Tree Cutting Time

Talk about a crazy week. Skip decided to cut down the Sugar Gum tree in our front yard. It wouldn't be so bad but this week has been one of the hottest weeks of the summer. Temps in the upper 90's. Today it is suppose to reach 97 with heat index above 100. YIKES!!!! He has been cutting several branches a day then we have been pulling them to the back yard and stacking them in the woods behind our house. I can't tell you how much sweat has rolled down my face. WHEW!!!

Not to much time for stamping. I took mom-in-law Kate to her eye doctor appointment yesterday. Then took her to the bank and to the grocery store. Later today we are picking her up for an early dinner. Don't think we will be cutting any more on the tree today.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Fun with Paper T-Shirts-BLOG CANDY

Since its been hot and humid here I've been getting up early and taking a morning bike ride. A few days ago I rode the bike to Rite-Aide and found myself in there dollar bin section. I came across these fun T-shirt post-it notes. Course I had to get a few packs as I knew I could do something with them.



I started out just stamping images, then I got to thinking don't lots of T's have messages on them? Light bulb went off. Good thing it did as we had a bit of a storm and lost powder for a bit. Any way....I used Smarty Pants, and Sage Advise for some of the sayings. Other stamped used, Flower Fest, Bliss,and Vintage Vogue.



Here you can see what the post-it note holders look like when opened. Yes I even stamped some of the notes. What a cool find! So if you have a Rite-Aide near you check it out. You may find some of these fun shirts.

Don't want to make your own? I have 5 to give away. I'm keeping the John Lennon saying, but the others are up for grabs. Leave a comment and let me know which one you'd like and you just might win! I'll pick the winners Thursday morning.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Old Set

I was going through my stamps the other day and stumbled across Sketches. I loved this set and made many cards with it when it came out years ago by SU. Sadly like lots of my stamps they sit on a shelve or in a tote collecting the very best "vintage" dust my crafting studio can produce. I just didn't have the heart not to make a card with this one.

Colors used: Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Jet Black. I added some SU designer paper, heart white paper doily, prima flowers, and a new punch I got from the Martha Stewart line called infinite loops trim.

Cookout yesterday went well. Sarah and Jason came over. Mom-in-Law wasn't feeling well enough so she stayed at home. Everyone missed her. I'll be spending some time with her this week. Hopefully she will get back on track soon.

We are getting a new patio. Not sure I'm going to be happy with the design or layout, but I'm going to keep and open mind and trust hubby on this one. Work should begin in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted and take some before, during and after pics. I'm hoping to get a fire pit. I'll see if I can get that worked in to the plan. That would be cool.

Stamping Trails
Karen

Nature Walk Mirror

I had some little hand mirrors that I purchased from Hollo's years ago...anyway I got them out yesterday and was just playing around to see what I could come up with. I used Brilliance Dew Drop ink by Tsukineko for all the stamping. I heat set the ink then wasn't sure if it would still stay on so I inked the art with VersaMark and added clear embossing powder. I still wasn't sure about the finish so I put a coat of Mod Podge over that. After that dried I wanted a border so I sponged Timber Brown StazOn around the outer edges. Seems like a lot to do for a little mirror but I happy with the results. The bird shows up better when you till the mirror a bit his under body was inked with Pearl Beige so it is a lighter ink. The Dew Drops are so pretty! Bought them some time ago when they were on sale at Joann's and I don't think I've use them. Shame on me I know!

Stamping Trails
Karen

Box Kite Card

I made this card for a Make and Take for the VC Rockers Group. It posted today so I thought I would post it on my blog as well. Pretty easy to make.

Supplies:
Cardstock cut 1 Tangerine Tango for back of card 4 ¼ x 5 ½, score this piece in half at 2 1/8
Cardstock for front cut 2 Tangerine Tango at 4 ¾ x 1 ½, Score each piece at ¼ from each end, and
also score each front piece in the center at 2 3/8
Stamps, sample used Flower Fest
Ink, sample used Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, an Eary Espresso
½ wide strips of window sheet
Snail adhesive

Directions:
Decorate front pieces as desired. In the sample I used Paisley Petals designer paper cut 4 ¼ x ¾ and then scored in half. Adhered the designer paper to the front pieces.
Attach the front pieces to the back by adhering the ¼ tabs on the front pieces to the back piece at both the top and bottom of the box kite.
On scrap cardstock stamp images and cut out.
Adhere window strip to back of stamped images then adhere other end to the back top of the box kite.
Card will fold flat to mail


Turns out Mom in Law Kate didn't have a heart attack. The results of the testing show she has 20% blockage which is good for a woman her age. She is back at home now. Talked to her yesterday and she seems like her old self. Skip will be bringing her over to our house for a cookout tomorrow. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.


Stamping Trails
Karen

Bottle Cap Magnets

Made these yesterday evening. Thanks to Kat for supplying the idea. She recently went to a class and one of the projects was bottle cap magnets. Started with a normal bottle cap (you can purchase these at the craft store), and ran it rough side up through the Big Shot. You'll need both plates and the platform. For the platform lift up both tab 1 and tab two. The Big Shot will flatten out the cap. Used the bee from Nature Walk on Daffodil Delight cardstock. I also used Flower Fold to cut out the flowers. Not sure If I like the Daffodil or Cherry Cobbler flowers better. I didn't have a clear dome to cover up the bee so I used Crystal Effects. After all the gluing was finished I spritzed the flower with Vanilla Smooch Spritz.


Skip's mom had a heart attack Wednesday evening. At first they thought she was just dehydrated but after running some tests on Thursday doctors stated it was a heart attack. They have moved her to the Cleveland Clinic where more test will be run today to check out the damaged and to see what caused the attack.

I'll keep you updated.

Stamping Trails
Karen

More Garden Pics

Roma Tomatoes




Oregano



Basil




Hot Peppers



Green Peppers





Cucumbers.


Stamping Trails
Karen