A Michaels Gift Card Haul & Senior Day

Hi legionnaires, just wanted to show a Michaels' haul I got yesterday. Do my fellow seniors know that Tuesday is Senior Day and that you're entitled to a 10% discount? In my state that covers the taxes. So my dear friend gave me a $10 gift card and I was able to maximize it by taking advantage of a huge clearance going on. The store's look was weird. So many shelves were empty and wooden stamps were 40% off, which I haven't seen for a while. Select Recollection sets were $4.99 & 5.99. I'd been eyeing this 'Bouncin' Baby Boy' clear stamp set and the Inkadinkadoo Footprints sentiment on wood for even longer. There's a Stampendous "Mr. & Mrs." that's kinda hard to make out here and two Studio "G" dollar Thank you stamps. I threw in the No. 10 envies which are a beautiful gold. Figure I'll make some sort of mini album. With the discount, I spent $16.20. And for once, I actually really wanted everything I bought. I have a nasty habit of going to Michaels and just buying to be buying. Not that that "I have it like that." It's just my addiction love of all things stamping getting in the way.

So Joan at Paperlicious here is asking us for our goals this coming year. She's put forth this word as an alternative to the ubiquitous resolution. And I much prefer it. So that lofty yet attainable goal is to not to buy if I don't see a genuine (and reasonably timely) need for it. Care to join me in this pursuit?

It's Snowing...sorta'

Good evening legionnaires. Hope your year is ending on a high note. I have just completed babysitting my 3 1/2 yr. old granddaughter since 12/24. Unless you've been there, you've no idea how much fun (uhhh, most of the time) this daunting task can be. Our days together began at 6:30 and ended 12 hours later. I will not bore you with the details, but I'm glad it's over. Suffice it to say, I got very little stamping done. I had to pack as much as I could into the evenings, but couldn't keep my usual late nights since I had to be up and ready for her.

Soooo, I made this card yesterday. I'm annoyed with myself for not sending out Christmas cards. Come on, how does a stamper not send out cards I ask, especially, when she has about 10 sitting on her desk. In an effort to reprieve myself, I'm sending out a few like these to cherished friends (some of whom haven't sent me a card...but alas, I can't throw stones). I made this with the Sizzix Bigz SU snowflake die which was a gift from my upline and friend and I used glittery blue paper from another dear friend. The embossing folder is from Sizzix and was brayered with Rangers Distress Ink in tea dye. Sizzix folders are giving Provo Cuttlebug folders a run for the money. The base is SU kraft. Gosh, I'm sure hoping that crumb cake is exactly like kraft. It took me years to get into the kraft and now I'm totally loving it. The finishing touches include SU twine, a button from my stash and the simple sentiment is from a long retired SU set. I went over the word with a Sakura blue glitter pen. IMO, these relatively cheap pens are better than Copic's 'atyouSpica's'. The colors are deeper and richer. They can be a bit tough to find nowadays. But Michaels usually has a few colors.

I've more to share in the following days, so stay tuned.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica
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How the Year is Ending for Me

I don't have a card for you yet, and as I suspected, I didn't have time to take pics of the 30 or so 3D items I made. They were teabag holders which held chocolates and/or teas, and tealight boxes which held 4 'stamped' tealights. I also made several gift card holders.  All were done up in Christmas ds, ribbons and embellies. They were a big success with the recipients to be sure.

So I had a quiet holiday...cooked way too much food. I will not be doing that again. I think my small family was a bit overwhelmed by it all. We are such a stinkin' foodie rich culture. I keep saying I'm going to skip the cooking and go to serve at a shelter some holiday. I've simply got to just do it!

Well, we did manage to keep  presents to a minimum.  We tried to make it all about the little ones. As for me, I usually tell hubby what I want (since he's homebound) and then order on-line or go and get it. I wanted an ereader, so I got a Sony a bit before Christmas. I love it. Took me a while to get how to download books, but  now I have enough to read for the next 5 years, and by that time, I expect ereaders will be replaced by another technological wonder. I also got a Dr. Charles F. Stanley edited Life Principles Bible. I've been wanting one for a while. I really enjoy it and I'm resolving to read DAILY in 2011.  I also took advantage of stamp company clearances on-line, and purchased some Nestie sets, as well as some Clear Dollar Stamps. Speaking of...one of the lead designers posted personal sad news. Her blog is on my blog list.It's called My Paper Haven.  If you have a moment, go and show her some love. My heart goes out to this young wife and mother. And finally, I was given Ina Garten's latest cookbook. I enjoy her style of cooking and the book has beautiful food photos and is good reading if you like the Barefoot Contessa.
So legionnaires, I had a blessed Christmas and hope you did too. Tomorrow, I will posta card I made using a die from SU and a Sizzix folder. Would you believe, I didn't have time to send even one Christmas card this year. UGH....not happy with myself.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

I've been soooo busy...

Hi legionnaires. I have been up to my neck in gifts for dd's co-workers, my friends and grand's  teachers, and as usual, I didn't start early enough. But from the response of giftees so far, they are lovin' what I made. I will post pics and deets shortly. I'll give you a little hint now though.Candles and tea and candy. In the meantime, Office Max is offering a cute chance to "Elf Yoursef' in a You Tube vide and after watching Ashley Newell Cannon's on her blog
I decided to take the plunge and what fun...here's mine. Merry Christmas. Hope you'll play along.

Now don't go just yet. Obviously, no one liked my sticker card of last week, so I'm posting

this one  and I hope you will like it better.

The photo was taken with the card laying down. I'm not sure that was a good idea. It appears smaller than

what it is. I'm too pooped to write the deets and blogger is doing some strange things. I suppose it's tired too, so let me know if you'd like them. In the meantime, be well and I hope you're almost done with your holiday shopping.

Blessings, Erica (who is not!).

Rub-Ons? or Stickers?

Hey legionnaires, the weekend is almost upon us. I have two weeks to complete several Chrismas projects I started, and get a little baking done. And I'd like to see a movie or two and finish the book I've been reading and I have to help babysit when school breaks and I wanted to visit a friend I haven't seen in 4ever. OK, so it looks like I'll be busy, huh?

Here's a card I made using a sticker. I rarely make cards that don't have some stamping on them, but HL had lovely stickers on sale at 50% off, and I couldn't resist a few sets. I love the Victorian style, but not enough to invest in samps to any great degree, so stickers fit the bill. I have a friend who makes all of her cards with stickers. They are cute, but it's not for me. I do hope to someday get into digital images. The trend is burgeoning and I don't think it's going away. I have downloaded a few freebies, but I need practise re-sizing with appropriate programs.

So, I love my Nesies Label 10. I find it so versatile and it works vertically as well as horizontally. I don't think I've captured the colors well (the story of my life). The musical sheet is a BG stamp from Stampendous and I almost didn't get it...but at the exit door of Michaels, my intuition told me buyer's regret would haunt me, so I marched back and got it with the $$$ I had for a few groceries I planned on getting. This happens sometimes.... food money spent on stamps, that is. Ever encounter this annoying problem. I prettied up the rest of the card with a new CB folder, some ribbon and an MS snowflake punch accented with some bling and more bling at the bottom of the Nestie shape.

I have another sticker card to share tomorrow...more of a C&S look.

God Bless,
Erica

Heartfelt Creations

Hi legionnaires....Got big plans for the weekend? I'm stamping with close group of friends. We've been stamping together for more than 5 yrs., and call ourselves The Three Abuelas. We eat, stamp, eat, gossip, chat eat and stamp some more. What fun we have and what fast friends we've become. I just love them and feel blessed. Do you belong to a small group like this...where you may not see each more than once a month, but wish it could be more?

Sooo, here's my card. I was gonna enter a challenge for Heartfelt Creations stamps at Joan's Garden here, but found out all stamps used had to be theirs. My sentiment is one of my dollar stamps. I don't think the card will look as good w/o that word, and I have no single Heartfelt sentiments, so the card will be added to my stash to be mailed.

The poinsetta is Heartfelt Creations (an older set), stamped twice in gold and embossed with gold ep, then cut out and mounted. I added some tiny gold beads and smudged some glitter all over it. The red mat is embossed with a Sizzix snow folder, the blue cs base and smaller mat are from CTMH and the white cs is Papertrey's basic white. I used a Nestie to stamp the sentiment on and added a little bling. A quick & easy card for mailing, I'd say.

Have a blessed weekend.

This IS a Picnik and Santa is Black...

This is edited with Picnik. I'd use one of those copyright thingies if I could find it. When I opened Picasa to upload my photos and then do their basic editing, lo and behold, a new program appeared right inside the little photo editing box. I have never heard of this program, but I'm thnking they may have merged with Picasa. It is super easy to use and gives better results, though I don't know how to enlarge my photos, but I will learn as time allows.

So, T-Day is done for 2010. I've used all the ham my dd sent us home with...made split pea soup, ham salad and made ham omeletes for breakfast. This was my first time in all my years of cooking I got to relax and just watch others do all the fixins. It did take one or two gentle nudges to stop me from butting in when I'd say, "If I were you, I'd do it this way." However, my two cents was only asked for when it came gravy making time. Now on to a couple of potluck parties I will need to make something for.

Here we have the first of several Christmas cards I've been making. This is for the sketch on Mojo Monday. here. The Santa is new to me from Studio G, so it will be added to my dollar stamps collection. The sentiment is from JustRite. The paper is retired CTMH ds. Circle dies used are Nesties and the stars are from Quikutz (can be used in the Cuttlebug). I also used a Quikutz die called "Goosebumps" to give the stars some texture. and they're made from silvery paper from my stash and mounted a bit above the circles. I used the new to me Viva pearl pen for the tiny silver pearls around Santa's circle. The jury is still out on this product.  I plan to keep embellies to a minimum so that I will be able to mail most of my cards. I honestly don't have many friends who send cards, and if I don't get one, they (whomever "they" may be) don't get one. I kinda sit and wait for them to be first. I suppose that isn't very Christian of me, huh? BTW, Santa is black, colored with Copics, and as mentioned on previous posts, that's a job in itself.

And one day, I'll have to tell you about the search for a black Santa in 1974 for my kids to visit, not to mention black Barbies and black Cabbage Patch dolls.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Slider Boxes....So Easy Peasy

Hi legionnaires...betcha been wonderin' where I've been....busy is all. I got a commissions (well, maybe I sorta' commissioned myself) making 15 of these slider boxes that Scor-Pal's ezine published recently. They are fun and quick and they take to decorating and embellishing so well. I used the medium size and there are 3 sizes available. I know I'll be using these over and over again. Here's another picture one opened up.

And the tile that went into it...isn't he just the cutest? I've been using him on cards for years. I think he's ready to "hold up" to a hot or cold drink.

So, I probably won't be posting until after the T-Day holiday and then it will be Christmas cards for the month. I'm scouting around for a template/instructions to make 15 more treat holders for the same group. And I gotta find something to put into them too. If you have any ideas I'm all ears. I'd like to stay away from the foodie thing and the audience is female Christian co-workers of my dh.

May you have a blessed and safe holiday weekend.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Semi Home-Made

Have you ever watched the Food TV show called Semi-Homemade? Well, that's what this card is legionnaires. I took a card out of the My Mind's Eye "Out & About" box and added the MS fence punched border, the EK Success label punched from another of the cards and an MS butterfly punched from yet another of the cards, so that everything would color match. I then sponged the card edges lightly with a close color....Ranger Distress fired brick ink pad, as well as the fence. Voila, I'd say. Me likey. Super simple.

If you have never thought about purchasing these pre-made cards, I assure you they can come in handy. You can do as much or as little as you'd like to make them your own. They come with envies, which are a decent qualilty paper, and cost $10 for 50 cards. What a steal, huh? I have found Christmas themed boxes as well. I got mine at Michaels with a 40% coupon. So I really did almost steal them. Even if y0u don't use them for anything except matting, you still have the envies to use for your own work.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

There will be food right?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday 'cause it's filled with food. This year I'm going to spend time with my eldest dd and familly in CA. She's had a rough year, but wants to entertain us anyhow. I am relishing the idea of being pampered a bit, as it's usually moi who puts on the entire shebang at my home. I know there are a few favorite dishes she'll ask me to make. I'm glad of that, 'cause I don't know what all I might get into if I had nothing to do.

So, I've kinda moved on to making Christmas cards and not many Thanksgiving cards were made. I have plenty of stamps, but the stores started decorating for Christmas so darn fast, that I seemed to lose that particular holiday card mojo. Seems to get earlier each year. Oh well, I shall make up for it when it comes to cooking and baking.

So legionnaires, here's one of the few. I used the SU top note die and a pumpkin stamp I've had forever colored with Copics. The sentiment is from Stampabilities. I used a CB folder for the BG and I brushed a brown stamp pad across to highlight. A button, a bow and some hemp finished it off.
I have one or two more T-Day/Fall cards to post and then it will be all about Christmas.
Yeah for the weekend.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Honored, I'm Sure

Hi legionnaires. I am so excited. I was just about to hit the hay a few evenings ago, and I decided to see if I had at least one comment on my latest card. Lo and behold, the super talented SCS Beate (don't even need to mention her last name) of http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/  honored me with a visit and commented on not just one, but two of my cards. Need I say more!!

OK, Erica, calm down and move on.
So, earlier this year, I took a rather pricy beginner's class (well, for me it was) from the also famous Michelle Zindorf  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ . She is a master at the brayering technique. I love the look, but it is not easy to achieve. So, I felt I should pay to learn. I'm glad I did, but I still doubt my proficiency when it comes to this technique. So, what do I go and do? Well, I don't brayer, that's what. Instead, I hunted around on various blogs and found that careful sponging can achieve a close similarity. However, I still use Michelle's designs, (this one is her tutorial #368) which she is kind enough to share on an almost daily basis. I most definitely copied, except I don't own SU's cajun craze, so I used other mfgrs'  inks. I  used the sentiment from SU's FYI. And finally, I sent this off to Julie Buhler of Paper Pleasing Ideas who lost her husband to cancer quite recently. Sadly, I learned that Becca Feeken lost her husband on October 31st. These are two of my favorite bloggers. Since I have been blogging and/or reading others, four stampers have become widows. I can only pray that their crafts will help to sustain them as they continue on life's journey.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

My Best Clean & Simple card to Date

 I'd love to say that I designed this card all by my itty bitty self, but then I'd be telling you a double whopper (pun intended), since I'm not little and I had lots of help from Joan at Paperlicious here. I have always enjoyed her cards, but Joan has grown (pun unintended). Her cards are better than ever and she's found her true style...just IMO. So I case her frequently. And I am so loving the way this one came out. I had the EK Success cupcake punch for a while (snagged on clearance), and finally, Joan made it so I could use it. Thanks Joan. The sentiment is SU's On Your Birthday and the paper...do you believe this is one layer!!, is Papertrey's Luxery White and mostly the new SU colors like pear and tangerine tango. Even my dd (the critical one) likes this one and said I should keep several on hand. And before I sign-off, Joan is quite the fun writer too with very witty conversations with her husband and life itself. And, we share the challenges of being caretakers to loved ones. Can you tell she's kinda my idol?

Enjoy your Sunday ladies.
Be blessed,
Erica

Square Biz

 

So I tried editing my photo in Picnik which I think is affiliated with Picassa. It’s fairly basic and I don’t know if I like it, but here it is then I tried to post via Windows….don’t mind me, I may not have that correct. Anywho, here is my card for a  challenge on Sharon's blog. She is asking for clean &  simple. I think I’ve succeeded but I need to tell ya it is a CASE, but I've forgotten from where, 'cause as soon as I saw the sketch, I made the card and then it was quite late, well you get my drift. The tiny sunflower stamp has been around my craftroom forever and the paper is…Papertrey’s luxery white, the ds square is CTMH and the rectangle is DCWV. The sentiment is from a clear set that I can’t find now….gosh, is it really 3 AM?

Goodnight legionnaires.

Hugs, Erica (who if she doesn't stay up, doesn't learn anything)

Butterflies

Hi legionnaires....so, these little creatures are among the most beloved on earth I believe. I don't think anybody fears them.
This is a $1 Studio G stamp from Michaels. Did you know that the Studio G line is from Hampton Arts? Who'd a thunk it? I'll bet they've made more money from them than their upscale line. I have read some bloggers just enjoy collecting them. I myself have at least 50 and I probably only use about 10 regularly. This is one of my faves.

Card recipe: Papertrey luxery white for the base; a non-descript yellow cs for the MS punched trellis which holds the butterfies; sentiment is SU's well-scripted; flowers from Recollections; and a little MS bling too. The butterflies are stamped in Memento tuxedo black and colored with Copics. I punched the sentiment out and popped it up a bit.Enjoy the weekend fellow stampers.

Hugs & Blessings,

Erica

Have You Heard of A la Mode?

Good evening legionnaires. Had a lovely day today....except I've been on a buying binge and have purchased a stamping something or other every day this week. It's wrecking my budget which I need to be careful with as Christmas approaches. Must stay home for the rest of the month. That brings me to my post title. For about 4 years, I've been searching for the perfect white ink. I think I've finally found the ultimate pigment white. It's by Hampton Arts and is called A la mode. As you can see...even with my awful photo editing skills,...it really shows up on the very dark green base of this card. I used the new SU French Foilage stamp set as the BG. I love the way this is showing up. I have heard that SU has recently re-developed its white pigment ink and it is substantially better than before. I will give it a try. In the meantime, this one is my go-to white. Now I gotta find a refill for it. One of the things that irks me about the big box craft stores, is rarely do they carry refills for the the stamp pads they sell.

For the rest of my card, I've used SU's tangerine tango as mat and distressed it, along with Papertrey's white which I stamped on with single stamps; the pumpkin from Rubber Stampede and the sentiment from Stampabilities. I did the coloring with Copics and added a little orange bling.

I finally located one of these "card holders" for setting up my cards. I didn't know what they were called. Do you? Hmmm, they're frogs and are in the floral sections. I can't imagine how you set flowers into this thing. But it sure works for cards. I would like to "pretty it up" in some way though. I'll be on the lookout for ideas.

Be well stampers and blessed.
Hugs,
Erica (who has more cards comin' your way)

My first Zva (pseudo) embellished card

Hi Legionnaires. I have been making cards and visiting blogs galore....I've also been just enjoying the cooler AZ temps of late too. We had a rather long summer and broke a record or two...something like most consecutive days with temps in the 100s. My dd's house (with whom hubby & I now live), is not far from where we were, but somehow, this is more desert than ever, and therefore hotter. On to my card.
Had to make a BD card for a Halloween birthday. I believe my friend is turning 68, so a mature theme was important, yet I wanted to use some fall colors. I finally bit the bullit and included some Zva-like rhinestones from Recollections. The ribbon is so pretty IRL. My photography doesn't capture its rich green color and the satin finish. The ds paper is DCWV's Amber Autumn matstack. I love all the papers it has. And I used SU's pumpkin pie cs for the MS trellis(?) and punched it on one side, then did a little measuring and cut the strip on the other side to get this wider look. I got that idea from the AMAZING Becca Feeken, who I believe must have been a designer for just about every stamp company in the USA. If you've never feasted your eyes on her work, you must go here now. My trusted newest Nestie die forms a layer for the SU punched out sentiment from SU's "On Your Birthday". The card's base is one of the last pieces of my SU Kraft. I haven't bought the crumb cake which takes it place yet. But I'm sure hoping it's the same. In the last few months, I've fallen hard for Kraft.

That's it for today. I promise to give you more to check out every day this week.

So, I have this fun little one....

...who keeps us all laughing and that's why I'm not here as often as I'd like to be. This is her big brothers' Kung Fu sparring gear. When no one was watching...not a good idea we know...she snuck into his room and dressed herself. Now mind you, she can't dress in her everyday clothes, but somehow, she knew how to get into all of this stuff. She is so full of life, it's scary and there is never a dull moment when Melea is in the house. Beginning Nov. 3rd through the 11th, I wlll be babysitting full-time while her parents take a much needed vacation. Arrangements have been made for me to have a few days without her, but mostly she's all mine. She's almost 3 1/2, so when she's 4, we'll be doing the Kung Fu thing for real. Have you ever seen the 4 yr olds in martial arts classes. They are such a hoot.

I'll be back in an hour or so with a card. I have been quite busy. But taking the photos is not one of my best talents.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Is Black & White only for weddings?

I think not legionnaires, but my youngest dd said all she sees is wedding. Maybe it's because her anniversary is this weekend and she's hinting I should change the sentiment. Anywho, I like it. It uses one of the newer CB folders....love that middle space....a sorta new bestie Nestie....love that you can turn these puppies and that they invite bling. A simple ribbon and pearls round it out and that sentiment is from the SU "Ever" Elegant Greetings. Now that I look, there is no Happy Anniversary in that set, so I shall have to look elsewhere for that sentiment.

And so, the weekend fast approaches. Hope you are going to enjoy a bit of the great outdoors. It is finally cooling off here in sunny AZ...only 87 degrees today.

Blessings,
Erica

World Card Making Day

Well legionnaires, it wasn't like I didn't try, but I didn't get to make cards until today. I babysat my 3 yr. old grandchild and she didn't give me one single minute of time to play....except with her of course. She didn't even take her nap, and pushover grandparent that I am, I didn't push her. So I had to make a birthday card with a Christian theme for my dd to use anyway, so I found this scripture and I think it works. I used 'no longer with us' SU rust (?) for the base and Papertrey white cs which I dry embossed with the Victorian CB folder. I used a bestie Nestie and leaving it in the die, sponged it with Memento Potters' Clay.....love this color, so that it looks framed. A few rosettes and ribbon from my stash finished it up. I'm pleased as punch with it and may make another to keep on hand.

It looks like many stampers had the opportunity to play today. In my blurffing, I've see some lovely cards. I will have two more to show. One I like, the other only sorta.

So, we're off and running onto the week. Hope you have a blessed one.

Erica

House Mouse

It's weird how I do not like real mice, but love the sweet House Mouse images. I don't have many of them, but those I do own I use. I made this card for my dh to give a neighbor for children's books she gave to her for my granddaughter. I hope she enjoyed it. I used a bestie Nestie and colored with mostly Copics and SU markers. The addition of Primas, brad, pearls, and a stamp from Hero Arts for the sentiment pulled it altogether. The cs is from my SU stash and are colors I seldom used. They are more than likely discontinued. I need a sentiment stamp that says, "So many books, so little time." That's my story.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Can't Get Enough....

Hi legionnaires. Here's more besties Nesties...."Can't Get Enough of that Funky Stuff," and there I have most assuredly dated myself. Did I ever used to boogie down with that stuff. Ah, but I digress. So here is a card that I made using my hoarded La Creme matstack from DCWV as the base and very old SU ds paper and SU olive ribbon. The sentiment is a My Sentiments Exactly stamp. I thought they'd gone out of business. But this is a newbie picked up in a Hobby Lobby haul a month or two ago. I love the font and the saying. Sometimes I want a bit of Christian, but I don't want to be flowery if ya' catch my drift.

Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was busy, but fun.

Before I go, I thought I'd mention a Papertrey blog candy post here . I just ordered their calendar stamps and a diecut last week. I plan to make lots of calendars as Christmas gifts and I'll post 'em all here.

Blessings,
Erica

Fancy Tag

 
I so adore all things Nestie. I've just read on someones blog (should have kept the link) that Spellbinders is among the 500 fastest growing companies here in the US. What heartening news in these very tough times. And how awesome that they are right here in the same state I live in...matter of fact, they're about 15 miles from me. I'm waiting for Sharon, et al to have a massive clearance sale, so I can hightail it over there. Seriously, I'm very happy for her and her staff. She's a sweetheart and I had the privilege of meeting her at a convention two years ago.
So without further ado,,,,,here is my card using one of the fancy tags. After blog surfing, I now realize that I've been limiting the use of these dies. I can add other dies over this one, so I now have fun ideas spinning in my head. I am also loving my newest SU punch used here along with some My Minds' Eye paper, SU cs and lots of sponging with distress inks and a little bling to round it all out This card is a part of the pack that I've been working on.
Hope you all are all doing well.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Remember this comic character?

So, legionnaires, I've had this stamp 4ever,(please don't ask me who it's from, as I can't find diddly squat right now in my mess) and just never used it, though each time I'd take a look at it I would smile. It's so true don't you think? This is a 5x5 card and the sentiment "Happy Everything" is a Studio G stamp, yet again. As usual, I struggled with coloring her as African American. It would take me an entire Copic class to learn to get skin colors right. Marianne... are you reading this?? Some good use of Nesties and CB folders, and the cute lil' shopping bag....again Studio G, some bling, ribbon, punches, and the card came together for me. All SU paper too. I hope it makes you smile.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Femme Baby Card

Well, legionnaires....what can I say. It's not the same day for you but it kinda sorta is for me since I've been up since 6:30 AM, ummm, yesterday. So here's the other card. I used a Sixxix folder I've had for quite some time for the bunny. Isn't he sweet and won't she (?) lend herself to all sorts of cards? There's those cute rather expensive flowers on the ruffle, bothfound in Michaels. the ds paper is from my stash and the sentiment is from a cute clear Studio "G" set. I declare, I must have about 50 of this line of stamps. Some I should probably get rid of...others I can't part with....and you my dear girls know what that's all about.
Off to bed for 5 hrs. of sleep...gotta do a little babysitting of the grands in the AM.
Have a restful weekend and get some stampin' will ya'.
Hugs & Blessings, Erica

Designer Fabric by Stampin' Up!

Just found out that Shelli's dd is doing vids of the new products in the new catty. That's a great idea. This is a shorty, but it sure helped me to "get" why & how Su would do fabric. Also, in July, I visited my fave far-away scrapbook store only to find they had devoted half the space to materials with a line of quilting supplies. That was surprising. Now, I'm guessing that this is a trend to be closely watched.

Come back later for a second post using cards.

Hugs & Blessings, Erica

Baby Card

Hi legionnaires....hope you all had a great weekend as summer winds itself down...uh, not exactly here in AZ though as we will have temps in the 100s for another few weeks or so. We didn't get nearly as much rain during our monsoon season as we needed either.
Here's one of the two baby cards I made for the package....this is for a boy. Pulled out some very old ds paper...SU, I think and my Nesties. The "Baby" and the little train were lucky finds in a clearance bin. The baby is a dollar stamp. I just love its versatility.

Placed a big whopping $400 SU order today...first one since I re-upped. I only did that because Shelli finally relented and gave us the option of unmounted stamps. I've already added a dvd storage system from Ikea to my room. It will hold 72 sets. That should do me for a year or two. What about you other SU peeps out there? Are you using and enjoying the new option? Wish I knew how to do the blog vote thing on here. Ah well, I'm sure our fearless leader has her minions sorting through scads of orders taking notes industriously.

Have a great rest of the week. Erica

Sympathy card

Here is a sympathy card I made for the young lady I mentioned to use. I actually only made one sympathy as I am praying she doesn't have to use it. The sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations and it's so multi-dimensional, don't you think legionnaires? The sentiment is from SU and the Nestie was used for the tag. The paper is from my stash.
How's the week going for you all. Slow and cooling down here. I was able to walk outdoors for the first time in many months. I soooo need it.
Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Here I am again

Hi legionnaires. I've been busy at work and I've made 25 cards in 1 1/2 weeks. They are all fairly simple designs, with lots of border punches, Nesties and dry embossing. I wanted these to be able to fit into an envie without extra postage or padding if possible. I found lots of inspiration from so many places. Most were sketches I had saved. I was able to get my scrap paper bin minimized. I did than by rummaging in it instead of reaching for a fresh new piece of 8 1/2 x 11 c.s. And I finally utilized my dusty JustRite monogram stamps. I haven't done them justice since I bought them almost two years ago Speaking of...that line of stamps has certainly come far from just the alphabet.

Sooo, I've uploaded 20 of the cards, so you can come back and see my stuff everyday for at least a week. I tried photographing them inside in a sunny window facing east in the early AM. My background "clothe" is windown curtain and the one of the tables I scrap on. Sometimes I wasn't very neat as I snapped away so you may see the edge of a pile of paper or a bit of my Ikea mini lamp, so please humor me, but I needed to get them all done in one sitting so to speak.

Sooo, I'm off to join the Gina K Release Party...or what's left of it anyway.
Have a super weekend and do a little stampin' while you're at it.

Erica