A victorian Christmas?

Probably by card maker standards I am late to the show but I have started working on holiday cards. I discovered the SEI collection Christmas Mint and I'm loving hard on the stamps. The paper is geared more towards scrapbooking otherwise I would have it all over these cards. Instead I purchased the Dewfrost 6x6 paper collection by Memory Box. These are truly wonderful papers - first of all they come in a cellophane bag unattached rather than the traditional paper pad style. Secondly, they ship with 3 of each design, a real money saver in my opinion.

Cardstock and inks are obviously Stampin' UP! This time around I dipped back into the retired In Colors for a little Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. For the tree patterned paper I used the long retired French Script background stamp. I'm really pleased with the card. Watch in the coming days while I try to improve on this card.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Birthday Tri-Shutter Card

So, I've been trying some of the many wonderful tutorials on SCS (there should be a national holiday for Beate's contribution to stamping.) My latest attempt is the Tri-Shutter Card. It was quite simple to make but difficult (for me at least) to get the folds consistently correct (lots of duh moments.) I made this card for the birthday of a very dear friend.



Not being fond of many of the current designer papers from Stampin' UP! I had turned to Ebay to find retired ones. The DSP I used for this card is from the 2007 Fall IB&C and is titled Porcelain Prints. The combo of the retired Blue Bayou, River Rock and Wild Wasabi are irresistible on this collection. I would recommend you check these papers out if you can get your hands on it.


Recipe:

Stamps: Savvy Stamps Outline Swirl Cake, Inkadinkadoo Blue Skies, SU Noteworthy
Ink: SU Classic Basic Black, Blue Bayou, Barely Banana
Paper: SU Porcelain Prints DSP, Barely Banana, Blue Bayou
Accessories: Cricut, Sure Cuts A Lot, KutUps Dingbat from Clever Someday blog, PaperPups cartridge, SU Eyelet Border punch, SU Apricot 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps.

The very first card

The first card created for my beautiful new granddaughter Caroline. As per my usual mode the card is CASEd heavily this time from the very talented Devlinwhite on SCS. I also choose to try a easel card which was incredibly simple to do (check SCS for all the details.) I really liked how she created a background using portions of tree stamps. This was the first time I attempted to do anything other than creating dots with the Uni-ball pen, as evidenced I certainly need lots more practice.

Recipe:
Stamps: SU Forest Friends, Fresh Cuts and Michaels Recollection Clear Stamps Sweet Baby Girl.

Cardstock: SU Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss, Whisper White.
Patterned Paper: Prints Pack (retired), Spring Fling DSP (retired).

Ink: SU Basic Black, Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red

Accessories: Cuttlebug Photocorners die, Cricut, Sure Cuts A Lot, KutUps Dingbat from Clever Someday blog. Cetainly Celery 5/8" inch poly ribbon, Marvy Petite-Petals punch, Making Memories Vintage Findings Gem Pins, unknown manufacturer Gemstone, Uni-ball Signo White Pigment Ink pen, SU Scalloped Border punch.

As my last day quickly approaches with Stampin' UP! (11/01) I am trying to move into purchasing/considering other paper crafting manufacturers (although, to be honest today I am sitting here waiting for delivery of my FINAL SU demo order.) I have to confess that it's hard leaving SU my crafting heart will always have a soft spot for the products of the company but ... never mind I'm not going to get negative, it's just time for me to move on.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Welcome to the world baby girl!

Meet her, my sweet little grandbaby Caroline Reese. Caroline was born to my daughter Julie on October 3, 2009 at 3:02am and weighed in at 6 lbs. Julie is already convinced that motherhood is the best thing that has ever happened to her. Can't wait to meet Caroline (she's back in Kentucky I'm in Connecticut.)

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps (most of the time!)

A bereavement thank you note

Wow, not sure why I have such a hard time posting to this blog, but I sure do. It takes very little time to actually do a post but it's mustering the energy that is the difficult part for me. So, my apologies for taking far to long between posts - I'm still stamping and creating just ... too lazy to post about them.

We are doing well since the death of David's dear mother. Needless to say Virginia is missed tremendously. Sunday's are the worse day because come hell or high water she always called to check in and have a good long conversation with her baby son David. I mentioned in my last post that I was going to be making the bereavement thank you notes for the family. The cards the funeral parlor provided were the absolute worse - felt like they were made from copy paper.

Details:
CASEd: Somwhere out there, can't find the original website. Sorry and thank you!!
Stamps: Words to Birds Collage, Memorybox Stamps.
Ink: Basic Black, Classic Stampin' Pad
Cardstock: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Walk in the Park DSP, all Stampin' UP!
Ribbon: Black Gingham, Stampin' UP!

Thanks for looking and yes HE still stamps!

Final Stampin' UP! Post

Well, I resigned from Stampin' UP! this week. It was time ... just never really came to fruition for me. I kept myself in business as long as I could then had to admit when it was becoming far too much of a burden for the family. I would like to continue to buy SU products occasionally but it will be doubly difficult to pay full retail after having that 20% demo discount.

Perhaps to celebrate my independence from the controversial IDA I went to a brick & mortar stamp store. The store Beautiful Impressions is here in Connecticut. The store is located in a beautiful old building in a town called Westbrook. It was filled with so many wonderful things for stampers, so different from the big box stores. The owner is a woman named Teri (last name escapes me) who was so knowledgeable and helpful (much different than scrapbook stores IMO.) Amongst my purchases was a beautiful little stamp entitled "Words to Birds Collage" by Memorybox Stamps that is so unique. I'm using this stamp for the bereavement thank you cards for David's family. I'll post the finished project soon.

To close up this post I just wanted to stay to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the road of Stampin' UP! a big thank you and if you're able keep an eye out for me -- I'm not going away!

Loss of a Grand Dame

On Wednesday September 30, 2009 Mary Virginia Baty died at 12:47 PM in Buffalo, NY at the age of 79. Virginia was the beloved mother of my partner David. She was a wonderful caring person whose acceptance and love was without end. Her absence will be felt by her friends and family for many years to come.

Virginia we miss you!