Notebook and Beaded Pen. Weekend Project!

This is one of the notebooks that I made. It's a bit over sized. It measures 7-1/2" long by 4-1/4" wide.

The cute little kitty on the scale stamp is by Penny Black. Isn't the kitty just adorable. I thought it would be a cute stamp for a "diet journal."

I will be putting this in my online store along with other notebooks as I finish them up. I also have more rubber stamps coming to the store soon too. It's a matter of when the webmaster gets them on there. And I am not high on the priority list there. The webmaster is my son and even though I do pay for the site like any other person does I do get a discount on the data entry part. SO I could either learn how to do all that stuff or just pay at the discounted price and wait a few days longer. I feel that my brain is now completely full and I can no longer learn anything new so my choice is to just wait it out!!! LOL

I will also be putting my "Ready to Finish" notebook kits (included beaded pen stuff) in the store too!! I'll let you know when they are online!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

I Give Up!

In yet another failed attempt to make the card with a single tiny flower in the bottom right corner I have come to a conclusion. An that is, I just can't do it. I am SO much a layers person and I think I'm just going to have to stick with that. I was always told to stick with what you know best. But if you don't venture out now and then you don't learn anything. Well, I really learned something here with my many attempts at trying to do a card with a small single flower in the bottom corner.

I had really high hopes for this card. I thought I had my problem with it figured out. But I didn't. So here it is in all it's "splendor!" LOL

I used one of the flowers from the Stampin' Up! set "Bloomin' With Love." Which by the way did not make it to the new catalog!!! SO sad because I REALLY like this set. I'm going to hang on to it for a while yet. It's still new to me, I've hardly played with it. When I get tired of it or realize I am not using it anymore then I'll get rid of it. Or if I run out of room on my shelves!!

I used the Cuddlebug folder to make the background and I added a ribbon. It was pretty quick and easy to make. It should be it was suppose to be just a simple card with a tiny flower in the bottom corner!!!

Like the title of this post states, "I give up." I have tried several of this style and now know that I just can't do it. So it's back to my regular style!! And I've got some fun "Weekend Projects" lined up too!! There's a lot of new things coming up and I'll be sharing them here with you.

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Technique Page Faux Stitching

Some techniques are a lot easier than other and some are a lot older than others too but nevertheless they needed to be included in the technique book! This technique is one of the easier ones. Even though it is easy it does take a little bit of time to poke all those holes in the card stock and then to draw in the stitch lines.

For this technique I stamped the background of a dark piece of card stock. Using the grid from the Crafter’s Took Kit set it on your card stock. Line up the edges. Take the paper piercing tool and poke holes in a line along the edge of the card stock. Once you have gone all the way around take the gel pen and draw in the stitch lines.

You can draw in every line as pictured here or you can do every other stitch. Both create a wonderful look!

This item was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

To see the other Technique Pages, click here. You can also watch them on the slide show on the right sidebar, just scroll down a bit. But if you want to see them faster just click on the link above to take you to all of them!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,

Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

Here is my card for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers today. I am SO happy that I've had some time these past few Wednesday's to participate in this challenge. I LOVE to haven new layouts to play with.

To start out my card I usually look at the focal part of the sketch and find a stamp that best fits in that area and then I just go from there. I think with any sketch the hardest part is finding the stamp you want to use. This one happened by accident. I had opened up my inventory catalog and of course I open so I look at it from back to front and in the back was the Stampin' Up! retired set "Best Fiends." I still have this set because it's just TOO darn cute to give up yet. Until something else comes a long to take it's place or I completely run out of room I'll be hanging onto this one for a while longer. Oh and the Frankenstein and witch that are in this set are TOO darn cute too. And the little bat reminds me of the one from a Bugs Bunny cartoon where he was at a haunted house and singing some "abra catabra" song and Dracula would change into a bat with curly wings like the one in this set has.

Maybe I chose this set because I'm waiting for my new catalog to arrive and I since I can't play with anything new I subconsciously got out a retired set to entertain myself!!! LOL I have plenty of other sets that I have not used or used only once that I could be playing with!! LOL But I am anxiously waiting for my new catalog to arrive. I was doing ok with it at first and then I started seeing some of the items that will be in it and I started keeping an open ear for the UPS truck!!! It's SO sad, isn't it??? LOL

Ok, onto this card. I used some retired paper too. The "Halloween Night" decorative paper by Stampin' Up! I just followed the sketch for the size. If you click on the sketch you can then print it out and it should print out pretty close to exact size. Sometimes I've printed a couple so I can cut one apart or stamp directly onto one to see if I like the images there or somewhere else on the card.

Now I could have added some embellishments on the card but I chose to just keep it simple. The colors of the decorative paper and the cuteness of the image seem to carry the card without adding any frill to it!

If you get a chance stop by SplitCoastStampers and participate in the sketch. They are a lot of fun and they give you some fun new layouts to play with on your cards.

I'm off to work on a thank you card for my son's girlfriend!! She is such a sweet girl and don't tell my son but I really, REALLY want her for my daughter-in-law! I'm hoping within the next year (after he's done with his degree) that they at least get engaged!! It will happen!!! :o)

To see more of the Sketch Challenges I've done just click here.

This item was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thanks SO much for spending time with me today,
Wanda

Box in a Bag! Weekend Project

WOW, two posts in one day! Lucky you!!! LOL

I have been wanting to make these fun "Box in a Bag" bags for a while now and I finally found some time and some inspiration to do it. I decided I was going to make these for my 2008 - 2009 "Stamper's 10 Club" members. I'm going to be filling it with some fun and useful "stuff" for their stamping pleasure. I can't tell you what I will fill it with since some of the members read my blog faithfully! I want them to be surprised! But be assured that the stuff inside will be enjoyed by each and every one of them!!

These bags are pretty easy to make too. It's a good way to use up your decorative papers too. I have LOTS of them and this barely put a dent in the stack!!! But that's ok, I can always make more as I need them. I can find LOTS of uses for these in the future!!

If you want to make these you can find the instructions here at Diana Gibbs' blog "Stamping With Di." There you will find very easy Step by Step instructions to make this. SO get your decorative papers out and your Red Line tape and have some fun making these!!

This item was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

From Sympathy to Birthday.

I took the same layout/style of the sympathy card I made and changed it into a very pretty feminine Birthday Card. I think they have such a sweet look to them. Definitely a "girly" card!!

I am really liking the Pink Pirouette. Later this week I'm going to be playing with the other 5 new colors of card stock.

This card was a fun card to make and it didn't take long either. It probably took me longer to cut the card stock than it did to do the rest of the card. I always think using background paper makes it seem like the card doesn't take long to make. Decorative paper saves you a little time in stamping and with the right papers it can really make a card something to behold. One problem with decorative paper. Once you get it taped on it's not easy to reposition it. It will rip unless you are a VERY lucky person!!! I have not been that luck so I try to be very careful about placing my decorative paper down. And if it gets crooked it's not off by that much so I just leave it. After all it is a handmade card!!! LOL Take a closer look at those machine printed cards at the card sections of stores. Not the best quality there. Plus a handmade card says a whole lot to the person receiving it!!!

For the wording on this card I used one of my most favorite sets "Sincere Salutations." I have used that birthday stamp so much you'd think the rubber would be worn out!! LOL The image is just SO perfect. It's SO "greeting card." It must be the font, I don't know but I do know I head for that stamp a lot!!

Well, I'm off to find another technique to make a page for the book. The numbers are clicking away and my blog will be at 500,000 hits soon. Some lucky winner will be receiving one of each of the pages I've posted on here!! These pages are great for reference for you and for others that stamp with you. Some are simple and others are a bit more detailed but all of them are fun!

For more birthday cards click here. There are almost 100 birthday cards on my blog!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Why? Why? Why? Weekend Project!

Why can't I just walk by those dollar spots at Michael's, Joann's and Target???? I'm sure DH is asking the same question too!

I got this cute little notebook at Joann's last week. They have TONS of them so if you want to make them they may still have some. I only bought one so when I left the store there were lots left!!!

These little notebooks measure 3" x 5". And the white paper inside is lined!!! At the bottom is an elastic band to hold the cover down in your purse. At the top is a tag. I used the smaller Stampin' Up! tag punch. I punched out two pieces and layered them between the existing tag. After punching holes in the tag I cut a slit in the top so I could just slip it on top of the existing one. I really didn't want to untie their hemp. I wasn't sure if I'd get it back just right. An their tag was just a bit smaller so it was very easy to hide.

I used the Stampin' Up! "Close as a Memory" set. To color in the flowers and stems I used markers. The background was done using the "Boho Backgrounds" set. I stamped the image using Pretty in Pink ink on the new Pink Pirouette card stock. It's such pretty card stock. I love the softness of these two colors together.

The word "notes" was done using a custom stamp I had made. You can add any wording you want there or simply remove the tag and string. It looks good without them too!

These would be a fun Make N' Take, Hostess Gift, Customer Appreciation Gift, Stamp Camp item or even for a Craft Fair.

Click here for more Weekend Projects. There are over 40 of them on my blog!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

With Heartfelt Sympathy

The mother of a dear friend of mine passed away and I thought I would make her a sympathy card. She passed away yesterday, the 2nd. Exactly a month to the date of when my mother-in-law passed away.

I wanted to keep the colors soft and subtle so I used the new Pink Pirouette along with the Pretty in Pink. Using these two colors together reminded me of using Pretty in Pink with Regal Rose. But with these two colors it creates an even softer look. I LOVE those two colors together and I can see myself using them in a lot of my girly cards!!! I have not yet opened the other 5 packages of new colors but I will be soon. It will be fun to see what colors I can mix with them too!!!

The decorative background paper was some I had picked up at Michael's or JoAnn's during one of their sales. I thought it went well with the two pinks. I love these little flowers in this set and may make a some more cards (until the decorative paper is used up) but I will make them into either birthday or thank you cards or even both!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Faux Bleaching Technique

Here's a fun technique. Sounds a lot like the "Ghosting Technique" that I will be posting in a few days. You can compare them then.

Stamp your image on glossy card stock using the Versa Mark pad. Using the sponge and the colors of ink pads you like, smudge the colors in over the embossed area. Once you have the colors the way you want them place your card stock between a couple of pieces of copier paper and iron it. You will be "melting" off the embossed area. You now have a faux bleached surface.

I like the effect this technique gives. Plus you can add whatever colors you'd like. See, now I tend to lean more towards the "Ghosting Technique" because bleaching doesn't give you that opportunity of adding colors on top of the image. Hmmm. I'm going to have to check into that one a bit more. Or maybe I'll post the "Ghosting Technique" and let you all decide!!!

Either way it's still a fun and interesting technique.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Blog Problems

There was a problem with my blog today. Apparently the "Site Meter" had something to do with it. I thought I had broken the blog!!! I had even pondered the notion of not having a blog anymore because starting all over isn't an option for me. But upon actually reading blogger issue problems and finding some helpful comments left by some REALLY intelligent bloggers I was to remove my "Site Meter" and it should take care of it. SO I removed it and my blog is up and running just fine!! Plus there was another issue. Some blogs had been marked as Spam by Blogger and they were working to fix it. I thought maybe that was why my blog wasn't working. But for me it was the meter. It's now gone and all is well.

Thanks for your patience,
Wanda

Another Card From the Wednesday Sketch Challenge

I was glad I was able to find some time to try another card from this weeks Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers. I just wasn't happy with the first one. It was the background around the snow angel that I didn't like. Mostly because it was the same color as the stars and I didn't think they stood out enough.

SO this card contains NO stars to bug me!!! LOL I ran across some fun background paper. It looked like an old catalog page or old newspaper page. It sure didn't take much for this card. You could do 12 cards with a piece of 12" x 12" decorative paper. Good information to know if you're planning on making a bunch of cards.

I sponged the edges to give it an even more aged look. I had put it all together and realized the main card part, the vanilla was just too bright so I took off the layers and sponged the vanilla to "age" it a bit. It seemed to work. It all blended well and I now have a fun masculine birthday card.

For the words I used a stamp from the new Stampin' Up! set "Heard from the Heart." And the car is from the retired set "Classic Pickups." I REALLY like that set.

Isn't it cool that all the new rubber stamps will be die cut so you no longer have to cut them out? Don't give up those rubber stamp scissors though. Some things don't come die cut. Like the custom rubber stamps and the sets made before the die cut change. You will still need to cut those out!! SO hang on to those scissors for a bit longer!!!

This item was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Technique Page Bleaching

I know this is an old technique but to have a book of techniques it needs to be made to be included in it!!

You want a darker colored card stock to do this technique. Fold your paper towels to fit in the glass dish. Set the paper towels in the glass dish and carefully pour the bleach on it to soak them. You do not want them to be too dry but you don't want them to be sopping either. You will be using the paper towels as your "ink" pad. Put your stamp on the paper towel "pad" as you would an ink pad. Stamp the image on your dark colored card stock. As the bleach dries the image will show up in a different color. You may want to do this in a well ventilated area due to the smell of the bleach.

It's a pretty simple technique and you can have a lot of fun with it. It's very interesting to see what colors the bleach brings out in different colors of card stock. You may want to click on the photo to see the bleaching closer. It didn't photograph well.

I have trouble working with bleach because I have a cat that LOVES it for some odd reason. We think she may have been a bleach blond in another life!!! LOL I have Holly Tex brand carpet in my workroom and there is a list of steps of cleaners that you use to get up spots and the last item on the list is bleach water (half and half). This carpet was designed to accept the bleach mixture without ruining the carpet. Well, there had been a couple of times I had to use it and that cat would rub on the carpet with her face. I have to put a laundry basket on the area and put something on top of it so she doesn't get into that area. I just don't know what is up with that cat. And if I get it on my hands, even after washing them she still smells it. And then she's constantly rubbing her face in my hands. Silly, silly cat!!! Today I was able to do this technique without her being near me. Lucky me!!!

You can use this technique to create some fun backgrounds!!

This item was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

To see the other Technique Pages, click here. You can also watch them on the slide show on the right sidebar, just scroll down a bit. But if you want to see them faster just click on the link above to take you to all of them!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

It seems that each week the Sketch Challenges (SC) at SplitCoastStampers are more fun than the last week. Though I am not all that fond of the card I did I submitted it anyway in hopes that I would find some time to make another one.

I don't care for the background in the apricot color. I should have done it in a soft blue. I did get to play with my airbrush. I don't get to use it very often and when I do I really do enjoy it.

I used it on the coat, hat and background. The rest was done using markers and a blender pen.

I had run across some decorative paper I had bought last year and never used it. Imagine that!!! LOL And no, I didn't run across it cleaning! I wish! I was looking for something I had misplaced, if you can believe that!!! LOL When I saw the sketch challenge I thought of that paper. I was a bit reluctant to do a snowman in the summer but as cold as my workroom is I could only think of winter!!! My workroom gets unbelievable cold. But I'd rather have it that way than hot. I HATE the heat.

Anyway, I also was able to play with one of the new word sets that will be in the new catalog. It's called "Heard from the Heart." I thought it was a sweet set and I LOVE the looks of the larger words. And I thought it was versatile too. I can take a marker and use only the large words if I want or just ink up the whole thing and use it all.

The snow angel stamp is by Inky Antics. They have some really sweet snowmen. And you know me and snowmen!!!

If I find time to do another sketch I will post it here when I finish it. Hopefully it will be one I will like better than this one!

If you have time I highly recommend you stop by SplitCoastStampers and try the Sketch Challenge. They are a lot of fun and what is REALLY fun is to see all the different takes on that sketch. On the Sketch Challenge page is a link to the gallery submissions which contain only the ones from this sketch. You get to see how creative people are with the same layout!!! It's very impressive!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Cute Purse Casing!

I was over at Sara's blog, "Sara's Creative Adventures" and I saw this adorable purse card she made for a 30/30 Challenge. The challenge was to not buy any new stamping stuff for 30 days (I'd die!!! LOL) and to make something each day for 30 days. Now that is something I could do and not die!!! LOL

My card is a case of Sara's and hers was a case from someone else. You can visit her blog for more information on this card and on the 30/30 challenge. I didn't participate in it because I knew I couldn't do the not buying anything new for 30 days.

I just thought this card was SO cute. It's done with punches!! Well, except for the squares behind the purses. The instructions called for the Stampin' Up! square punches but they were too small for the label punch that made the purse so I just cut them on the paper cutter. The black squares measured 1-5/8" x 1-5/8" and the colored squares measure 1-7/8" x 1-7/8" each. I REALLY should read Sara's instructions better and I wouldn't have had to cut the CS, except for the outside layer. But for those of you who don't have the square punches you know that you can use the paper cutter instead!

This was a VERY fun card to make and it really didn't take much time at all. There was just a little bit of stamping. I used the Stampin' Up! "Boho Backgrounds" set on the purse part. The colors I used were Barely Banana, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue. I used the same colors of ink on each of the purses. I didn't have any decorative paper to match each purse so I just used stamped card stock and it turned out just fine.

I am going to send this to a friend of mine later in the week. She LOVED Red Lobster and last week I received a gift card in the mail for $10 off a $20 order there if you use your Discover card. I received it because Discover sent out brand new cards with new charge account numbers on it. I know it's for safety reasons but I HATE it because now I have to contact those places that we have bills paid directly to our charge card. It's such an inconvenience. They do this to us now and then and I think it's because of the time $600 was sent to Nigeria via Western Union in Missouri of all places. I was contacted by Discover to see if I had made that transaction. Nigeria??? I don't know anyone in Nigeria and personally I'd actually have to go online to even find a Western Union store/shop/bank whatever they are in my area. SO they took care of it and cancelled our charge cards and issued us new ones. And then began the process of finding those places that take their payment out monthly on our charge card and letting them know the new information. Such a pain.

Anyway back to the card. I think my friend will like it! What's not to like about it??? It's such a fun card!! I won't tell her how easy it was to make though!! LOL

Thanks Sara for posting this so I would be tempted to case it!!! You do great work and your blog is a LOT of fun!!!

Thank you all SO much for stopping by,
Wanda