Monday, March 31, 2008

Memory Box


I thought I'd post this last project from our Spring Supplement flyer. This project uses the Card box & Cards from our catalog. It is covered with one of our great paper collections and embellish!

Did you know that TAC™ has "recipes" for all the samples in our Inspiration Book? Just go to the TAC™ website (link listed in my menu on the left) and run your mouse over the "Our Products" box in the menu on the left. The will bring up another menu. Run your mouse over the "Idea Book & Catalogue" and up pops another menu! Here you will see 2 more boxes, "Catalogue Updates & Corrections" and "Idea Book Project Supplies". Click on the box you want more information on. If you know the page # in the Inspiration Book of the sample you want more information on then click on the appropriate page numbers! TAC™ has many places you can look and learn about our fabulous products, even projects for you to try! I hope to upload the Memo Pad I recently tried. I will give helpful hints on this when I get it posted.

I have updated the February 25th post for new angels, customers, and hostesses. Please check out the update under the Celebrate flyer.

Well, I better get my rear in gear and get ready to go exercise and run errands. Happy stamping!

Take Note!


This cute idea uses a composition book that has been cut in half. I took one that I had to the printer to have it cut and he said that it would fall apart being as it was sewn together and cutting it would cause the sewing to ravel. Oh well. So, if you want to do this project please check how the comp. book was assembled! Our wonderful paper collections would work perfectly for covering the front and back covers and all the swirl stamps would certainly be great to add to the papers. We have great embellishments and punches to "punch" things up and personalize these for yourself or a gift for a friend! Add ribbons for bookmarks, tabs and labels, whatever your heart desires! You can even use tablets or notepads and make your own covers! I have done this many times and they sell well at craft bazaars. My best sellers were full-sized comp. books made into Prayer Journals! Just remember, if the note pad is made to put into a ladies' purse certain embellishments will get knocked off or hang up on the purse contents.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

What a beautiful day!

I made this little Tutti Frutti Mini Memories Pocket Album that was posted on The Angel Co.'s Savvy Projects for People on the Go (see the left menu near the bottom). I would make some changes to the instructions. The white cover should be cut maybe 1/4" longer and the acetate about 3/8" longer to cover the inside pockets better. This top view is the front and the bottom cover is the inside.
This cute little door hanger is also in the Savvy Projects file under Home Decor section. The instructions use the Sheer Square Scallop Coaster but I used just plain white coaster and covered them with Mulberry Meadows paper using Designer Dries Clear Glue. I punched holes in the top 2 corners using my Crop-A-Dile and installed some coordinating eyelets that I had in my stash. I used a tag from the Mulberry Meadows tags and stamped it with the saying from Life Thoughts. I added the 2 flowers from the Bitty Blossums and more coordinating eyelets. The ribbon is also from my stash. You can make cute little note cards to place in box (made from cardstock) and hang on your door, a cupboard door, or wherever! So far my mom hasn't seen this so she hasn't had the opportunity to claim this yet.
Here is my manx cat, Miss Piggy, sitting in my bathroom window. She is resting after being outside for a while. She was so cute sitting here I just had to grab my camera!
Well, I need to go start painting our storage shed. Today I caulk the seams of the siding and prime the raw edges of the siding. I'll have to buy more primer to paint the eaves then I can consider painting. Sure is nice having all our stuff here and not 1 1/2 miles away! And we have way more room to put stuff so I can clean out a room for company (Dean has 2 sisters and a brother-in-law coming next month). So, I better get off my 'puter and get to work!

Happy Stamping!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Getting Back to Blogging

This past week has been so busy that I haven't even stamped! That's scary! Anyway, this photo shows something that we did. We purchased some plants and this small 3' (to the top of the fronds) Washington Palm (supposed to be fast growing) was our splurge. Dean named it in honor of our friend, Sandi, in Lusk, WY. We also got a cute little shrub called Golden Euonymus (has green and yellow leaves), an Anaheim pepper, a Jalapeno pepper, and a Roma tomato. We also did a bunch of yardwork. Today the guys are supposed to come to build our new storage building but here it is, 9 am, and they haven't arrived yet. I am making a big pot of Taco Soup (a thick chili-like concoction) to feed them at noon and for Dean's lunches. (The guys just showed up at 9:15!)
I attended our church's Ladies Luncheon last Tuesday and this we all received this handout in honor of Resurrection Day. Some gals did a great little skit that was a real hoot but was very hard hitting about how we need to clean our hearts, heads, etc. Loved it! Last Sunday our church had a drama called the Lord's Living Supper. I have ordered a DVD of it. It was amazing and there didn't seem to be a dry eye in the congregation! Sunday we had Sunrise services (it was about 50 degrees at 6 am), a breakfast and regular services. Pastor David blew the shofar (a ram's horn used in King David's day) at the beginning of the sunrise service and that was really cool!

I have attended 2 more baseball games this past week. Friday we watched the Rockies play the Cubs (Rockies lost 3 to 7) and Sunday it was the White Sox against the Royals (Royals won). Good games! I got a pretty good tan on Friday. Both days were warm and sunny.

My class last Wednesday went great. I had 9 ladies, 4 never stamped before! Tomorrow I have 10 and I think there are at least 2 who have never stamped. I did get a call from a gal in Sierra Vista (80 miles east) who got my name from TAC and she ordered 4 catalogs and wants to have a party!! Wahoo! I hope to get a package together for her in the mail today. This week I also got a large envy of cards from Chris in Lusk, WY . Some of the cards was a take-off of the Spring Fold card template I posted a while back. She altered the template some and came up with a card that looked more like an explosion card. Great job!

So, happy stamping to all and hopefully I'll get some stamping done this week.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Card & Circle Case Project


This is another project that is in our Spring Supplement. It is so cute and easy! You need a nested circle Coluzzle (or a plate) to create the circle, the cutting mat, and the swivel knife. You must have the mat and swivel knife if you use a Coluzzle template - I almost ruined a template and the knife when I didn't use the mat. I would not recommend using the white core cardstock as the folds may crack a bit when you use the bone folder to get a crisp fold. The example above uses the new set from the Spring Supplement called An'Udder Birthday , Black & White Ribbon and eyelets. I don't know where the little flower comes from unless it's one of our stamps.

My card uses the March SOTM called Goody Jar. I also used my Impress Bright markers (or use Tombow Brights), a white floral, and a coordinating paper posie. The colored cardstock is from the Brights Cardstock Stack and the white is a scrap left over from another project. I also used the Tonic Corner Punch to round off the little card.

Dean is home today, didn't chose to work overtime, so he's going to change the oil on my car and we'll get some yard work done. We need to rake under our mesquite trees so that we can mow under them later this summer. It is a bit cooler today and we have a slight chance of rain tomorrow. We could use it! And yesterday, while waiting for my mom to get her hair done, I walked around a small fine arts bazaar. I visited with Vesta Able for a while and gave her some more business cards. She is such a sweetie! She makes amazing amulets (I think I posted about this before but it never hurts repeating!) and shrink art jewelry. If you are in the northern part of Arizona she will be at the Mountain Artists Guild Arts and Crafts Show in Prescott on the Courthouse Square on August 10 & 11 this fall. Well, I better go get something accomplished so will sign off for now! Take care and Happy Stamping!

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Another Project


Here's another fun and easy project for you to try! You can use any Soar With It Collection and its coordinating cardstock, the mini round tab punch, metal split ring (purchase at an office supply store), and embellishments of your choice. In the one shown here the sets Butterfly Swirls and My Sunshine (as of today I couldn't pull up the images and some others are very scrambled with wrong images but I know TAC is working on this) are used.

Here is a card I made the other day. I seen something like this on a blog and thought, this is cool. I used Fancy Curls, Spring Dream (just the butterfly), and Petal Pack (just the little flower). I inked up the Curls with Versamark ink then inked with Jardin Moss P.H. Ink, stamped the piece of white cardstock, sprinked with clear e.p. and heated until set. Then I inked the little flowers with Versamark ink then inked with Orangerie P.H. ink, stamped, sprinkled with clear e.p. and heated until set. I inked the butterfly with Versamark ink then L'Amore Red P.H. ink, stamped, sprinkled and heated. This way it is both colored and embossed. I sponged Prussian Blue P.H. ink around the edges and then edged with a Silver Leafing pen. I set this aside and ran a piece of medium blue c.s. through my Wizard with a Fiskars texture plate and highlighted the raised curls with Brilliance Moonlight White ink. I edged this with the Silver Leafing pen. I had a piece of navy c.s. and edged it with the silver. I layered these 3 pieces as shown on the white card that had also been edged with silver. I punched 2 different flower punches and layered them as shown and added a dot of silver Stickles glitter glue. I like how this turned out so elegant!

Today we ordered a 12'x12'storage shed to be built behind our house. It's kinda silly to be paying rent on a storage unit and dad helped us a bit. The guys are supposed to be here on the 25th and said they'd have it done in one day (unless it gets quite warm and will have to come back the next day to lay the shingles). I told them I'd make lunch and we could eat out on the picnic table. I'm excited to have all our stuff within a few feet instead of a mile away! Plus I can get more out of the house so we'll have room for Dean's sister and her husband when they come to visit the end of April. Also today I got my sales tax number from the state of Arizona. A couple craft fairs requires a tax number to even be in them! So, after filling out 4 pages, a 15 minute phone call, and $12 it came. I do have to file monthly online but I imagine I won't be paying much for a while! Now to get some stuff made to sell! And, a gal called to tell me that she and a friend signed up for my class next week but they have never stamped before and have none of the required supplies. Now, that makes 3 first-timers! Maybe I can get a funshop scheduled and get some sales! I may have to dig out some retired sets to have enough bold images but that shouldn't be a problem. I have more retired sets than current!

Chris from Lusk, WY emailed me yesterday. She made a spring card from my last post and really enjoyed it. She'll be giving a little class on Saturday at the gals' stampin' time. I'm sure glad to know that someone tried that project!

So, I guess I better start thinking of dinner so happy stamping! And, Sandi, boy is my rhubarb growing! I should have a great crop!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Spring Fold Card

I seen a card using this template while following a link on a blog I read now and then. I thought is was so cool so I just had to try it. Follow the template above with scoring and shaping your 5" x 10" piece of cardstock. It may be hard to read even if you click on it to enlarge so I'll give you a little help here. Score at 2 1/2" and 5", and carefully make a small mark on each side of the paper at the 7 1/2" mark. Cut on the diagonal from the 7 1/2" score to the top center on both sides to create the triangle top.
Fold to look like this. I really had to play with my score lines before I got to this so have patience!
I adhered the front triangle to the front bottom so it should now look like this. Keep trying! It may take a bit but it is worth it!
Here is my finished card. I used Amberly Grace decorative cardstock, coordinating papers from the Neutrals Cardstock Stack (or use Amberly Grace Cardstock), Be Still stamp set, Fancy Curls stamp set, Burnt Umber and Ballet Blue Palette Hybrid Inks, a White Floral and brown Bitty Blossom, a floral punch, and a coordinating paper brad. I plan on making one of these for each of my 1st level downline. So, Jan, Erika, and Mary Kay, watch your mail! And maybe even Sandi since she does such a great job keeping my customers in eastern Wyoming thinking of me and buying! This card does fold flat but takes a larger envelope for mailing so you will have to pay the extra 17 cents to mail. You can change the measurements and size, if you desire, to make it fit a regular envelope.

Baseball and Tours

Here is the first pitch of the Chicago White Sox and the AZ Diamondbacks. The DBacks are up to bat. Was a great game with AZ winning 10 to 0! As you can see we are just a few rows up behind home plate with the scouts in front of us. The fastest pitch I seen was 95 mph! I don't even drive that fast!! We had a beautiful day with many Air Force Jets flying around. Loved seeing those big jets strutting their stuff!

Yesterday we took a tour of the Asarco Mine. Dean works at Freeport-McMoran for your information. Asarco employees about 500. I have here pictures of an old sign of the mine signals, the open pit which is over 2 miles wide in one place, and 2 views of a haul truck (which is now pretty much obsolete as trucks are larger!). It was very informational and gave me a better picture of the mill equipment Dean maintains (but I don't have any pictures of that equipment). In the pictures of the haul truck my Dean is in the long-sleeved black shirt and my dad is up next to the tire. I remember when I was in elementary and high school and we lived in Gas Hills, WY. This was located in central Wyoming between Riverton and Casper. Uranium was mined and dad maintained the haul trucks and all the other heavy equipment used in the pits. The haul trucks then were quite a bit smaller than this one shown but still very

large!
The pits there are now filled in and reclaimed but I hear that with uranium selling at much higher prices that mining may begin again out there.
I attended grade school in Gas Hills up to 6th grade. There were 40 of us as first graders but by the time I started 6th grade there
was only 4 of us. People did not like living so far from "civilization"
and moved to Riverton. Seventh graders and up were bussed to Riverton, approx. 50 miles. I sure don't miss that bus ride but we did have some fun and, needless to say, I could be a trouble-maker! Anyway, it was quite the experience. I did get a scholarship to the small community college in Powell, WY and loved the area. I stayed there, married, divorced, married, had my son, and moved.
We figured that in our 26+ years of marriage we averaged a moved every 2 1/2 years.

Anyway, enough of my history for now. My next post will have a
project!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

New Project


When I got my Technique Junkies current newsletter I just had to try this. For once I had the supplies on hand! It uses at least 2 reinkers, a metallic reinker, clear embossing powder, a report cover, glossy cardstock, a brayer and a heat tool. Cut open the report cover so it is only attached on one side, like a book. Place a few drops of each color on an inside cover and close. Brayer over this to mix the inks. Place 2 pieces of glossy cardstock together, the glossy sides out, between the covers and close it. Brayer over the closed cover to coat the cardstocks, you can leave white spaces if you desire. Remove the cardstock from the cover and set aside. Repeat with additional glossy cardstock until all the ink is used up or you aren't getting the effect you desire. Now, here is where I stopped (as I used dye inks and they dry very fast) but you can dip these into the embossing powder as pigment and metallic inks will not dry and need to be embossed and since they're still wet you don't need any ink). Remove excess powder and heat until set. Now, if you used dye inks and the glossy is dry you can stamp directly on the background with a good ink such as Palette Hybrids. If you had to emboss you may have to use StazOn ink. In this card I stamped with our Life Is Short set and embellished with our Bitty Blossoms and brads (see page 113 in our Inspiration Book) to match the inks used (Posh Impressions).

Well, I need to get ready to go to Curves and work out. I also have to stop by the local senior recreation office to submit plans for a class in April, the last one before the "snowbirds" fly back home. I'm going to a ball game on Friday at the Tucson Electric Park but I don't know who's playing, probably the AZ Diamondbacks since that's where they do their spring training. Catch you all later!!

Easter is coming!


I have yet to try this project as I don't have any of our deluxe half-moon pockets! We have 5 colors available, Chartreuse, Red, Beet, Khaki, and Chocolate (which may be too dark for this use). Also used are the Versamark Ink, a swirl stamp set, the new Our Savior set (which I have on order), and assorted hardware, ribbons, etc. Looks really cute and I need to make a bunch of Easter cards for a swap with some friends and for family! I need to get it in gear!