This is the azalea bush on one end of the front of the house.  Unfortunately, this burst of blooms faces the house next door and doesn’t show as much from the front!  But it is just gorgeous!  If you click on the photo you should get an enlargement.  Every March Houston holds the annual Azalea Trail where you get to visit a few beautiful houses and gardens in the River Oaks area.  This is one outing my husband and I have always gone on every year that we have lived here, which now is twenty-five years.  Some years we carried a baby or brought all the kids if we had to, or if we were really in luck, found a babysitter and also got to have a nice lunch out alone afterwards.  We went last Friday afternoon, an unusually cold and windy day in Houston, but the sun had come out. We wore winter coats and the River Oaks Garden Club hostesses got to wear their long fur coats!

OK, I just couldn’t resist making this card I saw on Splitcoast for my husband for Valentine’s Day!  It was some sort of challenge on SCS so there are a lot of examples.  Mine pretty much copies one by another ‘Karen’.  The base of the card is Blush Blossom.  You could use Designer Paper for the "fabric" and then doll it up however you like.  I chose to use Real Red cardstock which I embossed in black with the doodles from Doodle This.  I thought it looked Valentine-y.  For the lace I just used my Slit Punch to make a strip and then bent it a little to fit the curve.  I used the wide red grosgrain ribbon for the straps and the regular black grosgrain for the bows.  The possibilities are endless!  Have fun with it!  (You can click on any photos for a larger image.)  Here is a link to the SCS challenge and template:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=316869

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here is another card we made at my Valentine’s stamp camp.  I’m afraid I don’t remember where I got the idea or how much I directly copied it, but I "think" a little of it is my own design….maybe just the words!  I love the card because while it looks like it is for Valentine’s Day it really can be used for other occasions.  In fact, I sent it to my sister-in-law for her birthday.  The card is made with Ruby Red, River Rock, Groovy Guava, and Very Vanilla cardstock as well as the new Designer Paper "Ginger Blossom".  To add some interest to the background I stamped the Ruby Red with some flowers in Embrace Life with Ruby Red ink (although you could also use Versamark).  The swirls from Priceless (what a great set this is!) are stamped on the Very Vanilla and the Priceless hearts cut out and mounted with Stampin’ Up! Dimensionals.  The words, ‘from the heart’, are from Holidays & Wishes.  And, of course, the ribbon is the double-stitched River Rock.  It was fun using these colors!

Yesterday our little group of SU Demos got together for our monthly meeting.  Not everyone is still a demo, but that’s how we met and we still keep it pretty much Stampin’ Up!-oriented.  I always say, "What could be more fun than getting together with other stampers, having lunch, stamping, and swapping?!"  One person is always in charge of a project we will stamp that day and everyone else brings a swap.  So fun!!  Most of these swaps were to copy something out of the    new catalog, Spring~Summer Collection 2008.  Thanks Anne, Nona, Dixie, Gerrie, Sandi, Joan, Diana, and Cindy!

I had so much fun making Valentines yesterday!  Naturally, it was a race against the clock to try to get them out to the mailbox before the mailman came.  I wanted to make some valentines for my eight nieces and nephews.  Normally I would spend at least half a day searching for all possible designs that I liked online before I would find something to copy….but I’m finding that if I just sit down and play around with my stamps and ink I can actually come up with things myself!  For these valentines I wanted just kind of the little "kid size" cards.  I got into my stash of retired items and found these Pretty in Pink Pocket Note Cards.  You can still buy an assortment of Pocket Notes in the catalog, just different colors.  They’re very cute and really suited my purpose.  On the one heart you can see some retired colors of beads, which I attached with the new Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive.   I used the Happy Heart Day stamp set, Simply Said, Tagger’s Dozen, and Holidays and Wishes to make the cards.  You’ll also notice some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter on a couple of the cards.  What’s a day of stamping without some glitter?!

And here are the kids they are going to!

The other day I discovered this heart-shaped box in my pile of stuff!  Immediately, I thought of using the Stampin’ Up! Rub Ons on the box and see what I could do.  The heart box is probably from the Target Dollar Spot last year or else one of the dollar stores.

                                                                                                

I used the Eastern Elegance Rub Ons and adhered some black gingham ribbon around the lid of the box.  It still needed a little something so I stuck on a white flower from the Pretties Kit plus a half-pearl in the center.  I found the rub ons to be fun and easy to use.  You will want to try them also!  See how many fun things you can find to apply them to around your house…or in your craft stash!

Here’s a cute and easy Valentine card to make with the Stampin’ Up! Valentine’s Day Bundle.  I found a card made by KimberlyG on SCS although I left off a scalloped border she had.  I love this wide grosgrain ribbon!

Here are some monogram cards I quickly made for my daughter, Amy, last night before she left to go back to California today.  I think she asked me to make her some more months ago after I made a first set for her.  Better late than never!

I used the retiring Letterpress Alphabet and Label Classics for the monogram.  For the card itself I used Whisper White cardstock for the base and pieces of Certainly Celery Designer Prints from the pad from last summer.  On solid green Certainly Celery I added some design using the fantastic stamp set Priceless, choosing a different stamp for each card, using Certainly Celery Ink.  And to finish off the card I used the retired narrow white organdy ribbon.  Click on the picture to see the cards in closer detail.

It was wonderful having Amy home over Christmas although the time goes by too fast.  She is becoming quite the personal finance writer.  She has always loved to write.  If you would like to read the article she wrote for Forbes Media "Investopedia" click on this link: "Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season"

Ok, this really isn’t for "funny money" of course, but I think it is really a cute idea!  I think you could adapt the Christmas idea for any other occasion, too.  This idea came from a fabulous Demo, JanTink, on her blog, who figured out how to punch the holes in the right place and how to make the whole idea work.  I just used different Designer Paper and the Snow Blossom Punch.  The stamp set is the retiring Cold Play.

For two more gifts, I decided to use these jumbo clothespins that make great photo or memo holders…or just a decoration!  I just applied some Wintergreen Designer Paper using my SU Anywhere Glue Sticks, stamped some Twill Tape to tie around and made little initial tags for the recipients using the retiring Letterpress Alphabet.  I would have done a little more in the way of decorating but of course it was time to get the packages mailed or they wouldn’t even receive them by Christmas!

 

I know I was inspired to make this gift by several different stampers.  It seemed like such a cute and novel gift idea.

And of course I already had the paint cans in my closet!  I just loved making the Smore guy at my recent stamp camp so it was fun to use him again!  I packaged up some marshmallows, graham crackers,  and chocolate candy bars plus toothpicks and a tealight for roasting the marshmallows!  I don’t know that it would actually work very well, but it sure made a cute gift!

                                                           

Here is the outside of the can.  So easy just using Designer Paper.                                                                                                           

Whew!  Everyday there has been so much to do to get ready for Christmas and now it has flown by already!  I’ll try to do a little catching up on some of my Christmas stamping projects.

Remember those cute little mailboxes that appeared early last year in the Target Dollar Spot?  I used the white ones for Valentine stamp camp projects last February, but of course I had also picked up many red mailboxes with the idea of doing something with them for Christmas.  So now it was Christmas time and what to do with them?  Well, I needed several gifts for my demo and non-demo friends for our little Christmas party.  After browsing the Splitcoaststampers Gallery I decided to copy the design by Diane Pappas for these gifts.  She embossed the "snow" on top of her mailbox but I just used the Two-way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds.  It was beautiful and glittery!  I enclosed a little treat bag of candy and made a little glass marble magnet to put inside.

I still had red mailboxes left in my closet so what better way to get rid of eight more than to make some for my little nieces and nephews! My brother and his wife have adopted eight beautiful children internationally over just a few short years!  It’s always a fun challenge to come up with gifts for the kids and I thought these red mailboxes would fit the bill!  Again I made the snow cover with Dazzling Diamonds (glitter, glitter everywhere!) and decided this was an opportunity to pay respects to Frosty, who is retiring in just a few days!  Frosty was one of the first stamp sets I ordered after becoming a Demo to use at my first workshop!  He fit perfectly on the mailbox flap!  On the sides I stamped each of their names on white cardstock using the retired, but my favorite, Whimsical Alphabet.  Inside the mailboxes I put the kids’ gifts…necklaces for the girls and watches for the boys!  A perfect fit!  And maybe next year they can use their mailboxes for  letters to Santa!

Today Stampin’ Up! announced their list of retiring accessories and wheels.  Since Stampin’ Up! does not manufacture these products, the accessories will only be available while supplies last.  If you "need" any of these items before they are gone, be sure to contact me as soon as possible.

Not available:  Liquid Glue; Pastel Refills Neutrals; and Post Extenders

Item #  Product Description

109198  Accents & Elements Borders & Blossoms

109199  Accents & Elements Little Reminders 2

109197  Accents & Elements Tagged

100700  Album Leather Post Black 8-1/2×11

105385  Album Linen Post Mellow Moss 8-1/2×11

104520  Album Linen Post Natural 8-1/2×11

104517  Album Linen Post Navy 8-1/2×11

105382  Album Linen Post Real Red 8-1/2×11

105392  Album Linen Ring Mellow Moss 8-1/2×11

104510  Album Linen Ring Natural 8-1/2×11

104513  Album Linen Ring Navy 8-1/2×11

105388  Album Linen Ring Real Red 8-1/2×11

105067  Boxes & Tags Pockets & Pieces Assortment I

105068  Boxes & Tags Pockets & Pieces Assortment II

108798  Boxes & Tags Tiny Takeout Confetti White

107246  Boxes & Tags Tiny Takeout Kraft

105747  Boxes Stamp & Supply Extra Large

105748  Boxes Stamp & Supply Extra Large Divided

105744  Boxes Stamp & Supply Extra Small

105749  Boxes Stamp & Supply Jumbo

105734  Boxes Stamp & Supply Large

105746  Boxes Stamp & Supply Medium

105745  Boxes Stamp & Supply Small

101052  Brayer Attachment Foam

107293  Cards & Envelopes Greeting Very Vanilla Medium

109149  Designer Series Paper Brocade Background

109161  Designer Series Paper Cerise

109162  Designer Series Paper Charbon

109155  Designer Series Paper Creepy Crawley

109152  Designer Series Paper Darling Doodles

109150  Designer Series Paper Dashing

108503  Designer Series Paper Petals & Paisleys

109156  Designer Series Paper Linen Prints

109147  Designer Series Paper Notations No. 2

109148  Designer Series Paper Outlaw

109158  Designer Series Paper Uptown

109157  Designer Series Paper Wintergreen

107285  Envelopes Open End Very Vanilla Large

107284  Envelopes Open End Whisper White Large

107296  Envelopes Shimmery White Medium

107287  Envelopes Square Vellum Large

107310  Envelopes Square Very Vanilla Mini

107294  Envelopes Vellum Medium

107290  Envelopes Very Vanilla Large

107291  Envelopes Whisper White Large

101016  Eyelet Tool Kit

105317  Eyelets Bold Brights II

105379  Eyelets Silver

105315  Eyelets Soft Subtles II

107282  Fancy Fibers Bella

107283  Fancy Fibers Elizabeth

103352  Stampin’ Glitter Romantic Red

103349  Stampin’ Glitter Silver Shine

106650  Greeting Glue

102620  Liquid Glue

103145  Page Protectors Post 8-1/2×11

104523  Page Protectors Ring 8-1/2×11

103598  Paper Vellum 12×12

105543  Pastel Refills Bold Brights

105544  Pastel Refills Earth Elements

105547  Pastel Refills Neutrals

105545  Pastel Refills Rich Regals

105546  Pastel Refills Soft Subtles

105962  Perfect Layers Tool

104184  Post Extenders 

106522  Punch Spring Bouquet Flower

109722  Simply Scrappin’ Creative License Hostess Level 1

109611  Simply Scrappin’ Happy Me Hostess Level 3

109596  Simply Scrappin’ Out & About

109626  Simply Scrappin’ Primary Colors

109649  Simply Scrappin’ Round Up

109635  Simply Scrappin’ Secret Garden

109663  Simply Scrappin’ Winter Bright

107415  Simply Sent Friendship Shapes

109230  Simply Sent Happy Day

105580  Spectrum Pad Blue Frost

101492  Spectrum Pad Celebration

105579  Spectrum Pad Cotton Candy

101336  Spectrum Pad Pumpkin Patch

100000  Spectrum Pad Un-inked

103953  Stamp-a-ma-jig Imaging Sheets Refill

104432  Stampin’ Around Cartridge & Ink Refill Clear Embossing

101460  Stampin’ Around Cartridge & Ink Refill Whisper White

102391  Stampin’ Around Ink Refill Clear Embossing

103017  Stampin’ Around Ink Refill Whisper White

103151  Stampin’ Emboss Powder Hologram Highlights

105677  Stampin’ Kids Pad Bear Brown

105676  Stampin’ Kids Pad Beetle Black

105675  Stampin’ Kids Pad Boxcar Blue

105674  Stampin’ Kids Pad Gumball Green

105673  Stampin’ Kids Pad Poppin’ Purple

105672  Stampin’ Kids Pad Princess Pink

105671  Stampin’ Kids Pad Robin Red

105670  Stampin’ Kids Pad Yahoo Yellow

103174  Stampin’ Pastel Applicators

100852  Stampin’ Pastel Erasers

100081  Stampin’ Write Marker Going Gray

100945  StazOn Ink Refill Timber Brown

103088  StazOn Pad Timber Brown

107235  Tag Sheets Bold Brights

107239  Tag Sheets Confetti White & Kraft

107236  Tag Sheets Earth Elements

107240  Tag Sheets Kraft

107237  Tag Sheets Rich Regals

107238  Tag Sheets Soft Subtles

100894  Watercolor Brush Flat

101551  Watercolor Brush Medium

101331  Watercolor Brush Small

105395  Wire Works Metallic

105652  Wrapping Paper Whisper White

Stampin’ Around wheels 

100360  Acorns

109812  All about Birthdays*

109690  All about Christmas*

109812  All about Gratitude*

109676  Autumn Dots

104070  Bloomin’

107466  Bodacious* 

105750 Bouquet*

107481 Butterflies & Blossoms

104065 Fishy

100267 Happy Jacks

107563 Ho Ho Ho

104312 Hot to Dot

104279 Leaf Prints

106062 Leaves Awash* 

107479 Rough around the Edges*

101927 Snowman Fun

107465 Speckled* 

105521 Spooky Skyline* 

108979 Spotted* 

107480 True Hearts

105033 Wings & Things

* Jumbo Stampin’ Around wheels

Yesterday was my Holiday Stamp Camp where we made several different projects.  We finished a little bit early, and everyone was still game for one more project so we all made this "Smore Man" using the retiring "Cold Play" stamp set and stuck him on a small Hershey Bar.  One lady decided to add a little something to her guy, and put a little hat on him using the Tab Punch on Always Artichoke cardstock folded in half, outlined it, and took a scrap piece of Wintergreen Designer Paper for a little decoration on his hat!  We all thought he turned out so cute and deserved a spot on my blog!  Florence, you win for creativity of the day!  I think he has an Alpine look to him!