Back from the Bunker

Well, as you may have noticed....I have been a little incognito as of late. I have been stampin' just trying to get those teacher gifts done and working on convention swaps that I can't show you yet, because then they wouldn't be a surprise. They are sooooo cute though. I am little proud of them, maybe a little more than a little. Anyway.....

For teacher's gifts this year, I made paper bag albums. If you haven't seen these albums before....they are really kind of neat. The base of the album is made out of paper lunch bags. In my case I used brown, but I know they come in all kinds of colors. I just happened to have brown and being my usual "think ahead" self....I started this project on Sunday night. Yes, I am forever the procrastinator....actually, I think I just live in a time bubble. I really do not have any sense of time anymore....but that is a problem to be solved on another day. I need some of that memory stuff. Ginko something. If you know what it is, let me know. Needless to say after many nights in the bunker after the kids were asleep...I finished these just in the nic of time. The teacher's really seemed to enjoy them and I really liked the way they came out. It was sort of therapeautic, but also a little saddening because this is the end of preschool for my little guy. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I made one for each teacher.

Here are the front covers.














Here are the inside cover and one of the inside pages. Each child got their own page.















These are really easy to make. A little time consuming, but easy. I might try to post a tutorial a little later down the line for you all. The inside pages featured each of the kids, with their names and then a quote (I found online) about teachers. I also included the class picture in each one.

In the pockets I made a little 5x5 page that coordinated with the preceeding page so that the teacher could pull it out and add their own photos or journaling about the year. The bottom quote says "Favorite Things About This Year". I printed this on the computer onto cardstock and then mounted it on a bigger sheet. This way the teacher's can personalize the album a little more.

In the wee hours of the night, I managed to squeeze in a couple of cards too. You can't really give a gift without a card...right? I didn't stamp my gift bags....but please don't call the stamping police on me. I just ran outta time. I had to resort to the dollar store. Luckily I was in a hurry or I could have spent the rest of my 401K there. Crazy store....everything's a dollar. And, they have everything there. Need some peanuts...they got em. Playdough...got it. Plastic bin...got it. It's easy to go nuts in there. Also, a great outing for the kids on a rainy day. Whoever thought of the dollar store is counting way more than dollars, I can assure you.

These were my teacher cards. This one of course I used Doodle This because let's just fess up at this point, I am totally addicted to this and Doodle That. If they don't make it into the next catalog, I think I will go on a chocolate and wine bender. It's not gonna be pretty. For the background, I used the swirly dude (this is totally the official name. You can call Stampin' Up! and ask em'. I swear!) Anyway, stamped that in Vintage Violet (which is retiring too - boo hoo) and then I used the fine glue pen and added the dazzling diamonds glitter to it. The flowers were stamped in black stazon and then watercolored with the watercolor crayons. One is mounted on Taken with Teal and the other is mounted on Pink Passion both placed on the diagonal. The saying is from Warmest Regards and is in a pewter oval piece of HP hardware. The ribbon is from Jody's ribbon swap. The back of the card is also Taken with Teal.

This card was made with chocolate and purple. I thought this might be kind of cool combination. Again, I used Doodle That for the background stamped in Basic Brown ink on Whisper White CS. I put little purple blings in the centers of the whole flowers. The middle flowers were also stamped in Basic Brown and then watercolored with the watercolor crayons (again) and then yellow blings in the center of those. They are mounted on Chocolate Chip which is laid over a piece of Au Chocolat paper that I sponged with Lovely Lilac ink. I would have brayered this were I to do it again, but I didn't have a foam brayer until about a week ago and this was a whoopsi from a class that I did. I couldn't very well throw it away no could I? Psh. That's what I thought! The thank you again is from Warmest Regards (I am totally gonna miss this set too!) stamped in Brown to match and tied off with some old SU fibers that I found in my stash, also in purple.

Lastly, but not leastly....today is my parent's 38th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations Mom and Dad! This is the card that I made for them. Wow! 38 years. That makes me feel a little old, but also proud that they have been married that long. For this one I used my cuttlebug embossing folder "swirls" and then mounted that on Real Red CS. I used my scallop scissors and cut off a chunk and then added polka dot ribbon and a heart bling to that bottom edge. On the inside edge I stamped "Love" from Wonderful Words in Basic Black. The heart is from Doodle That and is stamped again in Real Red and mounted on the same color. The ric rac and ribbon are again from Jody's share. Love that Jody!

Well, it looks like rain again. I am going to try and get down to the bunker before the boys wake up. Off to work on the mystery swaps. Bwahahahahaha!

Happy Stamping!

Scrapbook Pages

Hi Everyone! Just a quick post to share these two pages I recently finished. I had these two pages done a couple of days ago, but didn't have time to get them posted here until today. The pictures aren't great because the lighting was craptacular today....sorry. But, you get the general idea. These were the samples I put together for my last class and finally got them finished up and embellished. I still have 4 more to go...but they will get done someday! For details....check out my splitcoast gallery. Happy Stamping!

Mother's Day Cards

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. I hope you are having a great day. I have the greatest hubby in the world in case you were wondering. I spent yesterday (most of the day) with my mom and aunt getting pedicures and going to lunch. I decided to stop into a little scrapbooking store on in north Denver that I had been wanting to check out. The bad news, they are going out of business. The good news (for me) is that everything was 40% off. I went a little ribbon crazy you might say. But, I just had to. I will have to take a picture of all the purty ribbon I found while I was there. I also got some other odds and ends for the boys scrapbooks and some bling blings. I can't leave without bling. huh?!? DH didn't say a word, just said he didn't want to know and Happy Mom's day. All this after I had begged to go to convention earlier in the week. Even though it will be a financial stretch and lots of schedule juggling...he just said "go and have fun, I know you have been looking forward to it!" As Em would say MWAH MWAH MWAH! I will tell you more about convention another day. hee hee!!!

Then today I woke up and he made me french toast and had a nicely wrapped little present that he had hand stamped the wrapping paper with my 5-year-old for. They even used a retiring set (Roses in Winter) all on their own. (The box was even round!) They are so smart!!! How nice was that? My DS1 wrote the whole card out on his own and even signed his brother's names for them. How sweet huh? Here's the pic

and here's what was inside!

Sadly, I have been on the computer doing hubby's business paperwork almost all afternoon. But, since he'll be heading out of town at the end the week....I had to do it while he was here to watch the monkeys. Not my favorite activity, especially on Mother's Day. But, what are you gonna do?

I did manage to find time this week to make Mom's day cards for friends and family...so I thought I would take a minute to post them. Enjoy!

This card was made with the Doodle This stamp set which is in the current mini catalog (if you don't own this yet, I would highly recommend getting it before the catalog expires at the end of June!) Stamped in Stazon Black ink on Whisper White CS and then watercolored with the Watercolor Wonder crayons. The background paper is from one of the "stacks" that you can get at Joann and different places. I can't remember which one, but it's probably spring because it looks pretty springy. The flower is mounted on Buckaroo Blue CS (also going away in a little over a month) and the base of the card is made out of Apricot Appeal. I tore the edge of the card and then added a strip to the inside bottom of the background paper. The bling bling in the middle is from Hobby Lobby or Joann. I can't remember which. I was using some of my stash for these. =) The ribbon is SU pink gingham check. The little phrase at the bottom is from Curvy Verses. It's the top line of the stamp.

This card was made with the Love Without End stamp set

(which is retiring BTW) stamped in Taken With Teal on Whisper White CS. The 'mom' in the center is from Fancy Flexible Phrases which was in the previous mini catalog. I really hope these make it into the new catalog because I love love love them. The flower is stamped with apricot appeal to match the card base. The background paper is again from the "spring" stack. The love is from Wonderful Words stamp set again, stamped in Taken With Teal. The "happy days" phrase at the bottom is stamped in Taken With Teal and Apricot appeal and come from the Happy Everything set. The fiber is from the old SU fibers that we sold when they came in sets. I also put crystal effects over the "mom" in the middle of the flower to give it a glassy look.

This is the card I made for my mom yesterday. Again I used the "spring stack" from Joann for the background paper. This time daisies. I put a piece of Very Vanilla over it and stamped out the phrase "so happy you're my mom" by using Fancy Flexible Phrases and Amazing to Zany - in Rose Red and then used the Hostess Set "love it" to stamp a heart over it in barely banana. The card base is also rose red. The prima flower I got from my LSS about a year ago during a sale. I love sales!!! The ribbon is from the Prep School pack of ribbon by SU. The middle is again the Fancy Flexible Phrases "my mom" stamped on vanilla in rose red, punched out with the 3/4" circle punch and placed under a clear button.

Happy day to you all and I hope you get a chance to stamp! =)

Rainy Day Cards

This afternoon turned into a rainy day, so I snuck off to the bunker to make some cards and play with my new stamps that I won from Ellen Hutson's blog candy give away. Let me first preface that by saying....I almost never win anything....so when I got her goodie box in the mail....I was doubled over with excitement. Hee hee. I reaaaallllly like these pears. I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to....but I did get a couple of cards made that I need to get into the mail. She has also has a cute strawberry and a quilt block that I have my eye on. Maybe for mom's day? I won't hold my breath. Getting the DH to buy stamping stuff is like saying....hey let me tell you about PMS. Not a so gut!

I also got to use my new Jody ribbon on this card. Can I just say....I am so in love with ribbon. I sorta have a problem letting go these days. I just want to stare at it and play with it and touch it....but I don't want to give it away. I really must start using it, or it might just take over the bunker. Not so good....no room for stamps then. hee hee! I have seen this punch out the tag of a metal tag technique around town (i.e. internet) but I don't exactly remember where. If it's your technique....hey thanks for sharing. It's totally cute!

This is a little thank you card that I whipped up for Ellen using her cute stamps. I also managed to get the oval and circle scallop punches from her website awhile back. I love them too (big surprise...eye roll), but now, I want the other ones. Word on the street is that papertrey ink is going to start preorders in June. Check out their website for more info. I would bet cute little Ellen will have something up her sleeve to...wouldn't hurt to bookmark both of their pages. (grin) I used the gold stickles on the pears for this one and I would have to say that I might need them in every color. How can I swing that? I also got to use my new rhinestone brad. Not sure if you can see it or not, but the center is green. I bet you can guess by now where the cute ric rac is from!

The last card is a little card I made for Shane. If you haven't heard Shane's story or read about Shane yet, please find that information here. Shane is a seven-year-old boy who has been diagnosed wtih leukemia. His birthday is on May 30th and his wish isn't for money or toys, instead it is to break the world record for the most birthday cards ever received. His goal is 350 million. If you have a minute....send Shane a card, whether you have time to stamp it or not. Here's his address:

Shane Bernier

PO Box 484

Lancaster, Ontario

K0C 1N0

Canada

Here's the card I made. I will probably send a few more before his birthday. Just trying to do my part.

The kids are off to bed, so I am heading back to the bunker. (big grin!) Happy stamping!

Are you sitting down?

I can't believe it, I actually got tagged by someone...which means someone other than my friend "Kari and the Sunshine Band" actually reads my blog. Woohoo! The deal is that I am supposed to tell you 7 things about myself and then send you to some new blogs. So here you go.

1. I have been a Stampin' Up! demo for four years and quickly became addicted after the first workshop I went to (or rather was drug to) and spent hours looking at the catalog. I thought the demonstrator might want to throttle me. Anyhoo....I still like Stampin' Up! but in the last few months decided to branch out in some other directions. I am enjoying expanding my creative circle

2. I am the mom of three very busy little boys. Ages 5, 2 and 2. Yep you read that right 2, count em' again 2 2-year-olds. I never thought I would be the mom of so many boys and still don't get the "must destroy" boy thing. Why must they hit things with their head? Break things into a million pieces? Pound on fancy furniture....color on things with permanent marker? Why can't they sit and play nicely with dolls or something? Yeah right! So....here's the crazy part....I'm still hoping for a girl.

3. I am completely and totally addicted to chocolate. There's no denying it. If there's chocolate in the house....I will hoard it and not share. It's sad actually. My favs are of course M&Ms, godiva flat square thingys, rocher, those fancy pants dove chocolates with the nice sayings inside and of my favorite of all time is this german chocolate my mom brought back from Germany last summer and it is conspicuously hidden in the far corners of the freezer so that I don't have to share. Shhhh it's our secret.

4. I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with hodgkins-lymphoma in 1993 and went through chemotherapy. I have been fully recovered for almost 14 years. I am a better person for going through the experience, and it made me who I am today. I am truly grateful to everyone who saved my life and feel blessed to be alive.

5. I love being a SAHM. I love watching my kids grow up right before my eyes and cry sometimes when I see how fast they are growing. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with them and not work (even when they are climbing the walls). I had another job once that paid lots of money, I got to wear nice clothes, travelled, ate out all the time and I actually sounded like someone with a higher education. I hated it and wouldn't trade this job for that one no matter what the pay.

6. I have the greatest husband in the world. Although he thinks the stamping thing is a little out of control, he would never suggest that I lay off my obsession for awhile. He jokes and says I should practice some self control....but eh....why? He is my best friend and I am so so lucky!

7. Okay, you know those people with the really tidy and well groomed stamped rooms? They post all their purty pictures of their organization on Splitcoast and on their blogs? I am SOOO jealous of them. I am not them. I will never be them. The "bunker" is named the "bunker" because it looks like a bomb went off down there. I really try to clean it up, but then I start another project and well....it's just not pretty. I have also been told recently that I do not share my stamping space well. Apparently, word on the street is....sure come to my house to stamp, but bring your own table. I don't think this is funny. True. But not funny. My DH also thinks it's amazing that I can create anything because he doesn't understand how I can find anything on the table when I am stamping. Huh! How rude! Someday I will post pictures of the bunker and then you will be able to feel so un-envious of my disorganization. You will feel so good about your stamping organization that you may even take pity on me and come over and organize my space. Bwahahahahahahhaha!!!

There you have it. So...first I would like to thank the Academy....I mean....the other person that reads my blog....Lorien for nominating me (I mean tagging). Second I would like to tag the following blogs because they haven't been tagged (at least I couldn't find evidence of such) Bloggabella (she has the greatest stamps and has a new winobella -this could be me-and some cutie patootie fella bellas...am I gushing?) Sarah's Inky Fingers which I just found and she has kuh-yute stuff on her blog, The Polka Dot Spot (a new blogger....with really cute stuff) and the Paper Boutique because she is a funny funny girl and I LOOOVVVEEE her stuff!

The thunder is starting to roll so I am off to stamp. Maybe I will have somethin' purty for ya tomorrow. Happy Friday and as always, Happy Stamping!

Retirement List

In case you live in a stamping cave somewhere, I thought I would bring it to your attention that the Stampin' Up! retirement list is out. If you would like to take a glance at you can read it here in page order or in alphabetical order.

I have been a Stampin' Up! demo for nearly four years and this is the largest retirement list I can remember seeing. I counted 249 sets retiring (including 16 hostess sets) and 45 wheels. It kind of makes you curious about what is coming with the new catalog in July. I am anxious to see what is around the bend. I am also a little sad to see so many of my favorites retiring. So in appreciation of those sets that we hold near and dear to our hearts, I am going to attempt to make my future cards (until retirement) on this site with retiring sets. Here's the first one. For specifics, check out my splitcoast gallery.

I have had to make three sympathy cards today, including the one above, and I am little bummed about the whole thing. I love stamping, but I really really really don't love making sympathy cards, especially when there are so many to make. I still have one more to do, then I will be on to something much for happy....I have two friends who just found out they were pregnant....and that is sooooo exciting. Yeah....Baby cards!

In the meantime, I made this card for a sketch challenge, which you can also peruse on Splitcoast Stampers. I love to do these. I am sort of addicted to them actually because it makes you think out of your "stamping box". If you haven't tried them yet, you should check them out. The pink card above was also a color and sketch challenge.

The final card for this post today is a card I struggled with. I like the final results but it was one that I played and played with and couldn't get it quite right. I finally just added some embellishments and it came together. I am loving the ric-rac ribbon that came from my buddy Texas Jody Lynn. Who am I kidding, I am loving all of that ribbon. Wooppeee!

I am reading the "shopoholic" series right now and I have to say that I could be her if I were stuck in a mall of just stamping and scrapbooking supplies. I hear Bella calling my name. Did you know she has some fellas? Beerafella and Fishafella are my favorites. Check em' out if you get a chance. Have fun pouring over the retirement list and making your wish list of must have's. Happy stamping!