Early Retirement

I just can't believe it but it's true. I'm finally a stay-a-home mom. The Lord has blessed our family so much. On my last day at GSK, my department gave me a farewell party. There was cake and lots of finger foods. One of my friends at GSK was aware of something that I had been wanting for a long time from stampin up and the group went in together and got me the "STAMPIN UP BIG SHOT KIT" along with lots of accessories plus stamp sets and I also got all of the sell-a-brations sets.

Here is a list along with a picture of everything that I got:

• Big Shot Starter Kit
• BIGXL Baskets & Blooms
• Sizzix SU Decorative Strip Billboard
• BIGZ Flower, Daisies #2
• BIGZ Frame, Oval Scallop
• Animal Crackers (Stamp Set)
• Buttons (Latte & Bouquet)
• Sweet Slumber Speciality DP
• Bella Rose DP
• 2 Pks of Ribbon Bundle (Sell-a-brations)
• Delicate Dots DP (Sell-a-brations)
• Congrats (Sell-a-brations)
• Yummy (Sell-a-bations)
• Botanical Blooms (Sell-a-brations)
• Polka Dot Punches (Sell-a-brations)
• Rustic Rooster (Hostess)

I also got a gift card to spend anywhere and my plans are to buy the Cricut Expressions or a new digital camera. Just waiting on the right deal to come along. I also want to say thanks to Amy Ward because she had a part in helping Anne get all this stuff ordered for my farewell party. Thanks Amy!!

Valentine Pencil Holders

I've had so much fun making these pencil holders. You can see the instructions for them on Laurie's Blog (Just Give me Stamps). Here are a few that I made tonight and they went together really fast. I used the sticky strip along the side and bottom and used regular adhesive for the scallop and cirle.

Happy Valentines Day

Here is just a few cards that I recently made when a few of my friends got together. I made several of these valentines cards from the retired sets (Toucan of my Love and Animal Valentines). By adding the googlie eyes and outlining them in glitter added a lot to them. As you can see the don't only work for valentine cards, they work for birthday's too!!

This is the valentine card that I demonstrated. We also made a window box but I will have to post it later since I gave the extra's that I made away.

Set: A Happy Heart

Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8 & 1 1/4 circle punch, and Scallop Edge

Scallop Edge Ornaments

I know that Christmas has come and gone. I think you could do them for any holiday not just Christmas. The directions can be found on Taylor's Blog. I had just ordered the scallop edge punch and couldn't resist making these cute ornaments. Here are the 2 that I made this weekend.

Stamps: Punches Three (2008 Fall Winter Catalog)
Ink: Real Red and Pixie Pink
Paper: Real Red, Handsome Hunter, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa and Pixie Pink

Christmas Gifts

As sewing is one of my other hobbies, this year I worked on making 2 christmas tree skirts for a couple of friends. One of them had snowmen on it and the other was with red poinsettas. They both turned out really nice and I wanted to share them with you.

Valentines Cards/Treats

Recently I finally got back into stamping and made these cute pencil holders. I cased it from Robin Lea but the directions came from Laurie and I think these turned out really cute. I'm hoping to make more for my daughter's friends at church.

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, & Basic Black

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch

I also cased this cute card from splitcoaststampers. She used the scallop edge punch from Stampin up but since I didn't have that one yet, I decided to substitute and use the spiral punch.

Paper: Baseful Blue, Real Red, Basick Black, & Whisper White

Set: A Happy Heart

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Sprial Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

Ink: Basic Black

Markers: Real Red, Bordering Blue, & Green Galore

Missing in Action

Sorry to have not been able to post since the end of July but with working full time, taking care of the kids and helping out with my mother-in-law, it hasn't left much time for blogging. I'm hoping over the next month or so to get back at it regular. Please keep checking back to see what I'll be posting.

Christmas in July

On Friday, July 25th, I hosted a workshop for a couple great friends (Lynn and Anne) and it was all about Christmas. We were wanting to get started early on Christmas. We had around 9 people come and I was a little on the nervous side since it was truly my first workshop that I had done. I demonstrated 2 projects (Christmas Card and Gift Tag set and Holder). Here are the 2 make-n-take projects that we did and they were a big hit.
The Christmas card was done using Snowflake Spot. This set is so easy and fun.

Stamp Set: Snowflake Spot and Warm Words

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Baseful Blue, & Whisper White

Inks: Night of Navy and Baseful Blue

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds & 2-way glue

Directions:

Cut Night of Navy 8 1/2 x 5 1/4, score at 4 1/4, Baseful Blue 4 x 5 1/8, Whisper white 2 1/2 x 2 7/8, Baseful Blue 2 7/8 x 3 1/8, and Night of Navy 3 1/8 x 3 3/8. Stamp medium snowflake in Night of Navy ink on Baseful Blue cardstock. Stamp large snowflake in Night of Navy ink on Whisper White, then mount on Baseful Blue and Night of Navy. Apply 2 way glue to various spots on large snowflake and saying, then sprinkle with dazzling diamonds.

Gift Tag Holder and 3 gift tags

Stamp Set: Snowflake Spot and Think Happy Thoughts
Cardstock: Glorius Green, Real Red, Basic Black, & Whisper White
Inks: Real Red, Basic Black and Glorious Green
Accessories: Scallop punch, 1 3/8 circle punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, handheld circle punch, red grosgrain ribbon, small cellophane bags

Directions:

Cut glorious green 5 3/4 x 3 1/4, score at 1 1/2. Cut off 1 1/4 of small cellophane bag. Tape to cardstock below fold line. Tags are cut at 4 x 2 and then score at 2. Fold tag and punch out scallop & 1 3/8 circle then mount to scallop. Stamp image on whisper white then punch out with 1 1/4 punch. This makes it very easy to line up the image inside the punch. Please e-mail me if you have any more questions.

This is a new set called "Deer Friends" that will be in the upcoming Fall/Winter catalog. I cased this card from Angie Juda. She offers a tutorial on this card.

Here are a couple of other samples that I made.

Diaper Cake & Handy Dandy Bag Holder

Sorry I don't have anything new to post today but this past week I was busy getting ready for a friend at work's baby shower. She is having her 3rd baby and it's finally a boy this time. We are all so excited for her. My friend Anne Owings made her this diaper cake and I couldn't resist sharing it.

Also, I hope by now that my friend Rochelle now has received her gift in the mail. She recently sent me some stamped images of the graduation boy and girl so that I could make some of the RSVP pens (posted a few weeks ago) and cards. It was my way of saying thank you. Not sure if you could tell from the picture below but it is a very "handy dandy" item and it is well used in my house. The tag on it reads:

HANDY DANDY BAG HOLDER

Put your plastic bags in me,
See how handy I can be.
Push them in and pull them out
Keeping tidy is what I'm about.

This is just another one of my hobbies that I enjoy: sewing. I started making these several years ago from one that I purchased at Cracker Barrel. It was lots smaller and so I just modified the size and can sew it up in just less than an hour. If you would be interested in purchasing one, please send me an e-mail for price and let me know what print of fabric you would like to have. I can make them out of whatever would match your decor. Mine has cats on it and it just hangs in my pantry so that after those long trips to the grocery store, I have somewhere to store all those plastic bags.

Most likely won't have anything new to post for a week since I'm getting ready to leave for vacation in the morning. See ya when I return from Tenn. next week.

Enjoy and I hope to hear from you soon!

Kim

Stamp Class

Friday Night was a stamp class and here are a few of the cards we made. We did a card with Fun Pun, Zoofari and Tart & Tangy.

Stamp Set: Pun Fun and Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Real Red, Baseful Blue

Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Baseful blue, real red and summer sun, & pumkin markers

I cased this card from some samples that I borrowed from Amy Ward.

Please check out her blog.

Stamp Set: Zoofari and Sincere Saluations

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, So Safron, Groovy Guava, Close to Cocoa, & Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Creamy caramel & Close to Cocoa Marker & Antique Brass Brad

Stamp: Tart & Tangy & Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, and Garden Green

Accessories: Red Gingham Ribbon, Scallop Punch, 1 3/8 circle punch and 1 1/4 circle punch. I cased this card from Angie Juda and you can view the tutorial on her blog.

I also cased the next item from Angie and she has a tutorial on it as well. She has lots of great ideas that I enjoying viewing.

Accessories: Heavy Coaster, Medium Binder Clip, Post-It Notes and Sanding Block

I cased this card from a sample that I borrowed from Amy Ward but made a few change

Stamps: Zoofari and Sincere Saluations

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, So Safron, Groovy Guava, Close to Cocoa, and Creamy Caramel

Graduation 2008

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. Between working, sewing and also being sick with bronchitis, I haven't had time to stamp or scrapbook.

A very sweet girl at our church graduated from high school and I made her these very cute RSVP pens. Rochelle Wick sent me some of the graduation girls so that I could make the pens. For instructions, click here. Here is the ones that I made for Robin. I also created this board for her with pictures of her growing up. Her Mom had to be very sneaking so that we could surprise her but we were able to pull it off.

Also over the past 2 months, I've been working on a scrapbook calendar for my pastor's wife. It was very hard keeping this from her. I mainly used pictures that I had taken over the years. She was very surprised and was touched. Here is a sample of what i did. and her reaction.

All-Occasions

Finally finding some time to stamp, I made this cute card with Pun Fun. This is a very cute set and I've been having lots of fun. I can't wait to mail this card to my grandson. He's a mess and loves getting mail.

Stamp set: Pun Fun & Background Basics

Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Summer Picnic


Supplies: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Markers, Basic Black Stamp pad


Here are two other cards I made a couple of

months ago at a friends house that I get together regularly with to stamp. This is the "Very Punny" set which has been lots of fun too.

Stamp sets: Very Punny & Hip Hip Hooray (Retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Basic Black, & Pretty in Pink

Supplies: Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Black and Pink Gingham Ribbon

Sympathy Card

Hi, sorry it has been so long since my last post. It was such a busy weekend so I thought I would go back and pull something old that I had done since I haven't had much time to stamp this past weekend. Here is a sympathy card that I did with the set "Heartfelt Thanks".

Supplies:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Black, Certainly Celery, So Safron

Ink: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, So Safron

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, With Deepest Sympathy (Michaels)

Accessories: Black and Moss Gingham

By Air

Our grandson just turned 2 this past August and he is just a mess. Even though we don't get to see him every week, we try to talk with him on the phone. He loves coming to visit Big Poppa and Mammaw. Here is a picture of our last visit with him and a card that I made him.


Stamp Set: By Air (retired) and Simply Circles

Paper: Real Red, and Night of Navy

Supplies: Night of Navy, Real Red stamp pads, & Red Gingham ribbon















He loves Thomas the train and since I love to sew also, I made him some "Thomas the Train" pillow cases. In the next picture, he was show Big Poppa all about the train track.


On my last post, I put red and black grosgrain ribbon and as you can tell it was the red and black gingham ribbon. Sorry for the error.

Happy Stamping!!

Tart & Tangy

Here is a card I did for a friend who is going through chemo and our department at work wanted her to know we were thinking and praying for her. The tart and tangy set has become a favorite of mine along with the summer picnic paper.

Paper: Summer Picnic, Real Red, Bashful Blue

Supplies: Red and Black Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Punch, White gel pen, and Sell-a-brations rub-ons,

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week at my daughter's school it is Teacher Appreciation Week. She is in the 4th grade and I know how her teacher likes to send notecards and can always use notepads. So I made her a few cute items (band-aid holder, 3 x 3 notecards in box, gum holder, tic tac holder and covered her a 3 x 5 pastel scratch pad. Here is a picture of them:

They all turned out so cute and I cased the gum holder and tic tac holder from Rochelle and I can't remember where I got the cute little box from. Here are the directions for it. Start with a 7.5 x 5.5 piece of cardstock. Score it 1" in parallel to the long sides and 3" in parallel to the short sides. I cut the short scored lines and used the sticky strip to hold the sides together. I added ribbon for the handles and cover the sides with printed paper.

The cute band-aid box I ordered was from EB Creations and used the same paper and design to cover it. Once I measure it, I ran it through my sticker maker making it easier to glue to the container. Sorry I don't have the measurements. I still have a couple to make and I'll try to get the measurements then. I used red grossgrain ribbon on the top and bottom to cover some of my rough edges.

Supplies: Stampin Up Scallop, 1 3/8", 1 1/4" punch, Real Red, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock, Summer Picnic Scrapbook Paper, White Ribbon (Not SU), Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Black & Garden Green Stamp Pad, Real Red Marker.

Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, Year Round Cheer (Retired), and Very Punny (Retired)

This is only my second post and I'm still learning how to format and get things where I want them. If you have any advice, please e-mail me. Thanks!

Kim

Stepping Out

I've been trying for months to get my blog set up but working a full time job just seems to get in the way. When I find time, I love to stamp, scrapbook, sew and bake. I guess you could say I've got to many hobbies but I'm enjoy them all. Here is a card I just made for a great friend of mine.

Stamps: Merci

Stamp Pads: Black Regal Rose, & Whisper White

Paper: Black, Regal Rose

Supplies: Regal Rose & Certainly Celery Markers

I recently did a workshop and demonstrated some great items that I got from http://impressionsbyrochelle.blogspot.com/ where I cased her gum holder, tic tac holder, and notepad cover. They were all great hits. Sorry I don't have pictures of mine. I'll try to post them later.

I also have a love for baking cakes. I recently baked a UNC Tarheel cake for a friends little boy who just turned 8 and then a couple of weeks later, I made one for his mom's b'day. Here is the cakes