxes on the first of each month instead of waiting till December! YES! One month down, 11 more to go!!!
• List business contacts each month that will be needed for Christmas cards in December. YES!
• Start buying/making and wrapping Christmas gifts in January--NOW! I have money saved and am thinking about what gifts to purchase and make but haven't actually bought any yet.
• Write Christmas letter for family and friends by November 5--update first of December. N/A
• Schedule blog posts ahead -- Not yet:( I tend to like to blog in the moment so scheduling posts ahead is hard for me.
• Prepare and post December and January Design Team projects ahead for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges -- Nope! Missed this one! I will try to get my Design Team project posted by the 15th of February! We'll see how I do this time!

It doesn't look like I did very well in January:( But I am excited about trying to get more green answers this month!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's Monday and time for Happy Homemaker Monday hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

As I look outside my window:::
We got snow today; about 2 1/2 inches! I really wasn't expecting it but it was fun to watch! The wind made it feel bitter cold:(

Right now I am:::
Watching Shark Tank on You Tube:) I love this show but didn't realize you could watch it on You Tube.

Thinking and Pondering:::
What I am going to do for the next three days while my hubby is gone. I have lots of ideas, just need to narrow it down:)

On my bedside table::: 
The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Read aloud--The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

On my TV tonight:::
I think I will watch a little more Shark Tank on the computer or read tonight.

Listening to:::
Just Shark Tank

On the menu for this week:::
Hubby will be gone most of the week so I won't be planning a menu; just eating whatever I feel like...staying within my Weight Watchers Points, of course. Hubby just went grocery shopping today so will have lots of great food to eat, especially fresh things.

On my to do list:::

• Laundry
• Log business expenses for January
• Package and deliver Stampin' Up! orders
• Mending
• Visit blogs
• Sign up for A to Z Blog Challenge

Plans for this week:::

Monday -- Bake bread; laundry

Tuesday -- Log business expenses; package Stampin' Up! orders; mending

Wednesday -- Deliver Stampin' Up! orders; make cards

Thursday -- Laundry; make cards

Friday -- Clean house

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

Cards...will post this week!

My simple pleasure:::

Looking at cookbooks and knitting/crocheting magazines. 

Lessons learned the past week:::

One worm CAN spoil the whole apple! Don't ask me to explain!!!

Looking around the house:::

• Dining room table covered with Stampin' Up! order
• Kitchen is good
• Livingroom looks lived in but good

From the camera:::

Our new snow today!

Prayer List:::

• My attitude
• Friends making a life-changing decision
• Sister's upcoming hip surgery

Bible verse; Devotional:::

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." -- 1 Peter 5:10

That's it for me! Have a nice evening and I will be back tomorrow with a card and an update on my goals for A Year of Joy:)

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Big day today! Super Bowl Sunday, Groundhog Day and...Sunday Night Chit-Chat!!! 

We are not football fans but how could we help but be interested since the Seattle Seahawks were playing!!! We didn't watch but checked in on the score a couple times:)

The groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow today thus predicting six more weeks of winter. If I'm not mistaken, there is six more weeks of winter anyway!!!

Well it's time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat hosted each week by the very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Let's get started!

I am...

• Reading: The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter
• Listening to: Downton Abbey (while watching it)
• Watching: Downton Abbey (two episodes since I missed it last week)
• Cooking/Baking: Nothing today; easy day
• Happy you accomplished this week: I got the tax information ready for the accountant and off in the mail!!!
• Looking forward to next week: I am hoping to have a card making day!
• Thankful for today: My back was well enough to go to church yesterday for the first time in a month.
• Bonus Question: Are you watching the Super Bowl? No! I am not a sports fan.

Well, that's it for me today! I will be back tomorrow for Happy Homemaker Monday:)

Kat