This morning started by taking the boys to Subway for a free Egg Muffin Melt sandwich.  I got an e-mail last night saying that today was free breakfast Tuesday.  I have to say it was really good and the nutritional information wasn’t bad at all.  Then we headed to the library to get some more books.  We’ve been reading up a storm.  I just finished The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow.  It was fantastic and I finished it in just a few days.  Today I picked up a book on Free-Range Parenting called Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) by Lenore Skenazy and The Overnight  Socialite by Bridie Clark.

This is the last of my Artisan Award cards that I have to show you.  I hope you have enjoyed my projects thus far.  This is by far the favorite of all of the cards I made.  The base is Bashful Blue and is layered with Not Quite Navy and Whisper White.  I sponged on the clouds in Bashful Blue using a Scallop Circle as a mask.  I then added the paper piercing.  I cut various circles from Old Olive Pattern Prints dsp with my circle scissors and then sponged, distressed and paper pierced them.  I then added houses and clouds from Good Neighbor, trees from Trendy Trees and squirrels and hello from Pendant Park. I tied it all together with a Bashful Blue satin ribbon.   

Well it’s time to get the boys outside before the rain starts.  Have a great Tuesday!

Yesterday was a good crafting day. I finished up one of my 3D items that I’ll be sending in with my Artisan Award entries. I’ve decided that this will be my third and final year entering. I have a ton of projects all in different stages of being finished and the next few weeks will be spent putting the finishing touches on them. Like years past these projects can’t be shared until after the winners have been chosen and announced. So while I may be crafting there may be days that I can’t share what I’m doing with you.

Today I saw Mercy’s Sketch and I thought I’d have a quick and easy card to put together, but when I was done I realized I had spent an hour perfecting my main image panel.  I like to spend a lot of time on the little details and in balancing everything out.  So while I may have projects to show, I’m not a overly productive stamper.  The circles, strips of paper and ribbon were all scraps left on my desk.  Therefore most of my card was done before I got started.  I wanted to see what it would look like if I added a strip of ribbon to my main image layer with sticky strip and then cut it out around the edges.  It looked like a street to me so I just went with it.  To keep the edges from fraying I used my Heat Gun and the edges melted a bit to keep them neat and tidy looking. The sentiment is on a modified Sending Love Notes Kisses card.  I cut off 2 sides and then trimmed it down to work with the Pendant Park sentiment and my main image layer. 

Well it’s now lunch time and then off to speech.  I’ll be back tomorrow with a new project.

All Supplies are Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: Good Neighbors, Pendant Park
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Not Quite Navy
Paper:Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Sweet Pea dsp, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Accessories:Chocolate Epoxy Brads, Circle Scissors, Chocolate Chip 1 1/4″ striped grosgrain ribbon, Kisses, dimensionals, Sponge

Have you ever yearned for school to start so that your schedule slows down? I did, but I sadly have to say my schedule has gotten busier by the day. I sometimes wonder if I do too much? I’m still learning to adjust and I’ll eventually get ahead. I started stamping this card yesterday for the sketch challenge on SCS, but couldn’t figure out how I wanted to finish it off. I walked away from it and was able to finish it in no time this morning. Sometimes that is all it takes, a night to sleep on it or a few hours away from it. I did promise you a Sweet Treat cup today, so I delivered on that promise.

I used Sweet Centers, a Sweet Treat cup and the sentiment from Pendant Park along with Razzleberry Lemonade designer series paper to make this fun and interactive card. Do you see that ribbon tab at the top? I put that there so you can pull it open to take your treats out from the center of the card and you can keep your card in tact and not tear it apart to get the treats out. To do that punched my 1 3/4″ circle punch on my main image layer. I then used a punched out Sticky Note with the 1 3/8″ circle punch. Before I adhered my layers to the base of the card I laid them all out where they would go. I then used the sticky note and put it in the punched out area from the Main image layer and on to the layer below it. I then centered the 1 3/4″ circle punch around it and punched that layer. I laid that layer on the card where it would go and did the same thing using the 1 3/4″ circle punch and the sticky note. When I got to the card base my punch wouldn’t fit where I needed it, so I cut around the sticky note with my hobby blade and cut a hole out of the card base. Clear as mud? I may have to pull out my video camera and make a video this weekend on how I did it. Anyway, I’ll get on to the specifics so you can recreate your own version if you wish.

To make this card:
Dimensions:
Crushed Curry 5 1/2 X 8 1/2 scored at 4 1/4 and scrap for scallop oval punch
Pumpkin Pie 4 X 5 1/4 and 3 1/8 X 3 3/8
Razzleberry Lemonade dsp 3 7/8 X 5 1/8 and 4 3/4 X 2 5/8
Rich Razzleberry 4 7/8 X 2 1/2 and scrap for Trio Flower punch
Whisper White 3 X 3 1/4 and 2 1/8 X 3 1/8 (for pull tab) and scrap for Large Oval punch
Melon Mambo scrap for Trio Flower punch

Steps:
1. Use scrap punched with Scallop Oval and Scallop Circle punch, a sponge and Bashful Blue classic ink to sponge clouds on Whisper White main image layer. Punch out 1 3/4″ circle near the top and use Stamp-a-ma-jig and Melon Mambo ink to stamp Sweet Centers Hot Air Balloon Basket image. Lay your main image layer on the Pumpkin Pie Mat. Place sticky note punched with 1 3/8″ circle punch in center of opening. Punch with 1 3/4″ circle punch around this sticky note. Adhere layers together.
2. Adhere Melon Mambo print from Razzleberry Lemonade dsp onto Rich Razzleberry layer. Adhere other Rich Razzleberry dsp print to Pumpkin Pie layer. Lay these out onto the card base for final placement. Do not adhere they yet.
3. Place your main image layer onto the card where it will be placed. Place sticky note onto the Melon Mambo/Rich Razzleberry layer in center of main image opening. Punch the Melon Mambo print/Rich Razzleberry layer with the 1 3/4″ circle punch.
4. Lay the Melon Mambo print/Rich Razzleberry layer onto Razzleberry Lemonade flower/Pumpkin Pie layer. Place sticky note in the center of the 1 3/4″ circle punch. Center 1 3/4″ circle punch around this sticky note and punch the flower pattern/Pumpkin Pie layer with 1 3/4″ circle punch. Keep this punch out for the next step
5. Put dotto on the back of the punch from the last step. Lay your flower pattern/Pumpkin Pie layer on Crushed Curry card base. Put the punched circle with dotto in the center of the opening. Remove the flower pattern/Pumpkin Pie layer. Use Hobby Blade and cutting mat to cut around the circle.
6. Adhere Razzleberry Lemonade flower pattern/Pumpkin Pie layer to card base. Then adhere Melon Mambo print/Rich Razzleberry layer. Tie on Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot ribbon.
7. Put dimensionals on back of main image layer, making sure they go all of the way across the bottom. Put in Sweet Treat cup and attach to card. Fill the cup with candy. Using the Whisper White pull tab layer, staple a loop of Melon Mambo ribbon to the top. Slide this behind the main image layer.
8. Stamp Pendant Park sentiment on scrap of Whisper White in Melon Mambo ink. Attach to Crushed Curry scalloped oval punch. Attach to card base with dimensionals.
9. Punch Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo with Flower Trio punch, shape with embossing stylus and use White Gel pen in the center of the flowers. Attach with mini glue dots.

I know I gave you a lot of steps this time, but the result is well worth it. I hope that you give it a try! Now hopefully I’ll catch up on my stamping. I have a few hours before Evan and I head out to story time.

All products are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased via my Demonstrator Website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Stamps: Sweet Centers #116521, Pendant Park #115456
Paper:Crushed Curry #115319, Pumpkin Pie #105117, Razzleberry Lemonade dsp #115675, Rich Razzleberry #115316, Whisper White #100730
Ink: Bashful Blue #105209, Melon Mambo #115656
Accessories:Sweet Treat Cups #116802, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon #115613, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon #115611, 1 3/4 Circle punch #112004, 1 3/8 circle punch #104401, Large Oval punch #107305, Scallop Oval punch #114889, Flower Trio Punch ##109183, Scallop Circle Punch #109043, Sponge #101610, White Gel Pen #105021, Dimensionals #104430, Dotto #103305

It’s Friday! It’s the first week that we’ve been home all week this summer and I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I am ready for the weekend to begin. I hope today is a quieter day than yesterday because Evan had a mind of his own and gave me a run for my money yesterday. I didn’t even get a chance to stamp and when I sat down I was too tired. I let the kids ride their bikes from our driveway to the neighbor’s. They then turn around and come back. I position myself where I can see both of them at all times. Evan decided he wanted to go around the block and took off. The house is wide open and Colin and I are chasing after him. He lost his bike for the rest of the day after that stunt. Then in the afternoon he wanted to put his puzzle together on the coffee table in the great room. Colin wanted to color with chalk on the driveway. They were leaving each other alone so I went back and forth between the two of them. I stepped out to check on Colin and Evan locked Colin and I out of the house. Then he couldn’t unlock the door. Luckily I had a phone with me because I couldn’t find the spare key and Roger made it almost all of the way home from work. Evan unlocked the door right before he got here so I called him and told him he could go back to work. Today I am making another copy of the key and will be giving it to one of the neighbors for instances like this.

I made this card for Cindy’s Dare to Get Dirty sketch challenge.  Since this is open to Fan Club members of SCS I am not going to post my directions and dimensions for how to make this card.  However, if you are a fan club member you can see the sketch in the challenge forum.  I used A Happy Heart, one of my favorite sets that hasn’t seen much ink lately, Great Friend and Pendant Park for the sentiment.  I again used Orchid Opulence!  It looks so pretty with the Cottage Wall designer series paper.  I paired it up with Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive.  I love this color combo!  I used my Circle Scissors to make all of the circle layers.  I only wish there was one for ovals too.

Well I hope you have a fantastic weekend.  Tomorrow we have an 8:30 am soccer game and then preschool registration for Evan right after that.  I’ll see you back here on Monday!  When school starts I’ll be back to posting everyday, but it’s nice to have the weekends off over the summer.

All products are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased via my Demonstrator Website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Stamps: A Happy Heart, Great Friend, Pendant Park
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Cottage Wall dsp, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive
Accessories: Circle Scissors, vintage brads, mat pack, pretties kit, word window punch, big shot, finial press embossing folder, eyelet border punch, dimensionals, mini glue dots, AquaPainter

I am so glad you decided to join us on this fantastic blog tour! If you arrived here from Julie Dinn’s blog you are on the right track.  If I’m your first stop just keep going, it’s a full circle.  There are 12 stops along the way, so make sure you take the time to see all of the wonderful creations the Control Freaks Swappers Group has in store for you. The creativity in this group is beyond amazing and I am so thrilled to be a part of it. This tour is focusing on new products in the 2009 – 2010 Idea Book and Catalog and is a 100% Stampin’ Up! only Blog Tour.  At the end of this post, click on the image to go to the next stop, Melanie Schulenberg’s blog.  I chose to use Pendant Park and the new Medallion Background stamp set for my three projects.

Let’s start with a clean and simple card. I used Fall to Layout #51 sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping. I paired it with the Thoroughly Modern designer series paper package. I started with a Kraft card stock base and layered it with Rose Red and the Taken with Teal pattern from Thoroughly Modern dsp. The Whisper White layer has been die cut with the Stampin’ Up! exclusive Top Note Die for the Big Shot. I added a few 5 petal flowers and some Leaves also cut out with the Big Shot.  The Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon ties it all together.

Stamps: Pendant Park
Paper: Kraft, Rose Red, Thoroughly Modern dsp, Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive, Rose Red, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, dimensionals, horizontal slot punch, Soft Suede Polka-dot ribbon,  Little Leaves sizzlet, Boho Blossoms Punch, 5 Petal Flower punch, vintage brad

A few weeks ago I’d have never reached for Orchid Opulence. It’s just not a color I use, or it wan’t until I purchased the Cottage Wall designer series paper. It’s just gorgeous paired with Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive. The Orchid Opulence layer has been run through the Big Shot with the new Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The Medallion was stamped in Rich Razzleberry on Whisper White and then layered on Orchid Opulence that was sponged with Rich Razzleberry.  This layer is set up on dimensionals.  I then made the paper flower by scoring a 1″ X 12″ strip of Cottage Wall dsp every 1/2 inch and attaching the ends together to make a circle.  It is attached with Sticky Strip.  I added a Latte button, linen thread and the Hello stamp from Pendant Park to finish off the card. The sketch for this card is Jen’s Sketch for You To Try.

Stamps: Medallion, Pendant Park
Paper: Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, Rich Razzleberry, Whipser White, Cottage Wall dsp
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, sponge, dimensionals, sticky strip, Latte Button, Linen Thread, Modern Label Punch

This last project is one of my favorites. Becky Robert’s sent me a RAK while my Dad was in the hospital. She sent me the tutorial to make this purse! I’ve been wanting to try it out and finally had a chance to sit down and make it. Thanks Becky!  This is my version of her Purse-onally Perfect Notes. I used the new Nouveau Chic designer series paper and Pendant Park to make this purse.  The colors in the designer series paper package are Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow, Basic Gray and Basic Black.  I just pulled colors from there to put this cool purse together.

Stamps: Pendant Park
Paper: Nouveau Chic dsp, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal
Ink: Sage Shadow, Basic Gray
Accessories: Circle Scissors, Sticky Strip, mini glue dots, 1 1/4″ square punch, Pretties Kit, Simple Flower Embosslit, Little Leaves sizzlet, dimensionals, wide oval punch, natural hemp twine.

I hope you have a fantastic time on this tour! Thanks so much for stopping by.  Remember that this week my family is going on vacation, so I’m taking a short hiatus from blogging.  I will be back later this week with some projects to share.

All products are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased via my Demonstrator Website: http://igotstamps.stampinup.net

Little did I know when I titled this post that this would be very appropriate for today. Yesterday was a washout with lots of rain pouring down on us, but we were rewarded with a rainbow at the end of the day, so it was worth it.   The rain allowed me to get Colin’s birthday invitations stamped and cut out.  I’ll have those ready to show you later this week.  Unfortunately I still haven’t had a chance to get started on swap cards for this weekend.  I may just have to face the fact that I may have to go empty handed, but I still have 2 days before I leave. 

This card was made using the Mojo Monday Sketch #80.  I just love Pacific Point and I used a lot of it on this card along with my favorite new stamp set Cheep Talk.  The designer series paper is from the Good Morning Sunshine package.  Unlike my cards the last two days I didn’t hold back on the layers.

Can you believe it’s April 1st?  Where did March go.  This month is a busy one with Regionals, Spring Break, Easter and 2 birthday parties for Colin.  This is the first year we are doing a party for his friends.  I can’t believe he is going to be 6 years old! 

There is a lot of new stuff to announce from Stampin’ Up! today so I will have a 2nd post with that information for you in a few minutes.  From a new mini catalog, new pop up dies, a new special there is a lot to talk about and I’m very excited about it all!

Jenn