YOU Did It!

I received this lovely card from Beth H. for my birthday yesterday! Pretty Fall colors with the Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie with just a bright and cheery touch of Rose Red. Wonderful use of the Flower Fusion felt flowers Beth! I especially like the heart-shaped brads as the flower centers. THANKS to all who sent me a birthday card - hand-made or store bought. I truly appreciate your good wishes and friendship.

Know what I got for my birthday (it was yesterday, by the way)? A Belgian Waffle Maker! Yahoooooo! I've been wanting one for these for years. The kids and I enjoyed my first ever Blegian waffles for lunch today - YUMMY! There was some left over real whipped cream from my angel food birthday cake that was perfect to top off the waffles with, mmmm - butter, real maple syrup and real whipped cream - I'm getting hungry! lol Good thing dinner is in the crock pot... ENJOY!

Altered Notebooks

I've mentioned before that my husband and I are part of the Presenting Team for Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends in our area. This weekend we will be helping to present for our third time. I like to bring a small gift for the other Team members ( 2 more couples and a Catholic priest). For this Weekend's Team, I altered some composition notebooks into dialogue books. (Dialogue is a communication technique taught on the Weekend.) They all have lighthouses on them, as this is a special symbol for Presenting Team Sacraments. Our discerning weekend utilized the image of a lighthouse to build it's concepts - basically that as a couple, our Christian Sacrament is like a lighthouse - a place where God's light shines out from as a beacon of hope and love to other married couples and priests. See the "Enjoy" stamped in the background? All my posts end with this sentiment - now you know where I got it from! :) They also have an appropriate Scripture verse stamped on the inside cover.

If you are reading this, and are a praying person, please pray for all the Sacraments (19 in all - 18 couples and 1 priest) on our Weekend, and on Weekends throughout the world - that they will allow the Holy Spirit to work through and in them and their relationship and accept the many gifts God is offering them on this Weekend. Thanks!


THIS notebook is for the Team priest, Fr. Dennis.

Stamps: A Light Unto My Path, Everyday Expressions (retired) and non-SU Marriage Encounter stamp

Cardstock: Going Gray Textured, Pacific Point, Basic Black & Naturals White

Ink: Versamark, Pacific Point

Accessories: Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch

We so enjoy getting to know the priest Team member on the Weekends we've participated in. His sharing is always amazing and inspiring, and gives good insight into the Sacrament of Holy Orders and that is lived out.


THIS notebook is one of a pair, and is for Ralph and Julie.

We met Ralph & Julie in October at a WWME Marriage Enrichment conference. We are looking forward to getting to know them through their Weekend talks also. They are not from our general area, rather they are from a bit farther south in Illinois. Hope they like their dialogue books!

Stamps: Coast to Coast & Everyday Expressions (both retired); non-SU WWME stamp

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron & Confetti Cream

Ink: Chocolate Chip & Versamark

Accessories: Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Ticket Corner Punch, 1/16" Hand Punch, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Brads (retired)


THIS notebook, also one of a pair, is for Garry & Arla.
We've known Garry & Arla for quite awhile now, first meeting them at a WWME Family Camp Out we attended while pregnant with our first child. Garry & Arla borrowed us a bowl and spatula so we could make our pancake breakfast! lol (Always forget *something* when camping!) They also presented on our second WWME Weekend in 2007, AND workshopped us as we wrote our first set of talks. They are a beautiful and inspirational Sacrament!
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment & Sweet Sampler, Coast to Coast & Everyday Expressions(both retired), non-SU! WWME stamp
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Handsome Hunter, Not Quite Navy & Whisper White
Ink: Versamark and Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Word Window Punch & Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. ENJOY!

YOU Did It! - Thanksgiving Turkey Card

This ADORABLE Turkey, bearing the "Eat Ham" picket sign, brought giggles and smiles to me and the kids when we received it the other day. StampinJewel Beth H. designed this card. THANKS Beth!

[Side note: WE had some turkey bacon for lunch today - and there was an image of a pig with a sign that said "Eat More Turkey" - the kids thought that was hilarious!]

Cardstock: Kraft, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip & Basic Black
Accessories: Scallop Circle, Slit & Word Window Punches, retired Spring Flower Bouquet Punch, googlie eyes.

ENJOY!

Star Studded Triptych Kings - Part 2

I love the images in the SU! Holy Triptych set (remember last year's Holy Triptych triptych card?) And why do I call it Part 2? Well, because this is the card I made for my folks last year(click here to see it), and liked it so much that I made a few slight changes for us this year!

I water-colored the kings, using the Aquapainter and the Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I colored directly onto the Naturals White card stock, then swabbed over the color to "melt" it and spread it around. I found that doing it this way provided a deeper, richer color, while maintaining the watercolor style I wanted. (I used straight marker coloring on my folks cards last year.


Here is a view from a looking down angle. I wanted to show you the z-fold of the card. The card is still 5 1/2" across, then you score the top fold at 2 3/4" and fold it back.

I like the ease of layering colors with this fold. Normally, a z-fold card doesn't have something to 'tuck the fold under', but I added the tuck under star seeing as it is the Three Wisemen. :)

One of my other favorite parts of this design is the starry night sky, created by clear embossing the stars on the dark card stock color.

Here is a close-up view of the water coloring, as well as the gifts the wisemen are carrying. I used the Atyou Spica Glitter Pens in Sky Blue, Gold & Olive. I am hoping this macro view (my first attempt on my camera for trying this!) shows you the pretty glittery effect of the Spica Glitter Pens - they are simply gorgeous!! And went perfectly with my Brushed Gold Large Star punch, and the gold embossed sentiment.

BTW - Spica Glitter Pens are ON SALE over at CreativePlayStamps - tell them StampinJewels sent you!

Stamps: Holy Triptych(current), Background Basics & Star Studded Season (both retired)
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Sage Shadow, Brushed Gold & Naturals White
Ink: Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Large Star Punch, Gold & Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals(two full ones under each star), Aquapainter, Watercolor Wonder Crayons (in night of navy, brocade blue, more mustard, so saffron, handsome hunter & sage shadow)
ENJOY!

Kreativ Blogger Award!!

I felt honored when my friend and fellow SU! demo Dianne S. picked me to pass on this Kreativ Blogger Award. Please go check her out (just click on here name above) and leave her some bloggy warm fuzzies. THANKS Dianne!

I enjoy blogging (and blog surfing!), but there are days when I wonder if anyone is visiting and gaining inspiration. There are so many blogs to visit, each with a unique and inspirational style. We all have our favorites that we visit regularly though. My list of favorites is too long! So here's how this works:

1. The nominee may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs. (Heck with it - I'm changing this a bit - nominate a couple more if you like!)

4. Put links to their blogs

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I truly enjoy papercrafting blogs that are written on the personal level as I find it really connects us to each other by giving us something we can identify with in other people. This in turn tends to motivate me in my own endeavors at all levels. These blogs fit my description so well - as do many others of my favs, but I don't like to outside ther "rules" too much, only a little - enough to "make it my own" just like how I CASE designs. ;)

1.) Paula S. - Capricious Creations

2.) Jill C. - Stamping in His Name

3.) Gina K. - A Day in the Life

4.) Taylor V. - Taylored Expressions

5.) Carla M. - Paper Pastorale

6.) Maxene C. - My PaperArts and Digital Creations

7.) Angel W. - Angelosity

8.) Lori C. - Make a Difference

Please visit these blogs and you'll soon see what I mean! ENJOY!

Country Living Holiday Collection & Stamp Kit

Country Living and Stampin' Up! have teamed up again this year to offer you a fabulous Holiday Kit. The Kit will be featured in an eight page spread in the December issue of Country Living magazine. However, you can get a head start now on creating your keepsakes. Stampin' Up! is offering the kit to its customers now so you may get a head start. Keep reading this article. At the end you will find a wonderful promotion from Country Living.

NEW! Stampin' Up! Country Living Holiday Kit

Create beautiful handcrafted ornaments and decorations with your family and friends this holiday season with the Country Living Holiday Stamp Kit (Item #114447, $49.95)--available only while supplies last. At this busy time of year, this kit offers a convenient way to create simple and elegant ornaments to brighten your home or share as hand-crafted gifts.

CLICK HERE to Order Online NOW

The Holiday Collection Stampin' Kit (Item #114447, $49.95) includes the following products:

--Holiday Collection stamp set (six stamps)
--4) 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut chipboard
--8) 12" x 12" sheets of die-cut Designer Series paper (2 ea. of 4 double-sided designs)
--4) 12" x 12" sheets of Designer Series paper (2 ea. of 2 double-sided designs)
--2) 12" x 12" sheets of Whisper White card stock
--25 yds. Silver Metallic cord
--10 yds. 3/8" Whisper White taffeta ribbon
--Pretties Kit brads
--(20)Stampin' Dimensionals
--Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (1/2 oz.)
--Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive
--Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin' Spot
--Old Olive Craft Stampin' Spot
--Uninked Stampin' Spot
--Whisper White Craft Ink refill

Click here to subscribe to Country Living for 75% off what others pay on the newsstand — 12 issues for just $12.00 — that's like getting 9 issues FREE! Plus you'll receive the exclusive Stampin' Up! Note Card Kit FREE with your paid order! ENJOY!

Stampin' Philosophy - Envelopes

Warning: Stamping Philosophocal Discussion in this paragraph! :)
You can get nice quality #10 envelopes from office supply stores (business stationery section) and print shops - I mean, why get a cheapie envelope for your gorgeous card? The envelope is the first thing your recipient sees. I can't stand the thought of someone pre-judging what's inside as cheapie just becuase I skimped on the envelopes. It's like getting the cheapest wedding invitation you can to "save money", then spending gobs on the reception. The guest sees the inexpensive looking invite first, and bases his/her judgment on what kind of gift to bring on this info. How could they know the wedding and reception would be lavish by a cheapie invitation? Yes - I know this is judging a book by it's cover - and NO I am not for that. I do, however, believe that some things are a fact of our humanity whether they "should" be that way or not. Last example - when you see someone with longer, unkempt hair and clothes is your first reaction one of respect "Look at the beautiful image of God this person is!" OR if we're honest, slightly disrespectful: "Why doesn't this person care more about themselves? Geesh!"
Okay -enough of Jule's Stampin' Philosophy! lol Thanks for bearing with me. I realize a nice card is way more important than a nice envelope. To me, it's just that little extra finishing step that I try to do the majority of the time. ENJOY!

Christ Is Born Card

For the past couple of years, my parents have received an "early" Christmas present - their Christmas cards made by me. Mom & I both use religious designs over all. Click HERE to see last year's design for them.

This design was inspired by the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog page 43 - the sample shown for the Christ is Born set. I wanted a larger size, so I expanded the proportions from fitting into an SU! small open-ended envelope to fitting into a #10 business letter sized envelope.

My mom wasn't too keen on the Kraft cardstock look of the example in the book. It asn't festive enough for her tastes. So I replaced the Kraft with Certainly Celery. Then I replaced the Handsome Hunter underlayer of Whisper White with Real Red. I added some poinsettias stamped in Versamark to the Certainly Celery on the left side for a subtle space filler. The main poinsettia image is stamped in Real Red Craft Ink, then quickly covered with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. Mom LOVES sparkle! This was her idea to add to the design.

I also replaced the sentiment on the outside of the card, on the 5/8" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon. It made more sense to me to use the Scripture verse that is part of the stamp on the front of the card. The poinsettia and the Scripture verse are both raised up on dimensionals. Lastly - to save on ribbon AND increase the ease of assembly, I adhered a length of ribbon first, then adhered a separate 'knot bow' with a mini glue dot. There is paper piercing along the top edge of the Handsome Hunter layer. The leaves are the poinsettia image stamped in Handsome Hunter on the same, then individually cut out.

Stamps: Christ is Born
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Real Red, Handsome Hunter & Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Handsome Hunter Classic & Real Red Craft
Accessories: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, White Embossiong Powder, Heat Tool, Crafters Tool Kit, Dimensionals & Mini Glue Dots.
ENJOY!

Just So Sporty Hoodie Card

I WON this fabulous stamp set called Just So Sporty, from the GinaK Designs Land Cruise Party over in the GinaK forum on SCS!! I was so excited to win something (doesn't happen very often - lol) And I've been wanting to play with the set since I received it. My first ideas were to make cards for my family (something else that doesn't happen very often! - not so funny, huh?), for my hubby and for our two oldest kids who are involved in ballet and soccer. So this first design is for my hubby, to let him know what a good job he did coaching our son's AYSO soccer team again this past season.

What motivated me to finally sit down and create this card? Remember the Paper Craft Planet post from the other day? Besides starting two of my own groups - I also joined the GinaK Designs PCP Group. I saw this challenge and decided today was the day! :) Check it out and get stamping/uploading - maybe you could be the next winner!

Stamps: Just So Sporty (GinaK Designs); God Bless (retired SU!)
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Night of Navy and Prestwick DSP(this DSP is gorgeous and perfect for masculine cards) (all SU!)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (from CPS), Night of Navy and Versamark (both from SU!)
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool and Hobby Blade (all SU!)
ENJOY!

Home for Christmas - Part 2

Here's another design using the wonderful Home for Christmas stamp set (in the 2008 Holiday Mini). I was going to leave the base layer as the Creamy Caramel and it would look great that way too. I was looking for a bit more POP, and the adding the Riding Hood Red as the bottom layer achieved my goal. A Blender Pen and ink pads were used to color in the image.

TIP: When you feel like the card designs you are working on needs just that little extra something - try adding a bottom layer of color. In this example, I chose the Riding Hood Red because it tied in the hints of red amongst the browns and green.

Notice the top, right corner? Those are "faux brads" - created using the 1/8" Circle Hand Punch, Two Way Glue and Crystal Effects. I punched out 3 tiny circles, glues them into the corner, then applied Crystal Effects for the 'gloss' most brads have. A perfect red accent for color balance.

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Handsome Hunter, Creamy Caramel, Confetti Cream
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Handsome Hunter, Riding Hood Red & Summer Sun
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Sponge
ENJOY!

Home for Christmas

I've got a couple more designs for you all using the Home for Christmas stamp set in the current SU! Holiday Mini catalog. I used it for the Chat & Challenge #142 post using SU! Double Sided Paper (DSP). This design uses a different DSP, but only a small portion shows, just enough to add a dash of fun to the design, but not overbear the Riding Hood Red & Chocolate Chip color scheme. The watercoloring was done using the Blender Pen and Classic Ink Pads.

To plan and order your Christmas Card design supplies, contact me, o rplace your order online HERE.

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream & Washington Apple DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red & So Saffron
Accessories: Blender Pen, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon & Dimensionals
ENJOY!

Paper Craft Planet - New Groups!

Have you heard of Paper Craft Planet yet? I recently did - and now we have a FUN place to meet, chat and share our creations with all the wonderful product from Stampin' up! and CreativePlayStamps.

First - join Paper Craft Planet here.

Then join the StampinJewels PCP Group HERE.

And the CPS Group - HERE.

After that - please share your creations, comments and ideas!

Feel free to list me as a Friend!

ENJOY!

Chat & Challenge 142

It's been quite awhile since I hosted a Chat & Challenge over at Sudsol with my fellow demonstrators. Too long, in fact! The sketch came from Taylor VanBruggen over at Taylored Expressions. Every Friday she does a Cupcake Challenge and posts a sketch to play with over the weekend. I enjoy browsing Taylor's blog - she is a talented stamper for sure. She is also one of the original Scripture Chicks - which reminds, me, I've got TWO bookmarks to make - October and now November!

We had fun with her sketch last night at Chat & Challenge.

So here's my design - actually done this evening. I was chatting too much - go figure! ;)

Stamps: Home for Christmas (Holiday Mini)
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Certainly Celery, Naturals White & Banbury DSP
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Handsome Hunter & Black StazOn
Accessories: Blender Pen, Corner Rounder and Wide Oval Punches, Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brads, Crafters Tool Kit, Dimensionals & Stampin' Sponge.
ENJOY!