All You Need is....Amour!

Hello!

Just a quick post today before I head upstairs to get ready for school (there's a phrase I never thought I'd be using again!). This week was supposed to be pretty stressful, originally I had 4 things due (2 presentations and 2 tests, all worth huge marks!) but the one presentation was moved to next Tuesday, the other to Monday, which leaves me with two tests. One is on Friday, and the other was yesterday morning-what a great way to start the week! My entire weekend was spent fighting a cold, taking care of my girls (DH was away until Sunday, so I was flying solo for most of it) and trying to study for a test that covered so much material there was no way I could cram it all into my noggin' in a weekend. So yesterday morning I was a little nervous about how I was going to do. I think, in the end, that I did ok. We'll have to wait and see for the mark, but I felt ok coming out of it. Let's hope I do as well (or better!) with Friday's test!

But about the card for today...

This card was a straight case. Of course, I made it so long ago, I can't tell you whose it was. ( If you know, or if it's yours, drop a comment) I liked that this was a different way to use this stamp-most of the time you see it horizontally. I always like to see how people use stamps in a way that most of us don't think to use it (ok, that I don't think to use it! LOL) and this was one of those times. It used some of the new dsp (blueberry crisp? or am I just hungry?) which I was itching to use, and of course, you throw in a little bling, and I'm all over it! LOL

Ok, now I really have to go, have a great day!

Donna

Because I Care...

Hello!

Here is another one of those cards that I liked so much in one colour that I made it in another colour. Mostly because I started using the new In Colour called Pear Pizzazz, and because I bought the In Colour kit, I only had a few sheets of it in the sampler paper pack. So I made a few of these, then switched over to Pacific Point for a more monochromatic look. The dsp on the Pacific Point card is new as well (and of course I can't remember what it's called!). Oh look! I happen to have a catalogue here-let me see...oh there it is, and it's called Blueberry Crisp-so not what I thought it was called, good thing I didn't guess! LOL

Don't these two colours look great together? I think this new Pear Pizzazz goes with everything!

As you know, I've been in school for about a month now. It hasn't been too bad so far, but the homework/test stress vs housework stress can drive a woman to drink! LOL I've been doing ok, but this is only the first term-I've heard that the second term is "tough". And I'm pretty sure it keeps getting harder until the day I finish. August 21st. Yikes. I guess I should just soak up all this "easy" that's happening right now, and enjoy it while it lasts!

Fortunately for me, and a select few, it's that time of year! That's right! Jactopia is right around the corner! Oooh I can hardly wait! In just 13 more sleeps, I'll be headed to Jacqui's house and stampin' to my heart's content, and I am one excited girl! The week leading up to Jactopia is going to be stressful, so it's nice that I have the weekend to look forward to, and to keep me going. I can hardly wait, I seriously miss stamping. I have to get crackin' on my Christmas things, or I won't have any time to get it done. Jactopia is timed perfectly for getting started!

Well, I'm off. I think I hear my girls squabbling downstairs, and I have to get ready for this weekend. It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, so to all my Canadian friends, Happy Turkey Day!

Donna

Hello and Happy Monday!

Hello! Just a quick post tonight as my eyes are starting to burn-I need some sleep!

This card of one of several that I made using this non-SU paper. I have pictures of cards made with the flip side of it, too. I'll have to post one for you soon. I liked this paper a lot! And who doesn't need a card that 's good for men and women? I know I do!

The candles were made with paper that I believe was about 3/4" thick. Then I ran them through the crimper on an angle. The flames were made from the punch with the bird and the branch. I can't remember the name of it-I'm too tired! LOL I then covered the wing/flame with two-way glue and stuck them into Dazzling Diamonds, one half at a time. I raised the flames on Stampin Dimensionals, as well as the Happy Birthday.

Neat idea for the bird's wing, don't you think? I didn't think this up myself (I'll bet you knew that was coming! LOL). I had told my friend Kim about how I'd seen the wing used as a flame, she came up with the card, and I cased it. And now you can case me-isn't it fun how it works? ;)

Ok, I have to go. I am one pooped little girl. Have a great night, and I'll try to come back soon!

Have a great week!

Donna

Hello Stranger!

First of all, I'd just like to apologize for being out of commission so long-I'm sorry! But I think I have a decent excuse. Are ya ready to hear it? I, being a glutton for punishment, have decided to go back to school. (I know it's crazy, and there are 25 other people in my course who are just as "crazy" as I am-LOL No, seriously, they're all very nice peeps!) I am taking paralegal studies, because I find law interesting. Going into it, I find that although I knew I didn't have the best knowledge of law, in all reality, I had no clue compared to what I'll know by the time I'm finished with the course (knock wood). Wow, there's a lot of stuff! LOL And today I have a presentation and my first quiz, so they will be a good indication as to how my ol' brain is doing, jamming all that information into it! Let's hope I don't crack! LOL

In keeping with my news, I thought it only appropriate to post this card, given the sentiment on it seems to apply to me today. My dream for today is to not only survive another day at school, but to do well in both my presentation as well as my quiz. Wish me luck!

The flowers on this card are pretty simple to make. For the larger flower, I used the new large (or is it extra large?) punch flower. I believe I punched out five of them. Then you (or more specifically, I) have to clear a space on your stamping table, lay them out and spray them with water. You'll want to use a fine mist sprayer (did you know they sell those specifically for stamping?). Once they're damp enough to become pliable, then you crumple them up, smooth them out, punch a hole in the center, put a brad in the hole, and then work them by crumpling and/or un-crumpling (is that a word?) until you get the look you want.

These are a slight variation on the flowers I made for my Matchbox Drawers (see here) but there are more flower layers here, and the center is paper, not corduroy brad. The smaller flowers can be made with a smaller punch (ie scallop circle) or one of the dies that SU offers (I think mine is called flower fusion?). One word of note: if you use designer paper to make your flowers (so pretty!) you don't need to spray with water. See how easy that is?

Well, I'm off to study. (gulp!) I will be back again with another card soon. And hopefully the news that I did ok on my quiz and presentation! Bye for now!

Donna

Happy Friday!

Hello and Happy Friday!
For today's post, I had to dig into the archives, as I haven't found the time yet to take pictures of new stuff. I'll be away next week, and I still haven't had any success post dating an entry, so hopefully I can tap into the internet while I'm away. When I get back, I will be meeting with my stampin girls, so I will definitely have a lot of new things to show you!
Last year at about this time, we had Jenntopia. If you forgt what that is, just click here and here for a little reminder. Jenn had flown in from out west, and we met at her mom's house and took it over for the weekend. We stamped until the wee hours of the morning and had a blast. This year, we'll be at our friend Kim's, and I can hardly wait! So I guess I'd better hurry up and show you the "old" projects before the new ones!
Anyway, this picture is of a box that opens from the top-the part with the ribbon and scalloped edge lifts up- and inside are two compartments for cards. I only have time to show you the outside right now, but I will show you more when I can.
In the meantime, have a great weekend!
Donna

Candy Bouquet

Hi there! I was looking through my picture files yesterday when I came across a couple of projects that I hadn't shown you yet, which is great news for me since I need to take pictures of what I have been creating lately. I'm a bit behind in my photography, but I'll work on it soon, honest!

I first saw the idea for this bouquet on a blog called "Create with Jane" last year. Hers was much bigger and it was gorgeous, I knew at some point I would be trying it. I ended up making it for the secretaries at my girls' school and for my youngest girl's teacher for the end-of-the-year gifts. I used up a lot of scrap paper making these daisies in different bright colours-it was awesome! The pipe cleaners I used for the stems were found at the local dollar store, and I twisted two colours together to make them stronger and more colourful. Of course, me being me, I had to match at least one pipe cleaner colour to one flower colour, and then tried to choose the candy that would match those colours best. No, I don't have issues, why do you ask? LOL

To put them together, I put together the daisies first. The daisies die from Stampin Up creates a hole in the centre of the flowers, so I would put the pipe cleaner through the hole from the back of the flower and then fold over about half an inch of the pipe cleaner, then tape/stick it in place. Then I stuck the kisses to both the pipe cleaner and what was left of the center of the flower. I learned the hard way that if you use the caramel kisses, don't push too hard on it to stick it down, because it'll leak!

The Lindt chocolates and the Werther's, because they had the extra wrap on the ends, were held in place by twisting one end into the pipe cleaner and then putting it through the hole, and then glueing it in place so it wouldn't droop.

The ribbon was the final touch. I just lightly curled it and tossed it over the top of the bouquet, working some of it through the flowers so it wouldn't fall off.

It was pretty simple, but if you want to make this, you have to start in advance. The flowers take a while to put together, you definitely shouldn't wait until the night before!

All in all, it makes a really bright and cheerful gift!

Have a great day!

Donna

A+ Bookworm

This past year, I volunteered at my girls' school with the reading program. I spent Friday mornings reading with 5 students (the same ones every week), and over the course of the year, I got to know them. I was very fortunate to have great kids who were sweet, and I was sad to say goodbye to them at the end of the year. I gave them each a book to read over the summer, and this card to go with it. I loved the idea of giving them a card that said "bookworm" on it, and I explained what it meant, and that they could each consider themselves a bookworm, since each of them had advanced their reading by several levels. It was great to see their faces light up when I explained the bookworm idea to them. Isn't it great that a little card like this could bring so much happiness? Making cards seems so worthwhile when they have a happy ending like that, doesn't it?

Have a great day!

Little Birdie on My Easel

Something wonky is going on with my Blogger. Instead of pictures, all I see is a bunch of computer "talk", and I can't choose my font. I can spell check though, which I don't really use. (watch, now I'll make spelling mistakes everywhere, just because I said that! LOL) Hmmm...I sure hope this is temporary.
Anyhoo, I wanted to post this picture of my little birdie easel card. I used the Friends 24-7 set for the bird and the background. If you look at the band across the bottom of the picture, it looks like a piece of paper that is folded accordian-style. But look closely:



Isn't that neat?! It's actually little mini tiles, that I painstakingly sorted out by colour and then put one grey, one black, etc until I reached the other side. Neat effect, eh?
I love the colour combo for this card. I think black looks great with most colours, and when you use Olive, which is a bit darker, using white as well just makes it pop! I left the bottom empty so I can use the card for whatever occasion I may need it for. I will probably find a sentiment that will fit in an oval punch and then mat it with the scalloped oval and center it on the bottom piece.
Are you watching The Bachelorette? I can hardly wait to see what Frank tells her in Tahiti (or is it Fiji? Somewhere dreamy and warm, anyway) next week. And how disappointed am I in the Canadian guys they had on the show this year? Geesh, talk about bad representation! The first one was a bully with a I'm-a-hot-guy complex, and the second guy was on the show to advance his career. Jeepers, are these the best Canadian men they can find? I could find them better, if they're interested! LOL
Have a great week! I'll be back with some more stuff later this week!
Donna

Happy Birthday Season

When I was young and still living at home with my parents, the birthdays we celebrated were concentrated in the spring and summer. We started with Mother's Day, and then we had almost all the family birthdays (both grandmothers, aunt, cousins, uncles etc) and come September 4th, my sister's birthday marked, for the most part, the end of the birthday celebrations. Now, my sister, cousins and I have children and I have my husband's family to add to our birthday collection. My birthdays start in February and don't end until the end of the year! If I'd have been a stamper as a child, I would have only needed birthday cards for 4 months! But now, I have to make sure that I constantly have plenty of cards all the time! Yikes! There has been more than once, where I've had to dive into my stash to pull out a birthday card on a moment's notice (ok, some of that is mommy brain where I forget to make one in advance!) and been grateful to have a choice of cards from which to choose!

So, when I make a birthday card I like, I will often make more than one and in different colours, just in case family members are comparing! LOL This card, was no exception!

I loved the olive with black, and was fortunate to have some black bling to throw on the flowers:

Here it is in Pretty in Pink and Olive:



The dsp is Cottage Wall, in case you didn't recognize it. The polka dot was definitely not the side I saw first because there were so many pretty, fancy sides in the collection. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from a Sale-a-bration set that I am now kicking myself for not having ordered it when I had the chance! I love the swirly-fancy part, and the simple part that offsets it. It's perfect for a semi-fancy card!
Have a great day!
Donna

Birthday Hugs

Hello! Happy Friday! I thought I would give the lunchbox love notes a break, and show you a regular birthday card today. This one uses the Parisian Breeze dsp, the same dsp I used on one of my lunchbox lovenotes in an earlier post. My friend Tami and I saw this card somewhere and decided to case it. It uses Baja Breeze and Pacific Point paper, which were once In Colours, but as of yesterday, are a part of the regular colour collection! I am pretty happy about it, because as you can see, these two colours look great together! Not bad, considering this card is covered with hearts, that the main colours are blue and brown!
This picture shows the pretty bling at the bottom of the card...the jewels are all the same colour, but it's neat how they each look a different colour in this picture.

This picture is supposed to show you how some of the hearts are popped up for more interest.

The card itself was simple enough to make, but cutting out the hearts was a bit of work, I'm not much of a cutter...unlike some people (Hi Jacqui! yes I mean you! LOL)...

Well, I'm outta here! DH and I are going out to a restaurant to celebrate our anniversary, and then we are going to watch Eclipse! Ooooh, I can hardly wait! Whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope you have fun too! Come back soon!

Donna