My Paper Crafting Passion

Wow, I had not realized just how long it has been since I updated this blog!  I apologize to those of you who have subscribed!  My post today will be of Fall and Thanksgiving cards.  Hopefully very soon I will get my Christmas Cards posted.  This card uses the Stampin' Up! Sweater Weather DSP.  I love that paper.  The ribbon is the seam binding dyed with Espresso reinker.  The leaves were stamped with the Wonderfall set in VersaMark...then embossed with clear embossing powder.  The DSP was dry embossed then sponged with Early Espresso.  The saying and Acorn are from a Papertrey Set.  The inside, shown below was cut with a deckled Nestability set and stamped with Early Espresso.  The card base is SU's Sahara Sand. The next card was made for our South Stamp-a-Stack in September   This card also uses Sahara Sand for the Base.  The other colors are Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Always Artichoke.  The leave are all

Yesterday was a difficult day for me.  As those who know me well are aware, my "baby" girl and her baby boy and hubby are moving away.  Jay got a great promotion and the family is moving to Chicago.  This breaks my heart but I have to admit it is a good thing for them.  The rest of us, however, will all miss them terribly. They had a going-away shindig yesterday at one of their favorite places, The Platte Bar and Grill.  SO many turned out to wish them well and reminisce.  I enjoyed, SO MUCH, seeing all their friends come to see them off.  Many of their friends feel like my kids too...they have been around for so many years! I just want to share this wonderful photo of my kids, taken by one of their friends yesterday. Travis, his lovely wife Courtney. Megan and her wonderful husband, Jay. Lucas and his darling girlfriend, Jessica! This group of people are the most important people in my and Lee's life!  Just missing the Grands!!!

Tami and I had smaller classes this month than usual, but we still had SO much fun.  The group of ladies that come are so special.  Love them all. Tami's cards this month were incredible.  This first one was inspired by an on-stage presentation by Pam Morgan at the convention last month.  So simple....yet so stunning! Gold embossing on DSP.     Inside Tami used her favorite new stamp set (and one of mine too) called Gorgeous Grunge!  Love this set. Tami's next card was very vintage.  Inspired, I believe, by a card by Jackie Pedro. Tami used some of her birthday gifts from friends on this card.  Stamps, embossing folder and clock die are not SU. The flowers were made with the pansy punch and the Boho Blossom punch. My first card is a fun-fold card.  Paper used was the Modern Medley (My absolute favorite) and basic black.  Stamp set was Petite Pairs.  The Happy Birthday Die was not SU. View from the top. The second card is also a fun fold.  Stam

Convention is over. So sad. I really did have a great time. It was so fun to spend time with all three of my downline ladies. Mickie, Tami and Jacque. Stamp in' Up! Was....as usual, very generous. More prize patrol and all attendee giveaways than ever before!!! I have TONS of swaps to share with you over the next week or so. They were of such great quality this year for the most part. Off to have pizza and look at Luther's swaps!!! See you back in Denver. Bye bye, Skm

Here is a photo of my downline gals and me. Both Jacque and Mickie are joining for their first time!!!

Here is a photo of 5800 of my closest friends. Having a wonderful time! More photos later.

I can't believe it is already July.  2013 is flying by.  Today is suppose to be a really nice, relatively cool day.  I'm looking forward to it!  Some friends are coming by to stamp so that always makes me happy! I'm going to share a few things today.  I'm involved in a few swaps at our annual Stampin' Up! Convention this year.  It is held in Salt Lake City in a couple weeks.  I have two of my three swaps completed.  I can't do the last one until I receive my pre-order from this year's Holiday Mini.  I ordered right at midnight, so hopefully I get my stuff by the end of the week.  May be tight due to the holiday, but I'll keep my fingers crossed! First off is the card I'm doing for an invitation only swap called Over the Top.  This card uses: Stamp: Lovely Romance Ink: Basic Black Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and (My fav!!!) Modern Medley DSP Accessories:  Seam Binding (dyed Cherry Cobbler - scrunched), Boho Bl

The first project I'll show is from our South Stamp-a-Stack. This uses fun stuff from our Brand New Catalog! Stamps: Label Love, Chalk Talk, and Tape It! Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red Ink: Basic Black, Versamark, Real Red Marker Other: Silver Embossing powder, Button Embosslit, Cobbler Baker's Twine, Artisan Label Punch, non SU washi tape on white and then cut out to form the black and white banner piece, oh, and the Chevron Embossing folder Outside Inside With the Washi tape craze, I think Tape It will be one of my favorite new sets!  You can get the look of the tape without have to buy it in every color!!!! This next project was my card for our West Stamp Camp this weekend. Stamps: Everything Eleanor, En Francais, Papillon Potpourri, the new hostess set Express Yourself, Paper: Whisper White, Primrose Petals Ink: Versamark, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Primrose Petals, Black Staz-on Other: NEW Deco Labels Framlits, Rhinestones,

As promised here are the cards that Tami and I did at our class last weekend. First, a "Tami" card.  Tami absolutely excels at masculine cards and this one is no exception.  A great Father's Day card! Uses the shaving cream technique and "The Open Sea" stampset. Inside Tami's second card, my personal favorite, is simply STUNNING!  And what makes it even more fun is that Tami made her own stamp out of scraps of rubber from trimming her old stamps and the excess around the clear mount stamps!  Wonderful technique!  Beautiful card! Inside   My first card is a CASE, but I thought it was so darned cute.  I made the bear from Chocolate Chip for the male and from our yummy new Baked Brown Sugar for the female.  She also had a bow in her hair....but unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it before I gave her away....so here is Mr..... There was literally NO stamping on this little guy.  Many punches and the largest heart framelit. 

I just can't seem to get on here on a regular basis!  I'm sorry!!!  Just too many other things that take precedence. Anyway.....some day I'll go backwards and post the older stuff, but today I want to show you the photos of the card I made for my #1 Grandson's 5th birthday last week.  I cruised the net looking at MANY samples and the result is a combination of several cards I saw.  If you've made an Angry Birds card....I probably looked at yours and am giving you all credit right here and now!  ;) Here is the front: And here is the inside: His whole party was the Angry Birds theme and many gifts followed that theme.  Since the kids just got a new home with a larger back yard, we gave them a "fort" to put back there to play in.  It seemed to be a hit with both the birthday boy AND his little brother. MANY punches were used. Red Bird: Body - 1 3/4" Circle Eyes - Owl punch Nose - 3/4" circle (cut to center and fold over itsel

I'm all registered for convention and have the room we wanted at the Marriott!  Now the suspense builds until next week when I get to see the new catalog.  Oh man.............do I wish I were going to the regional in SLC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  OH WELL, I guess I can wait a few more days..... !! I will be in South Dakota visiting with my mom (who has no internet) on the day that the catalog goes on the website....HOWEVER, I'll be driving out to my brothers to have a look and place that first order!!!!!!  Yes, I know, no willpower at all!  ;) We have a great group of Mile High Stampers going to convention this year.  It is going to be SO fun and exciting to see what they have in store for us to celebrate their 25th anniversary year! So, for now, here is a photo of a project that Rochelle and I have done for our latest Gift and Gab class.  We did this last month at my house and we will be doing it again on Saturday at her home.  There are still openings if you are interested!

I know I'm so far behind on posting photos of the projects and cards that have been made around here lately, so I'll just start with the ones we just had at our classes this week. This first one is Stampin' Up! Paper, Ink, and 2 stamps, but the rest is contraband. I love the side-step cards and love the spring-like feel of this card: The base paper was Certainly Celery.  The grass is Old Olive, the sky is Bashful Blue, and the white is Whisper White.  I'm sure going to miss Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue! :-( This next card is ALL Stampin' Up! The main paper is Wisteria Wonder and the accent is Elegant Eggplant. Very Vanilla was used on the inside and on the banner.  The leaves were punched from Lucky Limeade. The stamp sets are Daydream Medallions and the Birthday wishes from Occasional Quotes (retired hostess). This next card is from Tami: Card base is Soft Suede and the accent color is Island Indigo. Stamp set is The Open Sea Also from

So many big announcements from Stampin' Up! lately.  It's difficult to keep up, I know!  Here is one that excites me. FREE SHIPPING FOR 3 DAYS.  Saturday, Sunday, and Monday....April 6,7,8. I have an order in, ready to go.  Please feel free to contact me to add to it....or, if ordering on-line, please use hostess code # 4N9PCWDE Also.....the new Color Refresh.  SU told us 3 years ago when they did the BIG color renovation that they would continue to do smaller ones every 3-5 years.  Well, 3 years is here and this is what they've done for now.  I'm super excited about having a new light grey (Smoky Slate), but NOT so excited about losing my most favorite colors.........Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze!