It's coming up daisies!

Okay - all of a sudden I have found much interest in my Upsy Daisy set. I don't know why I didn't just love this set before....but it's begun to earn more ink time here recently. Maybe because it's finally spring and the daisies are taking over my flower bed. They are multiplying where they shouldn't be - I'm gonna have to dig a bunch up and either get rid of them or find a spot to put them.....in the meantime - until mine actually bloom, I'll admire these:
I really like the look of the Whisper White ink on the Kraft cardstock. And here I simply edged one side of them with a Rose Red marker to give them a little "pop". Because the stems didn't go to the edge of the Kraft piece, I covered it with my ribbon and a coordinating button. Clever - right? The pattern paper is from the often used Sweet Pea paper pack. If you don't have this paper yet - you better get your hands on some. You've got 11 days to get some ordered and then it's gone!!!! This paper pack is a great deal. For a little over the cost of 2 packs of DSP, you get the amount of FOUR packs of DSP!!! Plus, all of the paper is SUPER cute.

See how that little bit of marker work adds so much?

I broke out my Pink Pirouette stamp pad to stamp the label from Vintage Labels, and Rose Red to stamp the sentiment.

Now, this one is essentially the same card, but I changed up the ribbon/sentiment portion. You may remember a very similar card from this post. I used one less layer of DSP on this card. And got to thinking that it really needed some extra color, hence the Old Olive ribbon and label color.

Well folks - that's all for today. I'm sure the little ones will be awake soon and the two older ones are going to beg me to take them to the tractor for rides. The corn planting has finally begun! We'll be praying for 7 days of really nice weather, and no breakdowns and hopefully all of the corn can get in the ground then!

Making of a card...

Alrighty peeps - grab a cup of coffee, tea, or a soda....or heck, a glass of wine if you so choose!!! THis is a long post today, as I'm going to take you thru the making of a card! Pretty much step by step....
First off - I'm using some Whisper White Craft ink and the daisies from the Upsy Daisy stamp set. I'm needing quite a bit of spring in my life - it snowed all day today (AGAIN) and we're suppose to have even more Sunday and Monday. It's all a big joke anymore - I think we've surpassed 50 inches for the season! So - all you'll see from me from here on out are springy cards!!!

This stamp I ink up upside down. I think I get better coverage this way.

I stamped several pieces of Kraft paper at a time. It's much simpler to make several cards at a time than one at a time.

I'm using designer paper from the Sweet Pea Pattern Pack - here is the So Saffron polka dot, and I'm distressing the edges with So Saffron ink.

I drug my ink pad over the edges quite a bit so that the white wasn't so white.

Then, because I'm quite anal and picky - I use my grid paper to line up my paper when I adhere them together. I'm a firm believer that the grid paper is a true nessecity - and a bargain too. I use my grid paper until it's really dirtied up before I pitch it! My four year old uses it when he's glueing so he doesn't get glue all over my table. Makes a great coloring paper for him too!

See how easy it can be to line up your paper. Each piece of the paper used on this project was cut 1/2 inch smaller than the one it's layered on - making it quite easy to line up. Just go in 1/4" and up 1/4".

Then layer those onto your card front - So Saffron here.

I'm going to use the Vintage Labels set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog - one of those great sets that you can earn FREE!!! Just contact me and I'll hook you up! This is a great set - lots of charm.

I'm going to use the image that coordinates with the Curly Label punch. Again - grid paper. good. I line up the image with the paper - well, because I'm, you know, anal....I wouldn't necessarily need to line this one up since I'll be punching it out.

Then I press my clear block on top really good.

Here you can see that the edges of the stamp has clung to the block, however, the middle of the stamp hasn't clung. If I were to ink this up, I'd get ink on that spot that wasn't "suctioned" to the block, and I'd end up with ink on my project where I didn't want it.

So, be sure to squish that spot onto the block, and get it to cling - here you can see much better that it's good and stuck.

I stamp those in Taken w/ Teal on pieces of scrap paper. ( A great way to use up all of those scrappy pieces!)

Then I picked the Happy Birthday sentiment from the same set - and line it up on that wonderful grid paper! This is more crucial, since I'll be stamping that inside the frame.

This time I'm going to test stamp it back onto my grid paper. You can't always get that image sticker to line up perfectly with the stamp - so I want to test it before I stamp it on my project in case it's off a bit.

I stamped it onto my grid paper, and sure enough, it's off just a bit - see it???

I simply compensate by twisting my block just a bit helter skelter - like so:

And viola! It's near perfect! I know just the angle to turn it so that it's not crooked on my project.

So, I finish stamping all of my frames and punch them out.

Next, I cut lengths of ribbon that are about 4 1/2" long - long enough to peak out of both sides of my frame.

I took one end and snailed it to make a loop.

Then I grabbed my linen thread - which I LOVE! and the little teal buttons out of the Playground Button collection.

Threading the button from the back, I leave a large loop.

Take the loop around the back of the loop of the ribbon on pull tight on the thread.

Tie that in a knot, getting the ribbon to gather up a bit. At this point, don't worry too much about how your gather looks, you can fluff it up in a second.

Tie a bow in the thread and fussy up your ribbon. FYI - I think this is the only way I can tie an actual bow! With little thread - or shoe laces!

There - now I'm pretty well set to assemble the rest of my card.

Here's a detail shot for you to see!

And the final gem!

I really like this color combo - plus it's really a simple card. I'm glad I added that touch of Old Olive ribbon - it really adds some pizzaz!

Want this card - find it on my Etsy shop!

Nobody said life on the farm was easy....

Sorry I didn't get to post anything yesterday....we had an emergency on the farm. The guys were here loading corn out of our grain bin and hauling it to town. My father-in-law was climbing the bin to take a look inside, when the ladder he was on gave way, and he fell about 20 feet to the frozen ground. He landed on his upper back/shoulder area. I was glad that my brother-in-law was at least out there with him, because the bin is far enough away from the house that I would not have heard him. My BIL did run up to the house to have me call 911, which I did, and then I frantically ran outside (in my slippers!) to try and be of assistance. The ambulance took him to the local hospital and after CAT scans and x-rays, it was determined that he's got a compression fracture in his middle back. While he will be very sore for quite some time, he will be fine. We are quite thankful, as it could have been much worse. We are also grateful for the many volunteer emergency workers that showed up to help him out.

While many people don't understand what it is that farmers do, the work they do can be dangerous. Climbing bins isn't fun, and they work with a lot of heavy equipment, and augers that will eat fingers if given the chance. If given the chance to know a farmer, you will likely meet a down to earth person that works as hard as they possibly can. I watched my Grandpa farm all of his life, and he was probably the hardest working man I know. He loved to farm - from raising pigs and cows, to tending to the crops.... he loved every part about it. Some of his cows, he even named, and I remember him being quite fond of a bull of his. We could feed his cows out of our hand, he was friendly to them, and they were friendly back (most of them anyway!) I find a lot of that same passion in my own husband. He takes pride in his work - I think that is just common nature for a farmer. We talk about some of our cows like they are our own children - we don't necessarily name them, but we do know them by their number. We do have a bull that we've pegged Nike, as he's got a Nike Swirl on his forehead. We care about our animals, we care about the crops in the ground. It's our livelihood and I feel deeply that everyone should respect the farmers greatly. They work extremely hard to create the food that goes on your table. Life on the farm is NOT easy!

Okay - so there is my rant for the day.....

I'm sure you guys are ready to see some creations! Back to my wedding themed week - here is a VERY simple invite to create. I didn't come up with much for coordinating products, but it would be pretty easy to do. I printed the invite on my computer, allowing for room for the Upsy Daisy stamp. That, I stamped with So Saffron (but first inked up my stamp in Versamark b/c I don't have a So Saffrom Craft pad), then I heat embossed it using Irridescent Ice EP. This gave it a nice subtle sparkle. I think it really helped "glam" it up a little but, but it still maintains the nice innocent feel of the daisies.

Here is the favor box - it's a little bit bigger than I would have liked, but it works. I used a texture plate and the Big Shot to create the polka dot texture on the Old Olive paper, then used the same technique on the daisies. Those were die cut with the Big Shot using Nestabilities dies.

Here's a better view of the invite:

Alrighty folks....I'm off to catch up from the lack of work I did due to yesterday's excitement....catch ya later!

We're not in Kansas anymore Toto!

I'm just back from Stampin' Up!'s Kansas City Regional Seminar. It was a great time! I took about 65 "swaps" with me to trade with other demos that were there - here are the goodies:

I'm really fond of this one - I think I love the simplicity of it. It uses Whisper White cardstock for the base, and Maine Blueberry Designers Series paper - I'm in love (LOVE) with this paper. I used the scallop edge punch to do the scallop. The only stamp set I used was Best Yet (hostess yet), and I used my markers on it to get the two colors. Punched it out with the large oval punch, then punched a larger oval in Old Olive cardstock with the Wide Oval Punch . Added a couple of brads, and some Bashful Blue striped ribbon and voila - instant beauty!


Card #2 - Yep - I'm loving this too!! Simple, elegant, and easy!!! Here I used the Snow Swirled Set that's in the Idea Book. Stamped the snowflakes with Versamark, then used my Iridecent Ice Embossing Powder and embossed away. I had also tried this using Heat and Stick and Dazzling Diamonds, but the detail was really lost because DD is just a little too "chunky". Then, tied a ribbon in it - the new Alpine Ribbon that is in the Winter Mini - it's great stuff. You get a lot of ribbon, some is this striped grosgrain, and the other is a felt ribbon, that you'll in a second, but you gotta keep reading! Lastly, I stamped Season's Greetings in Choc. Chip on Very Vanilla and punched it with the Wide Oval Punch, edged the sides with Choc. Chip and stuck it on with Stampin Dimensionals.....oh yeah, Baha Breeze was the base for this one....

... and this one too. Baja Breeze base that is. I used the To You and Yours Stamp Set...kinda vintage, very classic...makes me sing, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" And when I do my voice automatically changes to that of Bing Crosby is it??? I don't know...back to the card....okay, I stamped the house in Choc. Chip on Naturals Ivory. (one of my new very favorite papers), then punched the corners with my ticket punch, layered it on Choc. Chip paper. Added a little two way glue to the "snow" swirls and sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds. Oh, it's coming together! Then, I punched (using the horizontal slot punch) a slot for my ribbon to go thru. I had to do this side by side about 3 times to get the slot long enough for this Choc Chip stitched ribbon to fit thru. I'm not going to take credit for this one, I totally CASED it off of Splitcoast. I'd give credit to the person if I could find it again....She however added felt fusion flowers in Choc Chip and it completely added a WOW factor. If I would have had some on hand, I would have been all over it....

Then we move onto Upsy Daisy. Holy cow this set is versatile...it can be masculine, it can be feminine...I'm loving it. This was super easy. Basic Grey base, add a strip of Prestwick DS Paper, stamp the daisies in Not Quite Navy on Naturals Ivory (remember one of my new favorite papers!), layer it on Not Quite Navy, add some Navy Ribbon and a couple of brads, and viola! Simple, super easy card....done!


Another Christmas card here - and really pretty simple. Remember, any time you add DS paper to a card, your life gets easier.... I started with an Old Olive base, added some paper from Holiday Treasures, and tied a bow on with Baha Breeze Striped Grosgrain ribbon. I'm all about ribbon these days. Just like the DS paper, it's an instant addition that really makes your card something to love. And really, ribbon isn't a huge costly thing, a little goes a long way. Well, then I stamped the tree from Snow Swirled on Baha Breeze with Versamark, and used Iridecent Ice embossing powder, used the ticket corner punch, layered it on Choc Chip, and Riding Hood Red papers. Another elegant Christmas card done my Moi! Do a little dance....

Last swap card was the first one to be gone, and I really love him! Of course, I did save one for myself, and I don't know that I'll part with it, unless I make more....are you ready to see it???I should give you fair warning - the set I used is from the Winter Mini and the Winter Mini is DANGEROUS!!!! I really mean it. I was a naughty, naughty girl and ordered not just 2 sets from it, not 3, but 5 - yes FIVE stamp sets from the mini....this is probably my favorite mini ever! It's got a lot of vintage inspired sets, and I just love that look! Well, and to really sway me, Stampin' Up! offered us demonstrators an additional 20% off the sets we preordered. Talk about enabling! What a great incentive...I love Stampin' Up! Oh, so you wanted to see that card right? Okay, here goes nothing!









Isn't he ADORABLE? I used the cute little scarecrow from Happy Blessings out of the Winter Mini. The DS paper is also in that mini - remember - very dangerous! It's called Autumn Vine. The colors in the paper are gojus! I hope they keep it around a while! I already tried to order more of the paper, and SU! wouldn't let me!!!! Is that a sign or what???? We are only allowed one per preorder period....Well, I'm ready for some more dang it. So I inked him up with Stazon on Very Vanilla, used my Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen. I took my blender pen and grabbed color off of the crayon instead of using the crayon directly on the paper. I scraped the edges of the Vanilla across my Choc Chip pad to distress them and used the Choc Chip marker to do some faux stitching. Then I popped him up off the page with Stampin' Dimensionals. I also used that Alpine ribbon that's in the....MINI!!! (if you need a copy of the mini, please let me know....) And some Earth Elements buttons with some hemp twine. Here's a close up:

Pretty darn cute wouldn't you say???? Okay - I really must go take care of some laundry and unpack my stuff from KC....

Keep on stampin'!