RAKs in the Mail

VC Rocks blog banner! Isn't it cute!!!

I belong to a very fun group of people called VC Rocks. The VC stands for Virtual Convention! Every summer, Stampin' Up! has a real convention in or near Salt Lake City, UT but it is really spendy by the time you get your plane tickets, motel, meals...well, you get the picture, so not every Stampin' Up! Demonstrator can go or even wants to go. Me, I would love to do it just once! I guess it's quite the Hoopla! So, several years ago, someone got the bright idea to start this virtual community to celebrate the new annual Stampin' Up! catalog, summer, stamping, and just having fun! I signed up last year and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the group that "meets" from May 1 through September. Yes, the group is dormant the rest of the year except for a brief surge in December!

VC Rocks is open for registration May 1-31 and accepts Stampin' Up! demonstrators and customers. But this is not an easy group to belong to...fun, but not easy! There are Swaps, RAKS (random acts of kindness), Challenges, Blog Hops, oh my! We even have a charity that we donate to at the end of the summer. This year our donations will go to Ronald McDonald House:) 

In the last week I have been the recipient of two RAKs and I wanted to share them with you! This first one if from Karen Gibson in Brunswick, Ohio...

This is a Clean and Simple; Quick and Easy card! Love it! Can you see the embossed frame behind the Happy Birthday sentiment? How about the texture she added to the banners? Great card! Thanks, Karen!

The second card is a Fancy Fold from Debbie Peterson in Arlington, Washington...

This is how the card looked straight out of the envelope but then you take the ribbon off and...

Check.it.out!!! What a beauty! And check out the cute tags in all the pockets!!!

I feel so blessed to have received both of these amazing cards AND to be part of VC Rocks for another wonderful summer!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed these beauties because I sure did! Now I need to get some cards of my own made! 

Kat

Super Happy Mail

In May I signed up with VC Rocks to have a summertime Virtual Convention experience! I was not able to participate as much as I had hoped but had some wonderful experiences none-the-less. I participated in a couple of challenges, the Fancy Fold Card Swap and signed up to have a Virtual Roomie! My virtual roommate is Ellen from Minnesota and she has been fun to email with and we have sent a few cards back and forth. We were each required to send our roomie a box of goodies which I received last week. Oh my goodness! It was (is) amazing! Check it out!

She sent such a fun assortment of goodies!

3 cards handmade by Ellen! I will give details on each card in another post.

Postcard Series Wildflowers of Utah (Ellen went to the Stampin' Up! convention in Utah) plus dsp and that red flower is a magnet which is currently on my refrigerator!

A BIG package of Twizzlers! And yes, I got into them before I took the picture:)

Glittering delight! Silver Glimmer Paper, Brushed Silver card stock, Basic Rhinestones and Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details all tied up with some pretty ruffled ribbon!

This beautiful framed piece with butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set. My photo doesn't do it justice! Oh so pretty!

Am I spoiled or am I spoiled?!!! Thank you Ellen for all my goodies!

I have one more mission to accomplish before VC Rocks closes it's "doors" at the end of August--the Artist Trading Card Swap! I will be sending those off the end of the week to be sure they are to their destination by August 14. VC Rocks will lie dormant till next May when the ladies will rev up their engines for Weekly Challenges, Blog Hops, Swaps and lots of visiting back and forth via email!

Kat

Fancy Fold Swap Card #4

Another wonderful card from the VC Rocks Fancy Fold Swap! I love the way Ria used the Mosaic Punch to make the closure for this card! This card was made by Ria Blackwell using the new Mosaic products from Stampin' Up!

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

• Paper: So Saffron, Very Vanilla and Basic Gray card stock; Nouveau Chic Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Mosaic Madness and Perfectly Penned
• So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

This last card was made by Linda Wyatt. I don't have an ingredient list from her so I will try to decipher her card for you. This card is a tri-fold card--one of my all time favorites!

For this card Linda used the following Stampin' Up! supplies (I think):

• Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Strawberry Slush card stock
• Stamps: Feel Goods; Wildflower Meadow
• Ink: Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight and Pistachio Pudding
• Other: Basic Rhinestones; Gingham Garden Washi Tape

Well, that's it for the Fancy Fold Cards! I have enjoyed these so much and am looking forward to my next swap which is the Artist Trading Cards! Stay tuned, I will get the ATC swaps back around the end of July.

Do you have any special plans for the 4th of July holiday?

Kat

Fancy Fold Swap Cards #3

I didn't really think I needed the Dress-up Framelit until I saw this card! I love so much about this card! The picture doesn't really show it but the doily is tea stained and the look is perfect! The molded blossom got a little smooshed in the mail--not sure why. This card was made by Anita Watson. This swap was part of VC Rocks--a Virtual Convention for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and Customers to give us a fun summer stamping experience.

The card opened up

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

• Paper: Neutral Core'dinations and Early Espresso card stock; Soho Subway Designer Series Paper
• Versa Mark Ink with Early Espresso Embossing Powder
• Really Good Greetings stamp set
• Blossoms Simply Pressed Mold; Clay colored with Island Indigo ink
• Other: Tea Dipped Paper Lace Doily; Dress-up Framelit; Early Espresso 1/8" ribbon

Fun card! Thanks Anita!

The second card today is Thinking of You...

This is a fold I hadn't seen before but will definitely want to try. It's called the Double Dutch Fold. This is a stamp I purchased from the Spring Catalog that expired the end of May but never used. I thought I might just give it away abut after seeing this card I have pretty much changed my mind:) Stamps do that to me!

Card opened

This card was made by Elizabeth Kratzer. How can you go wrong with a card done in Wisteria Wonder?!!! For this card Elizabeth used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Paper: Whisper White and Wisteria Wonder cards stock; 2012-14 In Color Designer Series Paper
• Stamps: Just Thinking and Really Good Greetings
• Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad
• Other: Whisper White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon; Window Frames Collection Framelits

This card is simply elegant! Thank you Elizabeth! 

I hope you are enjoying this swap cards as much as I enjoyed getting them! Tomorrow I will have the last card for you!

Kat

VC Rocks Happy Mail

I have mentioned VC Rocks a time or two (at least) in the last two months:) It is a virtual convention for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators and customers to have a fun experience during the summer meeting new people, stamping and having a good time. This is an especially great experience for those of us who can't go to the Stampin' Up! Convention in Utah for one reason or another. 

As part of the Virtual Convention experience, you can choose to have a room in the Virtual Hotel complete with roommate! My roommate is Ellen Boyle and she lives in Minnesota! She sent me the card above and I love it! Check out the way she stamped medallions from the Daydream Medallion stamp set on the Island Indigo card background and also on the back layer of the Label Collection Framelits. She used a sentiment from the Trust God stamp set which is on my "must get" list! If I'm not mistaken, I think she used Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper from Sale-a-bration! 

Closeup so you can see the stamped medallions.

Thank you, Ellen, for the card! I think this is going to be a fun summer with Ellen as my virtual roomie:)

Kat

Artist Trading Cards

I am still trying to play catch-up from last Sunday when we got home so late! Monday and Tuesday I couldn't get enough sleep then last night I think I only slept about two hours:( It will all straighten out soon.

I signed up for another swap via VC Rocks! This one is an Artist Trading Card Swap. First I had to find out what an Artist Trading Card is! Well, between the hostess of the swap and some Googling, I found out that an Artist Trading Card is a 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" one sided card that you embellish either with your own artwork or stamping or whatever then trade much as you would trade baseball cards. So, I tried my hand at one today...

I need to tweek the Create flag but other than that, I am pretty happy with it! Last night when I couldn't sleep I was thinking about how I wanted to put this card together! You can use these little bits of art on a bigger card or a scrapbook page or just save them. There are even shadow box type frames to put them in to display. Who knew?!!!

For my Artist Trading Card I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Card Stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla
• Stamp Sets: Creative Elements; That's the Ticket and En Francais
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Baked Brown Sugar and Crumb Cake
• Ticket Punch for corners
• Other: Chantilly Crocheted Trim (retired), Antique Brad, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Glue Dots and Dimensionals

I need to do something with the end of the Create Flag but will work on it. Honestly, I think I could get addicted to these! I'm not sure yet if this is the one I will be making for the swap but wanted to try it out. The deadline for me to get it in the mail is July 7. Creative Elements is one of my favorite stamps sets and I really like the Shabby Chic look this card has.

Thanks for stopping by!

Kat

Delicate Doilies in MDS

Oh my! I can't believe I did it!!! If you remember, awhile back I took a class on how to use Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio but haven't had much time to practice since. Well, the Challenge for this week on VC Rocks is to use at least four of these colors (I used them ALL):

• Not Quite Navy
• Garden Green
• Elegant Eggplant
• Cajun Craze 
• More Mustard

Not wanting to dig around in my stash to see what I had for this project, I decided to try My Digital Studio! Oh.how.fun!!!

This card was made using:

• Delicate Doilies
• Punch Shapes: Circle, Square, Scalloped Oval, Oval
• Other: Basic Rhinestones and Dahlia

I have a little more work to do on this card before it's perfect but wanted to show it off anyway:)

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Kat

Happy Mail Times Two

When I picked up the mail last weekend I was pleasantly surprised to have not one, but two pieces of Happy Mail! I signed up with VC Rocks which is active from May 1 through August. So far I have received 3 RAK cards and have enjoyed the challenges. I am also taking part in a Fancy Fold Card Swap. I am looking forward to a fun summer with the VC Rockers:) 

The card above was made by Samantha Ovitt from Vermont. Her blog is Samie's Sentiments. I love the way she used flags of designer series paper to make her card front! The Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon really sets it off! Wow! Super easy and fun!

This second card was made by Gloria Washek from Oregon. She used the Mixed Bunch stamp set with the Blossom Punch. For the sentiment she used the Loving Thoughts stamp set. Gloria embossed the flowers and card front with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

Thank you Samantha and Gloria for these great cards!

Kat

Happy Mail

Wednesday, when I picked up the mail, there was a bit of Happy Mail in the box! One of the VC Rockers, Linda Sparks sent me a nice note!  I am really looking forward to my summer with VC Rocks!

For this card Linda used the Triple Time Stamping technique that I learned from Dawn Olchefske. She used the Triple Treat Flower stamp (retired) that is one of my favorites:) Check out the adorable flower she attached!

Thank you Linda! I am sending a card your way:)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kat

Happy Stampers Swallowtail Butterfly

It seems that life just kind of overwhelmed me this week:( I have a goal of blogging six times a week but some weeks it just can't happen without me losing my mind! I hope you forgive me! 

 My Happy Stampers made this super cute card on Wednesday night! I learned this card style from my upline Linda Gutierrez! She calls it an Open Surprise card!

When you open it up the inside piece unfolds into a a beautiful "surprise"! Linda has a YouTube video that will walk you through the instructions to make this card.

What the card looks like before you open it.

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

• Cardstock: Coastal Cabana (new InColor), Calypso Coral and Whisper White; printer paper (not SU!)
• Stamp sets: Swallowtail Butterfly, A Round Array, Feel Goods
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Calypso Coral and Coastal Cabana
• 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch
• Delicate Designs Embossing Folder
• Other: Retired Pool Party ribbon; Dimensionals

I really like this card in black too! Something about black and white is sooo stunning! This butterfly stamp wasn't one I had planned to get until I saw this card and then I had to have it!

Tomorrow, another card! Plus I am hoping to scoot out to my craft space to put together a project for the VC Rocks Blog Hop for this weekend. 

Kat

Betsy's Blossoms and the 4 Bs

Happy Mother's Day to all those mothers out there! And I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to those who never had children but mother us just the same:) I received a call from my darling daughter this morning then I called my mother for a lengthy conversation! I was able to read my book some this morning and make a few cards (hoping to do a few more before the day is over)!

The card I made today is for a friend's birthday plus I am entering it in the VC Rocks 4 Bs Challenge! I was include 4 things that start with B on the card.

My four Bs are:

• Betsy's Blossoms stamp set
• Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad (for flowers)
• Button with Baker's Twine (technically that's two)
• Bling--I know they are rhinestones but I always call them bling!

I love, love, love this card! First of all, Betsy's Blossoms is one of my favorite stamp sets (of many I might add) and I love the way the card is cut out along the edge! This is the first card I have made like this and I think next time I might cut away a little more along the edge  but was being just a little cautious this first time.

Close up of the cutaway edge

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

• Whisper White card stock
• Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Daffodil Delight, Read Red, Bashful Blue, Gumball Green
• Other: Vintage Faceted Designer Button, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dot

Well, that's it for now! I will be back later for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Have a nice Mother's Day!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning and welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! We are hosted each week by the talented and very busy Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Hop on over to see what she's been up to!

The weather...Sunny and warm:) It should be in the 80s today!!! I am loving it!

Right now I am...Sitting in my chair working on this blog post.

Thinking...About all the things I need to get done today!

On my reading pile...Boring! I am still reading The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve and Baby Blessed by Debbie Macomber. For our read alouds we are reading Lando by Louis L'Amour (part of the Sackett series) and Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson with Susy Flory.

On my TV...Other than Call the Midwife, I'm not really interested in anything right now. I need to find a Hallmark movie or two so I can finish the baby afghan I'm working on.

What I found while surfing the net...While participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge, I ran across a blog by Sandy called Flat Stanley and Friends. If you haven't read the Flat Stanley books, you need to and if you have, you will love this blog! 

On the menu this week...Oh my! Was I supposed to be thinking about a menu this week? Not sure what the family is up to this week so don't have any menu plans:( What I do know is that we will have a big green salad with homemade salad dressing every day! I need to share a recipe for Honey Mustard Vinaigrette I found on Pinterest! Super yummy!

On my to do list...

• Laundry, as usual
• Make cards--isn't that always on my list
• Start an organizing project

In the craft basket...

• Blue and Yellow Baby Afghan
• Hexagon project
• Cards...lots of cards

Looking forward to this week...Delivering the new Stampin' Up! Catalogs to my customers!!! To you it may seem like a little thing but to me, it's HUGE! I know how much my customers enjoy receiving, looking at and ordering from the new catalog every year so I really look forward to delivering it:)

Looking around the house...The dishes are done, the bed is made; the dogs haven't got all their toys out yet so the living room looks pretty good! The kitchen floor needs swept but with 3 dogs, the kitchen floor always needs swept.

From the camera...

Our fruit trees are really looking good. So far we have escaped frost so that means lots of fruit!
I think I got this picture before hubby did the weed eating.

On my prayer list...

• Friends and family who are traveling
• Sister-in-law's family after the death of her mom
• The continued healing of my hubby's back
• Friend trying to sell her house
• Daughter of a friend starting a new job

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

I hope you enjoyed Happy Homemaker Monday! Tomorrow I will have another card for you. I am also entering another challenge at VC Rocks so will see what I can come up with!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

It's time again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat initiated each week by the very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily.

Our fig tree is leafing out!

So, let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Still whittling away at The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve! It's a good book but haven't spent a lot of time reading. I am also still reading Baby Blessed by Debbie Macomber. Should be able to finish one of the books this week:)

Listening to...Hubby using the weed eater outside and Call the Midwife (which I am watching)

Watching...Call the Midwife; We watched Pursuit of Happiness earlier.

Cooking/Baking...We had Mizidra for dinner today! I am sure you all think we eat Mizidra ALL the time but truly we haven't had it for a month!

Happy I accomplished this week...I helped a friend with her blog this week; I made several cards; did some weeding; put two cards in the VC Rocks Blog Hop:)

Looking forward to next week...Delivering the first batch of new Stampin' Up! catalogs to my customers! This is always a fun time each year:)

Thankful for today...Hubby really is feeling better now! He was better then got worse again but finally on Wednesday he got better again and it stuck:) We don't know what was wrong with his back but it seems to be better!

*Bonus Question* What are the *top 3 things* on my "to do" list for next week?

• Deliver stamping orders and new catalogs
• Mail Mother's Day cards
• Finish cards for stamping customers

Well, that's it for this week's Chit-Chat! Thank you for visiting!

Kat

Papillon Potpourri

I was really wanting to use the Papillon Potpourri stamp set so when I saw this card on Pinterest I knew I just had to give it a try! Mine didn't turn out quite as good as the original by Fran at Fran's Craft Place but I gave it a good try! I would really like to try it again and maybe get things lined up a bit better:P

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

• Card stock: Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo (I think this is my new favorite SU! color) and Whisper White
• Papillon Potpourri stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo
• Elegant Butterfly Punch
• Embossing Folders: Delicate Designs and Perfect Polka Dots
• Mini Glue Dots and shock of all shocks...NO Dimensionsals

I am linking this card to the VC Rocks Warm Up Blog Hop so check out the other bloggers through Sunday!

Kat

Flower Pot Mother's Day Card

I know! I know! Two posts from me in ONE DAY!!! Just doesn't happen very often but today's your lucky day!!! I decided to join in on the VC Rocks! Warm Up Blog Hop--whoo hoo!!! I am hoping to participate in a few blog hops over the next few months but this one is my FIRST!

I saw a card on Pinterest made by Nancy Riley at i STAMP by Nancy Riley and thought it was so super cute that I would make one just.like.it! And I did! Then I decided I wanted the flowers a little bigger so pulled out my Mixed Bunch stamp set and remade the card! Love it!!!

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

• Card stock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade
• Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper
• Stamp sets: Mixed Bunch, A Round Array and Wonderful Mother
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Rich Razzleberry
• Punches: Blossom, 7/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Border
• Other: Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon 

Please visit the VC Rocks! blog for the blog hop! Projects will be added all weekend:)

Kat