l is for lemon

I am going to try to keep today's post short and sweet...

...or should I say SOUR?!

For Christmas each year on my mom's side of the family all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins get together for a fun Christmas party with lots of yummy food and a gift exchange. The kids each open a gift from their great grandparents and the adults (all 21 of us) bring a $10 gift that starts with a letter we are on for that year. For instance, we have already gone through the word Christmas and now we are onto the word Holiday, so this year's letter was L! This has been a fun way to have a "white elephant" gift exchange of sorts, but everyone is supposed to bring a good gift and not a gag gift. It's always funny to see how some people stretch the name of the gift to make it fit the letter for that year!

This year for some reason I left my decision making to the last minute (actually that's not really a surprise for me lately!). I had initially thought of bringing a candle...aka "lighted wax", but I wanted to be a little more creative. I ran across my candy stash in my craft room and found Lemonheads!! I knew right then and there I wanted my gift to be lemon-themed. So, off to the store I went! I kind of had a difficult time finding things that were lemon, especially with the $10 budget (and the time crunch!) but I came away with...Country Time Lemonade powder mix, Lemon Mentos, Raspberry Lemonade chapstick, and Lemon Ricola cough drops. I should have taken a picture!

Of course I had to add in my handmade touch, so I made...

{five 3x3 lemon cards with envelopes}
I kept them simple...which had nothing to do with crunch time! Ha!

{wrapped up in a bow}

And here is where the Lemonheads come in. I had this cute little jar (Dollar Tree!) in my craft room just waiting for it to be used! I added a little lemon accent to the top, which matched the cards and tied a few pieces of coordinating ribbon. My sister-in-law ended up opening the gift (she was #1) and at the end decided to keep it rather than trade. Made me feel good that it was going to someone who I knew appreciated it!


Some other gifts that were brought...

• Lime green blanket with Lime soda & Lime Tortilla Chips (this is the gift that I got!)
• Electronic "lead" sharpener...aka pencil sharpener, which we all laughed that nowadays pencils are made with graphite
• Lights...flashlights -- lots and lots of flashlights!
• Lights...nightlight
• "Lincoln" - $10 in pennies
• Levels
• Locks
• Lotion

I love seeing the creativity each year!! This is such a fun tradition for our family!

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Stamp Set: Tart & Tangy

Colors: Daffodil Delight, Real Red

Punches: Two-Step Owl (heart), 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Circle

3 for $6 Card Making Night - June

On Tuesday night I traveled to my mother-in-law's home and held a 3 for $6 card night with her and her friends! She lives about an hour away and we started to have card nights every other month since there were so many friends interested in making cards, but it was such a long drive for them to come my way (understandable!). With the beginning of summer, it wasn't as well attended as the last one, but I really enjoyed being able to stamp with the few ladies that were there and answer questions without feeling like I was running around everywhere!

The first card is a CASE from the ever-so-talented Mary Fish with just a few little changes made. I just love this Tiny Teacup stamp and I'm so glad it's staying in the next catalog. My mother-in-law holds a monthly "Grandma's Tea" with her friends and I knew this was the perfect stamp for her (she ended up purchasing one for herself!) It's a single stamp with the tea cup and the "hello" right underneath it. I've seen some really fun things made with this ONE stamp! It doesn't show it in this picture, but I ended up adding a small little flower with a rhinestone in the middle and stuck it right next to the hello. I'll try to update with a new picture later!



Stamp Set: Tiny Teacup

Paper: Whisper White, Concord Crush, Perfect Plum

Ink: markers - Concord Crush, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Dimensionals, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta ribbon

Tools: 1-1/4" Square punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Small Oval punch (retiring and no longer available!)

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This next card I actually used for one of my card nights last summer, but I just had to pull it out again to use for this summer as it was new to these stampers AND the Tart & Tangy stamp set is retiring, so I wanted to ink it up some more!! I added the rhinestones this year instead of the silver brads which is what I used last time. If you look closely you'll see the polka-dotted textured background on the Pumpkin Pie card stock.

Stamp Set: Tart & Tangy

Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

Ink: So Saffron, markers - So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Dimensionals, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone Accents, Pumpkin Pie flower brad, Dazzling Diamonds

Tools: Ticket Corner punch, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (used with Big Shot)

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The last card we created each guest had their choice of what color scheme they wanted to go with. It was interesting to see which colors were the winners and by far more chose the green and purple (it would have been my first choice, too!) You may recognize these cards as I shared about how to make a "quilt" card awhile back. I added a little butterfly accent this time around.

Stamp Set: With All My Heart

Paper: Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Sunny Garden DSP

Ink: Poppy Parade

Accessories: Dimensionals, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon

Tools: Top Note Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (used with Big Shot), Wide Oval punch


Stamp Set: Perfect Punches

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Cottage Wall DSP (retired)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Dimensionals, Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon

Tools: Top Note Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (used with Big Shot), Wide Oval punch

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Don't forget to enter to win a FREE JUNE SUBSCRIPTION to Craft Project Central by leaving a comment on MY FOURTH OF JULY PARTY ENSEMBLE POST. With a FREE June subscription, you will get 10 full tutorials with step-by-step directions, pictures, and a list of supplies for each project!

My Project Contribution to June!

teacher treats!

The end of school is coming soon! Do you have a special treat ready for your child's teacher? I put together some fun little teacher treats, cards, and gift bags to add to some of the things I already have displayed at a local consignment store where I sell some of my cards.

The Tart & Tangy stamp set has the perfect little apple just right for making teacher gifts and cards.

Gift Bags

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Post it Note Holder & Matching Pen

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Tic Tacs

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Treat Jars
{I shared more about these HERE}

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Peppermint Patty Treats
{I shared more about these HERE}

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Cards
Let me know if you have any questions!

sweet treats!

Before the school year was over, I wanted to have a few teacher treats for an end of the year thank you. As a former teacher, I always enjoyed getting just a little something to say thank you and having something handmade was always a little more special! I sell my greeting cards at a local consignment store, so I thought these treats would be something that might sell fairly well, also, since the end of the school year is wrapping up and people might be on the hunt for a handmade treat to give.

I made little treat bags using peppermint patties sandwiched between 2 scallop circles and placed in a skinny pretzel bag. I used the Tart & Tangy stamp set (which has been getting a lot of use lately!). The colors are Real Red & Glorious Green (retired). I used some SU! red gingham ribbon (retired) and some other green ribbon I had in my non-SU! stash.


I also wanted to use the little IKEA jars I have been holding onto (for a very long time!). I bought some Apple Jelly Belly candies in bulk to put inside the jars. I stamped the Tart & Tangy apple using Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Glorious Green (retired). I tied a little ribbon around the jar using red gingham ribbon (retired) and added a little "for you" tag from the Tiny Tags stamp set, punching it out with the Jewelry Tag punch. This makes for a fun little treat for a teacher and after all the candy is gone, it would be perfect to hold little things like safety pins, paper clips, push pins, etc.


But, I didn't stop there, I thought while I was at it, I would make another kind of candy jar with Lemonheads inside. Again, I used the Tart & Tangy set, but this time I inked up the lemon (or orange...whichever color you want to use to make it either or). I used Yo-Yo Yellow (retired) and then added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to make it sparkle. I punched out a little heart using the Heart to Heart punch and then tied the jar with a 1/4" white grosgrain ribbon. Using the "sweet treats" from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, I made a tag and punched it out with the Small Oval punch.

"orange" you sweet!

I had the opportunity to make a couple of fun gifts this past weekend. My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group was meeting for the last time on Monday and I since I am a small group leader, I wanted to give each of the moms a little treat! I had such a blast putting together this "orange you sweet" tin of goodies using the Tart & Tangy stamp set.

{3x3 gift card...do you see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter?}

{gum wrapper}
Cut: 3 1/4 x 5 1/2
Score: 1 10/16, 2 1/16, 4 2/16, 4 9/16
*gum wrapper should slide on and off*

{Tic Tacs cover}

{I also included some orange slices and
orange-flavored Crystal Light packets}

They were a hit with my group...I'm glad I could make them smile!
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Over the weekend I also put together some treat bags to give to the childcare workers that watch our children during our monthly MOPS meetings. I was happy to help out and to give a little thank you! Inside of the bag were bite size Snickers (Easter clearance...shh! Don't tell! *wink*) I used Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, and Perfect Plum for colors. I also used the Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 2 Stamp Set with the "thank you" from Teeny Tiny Wishes. If you'd like to make your own 2-5-7-10 box HERE is the link for the directions at Splitcoast Stampers. I made 15 of them, so I'm glad they were easy!

{I am kind of bummed about the photo quality...believe it or not I took this picture in the bathroom hoping to have a little brighter light to bring out the colors. Guess that didn't work so well.}

silent auction with tart & tangy

My good friend Sarah asked if I wanted to be a part of a silent auction to help raise money for her daughter's school. I figured it would be a great way for me to get my name out there a bit and do something good along the way by helping to support the private school her daughter attends.

I put together a basket of goodies...

• 8 handmade greeting cards
• 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog
• 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog
  
• Level 1 Hostess Stamp Set
• Spool of Real Red Polka Dotted ribbon
• Gift certificate for a free card night at my home (3 cards for $6)
• Box in a bag filled with chocolate treats
  

I packaged it up nicely in cellophane wrapping and a white bow...


Here are the 4 cards I created to include in the basket. There were 2 of each design, so a total of 8 cards.



Stamp Set: 2011 Sale-A-Bration set: So Happy For You (sentiment), Tart & Tangy

Paper: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP (retired)

Ink: Real Red, markers: Real Red, Old Olive

Accessories: 1/2" Striped Old Olive Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

Tools: none

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Stamp Set: Occasional Quotes (Level 3 Hostess set), Tart & Tangy

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DSP (retired)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso (sentiment)

Accessories: 1/4" Bashful Blue Taffeta ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

Tools: 1 1/4" Circle punch, Piercing Tool & Mat Pack

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Stamp Set: On Your Birthday, Tart & Tangy

Paper: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White, Old Olive, Summer Picnic DSP (retired)

Ink: Real Red, markers: Real Red, Old Olive

Accessories: Dimensionals

Tools: 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8 " Circle punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, Scallop Edge Border punch

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Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Tart & Tangy

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Old Olive, Summer Picnic DSP (retired)

Ink: Early Espresso, markers: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories: Dimensionals, 5/8" Real Red Satin ribbon

Tools: 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8 " Circle punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder with Big Shot die cutting machine

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Do you love the Tart & Tangy set that I used with each of these cards? If you spend $50, you can get it for FREE because it is one of your choices during Sale-A-Bration! You have until March 31st to take advantage of getting this set for FREE! How about you add some ink, coordinating papers, and some ribbon to your order, and maybe a punch or two, then you can get this stamp set for FREE and start making cards today! This is a very versatile and fun set that can be used for many greeting card occasions. Take a peek HERE at some of the other cards I've created using this stamp set.

Start shopping today with one click HERE.

3/$5 Card Making Night - June

Last night I held my monthly 3/$5 card making night. It was so fun to have nine ladies come over to stamp with me! I love that every month it's a new group of women who come to stamp...with a few steadfast attendees, of course! My sister visiting from Washington this coming week even came down a day early just to come to my event (well...that and to go to the community garage sales here in town on Friday).

I'm excited to share with you the cards we made. Two of them were inspired by other cards I had seen, but one of them is an HB Original. *wink* I try to create at least one of them from my own imagination, but I also like CASEing cards, too, to show to my customers that you don't always have to come up with something yourself!

Card #1 - I messed around with this card for awhile before I got it just right...that's the perfectionist in me!

Stamps: Eight Great Greetings (retiring June 30th!)

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Whisper White, Taken with Teal (retiring - sold out!), Sweet Pea DSP (from Occasions Mini Catalog - no longer available, but it's oh so cute!!)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Stampin' Markers: Rose Red, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink

Accessories: scallop trim border (Sale-A-Bration item that will be in the new catalog!), Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon (retiring - now 25% off!), Dazzling Diamonds glitter (applied with 2-way glue pen)

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Card #2 - I had inspiration for this card, but now I can't find it so I can link to it!! I will keep looking and be back to give credit where credit is due! I tweaked it a little to make it my own, but I definitely "borrowed" the concept of the card. I just love how simple it is, but yet it makes a statement. It can be used for a birthday card or to send for the 4th of July.


Stamps: Itty Bitty Bits (from the Summer Mini Catalog), On Your Birthday (sentiment)

Paper: Brilliant Blue (retiring - sold out!), Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Brilliant Blue (retiring - sold out!), Real Red

Accessories: 3/4" Real Red polka-dot grosgrain ribbon (retiring - now 50% off!), dimensionals, 1/2" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch from the Punch Pack (from the Summer Mini)

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Card #3 - Another card I had some inspiration for, but I have had a picture printed off for the longest time, so I don't even know where to begin looking to link to it. {Updated to add on 6/27/10: I just found the card on the Stampin' Up! customer page - go HERE to see where I got my inspiration.} I actually changed it quite a bit, but the orange slices with the flower and "It's Your Day...Enjoy" was part of the original card. If I find it, I will definitely link to it! You may not notice, but the Pumpkin Pie for the background is polka-dotted by using the Big Shot and texturz plates.

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, On Your Birthday (sentiment)

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Stampin' Markers: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron

Accessories: flower assortment designer brads (retiring - now 25% off!), silver brads (used with mat pack/paper-piercing tool), 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, ticket punch, 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, Big Shot Texturz Plate (polka-dot)

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Join me for my next 3/$5 card making night on the THIRD THURSDAY - July 15th, 6-8 PM. I really enjoy hosting these events because it helps me stay active in making cards and I can share my love for Stampin' Up! products to others!

Sketch Challenge 108

This week's Saturday Sketch Challenge over at Stamping 411 definitely came at the right time as I was needing to make a birthday card for a friend's daughter and inspiration hadn't struck yet! And, because this sketch is ULTRA simple (as stated on their blog), I knew it would be the perfect sketch to whip out quickly. Once I saw the sketch, I got to work!

Here is the sketch...


And here is my take on it...


Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette (retired), Real Red
Stamp Sets: Short & Sweet, Think Happy Thoughts (dotted circle), On Your Birthday (sentiment)
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip (images colored in with watercolor pencils)
Accessories: dimensionals (to pop up cupcakes), red eyelets (non-SU!)
Tools: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, ticket punch

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These next two are not officially part of the sketch, but looking through my card creations, I realized they pretty closely fit the bill.

you can find the supplies used with this card here

This next card, I created for my first ever Stampin' Up! card swap when I first joined at the end of March.


Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Green Galore
Stamp Sets: Short & Sweet
Ink: Chocolate Chip (images colored in with watercolor pencils)
Accessories: dimensionals (to pop up cupcakes), Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch


I didn't do a lot of card making this last week (the weather was too nice to stay indoors), but I have a lot of cards I've created in the last few weeks that I've been wanting to share. Hopefully I'll get some time to share those soon!

My new catalog kick-off will be happening this Tuesday and I'm so excited for my guests to make their free card (I love the color combo I chose!) and to look through the new catalog.

Tart & Tangy

My friend and upline let me borrow one of her stamp sets last week so that I could use it for my first card making class. This particular stamp set is called Tart & Tangy and can be purchased for only $12.95. It has so many uses and I love the simplicity of it! Don't these images remind you of summer?


This first card is one that I have seen EVERYWHERE on the internet and thought it would be a great one for my card making night! Whoever first came up with it is brilliant! It would make great summer birthday invitations, don't you think?


Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from On Your Birthday
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, dots on scallop circle are made with Pumpkin Pie stampin' write marker
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1/2" grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (applied with 2-way glue pen), popsicle stick attached with sticky strip, dimensionals
Tools: scallop circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

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These next cards are ones that I played around with during the weekend. I had so much fun with this stamp set that I just kept going.

**Please note: I'm trying to use up the retired in-colors and designer-series paper, so forgive me if you fall in love with some of the colors/DSP that you see, and there's no way to get it! These cards are primarily ones that I am making for either personal use or will be for sale at my events.

All products listed are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted


Paper: Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, Rainbow Sherbert DSP (retired)
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from a recent retired hostess set - Goody, Goody Gumdrops
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (applied with 2-way glue pen), dimensionals
Tools: scallop edge punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

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Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Rainbow Sherbert DSP (retired)
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from a recent retired hostess set - Goody, Goody Gumdrops
Ink: Real Red, Glorious Green
Accessories: Whisper White 3/8" tafetta ribbon, red buttons (non-SU!) adhered with glue dots
Tools: scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch

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Paper: Rose Red, Green Galore, Gable Green, Whisper White, Rainbow Sherbert DSP (retired)
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from a recent retired hostess set - Goody, Goody Gumdrops
Ink: Rose Red, Glorious Green, (colored in stems with Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker)
Tools: 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch

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Paper: Baja Breeze (retired), Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP (retired)
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from On Your Birthday
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, orange brads (non-SU!)
Tools: scallop circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch

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Paper: Baja Breeze (retired), Kiwi Kiss (retired), Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP (retired)
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from Really Retro
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals
Tools: eyelet border punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, word window punch

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3x3 gift tags

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red,
Stamp Sets: Tart & Tangy, sentiment is from a recent retired hostess set - Goody, Goody Gumdrops
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive and Real Red stampin' write markers to color in image
Accessories: red polka-dotted grosgrain ribbon (non-SU!)
Tools: scallop square punch

Now, I'm hungry for some fruit salad! Anyone else!?