Oh Baby!

These cards turned out sooo super cute! I have been wanting to make one for some time so when one of my Happy Stampers requested a baby card as one of our projects, it was the perfect opportunity to try it. My thanks go out to Becky Jensen at Stamp That for the great picture tutorial. The ladies had the choice of Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue or Daffodil Delight for their Baby Onesie Card. Hmmm...no one chose blue! Must not be any new little boys on the horizon.

The cards above were stamped with ducks on the yellow one; hearts and bears on the pink one. The one below was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. A word of caution is you decide to make the embossed card: make all of your cuts before you run it through the Big Shot. Dry embossing breaks down the fibers in the paper so if you cut after embossing you might not get good clean cuts.

I have two baby afghans made so these cards will go perfect when babies arrive to give them to.

For these cards I used the following Stampin' Up products:

• Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stock
• Baby Bundle stamp set
• Daffodil Delight and Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pads
• Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge Border, Circle from Itty Bitty Punch Pack
• Other: Basic Pearls, Eyelets, White Grosgrain Ribbon (not Stampin' Up!)

Wait till you see tomorrow's card! Sooo pretty!!! But then again it's using one of my favorite stamp sets...Tea Shoppe! I will definitely sneak the Tea Shoppe in any time I get the chance:) 

Have a great day!

Kat

Summer Smooches Notepad Case

My Happy Stampers meet TONIGHT and I am sooo excited for them to see the projects I have for them! As promised, I will tell you which one of the Matchbook Post-it Holders I decided to use...both of them; well sorta! I decided to use the Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo but give the ladies a choice of which stamp set to use to decorate it! Now, how smart was that!!! I love choices, don't you? For the other two stamping club projects you will just have to wait because I don't want to spoil the surprise for the ladies:)

I am sure you're asking yourself what's up with that BORING picture Kat has up today?!!! For the last several months I have been giving the "hostess of the month" at stamping club a notepad case (when I remember to BUY the cases to make them). I found the idea and instructions on Jill Olsen's website Stamping Jill. For the video tutorial click HERE. 

The notepad case is made using:

• one of Stampin' Up!'s Clear Mount Stamp Cases (4 for $5.95)
• a piece of 10 1/2" X 7" piece of double sided Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper
• a 5" wide note pad and you can either put an envelope inside to hold receipts or a Post-it note pad. Now, just a note about the notepads...take your ruler with you when purchasing the notepads. Staples sells one that says 5" X 8" but it is in fact 5 1/8" and won't work. The notepads at Office Max and Office Depot are the correct size but measure to be sure. They come in a package of 12 but since you want your notepad to be 7" long, not 8", you will need to ask them to cut 1" off your notepads.

Notepad Case closed

Since the notepad case looked a little BORING, I decided to add this little flower using the Blossom Punch with Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry card stock. I topped it off with a button from the Brights Collection.  Now, what do you think my "hostess" will think of that?!!!

Are you curious to see the inside? 

Notepad Case open

See? Pretty paper on the inside too (thanks to double-sided dsp)! A full pad of Post-its won't fit with the notepad so I just peeled off about 2/3 of a pad to put in the case. I took a 2" x 5" strip of the same Summer Smooches dsp to wrap around the top of the notepad. I used Sticky Strip to adhere it. 

If you watch the video tutorial by Jill Olsen (Jackie Bolhuis is demonstrating the project on this video) you will see that you can really gussy this up. I will try to do one soon to show you what I mean. These notepad cases make wonderful gifts so I hope you make one soon.

Well, I'm off to get ready for my Happy Stampers Club! Have a wonderful day!

Kat

Matchbook Post-it Holder Dilemma

Oh, to have a lightbox! That is definitely #1 on my wish list at the moment! I think the #1 card photographer (in my opinion) is Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty. Her photos are always crisp and clear.

Now on to my dilemma. Our Happy Stampers stamping club meets tomorrow and I can't decide which one of these Matchbook Post-it Holders to have the ladies make. I like them both but truth be known, I am partial to Betsy's Blossoms stamp set (on the left). For the one on the right I used the flower from Button Buddies, stamped it 3 times so I could cut out the layers. Then I put a Dimensional between each layer and put a button in the middle. The flower is super cute in person:)

The video tutorial to make this Matchbook Post-it Holder is from Splitcoast Stampers and very easy to follow. 

For these projects I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

For Matchbook Post-it Holder on left...

• Card stock: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo and Whisper White 
• Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms and Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade
• Other: Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and 3"X 3" Post-it Note Pad (from Costco)

For Matchbook Post-it Holder on right...

• Card stock: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White
• Stamps: Button Buddies and Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad
• Other: Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Button from Brights Collection and 3"X 3" Post-it Note Pad (from Costco)

Matchbook Post-it Holder open

So, which one do YOU like best? I will let you know tomorrow which one I chose. Have a great day. Hope you are staying cool where you are!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Well, it is 4:30 in the afternoon and I still don't have a card for you so decided to take a break from my cardmaking and do the Happy Homemaker Monday started each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. I haven't participated for a few weeks but so happy to do so now:)

The Weather...Sunny and hot! It was over 80 degrees (F) when I got up at 6:00 this morning. It is currently 100 degrees with a very slight breeze blowing. So happy my hubby bought the small air conditioner (even though I didn't think we needed it)--it makes the house bearable!

On my reading pile...Magazines and a cookbook at the moment:

• Homemade Bread from the editors of Hobby Farm Home Magazine
• Vegetarian Times Magazine--my absolute must have favorite
• Love of Knitting Magazine to get inspired to knit some winter goodies--I know, in 100 degree weather how can I think about knitting caps, scarves and gloves?!!!

On my tv...Nothing! Since they took Dogs in the City off, there isn't much I want to watch:( 

On the menu for the week...

Until it cools down, we will be eating sandwiches. Fortunately we have tomatoes, cucumber, onions and bell peppers in the garden to make great sandwiches. I am hoping to make some Danish Rye Bread tomorrow but will have to wait till evening to bake it so as not to heat up the house.

On my to do list...

• Finish getting ready for Stamping Club (Wednesday)--2 projects down, one to go.
• Get swaps finished and ready to mail
• Make applesauce out of sweet crab apples hubby picked the other day.
• Make the banana bread and zucchini bread I put off baking yesterday
• Try my hand at a couple loaves of Danish Rye Bread

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or crafting...

• Projects for Stamping Club
• Swaps
• Doily I need to finish but haven't had the motivation. 
• Does reading about projects count?!!!

Homemaking Tips...

I like to use a sponge in the kitchen but it easily gets a sour smell. Sooo, I started putting it in the top rack of the dishwasher when I run the dishes. Tada...fresh sponge. Also, I was forgetting to change the sponge until it was old and grungy so now I change my sponge on the first of every month (if not before). 

Looking around the house...Dogs everywhere since it's too hot for them to be outside--our miniature dachshund, Petey; our Great Dane, Beau; and last but not least my son's English Bulldog, Rocky! Also have the coffee table littered with my magazines and catalogs. Other than that it looks pretty good.

From the camera... 

Picture is of our second drying project in our new Food PANtrie food dryers. We sliced the sweet crab apples with the Pampered Chef Mandolin and put them out to dry.

There are five racks in each Food PANtrie and we have two of them. This next picture is of the bag of apricots we dried last week (minus the ones we have been munching on)

I could get addicted to drying food:)

On my prayer list...

Two friends with cancer and their families.

Bible verse, Devotional...

"Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God. If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayers; we are here to be living monuments of God's grace." --from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Well, that's it for my Monday. I will try really hard to have a card for you tomorrow! 

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I found this quote on Pinterest this week! I really have to limit (severely) my time on Pinterest because I could spend HOURS looking at all there is to see! I would never get anything done if I just let myself go on Pinterest! Just going to the site to get the link I almost got distracted...


Well, it's time again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat and Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily got us started. To play along just go to Carla's blog and follow the directions.


I am...


Reading...Vegetarian Times Magazine--want to make the yummy looking Butternut Squash Pizza; Homemade Bread from the editors of Hobby Farm Home Magazine


Watching...Nothing at the moment. Hoping to read tonight:)


Listening to...The dogs chewing on their Nylabones; hubby doing business on the phone and the air conditioner humming in the background. Really needed the air conditioner today as temp was about 100 degrees (F).


Cooking/Baking...Planning to make the Banana Nut Bread and the Healthful Zucchini Bread recipes from Homemade Bread. For dinner today we had corn on the cob, fresh green beans from the garden and wraps made with Lavash and veggies from the garden. So yummy:)


Happy I accomplished this week...

• Thank you cards made and sent to last month's Stampin' Up! customers
• Swap card figured out and samples made
• Apricots dried and canned
• Some emails answered that were long overdue

Looking forward to this week...

• Stamping Club on Wednesday
• Some nice visits with friends before Stamping Club
• Eating more yummy veggies from the garden

Thankful for today...

My continually improving health. Today I realized that after nearly 3 years the eczema on my left elbow is nearly gone! That is usually a sign that my overall health is improving:)

*BONUS QUESTION*

What hobby have I always wanted to learn? Do I have plans on trying to learn? Why or why not?

The hobby I have always wanted to learn is quilting. I have a great deal of admiration for those who quilt and the skill/patience required. However, I have no plans to take up this hobby because of the money involved. IF I did quilt I would only want to use the best fabric and at $10+/yard it is an expensive hobby. Since I already have an expensive hobby--stamping--I figure one is enough. All of that being said, I may so some small quilted pieces like potholders, table runners and tote bags so will leave that open.

Thank you for stopping by to check on my Sunday Night Chit-Chat. Be sure to check out Carla's Sunday Night Chit-Chat as well to see what she's been up to! She is one busy lady!!!

I hope you check back tomorrow for another fun card!

Kat

Perfectly Preserved Tri-fold Card

Option #1 using Whisper White

I am sooo in LOVE with the new Perfectly Preserved stamp set and the Cannery Set Framelits Dies in the NEW Holiday Catalog! And let's not forget the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper!!! When I saw the Holiday Catalog, Perfectly Preserved was my "must have" set! The best part is that when you purchase the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and the Cannery Set Framelits Dies at the same time you save 15%--it's called a bundle! 


You might recognize the card style from yesterday and in June 18-20. I really like this card style and am so thankful that Linda Gutierrez at Stamping Year Round gave her downline (that's me!) instructions on how to make them! I purchased the Perfectly Preserved Bundle and Orchard Harvest dsp to do my first ever swap--8 cards:) However I didn't have a clue how I was going to design the card because I am a "copier" not a "designer". After I made yesterday's card for my friend, I thought, "Hmmm, I wonder what the Perfectly Preserved would look like done as a Tri-fold card?" Then I got to work! In July I started sending each person in my downline a card to use as inspiration, to send or whatever. I decided to use them as my guinea pigs for this card! So girls, if you are reading this, be sure to check your mail box next week.


The card above was the first one I did and I think it turned out good but not great! When I woke up this morning I thought, "I wonder what that card would look like with Very Vanilla instead of Whisper White?" Well, a few cuts of the paper, some stamping and a few runs through the Big Shot and this is what the second one looks like.

Option #2 using Very Vanilla

In the first one I cut the jar topper out of the same dsp as the leaves and acorns--just the reverse side. I like the one I stamped in Island Indigo better.


Sooo, what Stampin' Up! products did I use to make these two ADORABLE cards?

• Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White on one and Very Vanilla on the other; Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper--LOVE it!!!
• Perfectly Preserved stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Island Indigo, Early Espresso and Lucky Limeade
• Big Shot, Cannery Set Framelits Dies, Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Second card opened up

I totally LOVE the colors in the Orchard Harvest dsp--Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade and Raspberry Ripple! I want to try this card using several of the color combos:)

Which card do you like best and do you think the recipients of my swap will like it? I also have a single card swap that I think I will use this card for too! 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. I will be back on Sunday evening for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! 

Kat

Apricots and a Card

Apricots ready for the canner

Oh dear! I have been MIA for a couple of days but have been keeping myself busy! People are forever asking me what I do with my time since I retired. Finding things that need to be done or I want to do has never been a problem.

Last year I was trying to can like I had a family still helping me and by the end of a canning day I would be dead on my feet and in pain for several days. This year I have decided to pace myself a little better.

Bottom two trays of apricots in our new Food PANtrie

Yesterday I canned 14 quarts of apricots from our tree:) A couple of days ago I put 10 trays of apricots in our new food dryers. We have a really nice electric food dryer we bought several years ago but it doesn't work well with our off-grid electrical system. So this year hubby purchased two Food PANtries! When we discussed outdoor food dryers before I always balked at having my food exposed to the flies and bugs but this handy, dandy Food PANtrie takes care of that issue. Plus it has special trays you can use to grow sprouts and wheat grass!

One of the Food PANtries hanging out of the
reach of the animals:)

We are thrilled to be able to dry food again and hubby is especially anxious to try the apricots. I have 14 more quarts of apricots to can again today but then hopefully will be finished with those. 

I really want to make some salsa again this year and we should have enough tomatoes for that. The salsa I made two years ago was sooo yummy! Not quite as good as fresh salsa but in the middle of the winter it was GREAT!!!


Now, for the card I promised! As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I try to show you cards made with what's new and currently available. However, for this card I dug out one of my favorite retired stamp sets Strength & Hope. The person I made the card for likes blue so made it with Baja Breeze...just for her.

This triple-fold card design is one I used for Stamping Club in June. I really like this design and will likely be using it a lot in the future. The layout for this card is from a design I saw on Linda Gutierrez's blog, Stamping Year Round.

The Stampin' Up! products I used for this card are:

• Paper: Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White card stock; Floral District Designer Series Paper
• Strength & Hope stamp set (retired)
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Baja Breeze and Rich Razzleberry
• Other: Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, Glue Dots

I have a wish for Stampin' Up! and that is to have a cancer stamp set in the catalog at all times. By changing the color this one could be used for any type of cancer. One of the websites that lists the colors representing various types of cancer is Trinity London. And YES I will let Stampin' Up! know of my wish:)

Have a wonderful day! Remember to hug the ones you love today and pray for those you don't! Kat