bee mine ~ so cute!!!

At our team meeting (Southern Stars) on Saturday afternoon we did two projects.  This fun card was created by Marion Swaim who taught all of us how to pop up the second bee!

Susan Tran sent me this card last week.  She used the Deckled Circles Dies (162286).

Debra Tack, a Stampin' Up! friend in the state of Washington sent me this cute bee card!  I think everyone is really enjoying these cute bees!  Happy Valentine's Day!

 

December Stamp Clubs

My last December Stamp Club was last night and we had such a good time ~ along with persimmon cookies and presents!  One of our projects was the card below created with the CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE stamp set (#165131, ONLINE EXCLUSIVE).

The second project was using the stamp set FRAGRANT FOREST from the Mini Catalog (162108).  This stamp set is one you can use during the holiday but, really, all year long.  I had an option available in class to create a sympathy card.  It is a large background stamp.  When you use it turn it over so the rubber side is up and ink the entire stamp.  Carefully put your cardstock on top.  Layer a piece of scrap over the entire stamp and rub gently with your hands to get complete coverage.  Use your REVERSE TWEEZERS (Embossing Additions Tool Kit, page 136 AC) to pick up the cardstock ~ you will LOVE the results!  This stamp set is AMAZING!

Winter Owls Bundle 2

You can find this Bundle (stamp set and dies) on page 26 in the September 2023 Mini Catalog.  It is not on the CARRYOVER LIST for Stampin' Up! and will retire at the end of the month.  

Winter Owls Bundle

 

Besides the fact that I have liked owls for a long time, I think that one of the reasons that I am attracted to the Winter Owl bundle is that one of the sentiments makes so much sense to me. “May you have time to enjoy the quiet moments of this season” is so important to our own happiness and health and so difficult to achieve during the holidays. I have used the set in a number of ways and this, along with the supplies and instructions, can easily be adapted to the other samples (tomorrow's post). May you enjoy some quiet moments during the holidays. Stampin’ Up! Supplies: Stamps – Winter Owls Bundle (162157), page 26 September 2023 Mini Catalog Cardstock – Very Vanilla (101650), Blackberry Bliss (133675 Ink – Memento Black Pad (132708) Designer Series Paper – All About Autumn 6” x 6” Specialty DSP (162178) Misc. – Aspen Tree Die (159798), Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine (149653), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Adhesive Sheets (152334), Natural Tones Stampin’ Blends – Medium Light (159463) and Medium (159462), Daffodil Delight Blends (154883) Cutting & Scoring: Very Vanilla – 5 ½” x 8 ½”, score at 4 ¼” and 1 ½” x 2” for the owl DSP 1 – 4” x 5 ¼” (tree photograph) DSP 2 – 4” x 5 ¼” (copper foil design) Blackberry Bliss – 1 ½” x 4” Adhesive Sheet – 1 ½” x 2” Instructions: 1. Adhere DSP 1 to the base card. Die cut DSP 2 and adhere over the base card. 2. Die cut the tree limb in Blackberry Bliss, adhere over the Aspen Tree die cut. 3. Stamp the smallest owl and color using the Natural Tones Blends. Circle the eyes with the Light Daffodil Delight Blend. Adhere to the Adhesive Sheet and die cut. Adhere over the tree limb.

New Year's Glow

 

Brightest Glow New Year’s Card When you ring in the new year with friends and family why not add to the festivities by giving everyone a gorgeous New Year’s card. Use the Shining Brightly Specialty DSP ( no longer available ~ sold out, unfortunately but I am sure you can find a substitute) and the glamorous glittered ribbon to create an elegant card that is fun, and easy,  to create.  The stamp set is BRIGHTEST GLOW on page 42 in the annual catalog, a very nice all sentiment set for this time of year.  This card idea is simple and quick to make: die-cut, layer, add a stunning bow, and you are done! Here’s how to make this card.  Supplies: · Stamp Sets – Brightest Glow (159542) · Cardstock – Very Vanilla (106550); Night of Navy (106577) · Stamp Pad – Night of Navy (147110) · Misc. –Shining Brightly Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) (162378); Deckled Circles Dies (162286); Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Night of Navy & Gold ½” Glittered Ribbon (162011); Tear & Tape Adhesive (154031); Mini Glue Dots (103683); Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (149653) Measurements: · Very Vanilla: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”; 2” square · Night of Navy: 4 1/8” x 5 3/8” · Shining Brightly: 4” x 5 ¼”; 2 ¼” square Instructions: 1. Fold Very Vanilla cardstock in half and crease to create card base. 2. Adhere Shining Brightly layer to Night of Navy layer using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 3. Wrap Night of Navy & Gold Glittered Ribbon across front of Night of Navy layer and attach to back using Tear & Tape Adhesive. 4. Ink phrase using Night of Navy ink and stamp onto Very Vanilla square. Die-cut using Deckled Circle Die. Die-cut Shining Brightly square and Night of Navy square Deckled Circle dies. Adhere all circles together using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 5. Adhere phrase layer to card front using Dimensionals. 6. To complete card attach Night of Navy & Gold Glittered Ribbon bow to card front using Mini Glue Dots.

Beary Cute Open Book Card

 

Supplies: Stamp: Beary Cute (162016) Ink: Pretty Peacock (150083) Paper: Thick Basic White (159229) 5 ½ X 8 ½ sc 4 ¼, Basic White CS (159276) (2) 3/8 X 3 ¼, Pretty Peacock (150880) 8 X 5, 4 X 5 ¼, A Walk In The Forest DSP (162377) 3 ¾ X 5. Tools & Accessories: Paper Trimmer (152392), Paper Snips (103579), Multipurpose Glue (110755), Seal (152813), Silicone Craft Sheet (127853), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Adhesive Backed Glitter Sequins (162029), Stylish Shape Dies (159183). Instructions: 1. Cut Basic White 5 ½ X 8 ½ score 4 ¼, 2 pieces 2 3/8 X 3 ¼ for inside pages. Internal Book Panel 2. Cut Pretty Peacock CS to 8 X 5 score on the long side at ½, 4 and 7 ½. 3. Turn and cut at ¾ from each edge between the ½” and 7 ½” score lines. Do this on both long sides. This is the central “book” part and “frame” part. 4. On the frame, score on the long edge at 3 & 5 both top and bottom. 5. On the book, score 1 ¼ and 6 ¾. To Assemble: 1. On the two small Basic White pieces, stamp sentiment, bears, and snowflakes. Stamp off on a few of the snowflakes. Adhere to the inside pages using your adhesive. 2. Gently squeeze the central frame piece inwards to form a mountain-the central book part goes back to form a valley. The edges of the book should come forward. 3. Lay the Central frame onto the Thick Basic White card base leaving approximately ½” gap from each side. 4. Only add adhesive to the edges of the frame-not the book or the central mountain of the frame. Either fold the card base to attach or manually adhere to make sure you have your ½” gap for the sides. 5. See video if this doesn’t make sense. 6. Decorate the front of the card by attaching the DSP to the Pretty Peacock and then attaching it to the card base. 7. Stamp the sitting bear using Pretty Peacock on a scrap of Basic White and fussy cut using your Paper Snips. Add Dimensionals and place towards bottom left corner. 8. Cut a banner from the Stylish Shapes on to Basic White. 9. Using Pretty Peacock only ink the “Merry” and stamp on banner top left. Clean and ink the word “Christmas” and stamp below the word Merry. 10. Add Dimensionals and place towards top right of card. 11. Decorate by adding a few of the Glitter Sequins.

STARS AT NIGHT

GUEST ARTIST:  JULIA HITE

Julia created this beautiful card using the bundle on page 17 in the Mini Catalog.  The bundle includes the stamp set, the dies and a hybrid embossing folder.  The star is 3-D with a rhinestone in the center (#144220).  Julia ~ just lovely!!!  Thank you.

Stars at Night 14 dies

 

A Captain Clark Surprise ~ Who knew???

As you all know Alan and I have three persimmon trees in our backyard.  My sister, Sarah, was with us at Thanksgiving and I sent a basket of persimmons home with her.  She lives on the intracoastal waterway in Coinjock and had a friend stop by on his boat recently ~ on his way to Florida.  She gave Captain Clark several persimmons to take with him.  This is a picture of his creative dinner with those yummy fruits!

He texted Sarah "I am going to try something new to me!  We are baking 2 chicken thighs with assorted vegetables, so I quartered one of the persimmons to put in with everything.  Mushrooms, onion, garlic, rosemary, peppers, tomatoes, chicken and the star ~ Persimmons!"

And, from Captain Clark after eating ~ "The persimmons are absolutely spectacular!  Soft and delicious!  You must try this dish!  But keep it a secret!  Otherwise everyone will know and Persimmons will be hard to get!  Haha!"

Addressing those handmade Christmas cards?

It was a dark night.....

Just as I was about to post this picture of the last card that we created in our Thursday Christmas Card Class the LIGHTS WENT OUT!  TOTALLY!  No electricity from 5:30 last night to 11:30!  It seems there was a two car accident on Azalea Garden Road and one of the cars took down a telephone pole.  I am just glad I wasn't in the middle of baking a cake!

This card uses retired (!) designer series paper, gold foil and the dies from the JOY OF NOEL bundle on page 28 in the Mini ~ part of the JOY OF CHRISTMAS SUITE.