Laughing Stock Papercrafts

And the giveaway is......postponed!

2011-10-14T23:06:00.000+02:00

So I messed with loading my My Memories samples yesterday and again this morning...they simply are not loading on my blog! Grrrrrr!! In the meantime I am off to a birthday weekend with some friends and will re-announce when the giveaway is going to be once I've figured out what I'm doing wrong when loading the pictures. Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully I should be back with giveaway news by Sunday.

My Memories Suite Giveaway Coming Soon!

2011-10-12T14:05:00.000+02:00

Raise your hand if you love freebies! Recently I was contacted about reviewing a digital scrapbooking product called My Memories Suite and having worked a little with other digital scrapbooking software, I thought I'd give this a try. What a fantastic product and so simple to use! I will have some samples up within the next day or two, as well as information on how to win a copy of this great product. Tomorrow (October 13) is my birthday so the giveaway information will be posted then as my birthday gift to you, as well as a discount for $10.00 off the purchase price and a $10.00 coupon to be used in the My Memories Suite store for additional layouts and fonts . In the meantime, here's a link to a video on You Tube that showcases this product. You can also check out My Memories on Facebook to see additional freebies and contests available. Hope to see you back tomorrow to enter the the My Memories Suite Giveaway!

Moving Forward

2011-09-23T15:26:00.001+02:00

I recently found this picture, which spoke to me about the many changes that have gone on in my life over the past few months. It made me realize that whether I wanted to or not, I needed to keep moving forward. Move forward with sorting the house for relocation, moving to a new state, a new church, a new way of life...20 years of Army life has certainly kept us moving forward! We've spent the past seven years in Europe so returning to the "norm" of living in the U.S. has been a HUGE change for us, especially the kids, who have essentially been raised overseas. And now that we're here, there's still more movement, more change. Joe is getting ready to deploy again, Alex is looking at attending college away from home, and Jordan is now in junior high school...it's those moments that make me want to stop time or slow it down rather than move on because I don't want to miss something important. I'm excited for all the changes and the new adventures life holds for me, for my family. So here's a few upcoming changes for the Nigg Family:

*Joe's deployment is imminent...obviously I cannot give particulars but I ask for prayer as we transition to being Joe-less once again. The kids have been wonderful throughout our move here but we have still not found a church home or that special group of kindred spirits which we seem to find at each duty station. (Well, there's Mike and Kati but they're kindred spirits from Hawaii so they don't count as making new friends. They're family now so that's different!) I really need to get Jordan involved with art classes or music lessons or sports and Alex is still searching for a job. The move has taken its toll on our time and finances so I'm hoping that things will settle enough that we'll be able to get involved with more activities.

*In two weeks, I'll be resigning from Stampin' Up! and starting a new job. SU! has been a huge part of my life over the past seven years, with so many wonderful experiences and wonderful people met along the way. For quite some time, I have wanted to take my papercrafting business in a different direction. The time and attention I've had to dedicate to our move to Georgia meant temporarily putting those plans on hold. Phase One: I've been hired by Michael's Arts & Crafts as a scrapbooking and papercrafting instructor, as well as working in the store part-time. With Jordan still in school, I didn't want to re-enter the corporate world and work full-time, plus I wanted to work somewhere doing something I love. Working for Michael's means I can implement Phase Two sometime after the 1st of the year: open my own Etsy shop! At different times I've had requests to sell my cards and crafts, as well as kits to make some of my projects. Having a Michael's employee discount certainly won't hurt that goal :)

*In just a few short weeks, I'll be taking Alex to tour a college that she's super excited about attending next year. It's only four hours away from us, which means visiting back and forth will be easy, and the music program is phenomenal! She seems to finally have her feet on the path she wants to take in life, which is exciting, but nerve-wracking for me as a mom. Parents joke about pushing their kids from the nest but the reality of seeing our babies spread their wings and fly is no laughing matter. So much has to happen between now and when she leaves for school, much of which I will be handling without Joe to support me. Alex and Jordan are very close so it will be a difficult transition for him as well. I pray for wisdom and strength as we look ahead to the next chapter in Alex's life.

There's more I can say about other changes going on in our family right now but I've attempted to restrain myself with the highlights. Verbosity is certainly one of my many weaknesses but I can never be accused of not communicating, that's for sure! I'm excited to revive my blog and use it as a means of keeping my sanity over the next year. Hopefully, you'll hang on for the ride! Thanks for dropping by and sharing in my latest musings.

Photo Card

2011-05-18T11:22:00.001+02:00

Classic Chocolate Band Graduation

Click here to browse our most popular graduation announcements.

View the entire collection of cards.

New and Improved!

2011-04-21T16:53:00.000+02:00

Welcome to my new and improved blog! In the coming months I am looking to re-launch my business and take it in a new direction, starting with establishing my own "brand". I don't know about you but I LOVE the new look. Isn't the cow hilarious? Gives me a giggle every time I look at that cheesy grin. A big thanks to Tajuana at BannerBlvd for the new design.

I'm excited about upcoming projects and changes in life (like moving to Georgia! Eek!)so stick around for the fun. Let me know what you think of the new look. Until next time!

Luisenpark Field Trip

2010-05-27T09:10:00.013+02:00

Recently I traveled with Jordan's class to Luisenpark, a beautiful city park located in

downtown Mannheim. The field trip was a bit of a nightmare as we waited outside in drizzly weather over two hours for our bus to show up and rode over an hour on the bus only to be

told by the two teachers in charge of the field trip that we would barely have an hour to explore the park before having to drive back to Ramstein. Not the best planned field trip I've ever been on but we had a good time for the short amount of time we were in the park. The majority of our time there was spent on the gondoletta, an inexpensive boat ride across the lake inside the park. As you ride you can see peacocks and storks roaming the park, the stork's nest, flamingos, pelicans, and we had enormous carp and a mama duck swim right up to us with her babies in tow.

Even with the park overcast and dreary, we still enjoyed the beauty of the park.

Once we got off the boat and began to make our way back, one of the park caretakers stopped my group and asked that we be careful going down the path as two geese were coming down the path with their babies. Sure enough, we got to watch the little family taking their babies for a stroll...or

a waddle, as the case may be! I made sure the boys stayed

back since the mama and daddy geese would attack if they felt their

babies were being threatened.

They didn't seem to mind us too much as they led their babies to

the water.

Aren't they adorable?!

Group photo near the penguin exhibit. Jordan on the way back, looking a little tired :)

Ryan decided to help him cheer up a bit! Jordan and I agreed that it

would be worth going back to the park when the weather improves,

especially since we missed seeing so much of the park. It would be the perfect place to spend an afternoon since there are so many places to picnic and play. I hope you enjoyed the photos of our latest adventure!

Back in the Crafting Saddle Again

2010-05-26T20:22:00.006+02:00

I can hardly believe that it has been over two months since my last posting. So much has happened in the past two and a half months, including the fact that today is the first time I've done any crafting since my last post. At the end of March I flew to California to help my family as my uncle required care during his recovery from open heart surgery. My uncle is the primary caregiver for my grandmother, who is in the latter stages of Alzheimer's Disease, and there was no way he could take care of himself and my grandmother at the same time so off to Fresno I went. My time there had its share of ups and downs but I will always be grateful for the time I was able to spend with family: my uncle, my grandma, my dad and step-mom, my in-laws, and my mom. It was the first time since the beginning of my marriage that I really got to spend a little time with my in-laws and that meant so much to me. And I will especially cherish the time I spent with my mom and the opportunity we had to draw closer through the circumstances that brought me to California. After three weeks, I flew back to Germany and it has been the usual whirlwind of activity since then but somehow I couldn't get myself back into the spirit of crafting. In a way, I think I've been a little depressed (skip ahead if you want to pass on my little pity party). My kids are growing up, with Jordan having just turned 10 and Alex about to finish up her junior year of high school which means discussing college and goals for her senior year. Joe has been coming and going quite a bit. My business has grown pretty quiet and for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to sit down and make anything or get things going again. But a ray of light came through the clouds last night as I spent some time talking with Joe. As a result, I gave myself a good talking to and this morning I finally sat down in my decrepit office chair and crafted. Ahhh, to have ink on my fingers, glitter on my pants, and a few projects finished...a little heaven on earth! I wish I could say I came up with some stunning project but I needed to make some thank you gifts for customers and friends so I opted to start small and get out project leftovers that needed to be finished, which is how I ended up with the project featured in the photos.

This charming little organizer box is a printable template called Filed with Flair, a template featured through Papertrey Ink. The template also comes with a base that fits three boxes side by side, which I will definitely have to make in the future. I had two or three printed templates leftover from a class I taught awhile back and thought this would be a good way for me to get back in the crafting groove.

I created six cards from previous card designs for inside the box, mostly with German sentiments since this is going to a German friend of mine. The color scheme is an unusual mix of Stampin' Up! neutrals: Kraft, Basic Gray, Going Gray, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, and Very Vanilla. The box is large enough to easily fit eight to ten cards with envelopes. I'd also like to design an acetate top to fit onto the top of the box since I think it would make it look more finished for gift giving.

This is just a single note card front which allows you to make four from one sheet of cardstock. Perfect for jotting down a quick note. The flower strip is made from a left over scrap of cardstock from another project. I love making the most of my scraps!

Here's the box packaged and ready to go, except I forgot to make a tag for it before I took the photo! As I said, it's not an earth-shatteringly stunning project but I enjoyed putting it together and it will still be a lovely gift. Thanks for stopping by!

Cute and Quick Basket

2010-03-05T13:17:00.005+01:00

I was cruising through Stampin' Connection yesterday, an awesome new resource for Stampin' Up! demonstrators and I found this adorable project posted by Patricia Giesbrecht. Patricia made the comment that it's made with only six strips of designer paper and included a link to a tutorial on YouTube (you ROCK, Patricia!). Surely it couldn't be THAT easy?! I ambled on over to check out the tutorial and made a sample in about five minutes! I love, love, love quick and cute projects, especially when it's something easy to demonstrate in a class or workshop.

How can you not love this cutie? Perfect for Easter and very sturdy once you add brads onto the handles. Check out GiddyGreetings.com to see a video tutorial for the basket. Have fun!

Scraptastic Class Samples

2010-03-04T13:31:00.007+01:00

Over the past few weeks I've read a number of articles on how to re-purpose leftover crafting supplies and voila!...the birth of a new class: Scraptastic Card Class. With the number of classes and workshops I've offered over the past two years, my supply of scraps has built up to quite a formidable stash, one which I'm more than willing to whittle down to a manageable pile and I'm sure you'd like to do the same with your hoard of scraps (if you're a crafter, you know you have one!). Here's a few tips that should help to inspire a few projects and get rid of your scraps all at the same time...it's a twofer!

Tip 1: Make Card Candy/Scrap Candy/Embellishments

Those bits of paper make great little embellishments, especially if you've got nifty designer paper leftover. Whip out your punches and dies to make assorted shapes, using them to make adorable little embellishments to keep on hand or give away. Add texture to the shapes by embossing, tipping with glitter, or stamping with a background stamp. In the above picture, I've mounted a few layered embellishments on a 6" x 6" piece of acetate and will give them in a gift with some simple 4" x 4" cards and envelopes. Perfect to tuck into an altered CD tin or acetate gift box. See the pleated accent at the top? It's just a strip of leftover cardstock scored and folded! Take it up a notch and stitch over it with your sewing machine. It's amazing what can be done with a smidgeon of imagination and scraps :)

Tip 2: Make collages or pattern strips from designer paper

Use your punches (squares, circles, etc.) to create pattern collages, as I did here with the four squares featured in the center of the card. This makes it easy to use scraps in the same color family, as well as coordinate other scrap pieces to use for layering. I had a large piece of leftover Kiwi Kiss cardstock that matched the designer paper. A scrap of white cardstock was embossed in a damask pattern to complement the designer paper, as well as a tiny piece of white used to make the coordinating tag.

Tip 3: Use scraps and punches to create unique borders
Inspired by a scrapbooking blog I follow, I punched 1 3/8" circles, scored the circles on each side, folded the scores down and then cut the circles in half to make this fabulous little border. Once the circles are cut, use Sticky Strip or Scor-Tape to adhere the half circles. I love the extra touch this border adds to my project.

Tip 4: Use small pieces to make tiny gift tags, buttons, and flowers
Don't limit your thinking to just paper...think buttons, ribbon, leftover pearls, and paper flowers. Using the Stampin' Up! Tiny Tags set and coordinating punch, I made ten coordinating gift tags to use with card fronts or on small gifts, like the card on the right. I tucked the tags into the little matchbox and used coordinating scraps to decorate the box. The butterfly accent on the box is a leftover piece of cardstock and a random button tied with leftover twine. Quick and cute!

The green flower accent is a 1 3/8" circle snipped all the way around. The button is a technique I learned at the European Stampin' Up! convention last November: punch 6 to 8 circles of designer paper or cardstock and layer together using Crystal Effects. Allow to dry, then punch holes using the Crop-A-Dile. Add thread, twine, or ribbon, and you've got a homemade paper button! Easy peasy! The "leaf" is a leftover piece of Certainly Celery twill tape folded over.

This card actually goes along with Tip 2, which is creating a patterned strip using designer paper.

Again, I used leftover cardstock to creat my own embellished flower. Once I cut out the flower, I colored the center of the flower with a coordinating ink, added Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and a few beads.

These projects are all very girlie, with lots of flowers and butterflies but you get the idea of ways you can use your scraps. I think I'll have to come back and do another one making masculine embellishments :) Here's some further helpful hints for using up your scraps:

*Remember: Thou shalt not make more scraps! If you're doing "Scraps Only" projects, try to only create card bases or boxes that will use the exact measurements of a regular sized piece of cardstock without making more scraps to do it. For example, you can cut 12" x 12" cardstock into 3" x 3", 4" x 4", 6" x 6", or 3" x 6" card bases so that you don't generate more scraps and you use the entire piece. Once you've created your card bases, then you can dig into your scraps to make embellishments.

*When creating projects, always look in your scraps first before cutting into another piece of paper.

*Organize your scraps: ribbons, diecuts, paper by color or color family, buttons, etc. Whatever method of organization works so that you can find what you need without having to dig for an hour looking for that button or ribbon scrap you know is in there somewhere.

*Keep your scraps out in the open or easily accessible: out of sight is out of mind so keep them where you can see them and be reminded of using them first. I have three glass jars on my craft desk with ribbon scraps, tags, and diecuts that I can see at a glance if there's anything I can use. It's amazing how often you'll find something you can use when you keep it in sight.

Thanks for hanging in to the very end! Now go reward yourself with some chocolate (or whatever you like) because you deserve it for reading all the way to the very bottom. I truly hope this has inspired you to look at your scraps in a whole new way. Happy crafting!

Designing on a Dime: Toilet Paper Tubes

2010-02-16T13:52:00.008+01:00

Given the current global economic climate, I think most of us are on the lookout for quality but inexpensive gift giving ideas. Gift cards are an ideal gift but I want a unique gift card holder that shows that I took just a little bit of extra effort in presenting the gift card. Inspired by Julie Griffith's Toilet Paper Tube Album on Paper Jewels, I designed a Toilet Paper Tube Gift Card Holder.

With the amount of money we spend on toilet paper, why not get your full value for your money and use the leftover tube to make a special gift? This holder is quick, easy to mass produce, and economical. Simply flatten your toilet paper tube, then cut the long end down to 4" in length. This enables you to make 6 holder covers from one sheet of 12" x 12" paper and keeps the tube long enough to hold a gift card and mini card. (Each cover measures 4" x 6" and the designer paper strip is 3" x 6") You can create mini embellishments for the outside of the tube with sentiments for any occasion utilizing whatever paper scraps you may have on hand and the ribbon to tie the holder closed is actually inexpensive seam binding.

Here's a view of the holder with the mini card inserted

A view of the toilet paper tube on the interior. I found that Scor-Tape or SU! Sticky Strip are the best for adhering the paper to the toilet paper tube so that it remains securely fastened to the tube.

Another design, using a similar color scheme. The ribbon is vintage black seam binding, purchased from Mary Not Martha on Etsy. (Thanks to Suzi for the custom listing!)

I have been hard pressed to find masculine projects that I like so I came up with this gift card holder that could be used for Father's Day or a birthday. I love the fact that I could create both feminine and masculine gifts from the same pack of designer paper! I'm also working on some kid friendly holders using some of Jordan's robot paper and some fun teen-themed grunge paper from Basic Grey, which I'll post when those are finished. I hope this project inspires you to take a fresh look at your toilet paper tubes and create a unique and inexpensive gift.

Supplies: Toilet Paper Tubes (any brand...LOL), Close to my Heart retired Silhouette Designer Paper, Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Kraft cardstock, Black Staz-On, Stampin' Up! Soft Suede and Basic Gray Classic Ink, Stampin' Up! Sanded, Well Scripted, and Oval All stamp sets, Scor-Tape, Stampin' Up! dimensionals, Close to my Heart paper flowers, Papertrey Ink twine and Vintage black buttons, Crop-A-Dile, MaryNotMartha vintage black seam binding, Martha Stewart champagne seam binding, Impress Rubber Stamps bolt brads, Stampin' Up! blender pen

Beautiful Card

2010-02-13T19:58:00.004+01:00

As I mentioned in my last posting, we've had an unusual amount of extreme cold weather and snow this winter. We LOVE the snow and other than the shoveling getting tiresome after a bit, we enjoy the beauty of watching the snow fall and playing in it when the storm subsides. Last night we went for a walk and Jordan took great delight in throwing himself into the piles of snow built up beside each house from the neighbors shoveling. What does that have to do with this card, you ask? This past week I had a lovely group of ladies registered for my first Cards Only Club and it turned out to be a snow day so the classes were cancelled...boohoo! Since the ladies couldn't come to me, I thought I'd post one of the projects from the class so they could cry over what they missed (just kidding). CASE'd from a card on the Stampin' Up! demonstrators website, I tweaked this design in order to use product that I purchased in bulk some months ago and needed to use up before they collected any more dust. Have I mentioned that I have a tendency to hoard supplies? Definitely need to break that habit so my pocketbook will stop crying! I had some retired Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze cardstock that I finally decided to part with rather reluctantly but this group of ladies would have appreciated my sacrifice since it has been one of my favorite In Color releases to date. This design is very simple and perfect for a quick but pretty card that can easily be mass produced with different sentiments.

As Emeril Lagasse would say, I decided to "kick it up a notch" by adding a row of glitter at the base of some cards using a line of Scor-tape, as well as running the butterfly through my Xyron sticker maker to add a layer of adhesive and sprinkle lovely glitter over the surface. You can never have too much bling!

Here's a closer look at the glittered butterfly. Isn't it pretty?! The sticker maker adds a nice even layer of adhesive and once you add the glitter, it holds it without tons of glitter falling off nor do you have to wait for it to dry which is an added bonus. Not a bad project for a snow day!

Supplies: SU! Great Friend stamp set, Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards Limited Edition Beautiful stamp set, SU! Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, and Whisper White Cardstock, SU! Cameo Coral and Basic Gray classic ink, SU! Walk in the Park Designer paper, Versamark, Dimensionals, We R Memory Keepers Chomper, Xyron sticker maker, Martha Steward Fine Glitter, SU! white hardware grommet, Scor-tape, Scor-pal

Valentine's Day Crafts and Snow

2010-02-12T11:48:00.010+01:00

Happy almost Valentine's Day! Today's post is a long one, which means you might want to prepare yourself with your favorite beverage before plowing ahead. I've been a busy bee lately, crafting up a storm for Valentine's Day, classes, and volunteer gifts as well as offering a free class to 28 ladies at our annual Europe-Wide Ladies Retreat held last week. Thank goodness for friends who willingly stay up until 2 a.m. to cut cardstock and put course materials together or I would never have made it through (overflowing gratitude to Marilyn and Tasha) The unfortunate reality: I didn't take a single picture of the class or the projects I demonstrated! Sigh....these things happen but I could have kicked myself for not bringing my camera along. Back to the post at hand: the project shown above is from a box template available free on Lauren Meader's new business website and one which I made as a gift for my technique club attendees in January. I revamped the design for Valentine's Day and made 14 of these beauties for the wonderful ladies who volunteer with me at the high school student store.

The box template is the size and shape of a crayon box, perfect for dropping in Russell Stover's chocolate marshmallow hearts, or other yummy treats. The designer paper with the paper flower attached is actually a belly band that slides right off. I'm loving the new Stampin' Up! designer papers and embellishments in our current mini catalog!

Same paper set, now made into a card. I case'd this design from someone on Splitcoaststampers and I'm sorry to admit that I couldn't find the designer to give them credit. Whoever you are, thank you for a simple yet classy card design! I've really got to work on the lighting when I take my photos but sometimes it's better to take a bad picture and have something to post than no picture at all.

Jordan wanted to do goodie bags for his class for Valentine's Day but he wanted to do something unique. None of the suggestions I made seemed to appeal to him until we happened upon a project by Debbie Olson on Nichole Heady's blog that featured an airplane treat made out of a pack of gum and a matching tag. Several years ago we learned how to make candy airplanes at a Family Readiness Group meeting with Joe's unit and Jordan thought that would be the perfect "unique" treat for his class. I printed the font for the tag on Print Shop using a free Creating Keepsakes font called CK Alis Handwriting, then stamped and colored the airplane with Jordan's help. The airplane is from the retired Stampin' Up! set called Toy Box. The heart is punched from the Stampin' Up! Heart to Heart punch and leftover red cardstock scraps. I'm determined to work my way through my scraps!

Here's a close-up: Joe and Jordan ended up coloring in the airplanes for me so I could finish tying all the bags off with curling ribbon. I forgot to make room on the tag for a hole to put the ribbon through so I just attached the tag to the bag with mini Glue Dots.

A close-up of the airplane, made of one roll of Mentos, two unwrapped Lifesavers for wheels, a pack of Bubble Yum, and a rubber band to hold it all in place. We had a serious discussion on whether or not to cover the gum and mints with Valentine's Day paper but Jordan felt it would be too "girlie" and that some of the kids in his class might be "grossed out" by all the hearts and love if we got carried away. I guess girls still have cooties in the fourth grade :) The propeller was attached by pushing a paper piercer into the front of the mints to create a small hole and inserting a silver brad in to hold it. The propeller is also made from leftover red cardstock scraps and the Stampin' Up! Word Window punch. You can design a smaller version of the plane with small Doublemint or Juicy Fruit gum packs and long Tootsie Rolls for the body. Jordan will have to give these to his classmates next week since today ended up being a Snow Day and there's no school! I'm sure his classmates will enjoy them, even if they're received late.

Speaking of snow, we've had an unseasonable amount of snow this year, extremely unusual for the area of Germany we live in. You can see here that Jordan is enjoying the snow quite a bit!

"The Boys" decided to go outside and build snowmice instead of snowmen: they both play MouseHunt on Facebook and thought it would be cool to make a snowmouse representative of the mice on the game. Joe is the supposed grown-up on the right...hee, hee!

Thanks for hanging in there to the very end! I've got more projects and miscellaneous stuff to post but will spare you for the time being. Until next time....

Paper Flowers and a Happy New Year

2010-01-04T21:35:00.004+01:00

Happy New Year! We've whizzed through Thanksgiving, Christmas, our 19th wedding anniversary, and the New Year in our house but things are finally settling back into some semblance of routine. The kids went back to school today, Joe was at work for the first full day in a few weeks, and I got to enjoy having the house all to myself. Don't get me wrong...I love having everyone home but I definitely enjoyed my "Mom" time today!

I hosted my monthly Technique club a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd finally get around to posting one of the techniques I learned from Monica Gale at the European Stampin' Up! Convention, the layered paper flower. Isn't this a pretty embellishment?? Granted, it's a bit "poofy" for mailing but it can easily be tucked into a gift bag or box if you aren't up to sending it in a padded mailer. The flower on this particular card is made from lunch bags! I always seem to have lots of disposable lunch bags for crafts since the kids take LL Bean lunch bags to school. I realize the card design has a "fall" look but I've been trying to go through the supplies I've got on hand and I just love this fall paper from SU!'s last mini catalog. Here's how to make the flower:

1. Using the Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle punch, punch 6 to 8 circles out of your paper of choice.

2. For lightweight papers such as tissue, Designer Series paper, or the lunch bags, crumple each of your circles up into a ball. For heavier cardstock, lightly mist the paper with water and then crumple so the fibers in the paper will break easier.

3. Open up each crumpled ball and layer all of the circles together, then punch a hole in the center using a Crop-A-Dile.

4. Insert a knotted ribbon or brad in the center to hold the layers together.

5. Fluff the layers up until you achieve the desired effect, as shown in the picture above. If needed, you can spritz more water on the flower to soften the layers so they'll crumple up easier. Leave the flower to dry for a few minutes if you've used water.

6. Add any embellishments such as leaves, buttons, felt circles, etc.

You can also visit Dawn McVey's blog if you want a step by step pictorial on how to make the flowers step by step. For a different look, try using different punch shapes like hearts or ovals. Thanks for stopping by to check out my latest card project! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and I wish you a blessed 2010.

Bigz Fancy Favor Box

2009-12-16T23:17:00.005+01:00

In the continued spirit of using what I already have, I dug through my supplies for Designer Series Christmas Paper leftover from last year. I also had more of the felt stars left from a card I designed last year that matched the paper, which I also used on the box I featured on my blog last week. This color scheme is unorthodox for most Christmas packaging but I liked the idea of using an unusual color combination. In putting these together as gifts for my upcoming stamp club, I ended up using all but two sheets of the leftover DSP, which I'll use to put together some cards.

Here's the favor box from a different angle so that you can see a few more details. The box is a cinch to put together using the Big Shot Bigz Fancy Favor Box die. The accordion medallion is the most difficult aspect of the project but worth the extra time. I also made things easier on myself by adapting the design I used on the other box last week...I'm saving my creative juices for other projects :)

Love the glitter! My projects have been all about bling lately and this fine glitter certainly adds a bit of sparkle. I hope this sparks some creativity of your own and perhaps encourages you to dig through your own horde (you know you have one!) and be inspired with what you have already.

An Udderly Fabulous Christmas

2009-12-11T14:01:00.005+01:00

If you are visiting my blog then you can probably sense that I have a love for cows :) Over the years, people have given me cow gift items that I love but some just strike a special place in my heart: the needlepoint cow picture my friend Tamela made me, the Cow in Converse candleholder from my sisters-in-law, the mooing cow clock from my in-laws, the cow carved out of Dove soap from Joe's mom, the sterling silver cow earrings from my grandma, the mooing cow cookie jar from my friend Dawn, or the mooing key chain with the flashlight eyes from my friend Missy are all kitschy, unique, fun cow gifts that give me a laugh and bring special people to mind. (trust me, there's more but I'd be here all day listing them all!) My friend Marilyn has embraced my love for cows and has made this udderly fabulous (forgive me, I just had to say that) cow Christmas tree for me this year. Every little detail is just perfect, from the adorable "Moo" tags to the cow figurines placed all over the tree.I love the glittery ornaments and how can you not love those cowbells?

My absolute favorite part of the tree! From the fantastically striped pants to the bell on his curly little tail, this just makes me laugh with delight to look at him. I know it seems silly but I just had to share this on my blog and hopefully it'll put a smile on your face today.

Christmas Packaging

2009-12-10T11:02:00.005+01:00

Where does the time go? I can hardly believe that Christmas is almost here and that another year is drawing to a close. I've been taking time each day this week to do a little crafting in preparation for the holidays and I must say, I'm just a wee bit proud of myself for getting my projects done early. Miracles do happen! These two projects were done earlier this week in preparation for tonight's Ladies Fellowship hosted by my church. In the spirit of our current economic times, I've been rooting through all my supplies to utilize what I already have on hand and it's amazing what you can find when you "shop" in your own craft horde.

This project was created with retired Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper that I had leftover from last year's workshops. Some of you may recognize some retired In Color paper as well (I miss the Baja Breeze paper! sniff...) The felt star was picked up on clearance last year at Rofu Kinderland and are actually German felt table decorations. I apologize for the bad picture but I didn't think to photograph the box until after I'd packaged it up in the bag. Inside is an ornament for our ornament exchange tonight. I wanted some red crinkle filler for inside the bag but I was trying to be good and only use what I already had. The box was created from a template I found on Kelly Lunceford's blog and the design is very similar to a project she featured on there last week. Gotta love CASEing!

I purchased these Chinese takeout boxes while I was in the States last Christmas (10 cents a piece! What a bargain!) and thought it would make a whimsical Christmas package. I removed the handle and pinned the sides together with rhinestone brads. I then hand cut out the poinsettia from white felt and hot glued the petals, ribbon "leaves", and buttons to a felt circle base. The ribbon belly band is hot glued together with the flower hot glued to the top so it can just slide off the top of the box.

I think if I do it again, I would leave the handle on and tie ribbon pieces to the handle and then velcro the belly band together so that it could just be pulled apart to open the box. I have three more boxes so I just might try another one! Thanks for taking a peek at my latest projects :)

KMC Stampers Group on Yahoo!

2009-11-19T02:16:00.004+01:00

Well, I've gone and thrown more fuel on my calendar fire and decided to start a Yahoo group for Stampin' Up! demonstrators located in the Kaiserslautern Military Community. I know this group will ebb and flow as members PCS in and out of the community but I thought it would be nice to have a forum just for demos in our area. I think there are enough of us in the area that if we banded together to support one another, not only would our businesses be more successful but it would be a great way to meet other demos and possibly draw attention to our orphaned group here in Germany from SU! headquarters to get more support for regional training, etc. We'll see how it goes and how much enthusiasm it draws! I'm excited about getting it going and hopefully there will be enough interest that this can become a real means of support for SU! demos in the area.

Inspire. Create. Share......A lot!

2009-11-08T17:42:00.011+01:00

These past few weeks since Joe has returned from Afghanistan have been full, full, full! Enjoying family time, volunteering at the high school, working on various home and crafting projects, and just trying to readjust to having my honey home again have made for a very busy time but all worth it, believe me. With Joe gone for the majority of this year, it made "me" time difficult and Joe has always supported my interests, especially my crafting, because he knows how much it helps to keep me de-stressed with the amount of time he's elsewhere. Well, it was announced in September that U.S. demonstrators stationed with the military overseas were being given the opportunity to attend the first ever European Stampin' Up! Convention and I was just dying to go. It's difficult for U.S. demonstrators overseas not to feel a little estranged from the training and support available to us if we were living in the U.S. (which SU! is improving on all the time so I really shouldn't complain!) so what demonstrator wouldn't want to be a part of a such an amazing event?! Anyway, Joe made sure I paid for my registration as soon as possible and this week was the big event. I am on a euphoric cloud of experience ecstasy and I never want to come down from it!

For those of you not familiar with Stampin' Up!, it was co-founded over 20 years ago by Shelli Gardner and her sister, Vonna. I'm pictured here with Shelli Gardner (eek!), who is as sweet and lovely in person as she is in every photo I've ever seen of her. The European Convention was a PHENOMENAL experience and one that I'm so glad I was there to witness.

Called Paper, Pad, and Marker, this ice breaker event helped me to jump right into the flow of things and start talking to ladies while I made a helpful tool to use in workshops. I was welcomed to the room by none other than Pam Morgan, our Vice President of Demonstrator Relations, who asked for my information to possibly set up an event at Ramstein for military demos living overseas!! I hope that comes to fruition because I am beyond excited that we could have an event for our group.

I met many lovely, friendly women from France, Germany, Great Britain, and Scotland. (Pictured here is a group photo of the demos from the UK) It was amazing to see how the love for crafting and stamping brought all these women together, sharing ideas, inspiring each other, and making new friends. It was a momentous occasion and probably did more to promote international awareness and peace than any meeting of the U.N. has ever done. Maybe if we all got together and crafted, the world would be a more peaceful place :) I felt a little out of place at first since there were only a handful of U.S. demos attending but that didn't last for long as ladies allowed me to sit with them and were welcoming and friendly. One of the things that touched me the most was how many ladies shared swaps with me, even though I didn't have the time to make any before going to convention. I have many, many photos of projects to share but it will take me several days to get them all in order so I'll just past a few for now and then post more as the week progresses. Here's just a few highlights:

What a lovely way to present a box of sweets! Each flower was so detailed and could be a card embellishment all by itself.

One of the highlights of convention is the number of samples available for viewing. How can you not be inspired after viewing so many beautiful cards, scrapbook pages, and 3-D projects?

This paper is no longer available in the U.S. Stampin' Up! catalog but it's still one of my favorite papers. The colors are so bold and what a delightful color combination.

This is a PAPER birdcage! Can you say WOW!! Talk about vision and creativity to create something so intricate. It certainly surpasses anything I've ever thought of creating. I have oodles of photos to share but wanted to share just a few to get you drooling for more. I'm so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to support trips like this to re-charge my creative batteries and enjoy the things that interest me. And I'm beyond thrilled that Stampin' Up! so generously gave me the opportunity to be there for such an exciting event.
Keep on the lookout for more photos this week!

Kreativ-Welt Wiesbaden

2009-11-02T23:11:00.002+01:00

This past weekend was the first time I've ever had the opportunity to attend the Kreativ-Welt craft fair in Wiesbaden even though I lived there for three years and I was absolutely AMAZED at the event. It was very well organized and featured almost every kind of craft imaginable: fiber crafting, scrapbooking, rubber stamping, floral arrangements, jewelry making and beading, ceramics, home decor, quilting, felting, sewing, wood working....two floors of crafting goodness right at your fingertips! Of course, I primarily went for the paper crafts but the creative juices were stirred at the variety of other crafts represented. (European flower arranging vendors really sucked me in!) Even IKEA was there, featuring easy and inexpensive projects for decorating your home. I was rather surprised that Stampin' Up! didn't have a booth there since they are trying to build such a strong presence in Europe but Creative Memories had a booth for signing on European consultants, which I wasn't even aware that they were trying to tap into the market here. What's difficult living overseas is the distance between crafting stores, what is offered, and of course, the expense of shopping in euros. In the States you can find a Michael's, JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, etc. in almost every major city as well as a few privately owned paper crafting stores but mega stores like that are just not part of mainstream European shopping. In a way, I think they should be just because there's such a desire for crafting products overseas...much evidenced by the number of shoppers at the Kreativ-Welt over the weekend. People actually brought large rolling shopping bags! There were a couple of products that I purchased which would surely be less expensive purchasing through a website in the U.S. but were things I had never seen demo'd and decided the extra cost of purchasing them here was rather gratuitous since it meant that I wouldn't have to wait! The biggest product I wanted to try was Glimmer Mist, a liquid spray which leaves a lovely metallic sheen on your papers and is perfect for distressing. Got a couple of bottles to try for Christmas projects and perhaps I'll have something to show on my blog later. I apologize I don't have any tantalizing pics to show of the event but I had a brain cramp and forgot to bring my camera. Anyway, it's something to look into attending next year if you're living overseas...well worth going to if you're interested in many different kinds of crafts. We had a great time at this event and even the kids got to purchase a few items. Alex put together her own ribbon necklace and Jordan got us hooked on a wooden table-top fussball type game with magnetic figures that we ended up purchasing for home. Of course, I had to bribe Joe with Sushi World to get him to go but he even admitted to enjoying it more than he thought he would. A good way to spend the weekend, I'd say!

Technique Club Project

2009-10-16T14:09:00.006+02:00

I did this project today from start to finish and am so proud of myself that I thought I'd post it. Sorry for the terrible lighting but I didn't feel like setting up the light tent and the weather outside is rather dismal for an outdoor photo. I'm sure you get the gist of the project! I'm starting a new Stampin' Up! Technique Club this coming Sunday and this is a variation of the project we will be doing for the first meeting. The idea is to present two or three techniques each meeting for six months, with technique "recipe" cards to go along with the projects. By the end of the six months each club member should have 10 to 12 new techniques for crafting/stamping projects. The box will hold all the technique "recipes", which they can keep on their craft desk to pull from when they need some inspiration. I often create sketches of the projects I'm working on, with dimensions and tips written down as I go. Now I can pull a card from my technique box and sketch my projects, then place them in the box for safekeeping when I'm done!

What a surprise that I used my signature colors to make this project! (not!) I'm preening from my resourcefulness in creating this lovely embellishment. Inspired by Heather Bailey, a fabric designer and inventor, I decided to create my own fabric flower embellishment for the top of the box and I love how it turned out. The fabric is recycled from a pair of curtains I had in my last apartment, plus felt pieces leftover from previous felt projects, a scrap of satin Stampin' Up! ribbon, and a button re-purposed from a stash that came from a tin of buttons that I played with as a child that I believe were my great-grandmother's buttons.

The box purchased for the project contains a heavy duty chipboard egg holder that I trimmed down and covered with matching cardstock. The original project by Nicole Heady uses a piece of foam core board but since that's not an item easily found in Germany, I decided to use the egg insert instead of tossing it. By leaving on the short side flaps, the insert stays upright without having to glue it into the box and gives you the option of moving the insert back and forth

I painted the outside of the box with black acrylic paint, allowed it to dry (about 10 or 15 minutes, which was really fast!), glued the paper to the box with the Mod Podge and then I applied a layer of matte Mod Podge on the outside of the box. I've never used Mod Podge, which is a clear sealer, and it really leaves the project looking professionally finished. Plus if you decide to use this as a recipe box, it protects the outside of the box from spatters. I hope you enjoyed my latest project!

Where'd the time go?

2009-08-16T22:07:00.004+02:00

I can't believe I've neglected my blog this long! I have craft giveaways to post, projects to feature and I STILL haven't put any photos on here of our trip to Belgium. We have since been back to Belgium for family camp so there's even more photos from that, the summer is drawing to a close, and now I'm looking at this candid photo I snapped of Alex, wondering, "Where'd the time go?" Well, I can't worry about where the time has gone but I can make the most of what's to come so here's a few highlights:

*First, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to the ladies who posted their top ten encouraging things on my last post. I was so encouraged by the things you wrote! It's so easy to focus on the negative in life, something that I've made into a very bad habit. For anyone who didn't participate and you have no idea what I'm talking about, go to the posting prior to this one and click on "comments" just below the post. You'll be greatly encouraged just by reading the comments. Since you ladies have been so patient about waiting to see who won the drawing, I've decided to just go ahead and give each of you a prize. Sometimes it pays when I'm forgetful :) So, Kerry, Tasha, Diane, Jennifer, and Heather, I'll be in touch with each of you about your prize and the best way to get it to you. Thanks for playing along with my challenge!

*The first week of October I will be hosting a Christmas swap, with the location to be determined. I'm looking at a couple of locations, one of which might entail a small fee for each person participating in the swap. Be on the lookout for an Evite from me with all the details but go ahead and reserve the first Saturday in October for the swap. (I know, for those of us who are local it's Homburg flea market day but surely you can make it to the swap after shopping!)

*Lastly, is anyone in Ramstein looking to join a stamp club? I'm starting two new technique clubs in September, one hosted on the first Tuesday of each month and the other to be hosted on the third Sunday. Both are a six month commitment, with a $25.00 minimum order each month, and will feature two techniques per month with a technique box created in the first meeting to house all your new ideas. I've got a little bit of space in each one so let me know if you're interested!

This isn't a terribly exciting post so thanks for subjecting yourself to all my announcements. Hopefully I'll have some pics and projects for you this week. Until next time!

To Spiral Up or Down? That is the question....

2009-07-27T22:02:00.003+02:00

In perusing photos from past trips, I found this terrific photo I took of the spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum which got me thinking about my latest downward spiral into the summer doldrums. How can one have summer doldrums? Well, we've had weird, ookie (that is a technical term...honest!) weather this summer, the hubby is still gone, and I have also been location bound for far too long. You see, I'm a wanderer: I love to travel and see new things. My father warned my husband shortly after getting married that I have always been a busy, on-the-go type person and that he'd better get used to it. Joe hasn't always embraced this part of my personality but for the most part, he goes along with it. If nothing else, it has proven to be a blessing for a family that moves a lot! Getting back to my downward spiral, I find that I get a little depressed if I can't get out and DO things, like travel. Between Alex's summer job, Jordan's summer enrichment program, and now dealing with the aftermath of Jordan's surgery, it has been difficult for us to get out and about for the past few weeks. Don't get me wrong: I don't begrudge the kids the opportunities they've had this summer and I'm thankful that Jordan's surgery has been a success but I'm starting to get a little stir crazy! I said all that to say that I decided to keep on the positive side and create a list of ten things that make me happy (not in order of importance):

1. Cows! Mooooooo!

2. My children

3. Grape Bubble Yum

4. Upcoming Family Camp in Belgium (travel! yippee)

5. Jokes

6. Living in Europe

7. Joy in knowing that God never gives up on me, despite myself

8. A wonderful, sexy, fantabulous husband who loves me, despite myself :)

9. Chasing Mr. Bubbles around the coffee table (Bubbles is a West Highland terrier owned by Alex's clarinet instructor...he occasionally enjoys sticking his face up into the bell of Alex's clarinet while she is playing. What a hoot!)

10. The friends and family who have encouraged me while Joe is gone

How can I not feel better after compiling this list? So I've elected to "spiral up" instead of down and be thankful. To spread the wealth of happiness, I've decided to have a few giveaways this week! Free crafting goodies will make all the crafters in my life happy, right? So here's what you need to do: respond to this post (click on the word "comments" directly below this post) and in your post, I want you to give me a list of the ten things that make you happy. All comments need to be posted on my blog by this coming Friday, July 31st. On August 1st, Joe will have been gone for four months so beginning that day I will draw one winner each day for four days. Think how much better you'll feel for writing down your list of "happy things" and know that you might win free crafting goodies at the same time! For you non-crafters, if you want to play along, I'd love to read about your ten happy things as well. Hope to see your posts soon!

Milk Made with Pizazz!

2009-07-27T21:28:00.002+02:00

Being a cow fan, I couldn't resist ordering Lauren Meader's latest Papertrey Ink. Timeless Template called "Milk Made". How can you not love this adorable carrier and matching milk cartons? Combine this terrific template with Stampin' Up!'s new In Color papers and you just can't deny the cuteness factor. Hopefully my Sunday Stamp Club enjoyed this project yesterday because there is alot of cutting and scoring but I think the finished product makes it all worthwhile. If you're interested in purchasing the template for this project, visit Papertrey Ink.'s website for information on how to download instructions. For $5.00, you receive 18 color pages of design information, plus template download information for both large and small size cartons and carriers. You can find even more template ideas by visiting Lauren's blog. Thanks for checking out my latest posting!

Supplies: SU! Petal Pizzaz stamps, SU! Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, SU! Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry and Whisper White cardstock, SU! Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry, and Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink, SU! Crushed Curry polka dot grosgrain ribbon, SU! Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" and Scallop Border punches, Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo and Giga Circle and Scallop circle punches, pink cotton twine, dimensionals, Scor-Tape, Scor-Pal, Crop-A-Dile, piercing tool, SU! rhinestone brads, SU! vellum cardstock

Blogging for Therapy

2009-07-19T03:55:00.003+02:00

It's 4 a.m. and I'm supposed to be sleeping but sleep seems to be far off in the distance so I'm parked in front of the computer, as usual. My new goal is to shut the computer off at night so that I'm not tempted to check e-mail and browse Facebook, thereby getting sucked into a vortex of "time death" whereby my day is wasted playing frivolous games like "Farmville". Of course, I forgot to shut the computer off last night so where do I drift when I'm awakened at 0'dark thirty by an unhappy tummy? The computer, of course. Anyway, I attempted to utilize my time wisely by sorting through photos from our trip to Belgium to post here for family and the hubby to view when I decided to browse my list of blogs that inspire me. Recently, a designer named Christine Middlecamp was featured as a guest designer on Ali Edwards blog and I was so inspired by the featured project, I bookmarked her blog for future viewing and this morning seemed to be the perfect time to do so. As I was reading through her blog, I was stunned to learn that Christine lost her husband to cancer last year and is raising her son alone. I was partly moved because Joe's Aunt Jinger is currently battling cancer but also because Christine is raising a son who is just a few years old...just a little guy. Her story and courage really touched me. The artwork featured on her blog is so bright and bubbly and inspiring that it made me want to craft and create and visit my own meager little blog to make it better. So then I'm back to loading photos like a good girl when suddenly I look at the above photo and start bawling. Yes, bawling! It hit me that we had taken this wonderful trip to Belgium only Joe wasn't with us and how I'm often just as alone in raising my children as the designer whose husband died. (I'm sorry if this is too intense for a blog posting so feel free to click elsewhere to a happier place on the Internet.) While writing and crafting are sources of therapy for me, sometimes the best thing is to just break down and have a good cry! I try so hard to be strong for Joe, for the kids, for the people in my life who need me that I forget that it is okay NOT to be Super-Mom, Super-Wife, Super-Person and end up bawling in front of my computer like I am now. I guess I feel like I shouldn't grieve so deeply for my missing husband when I live such a blessed life. Since Joe has been deployed I've been stunned by the number of people who have come out of the woodwork, so to speak, to encourage me so I guess I feel guilty for breaking down. Cards, phone calls, e-mail, invitations to lunch or game night: all have been plentiful and such an encouragement. Joe's aunt is fighting for her life and I'm crying because Joe couldn't be here for a family trip! Seems silly and trivial when viewed from that perspective, doesn't it? Anyway, I know it's okay for me to cry and perhaps it will help me to have more empathy and compassion for others when they struggle through the challenges of life. Well, I guess I should end my blogging therapy here and attempt to get more sleep. If not, I'll probably see you around Facebook :)

Altered Notepad Tutorial!

2009-07-09T20:10:00.015+02:00

During this week's Tuesday Stamp club we worked on two projects, the first of which is this altered notepad. Tasha Enderby presented a similar project at a demo meeting last year (a very cute project, I might add) and then I was once again checking out Angi Juda's site and found a video tutorial for this project that was slightly different from the one Tasha presented. I thought I'd combine the best of both! While you can see an excellent video tutorial on Chic'N Scratch, I'm going to try to create my own step-by-step pictorial. Have some patience as you view the photos as the lighting at my craft desk is horrible!
Here's a close-up of the top of the pad. Simple but pretty!

For the local folks, POPS printing on Ramstein Air Base will cut legal size pads for you, with three long pads possible from one large pad. I paid $1.50 to have five pads cut (it's 50 cents a cut but they were able to stack all five together and cut them in just three cuts. That comes out to 10 cents a pad for 15 notepads...not bad!) If they're not busy, they'll cut them while you wait. POPS is located in the 435th Services building across from Mom's Video. Okay, for the rest of you folks, you can visit your local mom and pop printing place or Staples/OfficeMax and they should be able to cut them as well. I had them cut to 3" x10" so I could fit the background piece from a standard 8 1/2 x 11" piece of cardstock.

Cut your notepad base to 3 1/2" x 10 1/2" and randomly stamp your background image along the edges. I used the new In Color Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Up! cardstock for the base with matching ink for a tone-on-tone look; sponge edges if desired and set the base piece aside.

Cut your color layer 2 3/4" by 1 3/4" and the white layer 2 1/2" x 1 1/2". Adhere the back of the white layer and apply to the color layer. Adhere a piece of 3/4" x 1 1/2" Designer Series Paper to one side of the white layer. Center and stamp your sentiment on the white layer; set aside.

Cut cardstock 3" x 4 1/4": score at 2" and 2 1/4". Fold along score lines to make foldover piece for top of notepad.

Apply dimensionals to the back of the previously layered piece and adhere to foldover base.

Apply Scor-tape or Sticky Strip to top backside of notepad and the front top strip of the notepad. Remove backing and carefully apply the foldover piece. Do not adhere foldover piece in front to the notepaper! Only apply Scor-tape to the top strip of the notepad so you can still rip your notepaper off the pad when your project is finished.

Once the foldover piece is adhered to the notepad, apply long strips of Scor-Tape to the back of the notepad as shown. Removed the adhesive backing, center the notepad over the base, and adhere to the cardstock base.

Voila! Your notepad is nicely secured to the base and now you're ready for some added embellishment.

I I stamped a coordinating butterfly from the Great Friend stamp set, trimmed the excess cardstock from the edges and applied the image to the front of the notepad with a dimensional. A dimensional pearl from the SU! Pretties kit was adhered with a mini glue dot. Simple and easy! Thanks for patiently going through each step. Please let me know what you thought of my maiden tutorial voyage...suggestions are always welcome! Happy crafting!

So Tweet and the latest happenings

2009-07-08T22:51:00.007+02:00

I know I promised to post pics from my trip to Belgium but I haven't quite found the time to weed through them all. Tomorrow is sort of a "Home Day" for me, with no appointments in the afternoon, so maybe I can squeeze in some crafting and blog updating. We've already decided to make breakfast for dinner, pull out the bed in the couch, and have breakfast in bed for dinner. Yippee! Anyway, I thought I'd post some random things since they were on my mind. I'll start with a project first. Isn't this a tweet, I mean sweet, card?! Once again inspired by Angi Juda's site, I CASE'd this idea for a workshop I did the last week of June. Very simple design and easy to put together. Sometimes it's nice to have a project that's quick, just to experience a quick jolt of satisfaction at having completed a project.
Here's a peek at the inside. I just love the SU! Cheep Talk stamp set with its pudgy little birdie.

July 3rd was an absolutely crazy day weatherwise! I had attempted to put together a weekend trip to Paris and so many things seemed to bar the way that perhaps it was a hint to cancel the trip. After the storm subsided on Friday, I was glad that I was not out traveling in such horrendous weather. The day started off well enough, with sunshine but a smattering of cloud cover and LOTS of humidity. As the day progressed this dark, ominous cloud formation appeared on the horizon and next thing I know, we're being pelted by heavy downpour that turns into hail. That's right, HAIL...in July!!!! I've lived in Germany for many years and this is the first time I remember a hailstorm in the middle of summer. I don't know if you can spot the hail pellets scattered over my yard but the above photo is taken from my office window after the hail had subsided. My poor plants took a beating!

When the storm began, I opened the window to the office to watch the rain and a butterfly fluttered over to the window and almost flew into the house! It was a breathtaking moment to watch this beautiful butterfly fluttering under the eave of the house, looking for a refuge from the storm and watching to see if it was going to fly into the house or stay outside. Instead it took cover from the storm just outside the window and stayed for quite some time. There's a life lesson in there somewhere but I'm still pondering on it. Thankfully the yucky weather passed on and we had a gorgeous 4th of July.

I was on Skype with Joe today and looked over to see Alex asleep in her chair. She was helping Jordan play a game on her computer and at some point, she fell asleep. Eventually he left to play Legos in his room but she remained, just snoozing away. I'm sure she'll be happy to see I've posted this on my blog! Hee, hee...evil mommy laughter.....

Recently I purchased a letter "A" on Etsy for the space above my craft desk and it finally came in last week. I love it! I had actually planned to put it in the space above the punches but it didn't look right so I moved the clock above the door and put the stamp quote and a moo card above the punches and put the letter where the clock used to hang. I also added another kitchen bar from Ikea since I've expanded my inventory of punches. The space where the letter hangs still seems a little bare but I'm just happy to have the space organized a bit better until I can figure out what I want to do differently. I know, having a giant letter "A" on the wall is not the most exciting thing that can happen in life but for some reason the pretty font and bright red color makes me happy. We all need a bit of whimsy in life from time to time!

So, I guess that's the end of today's random musings. Lately I've been spending time on other artist's blogs and feeling that my blog leaves something to be desired. Do I change to Typepad or stay with Blogger? How much more time can I spend crafting so I have more exciting projects on my blog that will entice folks to check it out or does it really matter to me? Where do I need to rearrange things in my life that will bring it into better balance with things that REALLY matter to me, like my family and my relationship with God? Can I make it through another three months of deployment? Just stuff I've been thinking about lately. Probably not interesting for anyone reading this but it sure is therapeutic just to write about it! So, off to bed and a little time reading a new devotion book for Bible study on Friday. Until next time!

Hanging out at the Seewoog

2009-06-27T10:54:00.007+02:00

We were extremely blessed when we moved from Wiesbaden to the Ramstein area two years ago to have the opportunity to rent a house in the village of Miesenbach. Not only is it close to the base, we're also close to a good church, and have easy access to a major autobahn for travel. But the neighborhood itself is nice, with a small local lake and some delightful restaurants nearby. Germans really enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or walking through cultivated gardens so the area around the Seewoog (lake) in our village is well-maintained. Next to the lake is a small imbiss for snacks, a playground, an open grassy area for picnics or a game of soccer, and a picnic table area with a BBQ pit. There are some nice trails around and above the lake that a local hiking club manages. A couple of weeks ago we had some friends over for a BBQ and after gorging ourselves on yummy food, we opted to walk some of it off by heading to the Seewoog.
The terribly strenuous (not!) ten minute walk to the lake meant we had to reward the kids with some fun time at the playground.

Here's Jordan and our friend Taylor enjoying time together.

I managed to get all the kids to sit down for a cheesy moment in front of the foliage growing around the lake. They were more interested in playing at the playground than posing for photos but they humored me! Thanks for checking out our excursion to the Seewoog.

Belgium and stuff

2009-06-25T19:01:00.003+02:00

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted something on my blog! The end of May and first two weeks of June had me tearing my hair out trying to keep up with all the end-of-the-school-year hoopla and fighting to keep my sanity. I managed to survive all of that just to have a fresh bout of busy-ness ensue and now I'm brain-dead, trying to remember everything I've done in the past few weeks. Oy! I'll start with what's freshest in my mind, which is our five day trip to Belgium last week. Woot, woot! We had a wonderful time getting away from it all and exploring the sights, sounds and yummy tastes of Belgium. I'm not big on Belgian pralines as the filling usually contains ground hazelnuts but the sampling I had of Belgian chocolates during our stay made me glad I don't live there since I'd be 500 pounds. My favorite was a milk chocolate truffle filled with fleur-de-sel creme caramel. I definitely did the happy dance after eating this delightful morsel! Anyhoo, I'm not quite ready to post the bajillion photos I took on our trip so I thought I'd put a teaser out there for my crafting crowd and show off the goodies I picked up at a flea market outside of St. Jakob's Kerk in Ghent. Buttons, cotton cording, and fabric tags were fun to pick up at a stand selling notions but my favorite vendor had nothing but vintage brochures, books, paper, letters, and postcards. I'm always delighted to scrounge through paper! The postcards I purchased are perfect for some of the scrapbook layouts I'm planning for previous trips to Rome, Paris, and now Belgium. Alright, I'm getting long-winded about the craft supplies so I'll end here but keep a lookout for more pics of our trip in the coming week.

Joe the Harley Dude

2009-06-05T08:45:00.007+02:00

My honey finally sent photos for me to publish on my blog...aren't they fabulous?! Joe's parents asked him if there was anything he wanted from California and he requested some Harley Davidson t-shirts for his group (there's a story there but I can't remember all of it). The shop in Fresno donated the shirts with one stipulation: they had to send back photos of their group wearing the shirts. (Joe is the handsome guy in the red and black ball cap on the left wearing dark brown cargo pants) It's so funny seeing the group with their beards and how full they've gotten since they left.
Here's the "bumper" version, with the guys showing off the back of their shirts. I'll be so happy when I see this group come home!

Mini Accordion Album

2009-05-29T09:40:00.006+02:00

There are times when I despair that I seldom come up with my own original projects and I've finally decided that there are so many stinkin' good ideas out there, why not just happily CASE them and make them my own? Why strain my brain to come up with something new when someone else has already created a fabulous project that I like? Perhaps one of these days the creative juices will flow more freely but in the meantime, I will not look gift crafts in the mouth. Here is yet another project I discovered on someone else's blog and tried for myself. I love this album! I enjoy scrapbooking but I don't seem to have time for anything but mini albums and this little album is perfect for a quick and easy project that also makes a fabulous gift.

The insert holds 4-3 1/2 x 5" photos. There isn't much room for embellishments but you don't want anything with too much dimension as it will prevent the album from shutting properly and possibly damage your other photos. I'll be sending this particular album to Joe's aunt, who has been battling cancer and is currently hospitalized. She's a special lady and I hope you'll pray for her! If you'd like to view a fantastic video tutorial on this project, visit Angie Juda's blog. Happy crafting!
Supplies: SU! Good Morning Sunshine DSP, SU! So Saffron and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and cardstock, SU! Great Friend stamp set, SU! Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla double-sided satin ribbon, SU! Very Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, SU! Spiral and Designer Label punches, Scor-Tape, adhesive, and sanding blocks

Father's Day Pull Out Card

2009-05-28T09:07:00.004+02:00

A stunning event has occurred in my house: I've actually got my Father's Day cards made a MONTH in advance! Shocking, I know. This nifty card idea was given to me by Beate Schupp, the German SU! demo who helped me host a workshop two months ago. If you haven't visited her blog, it is well worth the time to scroll through and check out her projects.

Isn't this a fun design? With two pull out panels, one side features a photo of my husband as a kid with his dad and the other side will have a note to my father-in-law. I love the fact that you recycle the plastic packaging around the SU! cardstock to make the movable band on the inside. With the economy in its current state, many crafters are learning to make do with what they have to create projects cheaply and this card doubles as an inexpensive "mini album". Click here for a link to a tutorial on how to complete this card from start to finish. Happy crafting!

Supplies: SU! Frohliche Feiertage, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and Print Pattern (retired) stamp sets, SU! Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and Old Olive cardstock and Classic ink, plastic packaging from cardstock pack, Scor-Pal, SU! library clips, dimensionals, SU! 1 3/8" circle and 1 1/2" square punches, Crop-A-Dile, bronze eyelets, 1/4" Scor-Tape, paper piercing tool and mat, adhesive

A Beautiful Card

2009-05-26T11:05:00.002+02:00

Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to a stamping event hosted for Polly Raffetto, a wonderfully talented demonstrator who moved back to the States last year, and who was here on a brief visit. Of course we couldn't get together without creating something! Phyllis Jachowski, another local SU! demo, shared with us a new technique of inking the Big Shot Texturz embossing plates before running our cardstock through the Big Shot to create a beautiful inked and embossed design. I wasn't able to stay and complete the project in its entirety but Phyllis had provided each of us with a piece of stamped mulberry paper and the beautiful embossed floral image which enabled me to finish the project at home. What's funny is that when I went to complete my version of the card at home, I forgot to ink my Texturz plate before I finished the card!
Here's a close-up of the dry embossed accent (the Perfect Plum strip behind the ribbon) as well as the heat embossed image that Phyllis created for each of us. I used sponge daubers and Classic ink to color in the image and trim it before mounting it on the card. I'm not big into watercoloring or having to spend alot of time filling color in with markers so I was glad that Phyllis' project pushed me outside of my comfort zone to do something different. Thanks for checking out my latest card!
Supplies: SU! Sage Shadow and Perfect Plum Classic Ink, SU! Sage Shadow, Perfect Plum, and Shimmer White cardstock, mulberry paper, SU! En Francais and Great Friend stamp sets, SU! Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Big Shot Texturz Plate, vanilla organza ribbon/dark purple satin ribbon (Frank Korbwarenfabrik, Dahn), paper piercer, adhesive

Free Stampin' Up! videos on YouTube!

2009-05-26T10:37:00.003+02:00

Stampin' Up! recently announced access to many of their project videos, now available for free on YouTube! There's a terrific interview with Shelli Gardner, the co-founder and CEO of SU!, detailing how the company began 20 years ago. Currently the channel features several product videos so be sure to check those out as well! The link is http://www.youtube.com/stampinupvideo Happy crafting!

Tripsdrill

2009-05-24T18:52:00.014+02:00

We spent the first day of Memorial Day weekend at Tripsdrill, an amusement and nature park located near Heilbronn. The park had a booth in the travel buildings at the Maimarkt in Mannheim and after spending a day at the park, I'm so glad I picked up a brochure! The park's central feature is this retired mill, which has been converted with an indoor slide from the top floor and a fun house type ride on the lowest floor and behind the building. I took TONS of photos Saturday so I couldn't possibly post them all here but I'll probably download photos to my Facebook page as well. Here we go!

Above the car ride was a platform where you could see the entire track and the surrounding area. Many of the buildings in the park had roof gardens, which I thought was an interesting way of making the park more environmentally friendly.

A view of the vineyards and fields beyond the park

Alex pretending to drive...she has to get in a little practice since driver's training is in her future!

Jordan's friend, Jonah, was staying with us for a few days while his parents were on a cruise so Alex invited her friend Brianna to accompany us so she would have someone to hang out with. Here's the foursome aka Jergen, Herman, George, and Larry, waiting for the log ride. The girls made up nicknames for us...my new nickname is Bob so all day long the four of them kept calling me Bob!

Here they come!

I love my new camera! It takes great action photos so I can capture fun moments. I love the looks on their faces as they come down the ride!

The boys were a tad soaked after the ride but it was such a nice day out that they quickly dried. Don't worry...we rode another water ride later and ALL of us were drenched. Nothing like walking around an amusement park in water-logged, squishy shoes!

The May Pole ride.....nope, too high up for me so I didn't ride this one!

Alex and Brianna enjoying the May Pole ride.

The kids were finally hungry enough that I managed to coax them out of the park for a picnic lunch at the car. Both boys were mesmerized by the Maserati convertible parked next to us and asked me to take a picture.

The park had these crazy bikes the kids could ride that bounced up and down as you rode them due to the unusual placement of the spokes on the tire rims. The bikes were pretty heavy so I had to help Jordan balance and then push him to get started. I didn't get a chance to ride one but he said it took alot more effort to ride it than a normal bike and was glad to get off when it was time to move on to another part of the park.

Alex loves monkeys! She asked Jordan to babysit her new monkey purse while she went on a rollercoaster.

There was virtually no line for this ride at the end of the afternoon: I think the boys rode it six times before leaving the park for the day!

I was quite impressed with the beauty of the landscaping throughout the park and was quite taken with these vibrant flowers growing alongside the winetub ride.

The last ride of the day, ended with a smile! We had a terrific time, from start to finish, and plan on making another visit when Joe comes home. Thanks for reading along!

Cogsmo Cricket Birthday

2009-05-15T10:46:00.005+02:00

My third posting for today: talk about overkill! I haven't posted any projects recently and thought I'd get off my lazy hiney and take some pics. I'm always looking for gift bag/card ideas, especially having a 9 year old who is always being invited to parties. Most of his friends are boys but sometimes boy themed papers are difficult to find. Utilizing the Cogsmo Cricket "Cogsmo" paper from a previous project, I threw together a matching gift bag and birthday card set for a party Jordan is going to this afternoon. I ordered a bajillion of the craft bags from Packaging Source and have been using them for every occasion, just altering them appropriately based on who the gift is for.
How can you not love this paper? The pattern reminds me of the characters in the movie "Robots"! The card took me about 10 minutes to design and throw together, with paper to spare for duplicates. Thanks for checking out my projects!
Supplies: Stampin' Up! Real Red, Bayou Blue cardstock and classic ink, SU! Toybox (retired) , Everyday Flexible Phrases (retired) and It's Your Birthday (retired) stamp sets, Cogsmo Cricket "Cogsmo" Designer 8x8" paper pack, SU! library clips and silver brads, Cricut, paper piercer/tool, white DMZ floss, window punch, foam dimensional tape, adhesive,

Concert Winds Spring Concert 2009

2009-05-15T09:11:00.003+02:00

Last evening we enjoyed the Ramstein High School Concert Winds Spring Concert 2009 and as always, the program didn't disappoint (Alex is pictured second from the left). We were tremendously fortunate in landing an assignment at Ramstein Air Base: first, because we're an Army family and being stationed on an Air Force base is not a common occurrence, and secondly because the high school on Ramstein has a phenomenal music program. The concert last evening was proof of just how great the program is, headed up by the dynamic Mr. Jeff Pellaton. Mr. Pellaton brings a passion, energy and enthusiasm to the Music Department that
you don't find in many teachers. He never seems fed up with the students and always has some interesting "Pellatonism" to throw out to the students when things aren't going well that always translates his frustration, etc. without alienating them. No small feat when dealing with teenagers! Here's the Pellatonism printed in last night's program, "Please set your cell phone to stun or electrocute for the duration of the program. Thank you. JP" What a hoot! Alex's confidence in her musical abilities has grown by leaps and bounds since joining the program and while she'll probably never play on a professional level, I appreciate all that Mr. Pellaton has taught her just by being an outstanding teacher.
We've also been fortunate to have the USAFE band located in our area. Jordan just started lessons with a guitarist from the USAFE band this week and Alex began lessons with the wife of the percussionist from the band two months ago. It's been awesome to see the kids develop an interest in music and see them develop a little more self-discipline as they are both required to practice daily, with Alex practicing both school and solo pieces. Our biggest challenge right now is purchasing a new clarinet sometime this year. Two months ago, Alex's clarinet was permanently damaged (the band above the bell and a huge chunk of resin completely snapped off when Alex was twisting the pieces into position. Big oops!) and she's had to resort to playing one of the school's instruments. The clarinet her instructor recommends is around $3,000 (cough! gasp!) but the same company makes other wood clarinets that are a bit less expensive. With her 16th birthday approaching, I'm hoping to find her a quality wood clarinet within my price range (cheap is good) so we may drive to the Buffet factory in France this summer to check out what they've got. In the meantime, I'm thankful for the school loaner! If you want to see last night's performance, check out the RHSTV.com website and it should be posted sometime this month.

Skype

2009-05-14T22:50:00.005+02:00

Since Joe left over a month ago, Skype has become a member of our family. It's interesting to look back on each time Joe has deployed and note the differences in communication. When he deployed in 1996, there were few means available in Bosnia for soldiers to communicate except writing letters and an occasional expensive phone call. I remember receiving an 800 Deutsch Mark phone bill for calling Joe at the embassy in Croatia and almost passing out from the amount! I've kept the stacks of cards and letters from that deployment, filled with the mundane tasks of soldier life as well as a few sweet nothings, all tied up with a ribbon. When he deployed to Iraq, we had two 15 minute phone calls each week, e-mail, video teleconferences at the unit, and a very small stack of cards and love notes. Big difference in communication technology between the first deployment and the second! This time, the communication is both better and worse. Skype: Better! Snail mail: Antiquated! Skype has been a lifesaver for us and I praise the Lord for the person who invented it (I don't think Al Gore can claim this one! Ha!) As soon as Jordan comes home from school each day and sees me at the computer, he'll ask me to check if Joe is on Skype. It's made Joe seem less far away: to hear his laugh, to laugh with him, and talk to him as though he's right here with us has made the transition much smoother. I've not had to comfort Jordan in the middle of the night, crying for his dad, or watch Alex moping around the house because they both have the opportunity to talk with their dad almost everyday as though he never left. Extended separations are common occurrences in the lives of almost every military family. So what is the worth of something like Skype to a family like ours? You only have to look at Jordan's face in the photo to get the answer. Priceless.

Holland: Part Two

2009-05-14T12:46:00.014+02:00

Day 2 of our trip to Holland took us to Haarlem and Corrie Ten Boom's house. Located in northern Holland, we accessed Haarlem from Sneek via an 18-mile long highway that spanned the sea. Stunning drive and absolutely beautiful weather! Upon arriving in Haarlem, Alex snapped a photo of De Adriann Windmill, located near the heart of the old city.

Okay, I know it's a door but I became fascinated with the charm of the houses, particularly the doors.

Inside Corrie Ten Boom's home are many plaques and awards given to her for her extraordinary sacrifice during WWII hiding Jewish refugees. Corrie and her family were eventually betrayed and sent to concentration camps, with Corrie the only survivor.

If you've not read her book or seen the movie, The Hiding Place, it is well worth your time to watch. Only be sure to have a box of Kleenex nearby because it's a tear jerker!

The Ten Boom family placed this sign in the window to signal fleeing Jews that their home was a safe house. After the family was arrested, Corrie tried to remove it from the window but was prevented from doing so. The Nazis left the signal in the window as a way of trapping others hoping to hide.

The parlor

A hiding place was built into the wall of Corrie's bedroom, using a clock weight to act as a counterbalance behind the built in shelves in order to swing them open. The night the family was arrested, six Jews were hiding inside this small room, which has been cut open for visitors to view. You can see just how small the space is! Nazi soldiers tore apart the house looking for the refugees, coming so close as the floor directly in front of the hiding place. Eventually the six inside the hiding place were rescued.

Another view of the hiding place

Located near the Corrie Ten Boom museum is the Grote Markt, with the statue of Laurens Janszoon Coster, an early European printer born in Haarlem who died shortly before the invention of Johannes Gutenberg's printing press. It is said that Gutenberg's partner, Johann Fust, stole the type and presses from Laurens Coster before fleeing to Mainz and starting a partership with Gutenberg. Eventually he also cheated Gutenberg out of his invention and made it a financially successful venture. (Sorry...Alex's National History Day project was on Gutenberg's printing press and some of the info rubbed off!)

Sint-Bavokerk cathedral, right off the Grote Markt

A view of the square around the Grote Markt, with the Haarlem City Hall in the background.

Doesn't Jordan look so happy?! His look says, "Please tell me we're on the way to the car: my feet are killing me!"

I love the details of the homes in Holland, especially the brightly colored shutters and intriguing door designs.

Alex showing off her new 5 euro sunglasses. You get what you pay for...they broke four days after we bought them!

Another charming alleyway. You'll notice all the bikes: most folks in Holland get around on bicycles and I have to say from experience that you give bicyclists the same right of way as a car or risk getting run over. (I got a nasty bruise on my hand and wrist from getting nailed with the handlebars of an oncoming bike!)
We've been to The Netherlands several times but this trip was particularly enjoyable: traveling with the group from church, enjoying time with the kids, and the beautiful weather all made it a special time. We are definitely blessed to live overseas and experience the culture and history of Europe. I hope you enjoyed the pictures of our latest trip!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T04:45:00.004+02:00

Happy Mother's Day! Aren't the blossoms on this tree lovely? I photographed it during Jordan's recent class field trip and thought it would be a lovely tribute for Mother's Day. For every mom reading this blog, I wish you a beautiful day with your family and pray that you rejoice in all the joy, heartache, and laughter that comes with having children. I'm so thankful for my own mom and the influence she's had on my life. I hope she knows what a blessing she is to me! Have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday to Jordan!

2009-05-10T03:24:00.016+02:00

My baby turned nine years old yesterday! We hosted Jordan's birthday at the house this year, partly because I threw it together last minute and partly because that's where Jordan wanted to celebrate. Jordan's latest interest is anything having to do with spies: weapons, codes, training, etc. We bought him several spy devices for his birthday, including night vision goggles and binoculars. (These are "kid" versions, not the real thing!) The treat bags were spy kits with squirt guns, secret code books, candy and gum for stakeouts, and a disguise. I placed clues all over the house that the kids had to decipher to find the missing spy kits as they were stolen by an international spy and had to be recovered. The kids had fun and did a great job, especially since I had them running up and down the stairs from the top floor, down to the basement, and back up again. No small feat with 15 kids in attendance!

Since Jordan requested a spy-themed party, we had several SpyKids movies available for viewing at the beginning of the party while we were waiting for everyone to arrive. I guess it was a good thing we did since everyone was engrossed in them, including some of the parents dropping off children! (notice our friend Slim in the background...he's as entranced as the kids)

Posing for a group photo

This photo gave me the giggles! First of all, for Jordan's crazed look but also for the eyeball I accidentally photographed in the lower righthand corner. LOL!

This was my favorite part of the entire party...seeing Jordan read each card aloud. Several things struck me about this. First, this is the first birthday party he's had where everyone insisted he read the cards out loud. At previous parties, partygoers just wanted him to rip into the gifts and chuck the card so this is the first sign of a maturing crowd. It made me realize he's growing up! Second, with Jordan's previous reading problems due to his speech delay, it was music to my ears to hear him read clearly and quickly through each card. What a blessing!

Jordan received a package from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sue...yay!

Time to open it...ooh, what is it?

Yes! Jordan was enthralled with the book as soon as he saw what it was about. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Here's Alex's gift to her little brother...a Bionicle! What a sweet big sister to use her own money to buy her brother a gift. Jordan received many nice gifts and we are so thankful to have such generous friends.

Jordan blowing out his candle!

I kept the food simple with fruit, chips, chicken nuggets, corn dogs, Shasta soda (I couldn't believe it when the commissary stocked it. Talk about a blast from my childhood!) and birthday cupcakes. The best part about the food? Alex prepared most of it! Having a Culinary Arts student living with you definitely has some advantages :) One benefit to the Culinary Arts program vs. Home Economics is its focus on all aspects of presentation, serving in a professional setting, and learning the techniques needed to be a professional chef. While this isn't exactly "professional" catering, I thought she did a lovely job with arranging the fruit and decorating the cupcakes. Plus it took a huge burden off of me to try and do everything myself. The hardest part for me was schlepping through the commissary and bringing all the groceries home...not a bad way to go!

I printed out the cupcake toppers from clipart on PrintShop 22 and used a large oval punch to make them the right size to sit on top of the cupcakes. Alex baked/frosted the cupcakes and Jordan helped her put the decorations on top. I tried to keep things as simple as possible, especially since the kids would be more interested in eating them instead of admiring the decoration!

At the end of the day, I had to ask myself, "Am I insane to have so many children over to my house with the hubby gone?" Well, probably but Jordan had such a good time that I can't help but think it was all worth it. Thanks for stopping by and checking out our latest family event! I promise I'll have craft projects posted later this week :)

Holland: Part One

2009-05-06T08:05:00.020+02:00

Last weekend we traveled with the singles group from church to visit a replica of Noah's Ark in the town of Sneek, Holland. We had a great drive up to Sneek and the hostel we stayed in was probably the nicest one I've ever been in. It was kind of funny traveling with a few of the single men: you could tell they weren't used to taking a female traveler into consideration because they couldn't understand why we had to stop at a rest stop with a toilet! With Jordan, Alex, and I following the group in our SUV, we had some nice family time just talking, listening to music, and pointing out items of interest along the way. Holland is a major exporter of cheese so I was delighted to see many, many open fields dotted with black and white cows. A view of the ark at dusk on the evening we arrived.

Anchored on a barge, the designer said the volume of the replica is approximately 1/14th the volume of the original ark. The replica was pretty impressive so I can only imagine how enormous the original must have been!

The designer of this project built a replica of the Ark of the Covenant into the base level of the ark, as well as this replica of the Jesus' tomb and the cross he was crucified on. Throughout the ark are scripture verses in Dutch inscribed on the walls.

Good old Noah, hard at work.....

Here's a view down the length of the top level. The builder put in two small aviaries on the upper level, as well as a place for visitors to sit and have refreshments (pretty sure the restaurant aspect of this level wasn't authentic but you never know...maybe this was Noah's lanai!)

Do you see the guy standing underneath the giraffe in the blue coat? He came with our group and if I'm not mistaken, he said he's 6'4", so that should put some perspective on the model of the giraffe!

Alex and a moose...future boyfriend? Ha!

Here's our friends, the Wightman's, heading into the Ark. And they came two by two!

The evening of our arrival we all headed into Sneek for dinner and a look a the local shops. I should have taken more photos of the town because it was very quaint and charming, with cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks. Alex had some freedom from mom, hanging out with another teen from our church and scoping out the town on her own. The hostel and ark replica were located just a few blocks from the city center so it was delightful to stroll leisurely through the town. Ice cream shops are prevalent in most cities and villages so of course we had to stop at one after dinner. Here's Jordan scoping out his sister's ice cream, hoping the "cuteness" factor will get him a taste.

I just noticed Alex's ice cream cone on the bottom left of this photo...what a hoot! The ice cream shop we stopped in was small but quite charming. The inside was paneled in a luscious dark wood and rather than tables, they had deep window seats with cushions. I was particularly captivated by this unusual flower arrangement on the counter. European floral arrangements always have varied textural elements that make them works of art, which has always made me want to learn how to make them. A dear friend at church has arranged for me to work with a local florist to learn the European way of building an arrangement "in hand" and I can't wait!

The Waterpoort, Sneek

As we were enjoying the view from the Waterpoort and deciding on what we would do about dinner, I noticed a boat coming down the canal with a dog in it and just had to capture a photo. The dog looks incredibly happy to be hanging over the front, enjoying the ride. We should all be so contented with the journeys of life.

Here's Alex enjoying a moment at the Waterpoort in Sneek.

Outside of the ice cream shop stood this talking trash can! All you had to do was wave your hand in front of it and it would say something in Dutch and the door would open. It was silly, but we all had a good time making it speak and open.

Say Cheese!

Here's Jordan and I posing for a rare photo together behind the youth hostel. (I'm usually the one behind the camera!) It has taken me three days to find the time to download all these photos!! Oy! I hope you enjoyed part one of our trip to Holland. Stay tuned for future installments!

Biospharenhaus: Fischbach bei Dahn

2009-04-24T11:32:00.014+02:00

Thursday was the big field trip day, with Jordan's class visiting the Biospharenhaus in Fischbach bei Dahn. (It's too bad we couldn't have stopped in Dahn: we passed right by my favorite basket factory!) Within the Biosparenhaus are three levels exemplifying habitats found in Germany, most specifically the local region, and how those areas are affected by industrialization, pollution, etc. The displays are fantastic as they are all highly interactive to keep the kids engaged in learning. The only problem I found is that each display had so many bells and whistles, the kids spent more time rushing around trying to figure out what each display did and not necessarily ingesting any actual knowledge. I mean, who really wants to read about bats when there's a really cool set of night vision goggles on the display that you can use to find bats within a darkened room? Jordan and his friend Skyler climbed up to a rock ledge to burn off a little excess energy after an hour long bus ride. Jordan looks like King of the Mountain with that cocky smirk on his face!

While the kids enjoyed the Biospharenhaus, it's the area surrounding it that held the most appeal for the group. A short distance from the museum is the Baumwipfelpfad, a sort of obstacle course built up in the trees. Click on the link to see more pictures of the course, including the treehouse platform and slides. The end of the tree course ends with a bang...a fantastically twisty-turny metal slide! Once the kids went down the slide, all of them had to go through the course a second time. Even I went down the slide twice: talk about fun!

Here's my group, kindly obliging me by stopping for a photo op!

After the excitement of taking the group through the tree course we stopped for a picnic lunch and started on a 2 kilometer walking path with several interactive stations for the students to visit along the way. This tree trunk fascinated the kids as it was home to some very large ants! The ants dug an entire colony within the tree trunk and it was unbelievable to follow a large trail of ants right up to the trunk.

Jordan stops to check out a Vampire Beetle on the path.

Despite the frigid water temperature, the kids just had to strip off their shoes and play in the water. It was hilarious to watch each kid quickly hop in to the water just to see them hop out even faster! Eventually they would brave the water again and look for various creatures inhabiting the water.

A brook runs down from the pool the kids were in and actually meanders from a small lake nearby. It was a tad overcast throughout the day but you can still see how beautiful the area is and was rather ideal weather for the kids to be out in for such an extended period.

Big cheesy grin from Jordan!

We thought the slide from the Baumwipfelpfad was going to be the big attraction for the day but the Vampire Beetles stole the show. They were all over the walking path and once the kids got over the initial scream and freak out over touching them, they began to pick them up. The kids ended up adopting them as we walked along, letting them crawl up their arms and onto their clothing. The coloring of the beetles was beautiful: a deep, glossy black with an irridescent blue-green sheen to them.

Here's the beetle Jordan carried around for about an hour. He wasn't too happy with me when I made him leave the beetle on a rock before we left but I'm sure the beetle was relieved to be left in his own habitat!

A few nature shots: these fern fronds captured my eye and everywhere you looked there were lovely shoots of flowers and ferns cropping up beneath the trees.

Whew! We made it to the end of the path and needed a much deserved break in the swing. I highly recommend visiting the Biospharenhaus and Baumwipfelpfad if you're even in the area. Thanks for stopping by!

Photo of the Week

2009-04-24T11:15:00.003+02:00

I know, it's April and I'm STILL posting pics from our trip in December. I couldn't help posting this one of the kids because it's a realistic depiction of their relationship and sweet personalities. The day I took this, we had arrived at the Monterey Bay Aquarium too early and decided to walk down to Starbuck's to while away the time. Part of our amusement included taking photos at the table, much to the annoyance of a few of our fellow customers (I think some of them were a little irritable because the morning coffee hadn't kicked in!) so this picture is a result of our impromptu photoshoot. I know I'm prejudiced because I'm their mom, but aren't my children adorable? You can probably tell what kind of grandma I'll be...one of those annoying ones who constantly shares photos and stories about the grandkids, chasing total strangers down in order to shove reams of photos at them and gloat about how baby Suzie is potty training early. Seriously, I've been extremely blessed to have two children who love the Lord, enjoy being with each other, and are a joy in the home...despite their occasional cranky moments. A picture really IS worth a thousand words!

Facebook Musings

2009-04-24T10:20:00.005+02:00

I finally came out of the dark ages and joined Facebook today. Blogging has become a means of self-therapy for me: a way to jot down thoughts on projects or trips and clear out the mental clutter. Since I'm barely able to maintain any level of consistency with my blog, I've always told myself that I just don't have time for Facebook but if I'm honest, that's not the real reason I haven't joined. Want to hear my really lame excuse? My weight!! Isn't that the silliest and saddest thing you've ever heard?! It's amazing to me how much I've allowed what I look like to control what I do or don't do in life and I hate to think of people from my past perusing my photo and dismissing me or not thinking of me as a worthwhile person because I've gained like 1,000 pounds since high school. There was a boy in elementary school that I had a crush on (yes, that's how far back this goes...I'm so pitiful!) who once told me that he liked me and thought I was pretty but didn't want anyone to know because (and I quote) "You're fat". You'd think I could move on from cruel comments made by a pre-pubescent boy who probably doesn't even remember me but it's amazingly true how we allow ourselves to feel inferior for the minutest of things. The media crams its version of beauty down our throats everywhere we go, to the point that we're so appearance conscious that I think we often miss seeing the true beauty of people we come into contact with because we're focused on the outward appearance. It's even true at church, where often people are sought out because they "look" like a Christian. You know what I'm talking about: the right clothes, the right haircut, the Bible tucked under the arm, etc. For all my insecurities, I'm just as guilty of putting more stock in appearances than I should but I want to strive to reach out to people and get to know them for who they are and not what they appear to be. So I'm hoping that by putting my toe out there to test the Facebook waters, I'll be able to re-establish old friendships and make new ones without anyone caring what I look like but want to reach out because of who I am as a person and vice versa. Okay, now that I've aired my little insecurity for the day, I'm going to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather before it once again departs. Thanks for subjecting yourself to my angst and if you want, look me up on Facebook and ask me to be your friend so I don't look friendless! Ha! Have a wonderful day!

A Mess and a Few Projects

2009-04-21T11:13:00.008+02:00

What a mess but a happy mess! Last Saturday I hosted a German Stampin' Up! workshop and it was a lot of fun! I've been wanting to purchase some of the German Stampin' Up! sentiment stamps since the company established itself here in Germany in 2007 but could never find a German demo until recently. This is some of the mess leftover from the workshop and my subsequent club class on Sunday. I needed to finish up some samples and figured there was no point in shlepping everything upstairs to finish it when everything was already set up in the living room. I had eleven guests, some American and some German, making extra work for the demonstrator as she had to translate between English and German, but she did a great job and I think everyone had a good time. Beate brought some terrific samples (unfortunately, I didn't take photos!) but you can visit her blog to see her handiwork.

Isn't this fantastic?! This was my hostess gift from Beate, which immediately made all of us want to make one. Beate added so many little details that made this project extra special, such as the addition of organdy ribbon and the beautifully detailed chipboard flower.

How cute is that?!!! The box coordinates perfectly with the hazelnut chocolate nuggets inside and I love how the lid fits into the box to create a display. You can visit Beate's blog to see how to make this project, however the directions are in German and the dimensions are in centimeters so be prepared to adjust your thinking if you're used to working in inches. You can also contact Beate through her blog if you're interested in ordering however, she can only ship to German addresses so you're out of luck if you live stateside!

After posting that beautiful gift box, I don't know that I want to show my meager little project! This is a simple but quick design for a lovely card that can be used for any occasion. I'm really hooked on the Close To Cocoa/Baja Breeze/Kiwi Kiss color combination, which you may have noticed since the last three projects I've posted have utilized these colors.

Here's a close-up of some of the detailing. I'm off to run errands and enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine! Have a wonderful week!

Circle Scissors, Paper Pleating, and Ribbon Flowers, Oh My!

2009-04-19T20:01:00.009+02:00

Here's the latest in club projects featuring two new techniques and a new crafting tool! While both of these projects are a bit more labor intensive, I think they're well worth the extra time. I designed these for Mother's Day but you could easily adapt them for other occasions.

The Mother's Day Window Bag, adapted from a bag demo'd by StampinUp!'s Shannon West, utilizes the new Circle Scissors Plus. The Circle Scissors Plus is a circular cutter which can cut varying sizes of circles, up to 16". This is actually version two of the original bag I designed as I gave away my original to one of my customers who couldn't stay to complete the bag. Before teaching yesterday, I had already been playing around with the Circle Scissors so I could demo the tool with confidence. Every sample I made while trying it out was effortless but when I went to demo it for my Sunday stamp club, disaster struck! It was hilarious: everything I cut was either crooked or didn't cut all the way through, and I ended up screwing up SIX craft bags before I got it right. At one point I grabbed up all the bags, tossed them on the floor in a fit of dramatic pique and said, "That's it! I quit!" Everyone cracked up and I finally was able to demo the project. When Shannon West features the tool on the video for SU!, she says, "Just turn it like you're stirring a pot of soup." Well, my soup was defective! If you'd like to see a video tutorial on the Circle Scissors Plus, visit Angie Juda's Stamping Academy.

This card features two new techniques: paper pleating and creating a ribbon flower. The paper pleating is super easy and creates a lovely effect. Simply score a strip of cardstock or designer paper at 1" and 1/2" intervals (1, 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3, 4, 4 1/2", and so on), then fold the paper in pleats. Once the pleats are folded, go back and smooth the pleats with a bone folder or Scor-Tool so they will lay properly. Back the pleat with a strip of Scor-Tape or Sticky Strip as you'll need something stronger than Snail adhesive to keep the pleated strip on your project. If you pleat a 12 inch long strip, it creates a 4 1/2" pleated strip which is perfect for trimming down for a standard A2 card.
The ribbon flower was created with a 10" strip of wide grosgrain ribbon (the wider the width of ribbon, the larger your flower). Beginning at one end, run a loose stitch or gathering stitch all the way up one side of the ribbon, pulling the thread tight at intervals. I used DMC floss rather than thread for its strength factor as it is less likely to break each time you pull the ribbon for gathering. Once the end is pulled tight, place a small knot at the end to help keep the gathers in place, then stitch the two ends of ribbon together to form a circle. Stitch a button over the top and you've got yourself a lovely ribbon flower perfect for a card or scrapbook page. Who knew that my mom's lessons on sewing would actually come in handy! Here's a link to a ribbon tutorial on Peacoats and Party Hats for those visual learners. I'm sorry the pictures aren't the greatest...I was trying to get some nice outdoor photos and they weren't as clear as I thought they'd be. Still working on the photography :) Happy crafting!

Supplies: (Bag) SU! Close To Cocoa and Baja Breeze Classic Ink, SU! Parisian Breeze Designer Series Paper, SU! Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, and Baja Breeze cardstock, SU! Great Friend stamp set (2009 Mini Occasions catalog), Circle Scissors Plus, paper piercer, Buttons Galore assorted white buttons, natural twine (Listmann's), Marvy Uchida Giga Tag punch, SU! 1 3/4" circle punch, SU! ribbon originals, dimensionals, window sheets, Cricut, SU! Crystal Effects, SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter (on butterfly)
(card) Supplies almost identical to list above. White grosgrain ribbon (Dollar Tree), SU! Baja Breeze flower button from Button Bouquet set, SU! eyelet lace punch

More Etsy Goodies!

2009-04-17T09:20:00.003+02:00

I'm addicted to Etsy!!!!!!!! Somebody please block my computer from allowing me on their site.....! I love, love, love Etsy! Okay, I'm okay now. Frequently I will see a product on a project that you just can't find overseas or if you find it, it's really pricey. Most of the vendors on Etsy are very reasonably priced and everyone I've done business with has given such great customer service. So here's my enabler alert for the week: The Polkadot Strawberry

Isn't this pompom trim just gorgeous? Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's my "signature color". (Okay, who knows what movie that line came from?!) I'm working on an awesome project by Ali Edwards and this trim would be perfect for it (click on Ali's name and it will link you to my nifty new project). The Polkadot Strawberry carries oodles of beautiful trims, ribbons, and beads. The vendor is allowing me to bulk order my trim, which I think is uber nice, and there are so many lovely colors and textures to choose from. So if you're working on a crafting project and you're looking for some rich, beautiful trims, this is the shop to visit.

Hot Colby Ham Sandwiches

2009-04-16T12:56:00.003+02:00

I served these yummy little beauties at my Tuesday Stamp Club and thought I'd post it on my blog for your cooking pleasure. The picture just doesn't do them justice! The original recipe is from Taste of Home and then I tweaked it according to my personal tastes. I substituted Hawaiian Sweet Rolls for the dinner rolls in the original and cut the poppy seeds down to 2 tsp just so you don't end up with a million poppy seeds stuck in your teeth after eating them! I use 1 lb. sliced colby-jack and 1 lb. sliced Virginia Ham, with the slices cut in half. The Pampered Chef Stoneware Bar Pan is perfect for making 24 sandwiches (2 pkgs. of sweet rolls), so I use one-and-a-half times the mustard/butter sauce for drizzling inside and over the top. Think of them as ham and cheese sliders, perfect for any get together or a small sandwich to just tide you over. Happy cooking!

Gartenschau-Neumuhle Park

2009-04-16T12:27:00.009+02:00

Another day trip during Spring Break took us to the Gartenschau/Neumuhle Park in downtown Kaiserslautern. The Germans really enjoy outdoor venues like parks and hiking trails so places such as the Gartenschau are often open even on holidays. After uploading all my photos from the Gartenschau, I realized that I didn't take any pics of the flowers! I'm sure we'll go back again so you'll just have to enjoy the few candid photos I took of the kids playing. This top photo depicts one of the many lifesize dinosaur statues in the Neumuhle or Dinosaur portion of the park.

Here's Jordan enjoying the large climbing tower. The kids were in their element on this monstrous structure and never seemed to tire of squeezing in and out of the different levels.

Here's Alex pushing a friend from church on the swing. Teenagers like to act "cool" and mature but there's still a little kid lurking in there!

Please don't eat me! The little kids that accompanied us thought Alex was hilarious for trying to shove her head in the dinosaur.

Here's Jordan trying not to get eaten by a dinosaur head!

Here's all the boys, tired and ready to go get ice cream! Yippee!
I hope you've enjoyed the photos from our latest trip :)

Altered Password Book

2009-04-09T09:54:00.003+02:00

I know I've posted altered notebooks before but I thought I'd share one I recently created for Jordan. It's difficult to find good "manly" or "boyish" crafting projects out there but a random blog-hop a few months ago yielded an adorable card designed with this Cosmo Cricket robot paper called Cogsmo. Isn't this paper awesome? Very much a "boy" paper, with lots of cool sayings and designs throughout the set. I keep a small notebook with passwords and usernames for the various newsletters and blogs I subscribe to and Jordan wanted something similar since he visits various game sites and can't seem to remember his usernames and passwords. This project would be great for a kid's party, either as a project for the kids to make or a party favor. The notebooks are only 39 cents so it's definitely an inexpensive project and it takes about 15 minutes to complete. Happy crafting!

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Cogsmo Designer Paper, SU! Whisper White cardstock, pewter brads, Crop-A-Dile, dimensionals, Oriental Trading mini alphabet set, SU! window punch, cotton cording, notebook

A Day in Idar-Oberstein

2009-04-09T09:16:00.009+02:00

With the kids on Spring Break, I've been looking for short day trips to take and Tuesday we ended up in Idar-Oberstein. The town is well known for it's gem mine and being a center for jewelry, gems, and crystals but it also has an interesting legend. The ruins of two castles can be seen at the top of the gorge above the city and were once owned by two brothers. According to the legend, the two brothers fell in love with the same woman and in a jealous rage, one brother was killed. As penance exacted by the church, the surviving brother was told to build a church for the town. The Felsenkirche, pictured above, is the church from the legend and is actually built right in to the rock of the gorge. We didn't have enough time to actually go in to the church but seeing it inset into the rock is a stunning sight.

Our first stop of the day was the Steinkaulenberg, or Idar-Oberstein gem mine. All tours going in to the mine are required to wear these attractive yellow hardhats. Jordan's friend, Drake, accompanied us for the day and as you can see, they were having a miserable time (not!). Jordan collects fossils and crystals so the tour in the mine was fascinating for him.

Photography isn't allowed inside the mine so this is about as exciting as my photos of the mine get! The area around the mine has extensive hiking trails and many spots for picnicking, plus a digging "camp" where you can look for different kinds of rocks to take home (for a fee, of course!). With the weather being exceptionally nice, we took a short hike and then ate a late lunch at a picnic area near our car.

Our last stop of the day was the Kinder-Sternenland, a huge family-oriented indoor playplace located in an industrial area on the outskirts of Idar-Oberstein. Inside was a small go-kart track, indoor soccer room, a small bounce-house, kinder playground for little people, a large inflated climbing mountain, air hockey and ping pong tables, small bicycles to ride, and this huge maze with slides. We were there for about two hours and it was a blast! I'd love to take the kids back when we have more time because they weren't even remotely ready to leave at the end of two hours. It was a terrific way for them to get exercise and just have fun.

The kids were "dying of thirst" which meant we HAD to get slushies (smile). Jordan's favorite flavor is blueberry and they just happened to have blueberry slushies. Don't you love his blue teeth and tongue?! I hope you enjoyed the photos of our little day trip!

Thank You Card: Experiment Two

2009-04-08T22:07:00.004+02:00

This is card experiment two, inspired threefold by: a scrapbook page layout on pg. 6 of the new SU! Occasions Mini Catalog, a Kwerner Design Challenge, and a card by Beate Johns. I've been trying to add more layering and detail to my cards but just haven't found my own "niche" yet so there's a tendency to cheat and check out what everyone else is creating. The "Gratitude" stamp and details beneath it are from a new clear stamp set I recently purchased from Technique Tuesday called Family Circle. It was designed by Ali Edwards and features her terrific sense of style that I felt would compliment this layout. So, what do you think? Card one or card two? I think I prefer this one but I'm determined to keep playing with the colors Jordan likes until I find a design I think she'll like. Enjoy!

Supplies: SU! Close To Cocoa, Shimmer White, Kiwi Kiss, and Baja Breeze cardstock, SU! Close to Cocoa, Kiwi Kiss, and Baja Breeze Classic ink, SU! Urban Garden Designer Series paper, SU! Great Friend stamp Set, Technique Tuesday Family Circle by Ali Edwards stamp set, SU! eyelet lace and 1" punches, SU! corduroy buttons and Chocolate dotted ribbon, paper piercer/mat set, mini glue dots, dimensionals

Thank You Card: Experiment One

2009-04-08T20:59:00.002+02:00

Several months ago I was asked to make some thank you cards for one of the seniors graduating from Ramstein High School and for the last two days I've been playing around with different designs. I saw a card design in the 2008 Idea Book & Catalog that I liked but when I began to tweak it, it just didn't come out right. Believe it or not, this is actually an original design! It's not a horrible card but it's not one of my best projects. I'm going to post my second card and leave it up to you, the reader, to judge which one you like best!

Get Connected promotion

2009-04-03T10:30:00.004+02:00

Stampin' Up! has another terrific promotion this month! Purchase $40.00 worth of product from the new Occasions Mini Catalog and choose any under $10.00 set from the 2008-09 Idea Book and Catalog (page 208) for FREE. Visit my Stampin' Up! website to see the new mini catalog! There's a new Matchbox Die for the Big Shot, window sheets, new Designer Series Paper, and some fantastic new stamp sets so be sure to check it out. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the promotion or you'd like to place an order.

Enabler Alert: Introducing the Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper!

2009-04-02T13:25:00.006+02:00

My recent online shopping forays led me to this terrific new tool from We-R-Memory Keepers: the Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper! I try not to be sucked into purchasing every latest-and-greatest crafting tool out there but I always keep my eyes open for practical tools that will make crafting simpler and faster. This is one of those tools!

This tool is very simple and easy to use. Pull open the paper guides until they snap into place. There's a nice little bin located at the front of the tool to catch all the little pieces of paper that have been rounded off your project.

Insert your paper into the tool, clasp the handle together, and you're done! Shown here is the Corner Chomper rounding a piece of medium weight cardboard, so it can handle heavier weight materials as well.

The Corner Chomper has two sizes available, which is fantastic! I put together a bunch of tins at Christmastime to hold gift certificates and having the larger size corner rounder would have been great for making the Designer Paper inserts since the tins I purchased had larger corners and I ended up having to hand cut all the corners. You can also round several sheets at a time, making corner rounding even faster when you're working on multiple projects. If you're interested in purchasing the Corner Chomper, visit Scrapbook Pal for both the tool and the carrying case. Scrapbook Pal offers free shipping on orders over $25.00 and they always have good deals on Tombow Adhesive refills and Cricut Cartridges. I hope you enjoyed this little product review!

More Scissor Charms

2009-04-02T13:12:00.005+02:00

My friend, Nicole, commissioned me to make her a scissor charm and I didn't post it with the last batch so I thought I'd put it on my blog before I give it to her. I wasn't smart enough to take a picture before I packaged it so this is as good a view as you're going to get! Varying shades of teal are very trendy right now and very fitting for the "heavenly" little cherub charm. I hope she likes it!

These are two simpler charms I threw together for hostess gifts and were finished in a matter of minutes. I'll have to temporarily retire from scissor charm design as I'm out of cell phone toggles. Thanks for looking!

The Bearded Wonder is Gone!

2009-04-01T23:55:00.004+02:00

Isn't my sweetie handsome with his beard? It has taken quite a bit of getting used to but the beard has "grown" on me (well, it's grown on him but, well, you know what I mean!). There's a lot of gray in it, which lends a bit of a distinguished tone to it. Why is it that men just look sexier as they get older and women just look washed out and old? Of course, my weight is part of the issue but we won't go THERE! I told him to send me a monthly photo so I can see how full his beard gets as the months progress, especially since I think he'll have to shave it off before he comes home.

Anyway, the past few weeks have been filled with many ups and downs and while I wish he didn't have to leave, I'm kind of relieved that he's gone. The coming and going and general upheaval in life leading up to his leaving makes me anxious to get myself and the kids settled into a routine as we count the days and months until Joe returns. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) the kids have already got an agenda of trips to the pool, a trip to Portugal in August, sleepovers, and more so I won't be lacking for activities! I'm glad they're enthusiastic about the summer and what we'll get to do during that time but just give me a few days to catch my breath and reacquaint myself with "normal" day-to-day living!!! Please pray for our family as we get through this time and for Joe as he does his job in far off lands. Until next time!

Photo of the Week

2009-03-31T22:43:00.003+02:00

Another photo from our trip to California in December! This one was taken by Alex on a trip to Target with her Auntie Emily (Joe's sister) and family. I love Holly's "I'm so bored with all your shanigans" look on her face! Of course, you can't help but laugh at Em's sideways pose. I hope the excitement of this photo brightens your week :)

New Jewelry from Etsy...I'm in love!

2009-03-31T22:15:00.006+02:00

For some folks, Ebay or Craigslist are very dangerous but for me, nothing is more dangerous than Etsy! If you are a crafter on any level or you love handmade items, this is the place for you because everything on the site is either handmade or can be used to make handmade items. Besides paper, sterling silver jewelry is a weakness for me (big reason why I sell Silpada!) I love unusual, well-crafted, good quality sterling silver jewelry and the piece I received in the mail today certainly met those qualifications. The ring, called Silver Tempest, was designed by Alicia Istanbul of Istanbul Designs and is just lovely.

The ring is made of sterling silver oxidized wire and will go nicely with several of the oxidized pieces I have from Silpada. Some of the pieces on Alica's site are a bit pricier than others (this ring was only $38.00!) but the beauty of the craftsmanship is worth it.

I loved the packaging Alicia sent the ring in and she included a lovely thank you note and this pair of earrings for free! They're a bit small for me since I tend to like chunkier pieces but they're simple and classy. If you enjoy sterling silver jewelry, I highly recommend visiting Alicia's shop on Etsy and seeing what she has to offer. Happy shopping!

Gate Fold Card

2009-03-30T10:13:00.004+02:00

I finally got out my new light tent and started playing with it...can you see the difference in my photos already? I have no clue what I'm doing with the tent or my new camera but I figure I'm staving off Alzheimer's by teaching myself how to use this stuff! Ha! This is a simple card I designed for the German ladies at my church using the gate fold. Felicia Escalante, one of the SU! demos in Ramstein, taught our demo group how to do this simple card fold but I never went back and played with the design. What an easy way to make cards!

Aren't these flowers perfect with the American Crafts designer paper? I picked up the felt flowers at Globus, a local store similar to Target. Germans have interesting and fun decorations for various holidays and these flowers were part of their current Easter/spring decorations available. I paid 1.99 euros for 30 flowers, which isn't a bad price. I used a pop-up glue dot to ensure that the flower is stuck to my card for good! Here's a basic how-to:

1. Cut cardstock 4" x 8"

2. Score the 8" length at 2" and 6" (the Scor-Pal makes this quick and easy)

3. Using your Scor-tool or bone folder, fold the card in at the two scores, making a folded 4" x 4" card.

4. Decorate and embellish!

Size Variations: 3"x6" card-Cut 6"x6" cardstock and score at 1 1/2" and 4 1/2"

Scissor Charms

2009-03-29T15:30:00.009+02:00

A few months ago I participated in a swap and discovered that just about everyone I craft with has the same scissors! Most of the folks I craft with are either SU! demos or purchase SU! products and so most of us own paper snips and/or craft and rubber scissors, which is fantastic until you put your scissors down on the table and don't know which ones are yours. My friend Tasha told me about a seller on Etsy who sold scissor charms so I thought I'd check it out.

This is the charm I found on Etsy. Unfortunately, I can't find the seller anymore but there are others on Etsy who also sell charms, some of them quite elaborate. (Note: I have since found the seller information. Visit CarrieMe on Etsy to order a personalized scissor charm for only $6.00)The seller I originally purchased through allowed me to select the colors and type of charm I wanted. I loved the fact that she made me a stamped cow charm using polyshrink!

I decided to try my hand at making my own, ordering beads, phone toggles, and charms from Fusion Beads, Joann, and Oriental Trading Company. This is one of my favorites, with a "good luck" kitty on it. I'm not one for luck but you've probably seen these cats on the counters of many Asian food restaurants or stores. There's a restaurant in Fresno, CA called Shanghai that has some of my favorite Chinese food and they have a golden cat sitting on the counter and the paw moves up and down mechanically. I took delight in harassing my mom one night while waiting for an order, repeatedly poking her in the arm and saying, "Mom, wave to the kitty!" It kind of stuck and we make jokes about it now. I even bought one for my mom from Chinatown in London. So if my mom is reading this, "Mom, wave to the kitty!" Ha!

Okay, so I love cows! I could resist making myself another cow charm, especially since I have so many pairs of scissors.

This is for my friend, Melissa. Melissa, if you're reading this, close your eyes and pretend you didn't see it! The original charm cost me $6.00 plus s/h and I'd say that $3.00 to $6.00 is a good estimate on cost for handmaking your own if you use good charms and are having to pay shipping for your supplies. You can obviously make them much simpler, with just one strand of beading. For those of you located in Germany, Listmann's, Hela, Toom Baumarkt, and Bastel Ecke (Landstuhl) are good places to check for beads and charms. Happy crafting!

The Winner is....

2009-03-29T13:02:00.004+02:00

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 6
Timestamp: 2009-03-29 11:01:53 UTC

I assigned a number to each person who left a posting for me for the free Papertrey Ink stamps and then entered them into a Random Integer Generator to try and make the selection of the winner as fair as possible. And the winner is...............Nancy Williams! Congratulations to Nancy for being the winner and I thank everyone who played along and left me blog suggestions. I've already visited a few of them and been inspired. Everyone's crafting styles are so different and I tend to get a bit stagnant in my crafting so I appreciate seeing what other crafters are doing. I'll be posting some projects based on your suggestions in the coming weeks so be sure to stop back by!

Cracked Glass Technique

2009-03-29T12:28:00.006+02:00

The cracked glass technique has been around for quite some time but is a technique that I never played around with much. While trolling around my list of blogs looking for ideas using the new SU! circle scissors I came across a beautiful card by Beate Johns using this technique and decided to give it another whirl. Beate's cards are always beautifully layered and detailed, using color combinations that challenge me to be more creative. Here's a simple how-to:

1. Stamp image on cardstock, doing any distressing or detailing before going on to the next step. (I distressed the cardstock edges, sponged the image with ink, and added the pierced holes)
2. Press your cardstock image onto a Versamark pad, thoroughly covering the paper.
3. Sprinkle UTEE or SU! Glassy Glaze over the cardstock, tapping off any excess.
4. Heat the image until the glaze is melted.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4
6. Place image in a plate in your freezer until well chilled.
7. Remove cardstock from freezer and bend paper, creating the crackling effect in the glaze.

You can see the cracked detailing a bit better here. You can also sponge over the image to work ink into the cracked glaze to give it a vintage look. My card isn't nearly as stunning as Beate's card but I'm still pretty proud of it! I hope this inspires you to try this technique.

Supplies: SU! Not Quite Navy, Shimmer White, and Baja Breeze cardstock, SU! Urban Garden Designer Series Paper, SU! Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze Classic Ink, Versamark, SU! Scallop Edge, 3/4" circle, Boho Blossoms, small oval, and large oval punches, paper piercer, SU! Circle Scissors, SU! Glassy Glaze, K & Company adhesive pearls, cotton thread (Listmann's), sponge, Scor-Pal, heat embossing tool, and dimensionals

Valentine's Day Card

2009-03-23T22:52:00.004+01:00

I'm starting to get caught up! This was one of the cards completed by my stamp club in January (okay, so it's two months overdue!) I originally case'd this from a stamper on Splitcoast and didn't keep track of the link for it. I really need to do a better job of that because I hate for crafters to not get credit for their work. :( Yet another Big Shot project, this card features the lovely scalloped envelope die and a monochromatic pink scheme. The SU! Love You Much bundle, which came with a punch, designer paper, and a stamp set, was a big hit with me this year, especially the punch. Most anyone who has seen my craft room knows about my passion for craft punches! I hope you enjoy the card and Happy Valentine's Day in March...ha!

Supplies: SU! Shimmer White, Pirouette Pink, and Regal Rose card stock, SU! Regal Rose Classic ink, SU! Love You Much stamp set, SU! heart, scallop, and 1 3/8" punches, 3/8" white satin ribbon, three-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Michael's Dollar Spot pink sparkle gemstones, Big Shot Scallop Envelope die, and dimensionals

Free Papertrey Ink Stamps!

2009-03-23T13:23:00.002+01:00

This is overdue as I promised to post this last week but better late than never! (I think this is my life mantra since everything I do always seems to be late!) Recently I put in an order for Papertrey Ink stamps and accidentally ordered two of the Out on a Limb Sentiments stamp set. Rather than go to all the trouble to return the set, I thought I'd do a drawing and give it away for free! Here's what you've gotta do to be entered in the drawing: respond to this posting with a link to your favorite crafting blog or online craft store and tell me why it's your favorite. It can't be something already listed on my blog...it has to be something new and exciting! Your name will be entered in the drawing and I'll have my hubby draw a name by Sunday. Can't wait to read your posts and who knows, maybe I'll offer more than one prize if the responses are REALLY good!

A Little Embellishment

2009-03-23T13:01:00.004+01:00

I have an ongoing love affair with anything paper and journals are no exception. Journaling can be sporadic for me but I enjoy keeping a journal and writing random thoughts or keeping lists of things that I want to remember. For me, it's like spring cleaning for the mind! Alex also loves journaling and has quite the stash of binders and journals overflowing one of her drawers in her bedroom, filled with crazy stories and doodles. I bought this journal as a gift to have on hand but never seem to remember to give it to anyone! In the midst of my recent craft room/office purge, Alex zeroed in on the journal and begged to have it. I promised her the journal as long as she would let me add a little embellishment to it to personalize it just for her and this is the finished product. It took just a few minutes to complete (gotta love the Cricut!) and got to play with my new eyelet lace border punch in the process. Imagine the possibilities for inexpensive gifts you could have on hand for special occasions: a simple embellishment for a recipe book, journal, art book, prayer journal, and more. Most dollar stores carry cute notebooks that just need a bit of personal touch and you've created something special for someone you care about without breaking the bank.

I also think that for those of us who craft, we get carried away with trying to make really elaborate projects and sometimes don't craft because the projects we select are too time consuming. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do those types of projects because they are very rewarding: just don't deny yourself the satisfaction of simpler projects or you'll end up with craft supplies collecting dust! Happy crafting!

Photo of the Week

2009-03-20T05:08:00.004+01:00

I'm discovering I have some favorites among our recent photos that would be worth sharing and this one fell into the "favorite" catagory. For those of you who don't know my background, Joe and I met in high school at the restaurant shown in the picture, later marrying at the ripe old ages of 18 and 19. Ah, the glory days of working in a fast food restaurant! Who knew that selling hamburgers could lead to true love :) We thought it would be fun to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary at the place that started it all (I can hear some of you laughing as you read this so be nice!) plus it was a cheap way to celebrate our anniversary and see everybody at the same time. Anyway, Joe's mom loves to take photos and I managed to capture this priceless look on Joe's face as she got up close and personal with her camera. What a hoot!

Chalkboard Technique

2009-03-20T04:49:00.003+01:00

I finally bought a light tent! Why, you may ask? Look at how dark and fuzzy this photo is and you don't even need to ask. I'd really like to take some photography classes but in the meantime I can use a light tent to take clearer photos of my projects so that perhaps my blog will be a bit more professional looking.

This is a card I did for a workshop quite some time ago and apparently never posted. The Chalkboard Technique is very simple: stamp your image on cardstock using a thick pigment ink such as SU! Craft ink. For this card I used white Craft ink on a chocolate chip background. Using sponge daubers, dot desired color of chalk over the image so that the chalk adheres to the image but doesn't smear it. Lightly wipe a dry Swiffer pad over the chalked image to remove excess chalk and set the image. The photo just doesn't do the card justice as you can't see all the paper piercing and layering details clearly. If you want to see a similar example from the source that I CASE'd this card from, visit Beate Johns blog (the link is listed on the right of my blog page). Happy crafting!

Gifts for Marilyn and a few musings

2009-03-20T03:49:00.005+01:00

It's March and I'm STILL working on uploading all my projects from December! Despite the madness of traveling from Germany to California and back (as you can attest from my previous blog post) we had a terrific time while we were home. As I mentioned previously, we hadn't been home in four-and-a-half years and while Joe has been back to the States for training, the kids and I haven't visited since 2004 so it was interesting to see how things have changed. Some things were the same (clam chowder in a sour dough bowl at Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey is still fabulous and did I mention See's candy?) but other things like the mass commercialism of strip malls that plague California are a sad sight to see, especially in light of the current state of our economy which is partially due to massive credit card debt. What's funny living overseas around so many Americans is the way some people talk about things in the States with a sort of hushed reverence, "Target, do you remember how wonderful Target is?" almost as though Target was a deity. Believe me, I spent my fair share of time (and money) in Target over the holidays and I loved every minute but it also made me realize how much I enjoy the opportunities I have living overseas. We were in Williams-Sonoma one night and I laughed to see some of the pricey "gourmet" food items available for inflated prices, as some of them are just regular items you can buy at any grocery store overseas. "Fleur de Sel" which is a specialty French sea salt, was $10.00 for a 2 oz. jar at a gourmet store and I purchased a 1 kilo bag at a German Weihnachtsmarkt for 5 euros! Anyway, there are times when it is difficult living so far from home but when I realize how many wonderful opportunities I have right where I live, it makes me long for the conveniences of home just a little less and appreciate things like living four hours away from the Eiffel Tower just a bit more.

Okay, musings are done! The goodies shown are gifts I gave to Marilyn, my dear friend whom I've known a short time but who has been such a blessing to me. Marilyn and her husband drove our family to Frankfurt at oh-dark-thirty to make our flight to California, watered all my plants while we were gone, and cooked us a lovely dinner/re-stocked my fridge when we came back from our trip, so the least I could do was make her a lovely gift as a thank you/Christmas gift. The top photo shows a small wrought iron rack I purchased at Nanu Nana, a quirky store in downtown Kaiserslautern that sells an interesting menage of decorator and gift items. I raided my hoard of Das Depot satin ribbon and loaded the top with lots of pretty bows and used last year's Stampin' Up! Christmas gift wrap to wrap a few craft supplies I picked up in California. I have a similar rack and love to use it for holding baked goods or silverware and napkins when I entertain.

The jar you see has a bit of a funny history. There's a village about 20 minutes from our house that hosts a good-sized flea market on the first Saturday of every month. I love going to this flea market because it's such a hodge-podge of traditional German wares like baskets, antiques, collectible toys, all thrown in with your typical flea market/swap meet type stuff for sale. Last November, Joe took me on a date to the Homburg flea market and I kept seeing these French canning jars which were about 50 euro cents a piece. I knew I could do something cool and crafty with them, so I started purchasing a few here and there. My sweet hubby ended up lugging around 30 glass canning jars for me, even going so far as to take a load all the way back to the car to empty some of the jars so I could buy more. The front of the jar has a pretty raised insignia with the name of the French company that makes them. I altered Marilyn's jar with velvet ribbon around the rim, and printed the tag on the computer. I had a few leftover scraps from the SU! Bella Rose Designer Paper pack that were perfect for the lid and behind the tag.

It's difficult to see in this photo but I added Cotton Candy Stickles to the flowers for some added bling and a pearl center to the main flower on the lid, with a few dimensionals to add some depth to the top. You have to be careful where the tag is placed on the jar so that it doesn't get damaged every time the jar is opened. The jar is stocked with Marilyn's favorite Toblerone so I knew the jar had to withstand alot of opening and closing...Ha! The gifts may not be the most expensive or exciting things she's ever received but giving the gift of something handmade is giving a little piece of yourself to someone else and that can be more precious than something more costly.

Thanks for reading my lengthy post and I hope this project inspires you to look around at thrift shops and dig in your cupboards for items you can revitalize with a few embellishments or a touch of paint to make into a special gift for someone.

Tales of a Ten-Hour Layover

2009-03-16T21:10:00.010+01:00

So I'm finally sorting through all my photos from our trip to California in December! Amazing, I know! It was our first time traveling home in four-and-a-half years and the grueling schedule of trying to get to California reminded me all over again why I DO NOT fly home every year. Let me give you a brief synopsis of our travels up to the time of this now infamous layover. We flew from Frankfurt to Chicago, having been up a total of 13 hours at that juncture. The layover time between our flight to Los Angeles from Chicago was not long enough for us to make it through customs and security AND to our next gate so we spent almost five hours in Chicago before taking the last flight out to L.A. Upon our arrival in L.A. at 11:20 p.m., United told us we had two options: get a hotel and come back at 6 a.m. to check in and go through security all over again or stay in the airport. We opted to stay in the airport and when we looked around us, the airport was completely deserted except two other folks from our flight who were sacked out at the gate. Exhausted, I plopped my stuff down in front of a row of chairs and passed out until 3 a.m. When I woke up, Joe and the kids were STILL awake and happily gaming on their various electronic devices. After using the little girls room, I began to document our adventures in LAX. The picture above is a happy picture of my little gerbils behind the gate counter at United. Come fly with us! (Don't you just love how happy Jordan looks?!)

Okay, I loaded the photos in the wrong order. This is at about 8 a.m. when I've put my make-up back on, breakfasted thoroughly (and expensively) at Starbucks, and am perusing my iTunes list.

The kids did alot of this while we were in the airport. There was hardly anyone in the airport while we were there so we helped ourselves to their electrical outlets to keep everyone fully charged and functional. Since United wouldn't pay to put us in a hotel, the least they could do was give us a little free electricity!

Ahhh, the lovely sunrise over Los Angeles!

This is where things were a little crazy! We spent about 45 minutes playing with my neck rest. There was a wild game of catch and keep away from Jordan, as well as an entire series of photos on what Jordan could do creatively with it. This is one of his more stylish poses.

Below, Joe is despairing over the fact that Starbucks is not open at 4:30 a.m.! When they did open later, we ended up spending almost $60 in the store on breakfast coffee/hot chocolate/food and a lovely mug to commemorate our special time in the airport.

It's a shame this photo didn't come out clearer because it's a hoot! After I woke up a bit, we discovered that the gate we were camped out at wasn't the gate we were leaving from so we decided to move. While walking through the airport towards the right gate, we realized that we pretty much had a run of the place and could do what we wanted. This is gonna sound crazy but I literally dropped my stuff in the hallway and rolled across the floor. For about two hours we just played in the hall. This is Joe's wild flight of fancy, playing "Super Joe!" Exhaustion made us extra giddy so we chased each other around, the kids took off their shoes and slid across the floors, and we probably entertained whomever was manning the security cameras that night. How many people can say they had the run of an international airport for ten hours?

I got down on the floor and took a photo of Jordan during one of his sliding moments.

The most insane aspect of this entire adventure was the fact that we could have driven home in four hours if we could have found a car rental place that was open! I have lots more photos from our adventure in LAX but thought I'd give you just a taste of our unique travels over the Christmas holiday. I'm so thankful that I have a family capable of seeing a bad situation and turning it into something memorable. Until next time!

Big Shot Projects Part Two

2009-03-15T22:56:00.006+01:00

As promised, here is part two of my recent escapades using the Big Shot. (Gasp! I know you're all in shock that I've actually remembered to blog the second part. I'm getting better little by little) Here's the horrible part: I can't remember the blog where I found the inspiration for this project! Once I find it, I'll edit the blog to include the proper credit for this project but in the meantime I thank the currently nameless person who designed this adorable box.

Part two also utilizes the Top Note Bigz Die, with two dies cut for the lid and the base. The size is such that you can create four of the same template from one standard 8 1/2 x 11" sheet of cardstock=two lids/bases for two boxes.

Here is a side view of the box, where you can see the lid lifting up. The lid is attached, similar to that of a pizza box or those gift boxes of Lifesavers you can buy during the holidays. The design can be shifted so that the box is in the portrait position as well. The free Sale-A-Bration set "Yummy" stamps perfectly within the design of the cut piece. Another marketing ploy by SU! that sucked me in!

Here's the open view, with some custom made crinkle confetti and an owl keychain I purchased for one of my stamp clubbers who loves owls. This is a terrific box for a gift card, homemade bar of soap, jewelry, or any small item.

As soon as I get past my Alzheimer's moment and remember the site where I found this idea, I'll be sure I add it as it has great step-by-step instructions on how to make this box. I have an exciting stamp set giveaway this week so be sure to log in to my blog later this week for how to win the set. Tschuss!

Supplies: SU! Certainly Celery Classic Ink, SU! Certainly Celery, textured Bashful Blue, and Kraft cardstock, SU! Delicate Dots DSP (SAB), SU! Yummy stamp set (SAB), SU! So Saffron grosgrain ribbon (SAB), Sizzix Top Note Bigz die, Big Shot die cut machine, Scor-Pal, cotton twine (Listmann's-Germany), K&Company adhesive pearls (impressrubberstamps.com), Scor-tape,

Sale-A-Bration Big Shot Projects Part One

2009-03-05T22:51:00.003+01:00

Sale-A-Bration is here again! For those of us addicted to Stampin' Up! products, Sale-A-Bration (SAB) is our favorite time of year as it gives us an opportunity to earn crafting freebies for every $50.00 spent. In today's economy, who doesn't love freebies?! My club projects this month have focused on the free products offered during SAB, as well as my favorite new tool: the Big Shot! My wonderful husband purchased the Big Shot for me as an anniversary gift.
I'm so spoiled!

Part one of the SAB Big Shot projects this month is the adorable Thanks A Bunch gift bag, inspired by Angi Kennedy Juda Click on her name and this will link you directly to a fantastic step-by-step video tutorial on how to complete this project. You'll also notice the unusual accordion flower located on the front of the bag. You can visit my Stampin' Up! website and download the SAB catalog to view instructions on making the flower. This bag is perfect for a luncheon or baby shower party favor!

Supplies: SU! Baroque Motifs and A Little Somethin' stamp sets, SU! Certainly Celery, Whisper White cardstock, SU! Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery Classic Ink, SU! Delicate Dots SAB Designer Paper, Big Shot Top Notz die, SU! scallop and large circle punches, SU! So Saffron SAB grosgrain ribbon, blender pen, Pop Up glue dots, adhesive, rhinestone flower, white lunch bag, natural wood confetti

Happy New Year in February!

2009-02-24T21:49:00.005+01:00

Well, I didn't realize how long it has been since I've posted anything to my blog until I decided to post a recent project so I thought I'd wish everyone a Happy New Year in February! I know, I'm slightly unhinged but you wouldn't love me if I wasn't? Over the new few days I will be posting all the photos I've accumulated over the past three months (yep, it's been THAT long since I posted!) and delighting you with the life and times of my family and all my crafting escapades. I'll have to send out an e-mail to everyone so they'll know to start visiting my blog again as there will actually be something NEW!

To start off my New Year in February, I thought I'd post a few of my resolutions for this year. It's cliche, I know, but it gives me a sense of accountability if everyone I know reads it and looks to see if I follow through. Here goes:

*Priorities: I want this to be a year of priorities...the RIGHT kind of priorities. I'm involved in many good things but I frequently allow those good things to interfere with what's more important, like being faithful to my daily Bible reading or investing time in my family and friends.

*Blogging at least once a week: Writing has always been a necessary part of my existence and even if no one ever reads a word I've written, it restores a little piece of my sanity each time I sit down and pour out my thoughts. I'd like to mix up my blog a bit more and make it personal: recipes, photos, more crafting projects, books I'm reading, the good, the bad and the ugly. (I'll try to keep the ugly to a minimum!)

*Weight loss: I can hear the groans and see the eyes rolling but you don't understand...I came home from our trip to California, saw my pictures and lost at least a pound of water weight crying over the AWFUL pictures of myself (see picture above). How did I let this happen? We're talking gluttony squared! Even if I only lost one pound a month during the year, anything would have to be better than where I'm at right now.

*Casting aside criticism: This one is going to be tough for me because I've allowed this one to really take root. Another word for it is pride (and a bit of bitterness thrown in for good measure) but I'll be nice and just call it criticism for now. I've never realized until lately how much my life revolves around criticizing other people for not having a higher level of pride in what they do or how they treat people, to the point that most of my conversation seems to revolve around tearing others down. Not nice! It doesn't mean I'm going to turn into a "yes" woman or agree with everything around me but as Pollyanna said, "Look for the good in them."

As you can see, I've got my work cut out for me and if you want to pray for me or check in once and awhile to see how my resolutions or going, I welcome a bit of accountability. Happy belated New Year to you!

Andrea

Faux Bleach Technique

2009-02-24T21:27:00.002+01:00

I recently tried this technique for one of my stamp clubs and absolutely fell in love with the finished effect! If you're looking for a way to expand your use of your reinkers beyond just reinking your ink pads, this technique is for you. I love the rich and unusual colors and the fact that the card doesn't have to be fussy to showcase the final product of the technique. Visit the Splitcoaststampers resource gallery and look for the Color Wash Faux Bleach technique to get a step-by-step tutorial on how to complete a similar project, as well as some terrific samples from other crafters. Happy stamping!

Project materials: SU! Upsy Daisy and French Script stamp sets, SU! Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, and Pacific Blue ink and reinkers, SU! Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum, and Whisper White cardstock, white organdy ribbon, spray bottles, Versamark, embossing powder, iron, paper piercing tool and mat pack, sponges, Crop-A-Dile, and large pewter eyelets.

Let it Snow!

2008-11-22T10:17:00.004+01:00

The view from our office window....................................

I love the snow! There's snow forecast for the entire weekend here and I woke up to a thin layer of snow in our backyard. Our family loves to go sledding and both Joe and Alex enjoy skiing so we're always excited when the snow starts falling. We don't have many good places to go sledding in the Ramstein area, which means we invariably end up in Garmisch at some point in the season to hit our favorite sledding spots. Have a lovely weekend!

School pics from a proud mommy

2008-11-21T12:53:00.004+01:00

I know all mamas out there are prejudiced regarding their children, as they should be, thinking their kids are the smartest, the handsomest, best kids in the world but I have some wonderful children! They aren't perfect but I've been extremely blessed with two beautiful, fun-loving children and I just had to share my son's school photo. This is one of his best school photos ever, showing his sweet personality and that cute dimple on his left cheek! Of course, we won't mention the teenager who forgot to bring her photo packet home and now has to have photos done somewhere else...ahem, I think I mentioned something about my kids not being perfect?! Ha!

Deja Moo!

2008-11-21T12:03:00.003+01:00

Last month my sweet hubby recruited a couple of ladies to help him throw me a surprise party at our church. It was so much fun! One of my absolute favorite games to play is Bunco but it's difficult to get a crowd of 12 or more to play. Well, we had enough to play and I had one of the best birthdays ever. I didn't take a picture but my birthday cake was an enormous sheet cake meticulously piped in a black and white cow pattern, complete with pink udders on the bottom! Anyhoo, in case those visiting my blog haven't figured it out, I'm into cows :) The cows I collect have personality, with distinctive character and are rather kitschy: no dollar store cow figurines for me! In my dining room, I have my own "cow gallery" of postcards, pictures, etc. of all things cow and my dear friend Marilyn designed and made this fabulous cross-stitch cow for my birthday this year. The saying says, "Deja Moo: That feeling that you've heard this bull before." What a hoot! I'm sure all of you reading this are terribly excited about the latest addition to my cow collection (not!) but I just had to share. Enjoy!

Embossed Ceramic Jar

2008-11-20T21:11:00.003+01:00

As usual, the pics aren't the greatest but I'm working on getting a new camera and a photo tent for Christmas, with lots of hints to the hubby!

Once a month a few local Stampin' Up! demonstrators get together to encourage each other, share some goodies, and craft. Now that's my idea of a good time! We each take turns sharing a project and this lovely embossed jar was featured by Donna Way (thank you, Donna!) as our project this month. The pictures don't do the embossing on the top justice, since you can't really see the raised detail and the sparkly irridescent ice finish. Here's a few tips Donna shared with us to help complete the project:

*When embossing on ceramic, make sure the surface is clean before stamping your image.
*For embossing with color, stamp your image in Versamark and then Classic ink to create the colored pigment needed to emboss.
*Have a towel handy for wiping the ink off in case you make a mistake when stamping.
*The surface is slick so have a steady hand when stamping to preserve the detail of your image.
*While heating on a ceramic surface, the image will take more time to melt so have patience and allow the image to fully cool before touching.
*If you make a mistake when heating the image, use your fingernail or a Pampered Chef stone scrubber to remove the image and start over.

Happy stamping!

Supplies: SU! Winter Post stamp set, SU! Ski Slope Designer Series paper, SU! Baja Breeze cardstock, SU! Chocolate Chip classic ink, Versamark, Irridescent Ice embossing powder, American Crafts stitched ribbon, chocolate brown twine, Scor-tape, SU! tag punches, ceramic jar.

Christmas Advent Calendar-in-a-Bag

2008-11-18T12:57:00.002+01:00

Two years ago I purchased a bag similar to this one and created a "kid friendly" set for my kids for Christmas and they absolutely loved it! Each night in December they took turns opening a bag from the Advent Calendar-in-a-Bag and shared whatever was in the bag (I put enough for two in each bag so there was no fighting!). I decided to create a simple version for a class and this is what I came up with. We had the class at my house last night, which I tried "production" style with everyone completing different portions of the bag for the entire group rather than working on their bags individually. The white glassine bags, which are German fruhstuck (breakfast) bags, are a good size for putting several small items or one mid-size item and can be altered for any age and interest. This would make a terrific gift for a crafter: each bag containing small embellishments, tags, card candy, adhesive, stickers, and more! If you don't want to put candy in the bags for kids, try small things like cards, cars, balls, or crayons. Creating 24 bags and finding treats to put in them can be time consuming but imagine the delight you can bring someone for each day leading up to Christmas!

Supplies: Cub Kraft bags (Packaging Source), SU! Ski Slope Designer paper, SU! Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Whisper White cardstock, SU! Real Red and Old Olive markers, SU! Chocolate Chip ink, Merry Christmas stamp from SU! retired Painted Poinsettias stamp set, SU! Winter Post stamp set, Oriental Trading typed alphabet stamp set, American Crafts chocolate stitched ribbon, Listmann's chocolate twine, glassine bags, Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo Tag, SU! slot, designer label, scallop, hand-held circle and 3/4" circle punches, dimensionals, adhesive, SU! clear embossing powder, Versamark, embossing gun, and 1/4" Scor-tape.

Move over, Vanessa Hudgens!

2008-11-17T22:34:00.006+01:00

Alex and a few of her friends plotted at church last Sunday and convinced me to take them to see High School Musical 3 between services. It isn't the most intellectual of movies but we still had a great time! Jordan spent the afternoon at a friend's house so Joe opted to go with us and he barely managed to endure all the girlie talk in the car. In my viewpoint, it's a good way for me to know what's going on with Alex and her friends but Joe can only handle so much before he needs manly bonding. Anyway, I convinced Alex to let me snap this photo of her with Zac Efron...poor Vanessa doesn't even know Alex is moving in for the kill :)

Another Stationery Box

2008-11-04T04:20:00.003+01:00

This past weekend I demonstrated the Stationery Box to my Sunday stamp club and while this project is labor intensive, it's worth it in the end! I originally got the tutorial from Jackie Topa on (you guessed it!) Splitcoaststampers, with the link posted in a previous blog entry. The colors and style of the designer series paper "Parisian Summer" by Stampin' Up! are not my typical choices but I rather liked the paper once I began to play with it. There were several guests at the club this month who were "virgin" stampers and I felt badly that they might have been intimidated by such a lengthy project the first time out but they rallied and did well for having so much thrown at them. Hopefully I didn't scare them away from stamping!

I'm still not sure that I like the embellishment on the outside. I admire the work of Beate Johns and tried to layer this in a similar fashion. I'm still mulling over how I would change it but inspiration has left me for now! Some of the keys to making this project work: patience, commitment to finishing it to the bitter end, and a Scor-Pal!!

Supplies: SU! Parisian Summer Designer Series Paper, SU! Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, and Whisper White Cardstock and Classic inks, SU! Dreams Du Jour and Cute and Curly stamp sets, miscellaneous punches, twine, ribbon, Scor-Pal and Scor-Pal tape.

M is for Memories....

2008-10-29T08:31:00.003+01:00

Isn't this project sweet? It's just four chipboard coasters held together with a loose leaf binder ring to create a mini keychain album. I've been meaning to make some of these for gifts but only got as far as designing a set for my Sunday Stamp Club.

Isn't the owl adorable? Owls are very trendy in paper crafting right now and this set from the latest Stampin' Up! catalog is one of my favorites.

This is the front of the album with the M for memories. You can't see it but the yellow circle says "memories" as well. The project can easily be completed in an hour and a half, complete with photos and journaling on the tags. The coasters are 4x4", which is perfect for using with designer series paper. I purchased these through Eclectic Paperie. Thanks for viewing!

Supplies: SU! Autumn Vine designer paper, SU! Owl Together Now and Totally Tabs stamp sets, SU! More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip and Sage Shadow cardstock and inks, Office Depot 1"looseleaf binder rings, SU! Chocolate Chip stitched ribbon, mini cotton cording, SU! circle brads, Prima flowers, Cricut Plantin Schoolbook cartridge, paper piercer, circle and tab punches

Box-in-a-bag

2008-10-28T21:29:00.005+01:00

http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_di/2008/06/box-in-a-bag-tutorial.html

I've promised and promised to post this project and here it is....finally!! I designed this project for one of my stamping clubs using SU!'s new Urban Garden designer paper and absolutely love how it turned out. This is such a fun project and very practical, as most of us need a gift bag at the last minute that's original and inexpensive. I've included a link above to a step-by-step tutorial by Diana Gibbs. The only change to her tutorial that I would recommend is using a scallop punch rather than the corner rounder for the scalloped outer strip, primarily to save time. Using the corner rounder can be time consuming and tedious so invest in the scallop punch if you can. Happy crafting!

Supplies: SU! Urban Garden DP, SU! Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla cardstock, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, tag punch, Crop-A-Dile, SU! Say it with Scallops stamp set, 1 1/2 and 1 1/4" scallop square punches, Scor-tape, and Scor-pal.

Alex's Homecoming Dance Photo

2008-10-28T20:56:00.005+01:00

Curse my camera and the terrible lighting in my house! I had the worst time getting good photos of Alex before the Homecoming Dance and this was the only one that really came out. Alex looked just lovely and you wouldn't believe what we went through to find her a dress! The picture doesn't do the dress justice, which is a black satin with deep teal appliqued flowers down one side of the skirt. Alex's two friends Kati and Courtney came over beforehand to get ready and I ended up assisting all three girls with getting ready. It made me feel like a teenager again, hanging out with the girls, singing loud to the music Alex had playing in her room, and helping with hair and make-up. My parents were always supportive of all my friends and this was a good way for me to know what Alex's friends are like. Looking at the picture, I can scarcely believe my first baby is already 15 years old! Where does the time go?!

Christmas Swap

2008-10-28T20:13:00.005+01:00

This past Saturday I co-hosted a Christmas-themed shoebox swap with my friend Tasha and this little tag tin was my contribution to the event. For those of you who may not know, a shoebox swap is a project designed to be swapped with other ladies, but rather than making it ahead, you provide all the pieces for the participants to actually make your project. Typically the project and pieces should fit in a shoebox sized container. At the end of the swap, you've made the designs of all those present, which can take awhile if you have a large group (we finished in about 4 hours, not including the yummy potluck lunch we had before starting). We had 12 ladies participate so I tried to keep the details on the tin simple so it wouldn't take too long to complete. I wish I could say the design was original but it was inspired by Nichole Heady's blog Capture the Moment. Nichole Heady is a terrific designer and owner of Papertrey Ink, one of my favorite stamp companies. The link to her blog is listed to the right, complete with a tutorial on how to complete the project using Papertrey's nugget tin. I thought this project was a perfect idea since I'm always reaching for tags at the holidays and this cute little tin keeps them organized, complete with baker's twine and adhesive tags. If you want to see some of the other fabulous swaps from this event, visit Angi Crandall's blog, also listed to the right. Enjoy!

Supplies: SU! Real Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Old Olive cardstock and ink, retired SU! striped wrapping paper, Crystal Effects, Baker's Twine, Xyron, Hero Arts snowflake stamp, Papertrey Ink Boxes, Bags, and Tags stamp set, SU! Season of Joy stamp set, glitter, Oriental Trading rhinestone brads, www.clearbottle.com tins, Scor-Pal

Gasp! I'm actually posting!

2008-10-28T19:48:00.003+01:00

I'm sorry the pictures are a tad fuzzy but I still haven't worked out good lighting for taking photos in my house at night. I know those of you reading this are in a state of shock since it has been quite some time since my last posting. You'll be sick of me after this because I have several posts to make! The photos are a sampling of the projects I actually completed today!! My sweet hubby threw a surprise birthday party for me early in the month and I've been needing to make a batch of thank you cards to send to all the generous folks who gave me gifts and my card box was empty...wahhh! This first card is one I designed for my friend Marilyn's Stampin' Up! show a few months ago and I've had the extra pieces laying around, begging me to put them together, thus giving me a head start in getting my cards together. I managed to crank out 15 of these today!

The rest of the cards came together in part because another good friend of mine, Tasha, has been after me to organize my scrap box. I hate to throw paper scraps away as I invariably try to use my paper as frugally as possible. Tasha has enjoyed teasing me about my bottomless scrap bin so I finally buckled down and tackled organizing all the pieces. With Joe's help, I sorted the whole box in one night and realized how many scrap pieces I have that matched the first card so I designed smaller cards to use up the smaller pieces. The smaller cards are perfect for jotting a quick note or tucking in with a small gift. Not bad for a day's worth of work, eh? On to the next posting :)

Supplies: SU! Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Whisper White, and Very Vanilla cardstock and ink, Scallop and circle punches, paper piercer, silver brads, SU! Stitched background stamp, SU! Priceless stamp set, SU! retired Blue Bayou stitched ribbon

Isn't she lovely?

2008-09-10T12:02:00.004+02:00

I'm sure she'll be embarassed when she finds out I did this but isn't my daughter lovely? Alex and a friend went to dinner Saturday night and she asked me to take this photo before we left the house. Unfortunately Alex inherited my genes and will never be stick thin but she's becoming a beautiful young woman regardless of her genetics. It's hard to believe she's almost fifteen! My baby just isn't a baby anymore. Okay, I'm gonna go have a good cry now!

Thank You Card

2008-09-10T11:53:00.004+02:00

This summer I decided to participate in an online swap and had a lot of fun finding different craft supplies to mail to each of my two Mystery Sistah's. This week I received this lovely thank you card from Debra Harrison, aka disneydeb25 on Splitcoaststampers, who was one of the ladies I sent goodies over the summer. Look at the detail on this card! The dry embossed top, the felt butterflies, the scallops on the bottom: that's alot of work and she chose to send this to me! :) I love being inspired by other crafters and this beautiful card has certainly done that. Thanks, Deb!

3x3 Mini Notecard Box

2008-09-09T11:39:00.003+02:00

This latest project was featured in the Weekly Inkling newsletter, produced by Splitcoaststampers, and was the main project for my September Paper Junkies Club at the Ramstein Arts & Crafts Center. There is a tutorial on the SCS site with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the project. I've been trying to use up my new SU! Designer Paper and this project was perfect for doing just that! Here's the link to Laurie Schmidlin's tutorial:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/3x3notecardbox/

Supplies: SU! Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink, Kiss Me Kiwi, and Whisper White cardstock, SU! Riding Hood Red, Kiss Me Kiwi, and Pink Pirouette Classic ink, SU! Bella Rose Designer Paper, blender pens, ink, ribbon, scallop edge punch, dimensionals, and crystal glitter.

Legoland

2008-09-05T15:17:00.003+02:00

Recently we had the opportunity to take a day and visit Legoland AGAIN! While we had a great time, we've come to the realization that our family is outgrowing Legoland. Many of the rides are geared for Jordan's age and while there were some rides which appealed to Joe and Alex, they don't have the same appeal as rides at Six Flags or Knott's Berry Farm. As you can see by the first photo of Joe in the SUV, I think we laughed more hysterically trying to flip Pringles in our mouths on the drive to the park than the wet, overcast weather we enjoyed during our time actually in the park. We'll have to check out Europa Park and see if we like that better but I think we'll do it on a day with better weather!

Altered Mini Notebooks

2008-09-04T22:29:00.003+02:00

I finished these altered mini notebooks yesterday as a small gift for my club members and I'm rather pleased with how well they turned out. This project was inspired by a tutorial I viewed on Angie Kennedy Juda's blog, Chic'n Scratch. I've put the link to her site in the resource bar to the right of my blog for your viewing enjoyment. She has some terrific projects on there and the tutorials are fantastic! I made a template for the covers by tearing out a sheet of the notepaper, cutting a piece of cardstock the same size as the cover and then overlaying the notepaper on top of the cardstock and using my Crop-a-Dile to punch the holes. To fit the paper on top of the cover I cut tiny slits at the top of each hole and fit it around the spiral wire, then adhered the cardstock or designer paper to the cover. I kept the cover design simple and was able to crank these out pretty quickly.

Supplies: Ginger Blossom and Bella Rose Designer paper, SU! Riding Hood Red, Groovy Guava, Real Red, and Old Olive Classic ink and cardstock, scallop and circle punches, Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, Certainly Celery twill tape, and Pink Hedgehog Papercrafts red/white stripe ribbon,Papertrey Ink Trajan Monogram and Boxes, Bags, and Tags clear stamps, and generic memo notepads.

Chalkboard Technique

2008-09-03T09:40:00.002+02:00

I'm finally getting caught up on past projects so I thought I'd post a few of them for your viewing enjoyment! This card utilizes the chalkboard technique featured by Beate Johns in the Splitcoaststampers Resource library. The link is listed below if you're interested in experimenting with this technique.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/chalkboard_technique/

Card Resources: SU! Heartfelt stamp set, SU! Close to Cocoa, retired Groovy Guava, Rose Red, Very Vanilla cardstock, retired Groovy Guava double stitched ribbon, vintage brads, SU! Craft White, Classic Close To Cocoa ink, Certainly Celery and Rose Red Chalk, retired Ginger Blossom Designer Paper, and misc. punches.

RAK Winner's Gift

2008-09-03T00:11:00.003+02:00

As promised, here are photos of Nicole's RAK gift, which she will receive Friday during our monthly Stamp Technique Club. I've been cruising the web for different but inexpensive crafting items to use as hostess gifts and found these cute bags at Joann.com. The pink was a little lighter than I anticipated but it's still a cute little tote for carrying crafting supplies around. The checkered ribbon is leftover clearance ribbon from Verve Visual and the tag was made with Marvy Uchida oval punches, Papertrey Ambassador Monogram Stamp Set, and SU! Pretty in Pink/Close to Cocoa Ink, SU! Bella Rose DP, and the butterfly from the new SU! Dreams DuJour set. I'll have to come up with something more spectacular for the next contest!

And the winner is.....

2008-09-01T21:58:00.005+02:00

Through a highly scientific process, (I wrote all the participant names on notepaper and dropped them in a bucket for my husband to select. Isn't he handsome?) the winner of the RAK gift is.....Nicole Apel!! A huge thanks to everyone who took the time to visit my blog over Labor Day weekend and leave comments. You were all so generous in your compliments and I appreciate the time given to checking out what's posted. Nicole has won a customized scrapbook mini totebag, of which I will post a photo by Wednesday. Thanks for playing along!

Onesie Card Tutorial

2008-08-31T16:22:00.007+02:00

Isn't this card adorable? Our local SU! demo group met last week and this was the project demo'd by Ally, one of our newest demonstrators. The card is super easy and would make a great baby shower invite, gift card or announcement. I used Barely Banana and Whisper White cardstock, retired SU! DP paper and the Announcements retired SU! set, as well as the 1 3/8" circle punch and scallop punch. Trying to use up my retired stuff! Of course, everyone got a good laugh at my expense when I pulled out my stamp set and mounted one of the stamps right there in class. It was a set I just "had to have" and then never used it! Okay, so I'm a supply hoarder but who isn't?! I've attached the link to a tutorial by Lauren Meader, who created this sweet card:

http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/02/05/create-your-own-onesie-card-tutorial-and-important-note-please-read/

Happy card making!

Altered Tin II

2008-08-30T09:54:00.004+02:00

As promised, here is my latest project! I bought more Tchibo biscuit tins for a Mystery Sistah swap on Splitcoaststampers and created this design for my August gift. The color combination is unusual but it's always fun to go outside your "comfort zone" to see what comes of putting different colors together.
The paper is from the same K & Company paper pack I used from the last tin I completed and I managed to buy the last of the matching fabric brads at the Heidelberg Arts & Crafts Center. The flowers are a combination of two types of Prima flowers and a set from Oriental Trading Company. The burlap ribbon
is a common staple used in German decorations. I used the SU! Priceless stamp set for the tag and Sage Shadow, Close To Cocoa, So Saffron and Very Vanilla cardstock, as well as SU! twill tape for the edge of the lid. The butterfly was cut from the same paper used to line the inside of the tin and accented with Stickles Bronze glitter glue for a little added bling.

For those of you checking this out over the weekend of August 30-31st, leave a comment on this project and I will randomly select a winner for a special gift. This is just a little RAK (random act of kindness) for all the folks who've taken the time to visit my blog, which has received over 500 hits! I'll be posting more over the weekend and hope you enjoy the latest project.

Tool of the Week: The Scor-Pal!

2008-08-10T13:59:00.002+02:00

This is my latest favorite toy: The Scor-Pal! I purchased one of these beauties a few months ago as part of a bulk order I put together for demonstrators overseas so we could receive free shipping and free goodies. When you live overseas, free shipping to an APO sends people running to a company's website! This wonderful tool makes scoring cards and projects happen at the speed of light. (Well, maybe not that fast but pretty darn close!) The Scor-Pal also embosses and makes some really cool projects! You can also see the Scor-Pal bag, which is perfect if you travel with your craft projects alot, the Scor-Mat that features a self-healing mat on one side and a work surface on the other, a extra Scor-Tool, and the wonderful double-sided Scor-Tape. The Scor-Mat fits perfectly in the groove of your Scor-Pal so it can stay out and not detract from your work surface.

This pull out album is available, with directions, on the Scor-Pal website gallery: www.scor-pal.com These would make great gifts (my family is probably asking themselves why they haven't received one yet!)

For those APO folks out there, I'll be doing another bulk order in September so check out the website and e-mail me if you want to get this amazing tool with free shipping and more! Cost of the Scor-Pal is $39.95, the bag is $16.00 and the mat is $15.00. Place a bulk order with six people, you get a free Scor-Tool along with free shipping and with 12 you receive the aforementioned plus an extra roll of Scor-Tape. I don't make any money from doing this...I just love to share the tools I love with others so that they can improve their crafting experience and it's always nice to pass on a good bargain to someone else!

Cuttlebug For Sale!

2008-08-10T12:56:00.002+02:00

Now that Stampin'Up! has released their partnership with Sizzix Die Cut machines, my gracious husband has agreed to let me purchase the new diecut machine as long as I sell my Cuttlebug. I'm ashamed to say I only used my Cuttlebug once (I have the Cricut Expressions so that's what I tend to use) so it's in almost pristine condition. Average cost for a Cuttlebug is $89.99 but I'm selling mine for only $65.00! It comes with four mini embossing folders and one diecut, as well as all the layering mats. Let me know if you're interested and it's yours!

August Stamp Club Project

2008-08-08T15:20:00.003+02:00

This is one of two projects for this month's August Stamp Club. Beate Johns of Splitcoaststampers featured the Joy Fold card for this week's tutorial and I fell in love with it. I tried to showcase some of the new Stampin'Up! products coming out on the 11th. (Available on Monday...eek!) The card features two new SU! stamp sets: Dreams Du Jour and Fresh Cuts, as well as Designer Paper from the new Bella Rose DP set. I snuck in the retiring Purely Pomegranate and Wild Wasabi In Color ink and paper as a fond farewell to two of my favorite In Color inks.

For a step-by-step tutorial of this project, visit http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/