Sweetie Pie Birthday

I have been trying to get some things done around the house so today decided to tackle the shower. I mixed 1 teaspoon Dawn dish soap, 1 drop Jet Dry and water in a Dishwand then cleaned the shower walls and glass doors! I also cleaned up the shower organizer (it was really bad) so the shower looks so much better. Then I cleaned out the magazine rack beside my bed--lots to throw away! I feel so much better when I am getting things cleaned and organized!

The card for today is the one I made for my granddaughter for her 9th birthday last month! I combined two of my favorite stamp sets for this card...Sweetie Pie (sold out but I put a request in for Stampin' Up! to bring it back) and Flower Shop! This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest by Kathleen Wingerson at Kathleen Stamps. 

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

• Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, and Whisper White cardstock; Lullaby Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Gray and Hello Honey
• Stamps: Sweetie Pie (sold out), Flower Shop and Endless Wishes (sentiment)
• Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals and Itty Bitty Punch Pack (retired)
• Other: Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stretch Ruffled Ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls

I hope you are having a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! We are hosted each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom:) I always look forward to participating and linking up with Sandra and the other bloggers! So, what's happening in my little corner of the world?

As I look outside my window:::
Today we have some clouds and wind. I don't think it will get much over 70 degrees today (F). I sure loved those days last week when it was 80:) I was soaking up the sunshine!!!

Right now I am::: 
Waiting for dinner to finish cooking so decided to sit down to blog a bit.

Thinking and pondering:::
About how to regroup and focus on what's important. My question is, Important to who? Do I live by the standards of others or do I march to the beat of my own drummer? When is enough, enough?!!! I didn't promise any answers here, only thoughts. Hopefully I will be able to elaborate more later. 

On my bedside table:::
Just finished reading Light on Snow by Anita Shreve.  I am also reading Living Life Undaunted, a devotional by Christine Caine.

On my tv this week:::
Last night I watched Call the Midwife. Before that we watched a teen movie called Monte Carlo. None of us can figure out how it got on the Netflix Queue but it was and it came. We all actually liked it:)

Listening to:::
Our precious Rocky snoring as usual! What would I do without that sweet snore in the background of my days?!!!

On the menu for this week:::
As usual, no menu! Today we are having Mizidra (brown rice with lentils on top then built up like a tostada); broccoli and cauliflower; garlic bread with avocado

On my to do list:::
Laundry - on the clothes line:)
Weed strawberry patch
Dead head lilacs
Clean bathroom--today!
Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges
2 swap cards--make and mail
Sort and deliver stamping orders 

Happening this week:::
Working on my "to do" list and delivering stamping orders (hopefully on Thursday)

What I am creating:::
I have been in a total funk lately when it comes to creating. I really need my mojo back! Has anyone seen it?!!! If you do, tell it to come home.

My simple pleasure:::
Talking to my daughter on the phone (when I can't be with her in person).  

Homemaking tips::: 
This morning I decided to give a Pinterest idea a try! I took a couple pieces of aluminum foil, scrunched each one into a ball and threw them in the dryer with a load of clothes that normally get a lot of static. When I took the clothes out of the dryer there was a tiny bit of static on a pair of hubby's pajama pants but not near as much as I have when I use a fabric softener sheet!!! The Pinterest Pinner said they used them up to a year! Love this idea!!!

Looking around the house:::
Dining room table starting to build up clutter again:( My desk is looking pretty 
messy. The rest of the house looks pretty good...by my standards anyway!

From the camera:::

Another little card I made to put a treat in; just the right size for a Ghiradelli Square. These are so cute and I am addicted to making them. This one uses Strawberry Slush cardstock and ink, Flower Shop stamp set and Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper. Unfortunately that sweet Stretch Ruffle Trim is retired and gone:( 

Prayer List:::

• Friends with problems
• Sister and her hip--much better but she still needs prayer
• Brother who lost his wife almost two years ago--anniversary of her death is coming up in a couple weeks
• Me--self-evaluation, changes, decisions

Bible verse, Devotional:::

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." --Hebrews 4:16

Well, that's it for me today. I hope all is good in your little corner of the world!

Kat

Happy Birthday, Barb!

This is the card I made for my friend Barb for her birthday! I love the color and of course was able to use my favorite stamp set, Flower Shop!

This card was CASEd from one I saw on Pinterest by Linda Creech. 

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

• Paper: Whisper White and Bermuda Bay cardstock; Kaliedeoscope Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Bermuda Bay
• Stamps: Flower Shop and Perfectly Penned
• Big Shot with Apothecary Accents and Chalk Talk Framelits
• Other: Dimensionals and Brights Collection Candy Dots

Thank you for visiting!

Kat

P is for Paper Crafting

Oh my! I have had a hard time getting this post up this morning:( Picture me sitting in a hotel room in Portland, OR with my feet up blog hopping around to see what's going on in the A to Z Blogging Challenge world! There are some seriously good P posts out there today! Good Job!

Then, my sister is in the hospital with a blood clot in her leg. They are anticipating doing a "clot busting procedure" on her today as her leg is really swollen--abnormally so even for a blood clot! So I have been emailing and texting friends and family to facilitate prayer and a pastoral visit for her. If you would pray too, that would be nice. 

Well, on to the post of the day...maybe I can finish it this go-round! I didn't keep it very short today; sorry!

As I was thinking about this post and how it related to the theme of All About Me (it is all about me, right?), I thought, "P is for Patience (don't have a lot of that); Procrastination (I'm an expert on that one); Preserving Food (well, I do and have done a lot of that); aha! (don't you love aha moments:) Paper Crafting!!! I have to work my paper crafts into this challenge whenever I can because it is what I truly love to do! Besides, what would the month be if I didn't show you some paper crafts, right?!!!

Wednesday night my Happy Stampers made a Card in a Box! It is quite the paper crafting sensation at the moment--lots of postings on Pinterest! I was inspired for this one by Tina Weller at The Serene Stamper (this link will take you to her post with video tutorial as well as printable instructions). Thank you Tina for the great tutorial!!!

Tada! Isn't it the cutest thing?!!! The box folds flat for mailing:) We did make special envelopes for our creations because they wouldn't fit in our standard size card envelopes but that was made easy using the Envelope Punch Board--love it! I could not believe how fun this was to make and decorate!

This is a side view of the box. Key is to not overfill as it gets really bulky and won't flatten well. So, less is more:)

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up Supplies:

• Paper: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green and Whisper White card stock; Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Petite Petals and Chalk Talk
• Ink: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry
• Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals, Bird Builder and Extra-Large Oval
• Big Shot with Little Leaves Sizzlits
• Other: Lots of Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls and Sticky Strip

It would be hard for you to enjoy this project as much as I did, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! I will be back tomorrow with the Letter Q--only 10 more letters to go!!! Last year I felt like such a winner when I completed this challenge!

Have a great day!

Kat

Happy Easter In Color Shadow Box Card

Did I make that title long enough?!!! Well I am still hooked on the Shadow Box Card so decided to show my Happy Stampers how to make this card at our meeting last Wednesday night! On this one we stamped the flowers directly onto the Strawberry Slush card stock with Strawberry Slush ink (tone on tone). So happy with the results:)

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

• Paper: Whisper White and Strawberry Slush card stock
• Ink: Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe and Coastal Cabana
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop, Petite Petals and Easter Blossoms (retired)
• Punches: Pansy and Petite Petals
• Big Shot with Ovals Collection Framelits
• Other: Basic Pearls, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip

I was so happy with the way this card turned out! I hope you enjoyed it too!

Kat

Petite Flower Shop Shadow Box Card

Today was absolutely beautiful! I think the high temperature was 55 degrees (F) but the sky was blue blue, the sun was bright and there was no wind! We are a little more than a week early for Spring but Spring was definitely here today and looks like it will be here all week! 

I can't believe it's already the middle of the month and I haven't posted my Design Team project for The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges yet! What have I been waiting for? The theme for this month is Mothers so I made a Mother's Day card for my mom. WOW! I am super early!!! 

I am totally loving making Shadow Box cards using the Flower Shop and Petite Petals stamp sets--so fun!

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

• Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Gumball Green and Strawberry Slush card stock; Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper; Silver Glimmer Paper
• Stamp sets: Messages for Mom (retired), Flower Shop, Petite Petals
• Ink: Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay, Pink Pirouette
• Punches: Pansy, Petite Petals, Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly and Bird Builder Punch
• Big Shot with Labels Collection Framelits
• Other: Glue Dots and Basic Pearls

I am working on a Shadow Box Easter card for my Happy Stampers to make next week. I am also working on a Card in a Box! I have been seeing lots of them on Pinterest so am trying my hand at it. I have the box made, just need to decorate it:)

Kat

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 Birthday Darling Daughter!

I really thought I would have time to blog this week at my daughter's  but we have busy, busy, busy! I haven't even made it to the new fabric store yet (Sunday, I think)! Yesterday a couple of her stamping friends came over and we stamped our little hearts out! When they left DD and I just kept stamping:D Finally about 7:30 I started making mistakes so decided it was time to quit! Whew!!! 

One of the cards we made yesterday I need to wait to show you because it is a swap card that dear Mieka showed us. It was VERY time-consuming but what a great result!!! However, I have other cards to show and will be making more today! Whoo Hoo!

DD is off to a Birthday Party Coffee Morning with the neighbor ladies this morning. Can you believe that two of her neighbors have the same birthday as she does--TODAY! And another one is Monday! My granddaughter got sick yesterday so stayed home from school yesterday and today. Sooo, gramma is having some granddaughter time while daughter is celebrating her birthday:)

First card is the card I made my daughter for her birthday.

She loves the Dress-up Framelits so decided to use them to make her card! I added some Glimmer Paper and Bling to make up for the fact that I reminded her of her age on this card:0

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

• Paper: Midnight Muse, Pink Pirouette and Basic Black card stock; Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink: White Stazon
• Occasional Quotes stamp set (retired)
• Other: Dress-up Framelits, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die (thank you, Barb) and Basic Rhinestones

Next up are the cards I made and gave to her neighbor-friends...

 

I CASEd a card I saw on Pinterest done by Jackie Topa at Addicted to Stamping! The link will take you to her blog post with video! I LOVE the videos!!! Thanks, Jackie!

The one on the left is made using Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade (retired) and Whisper White card stock; the middle one is made using Bashful Blue (retired), Midnight Muse and Whisper White card stock; the one on the right is made using Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade (retired) and Whisper White card stock. I used the NEW Envelope Punch Board to make the closure! Stamp set is Flower Shop and I used the Pansy Punch to punch out the popped-up flowers.

 

Check out what the inside looks like with the Starbucks Card in the pocket! Jackie shows a male version on her video. I may make several of these for Christmas gift cards!

Have a great day!

Kat

Flower Shop Step-up Card

Yesterday was not a good day! About 7:00 Sunday night my muscles and joints started aching--even my fingers and toes! I was miserable! Then yesterday the pain continued but I woke up this morning and other than feeling like somebody beat me up, I am sooo much better!

This is the original card I posted last week...

The supplies I used can be found HERE. To be honest, I really like the simplicity of this card and those large pearls really jazz it up. However, I made a stab at "stepping it up". I didn't do as much as I wanted to because I wanted to stay with the same colors but didn't have any ribbon that would work.

For this one I used Candy Dots instead of Basic Pearls; Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (retired); Pansy Punch and Dimensionals!

Which one do you like best?

I am working on some WOW! cards today so can't wait to share them with you:) Oh, and I got my new Envelope Punch Board that I will be playing with as well! Woo Hoo!!!

Kat

Flower Shop Thank You

Yesterday afternoon was spent delivering Stampin' Up! orders to my Happy Stampers and visiting my little heart out! It was a good day! Tucked into each Stampin' Up! bag was a Thank You card made by me:) This card was totally inspired by Robin Messenheimer at Robin's Craft Room. I will be working on a "stepped up" version today to send to my wonderful downline so hopefully will have that one for you tomorrow.

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

• Card Stock: Whisper White and Wisteria Wonder
• Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade (retired)
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop and Sassy Salutations
• Other: Large Basic Pearls

This was a fun card to make and super quick and easy! I made 10 cards, start to finish, in less than an hour:) While I love to make fussy, complicated cards it's nice to have an arsenal of quick and easy cards for when you need them!

Have a great day!

Kat

Cards from Ellen

A couple days ago I shared with you the wonderful package I received from Ellen in Minnesota but today I wanted to show each individual card with a breakdown of what I "think" is going on in each one. 

This first card is a super fun card! I love the Epic This and That dsp!

For this card Ellen used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Paper: Whisper White and Calypso Coral card stock; Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green and Calypso Coral
• Yippee-Skippee! stamp set
• Other: 7/16" burlap-inspired Trim

This card uses one of my very favorite new stamp sets...Flower Shop--LOVE IT! And don't you love the way she used the new Envelope Liner Framelits on the envelope?!!! I don't own those Framelits yet but they are on my list!

For this card Ellen used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Paper: Whisper White and Daffodil Delight card stock; Epic Day This and That (I think) Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Basic Black
• Stamp Sets: Flower Shop and Happy Day
• Other: Pansy Punch and Envelope Liner Framelits

For this last card, Ellen let the Epic Day This and That Paper take center stage! I love it!

For this card Ellen used the following Stampin' Up products:

• Paper: Basic Gray and Calypso Coral card stock; Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Basic Gray and Calypso Coral
• A Fitting Occasion stamp set
• Other: Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch

I hope you enjoyed seeing Ellen's cards up close and personal today! I sure enjoyed receiving them. 

Kat