Home Made Envelopes

I spent yesterday afternoon playing around with my Martha Stewart scoring board. I got a very good deal on it at Pat Catan's, and seeing how it came with an extra piece to make envelopes I had to have it. The ones I made fit standard A2 cards, but the tool allows you to make other sizes as well.




Do you see that cool edging on the flap? Well that was made by using SU scallop trim border and corner punch. How cool is that? This one was also made using a new pack of paper by Cloud 9 that picked up at Big Lots.



For this one I decided to stamp the flap and front using Flower Fest and using the burnishing technique.

These were really fun to make. I got inspired by my friend Marianne. She makes the most beautiful handmade envelopes to go with her cards, and mine are not anywhere near as nice as hers, but I really did enjoy making some. Who knows the next card you find in your mailbox may just be from me sporting a handmade envelope!

Big Happy Birthday Wishes to Jessica. Hope you have a great day off from work Jess. Eat a piece of cake for me and enjoy your dinner at the Outback!!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

AHOY

Avast ye land lubbers. Okay that is all the pirate talk I know except for the pick up lines. Don't ask me how I know them, but I'm sure you'll remember that I'm married to a retired sailor.

Had fun making this card. Its the first card I've made using pennants, which are all the rage right now. SU has a pennant punch in the new catty, but since I can't place an order for it yet....I traced it from the catalog and cut four of them for this card. Base card Baja Breeze, layer Soft Suede. White layer was run through Cuttlebug using a Cuttlebug folder. I sponged over this layer with Baja Breeze, and just to give it more color I used Not Quite Navy for the layer under the ship. I'm pretty happy with it.

Me and Skip helped Lisa move some more stuff last night. We managed to fill another truck load. Back again on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully everything will be moved by Friday so we can start on the house cleaning on Saturday. I'm sick of moving. Cleaning will be a nice change of pace for me.

I had to place an quick order from SU yesterday. I forgot to order the new color family for the stampin pastels. I don't use chalk much anymore, but still wanted to get the new colors as it won't be offered in the new catalog.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Sailing Again

Spent most of yesterday resting. I did get some laundry done, and I managed to make dinner and run the dishwasher. I also worked on some crochet doll clothes. Skip and I went to the mall after dinner. I wanted to walk a little bit and I figured the mall would be a good place to just take a stroll. Got some stuff at Bath and Body Works. They had some of there stuff for 50 and 75 percent off. It was funny...Skip bought my stuff but turned the bag over to me. Guess he didn't want anyone to see him carrying a Bath and Body Work bag. LOL

Just a very simple guy card today. I really like this single Sail Away stamp. The Cog punch goes so well with the ship stamps. I'll add a word stamp later to the top right of the card. I can see this used for several "GUY" events....Dream or Explore for graduation, get well, happy birthday, and even retirement would work.

No big plans for today. I'll be heading over to sis-in-laws later. She won't get to her old house till 6. She works pretty long hours. Me and John are taking the truck over to help her move some more.

Nice to hear from my friends yesterday. They were calling to check up on me to see if I was okay. You gals are great!

----Kat if my knee was better I'd be doing the happy dance with you:)

Stamping Trails
Karen

Tired!

Spent yesterday afternoon helping Lisa (my sis-in-law)move. She still has a lot to do. I'll be helping her again tomorrow evening. At this rate it will take us another month to finish moving. YIKES. Then I'll be helping her clean the house so she can put it up on the market.

So.......since I was pretty tired when I got home yesterday I managed to stamp just a simple card. Cardstock is stuff from my Hollo's paper store stash. Stamp set Flower Fest, and word from Simple Sayings II, both from SU!

My knee is really hurting today. Been sore since I fell off the bike. I think I twisted it a bit. Going to spend today resting. Maybe alternating between hot and cold compresses.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Latch Card

We went to the Brunswick fair last evening. They has a KISS tribute band playing. Now I don't like KISS but Skip does. Wasn't a bad concert. The group had been performing together for 17 years so they had KISS down pretty well, and did a good stage show for a county fair.

I made this 3 by 6 latch card early this morning. I started it last night but had to set it aside to go to bed. Base card is More Mustard cut 3 x 12 inches then folded in half. Latch is made by making a "V" shape cut in the top and bottom of the card. Then the top and bottom will latch together.



Inside view of card



This is the Tim Holt sewing embossing folder I was telling you about yesterday. Just love it! Will see myself using this folder often. Click on the picture to get a bigger view...you'll be able to see the detail of this folder.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Went Shopping

So it rained most of the day on Friday, and it only got up to 66 degrees. Not much to do outside, and I was getting cabin fever. Perfect day for shopping! So I got Skip to drive me to Fairlawn so I could go to Archivers. I haven't been there since forever. Oh Lisa....they did change the format at Archivers. They did away with most of the Hot Spot stuff. They use to have a entire wall of 1.99 stuff not anymore. Anyway I did get a few cool things. How do you like the edging going around the Summer by the Sea watercolor image? I know I don't really like Martha Stewart, but I do like a lot of the punches she has her name on. This one is a all around the border punch called Double Arches. Just love it!!!! I also picked up a very cool embossing folder by Tim Holtz. I'll share that with you tomorrow.

Oh what else can you do while its raining? Watch a very bad movie that hubby picked out. Movie title Hyenas. Really bad horror movie, but I'm not complaining since he bought my stuff at Archivers I thought it only fair to let him pick the movie. The things I go through for stamping stuff!!!!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Setting Sail Again

Wow I forgot how much I like my brayer! I used a really old technique for this card. VersaMark resist. Base card is Espresso, next layer white. For the next layer I took glossy white cardstock stamped the compass with VersaMark randomly then inked the brayer with Cajun Craze ink and rolled over the stamped images. The ship was stamped with black archival ink on watercolor paper. I started with So Saffron and using a water pen I made the circle for the sun. Rest was done with a watercolor wash of Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy. Word stamp is from Three Little Words. I think from all the Open Sea cards I've been making lately this one is my favorite. Love the colors!

Brunswick started its Old Fashion Days on Wednesday. Its a carnival they have every June. Anyway last night was the Fire Work display so me and Skip rode the bikes up to the high school and watched. Great as always but it was a bit chilly. About 60 degrees. BRRRR. Glad I wore my sweatshirt.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Happy Birthday to.....

Amber! I believe her mom Kat told me she was 22 today. Wow does time sure fly by!!! My son John (my baby) will be 23 in a few weeks. Making me feel old!

So I made this card for Amber. Sorry its going to be late arriving to you Amber but I'll put it in the mail today. I know Amber likes cats and I put a little bird in the upper left of the card as just like cats have a playful side I know Amber has one too.

So the people that moved recently next door have been keeping there two dogs on there deck all afternoon. So the dogs spend all day barking. Last night they didn't bring them in and the dogs were barking till 2 in the morning. Our bedroom is beside there deck with not a lot of space in between so when the dogs are barking sounds like they are right in our bedroom. Needless to say I didn't get much sleep last night. I think we are going to have to speak to them about it. Not looking forward to that.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Sorting Through Hollo's Cardstock

So I went rummaging through my cardstock drawers and came across this cool textured Navy cardstock. Thought it would be perfect for the ship cards I've been making lately. I also sorted through the designer paper and found some nautical ones. Love it when I can go "shopping" in my vastly stocked studio and find stuff that will work with cards I have in mind. The ship this time was stamped with Chocolate Chip cut out and mounted with pop dots on one of the Two Tags die. Very happy with how this card came together. I left part of the tag unstamped that way I can add a greeting later.

Wow did we have an awesome Thunder/Lightening storm last night. Of course it had to start right when I was watching Memphis Beat. No problem just turned the volume up. Got me remembering when I was a kid. Whenever there was a storm we had to turn off the TV and even unplug it. Dad was worried the TV would get hit by lightening. Couldn't take a bath either when it was storming out. How things have changed. Oh another one was not talking on the phone. Mom said you could lose your hearing if the pole got hit while you were on the phone. I do recall the microwave being fried due to lightening. Ok enough about storms. Wish I could send this rain to my friends in TX as I know they could use it.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Simple Guy Card

Still playing with The Open Sea stamp set. Wasn't really in the mood to stamp yesterday. Rainy and yuck here. Started with a base card of confetti white. Ship was inked with Choco Chip, and Not Quite Navy markers. Left room at the bottom of the ship to stamp a saying later. This way I can use the card for any event that the card would be needed for.

Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Kathy....she told me how old she would be today, but I won't post it here, however I will say she is the "baby" of our group. Wish I could be there to give you a big birthday hug Kat! Hope you have a great day.

Today is also the first day of Summer. Can't believe that June is almost over! I'm not in any hurry for any of the Summer days to go buy to fast as I know Winter will be creeping up.

Went to the mall last evening with Skip. He wanted to buy a new pair of Levi jeans. I really want a new Coach bag. I'd like to get the small over the shoulder bag, but it was 128 at Macy's. I also looked at the Coach back pack they had. It was really nice and I'd like to have it but price on that puppy was 228.00. Can someone please tell Skip that I'd like to have that bag. Hey I'm worth it:)

Stamping Trails
Karen

The Open Sea

It rained so hard yesterday. Part of the day was okay but the rest was just tons and tons of water. At one point we looked out and the rain was just coming down in sheets. Not that we didn't need some rain but it really killed our plans to grill out.

So I spent time making cards after Sarah and Jason went home. Used The Open Sea stamp set. I'm kicking myself now for not getting the designer paper with my last order. I'll just have to add it to my first order using the new catalog.

Used Marina Mist for the base card, and Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, and white for layering.


Stamping Trails
Karen

Happy Father's Day

I made this card for my hubby for Father's day, but I also made a few extras for friends who have asked me to make some guy cards. So I'll be making a few more different designs without sayings. That way the cards can be customized to fit a certain event.

This card has many layers. Base card is Crumb Cake. Next layer is Night of Navy. On that I've layered Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, and More Mustard. Each of those three layers were stamped first with a stamp from The Open Sea. Next layer is cream and I've stamped the ship in Not Quite Navy. Ship is called Sail Away. Both stamps are in the Summer Mini catalog from SU!

Still really tired from helping with the sis-in-law move. She asked us to help again today, but we had plans, and since its Father's Day I think Skip needs a day of rest.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Ring Basket

Just a quick and easy project for today. I'm still helping sis-in-law pack and move so I'll be gone most of the day.

For this I used a 9x9 sheet of double sided designer paper. Scored all 4 sides at 3 inches. On each of the four corners I scored on the diagonal from the point to the score line. Each of the corners were then pushed in. After that I just punched holes and ran a book ring through the holes and added a bit of ribbon. You can also make this one size bigger or smaller. For the smallest one cut a 6x6 square and score at 2 inches on all 4 sides. The largest one is 12x12 scored 4 inches on all 4 sides. If you wanted a more sturdy basket you could replace the designer paper with cardstock.



Here is a side view of the basket.


On a personal note today would have been my dad's 78th birthday. Miss you daddy,and think of you often. Hope you are enjoying mom being with you once again. Love you both.

Stamping trails
Karen

5x7 Office Frame

Sorry I've not posted for a few days. Been busy helping my sis-in-law move. I'm sore all over from packing and moving boxes, and its not finished yet. Me and hubby are both going over Saturday to help more. Then to make matters worse I fell off my bike last evening. The gear that holds the chain made good contact to my calf so I have lovely gear marks on my leg. OUCH!!!!!

Okay on to the project I made this afternoon. I started with a clear 5x7 plastic easel photo frame. Cut designer paper to fix the frame then came the fun part. I added butterfly post it notes and used the Big Shot to cut the butterfly from cork. I wanted to be able to use push pins in the butterfly so I cut two of them and glued them together because one layer wasn't thick enough. To finish off the butterfly I added two brads to the center of the body. Course I had to make a matching ink pen to clip on the holder. I also added the word stamp using Oval All stamp set with Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy. I used pop dots to add the oval to the frame.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Postage Stamp

I can't believe how beautiful the weather has been the past two days. In the low 70's,and sunny. Just a great time to be outside. Which I took full advantage of. Have been doing some gardening....pulled weeds. Not my favorite thing to do, but its good exercise, and pleasant to be out of doors. I've also been doing some bike riding and walking. Been GREAT!!!

I did find time to put this card together yesterday. It uses the postage stamp punch in the summer mini from SU. Also still using that great new designer paper that Kat got me. And where oh where has seam binding been all my life? Just love that stuff! So easy to make the ribbon ruffle just by grabbing a thread from the center of the ribbon and pulling. How cool is that!!!!!

Thanks Connie for chit chatting with me yesterday while I was taking a weed pulling break. I really needed one!

Stamping Trails
Karen

It's an Owl

I did get my SU! order yesterday, but it didn't arrive till very late in the day so I didn't have time to finish the project and post it yesterday as planned. But isn't the owl just too darn cute!!!! This is not my design. There were several people stating it was there pattern, but I'm not sure who, but whoever it was really has some crafting talent!



Endless ways to pose these little guys, and oh the color possibilities!Here is the supply list if you'd like to make some.

1 1/4 and 3/4 inch circle punches
pillow box die
large oval punch
trio heart punch



This cute little sewing card was made for me by my VC Rocks room mate Clara Brown. Big thanks Clara!

Stamping Trails
Karen

HMMMMMM.....

So just what am I'm making? I have to wait till my StampinUp! order arrives today so I can finish this project. Check back later today and hopefully I'll have it finished so I can post the pic.

Didn't do much of anything on Sunday. I was pretty tired as I was up really late Saturday. After going to the drive in I stayed up till about 4 then only slept a little bit before getting up again. Worked a bit more on the yard sale stuff. Sorted through some more of mom's photos. She has a ton of photos! Had to pull apart many of the photo albums as she was using the really old ones that had adhesive on the pages to keep the photos in place. Wanted to get those out before the photos got damaged by the glue. I ended up throwing out 5 albums after taking out the photos.

Skip goes back on day shift today, and he is not a happy camper. He likes to sleep in and would much rather be on 2nd shift.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Cards from a Friend

I received cards this week from my friend Connie. I'm still in a continuing stamping challenge with my friends so I like to showcase there artwork when it arrives. I didn't take a pic of the inside of this card but Connie used Wise Crack stamp set. On the inside it reads "Out of my Mind be back in 5 minute". Well Connie that is the story of my life. I'm always out of my mind! Love the card! Great colors.



Next card she created was from Kathy's single tulip stamp. Again I really love the colors.



I stopped at Pat Catan's a few days ago. Didn't buy much but did come out with some "New" Vintage buttons. I really like the black and red buttons. Also picked up some bakers twine in colors that I didn't have. Can't have too much bakers twine.

Me and hubby went to the Drive In last night. Saw Super 8. Story line might have been a bit weak, but I really enjoyed the movie. About a group of kids who were making a movie and were in the wrong place at the wrong time and caught some footage on there movie camera that they shouldn't have. Set here in Ohio in the late 70's so it brought back some memories for me. I did catch an error. They said the kids were trapped in the Middle school....well back in that time frame they didn't call them middle schools. The middle schools of today were called Jr High School then.

Stamping Trails
Karen

VC Rockers Blog Hop

Hi Rockers, and my loyal followers! While I'm not officially part of the Big Shot blog hop I'm sharing my projects since I had them completed.

All of my projects used Flower Folds Big Shot die.

Supplies for card:

Base card White 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
Texture plate kit # 4 Weave plate
1 3/4 scallop circle punch
1 1/4 circle punch
itty bitty punch pack (used the circle for the nose)
window punch
scrap square white cardstock for hat, strips of red cardstock
red/white bakers twine
dimensionals
Flower Fold Die
black marker for eyes and mouth
cardstock: Night of Navy, White, Real Red, and Pink Pirouette



True to the name Flower Folds the petals do fold up. I used the smallest flower for the center with the word celebrate. Here you see the center of the flower opened up.



How cool are these flip flops? I wrapped the straps with red/white bakers twine. Then used felt to cut the flowers. For the flower centers I used Real Red cardstock and punched with Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch. Held all the layers together with Antique brads. To attach the flower to the flip flop I added adhesive back Velcro circle to the top of the strap and one to the back of the flower. This way I can remove the flower and change it out with another color after the holiday is over.



And last but not least I wanted a hat to go with the flops. Found this white painters cap at the dollar store. Used more bakers twine to perk up the hat brim ( I just love bakers twine!) then attached the flower the same way I did for the flip flops.

Click on any of the images to get a closer look.

Thanks bunches for visiting my blog! Hope you come back and visit again.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Re-Try on Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch

So after my goof in the wee hours of the other morning I took another shot at the triple layer punch. Since I still had Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Razzleberry on my desk (yes I know I should have cleaned the desk up before moving on to the next project, but give the girl a break she was tired yesterday) I made the card with what was out. I like the rhinestones in the center of each flower. Its another simple card but the these colors together really pop!

Stamping trails
Karen

It's 3:30 AM.....and this is what happens

I was going through some of mom's paperwork and photos. The woman never threw anything away. I found paycheck subs from 1985, and money order receipts from 1974. Don't get me wrong I don't have tons of paperwork, about two large boxes worth. Anyway I also found some letters that she wrote to me, Tony,and Charolette that she didn't send. Some of them were a bit disturbing, but I'm not going into that on the blog.

So getting to this card......GOOD GRIEF....please remind me next time not to stamp at 3 am. I'll thank you for doing it! This started out as an okay card, after it was put together I though the upper right hand corner was bare so I stamped the butterfly. MISTAKE. I picked up some ink around the bottom of his body along the rubber and it left an impression that I didn't want. So instead of starting over I thought I could cover it up with some dash lines drawn in with a marker. Nope not liking that. If any of my readers would like this card as a RAK let me know and I'll send it to you.

Going to bed! Good nite or good morning!

Stamping Trails
Karen

One More

Well can you stand one more card made with Fabulous Florets? I'm a liking this one. Love this color combo: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Garden Green, and Choco Chip. Its just a warm an inviting card. Word stamp also came from the Summer Mini Happy Greetings.

I got up yesterday to stormy weather. There was thunder storm that swept through around 8 am. Lots of rain and thunder/lighting. I love storms, so it was nice just to sit and watch the wind and rain. Had the kitty on my lap and a cup of coffee...and no one else in the house awake. PERFECT!

Me and John are working on cleaning out the crawl space. Going to put together a yard sale. Not going to have it till after we get back from DC, so that will be mid July. Should be nice and hot then....I can sweat off some more weight while I'm outside.

Stamping Trails
Karen

More Fabulous Florets and Furry Friend

My mom in law told me yesterday that Mary Jo (Skip's cousin)mom in law died. So I'll be sending this card to her and her hubby Don today.

Have you ever tried to use the watercolor wonder crayons on colored cardstock? Well it works great. I stamped the flowers using VersaMark on Pretty in Pink cardstock. Embossed with white powder, cut them out, then used Melon Mambo crayon to add some shading. Greenery is stamped with Wild Wasabi. I inked the frame with Wasabi then rubbed off the ink on the bird using my finger (which is still the best craft tool I own!) and then used Melon Mambo marker to color the bird.





This furry little guy I happened to notice while chatting on the phone with Kat yesterday afternoon. He was just taking a break from the heat by laying on his belly in the shade. Too CUTE!!!! Of course son John wanted to scare him but I wouldn't let him.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Sunday Morning Blues

Had the blues early this morning, and I'm sure it is because I want to drive to the nursing home and visit mom, but she is not here anymore.

So instead I drank some coffee and thought of her. She liked when I would visit Sunday mornings and bring her coffee, and breakfast. Most of the time I brought her McDonald's sausage biscuit, or Dunkin Donuts. Then sometimes I would make her salmon patties and biscuits. She loved those. Times spent with her are gone....and although I would love very dearly to have more time with mom I know it was her time to go home.

I borrowed Fabulous Florets stamp set by SU from a friend and I made this card today instead of driving to the home. Since my mood was blue the card reflected that. I used Pacific Point, and Daffodil watercolor crayons to color in the flower. I like that the embossing folder co-ordinates with the stamp set. Can't tell by the photo but I used a few dots of Smooch pearlized top coat on the center of the flower.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Last day for the Yard Sale

Didn't have time to stamp yesterday. I'm beat. Didn't think two days of working a yard sale would tired me out so much! Today is the last day....thank goodness!!!!

Hoping to be back up tomorrow with a new project.

Stamping Trails
Karen

New Stuff!

Oh how I love to play with new stampin stuff! I spent yesterday with mom-in-law Kate, well me and John both did...helping her out with the yard sale. Going back to help again today.....anyway when I got home yesterday my new stuff was at my door just begging to be unleashed on my crafting studio. Happy to do so too!

Triple layer doily punch is fun to work with. Punched four in white for the flower. I cut out sections from two and glued them into a tube shape to make the center then layered those over two whole pieces. Held together with a brad. Pear Pizzazz is wonderful! Not sure that I like it pared with Rich Razzleberry, but I do like the finished card.

Stamping trails
Karen

Watering Can

So after I made the teapot I wanted to see if I could make a watering can. Proved to be a bit more challenging but I'm happy with how it turned out. Base of the matchbox is Tangerine Tango. Outside of the box is the new designer paper from SU! One of these days I'll remember the name of that paper. LOL....

Cherry Cobbler for the tag, and Hostess set Cute by the Inch. I used cobbler, tango, and wasabi markers to color in the image.



Spout was made using two wide oval punches. I scored each at an angle and glued them together, then just cut on an angle to form the spout shape. Part of a 3/4 circle punch made the end of the spout. Large and small oval punches used to form the handle. Used AA to glue the spout and handle down. What is AA you might ask? Its my new name for red line tape. Stands for Aggressive Adhesive.

We have had two 90 degree days in a row. I'm not complaining mind you....better than being cold and damp! I'll take it:)

Can you believe it is the first day of June. Half the year is over. Lets see how many more shopping days til Christmas????????????????????? Guess I better figure out my Christmas card for the year.....oh wait....I finished those already. YAY....guess I better keep working on those homemade gifts.

Stamping Trails
Karen