Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! You will surely want to visit our host, Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! Be sure to check out the beautiful bag she made with some Summer Lovin' fabric she received! What a fun summer bag!!!

My picture for tonight is a granny square I made...actually have made 17 so far! I plan to put them together for an afghan and hopefully soon! Not sure yet how many I need but I have 10 skeins of yarn to work with. So let's get started with the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

I am...

Reading...I will finish up Quentins by Maeve Binchy tonight:) My next book will be the Covenant by Beverly Lewis.

Listening to...The movie we are watching.

Watching...We are watching Chasing Mavericks today (note: this was one amazing movie--I really enjoyed it). I will be watching the Next Great Baker on Wednesday night:)

Cooking/Baking...Too hot to cook or bake! We had tacos for dinner.

Happy I accomplished this week...I got a bunch of stuff ready to go to the thrift store. I have a few more loads to go but feel good that I got a start on it anyway.

Looking forward to next week...Visiting my daughter and granddaughter July 4-7. That is always something to look forward to.

Thankful for today...Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

Bonus Question: What was my very first "real" job? My first real job was working in a place that made mousetraps and louvers. I spread the louvers on a conveyor belt after they came out of the saw, before they went into a sanding machine. I was 16 years old that summer and thought I was a pretty big deal!

Well, that's it for me tonight! I hope you have had a good weekend! I will be back tomorrow with my third installment of  Fancy Fold Swap Cards.

Kat

Fancy Fold Swap Cards #2

This first card today is from Loni Holt. I think it is a gate fold card, if I am not mistaken. She said this type of card was featured in CardMaker magazine, Summer 2013 edition. For this card Loni used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Night of Navy, Strawberry Slush, White Naturals, and Daffodil Delight card stock; Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Feels Good stamp set
• Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
• Accessories: 1/4" Night of Navy Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Dimensionals

This is what the card looks like when opened. Please check out Loni's other creations at her blog, Loni's Life.

This next card was the creation of Sandy Hancock made by Cathy Malago. Cathy was so sweet to send Sandy's tutorial along with her card!

For this super cute card, Cathy used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Primrose Petals, Pool Party and Whisper White card stock; Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (retired)
• Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad
• Other: Scallop Edgelits Adorning Accents; Basic Rhinestones; 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch; 1 3/4" Circle Punch; Adorning Accents Embossing Folder

And this is what this card looks like opened. I don't think I have seen one of these before and look forward to trying this fold.

I hope you have a great weekend! I will be back next week with some more great Fancy Fold Swap Cards!

Kat

Fancy Fold Swap Cards #1

Good Morning! Yesterday seemed to slip through my fingers and didn't get a post up. That happens sometimes! 

Please pray for my friend Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily today. There has been a family crisis and they need our prayers.

Back at the beginning of this month I shared a card I made for the Fancy Fold Swap via VC Rocks. You can see that HERE! Well, on Tuesday, hubby picked up the cards I received at the Post Office! All I can say is WOW! These cards are stunning and you are going to love them!!! My card was voted hostess favorite but honestly, I don't know how the hostess was able to choose! I would have just had to give a prize to all of them! But where to start?!!! I guess I will just reach in the bag and pull from the top:) Enjoy!

This first card I am calling Secret Garden Gingham! Fortunately for you (and me), most of the participants included the ingredients for their cards. For this card, Loydean Wood used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock; Vellum card stock, Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad; Versa Mark Pad
• Stamps: Secret Garden and Blooming with Kindness (sentiment)
• Other: White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Basic Rhinestones, Large Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Secret Garden Framelits, Sponge or Dauber

See the card inside above. I have been trying NOT to purchase the Secret Garden stamp set with matching Framelits because I didn't think I needed it but after seeing this card I just might have to get it! Sooo many stamps; so little money:(

The second card I have for you today I am calling Baby Bundle! 

I was totally blown away by this card by the fact that I would not have thought of using Soft Suede and Summer Starfruit on a baby card! But as you can see, this card totally rocks!!! I LOVE IT!!! I will definitely be working some of these colors into my baby cards from now on. For this card Jamie Adcock, Fancy Fold Swap Hostess, used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Summer Starfruit card stock; Soft Suede and Summer Starfruit Designer Series Paper 
• Baby Bundle stamp set (retired)
• Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Rose Red and Summer Starfruit
• Other: 1/8" Mini Brads, Baja Breeze Ruffled Ribbon (retired), Scallop Oval Punch, Dimensionals

I don't know if you can tell but the blue piece that's tucked under the Scallop Oval opens up and the bottom Soft Suede piece opens up to look like the picture above. Oh so clever. If you want to see more of Jamie's creations, you can check out her blog at Wanna Be Creative.

Well, that's it for me today! I will be back to share some more Fancy Fold Swaps with you tomorrow:) I love, love, love these swap cards!

June Thank You Cards

I have been busy working on my June Thank You cards! I decided to do the ones for my customers and hubby's clients all the same since I was doing them at the same time. I wanted a Patriotic theme and found one in this card. I also wanted something Clean and Simple since I didn't have a lot of time. Besides it's fun to see what you can do quick and easy sometimes. However, I really like all the layers and fussing so don't do a lot of Clean and Simple! I CASEd this card from Loll Thompson at Stamping with Loll.

I stamped some of the cards with Real Red...

And some with Midnight Muse because I gave the Brilliant Blue stamp pad to my daughter because it was retired. Good for her; unfortunate for me this time.

For these cards I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies...

• Whisper White Card Stock
• Designer Series Paper: Brilliant Blue (retired) and Polka Dot Parade
• Sassy Salutations stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Midnight Muse or Real Red
• Other: 1 1/4" Punch (to make flag ends); Square Lattice Embossing Folder; Basic Rhinestones

After making several cards, I got the brilliant idea to color some rhinestones to make them red, white and blue! How fun is that?!!! It just takes the right color Sharpie marker and tada! you have colored rhinestones. It works on the Basic Pearls, too.

So, if you purchased Stampin' Up! products from me in June or are in my downline, you will receive one of these cards in your mail box real soon!

Kat

Granddaughter Won, of Course!

I'm sure you remember this cute Zippy Pouch I won over at Carla's My 1/2 Dozen Daily and received last week. Well, first of all I felt bad about the picture as I took it right out of the shipping package and it was definitely smooshed! So I wanted to straighten it out and show you what it really looks like!

The back looks way better to and I think I had better light this time so the colors were better. So now I want to show you what I made to put in it for my darling granddaughter...

I had purchased the little mini Composition Books at Target so covered one with the very cute Sunshine and Sprinkles Designer Series Paper (now retired from Stampin' Up!'s Spring Catalog). 

Back of little notebook

I covered the front and the back then cut a strip for the spine. I am going to tuck this inside the Zippy Pouch with a tube of Burt's Bees lip balm, a pack of gum, a pen and a little coin purse. She will be ready to go to town!!!

Does Gramma know how to take card of her granddaughter or what?!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Homemaker Monday button courtesy of Sandra @ Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Fortunately the day is not over yet and I can still get in on Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday! I was afraid Sandra might not do it today because she in hot in the throws of moving but...she is a better woman than me! I am not a mover! Fortunately I haven't had to move for the last 19 years and hope to not have to for 19 more! I understand that military wives get a system going and really become quite good at moving but I am not sure even being a military wife would do it for me. I am so excited for Sandra and her family to be moving to a nice home in Idaho and will look forward to hearing more about it and seeing pictures in the coming months! If you want to follow along with Sandra and her family as they move to Idaho, check out her blog at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

So, on to the Happy Homemaker Monday!

Weather...It is 60 degrees and raining today! The plants are all loving it but me, not so much! I know in a week or so I will be longing for days like this but I really do like sunshine and a little warmth to my day:)

Right now I am...Drinking Zip Fizz (I need a little energy this afternoon), talking with hubby about purchasing a new blue tooth stereo for the car and doing the Happy Homemaker Monday!

Thinking...about all the things I need to get done before the 3rd of July!

On my reading pile...Enjoying Quentin's by Maeve Binchy and determined to start The Covenant by Beverly Lewis. Our read aloud at the moment is The Sky-Liners by Louis L'Amour--we are working our way through the Sackett series! I think we have six left after the one we are reading.

On my TV...I am really enjoying the Next Great Baker on Wednesday nights:) 

What I found while surfing the net...This really doesn't count but when I was visiting Diary of a Stay at Home mom yesterday, I clicked on one of her sidebar links, Cozy Things, and found myself in another world for about an hour. Kristen has so many beautiful things she has made photographed that I kept going back, back, back to previous posts to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Well actually I didn't make it back to the beginning but had a great time visiting. 

On the menu this week...Still not in the menu planning mood. We had pinto beans with rice yesterday piled high with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, sliced olives, avocado and salsa. I have enough left over to have today and since hubby could eat it every day, that is what we will have:) Tomorrow Hubby will be gone all day so I will most likely just have a sandwich or bowl of soup; maybe both!

On my to do list...I am already starting to stress trying to get ready for the 4th of July! Trying NOT to procrastinate!

• Thank you cards for my customers and downline ladies
• Swap ATCs--need to mail July 7
• The Cupboard Trilogy design team card
• Graduation card
• Congratulations cards X 2
• Clean apartment for guests (before July 3)
• Get items ready to take to the Thrift Store on Thursday
• Clean out the refrigerator
• Do I have time to shampoo the carpet before the 3rd???

In my craft basket...I hit the mother lode last week at the Thrift Store! I got a kitchen can sized garbage bag of yarn for $3! There was enough Red Heart yarn in the bag to make an afghan. The previous owner had started one but her granny squares were too big and too loose for my taste so I am taking them apart and starting over...

I finished four 5 1/2" X 5 1/2" squares yesterday. I am thinking about adding some solid color squares too; what do you think? This is the first Granny Square Afghan I have done in years! It is sooo relaxing! Besides at least 6 extra large skeins of Red Heart yarn for the afghan, there were also at least 6 balls of cotton yarn I can use for dish cloths or pot holders! What a bargain!!!

Looking forward to this week...My first Stampin' Up! order from the new catalog will arrive this week! Also looking forward to some extra "stuff" going to the Thrift Store! After 19 years, I have sooo much to get rid of!

Looking around the house...Rocky's been at it again...toys everywhere! He is sooo funny! I love seeing him digging in the toy box trying to find the right toy. Then he runs and jumps in his bed as if to say, "safe"! The kitchen floor needs to be swept and mopped--lots of dog hair:(

Rocky loves his toys...and every one else's!

From the camera...

Our little plants are sooo happy! They love the cool weather and rain we have been having. I was excited to finally get basil in the ground and check out the rosemary that weathered over from last year!

On my prayer list...

• Sandra and her family as they move to Idaho and get settled in their new home.
• Carla to find some "me time" with four kids! Easier said than done but oh so important.
• Friend's brother who had his leg crushed.
• Thanking God for my precious granddaughter's 8th birthday (yesterday)! She is so precious:)

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16

I hope you have a wonderful Monday! 

Kat

Sunday Afternoon/Night Chit-Chat

I don't remember what this lily is called--do you know?

My picture today is of a lily we got as a gift several years ago. It blooms for a brief time but is gorgeous while it's in bloom:) That dirty window is the greenhouse window, not my house window! 

So glad you could join me for the Sunday Afternoon/Night Chit-Chat this week! Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily is our host each week. She will have some amazing reveals coming up next week that you won't want to miss. She designs for Warp & Weft (a Canadian company) so has some amazing fabrics to work with. She also has an amazing eye for purchasing fabrics that are beautiful and just a little big trendy! Check out her blog to see what she's up to this week!

Sooo, let's get started on this week's chit-chat!

I am...

• Reading: Ah, I told you last week I was going to read The Covenant by Beverly Lewis but started Quentins by Maeve Binchy instead:) So far, so good. My hubby saw me reading this morning and said, "Starting another book?" I said, "Always!" He reads a lot of news stuff on the internet but doesn't read a lot of books. However, after 34 years, you'd think he would be used to me reading books! Hmmm...
• Listening to: Our English Bulldog snoring. He has such a sweet "little" snore! I thought I would find it annoying but it is somehow comforting.
• Watching: We are going to watch Safe Harbor today! Besides that, I am looking forward to Next Great Baker on Wednesday night! I am really enjoying this show but missed the bread baking competition last week because of stamping club.
• Cooking/Baking: Today is pinto beans and rice; tortillas optional:) Friday I made a big pasta salad and yesterday was baked potatoes and baked Butternut Squash! We really do eat pretty good around here--simple but good!
• Happy you accomplished this week: Stamping Club done and the order for this month placed.
• Looking forward to next week: Stamping order will be coming in Wednesday or Thursday--whoo hoo, first order from the new catalog!!! Also looking forward to taking A LOT of stuff to the thrift store! It needs to leave my house!
• Thankful for today: My darling granddaughter turned 8 years old today! We will celebrate with her on the 4th of July! I talked to her on the phone this morning--she is growing up so fast. She is now a 3rd grader! It seems like just yesterday that she started Kindergarten:(
• Bonus Question - What was your least favourite part and your most favourite part of the last week? Hmmm...most favorite would have to be my Happy Stampers Club--great bunch of ladies and we always have such a good time! The least favorite would have to be getting ready for stamping club because I always procrastinate so am pressured. It is all worth it though when I get to the meeting and everyone is so complimentary of the projects and they have so much fun! One of the stampers calls it her "Calgon moment!" If you remember that, you're nearly as old as me:P I feel the same way...after I get there! These ladies are my monthly therapy! Don't know what I would do without them!

Okay, that's it for my chit-chat this week! I don't know if there will be a Happy Homemaker Monday this week because Sandra is in the process of moving from Arizona to Idaho but if there is, I will join in this week!

Kat