Friday, September 26, 2008

Mom's Daisy

Here is the card I will be sending my Mom to thank her for accepting the vocation to care for her mom, my Grandma. Click HERE for my original post about my Grandma, Alzheimers and the Heart to Heart Blog Candy.

A BIG Thanks to Carolyn King, not only for the awesome blog candy opportunity, but more importantly for the gentle reminder that we should never assume the people who inspire us in anyway already know they are an inspiration. Just like saying "I Love You" to spouse and kids, or giving hugs - we need to find a way to demonstrate our gratitude every day. What better way than by using our love for papercrafting as our starting point? THANKS again to the myriad individuals and companies who sponsored the Heart to Heart Blog Candy.

REMEMBER - YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEET THE BLOG CANDY DEADLINE TO SEND YOUR CARD! Please just do it as soon as you can - and maybe think about doing some Fall or Thanksgiving cards this year for other service providers you admire. THANKS!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red & Versamark
Accessories: Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots; Non-SU! Marvy Giga Scallop Oval Punch
ENJOY!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

A Batty Bouquet (Tutorial Included)

If you've been following along with the StampinJewels Blog this month, you have noticed I've been in a Halloween mood. Click on the 'Halloween" Label to easily find the other Halloween projects - (Frankie and His Bride are especially cute!) Better yet - subscribe to this blog and you won't miss any posts! :) Though I like the cutesy Halloween decor (can't stand the ugly, macabre stuff), I don't usually do much for Halloween. I've been having fun with my Halloween mood and my latest fun is this adorable little Batty For You Bouquet! Wouldn't this look cute as a table centerpiece? Or on a teacher's desk? Or on your spouse's, a co-worker's or your own desk? The best thing is how simple it is to make! Just a few punches, some lollipop sticks and some of the awesome SU! punches - Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle. I bought a small, square candle holder for $0.97 from Wal-Mart. I had some styrofoam cones on hand - so rubbed that with a black ink pad to reduce the white glare from the inside. You'll also need a bag of fun size Peppermint Patties.
Here's a brief tutorial...

Grass: Use a strip of Kiwi Kiss CS and run it through the SU! Crimper, then cut it into narrow strips. Fold the crimped strips in half at a slight angle and stick them loosely in with the styrofoam base to create the "grass".
Flowers: Stamp your chosen images from the Batty for You Stamp Set - then punch them out using the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. Use the 1 3/8" Circle Punch to punch out your choice of coordinating background layer. Punch TWO Scallop Circles for each flower. Adhere all layers of the front of the "flower". Use Mini Glue Dots (or Sticky Strip) to adhere the completed "flower" front to a Peppermint Patty. Use another Mini Glue Dot to adhere the non-layered "flower" back to the Peppermint Patty. Insert lollipop stick (these may be found wherever Wilton supplies are sold.) Tie a bit of Black Gingham Ribbon around the stick, under the "flower". Poke stick into styrofoam base to create the bouquet. Repeat this step for as many "flowers" as you want to make.
"Vase": Measure your chosen "vase" and cut a strip of Tangerine Tango CS to wrap around it, securing with Mini Glue Dots (or Sticky Strip). Measure and cut TWO pieces of Black Gingham Ribbon, and ONE piece of Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain. Adhere to cardstock strip with Mini Glue Dots.
"Vase" Label: You may want to use the Stamp-a-ma-ji here if you are not good at eyeballing lining up images. Ink up the "Happy" from the"Happy Halloween" stamp in the All Holidays set and stamp on Whisper White CS. Clean stamp. Ink up the "Halloween" from the same stamp, and position under the "Happy" you just stamped. Then punch out with the Curly Label Punch, using the direct-to-paper technique to add Kiwi Kiss ink to the edges of the punched out cardstock. Punch out TWO more Curly Labels in a contrasting cardstock color - I used Basic Black. Turn one vertically, and adhere to the back of your punched sentiment. Holding the other one horizontally, use your Paper Snips to cut it in half. Layer and adhere one piece to each end of your punched sentiment. This create the 'faux layering' you see on my sample. Here's a close up of the "flower" for you..

Stamps: Batty for You & All Holidays (SU!)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White, Summer Sun
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Black StazOn, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango, Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle Punches and Curly Label Punches; Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Black Gingham Ribbon; Crimper; Mini Glue Dots; Dimensionals; Non-SU! - glass square,votive holder, styrofoam cone, lollipop sitcks, Peppermint Patties.
ENJOY!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Alzheimers & Heart to Heart Blog Candy - WOW!

Walk, NO RUN - over to Carolyn King's blog and check out the more than super awesome Heart to Heart Blog Candy. Really, I mean it - there's over $800 worth of handmade items and papercrafting supplies and resources available to win - FOR ONE PERSON. Go check it out and see how to enter this AMAZING Blog Candy giveaway by doing what we all love to do - papercrafting - a card for an Alzheimers Caregiver. You have until 9/26 to enter.

I think most, if not all, of us have been touched by Alzheimers Disease in some way - whether directly through a family member or other loved one, or through a friend whose family member or loved one is experiencing this sad disease.

For me, my maternal Grandma is struggling with this disease, and my Mom is her legal caretaker. My parents uprooted themselves, and moved a few hours away from their local children and grandchildren (some of my family already lives many states away) to take on this loving and sacrificial yet daunting and heart-breaking task. My Mom shared that she and my Grandma had talked, years ago, about who would care for my Grandma should the need arrive. I am pretty sure neither of them expected Alzheimers to play a major role in Grandma's caretaking needs. Luckily, my Grandma remains is generally good spirits, and readily accepts that people she doesn't recognize are her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.


I'd like to share some of the things I know about
the amazing woman my Grandma is...

Grandma is in her early 90's
She is a breast cancer survivor for I think about 20 years now
She has 15 children - 13 born, 1 miscarriage, 1 stillbirth
She outlived her youngest child, my Uncle Curtis
She lived the hard life of a farm wife
She lived with a husband who dealt with mental illness & alcoholism
She was a nurse for many years
She loves to dance, even still today!
She met her second husband at a dance hall (I think she was in her 50's then)
She has 48 grandchildren - 24 boys and 24 girls
She has over 70 great-grandchildren and several great, great grandchildren
Her name is Klementine
My Darling Klementine is one of her favorite songs
She loves roses, especially red ones
Her favorite color is red
She loves having her own box of chocolates
She is of Polish descent and sometimes still prays in Polish
She loves her Catholic faith

Here's a scrapbook page I did a few years ago. That's me and our three (long before our two in Heaven came along). Grandma was already living with my parents, but the Alzheimers was in it's earliest stages and she still knew who we were. She doesn't now.



WE LOVE YOU GRANDMA/GREAT-GRANDMA!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Witch's Broom Favor


This ADORABLE Witch's Broom Favor is shown on pg. 29 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog. I had some smaller than normal kraft paper lunch bags so I used those for this project. I literally went outside and found a stick to use. :) One of the SU! small Cello Bags holds a treat inside the broom.

Stamps: Haunting Halloween
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Paper Snips, Small Cello Bag, Ticket Corner Punch.
ENJOY!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs...

Guess what I did? Started another blog - well, every girl *has* to have at least TWO right? ;) (And a SU! Business website too, of course. See it HERE) This blog, StampinJewels, will be paper-crafting only (though I can't promise I won't stick in some family things every now and then!) Did you see the Cricut Giveaway HERE?

The new blog is The Lighthouse Crew and will be for showcasing family, homeschooling experiences, etc. Now that I linked up with The Secret is in the Sauce - you very well may see more contests show up too - especially over at the Lighthouse Crew Blog. As a matter of fact - there's new contest over there now - find it HERE.

I sincerely hope you enjoy all my sites - and please share them with others! :)

And don't forget to check out the links for some of my fav blogs in the sidebar too - whether link or widget.

ENJOY!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Cricut Giveaway!


Want to win a Cricut? Check out The Secret is in the Sauce for more details.
The chance is gone come Oct. 1st!

Chat & Challenge 134 - Sketch Inspiration

So here's my Sketch and Inspiration rolled all into one for the Sudsol Chat & Challenge I'm hosting tonight. Sudsol is a demonstrator only site, but you can play along with the sketch challenge and post your link on this post!

The layout idea was inspired by my friend Cami-One-Kenobi (aka Cambria Turnbow) in this post.

I used the technique called "direct to paper" where you rub your ink pad along the edges of your cardstock. I did this tone on tone on the Elegant Eggplant second layer, as well as on the Confetti White image piece. Harder to see is the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter that runs along the swirls with the stars (also stamped tone on tone) next to the sentiment. I dusted off my Watercolor Wonder Crayons(WWC) and Aquapainter for this image - I've been so caught in my Copics (who wouldn't be?! lol) I find I still adore my WWC and Aquapainter too. I used the Basic Black WWC from the Neutral Set for the kitty's shading.

Stamps: Haunting Halloween
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant & Confetti White
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Black StazOn
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Two Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots.
ENJOY!