No Frills

I am madly trying to finish up my Valentines and get them to family by Saturday.  I'm hoping the road into town isn't too bad today so that we can go to the Post Office and get them on their way.

The heart box on the right was made from the template I designed for Clear and Simple Stamps this month.  I made one for each of my daughters and this one will go to my son.  I filled it with the cards I posted yesterday.  I will also put in a little candy and a version of the card on the right.  I loved my Featured Stamper, Heidi's, card (you may go HERE to see it) that she made using the Valentine set from Stampin'Up!  and decided to CASE it to make several of these using a variety of paper and ribbon.  I had ordered the whole deal from Stampin'Up! - stamp set called "Sweetheart", the heart-shaped punch, and the heart-shaped plastic cups.  It's been really fun to use and for sure this set won't be limited to just Valentine's Day.  With my wedding anniversary coming up I could get "creative" with what goes in the little plastic cup!  :0)  (Yep!  Old duffers can be romantic, too.)

If you've been praying for little Kate, please continue to do so.  She has begun a stem cell treatment which begins with heavy-duty chemo for over a week to kill her immune system.  She will be confined for 6 weeks or so in a sterile hospital room.  You can go HERE and read about it.

Thanks for your visit.  I must get on with the Valentines.

Blessing from Yesterday:  John was safe after driving into town on icy roads.

A Pajama Day

Well, it's been a pajama day around here today.  I've pretty much stamped most of the day, trying to get my Valentines done and in the mail.  I'm beginning to be interested in making cards with some of my photographs.  I'm just really a very amateurish-type photographer but once in a while I get one that is decent.  A while ago I sent several of my photos via the internet to Snapfish for processing.  My printer isn't that good with printing photos.  I was pleased when they came to me - several of them and it cost less than two bucks.  I'd like to share them with you:

These were some marigolds from my garden last summer.

The purple coneflowers were also from my garden last summer.

This sailboat photo was taken from the ferry as we were traveling across the Puget Sound in Washington State.

I took this photo from my daughter's tv screen while we watched the New Year's Eve festivities at the Space Needle in Seattle.  I used the Photoshop option to make it look like a poster.  I'm sending these 4 cards to my son for him to use when he needs a card.  I stamped a different sentiment in each one.

Why don't you try something new this year?  Thank you for the visit.  I'll be back tomorrow to share some of the Valentine goodies I've been working on today.

An Entry for PTI Contest

It looks like I'll just get in under the wire on Nichole's contest today over on her Papertrey Ink blog.  For this challenge Nichole provided a sketch and a color palette and we were to design a card using those things.  For this card, I used PTI's Sweet Blush, Scarlet Jewel, Vintage Cream, and Kraft cardstock.  I also used CSS's gray cardstock.  The beautiful satin ribbon is from CSS.  For the ink, I used Memento London Fog.  The images are from two PTI sets - Friends Til the End and First Fruits.

Nichole is celebrating her 3rd anniversary of being in business and has had some very fun challenges plus peeks at some wonderful new products that will be released this month.  You can go here and read about today's challenge contest.  Nichole will be offering acrylic paint in all of her colors and in the most ADORABLE paint cans.  I'd buy the paint just to have those little bitty paint cans!

My last post two days ago was #500 and I'd decided quite a while ago that I would give a little prize to the first person to comment on that post.  Well, my challenge buddy, Allison happened to be that person. So, I sent Allison a pack of Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl .  Thank you Allison for all of your encouraging comments.

I'll be back later today to show you my latest projects using some of my photographs.  Please stop by again.

Blessing from Yesterday:  Being able to get more information entered for Income Tax.

Please Meet Heidi Karpen

February's Featured Stamper has done an absolutely outstanding, stunning project for you to enjoy.  Be sure you read on down to where Heidi describes how she made the necklace - fascinating!  Also, please give her some love and leave a comment for her. 

Without any more chatter from me, I'll let Heidi tell you about herself and the beautiful things she made.

"My name is Heidi Karpen a.k.a. Stamperdoc on Splitcoaststampers.  I also have a blog and I'd love to have you visit me at Karpen Diem Stamps.

I wear a lot of hats in my house- NICU doctor, scientist, wife, mommy, shuttle service, homework checker, keeper of all important information and crafter!  (The full term for NICU is Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the real term is Neonatologist.)

I have always done some sort of craft, and I have gone through phases over the years- I knitted my way through medical school and residency (not so much fun in Houston now, though!), sewed my wedding dress and baby things for my children and dabbled in the needle arts as well. I began scrapbooking after my second child was born and began seeing all the wonderful stamped images on pages in print. I found a Stampin' Up demonstrator  in my area, who has become an invaluable friend and enabler of my hobby, and was immediately hooked! I now hold my own craft classes about once a month and have a wonderful group of friends who love to get together, stamp and enjoy an evening together. I started my blog a few months back to share all the things I make with friends, old and new. I "met" Sue on Splitcoast and hope to stamp with her in person some day! I feel very privileged that she asked me to be her "Guest Stamper" for the month of February and hope y'all like the things I have created!

The card:

I started with a layer of Whisper White (5.5") and layered on a piece from the Night & Day DP set. I cut a border using the Nestability Fleur de Lis die and stitched a contrasting piece from the Night & Day set over the top before adhering it to the card front. I adhered a red layer cut with the Labels 9 set, tied some black scalloped edge satin ribon into a bow and adhered this whole piece to a 5.75" black card base. The heart from the "A Happy Heart" set (SU) was stamped in Real Red and embossed with a combination of clear and iridescent ice EP. The greeting is from the new "With All My Heart" set and is punched out using the Modern Label punch. A few rhinestones were added for some glitz!

The box:

It started with a heart shaped chipboard box from Michael's. I glued paper from the Night & Day set on with matte finish Modge Podge and added several layers to seal it and give it a nice finish. I used Tacky Tape to hold on this pretty trim I found at Joann's around the top and bottom edges. The top hearts were made by cutting several layers of scalloped and plain hearts using the Nestability dies. I added a cool ceramic button I've been saving in my stash, with some white organza ribbon tied through. The greeting is also from the "Happy Heart" set and was inked with markers, stamped and embossed- if you "huff" a few times on the stamp and work fast, you can get ink from markers to pick up embossing powder- a nice trick when you want to color in a stamp and still have the thicker look of embossing! The tag was cut using the "Fancy Tags" Nestability die.

Necklace:

I found the necklace string/ribbon at the back of an isle for beading at Joann's, all put together with clasps- who knew?! The charms are really cute, fast and sure to be a hit with my tween and her friends! It starts with a plain 1" washer from the hardware store. I punched a 1/2" hole in some patterned paper, then centered this hole inside my 1" circle punch before punching it out- it makes the perfect size paper doughnut for the washer! I glued the paper onto the washer with Crystal Effects, smoothed out the paper, then added a thick layer of Crystal Effects over the top. After adding the rhinestones comes the very hard part- not touching it until it dried completely! The drying process takes at least overnight so you must be patient (which generally I am not!)"

Thanks for visiting with us today.

A Winner and a New Challenge

Entry #1 - Deloris T!  You won a $25 gift certificate from Clear and Simple Stamps.

Here are your random numbers:

1 

Timestamp: 2010-02-05 08:59:15 UTC

Please contact me at berkerster@gmail.com with your name, address, etc so I can get the prize to you.  Thank you to everyone that entered.

EONAC #4 - As stampers and paper crafters, we sure can get excited about products.  I bet you've got some stamps that were all the rage or highly advertised and so you bought some.  For a while, now, they sit alone and unused.  It's time to show them a little love.  A few days ago Allison coined the phrase "Once was hot but now forgot!"  A couple years ago I was so taken with a line of stamps called Elzybells.  Designers were making such adorable cards with these sweet little images.  I bought 2 of them, used them a few times and placed them in a drawer where they cuddled up in a corner and waited.  The card I made for this challenge uses one of those images.  As much as I like the images I find it difficult to get inspiration to use them.  They are well-made stamps and even in their simplicity, convey a message just to look at them.  This image always reminds me of me with my best friend or my sister or my daughters because we hug (that's the name of this stamp).  We like each other.  Don't you get that feeling from these two girls?  Their hugging and happy.  But...simple is not always easy for me.  I spent quite a while this morning looking through the samples on Splitcoaststampers - there are 731 samples of Elzybells images.  I finally was inspired by this card.  Even so, this simple little card took me way too long to make.  In fact, I'm going to offer this stamp to the winner of this challenge - if you want it.  I've only used it twice and it's just like new.  You have until next Friday at midnight to delve into all of those unloved stamps and make a card with one.  Then go to Allison's blog, here, and post it.  We are very interested to see what was once "Hot" for you!

Remember to wear something red today in honor of the American Heart Association's "National Wear Red Day."  If you are out and about try to remember to look around and see if anyone else is wearing red.

I finally received my Clear and Simple Stamps, stamp of the month, yesterday so I'll have some samples for you soon.  Thanks for stopping in for a visit.

Blessing from Yesterday:  A relaxing day.

Lots of Things

My sister's birthday is next Monday and I need to get her birthday box in the mail today.  I decided to do CAS card for her and while I was at it also make it to celebrate Nichole's 3rd year anniversary of her company, Papertrey Ink.  All of the supplies for this came from Papertrey Ink.  The stamp set I used was the first one she had for sale, aptly called Paper Trey.  I read through the blog post from February 2007 where Nichole wrote to spark interest in this set, only to find that she had also offered a couple downloads for free.  She has always been a class act with her business and provided such a large amount of help and information for her customers.  You may want to go and see her latest news, here.

Hey!  This Sunday my Featured Stamper for February will be here to show you her goods.  Be sure to visit and give her some love.

Did you know that tomorrow is designated as "National Wear Red Day" by the American Heart Association.  Go here if you are interested.  In honor of it I plan to post a card made with red tomorrow and I will wear my red "Grandma" sweatshirt.

Tonight at midnight I'll have our EONAC#4 up for all of you challenge lovers.  Allison actually came up with this idea and I love it!  Be ready to get into your lonely stamps!  Also, at midnight (or soon after) I will draw the name of the winner of the prize we offered this week.  Come back tomorrow to see who is the lucky person.  You still have time today to enter - go here to do that.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Blessing from Yesterday:  Spending the day with John in Springfield.

Help! Can't Decide

This one:

 

 Or this one:

 

 Button or no button - what's your opinion?

I order very few images from Stampin'Up! anymore because there are so many other vendors that offer supplies that are top notch quality just as theirs is.  But, I did order Stampin'Up!s new Sweetheart set and the heart punch and plastic heart-shaped cups to go with it.  The set I ordered is their new clear mount stamps and I must say, I'm very impressed.  Great stamping ability, fair price, easily mounts on acrylic blocks - and bonus - they come in a very storeable, manageable plastic case.  I will have lots of fun using this set.

I noticed on Allison's blog, just two people have entered this week's EONAChallenge.   There's a prize attached - $25 gift certificate from Clear and Simple Stamps - and their store has lots of new goodies - better join us.  All you have to do is use 3 colors of ink pads on a card that you haven't used in a very long time.  You have one day and 16 hours (it's 8a.m. central time right now) left to participate.  Go here to Allison's blog.

Kate, the little 6-year-old girl with a brain tumor, will begin stem cell treatment this week.  PLEASE keep her in your prayers as this will be a very harsh treatment on her body.  She will be in the hospital for over a month.

Thanks for the visit.

Blessing from Yesterday:  Used our privilege and VOTED!

Sharing a Little Love

This month's VERY SWEET Stamp of the Month from Clear and Simple Stamps is called "Sweet Hearts".  Go here to their store to see it.  Also, the Copic Sketch Trio for this month is "Red 3" and you can see it on the same page with the SOTM.  Hopefully I will receive my stamp set this week and then I'll share some samples with you.  For now, here are a couple samples made with the template for this month.  You can fill this with cards, notes, candy or whatever fits.  Mine will be given to my daughters and filled with notecards and a pen in the little holder on the front.  This is an easy project to make and lends itself to a variety of possibilities when you decorate it.  You may go here to get the template.  Below is the tutorial to help with assembling it.  I'd love to know if you make one.  Thanks for the visit.

Sweet Hearts Box