Make Mine Stamps

Snow Days!

Well, it's snowing again....and we're supposed to get more all week long with the exception of Friday or Saturday and then...you guessed it:  MORE SNOW!  On Saturday, I'm doing a craft for the Young Lives group.  Their focus and mission is supporting those young women who are still teens and have become moms.  Obviously, we all know that is a very tough and very courageous decision.  I applaud the fact that these young women have opted to have their babies and didn't choose to "get rid of it".  I am supporting their efforts by providing a craft for all of their meetings and I donate all of my supplies.  I really want this group to succeed and although I hate to say that I don't have the patience to mentor these young gals, I'm doing what I can to help the women who do mentor them and give of their time.  I'm way too opinionated and would end up spouting off instead of listening and asking questions.  At least I know my weaknesses and that is only one of the many I could list for you!

Here's the page we are making this Saturday night (if the meeting holds due to all of this snow!).

The 12 x 12 base is Night of Navy and I've wheeled with a retired snowflake set in Whisper White Craft Ink all over this page.  I cut 1 x 1 squares in Brushed Silver, Whisper White and Bordering Blue and alternated them on the left hand side.  I hid the seam with a Whisper White grosgrain ribbon. Then I used one of the Snowflake stamps from the Holiday Mini to randomly stamp the Night of Navy snowflakes over the squares.  I'm giving the gals their choice of the large snowflake or some smaller images that they can randomly stamp in the squares if they prefer.

The photo mats are 4 x 6 Bordering Blue.  The bottom mat was placed with dimensionals and I've included a journalling mat underneath the top mat, which is only adhered on the sides and bottom.  I think this will be a great Winter scrapbooking page and heaven knows...WE'VE GOT WINTER!

I'll provide everyone with a page protector and in December, each young lady and her mentor will receive an album for all of their pages.  We'll do at least a full page each month and then some months, we'll do a two page spread.  Truth be told, I didn't have enough paper to do a double page spread so I've got to take stock and get some supplies in.  Darn...that means I'll have to place an order!

Please drive safely and stay warm.  Enjoy the snow though -- it's God's wonderland and although it is dangerous, it certainly is beautiful!  (Don't tell Thom I said that!)  Hugs to you all!

Ronald McDonald Scrapbook Share

Sherrill Graff is a Stampin' Up Executive Demo who lives in Las Vegas.  She is the lead demo for the Ronald McDonald house in Vegas and is constantly volunteering to do things for the house, as well as for all types of other charitable organizations.  She even has demos making special dream books for homeless children so they will have something to call their own.  She recently asked if someone could make some two page scrapbook spreads for the Ronald McDonald House Albums -- I'm assuming these are children who have been through the house.  I only know that for the toddler I chose, Rebecca Grace Hildebrand, there are two pictures that measure 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 and a 6x6 hand-written letter from her parents.  I also know that the colors in the pictures are Pretty In Pink, Sage (which I interpreted to be Mellow Moss/Always Artichoke), Burgundy and Black.  Because I haven't seen the pictures, here is what I came up with.

This page will be used to mount the hand-letter from her parents.  I cut 1 1/2" written squares, sprayed them with alcohol so they would moisten up but dry quickly and scrunched the heck out of them to distress them.  Next, I used my new sewing machine (THANKS MOM!) to sew around the edges.  It is supposed to look like I don't know how to sew and be a bit "off" -- more along the lines of an early childhood sampler.  I glued down the squares, but the middle square, which measures 7.5 square, was actually sewn onto the page.  I distressed the squares with Mellow Moss and Bravo Burgundy inks.  I stamped on some of the squares but tried to make them look like they were stamped a bit off too, once again to look like the samplers of old.

The next page, the right hand side, will hold the pictures of Rebecca and her parents.  I wanted this to look as if I had sewn a piece of fabric onto the paper and I think somehow I achieved that desire!

I used the zig-zag stitch to place the top piece down after I had distressed it.  If you click on the picture, it should enlarge and you can see that there is a floral detail in the top page.  I used picture clips and brads to appear as if they are going to hold the pictures.

After I broke the Very Vanilla paper down across the bottom, I ran it thorugh the scalloped punch and wanted this to appear as lace.  I stamped the sentiment (non-SU, but I really do believe this and HAD to include this on the page!) and used my zig-zag stitch to attach it across the top and allowed the bottom to float free.  I used a Bravo Burgundy ribbon which I had run through the Always Artichoke ink pad to add a bit of color to the strip, but it is also distressed with both Mellow Moss and Bravo Burgundy Inks.

I'm hopeful Sherrill likes the pages.  It has been forever since I scrapped and I am thinking that since I have my MDS certification, I should start scrapping Andy's school stuff for graduation -- doing it digitally would be so much quicker and I could add embellishment to my printed projects.  I've already got lots of his activities done, but his high school years are far from finished.  And now, since he is having surgery next week, and has yet to have his Senior Pictures taken, I'm wondering if he is ever going to get this done!  My only solace is that he will graduate whether he has pictures done or not.  It's a done deal at this point and the next hurdle is for him to choose from all of his many college options.

Okay, enough about the page and my fabulous son!  I've got tons of stamps and extras that I'd love to move to a new home.  Do you have room for some new supplies in your craft area?  If so, read on!

All you have to do is to check in at least three times each week over the course of the next month and leave a comment on my blog.  Let me know what you like and what you need to see more of, what you don't need to see at all and especially if there is something you would like to see but haven't.  For instance, I don't show a lot of fancy folds (cards) on my blog. Want to see some of those?  Want to see more scrapbooking alternatives?  Contest starts on Monday, January 25 and will run through Sunday, February 28.  I'll be updating my blog each day of the week (not the weekends, I take those off to create new stuff to blog!) and I'll draw a winner on Monday, March 1.  If you aren't local, I'll send your package out by Friday of that week and if you are local, I'll drop it off by Friday of that week.  Regardless, the winner's package will contain at least $100 in stamping stuff!  I value your opinions, but I need to hear them!

Have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping!  See you tomorrow with Blogger's Challenge -- I weenied out on this one and took the easy road.....you'll see!

Blogger's Challenge - Focus on Designer Series Paper (DSP)

It's Friday and it's time for Blogger's Challenge.  Today's project was designed with tweens in mind.  I'm thinking this would make a great project for those in the 10-14 age bracket.  This was designed with Amanda in mind and I'll be anxious to hear from her mom, Colleen, if she thinks Amanda would like this project.

There are lots of pictures, so hold tight!  You can click on any picture and it will enlarge.

                 

         

         

         

 

This is a paperbag scrapbook that was designed to be all about the person creating it.  If you created this at 10 or 14, found it in 10 or 15 years, wouldn't it would be awesome to see what was important to you at that time in your life?  You can store things in the open bag portion, and on the section entitled "My Dreams", you can flip the card up so your secrets are safely hidden unless you want someone to read them.  I've labelled that page "wish big" because after all, our dreams should be big so we can grow into them!  I was truly surprised how quickly this came together and there is very little stamping involved.  The focus is really all about the DSP.

I printed the labels on clear return address labels so I could make the titles small enough for the tabs.  This is the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and I think for girls, it rocks!  I will add a ribbon all around to tie this project up and keep all of the treasures added within safe.

I'll post pictures of the game and bonfire sometime this weekend.  Hope all in your world is right and that you have a fabulous weekend!  Blessings to you!

If you have questions about this project, please email me and I'll be happy to help in any way I can!

 

Homecoming Week

It's homecoming week at Andy's school and I've been wanting to try a folder project for a while.  Since I had some time this weekend, I gave it a shot, although I didn't really embellish this too much.  I made it with the intention of sending it to Andy to give to his date, McKenzie, who also happens to be the Homecoming Queen.  They will make a great couple -- no love interest, but really great friends.  Andy asked McKenzie to the dance before school even started and as luck would have it, she's the Homecoming Queen and he's the King.  Funny how it worked out, but cool, nonetheless!

Do you recognize this folder?  It's one of the file folders from the Thoroughly Modern collection (if you don't remember seeing these in the Idea Book and Catalog, check page 169).  I should have chosen another one to experiement with, but actually just pulled out the top one to see if I could make this work. 

I folded the folder to make pockets that will hold 4 x 6 photos.  In addition, I added a piece of paper to each slot so McKenzie can jot down things she might want to remember about Homecoming and the Queen experience.

I had to use clear return address labels for the tab titles.  If you have seen my handwriting, you will completely understand this.  If the titles were to be legible, typing was the way to go!

I used the DSP from the Thoroughly Modern collection, along with Vanilla Hodgepodge, Bermuda Bay Polka Dotted Grosgrain ribbon and some of our punches.

Here's a view of the folder opened. 

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge.  At Andy's school, the King and Queen are crowned at a Bonfire held on Thursday night (yes, I will be there taking pictures!).  The tabs read:  Bonfire, The Game, The Dance, Friends and Memories.

On Thursday, the Bonfire will be held and the coronation takes place.  Then, on Friday, they will be presented prior to the football game.  Andy will be in his uniform during this presentation because he plays football.  McKenzie cheers so she may well be in her uniform as well!  Yes, I'll be there taking pictures!

On Saturday, they get dressed up and go to the Homecoming Dance where there will be another presentation.  I'd love to be there, but Andy is letting me know that he thinks I'm on overkill with this whole gig.  Too bad, so sad, son -- sorry 'bout your luck -- I think I'll be there anyway and yes, I'll be taking pictures!

I'm mailing this to him tomorrow to give to McKenzie prior to the Bonfire.  Because some gals her age may not really be into this type of thing, I'm not going overboard on the frills.  It may not be used, but I wanted to prove to me that I could do this.  My next project of this sort will be to start with a manilla envelope and take it over the top.  Look for it in October!

If you are local and are interested in finding out what is on my October calendar, be sure to click on my events calendar.  All my classes will be listed, along with a description of each class.  I'd love to see you at Card Club or at Techniques and classes at the church are open to anyone as well.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!  God Bless You!

BOSCO BENEFIT

Yesterday, I mentioned that I was working on some things for a benefit for Bosco, a canine officer in Zanesville who was wounded in the line of duty.  Because the Canine Force is completely funded by donations made to the FOP and doesn't have a budget, the Police Department is having a benefit to raise funds for Bosco's care and rehabilitation.  He is paralyzed but they are hopeful he can recover as he is trying to walk.  It is amazing to see the care they are giving him and therapy he does for 7 hours each day.  I love German Shepards anyway, but he is absolutely a beautiful dog.

At any rate, I re-purposed my "Season of Thanks" picture for the auction and am adding some additional items.  I've wanted to make this over because I didn't like the way it turned out.  Thankfully, it was an easy fix and I'm very satisfied with it now.  Here is a picture of the items I am contributing to the auction.

I've included a box of cards that contains four snowman cards and four spiritual Christmas cards.  The snowman card is an original and the spiritual card is one I cased about two years ago and I have no idea who created it.  It is beautiful though, so if you see it and it was you, let me know and I'll give you complete kudos and credit!

I'm also including a box made from the Petal Card die, using last year's holiday Designer Series Paper.  I've included a candle for which I made a wrap.  The wrap is removable and can be placed on another candle of the same size when the candle is burned out.  The 2-5-7-10 box you saw earlier this week and I decided to include it as well.  I'm also including my 6 x 6 Acrylic Scrapbook Album made with the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper.  I have given it to Becky to use as a sample for a Basket Party she is hostessing, but she graciously agreed to give it back to me so I'll be able to include it with this basket of auction items.

If you look closely at the picture, you can see a reflection of me taking the picture and the trees and landscaping in my yard.  I photograph everything in my laundry room, which has tall windows all around.  Originally, I thought this would make a fabulous scrapbook room, but now I am glad I'm not in there.  I think all that glorious sunlight would fade my paper and my projects!

If you are local, please consider coming to Bosco's Benefit.  It is being held at the North Terrace Church of Christ on Brandywine Boulevard in Zanesville from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.  There are some fabulous auction items up for grabs and the food should be awesome as well.  I may be wrong in this but I think they are having a bake sale.  If not, there will be some great desserts!

Enjoy your day and know that God loves you -- with all your faults and foibles.  I say to that, "Thank goodness" because my faults and foibles are many!  God bless you!

Oh. My. Gosh! Build A Bear ROCKS!

Okay, I'll admit it.  When Stampin' Up! first announced their exclusive agreement with Build A Bear, I wasn't terribly impressed.  "Oh, that's great for people with small children or those with granchildren and I'll climb on the bandwagon then."  Kadie is 22, Andy is 18, and neither of them are excited anymore about Build A Bear.

BUT...and that is a big BUT...I saw the potential of all of these items at Convention and remembered how much of a bear lover I was when I was even in my 20's and 30's.  Although I am closer to the 50's now, I fell in love with the dies and it is rare that I meet a stamp set I don't love.  So, that said, I got out my dies last night and started playing.  I cannot tell you how much fun it is to create clothing for these little gems!  I completed entire wardrobes last night while laughing and talking to myself and the bears.  I can't wait to get to play with them again tonight!

My mom has a birthday coming up this month.  I know I'll be getting her something, but at this point, I'm not sure what that something is.  I'll work on that.  However, I already have the gift bag ready for whatever that something turns out to be.  Here it is.

I had an absolute ball playing with these clothes!  Mom, I'm sorry that she is wearing white shoes and it is after Labor Day, but isn't her sweater darling?  Love those florals!  This is one well-dressed bear! 

I created the Bear in Close to Cocoa cardstock and punched a circle in Chocolate Chip and placed it at the back of her face to create her eyes, nose and mouth.  You could just as easily die cut colors, but I was having too much fun playing paper dolls with her clothing!

The floral sweater was created with the Build A Bear Designer Series Paper and her blouse is Whisper White.  Ms. Bear's pants are Certainly Celery and her bag, which I very easily and quickly created from punches, is So Saffron.  Her hairbow is also So Saffron and her shoes are Whisper White. 

The sentiment "Birthdays are the Best" is a rub on from the Chit Chat Collection.  I stamped "Celebrate" in  Whisper White Craft Ink on the Ballet Blue cardstock at the bottom.  The ribbon is 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain.

And for those of you who know me, I will tell you Ms. Bear is attached to the panel with dimensionals and the panel is attached to the bag with dimensionals.  I like things to have some dimension and since I'm hand delivering this bag, it can be popped off that bag as much as I want it!  The panel is Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink.

Well, I definitely wanted to be an equal opportunity stamper, so I had to make Mr. Bear.  Here he is, along with a couple of lady bears, sporting his Argyle Sweater and jeans.  Sorry -- forgot his shoes -- they are cut out, but again, I was having too much fun creating outfits for Ms. Bear!

This is a magnet board I created with magnetic bears and magnetic clothing.  I think they are all adorable.  I'm going to create complete wardrobes for them and just attach the magnetic clothing to the back of this board (which I made magnetic as well).  I am thinking I"ll create little magnetic scenes for each season so my bears can have some background.  I might even put this board in a special place and create little day scenes for them...BECAUSE I CAN!  I didn't expect to fall in love with these bears, but I have to tell you, this is very addicting!

More fun tomorrow with Build a Bear but we're going to try some foam shapes.  Wait til you see these!  The ideas are coming fast and furious. 

What do you think?  Can you see someone in your life falling in love with Build A Bear and all of these options?  I'll be hosting a Build A Bear workshop very soon.  The one I had planned for this upcoming weekend didn't go because of the holiday -- very poor plannimg on my part.  But stay tuned!  I'll have that workshop rescheduled soon and will announce the date within the next week.  I'm just waiting for a facility confirmation.

Blessings to you!  Enjoy your day!

Autumn Meadows Scrapbook - The Story Continues

Well, let me see if I can get the rest of these pictures in today!  Not sure what the problem was yesterday, but I suspect it happened because of the number of pictures I tried to include.

               

Yesterday, I was able to show you the cover and pages 2 through 6.  The first picture above is actually of pages 8 and 9.  These pictures are Very Vanilla, Taken with Teal and more of the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper.  The second picture shows pages 10 and 11 which feature Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and some fabulous corduroy buttons, as well as the new Pumpkin Pie Striped ribbon.  Page 11 is actually a card that flips open so you can include a larger picture or a 4 x 6 picture with a lot of journaling.  I've included a view of page 11 open.  The last picture above includes pages 12 and 13, where I reverted back to the Autumn Meadows colors.  

When you are doing a scrapbook, you can change your color palette just about anywhere you choose because as you flip the pages, all that needs to really match are the pages that are across from one another.  Pumpkin Pie isn't in the Designer Series Paper color palette, but because I've used it on pages that actually touch, you don't notice that I'm switching up the palette (or did you?).

           The final two pictures are pages 14 and 15, and the back cover.  I purposely left the back cover blank because I've ordered a stamp with my name and information that I can put on the back as the creator of this little book.  I don't really include my information on cards and have decided I would like to start.  So, my "Created for you by Tami" will be included on most items I create once the stamp arrives. 

Tomorrow, I'm going to show you some Build-A-Bear gifts for the little ones in your life (or for the big children in your life who might be addicted to bears!).  There are so many opportunities to use these dies and stamps that will bring a smile to the faces of those who receive your creations!  Be sure to check it out!

Enjoy your day and flash a smile at everyone you meet -- it might be the only gift they get today!  Blessings to you!

Thanksgiving Gratitude

The Holiday Mini Catalog goes live on September 1.  Take my word for it -- if you love paper, you need to check out the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper!  I've used it here as I created a Mini Gratitude Book to use for Thanksgiving.  The tradition in our family is that before the meal, we go around the table and say what we are thankful for.  I've never recorded what anyone says and I would like to do so this year.  For that purpose, I made a ring bound book that will allow all of to record, in our own handwriting, what we are thankful for.  I'll have to add a few more pages, but this is a great start.

Connie, my most awesome upline, made me a book similar to this for Convention.  The one she created was larger and more dimensional - it was pretty full of embellishments and stacked well.  I wanted to be able to write on these pages and thought I needed to be careful with the number of embellishments I added.  The book was created with our thick window sheets and I had a blast with this project.  The cover was created with a piece of the pre-printed Autumn Meadows paper.  Because the actual base page is clear, you can easily see exactly where you are on the paper to get exactly the piece you want.  Position, mark and cut! On the cover, I did stamp all the words you see, but the picture is totally DSP.

Here are the second and third pages:

I used More Mustard and Bermuda Bay along with the DSP to create these pages.  The vellum envelope was created with the Petal Card die through the Big Shot. 

 

Pages 4 and 5 are shown here:

Once again, More Mustard cardstock with the DSP, as well as Very Vanilla.  The ribbon is the Bermuda Bay Polka Dotted ribbon and is stapled to the DSP.  Love that houndstooth paper!

Pages 6 and 7 are shown next:

This cardstock is Really Rust and the ribbon is More Mustard.  DSP is all from Autumn Meadows.

The back cover:

This is total DSP other than the acorn, which was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. 

If you are interested in all the stamp sets I used, drop me an email and I will send the details to you.  For the most part, all of the stamp sets are current.  All the embellishments are current as well.

I am  offering an Acrylic Album class on August 31 at 6:30 p.m.  We will be making 8 6x6  acrylic pages using the Autumn Meadows Paper.  We'll use embellishments as I've used here and all will be provided with your supply packet.  Cost is $35 and you'll need to RSVP by August 19 in order for me to have materials prepped and ready for you.  Class fee must be paid by Friday, August 21 in order to reserve your space. 

Keep in mind that you'll see the paper we have used above, but these pages are not the ones you will be making.  Your album will be scrapbook style!  You'll be able to use 3x5 or 4x4 pictures for Halloween, Fall or Thanksgiving pictures.  If you would prefer to use Christmas paper, let me know and we'll determine which paper packet you want to substitue for the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper.  Also, you will be provided with the scrap maps and cutting directions for each page so you'll be able to easily recreate the album on cardstock or acrylic -- whichever you choose. 

If you are not local or cannot make this date, let me know and I can send you all the supplies, along with the instructions to complete your album. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day and a glorious weekend!  See you tomorrow!

Two for One!

Today, you're getting two projects in one post and I hope you enjoy them both!  The first two pictures are scrapbook pages I designed for a swap at convention.  However, when I went to make 10 of the two-page spreads on Sunday before I left on Tuesday at 4:30 a.m., I realized I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PAPER!  I had forgotten to order it.  So I had to come up with a new design all over again and I went into super prep mode.  You will see those pages in an upcoming post.

    

I purposely put these in as small pictures so you could see the two-page spread, but if you click on each one individually, you'll be able to see them as larger pictures.  On the left, the mat is actually 7x7 and I would mount my picture with dimensionals, wrap ribbon around the picture, possibly journaling directly underneath the picture on the mount.  On the right, the journaling rectangle is on the top and I've mounted the picture mats at the bottom.  Note the cross in the middle?  That is where I would actually mount four smaller pictures and add some die cut ornaments or something I've stamped and cut out.  Both pages started with Very Vanilla 12x12 sheets.  I used DSP from the Christmas Jingle packet of papers, as well as Old Olive, Really Red, Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip cardstocks.  I also used 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain and 5/8" Really Red grosgrain ribbon.  You can see a couple of punches from the Photo Frame punch as well.  After Christmas, when I get my pictures added, I'll show you how I finished the pages. 

Today's card is a set I've never used before, but have loved what I've seen other stampers create.  Branch Out is the stamp set I used and I've been wanting to ink it up for awhile, but never reached for it.  As I was perusing the catalog last night, I realized it is no longer listed!  Bummer!

At any rate, I used the Autumn Traditions DSP for this card.  I love the leaf paper and used the colors here for my inspiration.  I started with a base card of Elegant Eggplant and layered on More Mustard (love this combo and who would have thought!).  I layered on three separate pieces of the DSP Leaf paper and had to use my math skills to figure out how big these pieces could be -- thankfully, I remember my high school math!  Then, I wound the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in More Mustard around the card and tied a knot.

Next, I stamped the tree image in Chocolate Chip on Very Vanilla.  The leaves were colored with markers using Always Artichoke, Ruby Red and More Mustard randomly on the stamp and then I added them to the tree, rotating each time I placed my image.  Please note that this is a windy day and I have flying leaves (use your imagination here!).  I matted the image on Elegant Eggplant with dimensionals and added dimensionals to the mat as I placed this on the card.  As I stood back and looked at this card, it definitely needed something so I used the Modern Label punch to punch out my sentiment stamped in Always Artichoke on Very Vanilla cardstock.  You know the drill -- stamp the sentiment, turn the punch over so you're looking at the inside of the punch, position the punch and cut out the words.  This always works well for me and I can't imagine using my punch any other way.  I wanted to add a mat, so I punched the larger Modern Label mat out using my Movers and Shakers Die in the Big Shot.  I mounted both of these pieces with dimensionals as well and called this card done.

Even though summer hasn't been bad, I'm longing for fall -- my favorite time of year!  I hope you have a fabulous, God-filled day and enjoy whatever weather the season brings us!  Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow!