Saturday, July 31, 2010

Bunco/Bunko Prizes - cont.



These are the last of the photos I have for my Bunco prizes. (the 4th place prize, I didn't take a photo of.)
top photo: 3rd place. I took a card front, from a card I purchased at a store, and used that as my focal point. I did a one photo scrapbook page, but made it fit in a 8" x 10" frame, and altered the frame a bit. Pretty cute, huh?
middle photo: 2nd place. I made the topiary out of . . . coffee filters. Pretty neat, huh? I found the idea here:Thoughts from Alice W.
bottom photo: 1st place. This is a rub-on you put on the wall. The cards I made to go with this prize, I used my letter press.
Thank you for your patience. It has really taken me awhile to get these posted. I'd tell you that life has been hectic, but aren't we all in the same boat? Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and spend some time with those who mean the most to you!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

hostess herald

Stampin' Up! has announced that from 27 July - 31 August, hostesses can earn an extra $25 in free merchandise when they host a workshop totaling $350 or more! And to further sweeten the pot, I will give the qualifying hostess a Convention exclusive re-usable tote!
Contact me today, to take advantage of this limited offer!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

anne taintor mugs

There is a group of us girls, the group is small, (there are 5 of us) who actually find time in our super busy schedules and family lives, to get together to celebrate milestones in each others lives.
I saw these cups in one of my all time favorite stores, Sur La Table. The artist is Anne Taintor, and I think she does a wonderfully clever job adding text to these vintage images.
The cup on the left, (the one with two ladies) says, "funny...I don't recall asking for your opinion". The cup on the right, (the one with the lady washing dishes) says, "if by "happy" you mean trapped with no means of escape...? then yes, I'm happy".
I found these cups hilarious and clever. So, back to the beginning of my story, the group of ladies that I hang with, would find these funny, and to the heart.
I never use to 'like' vintage anything. But one day, I signed up for a Heritage Scrapbook class. There I met a wonderfully talented lady who showed me how to preserve my families history and make it look professional and heart felt. Now, I have a weakness for vintage. I would like to say, that it is because of my experience in the Heritage Scrapbook class, that I found a love for history, and a desire to embrace my past. Thank you Ronda!
I believe Anne Taintor also has a line of paper crafts. Thank you for looking.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Convention Inspiration


I got in late last night from Utah. The Stampin' Up! convention was a blast! I found it very motivating, inspiring, and knowledgeable. I went with some of the ladies from the Nacho Average Stampers and we had a wonderful time!
For the top card, I did use a download I found on the Internet. I printed it on card stock. I liked the yellow in the bird and the green foliage. So, I Incorporated those colors in my card. I added some Daffodil Delight ribbon, yellow rhinestone brad, and some Certainly Celery stamped piece. I have a new 'love' for the music wheel!
For the second card, I tried a technique everyone has seen on the Internet, but with a twist. I made my flower from a polyester material and organza. However, I didn't use a flame to 'melt' the edges, I used my heat gun. It's a bit safer, and has better control over the 'melting' of the fabric.
Thanks for looking and please post a comment, they always make me smile!

Friday, July 23, 2010

SU Convention - day 3





Sorry about not posting yesterday; I am on sensory overload, but thoroughly enjoying my time here, in Utah! I have seen an enormous amount of wonderful cards, layouts, 3-D projects and home items. I know alot of you enjoy cards, and how different people use various stamp sets, so that is what I have posted. This last picture is of me and Shelli & Sterling at the kick-off 'Flower Power' party! This was a 60's themed party. Don't we look groovy?

Thursday, July 22, 2010

SU Convention - day 1 (cont.) & More



Ok, so I don't get behind, the top photo is the next prize for Bunco, (the 5th place prize). The coasters are stamped with different stamps. Yeah, they are the tumbled tiles from a home improvement store.

Here are the two cards, that I was given by two demonstrators who knew I didn't have a card to swap, but gave me one anyways! The cupcake card is from Linda P., and the pheasant card is from Carol H. Are they just beautiful! and these ladies are super nice and generous to us newbies.
I am having a wonderful time at convention! Its great!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

SU Convention - day 1

Disclaimer: All demonstrators who I have showcased their paper crafts, have given their verbal consent to have their paper craft items posted on my blog. If you would like to get in touch with any of them, they have authorized me to provide you with their email address.




Look at what the other SU demonstrators created!
Top Card - #1 - Friendship Easel Card created by Marissa J. Isn't she just so talented? Marissa J. made these cards for an organized swap. She even dyes her own buttons, how cool is that?
#2 - This next item is not a card, but a cork magnet. How cute and functional is that? Christine H. made these for a 3-D swap.
#3 - Christmas 'Joy' Card, was created by Sharon M. She had made these to swap with other demonstrators. I just love this stamp set, and didn't she do a gorgeous job at using it? She is very talented.
#4 - 2" x 1.5" Simply Adorned Charm. I met Melissa B. in one of the many lines I stood in today. She is very nice, and creative! She made this insert for her Simply Adorned Charm. I think her creativity is remarkable!
#5 - Baby Rattle Card, was created by Cheryl L. She made several of these for an organized swap exchange. She used all punches!

Let me give a very special, heart felt Thank-You to two fellow demonstrators: Linda Payne and Carol Hodgson. These two talented and generous ladies gave me a swap card, even though they knew I did not have any cards to swap. I will photograph their creative cards and post them soon.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Summer Italian Cooking @ Sur La Table

(This is my second post today,
please scroll down to look at todays earlier post.)

Disclaimer: All photos are courtisy of
Sur La Table and Utah Events.





I know I am at Stampin' Up! convention, but for those who know me I also have a love affair with cooking! I had a free afternoon and evening today, so I walked to the outdoor mall (Gateway Mall) and shopped. And signed up for a hands-on cooking class! Here is what we made: Brushetta with chopped black olives on one half and Marscapone cheese on the other half. The cheese was topped with salt preserved capers. We also made a Sugar Snap Pea and Asparagus Salad with fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. We then grilled Swordfish and Butter fish and topped the fish with a Peperonata garnish, and plated the fish on a bed of Tomato Basil Risotto. For dessert, we made a Blackberry Crostata. Everything tasted wonderful and doesn't it look beautiful? The chef for this class is Chef Bobby Christy. He has his own website for catering, cakes for all occasions, and some event planning. To take a look at his beautiful work and/or contact him, please go to his website, here is his Home Page.

Pre-Convention Stamp Camp






These are my favorite projects from Stamp Camp today! They are all beautiful! (these are just my favorite)

#1 Butterfly Pansie Wristlett by Gretchen Barron - totally cute! and not difficult to make. Ok, I have to admit, when I reached Gretchen's table I was star struck! I love her work and think she is incredibly talented.
#2 Scallop Circle Card by Sandi Maciver, Carole Anne Sluchinski, and Lee Conrey - the monochromatic color scheme keeps this card elegant looking, and fun to assemble. Once again, star struck! I love her creative work and she is a real joy!
#3 Butterfly Box and Note Card set by Virginia Killmore - This little set is just so adorable! Love the color combinations and the cute little size. Perfect for a hostess gift! When I arrived at Virginia's table I knew that I was in for a treat! She did a demo last night that I will certainly be passing along to my downline! Again, incredibly talented lady.
#4 Stationary Set by Judy Garza and Linda Pugh - You use one sheet of 81/2" x 11" card stock as your holder for your cards and envelopes. This would be perfect Mother's Day gift, or a Teach appreciation gift. It also uses one of my favorite stamp sets 'Watercolor Trio'. Judy and Linda are super nice! The 'idea' is simple, but oh so useful!
#5 Pizza Box and Note card set by Patty Edwards. This little pizza box holds four 3" x 3" note cards and envelopes. Once again, uses one of my favorite stamp sets! Patty is funny, warm and talented! I'm glad that I met her.
#6 Picnic Basket by Nicole York - This project was both fun to make and not too difficult. Nichole is a wonderfully talented and patient woman. Nicole has an unique use of colors. I love her intuition and her creative style.

Ok, Convention starts tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to it! This is my first one, and I'm as anxious as a child in Disney Land. Thank you for taking the time to see what I have to post. Please leave a comment, as they sure do bring a bit of sunshine to my life!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Convention gift swap



Ok, here is what I have made for the gift exchange at Stampin' Up! convention this week in Salt Lake city, Utah! I thought I only needed to make 3, turns out I needed to make 13! Yes, a bakers dozen! so, the parameters are to use only SU products and current products. Well, since the new catalog has come out, and I really haven't had a chance to stock up on supplies, I had to make due with what I had on hand. (I made all of these yesterday-that's when I found out about the number.)
So, for those who know me, my all-time new favorite stamp set is Artistic Etchings! I already have 2 Paris stamp sets from other companies, so this was a no-brainer. I also used my favorite color combination of Crumb Cake (kraft), Pretty in Pink, and Very Vanilla.
The first photo (at the top) is the note card that goes with the set.
The second photo (in the middle) is an altered key chain.
The third photo (at the bottom) is the card stock gift bag. The initial one I made I sprayed with Log Cabin Smooch spray, and didn't like how it turned out. So, I have sprayed EVERYTHING with Champagne Shimmer mist. (you can't see the glimmer in the photos). The flowers are made from pink organza and a polyester material.
Thank you for looking! I'll post more Bunco prizes tomorrow!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

6th place Bunco prize

This is the 6th prize for Bunco. Its a magnetic message board in a frame. The 'pebbles' are magnets, and the whole piece is magnetic, so you can put things where you want them. The box is a box of coordinating cards. On the message board, it says, 'to the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world' I fell in love with that stamp as soon as I saw it, and had to get it. The cards have different proverbs on them.
Thanks for looking, and I'll keep posting everyday!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

7th place prize for Bunco

When I was making the prizes for Bunco, I really wanted to do a variety of items, using a variety of paper crafting styles, in hopes of appealing to the masses.
This the prize for the 7th place winner. It is an altered notebook. The look isn't too feminine, but there are 'girly' touches: the flower, the bird, and the satin polka-dot ribbon.
I also made a matching set of note cards (A2). The words are different Irish proverbs, and different quotes that I found inspirational.
Thank you for looking.

Friday, July 16, 2010

8th place Bunco prize


This is the prize for the 8th place at my Bunco event. The box was originally a white chipboard recipe box. So, I inked the edges and covered the large areas with pattern paper. I made some dividers for inside the card box. I even made a selection of cards. The two cards flanking the box are in the box. One is a birthday card, the other is a thank you card. I really like how this gift came out. I think its pretty in a girly girl way!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Castle Cake

Ok. I have a moteum installed!
So, here is the princess cake I made for my granddaughter. She just loved it! She has been helping me in the kitchen since she was 9 months. She has been cooking with me (actively) since she was 2. I made the cakes and did the icing. She did the decorating with me. :)
She gets so excited, she is just precious.
I'll post a photo of Cinderella, who came to spend sometime with my granddaughter at her party!
Thanks for looking!

Monday, July 12, 2010

9th place Bunco prize

Here is the 9th place prize for Bunco. (We play with 12 people, but when I host, I don't make a prize for me.) I stamped on the candle, and made 4 matching blank cards. My theme was home/hand made, with a bit of girlfriend celebration added. This is actually one of my favorite gifts. I stamped the words (background) first, then the flourishes, and then the chandelier. The rest of the images where added based on where the flourishes and chandelier were placed. I love how sweet, gentle, and a bit collage-y the project turned out. I made my own filler, too! Clean out your paper shredder, and take coordinating cardstock and run it through your paper crimper vertically and horizontally. Then place the crimped cardstock in the paper shredder. Viola!
Thanks for looking, and I promise, tonight I will post a photo of my granddaughters castle cake!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

10th place bunco prize

Here is the paper craft gift I made for the 10th place prize for Bunco. Its a purse made out of card stock. The handles are made from ribbon. I didn't take a photo of the inside of the purse, but there is a little pocket that I put some postage stamps in. I also decorated a pen with the same pattern paper. Here are two cards that I made. (the purse holds four).
Thank you for looking!

moteum out

The title kinda says it all! I wanted to post friday night before bed and my husband was on my computer. It was late and I was tired. So saturday morning I went to post before I started my granddaughters castle cake, but couldn't get on the internet. Tried again after the party. No luck. My husband called the people we get service with and our modeum died. So here I sit at the airport getting this out from my phone. I have downloaded pictures on my laptop and when I get a few free moments, I'll post a photo or two. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Bunco/Bunko Prizes



First, let me apologize for taking a week to post. For those of you who know me, I have been busy crafting. But, not so religious of taking photos.
I am the hostess for Bunco this month. Several of us, are pretty obsessed with this! (I am one of those). So, we have themes. My theme is hand & home made. So, dinner is made from scratch. The prizes are different paper crafts. Here are two of my favorites. The top one is a collage. The cards are the same (4) and they match the candle. I wrapped the candle in a cello page, made my own filler, too. I really like how it turned out.
Now, the two other photos are of a card box and 2 of the cards. I really like how the black and cream paper really show off the pink. There are four dividers in the box: birthday wishes, thinking of you, sympathy, and thank you. I also made some cards to go in the dividers. And I really like how they came out.
So, my crazy obsession, is to make a paper craft and matching cards. I think its pretty cute. I did take pictures of the gifts I made, so check back again to see if I have posted the others.
Have a great day!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Bragging Rights, cont.



These are the cards that I entered in the card competition, hosted by Auntie Amy. I won 1st place! Yahoo! I'm very excited about it! I received an email from Auntie Amy today, asking if I could submit the directions to my oriental lantern card, for publication! How wonderful is that? I wanted to show you all, the cards I made.
Thank you for all the support and the well wishes!