Bella Makes a Snowman

According to the calendar winter officially commenced on December 21st.  Living in Florida, you sometimes lose track of the seasons or what other areas of the country have to deal with - freezing temps, snow and ice to name a few! While I do not miss the snow, I do love to watch a snowfall and decorate our home for the holidays with my collection of snowmen. 

Each year for Christmas I create a special card for Barney's groomer and friends at Woofgang Bakery and Grooming and this year was no exception.  I love the "Bella and Friends" stamp set from ©Stampin' UP! because the little white dog looks just like Barney (or any other little white dog for that matter!)

I covered the front of a 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 card with the Snowman Season DSP.  Next I punched out a snowman and top hat from the DSP using the Snowman Builder punch and fussy cut the other snowman also from the DSP.  I stamped "Barney" and fussy cut it as well and gave him a little hat and muffler from the embellishment kit.  I placed the top hat and stick arms(embellishment) on the ground next to "Barney" so that he could complete the snowman!  Very talented little pup, IMHO!

Barney joins me in wishing all of our friends and family a very Happy and Healthy 2020!

Online Extravaganza! November 20-22, 2019

STOCK UP AND SAVE!

Get ready for three days of savings with the Stampin’ Up! Online Extravaganza! For three days only, you can get these deals from Stampin' Up!:

15% off Ink pads and Cardstock in:

• Neutrals Collection
• Regals Collection
• 2018–2020 In Colors
• 2019–2021 In Colors (except Purple Posy)

Take Additional 5% off the original 10% discount:

• 8 bundles
• Neutrals Classic Stampin’ Pads Assortment
• Regals Classic Stampin’ Pads Assortment
• 2018–2020 In Colors Classic Stampin’ Pads Assortment

Online Extravaganza Details:

• Dates:  November 20–22, 2019
• Order Deadline:  November 22, 2019; 11:50 PM (MT)
• All order types qualify for this promotion!
• Promotion includes items from the 2019–2020 annual catalog only.
• Discounts apply to promotion items only.
• Ordering information can be found in the flyer below.
• No limits apply.
• Discounted pricing for items featured in this promotion will be available ONLY during the sales period. No exceptions.
• If you purchased a product offered in the promotion prior to the sale, we will not be offering exchanges or credits.
• In the event that we run out of any item offered, promotional pricing will be honored on items backordered, up to the point it reaches the backorder limit. If you try to order an item that is not available, you will receive a notification informing you it is currently unavailable. Once an item reaches the backorder limit and is not orderable, it will no longer be available during the promotion and will not be available to order until additional inventory arrives.

Click the image below to open up the full size flyer with all of the discounted items and the pricing:

Open if You Dare!

(Cue the scary organ music...) 

I am "ghoulishly" excited to be participating in the SU Sunshine Demo's October Blog Hop. We are a group of current Stampin' UP! Demonstrators that live in Florida either full time or part time.  My entry features Halloween's "Spooktacular Bash".  This is such a fun suite, that I will be using it for a Halloween Sampler class I have scheduled!  

So read on to learn more, but only if you dare...

The card features a "gate fold" with a belly band to secure it in place.

Inside panel

Card recipe:

Supply List:
Stamps:  Spooktacular Bash 
Ink: Memento Black, Smoky Slate
Blends of your choice
Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Monster Bash DSP, Silver Foil
Tools: Ornate Frames Dies
Embellishments:  Ribbon of choice

Directions:
1. Cut Basic Black 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"; score each side at 2-1/8" to meet in the middle
2. Cut two pieces of DSP 2" x 5-3/8" and adhere to front panels.  Cut a piece of WW for the inside.
3. To make the "Belly Band", wrap a 1" x 9" piece of Basic Black ad glue down just at the ends so that it can easily slide on and off.  Glue a ribbon around the belly band.
4. Stamp the "Count Dracula"  & "Open if you dare" images on a piece of WW.  Color with blends; I also used dauber on the little sign add "grunge" to it.
5. Die cut the images and also the matching ornate frame for the Count.  Add to the belly band with dimensionals.
6.  For the inside, I used the sentiment  & "laboratory" jars from Spooktacular Bash and cob webs (retired Spooky Fun) and mouse (retired Spooky Cat).

Thanks for stopping by!  And remember - create something beautiful every day!

Please visit the other blogs in our Blog Hop. 

Who Says Friendship is for the Birds?

The "Free as a Bird Bundle" is turning out to be a favorite of mine in the new Stampin' Up! catalog.  This set includes the Free As Bird Cling Stamp Set and the Stitched Nested Labels Dies.  Pair that with the Bird Ballad DSP and your possibilities are limitless! I am certain that your friends would love to receive a card like this!

 
Here for measurements and instructions if you would like to create this card.

Measurements:  

• Old Olive: 5-1/2” x 8-1/2”" score at 4-1/4" 
• DSP:  5-1/2" x 4-1/4" 

Instructions: 

• Cut a piece of the Bird Ballad DSP using largest Rectangle Stitched Die
• Cut a piece of Old Olive CS using Rectangle die that measures 3" by 4-1/2".
• Cut a piece of Bird Ballad DSP using Rectangle die measuring approx. 2-1/2" by 3-3/4".  (Note:  I cut the smaller piece of DSP from the center of the larger piece of DSP!) 
• Adhere the pieces of DSP and CS to the card base. 
• Cut a piece of Old Olive using one the Nested Dies.
• Cut a piece of Whisper White using a smaller Nested Dies. 
• Stamp the bird image on a scrap of WW.  Color with Stampin' Blends and fussy cut the bird.  I purposely cut off its feet.
• Stamp sentiment on small WW die cut
• Mask body of bird and stamp its feet on the small WW die cut to the left of the sentiment.  Color the shadow with the Blends.
• Using mini-dimensionals, position and adhere bird over the stamped feet.
• Glue Nested die piece to card. 
• As an afterthought, I stamped, colored and punched out the leaves and flower bud. I thought that it needed "balance!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the products used to make this happy card, I have listed them below and would be happy to help you.

Thanks for stopping by! And remember - create something beautiful every day!




Product List

Free As A Bird Bundle

[151123]

$51.25

Free As A Bird Cling Stamp Set

[149468]

$22.00

Stitched Nested Labels Dies

[149638]

$35.00

Stitched Rectangle Dies

[148551]

$35.00

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100702]

$8.75

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100730]

$9.75

Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper

[149592]

$11.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$7.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Petal Pink Light Stampin' Blends Marker

[146866]

$4.50

Crumb Cake Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

[144581]

$4.50

Crumb Cake Light Stampin' Blends Marker

[144582]

$4.50

Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker

[144585]

$4.50

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.00

"Welcome Baby" Sampler

Recently, we were blessed to add a new baby girl to our family!  My niece and her husband became first-time parents and my sister and brother-in-law -- who eagerly awaited her arrival -- became Nana and PopPop! 

As my group of stampers can attest, I love to make samplers -- for the different seasons, special holidays and occasions.   My patriotic sampler was previewed in my May 30, 2019 blog post.  So, with that in mind,  I set out to create a baby sampler for our little girl.  This will fit a 9 x 9 shadow box frame. The design elements for the squares are 2" x 2" and rectangles are 2" x 4-1/2".  

I used a combination of current and retired stamp sets:  Little Elephant; Sweet Baby; Made with Love; First Steps, and Moon Baby. I chose the ink and paper colors of Gray Granite and Blushing Bride and some current and retired DSP.  

To give additional dimension to some of the elements, such as her name, the letters were die cut in DSP and then in Blushing Bride and glued together and mounted with dimensionals.  The little elephants were punched out twice (one in DSP and then in pink).  I offset the pink CS when they were glued together.  

When I started to put the pieces together, some looked a little "naked" when mounted on the WW CS; so using one of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps, I stamped off once in Blushing Bride before adhering the various elements.  I added some embellishments here and there and a little bow, and it all seemed to come together!

If you would like more information on this sampler, please leave me a comment along with your email. 

Thanks for stopping by!  And remember to create something beautiful everyday!

Sailing Home Birthday Wishes

Today marks the anniversary of my husband's birth.  To protect is his privacy, but mostly to humor him, the actual year will remain open to speculation! 

After so many years together, finding or creating the perfect card can be a daunting task.  We love the ocean and boating, so when I saw the "Sailing Home" stamp set in the new catalog, I knew I had to have it!

The result: a "Double-Z Fold Card" using the Sailing Home bundle and some sentiments from other sets.  Using Night of Navy and Balmy Blue CS, I created the two "Z" folds.  I then added the "Come Sail Away" DSP on the various panels.  All images were stamped in Night of Navy and the sailboats, anchor and rope images were die cut and adhered to the panels with dimensionals. 

Card Recipe:

1. Long Panel:  Cut CS 4-1/4" by 11"
2. Shorter Panel:  Cut CS 3-1/4" x 9-1/4"
3. Place large panel LANDSCAPE (long side along the top) in trimmer and score at 2-3/4" and 5-1/2"
4. Z bone fold - Valley for the center fold and Peak for the front fold
5. Place shorter panel trimmer (landscape) and score at 2-3/4" and 5-1/2"
6. Z bond fold - this time peak of the front (larger panel) and valley for the smaller panel

DSP Measurements:

1. 2-1/2" by 4" (front stripe panel)
2. 5-1/4" by 4" (back compass panel on navy CS)
3. 3-1/2" by 3" (compass panel with boats)
4. 2-1/2" by 3" (stripe panel with anchor)
5. 2-1/2" by 3"(whisper white panel for sentiment)

Before gluing the two panels into place, lay it flat and think about how it will fold.  I adhered the back sentiment panel first and the only applied glue to just about half of the front panel with the boats.  

This is a fun card to create and measurements can easily be adjusted for different sizes. 

Please join me in wishing my husband Bill a very Happy Birthday!

Red, White and Blue!

Even though summer is officially three weeks away, Memorial Day traditionally seems like the start of the summer season.  When we lived in New Jersey Memorial Day meant that it was acceptable to start wearing "white", shorts and flip flops, barbecues and icy, fruity drinks were considered the norm.  Living in Florida for the past few years has changed that perception quite a bit - where everything is acceptable all year long.

Florida's National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL (photo credit Gail Zaycek)

But the true meaning of Memorial Day is not cookouts and flip flops, it is a day set aside to honor those who served our country and remember the young men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.  Several local clubs and many more volunteers from around the state traveled to the Florida's National Cemetery in Bushnell to place 108,000 flags on the graves of fallen veterans. 




I have wanted to teach a sampler class, so this week I invited my stamping buddies to come and learn how to create a sampler.  Since it was Memorial Day, with Flag Day and Independence Day fast approaching, I thought a red, white and blue theme would work for this session.  This is a 9 x 9 shadow box frame. The design elements for the squares are 2" x 2" and rectangles are 2" x 4-1/2". 

Instructions for each of the different elements(Patriotic Sampler) can be found on my FaceBook page, Created by Rona under the Files section, or send me an email or comment on my blog for more information.  

Thank you and credit to Audra Monk (The Crafty Yogi) for much of the inspiration for this design. 

Everyday is Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is the "one" day that is set aside to honor the Mothers in our lives. 

According to history.com, "Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as 'Mothering Sunday'.  Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s."

The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and would spend the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.

Today, many feel as Jarvis did that over-commercialization detracted from the true meaning of the holiday - just another holiday created by the card and gift companies!
Growing up, one of my mother's mantras was "Everyday is Mother's Day!"  As a child, I had a hard time understanding that - did she mean that we had to make her a card every day to celebrate? Did we have to be on our best behavior? No fighting with my sisters? 

Only as I grew older did I understand what she meant - mothers should be loved, respected and appreciated EVERYDAY - not just the one day in May that is on the calendar!

Celebrating with my mom, Muriel Pizer and sisters Robin (middle) and Ellen (right)

Among the very special women in my life are those who are part of my card-making class.  They inspire and encourage me to be creative and brave. I am constantly in awe of how much they have learned in a few short years; and how eager they are to try new techniques and venture out in many creative directions.  

I wanted to make a little "thought" gift to celebrate them on Mother's Day.  A lavender-scented hand sanitizer was the "treat", and  I also included a small lined notebook that I covered with the matching DSP.   Thank you for Angie Pyjas at www.stampingwithamore.com for the inspiration to create a treat holder using the Apron of Love stamp set and framelits.

 

1.  Using the Apron Builder Framelits, cut all the pieces: 2 aprons in DSP of your choice and 2 in WW; 1 set of tools; 1 apron pocket.  Glue each piece of DSP to the WW stock

(for added stability).

2. Cut a piece of Thick Whisper White Cardstock 4 3/4" x 4 3/4". Score at 1 1/2" and 3 1/4" Rotate and Score on the other side at 1 1/2" and 3 1/4"and form box

3. Cut a piece of cardstock in coordinating color 1/2" x 4" for the handle. 

4. Assemble and Stamp the Aprons as shown using the Apron of Love stamp set and adhere to two sides of the Box using Tombow adhesive. 

5. Curve the Handle using bone folder and add to the Box.

6. Add a matching ribbon to the handle. 

For Notebook:

I purchased the small notebooks at the local Dollar Tree and covered them in DSP:

1.  Cut a piece of DSP 4 1/2" x 6 1/2"

2.  Score at 3 1/4" and 3 1/2"

3.  Using Tombow glue carefully adhere to each side of notebook.  I did one side and let it set up before gluing the other side. 

Wishing all mothers a very Happy Mother's Day - EVERYDAY!  

And remember, create something beautiful EVERYDAY!

I'm Feeling A Bit Tropical (PCC Challenge 328)

I'm feeling in a tropical mood today.  While the weather here in Florida is a balmy 84 degrees with bright sunshine, I am heading up to New Jersey tomorrow morning for some work-related projects and a meeting.  If you follow the weather, they are in the midst of a "winter storm warning" with forecasts of snow accumulations of anywhere from 3-8 inches!  Yuck!  This is why we moved to Florida! So far my flight is still on time but that might prove otherwise once I get to the airport.  Fingers crossed that all goes well! 

I am participating in this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge (PCC 328) which is #simple stamping.  Simple Stamping was featured at the November convention in Orlando.  It is just what it says - simple stamping - paper, stamp and ink; minimal layers, cuts and embellishments.  Simple Stamping can showcase to the non-stamper or the inexperienced stamper, the joy of stamping!  After all, we all had to start somewhere! 

Here is the challenge and my design:

For this challenge, I used the Tropical Chic stampset, Tropical Escape DSP and Tropical thinlets (optional).  I first cut a piece of Shaded Spruce CS for the base of the card.  Using Shaded Spruce and Granny Apple Green inks, I stamped the palm fronds onto a piece of Whisper White CS.  The hibiscus flower is stamped in Blushing Bride ink.  The flower can then be die cut (as I did) or simply stamped onto the WW CS.  I shaded the flower with Blushing Bride Stampin' Blends and added a rhinestone embellishment in the center.  
The "Thank You" is stamped in Memento Ink.  I next cut two coordinating pieces of the Tropical Escape DSP, adhered to the bottom of the Whisper White layer and glued the WW layer to the Shaded Spruce CS.  And voila -- can you say Pina Colada???

© Stampin'UP! supplies used in this challenge:
Stamps:  Tropical Chic
Dies:  Tropical Thinlets
Ink:  Blushing Bride; Shaded Spruce; Granny Apple Green & Memento
Paper:  Shaded Spruce, WW, Tropical Escape DSP
Embellishments:  Rhinestone

Thanks for stopping by!  And remember to create something beautiful everyday!

 

You Make Me Happy (PCC Challenge 327)

For this week's challenge, I primarily focused on the First Frost stamp set and framelits.  I started by embossing a piece of Soft Seafoam CS with the Lace TIEF and adhering it to a piece of Merry Merlot CS.  I stamped and die cut a couple of the flowers and garland from the First Frost set in Blushing Bride and Mossy Meadow inks.  The larger label in Sahara Sand is from the Stitched Labels dies and the smaller one with the sentiment is from the Wonderful Romance suite.  The sentiment from the Meant to Be stamp set was stamped in Merry Merlot.  I glued a piece of the Merry Merlot & Copper ribbon to the embossed layer, added the stamped and die cut garland from First Frost on top of that to create the effect of a double banner.  After the layering the flowers, I added a Wink of Stella to the blooms. 

© Stampin'UP! supplies used in this challenge:
Stamps:  Meant to Be
Dies:  Stitched Labels; Wonderful Romance
Embossing Folder:  Lace Dynamic TIEF
Ink:  Blushing Bride; Mossy Meadow
Paper:  Merry Merlot; Sahara Sand; Mossy Meadow; Very Vanilla
Embellishments:  Pearls; Merry Merlot ribbons; Wink of Stella

Thanks for stopping by!

Sending Happiness (Paper Craft Crew Challenge PCC326)

It is so good to be back stamping after a few weeks away -- I was in crafting withdrawal!  But I am home now, and my craft room has been turned upside down getting out my valentines to family and friends and catching up on what I missed while I was in the polar freeze in Colorado and New Jersey!

Everytime I take a break from stamping, I need a jump start for my creative "mojo".  After all my cards were delivered, I decided to turn my attention to this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge (PCC326):



Here is the card I created for this challenge:

My inspiration for this card was the Needle & Thread suite (stamps, DSP and Needlepoint Elements framelits).  I first ran my Daffodil Delight CS through the Big Shot with the largest die to add some interest to the background.  I cut a strip of the DSP to run across the width of the card; added a square of DSP and topped that with a smaller square in Balmy Blue that was embossed with the Tufted TIEF.  The sentiment was stamped in Blueberry Bushel, die cut and adhered to the squares.  The leaf elements were cut and punched and a little butterfly was stamped, colored and punched from Butterfly Gala.  I added Wink of Stella to the wings and a little rhinestone for bling!  

Stampin'UP! supplies used in this challenge:
Stamps:  Needle & Thread; Butterfly Gala
Dies:  Needlepoint Elements
Punches: Butterfly Duet; Leaf
Ink:  Blueberry Bushel
Paper:  Daffodil Delight; Balmy Blue; Whisper White; Needlepoint Nook DSP 
Accessories:  Rhinestones; Gingham Gala sequins

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Happy Birthday!

My mother is turning 95 this week!  Quite a milestone, but what's even more impressive is that about a 1-1/2 years ago, she picked up and moved from NJ and FL to Denver, Colorado to be near my two sisters and their families.  It was hard for me to see her leave, but I was also happy knowing that my sisters would now have an opportunity to spend some real quality time with her -- something that I had been fortunate to experience for many years.  

She has a beautiful apartment that overlooks the majestic mountains of Colorado. In the 18 months that she has been living there, she has made numerous friends and enjoyed playing bridge, lectures and movies.  She is definitely my role model! 

One of her favorite things to do is "High Tea", so what a better way to celebrate her than to host a Tea in her honor.  I am planning to fly out to Denver and surprise her, but I also wanted to do a little something for the Tea.  I created these table favors (credit to SplitCoast Stampers for the design): 

Using my stash of 6 x 6 DSP, I made 45 of these little treat holders.  The embellishment is

from Flourish thinlets, mounted on a scallop punch and topped off with a little pearl.  I punched a hole in the top and tied a little bow to hold it all together.

Each favor will hold a teabag on one side and a chocolate on the other.  I also stamped a sentiment on a little label from the Waterfront stamp set:  "Friends make the good times better" that will be inserted into one of the little "pockets".

Please join me in wishing my mom a VERY HAPPY & JOYFUL 95th BIRTHDAY!

Hello Cupcake!

I've really enjoyed playing and creating with the Hello Cupcake stamp set which is one of the Sale-a-Bration offerings that is free with a $50 order now through March 31, 2019.

I plan to make a set of these notecards for someone very special ~ my mother! 

Using the stamparatus, I stamped the images first - using colors that coordinate with the Gingham Gala 6 x 6 DSP.  The stamparatus made the task a snap, using both sides of the two plates!  I decided to go with the stitched rectangle for the die cut of the image.  

Since I am using notecards, I cut a piece of the DSP (2"x 5") and snailed it the card.  Popped some dimensionals on the rectangular image and adhered it to the card. A few embellishments finished it off!   I was able to make 4 of these cards in just a half hour.  

What are some projects you've created with this fun stamp set? 

Stampin'  UP!Items used in this project
Paper:  
WW Notecards
Gingham Gala DSP

Ink:
Balmy Blue
Blueberry Bushel
Crumb Cake
Smoky Slate
Mango Melody
Poppy Parade

Thinlets:
Stitched Rectangles

Miscellaneous:  
Enamel Dots

Thanks for Reaching Out ~ Paper Craft Crew Challenge (PCC321)

My entry for this week's PCC Challenge (PCC 321) was created using the Sea of Textures stamp set and coordinating Under the Sea framelits.

 

Using my faithful Stamparatus, I stamped the octopus in Fresh Fig and used the Big Shot to die cut the octopus, netting, sea grass and shells.  The sentiment from the same set was stamped in Tranquil Tide and cut with the smallest stitched oval and glued onto a layering oval cut in Tranquil Tide.  The sea grass needed a base to "grow on", so I cut a piece of Crumb Cake CS and stamped it with ink of the same color and then cut it look like the bottom of the ocean -- thus giving the sea grass an place to put down some roots!

The CS is Balmy Blue with a mat of Tranquil Tide and a mat from the Tranquil Textures DSP.  This pattern reminded me of blowing bubbles underwater!  The sentiment is a little "tongue in cheek" - 'Thanks for reaching out' - since Mr. Octopus has 8 arms ~ all the better to reach out to you! 

Stampin' Up! supplies used in this challenge:

Stamps: Sea of Textures

Dies:  Under the Sea Framelits

Stitched Circle

Stitched Labels

Ink: Fresh Fig, Tranquil Tide, Crumb Cake

Paper: Balmy Blue, Tranquil Tide, Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Tranquil Textures DSP

Accessories:  Metal Pearls

Thanks for stopping by!