Stamp Simply Quilts (ssnotime54)

This weeks stamp simply challenge is 2bKrafty with Janine. Visit Janine's blog to see her style of rich, vivid colors that pop on large focal images. My new Quilters Sampler set from PaperTrey Ink had just arrived in the mail this past week, so it needed ink!

A friend of ours is getting married this weekend, and this set has a really nice sentiment for that. {Note - there is a companion set of additional Quilters Sampler Sentiments also available at PaperTrey Ink. Yep, it's on my wish list!} The marriage sentiment is actually stamped on the inside of the card, below the layers of Martha Stewart Scallop Edged Punch.

This picture gives you a better viewpoint - to give you an idea of what on earth I am talking about! I placed the individual clear stamp quilt blocks on a glass block with grids to get an evenly placed image. Copics used were BG10, BG13, BG72, G21, Y21. We'll put a gift certificate inside and wa-la -- instant wedding gift!
I love the colors in this card! The DP is from K & Company and the copics used were RV11, RV14, R81, E31, Y28. Won't this be a colorful card to receive in the mail if you are under the weather? {Let me know if you get ickie sickie.}

These dark, rich colors really exemplify Janine's style best, but I found it challenging! By adding a chain scallop punch on one side (Paper Studio), and a strip of DP on the other side (Angel Co), I was finally satisfied. The saying is oh so adorable (much easier to read in real life): Birthday's are like quilts stitched together one year at a time. Copics used were V09, V15, E04, YG03.

Yawn ... Wanna know a secret? I took a 2 hour nap in between making these cards today! Under a quilt!

Apples for Alzheimers

Camie King recently released her newest stamp set through Gina K. Designs called Whimsical Autumn, which benefits the Alzheimer's Association (you probably already knew that unless you've been living under a rock :) I knew that I wanted to get involved because, as many of you know, we recently moved Kevin's sister to a nearby assisted living facility because of her Alzheimer's. I wish we had time for me to tell you story after heart-breaking story about caring for Jane, but many of you already know the pain. So all I would say is, if you are reading this and you are a stamper, please please please visit these links and support this worthy cause. And all the people said Amen!

Okey dokey then - it gets even better. Camie has coordinated a ginormous blog candy give-away for anyone who will make a card and send it to a caregiver (details on Cammie's Blog). Prepare for a jaw-drop when you see all the beautiful donations. My fav's are:

COMPANIES:
1. Papertrey Ink (your choice of 3 stamp sets)
2. Flourishes (Mixed Greeting stamp set)
3. Polka Dot Plaza (Nestabilities and $20 gift certificate)

INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS:
1. Susan Roberts (Rainy)
2. Denise Marzee (Peanutbee)
3. Beate Johns (Beate)

But there is so much more! Christmas is coming early this year, folks! Click here for a visit to Santa!

I am sending card #1 to Jane's nurses aids who help with her daily meds. I used CB swiss dots, and two scallop edge punches (Martha Stewart Scallop and Fiskars threading water). I'm "crazy for copics" and the apple basket in Whimsical Autumn is perfect for coloring! Love the double ribbon treatment too!

I am sending card #2 to the dear sweet adorable lovely lady who lives across the street from Jane -- my mother. She tirelessly calls Jane for breakfast, exercise class, runs errands to the grocery, gathers up the neighborhood girls to help look after Jane, and rescues her each time Jane loses her house key --- pretty darn good for an 85 year old! God bless her. Love her guts!

I am giving card #3 to ....... JANE! Yes, she has Alzheimer's. Yes, she cannot remember details. Yes, she loses everything. But one thing she does - and does very well - is write notes to people. She believes letter-writing is a lost art, and she does her part to fix that by sending many cards and letters to family & friends. What better way for me to "share the love" in this Alzheimer's Outreach than to include JANE herself?!

Peoples of the craft world -- go hug an Alzheimer's patient today. Or hug a friend or family member of an Alzheimer's patient. Or hug your boss and tell him/her about this effort. But no matter what -- just smile when you do it! :)

Quote For Today: You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

Cute-n-Classy (ssnotime53)

I could not wait to get home from work on Friday and hit my stamp studio (okay-okay, it's really my dining room)! This week's stamp simply challenge issued by Sharon at No Time To Stamp was to follow a class act ... Jennifer Buck, one of the Stamp Simply team members. This was a jolly good time for me, because I normally like to doo-dad my cards just to the point that they can still fit in the envelope! LOL Well, Jenni, I gotta tell ya, you made a believer outa me .... cute-n-classy really rocks! My first card was a CASE of THIS card made by Jennifer, after reviewing her blog and her SCS Gallery. After I stamped and colored the corner flower/flourish from Hero Arts Clear Birds and Branches, I added diagonal scores at 1/2 inch intervals using my scor-pal. This allowed me to stamp the flower border using a "grid" so they were evenly placed. It really was EPLS (easy peasey lemon squeezy - as Jennifer says)! The card I CASED had a layer of vellum over the top, but I cut a clear acetate cover which almost makes it looked framed under glass! I then added a bow and put the crystals right on top of the clear acetate, along with the sentiment.
Well, call me BUCK-AROO because I went on to make a second card! Hey - this EPLS stuff is addictive - I recommend it! Notice the diagonal scores again? Well, okay dokey schmokey, I'll admit that the scor-pal IS one of my fav tools! Thanks for visiting. Whatcha waitin' for? Go create something Cute-n-Classey with the No Time To Stamp gang!

Copics: RV14, R22, R39, YG03, W1

Bird Call

Although I like birds, I prefer "cute" to "real" but my sister-in-law, who struggles with Alzheimers, loves "real" birds so this set is for her! Jane believes that letter writing is a lost art, and she does her part by spending many hours writing notes to friends and family. That's VERY cool!
The birds are a clear stamp set by Martha Stewart. After coloring with Copic Markers, I dolled up the simple CB dotted swiss background with a few rows of Martha Stewart Scallop punches. Sheer ribbon and some crystals top it off. Knowing how to color birds "real" was a challenge for this chick!
I want to mention that Gina K. is currently offering a Whimsical Autumn stamp set that benefits the Alzheimers Association as part of her Stamps For A Cause Collection. I just ordered it, and you can bet I will be busy making cards for Jane as soon as it arrives. Go take a looksy, you'll be glad you did!
{Note -- I did manage to get a slight bit of "cute" in. Did you notice the bird house on the envelopes? Oh so tweet!}

Friend

How about a card inspired by page 85 of the new Stampin' Up catalog? No, it's not totally made with SU supplies, but the minute I saw the SU background stamp "stitches" I ordered it! Oh my, just think of the thinks I can think up with this background stamp?! If you own it, color you happy! Start the thinking!

Supplies:
Cardstock: SU Confetti Cream, Choc. Chip, Pink Pirouette
Inks: SU Choc Chip
Copics: R81, RV14, G28, YG03, W1
Punches: Martha Stewart Scallop, Fiskers Scallop
Stamps: Hero Arts Clear (Flower Blossoms), Sentiment is from CHF Silhouette Blooms I
Embellishments: Pearl Dots, Silver Thread

Blog Hop

How about joining me for a blog-roll every now and then! When I discover new blogs in cyberspace that are worth discovering, I will share them with you. I hope you enjoy the blog-hop! I want to give credit to the first blogger listed below, Allison, who deserves kudo's for thinkin' up the idea in the first place. Way to go Allison!

• Stampin' When I Can
• Taylor-Made by JenMarie
• A Touch of Grace
• West Stamp Happy
• Mark It With B
• Dar's Crafty Creations

Oh Baby! (ssnotime52)

Sharon Johnson of No Time To Stamp has been throwing THE biggest party! She has been issuing stamp simply challenges for 1 year now, and as part of her continuing anniversary celebration she issued a challenge to all the creative peoples of the Internet to Cuddle Up With Tammy ... Tammy Hershberger at Stamp Happy. {Tell me, is there any other way to stamp but happy! Giggle Giggle} Tammy's cards make you feel warm and cozy, like a quilt. So I designed two baby cards to cuddle up with!

After cruisin' Tammy's Blog {and I suggest that you do, there is SO much to admire!}, I noticed that she often uses beautiful papers cut on a diagonal and she also makes good use of her sewing machine. Since I struggle to sew on a button, you will notice a faux sew-line that is hand-drawn around my perimeter card edges. Wa-la - now I can sew! And I even added Foofala buttons without using a needle and thread! The base cardstock is SU Confetti Cream and I used designer papers from K & Company's K-ology Collection, Hannah's Scrap Pad To Go.

The detail in Ellen Hutson's Lockhart Stamps always give me a warm, cozy feeling. Sweet Pea is the baby girl and Snips and Snails is the baby boy. As many of you know, I love to color with Copic Markers, and I have provided a color list at the bottom of this post. {Debbie Olson of Thinking Inking shares the most beautiful Copic colored work on her blog, if you ever need a little inspiration and tutorial - she's fabulous!}

I am a big fan of Tim Holz Antique Linen Distress Ink. Talk about warm & cozy! It's my go-to technique to add a hint of warmth ... just use a good stipple brush and dab dab dab around any stamped image. The Cuddle Up With Tammy challenge was especially fun for me because I rarely do 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 cards. So much room to work with! So I couldn't resist adding the embellishment of SU Photo Corners punch to balance things out.
Baby Girl Copics: R81, RV11, RV14, YG03, Y28, E37, W1, 0 Colorless Blender
Baby Boy Copics: BG10, B21, B34, Y28, E37, W1, 0 Colorless Blender

Get thee to No Time To Stamp and party down!

Dancin' With Dee (ssnotime51)

Sharon Johnson of No Time To Stamp has issued a Stamp Simply Challenge as part of her 1-year blog-anniversary. The Dancin' With Dee challenge means we are doing the 2-step (or 3-step or more) with stamps! Now, I have never met this lovely woman but I liked her instantly through her fabulous blog ... and you will too! She recently took the time to leave me a comment on my blog {how cool is that?} and her enthusiasm is contagious. So -- here's to you Sharon, and your 1-year fabulous blog-aversary!
I needed a gift card set, so I figured - hey, why not stamp simply? So I went Dancin' With Dee and in a matter of no time at all, I had this 4-card gift set. The background is embossed with Cuttlebug Textile on SU Very Vanilla Cardstock - instant pretty! I used Martha Stewart's scallop punch to edge a second piece of SU Very Vanilla, and then I scored it diagonally at 1/2 inch intervals on my Scor-Pal before matting it on SU Groovy Guava.

I went looking in my stash for 2-step stamps and since pickins was slim, I chose to use this blast from the past set from The Angel Company, Love and Joy. {I really need to go shopping at Kitchen Sink Stamps for some kick toosh 2 and3 and 4 step stamps!} I digress ... so I stamped the flowers in Burnt Sienna and Yellow Ochre ColorBox Chalk ink, and the stems in SU Old Olive and Certainly Celery ink. The flower centers are dotted with SU real red, in an effort to add yet another step to my dance! When the image was circle punched and matted on the Marvey Large Circle Scallop - it popped like a field full of flowers on a windy day! A butterfly fluttered in, compliments of Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly punch {love that thing}. Sentiment is from CHF Kim Hughes Silhouette Blooms II.

Finally, I bagged and bowed it and what do you get? A Stamp Simply Challenge AND a 4-card birthday gift set. Don't you just love multi-tasking? So head on over to No Time To Stamp and figure out whether you - too - have No Time To Stamp! Congrats Sharon!

A Prayer for Sandy

Kelley Holland (Our Daily Bread Designs owner) knows how to be a good friend as evidenced by this post. Much like what I recently experienced with my dear friend Debbie, and her sister's cancer, Kelley will now experience with her friend, Sandy. I knew I wanted to extend a hand of friendship to these gals, so this card is being mailed to Sandy tomorrow. If you can spare a prayer or a card of encouragement, I know you will be blessed.

Another flower card ... what can I say?! This one uses a beautiful clear set by Inkadinkado called Garden Flowers. {I'm sorry I cannot link anywhere online to this set! The closest I found is a re-designed set at http://www.inkadinkado.com/ but I purchased mine at Archivers.} The card base is SU Blue Bayou cardstock. First, I stamped CHF Backgrounder Pretty Pattern on SU Very Vanilla cardstock, then overstamped the flower randomly and as a centerpiece. I liked the silhouette look of the flower, so did not add any more color other than to outline the image with Copic marker Warm Gray (W1). It adds a nice depth to it! I'm still loving the double scallop edges too!
The inside sentiment is from CHF Friend Centers. I want Sandy to know that she has a new friend who is thinking about her and praying for her. As always, I like to match the inside sentiment with a stamped image from the card front, as well as on the envelope, to give a "matched set" look. Go the extra mile!

Finally, I tipped the flower with a Sakura Gelly Roll sparkle pen, added blue crystals, and a cream rayon ribbon (Michaels).

Now, just for giggles {insert hee hee}, this was how I started out but did not end up! Although I do love the flower with added color and I am obsessed with Martha Stewart's classic butterfly punch, it just wasn't the direction I was headed. BUT -- I mention it because it shows the versatility of the Inkadinkado Garden Set. Besides ... I like having a "quick grab" in my DONE BOX for when time is not on my side when I need a card! I hope you enjoy today's card.

I needed a birthday card for my favorite niece, Brooke {hold it right there ... whichever niece I am referring to at the time is my favorite niece ... it's just funner that way)! I thought Brooke would like this adorable owl from Kim Hughes' collection U R A Hoot. Mr. Owl Hootie is colored with copics, then cut out and "popped" onto his tree perch. Isn't that branch stamp the coolest thing? Oh my stars ... how many birds and owls and butterflies do you think can go "out on a limb" with this great stamp set? The sentiment is stamped inside a cuttlebug embossed circle, sanded to show the white core paper. After double matting, I used a SU ticket punch on the corners and mounted the image on a SU So Saffron card. Blue rhinestones add a finishing touch!

Okay, so my good conscious got the best of me and I have to tell you why there is a separate "Happy Birthday" sentiment with rhinestones. There I was -- in my happy place as I made this card. My happy jammies, no make-up, and Ipod in ears. When all of a sudden, Saints Preserve Me, I reached across the table to clean Mr. Hootie stamp and darn if my masterpiece card didn't drag right along with me, landing smack dab into the open black stamp pad.

Onto to Plan B. Hmmmmmmm. Hold the phone! I can cover that boo boo and no one will know! {You've been there -- go ahead -- admit it baby!}

Happy Birthday to my favorite niece, Brooke!

A Chance To Do Good

Everyone knows of Ali Edwards incredible blog. Here is an excerpt that I want to pass along.
A Family In Need & A Chance To Do Good : One of the things that is amazing about the internet is the power to do good, to help others in their time of need. Please take a moment to read about a family from Arizona who is facing an uphill battle as both parents recover from injuries suffered in a small plane crash - the mother (Stephanie Nielson) and the father both suffered severe burns. They have four little children. You can read more about the family, the mom who is a creative blogger, and the efforts being put forth throughout the internet community to help these people in their time of need. Consider reaching out and doing something good today.

Bloomin' Beautiful

I was so pleased to see that SU Bloomin' Beautiful set made it into the new catalog - it's a classic! With this card, I had a little fun with the white background piece. First, I emblossed it with the Cuttlebug Diva background, then I scored a grid on top of the diva design at 1/2 inch intervals using my scor-pal, and finally punched both edges with Martha Stewart's Lace Doily scallop edge punch.
This picture shows the beaded stick pin in detail -- I'm having all kinds of fun in the jewelry making isle at Michaels! You can also see that I stamped the flower twice, cutting one out and using pop dots to add some dimension. Do ya think I'm done with flower designs yet?! Time will tell !!