I decided to pull out a retired stamp set I love but haven't used in a long time, Feathered Hope. I am a saver but not necessarily a hoarder. I use all my perfume even if it is my favorite!! I burn my candles-even the pretty gold beaded ones. I enjoy getting new stamps sets and generally sell the old ones with few regrets. However, there are a few very special sets that I will probably never part with because I love the images or because they make me smile. This is one of my favorite sets because I love the images!!

The image was stamped with staz-on, colored with water color wonder crayons blended with a blender pen. I then used a versamarker on the image and embossed it with clear EP. A little pink pirouette, cameo coral, and bordering blue ink sponging around the main image which is layered on close to cocoa, so saffron and chocolate chip. The card base is cameo coral. The sentiment is a SU rubon.

We are off to the movies again tonight!! We are going to see Bedtime Stories-hope it is funny like the previews!! I hate it when I go to a comedy and the only funny parts are the scenes they show in the previews!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Sorry nothing new to share!!! I am busy enjoying all the Christmas candy & snacks!! I am also enjoying my new WII game Animal Crossing. Here are some photos of my santa collection and Snowy the Christmas bunny. In the meantime enjoy the season!! God bless!!!

I just got my curly label punch Friday. I purchased it during the Bundle sale at Stampin' Up!. It is a cute punch and the coordinating stamp set looks great also (although I haven't used it myself yet). I CASE'd the layout of this card from Dawn McVey's blog. I really liked her card although at the time I did not have the punch yet. I made the card on the top first but my DD said it needed to be made in pastels so I went back and made the card on the bottom. Personally I like the top card better but don't tell my DD.

The punched labels are outlined with the white gel pen and popped up with dimensionals. The kraft flowers are from the Boho Blossoms punch with white gel pen dots and brads.

Gifts for my stamp club members!!!

Looky at all the birdies!!! I made these note card sets as gifts for my stamp club members. This is the set we made at KC regionals (with a few adjustments).

I have the greatest group of ladies in my stamp club. They always attend or let me know if they cannot make it to stamp club, they always place their orders in a timely fashion and they forgive me when I cut paper the wrong size or lose the vellum pieces I know I cut but cannot find!!! LOL!!! So here's to my customers Merry Christmas!!!!!

Don't you all wish you were in my stamp club????

RETIRING LISTS ARE HERE!! FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $70!! 10% OFF ALL RETIRING STAMP SETS!!

What a deal!!!!! Free shipping on all orders over $70!!!!! All retiring stamp sets are 10% off.
I have an order going in this weekend so contact me and receive free shipping!!!!! This sale only lasts through December 23!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RETIRING STAMP LIST ALPHABETICALLY!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RETIRING STAMP LIST BY PAGE NUMBER!

E-MAIL ME YOUR ORDER: rhondastamps@kc.rr.com

Top Note Mini Album

Here is another fun creation using the Big Shot. I used the Top Note die to make this mini album. This comes together rather quickly with the Big Shot. I used the chipboard that is available from Stampin' Up! On Board Long Board. It includes 6 sheets 5 3/4" x 13 3/4" for only $6.95. This is nice thick chipboard but it is easily cut with the Big Shot!

I glued the Designer Paper on the piece of chipboard before I ran it through the Big Shot. I only put the DP on one side of the chipboard because I wanted to cover the eyelets on the inside of the cover.

For the pages I layered apricot appeal & bashful blue cardstock on the top note die before I cut it. I only cut 4 sheets of cardstock at a time because I wanted to be sure the perforations came through.

The holes were punched using the crop-a-dile. Jumbo eyelets were put on the front & back covers. The "r" is the only non-SU product and only because my chipboard letters were not here yet!!

The DP is from the hostess print pack from the last catalog.

I thought this would make a nice place to put all those school pictures from your friends or maybe some new baby photos?

Felt flowers with the Big Shot!

I love my Big Shot!!! These felt flowers were cut using the bigz die Build a Flower. It is a breeze to cut these out. They cut perfectly every time!!!

I really need to get out my embroidery floss and stitch around these. I want to try cutting some fabric also.

The first card was made without any stamping. I used a few rub-ons a couple of brads, some ribbon and tah dah! I do see a few stray pieces of glitter on the black card.

The second card I used the top note die. I love how this die perforates along the edges!! The small middle flower is a felt fusion covered in glitter. Looks like I have a lot of stray glitter!! I miss my embossing buddy. I keep thinking he will turn up in a drawer somewhere. I know what will happen. . .as soon as I purchase another I will find him!!!

Cards & a Folio!! Great Christmas gift!!!

I redid my folio & card set that I posted a while back. I did not really like the folio as it needed a spine so the cards would fit better. I put a 1/4" spine on this one and cut out the bottom of the spine so that when it is folded it doesn't buckle.

My cards all had ribbon on them and they simply refused to fit in a flat folio. The front of the folio is made with the Big Shot Top Note die. I simply cut the whisper white top note where the perforations were so it would layer on the bashful blue.

This comes together rather quickly and is inexpensive to make. It would make a very nice Christmas present when you just need a little something for someone. You could put any sentiment at the top of the cards!!

Thanks to Lisa T. for reminding me I had this!!! If you want to see some more really cool projects check out her blog!!! She has some cute magnets made with the All in the Family stamp set and one of the accent & elements tins.
















Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Paper: not quite navy, bashful blue, whisper white
Ink: so saffron, pumpkin pie, not quite navy, bashful blue, riding hood red, pink pirouette, certainly celery, kiwi kiss

(By the way-see the felt fusion flower & filigree brad? Wanna know why it is there? Because I got not quite navy ink on my fingers and then on the white card. But don't tell anyone!!!)

Could my tree be any more crooked???? MYOHMY!!!
I knew it was a little off center but there is something to be said for everything being exaggerated on the BIG screen!! This is a CASE of a card I saw on SCS by Aly . . .sorry try as I might I cannot read the last name on the watermark on her card. She used the tree from Snow Swirled I used the tree from Scandinavian Christmas. The tree is embossed using whisper white craft and white EP. I added a few drops of stickles here and there and some non-SU white satin ribbon. I like the look of red & white together but this needs something-more glitter!!!!!?????

One of my friend's DD, Alex, came up with this idea for the center of this card. She took two scallop edge medallions and tucked the corners together. You can see how to make these medallions here on SCS. The rest of the card is pretty simple. I used not quite navy to sponge & stamp around the edge of the card and the scallop flower. The piece of natural white in the center was sponged with riding hood red and baja breeze.

I don't use a stamp a ma jig because I have no patience. However looks like my vine is a little off on the right. Oh well, it is handmade and slight imperfections are to be expected-right?

Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Paper: baja breeze, riding hood red, naturals white
Ink: baja breeze, riding hood red, not quite navy

Christmas Tags

Here are some Christmas tags I made. I used some leftover bits & pieces of DP with a few stamps and punches. The top note tags were a CASE of tags from Kristen's blog. I made them mainly because I wanted to play with my new Big Shot & top note die! However they turned out rather cute!! I might add a little glitter here and there just for fun!!! I am never sure how my photos are going to line up when I upload them. I actually wanted the photos at the top of this post at the bottom but I am tooooo busy to correct it so . . .

I have been without my heat gun for a week because I left it at church. I really wanted to do some heat & stick with glitter on a couple of these but I will have to wait. I think we are going to make a few tags at stamp club this Friday!!

This is one of the cards we are making at my SAS! I just love the felt snowflakes. This card definitely needs some sparkle. I am going to go back and add some glitter!!! I ordered the Ski Slope DP and I really like it!! I wasn't too crazy about it in the mini catalog but I kept seeing really great cards made with it and had to have it. The colors are easy to work with and coordinate with Christmas projects or any season! I like this DP much better than the Holiday Treasures in the catalog.








Stamps: Retired stamp set Snowflake Spot
Ink: real red, baja breeze
Paper: DP from hostess print pack, baja breeze, chocolate chip, Ski Slope DP
Accessories: Felt flurries, white gel pen, circle punches

I have been doing so much planning and getting things ready for different events that I really haven't had time to "create!" I have a brand new box of watercolor wonder crayons and a new aquapainter that are calling to me!! I also have 2 new sets of rubber that have not been inked yet!!! All I seem to be doing is planning, laundry, and mulching leaves UGH!!!

Ugh!!! I really hate scanned photos of my cards!!! I was too short of time to get out my camera and take a photo.

I made this card for a challenge on SCS for SU Demos. The challenge is called WICKED and there are 3 parts; a color combo, a sketch, and a technique challenge. I did the color combo ( very vanilla, ruby red, more mustard, chocolate chip and creamy caramel) and the technique challenge. I really wanted a green in there somewhere but . . . The technique challenge was emboss resist, which I really like to do. The image in the middle was stamped in chocolate chip craft and embossed with clear EP. I then sponged ruby red in the middle and creamy caramel and more mustard around the outside. I edged it with chocolate chip. The background was stamped with Seeing spots stamp set. Not one of my favorite cards but I did participate in a challenge!!!

I tried a little embossing resist. I haven't decided if I really like this or not. I can't find my embossing buddy so there are a few stray embossing crystals. Then of course I smeared the white craft while stamping the "for you." I love the new riding hood red taffeta ribbon!! I think I need to buy some more of the taffeta; I usually use the grosgrain! I made another panel using baja breeze-just haven't made a card yet. Off to watch Mr. Smith Goes To Washington with Jimmy Stewart!!

Always artichoke is not a color I use often. I usually pull out the old olive. However, I like it when paired with the real red especially for Christmas cards!! This card was quick to make. I stamped the tree image from Scandinavian Season twice. Once on naturals white (my favorite neutral paper!) and once on some real red DP from the hostess print pack. The flower image is part of the tree stamp but it is cut off at the edge so I used a black SU marker to complete the flower. Then I cut out the flower, added a brad and used a dimensional to attach it to the card. I used a SU real red marker to ink only the "merry Christmas" from the level 1 hostess set Best Yet and punched it with the word window punch. This is one of the cards we will be making at the Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack.

Here is another card made with Happy Blessings. I stamped the pumpkin on the twill ribbon with pumpkin pie classic ink. The main image was stamped with chocolate chip craft ink, embossed with clear EP and colored with SU markers. For some reason this card gave me trouble. I love earth elements but couldn't seem to make up my mind about a layout or colors. I think I will check out some of the weekend challenges to inspire me.

I copied this technique from someone's blog. Her photo even has a watermark but try as I might I cannot make out the full name. As soon as I find the original I will post a link here. Or if you recognize this technique post a comment and let me know.

This flower is made using the SU 5 petal punch. I punched several flowers out of baja breeze, sponged some baja breeze ink on some of the flowers, and then cut the petals apart on all of them except 1. That complete flower becomes the center and the other petals are attached in between the petals. I used glue dots to attach the petals. The center is the largest flower from the boho blossoms punch and a filligree brad is in the center. The leaves were hand cut out of folded crimped paper. Once you start the layering process it goes rather quickly!! The last layer is a little tricky and you can "lose your place" so take your time and look at the flower from the front as well as the back. The sentiment was a rub-on.

Kraft and Pink Pirouette!! Inspired by Carrie!

I saw a beautiful card on Carrie's blog that she did in kraft & pink pirouette and was inspired to make this card. I don't have the big shot or the top notch die so I used the coluzzle to cut the oval frame. The DP in the back of the oval frame is from the prints pack available as a hostess gift. I love those print packs!!! The flower in the middle is from the Embrace Life set-my favorite flower stamp!!! I stamped the flower in creamy caramel ink on pink pirouette paper and embossed it with iridescent ice (love that stuff!!!). The small flowers are simply punched with the boho blossoms punch and layered. Added a little paper piercing that I made using the guide in SU mat pack and Voila!! Thanks Carrie for the inspiration!!! I am really loving this color combo!!!!

Note Cards & Folio Made at KC Regionals

I really love these little cards!! This was one of our projects we received at KC SU Regional Seminar. I did change their pattern some. On my folio I cut out the bottom part of the spine in between the pockets and rounded the top corners. It folds neater!! For the embellishment on the outside of the folio I inked the tag with baja ink and stamped the bird on the tag-not all of the bird would fit but all I wanted to show was his feet. I then stamped the bird again on a scrap piece of very vanilla and cut out just the body and attached it to the tag with dimensionals.

The note cards are the Scallop Notecards from SU. They come precut, folded and with envelopes. The envelopes were lined with a small piece of DP cut to fit. To attach the DP to the envelopes just moisten the envelope and attach the paper. Just remember you cannot mail this size card but these would be great gift cards. I think this would make a nice gift. This set goes together rather quickly and is fairly inexpensive to make. These may be my Christmas gifts I am giving this year!!!

Ribbon Flower Card from KC Regionals

First stamp a snowflake image in versamark ink. My piece of paper was 2 x 2.
Next use a hole punch or the smaller hole punch from the crop-a-dile and punch holes around the outside points of the snowflake and around the inside of the snowflake.
Next begin threading your ribbon through the holes. I used a 12" piece of ribbon and had plenty left. I used riding hood red taffeta but I have seen this made with 1/4" grosgrain also.
When threading the ribbon do not pull tight. Instead slightly "poof" up the ribbon.
I placed a rhinestone brad in the middle; at Regionals we used a button. I taped the two ends down on the back of the paper and mounted it with dimensionals.

Here is the finished card!

Finally got to play with my scarecrow!!! I dug out my pastels and colored him using pastels and a blender pen. I wish I had made his shirt pumpkin pie instead of red but I didn't really have a plan when I started. The pumpkins were stamped, cut out and the leaves were colored with a glorious green SU marker. I popped them up with dimensionals-love those critters!!!

Stamps: Happy Blessings
Ink: basic brown, pumpkin pie,
Paper: pumpkin pie, not quite navy, whisper white

We are off to the movies!!! My DD, DS#2 and I are going to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Couldn't find anyone to go with us so I guess we don't have to share our popcorn or our candy!!!!! LOL!!!

Here is my version of the ever popular Frankie card!! Isn't he cute? I got the idea from Dawns Stampin Studio. There is also a really cute Mummy card that I saw somewhere that I am going to try next.

I am going to try to take photos tomorrow of how to make the ribbon flower on the card from Regionals.

I have not been able to be very creative lately. Here it is 2 AM and I am still doing laundry and trying to get my basement organized. UGH!!!!! I can't seem to get caught up with all that boring stuff so I can do some of the fun stuff!!!

I did manage to watch Iron Man tonight with my my 2 teenagers-who were home tonight!!! It was a pretty good movie although I am still a HUGE Spiderman fan!!

I have 2 new stamp sets and I have not been able to play with them yet!!! The scarecrow is calling my name saying, "Rhonda, Rhonda, Rhonda, Stamp with me please!!!" Okay off to fold clothes and clean off my stamping table so I can STAMP!!!

Here are a couple of the cards I made at KC Regional Seminar

These are just a couple of the cards I made at SU KC Regional Seminar last weekend.






The first card uses the Scandanvian Christmas Set that I actually purchased but haven't played with yet. I like it because it is unique and I have a vision of the tree being embossed in gold!!!

I am not too crazy about this card but it was fun water coloring. I did learn that you can use SU craft ink pads for water coloring. The old olive is craft ink. It is very rich and much more intense color than the other colors we used which were classic ink. We used a watercolor pen. It was easier than I thought but I think I still prefer the blender pens.

The flower card is my favorite!! The "flower" is made by stamping a snowflake stamp with versamark and then punching 6 holes at the edge of each point on the snowflake and 6 more points around the center of the snowflake. We used the snowflake from the Best Wishes & More. If I get a chance later in the week I will show the before & after-I don't want to call it a tutorial because that sounds like work!! LOL!!