Stamp Journey

Too 'Tweet for Words

Ah, it is good to be back!

I've been home for a little more than a week now, and have caught up on my sleep. Not caught up on laundry, work tasks, blogging or stamping -- yet!

My experience as a Red Cross caseworker working with flood victims in the Midwest is difficult to describe. It was the hardest thing I've ever done (well, okay -- childbirth is right up there, too!) but it was also the most rewarding thing I've ever done. My heart still aches for the good people of Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa as they deal every day with putting their lives back together. My sincere thanks to all of you who made a donation to the American Red Cross. If you missed that opportunity, it's not too late! Click here to make your donation now. :-)

Now that I'm back and have my hands on my beloved computer, I have much to post and much to tell y'all. So much has happened in the worlds of Stampin' Up!, rubber stamping, home decor and scrapbooking!

On to today's sample. This uses the wood mounted stamp set, "A Little Birdie Told Me."

This takes a half sheet of card stock for the base, shown here in Purely Pomegranate. Did you know this color will be retiring August 10th? Better stock up now!

Fold the base (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches) in half, then fold the front half in half again. The larger bird on the front was stamped in black Stazon, a little yellow was sponged on and I used an aqua painter to put some grass under the birdie's feet.

For the inside, I stamped the smaller bird in black Stazon on the Whisper White piece and on a scrap piece. I cut out the scrap bird to make a masking template and temporarily attached the masking template over the stamped bird before stamping the umbrella. Some easy coloring with an aqua painter and it was time to add the raindrops. These are just drops of Crystal Effects.. and I have a hint for working with Crystal Effects.

Don't cut the tip off the Crystal Effects bottle. Instead, use a wood skewer to dip into the bottle and place the drops where you want them. I find it so much easier to control the placement and my Crystal Effects does not dry out in the bottle...although I use it so much it really doesn't have a chance to dry out! You can pick up a package of skewers at a grocery store.

To finish this card, I used the ticket corner punch, added a bow, stamped and punched out the circles and put just a little dot with my white gel pen in the corners. A little more dotting with the white gel pen on the umbrella and I was done.

By carefully placing the two focal pieces and the circles the "rainy" birdie fits directly behind the "sunny" birdie when the card is closed.

The ladies in my stamp clubs enjoyed making this card, and even those who were a little scared of watercoloring the grass and puddle were happy with their results.

Speaking of stamp clubs, I'm offering an open stamp club class next Thursday, July 24th at 6:30 p.m. in Duluth GA. If you're in the metro Atlanta area, you are welcome to attend as a guest -- we'll make the cutest ever summer card and I'm featuring scrapbooking techniques. You'll leave with three completed projects and oodles of ideas for a supply fee of only $10! Call me at 678-467-1330 or email me at maccreative@mac.com by 7/22/08 to register. This offer is available to the first 6 people to contact me, so don't wait!

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Right Here in Cedar Rapids

I've been here in Iowa for a few days now, working with the American Red Cross in disaster relief. Residents in the Cedar Rapids area -- and beyond -- have so many needs as a result of the recent storms and flooding, and it is a privilege to be able to serve the good people of Iowa on behalf of Red Cross donors everywhere.

The damage is vast, and for those whose homes have been flooded it is devastating. Baby pictures, cherished family heirlooms, important papers and records...all of these and more were destroyed in the flood waters.

I flew into Cedar Rapids from Indiana early in the week. Nothing prepared me for the piles of furniture, building materials and belongings being removed from houses and businesses. Many people are not only without homes, they're without transportation -- so many vehicles were trapped in the water no one believed would rise to the levels it did.

Housing needs are at a critical level, many people are unemployed due to the disaster, lives have been lost... and yet Iowans are a tough lot. People are busy clearing out damaged homes, cleaning salvaged items, and doing what they can to tackle the inevitable mold that follows floodwater. Those whose homes were totally destroyed are searching for places for their families to live.

My part is a tiny one in the relief effort. I am only one caseworker working with one client at a time. And there are so many clients! They line up for hours with their children, their parents, and clutching their few salvaged belongings in a bag. The days are long and the needs great. I treasure each and every hug I get from a grateful Mom, each warm handshake from a tired Dad, and each shy smile from a bewildered child.

Your donation is needed more than ever. I'm asking you to do two things -- make a donation to the Red Cross here or at your local Red Cross chapter, and stop for a moment in your busy day today to think about the thousands of people in the central U.S. trying to take the first steps in rebuilding their lives.

I'm due to fly home to Atlanta in early July. It will be wonderful to spend time with my family and to sleep in my own bed. I'll try to post another update in a few days.

Water, Water Everywhere...

I've been in Indiana for 10 days now, working with the American Red Cross to serve people who have been affected by the tornadoes and floods in the Midwest. It's exhausting, but also rewarding.

This is just an update to all my blog pals to let you know that I'm on my way to Iowa to assist with relief efforts there. I will likely be unable to post again for a few days.

Keep stamping! While I'm often without cell phone service or internet access in the areas in which I'm working, what I miss most is my stampin' stuff...y'all will have to stamp for me. :-)

M Is For Mikelle

Today is my daughter Mikelle's birthday and when I had the opportunity to make a darling purse with mini monogrammed notecards, I just had to use the Letter "M" for her.

The base is a white paper bag with a flat bottom that forms the basket. It's just the right size to hold some cute little cards.

The monograms are made using the alphabet set, "Lovely Letters," a circle punch and of course, my beloved scallop punch.

I just know that I'll hear from my youngest daughter, Kate, as soon as she sees this post. I'd better go warm up the "K" stamp!

My thanks to Theresa Matthews for inviting "a few good friends" over to make this adorable project. If you'd like to invite some of your friends to your house to make a cute project, email or call me to find out how easy it is to host your own creative party. I still have some good daytime, evening, lunchtime or weekend dates available for booking your very own summer hostess party!

Slip Slidin' Away

Here's a slider with a difference!

The pinwheel is simply a square of double-sided designer paper. Fold in half and crease, open it up and fold in half the other direction. Snip the crease lines halfway to the center and fold the tips in to the center point. Secure with a brad and mount on the slider mechanism. Easy!

The slot for the slider piece is made with the Word Window punch, and the Close to Cocoa background piece is attached with dimensionals so the slider piece can easily move back and forth in the slot.

Now, quick...who sang the song "Slip Slidin' Away"...and what famous duo was that singer with before going solo? Leave a comment if you think you know!

Always

I hope you can see the great texture of this card. It's a simple pocket card. The textured card stock stopped me from putting a background pattern on it.

I used the corner rounder on the top edges of the pocket and the insert, embossed the heart from the Always stamp set in black, and also embossed the Always Circle before punching it out.

Here's the card open.

"Always" is such a versatile saying...always thinking of you, always loving you, yours always...I love it always!

Will It Never End?

Okay, last sample of the scallop card. I promise.

Here's a closeup of the scallop detail...

And here's the full card.

This one uses the Ginger Blossom paper. I'm going to miss this gorgeous collection of double-sided designer paper when it retires in August!

And speaking of retiring, Stampin' Up!'s list of retiring stamp sets will be out June 15th. I'll post the list as soon as I can get my inky fingers on it!

Got an idea of which stamp sets might be on the retiring list? Leave a comment with your top six contenders and your full name. I'll compare that to the retiring list and send a FREE stamp set from my stash to the first five responders with the most correct guesses. Winners will be announced on the blog, so check back!

Déjà Vu All Over Again

Does this look familiar? It's a variation of the card I posted yesterday, and another of the cards we made for Debbie. (See the June 9th post to catch up on why we're making cards for Debbie.)

The basic design is one I created months ago, and I find myself returning to it time after time when I want a quick, contemporary card. I've used this design for thank you, sympathy, and birthday cards -- even a baby shower invitation.

Here's a closer look at this Almost Amethyst version.

Choose a designer paper...pick coordinating colors for the underlying panels and the ribbon...select the stamp sets. You'll easily create quite different looks to suit any occasion.

This design is a great make 'n take, and a good choice for beginning stampers.

Click here to see a pink baby card version, and the original design here. 

Learning to make different projects using the same design or template is something we talk about in many of my classes and club events. Helping you confidently and quickly make a needed card is high on my priority list.

Check out my class schedule here. Anyone from the metro Atlanta area will find my location in Duluth, GA, convenient and easy to find. Call or email me to sign up for a class this month!

Appealing Apricot, Anyone?

This is one of the Thank You cards I designed for Christine, a fellow demo in Hugo, MN. (See yesterday's post, June 9th, to find out why.)

The base is Apricot Appeal, as is the grosgrain ribbon tied around the top panels. The card base and envelope are stamped in Pumpkin Pie classic ink with the dotted circle from the "Seeing Spots" stamp set. The thank you word circle stamp is also from that set.

You can see the circle more clearly in this photo. (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

We used the scallop punch to punch through the front and to punch a piece of designer paper to adhere to the inside of the card. A perky felt flower from the Flower Fusion kit is anchored with a brad and set atop a circle of Garden Green. The circles are made with 1 & 1/4 and 1 & 3/8 punches.

The underlying panels at the top are Garden Green and Certainly Celery card stock.

"Seeing Spots" is only $15.95 for a versatile set of six stamps. Call or email me to see spots of your own!

In This, We Make a Difference

 What do you suppose these lovely ladies are working on?

Twelve-year-old Jenna (on the left) is stamping "Thank you's" and punching them out with the circle punch for one group of cards. Next to her is Susan, who is in the process of making 80 -- yes 80! -- Thank You and "Thinking of You" cards she designed. And on the right is Theresa, who is cutting the bases for another set of 25 cards.

 

Meanwhile, Debbie (left) is preparing 25 bases for yet another card, and Anne (right) is working on the fronts and envelopes for that batch.

We made more than 160 cards last Tuesday afternoon, in the hopes of bringing appreciation and comfort to people whose lives have been deeply affected by a devastating tornado in Hugo, MN...just north of St. Paul.

A fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Christine Grygar, lives in a neighborhood that was virtually destroyed by the tornado, and her badly damaged home is across the street from the house in which a 2-year-old child died.

Our small Atlanta group gathered last week to put together cards to send to Christine...cards she will use to thank the volunteers, American Red Cross workers, and emergency personnel who have worked in the community since the May 25th tornado...cards she will share with her neighbors so they can do the same...and cards she can use to let tornado victims in her area know they are in our thoughts and prayers.

We pray that the people of Hugo will find blessings in the days ahead to blunt the loss, sorrow and shock they've endured.

I'll be posting the cards we made over the next couple of days. My thanks to Jenna, Debbie, Susan, Theresa and Anne for embodying Stampin' Up!'s Statement of the Heart: "To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference."

Summer Reflections

One of my all time favorite stamp sets is "Summer by the Sea."

Although it's not currently featured in the current catalog, "Summer by the Sea" is still available from Stampin' Up! It is one of the sets on the Dormant List, and all it takes is a phone call or email to order this great set.

You may view the dormant list by clicking here.

Dinner Anyone?

It might just be appropriate to serve dinner on paper plates to match the paper bag invitation shown here.

Theresa Matthews just loves to play with our chef friend from the Voila stamp set, and she designed this adorable invitation. Theresa used white bags for the base of the book and formed several pockets by folding the bags in half. You can slide cards in the pockets to give directions, list a menu, and of course, state the date, time and reason for the event. You could even make an RSVP card to slide in. (Does anyone send back RSVP cards, anymore???)

Here's a view with a couple of the cards pulled partway out.

The funny thing is that Theresa rarely cooks...shhh...don't tell her I told y'all!

When You've Got Lemons...

This may be one of the cutest summer cards ever! Designed by Kelly Acheson, the stamp set used is Tart & Tangy from the Occasions mini catalog.

Imagine this card as an invitation to your next barbeque, potluck supper or cool pool party.

Can you see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the rim of the glass and the lemon slice? It would be fun to make the lemon a scratch and sniff element, wouldn't it? Hmmm....

The trick to this card is to use vellum card stock for the "glass."

The glass was made by cutting a piece of vellum 3 1/4" tall x 3 1/2" wide. At the bottom of the piece, measure in 3/4" from both sides and make a pencil mark, then cut from that mark at an angle to meet the upper corner. Do this on both sides. Score vertically 3/8" from the right and left sides. Fold the edges over at the score lines and attach to card. (If you're going to make a bunch of these, you could make a template from chipboard.)

The lemon is stamped on white and punched out with a 1 1/4" circle punch. Cut a small slit to hang it on the edge of the glass and attach with a dimensional.

I used two-way glue on the glass rim and the lemon and dusted with Dazzling Diamonds for that cool, fresh "sparkle" look.

The Tart & Tangy stamp set is available only through June 30th. At only $12.95 for a set of four -- lemon, cherries, strawberry and apple images included -- this is one of the most popular sets in the Occasions mini catalog. Order Tart & Tangy and Dazzling Diamonds glitter by June 15th and I'll include the card stock, a template and illustrated instructions so you can make 4 of these cards yourself....FREE. Email or call me today!

A Little Birdie Told Me...

 

...to show you another special but easy fold.

The Soft Sky base is an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch piece folded in half, so you still have the inside of the base card to use. The mini card on the front opens up to reveal a birthday greeting.

 

We used an aqua painter to watercolor the bird, and stamped and cut out the hat separately. There are two layers under the mini card, in Real Red and Blue Bayou. A slot punch provides the hole on the edge for tying on blue and red gingham ribbons.

The Little Bird set includes two sizes of birds, an umbrella, flower and hat...and eight phrases such as "you're getting married," "you're under the weather," "about your good news," and more. The set includes 12 stamps in all.

If this little birdie is calling your name, call or email me today to order!

Box Up That Shoe!

 Don't be fooled by this picture...these ladies may look intense, but they chat up a storm while creating great projects!

Some of my favorite people regularly gather to share projects in a shoebox swap. We each bring the supplies to make a card. The hostess of the month sets the theme. This month's theme was special folds.

One of the special fold cards we did is sometimes called a Z fold. It's a versatile design that goes together quickly.

Start with an 8 1/2 inch x 5 1/4 inch piece of cover stock, such as the YoYo Yellow used here. Fold it in half, then score and fold the front panel in half again.

The main image is from the Year After Year set, but you can vary the front focal piece endlessly, using different sizes and images. How fun!

To learn four special folds, register for my Flashy Folds class on June 24 in Duluth GA. Click here for details.

Be Happy Goin' Postal

Do you have leftover postage stamps of various denominations? I have a growing collection. With mailing costs going up, I am not sure how much I have to add to my 31, 34, 39 and 41 cent stamps so my cards will safely arrive at their intended destinations.

My local post office here in Duluth, Georgia, is great -- clerks patiently wait while I figure out how much more postage I need on an particular envelope, but with this handy guide I can avoid testing their patience!

Postal Rate Change PDF

Today's card uses the Stampin' Up! stamp set, Be Happy. Call or email me today to order this versatile set so you, too, can "Be Happy!"...despite increased postage rates.

Blue Bayou Baby

 

It's always a joy for me to help someone make a card welcoming the arrival of a new family member.

Whether it's by adoption, fostering or by birth, welcoming a child makes me think of that intoxicating baby smell, the teeny toes and the wee clutching fingers.

So I was delighted when my friend Jan asked for some design assistance to make a card for her niece, who had just adopted a child.

Then she told me the "baby" was a 5-year-old boy.

Clearly, buggies and onesies just wouldn't do. I was creatively stuck in the baby groove, so I CASED a design by Ilse Vargas.

This card pairs up Blue Bayou and Soft Sky with Close to Cocoa and Whisper White. The wheel for the background is a jumbo wheel called Nursery Letters, and the sailboat is from the Nursery Necessities stamp set. We used two punches...Word Window and the small Star...and a Coluzzle for the circles. Soft Sky designer paper and double-stitched ribbon completes a card worthy of a young man about to enter Kindergarten.

The Blue Bayou and Soft Sky colors will retire in August, so think about stocking up on these great colors.

Wild About Who?

Imagine...a babbling stream percolating beside you, the conversation of eight dear friends, and the gentle guidance of two excellent teachers as you work in a new craft medium. This was my Saturday last weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. It just doesn't get any better!

We did a project in glass mosaics, and each one of us completed a tray, wall plaque or birdhouse, AND each one of us was pleased with our final creation. That's pretty darn good for a first time effort with a new medium.

So today's card is dedicated to eight sisters of the heart - Phyllis, Joy, Shel, Andrea, Sue, Krista, Daryl and Susie...otherwise known as the Periwinkle Peacocks. My life is so much richer for knowing you, and yes, I am WILD ABOUT YOU!

This card is one we did last month in my Chat & Create clubs. It uses the stamp set called....can you guess??? Yep, Wild About You!

The color palette is In Color all the way, with Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava and just a little Purely Pomegranate to make it pop. The black piece was punched with the Spiral punch, giving it a filmstrip look. Bright silver brads from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware kit featured in the current Occasions mini catalog finish it off.

And to you, dear reader, I wish a day that includes a babbling brook, a shared craft, and girlfriends who know you well and love you anyway!

Rolling Out A Terrific Deal

 

Buy a pre-selected stamp set and receive the coordinating jumbo wheel FREE! 

Select from the stamp sets below to receive the free jumbo matching wheel...a value of $8.50. 

Download the full flyer here. Call me to order this special today!

Stamp Set	Free Jumbo Wheel	Order #	Price
Wonderful You	Stems & Silhouettes	112848	$33.95
Life's A Breeze	Something's Fishy	112851	$29.95
Pun Fun	Sweet Stars	112850	$30.95
Year After Year	See You Around	112847	$30.95
Stitched Exotics	It's Beautiful	112849	$33.95
Enjoy Every Moment	Daisy Dash	112853	$29.95