Tate's Thank U

Tate had some friends over on Saturday to celebrate his birthday.  We had a couple of planned activities, but left them alone most of the time.  Seth and I hid in our bedroom watching tv and checking on them every so often.  I think they all had a great time.  I decided to make Tate's thank you cards during one of my times to check on them.  I used My Digital Studio and I created them in a jiffy.  Love that program!

After I made the card, I opened up my PSE program and put four on one page, so I could print four card fronts on one 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock.  Viola!  I was done.

This was a designer card available in the program.  I just changed the main image.  There are so many great designer projects you can use, when you don't have a lot of time.  Did I mention I love this program?  LOL!

Sketch Challenge & Prize

Basic Brayer DVD option
$20.00 (shipping included)

I am the hostess this week for the sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet, and I have a prize for you this week.  I kept the sketch simple, so it will be easy to play along.  Prize?  Did I say PRIZE?  Yes, I did!  Since I used a brayer to create my image, I decided to give away one free Basic Brayer DVD ($20 value) to one lucky participant.  Once you created your card, go to the Paper Craft Planet blog and add your card to the Linkz Widget.

Don’t worry; if you don’t win you can always purchase my Basic Brayer 101 class on Paper Craft Planet for only $15.00.  Starting today, I am offering a Basic Brayer DVD option.  You can buy a DVD with all three brayer videos for only $20.00 shipping included.

Here is our sketch for this week:

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: nature silhouettes, tiny tags, baroque motifs

Paper: crumb cake, night of navy, old olive, whisper white

Ink: marina mist, not quite navy, night of navy, old olive, dark green (other), early expresso, basic black

Accessories: white gel pen, black cord, post it notes

Punches: medium jewelry tag, 1 3/4" circle, dotted scallop ribbon border

Techniques: brayer

Pop Can

Can you believe these cute little flowers were made from pop cans?  Yes, yes they were.  I saw these on Dawn Griffith's blog and knew I had to make them.  We are going to make one of these at March club next week.  March!  Next week!  I can't believe it!

Actually, two of these were made from pop cans and one is made from a beer can.  I have been asking the neighbors for they empty pop cans.  I got busted today digging through one of my neighbor's recycling bins.  They had awesome colored cans.  I had to explain why I was rummaging through their trash.  They know me well, so they just asked if I needed more.  Yes, I do!

Diet Pepsi 

Guiness

Pepsi Max

This are made with the Big Shot and Flower Daisies #2 die.  I put these together with a jumbo brad and added a 1 1/4" circle to the back.  You can use these for cards or you can add a jewelry bar pin to the back.  These would look cute on a jean jacket, hat or bag.  Love them!

Reminder....I am the hostess tomorrow for the sketch challenge.  I made a brayer card for this one.  

Skate 4U

Since I had an extra Extreme Skateboard image from my tutorial, I decided to make another card.  I made this one, so I could give it for any occasion.  I love how I angled this image.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: extreme skateboard, so happy for you, tiny tags

Paper: pacific blue, pear pizzazz, black, celebrations, glossy cardstock

Ink: black staz-on, pacific blue, basic black

Accessories: corduroy real red brads (retired), pear pizzazz stitched-poly ribbon, black cord (other)

Punches: medium jewelry tag

Techniques: pouncing brayer

Card Maker Inspiration

I receive a weekly newsletter from Card Maker and was inspired by their last card.  I loved the simplicity of it.  In addition, I have been listening to podcasts from Paper Clipping.  They have been talking about using kraft cardstock or now it is called crumb cake at Stampin' Up!  I love that cardstock, and decided I need to use more of it too.   Here is the one I made:

This is the Just Believe set that I put off purchasing.  I am so glad I got it.... LOVE IT!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: just believe

Paper: crumb cake, real red, chocolate chip

Ink: real red

Accessories: dimensionals, real red ribbon (retired)

Punches: 1 3/8" circle, 1 3/4" scallop circle, eyelet border

Techniques: basic stamping

Easter Basket

This little Easter basket is so cute!  It is hard to think about Easter already.  If you are making holiday projects, it is never too early to start.  This is the last project I made at Kim's this month.  We used an old tuna can and covered it with the new Ice Cream Parlor DSP in the sale-a-bration catalog.  Awesome!

I just got the stamp set we used called A Good Egg.  I wanted to get it last year and never did.  I can't wait to play with this set again.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: a Good egg

Paper: ice cream parlor dsp, pacific point, whisper white, melon mambo

Ink: black, pacific point, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight

Accessories: waterbrush, dimensionals, wire (other), ice cream parlor ribbon

Punches: word window, modern label, 1 3/4" scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle

Techniques: waterbrush

Basket Full

I made this cute birthday card at Kim's last week.  This is another one of those items I didn't get and Kim is trying to tell me I need.  I made this card with the Create a Cupcake stamp set and Build a Cupcake Punch.  Yes, I couldn't believe it!  Oh, so cute.

Here is the stamp set and punch.  I would have never thought of this.  Kim got this card from our monthly Stampin Up! magazine we receive full of great projects and information.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: Create a cupcake, woodgrain

Paper: crumb cake, old olive, whisper white, soft suede

Ink: chocolate chip, cherry cobbler marker, old olive marker

Accessories: dimensionals

Punches: build a cupcake, dotted scallop ribbon

Techniques:

Ice Cream Birthday

This is the cutest ice cream cone I have ever made.  I made this at Kim's house last week.  Love it!  I didn't think I "needed" the new Petal Cone Big Shot Die in the occasions mini.  Now, I think I do.  I should just break down and get it, because Kim will keep showing me cute projects with it, and I will get it just like I did the Just Believe stamp set.  She is such an enabler...hee hee!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: so happy for you

Paper: crumb cake, whisper white, pretty in pink patterns dsp, glimmer paper

Ink: real red

Accessories: petal cone big shot die, square lattice impressions folder, dimensionals

Punches: 1" circle

Techniques: big shot

Here is another little present Kim gave me for Valentines Day using the same Petal Cone Die.

So Glad

I have finally caved and bought this Just Believe set.  My friend, Kim has been telling me I needed this set, since it was released in the Idea Book and Catalog last summer.  I am soooo glad I bought it.

This is the other project we made at Emily's workshop last weekend.  It is so cute!  I love how she used a strip of old olive paper embossed with the square lattice impressions folder instead of ribbon.  Great idea, Emily!

I am the hostess this Saturday for the sketch Challenge at Paper Craft Planet and I used this set for my card.  I hope you can play along with me.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: Just believe

Paper: old olive, whisper white

Ink: old olive, real red marker

Accessories: square lattice impressions folder

Punches: modern label

Techniques: tearing and direct marker

Punch Bunch

Oh, I have been wanting to play with my new FREE stamp set, Punch Bunch.  I got this set for ordering $50 during the great sale-a-bration promotion.  This is just one of five stamps that match one of my punches.  Love it!

It is my brother and sister-in-law's (Craig and Maggie's) anniversary this Friday.  I knew I wanted to use the owl from this set for them.  My brother is a manly man, so I wanted to use very masculine paper.  I decided to pull out the retired DSP, To the Nines.

In addition, I like to play along with the weekly sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet.  Lyn has a great sketch for us this week.  Check it out here.

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: punch bunch, teeny tiny wishes, woodgrain

Paper: to the nines, very vanilla, chocolate chip, crumb cake

Ink: chocolate chip, sage shadow (retired)

Accessories: dimensionals

Punches: two-step bird, two-step owl, word window, modern label

Techniques: basic stamping

MY DIGITAL STUDIO

I am so glad there is a My Digital Studio pdf catalog available now.  It includes all of the MDS software artwork (contained in the boxed-version) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through January 2011! The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details. Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month and available to you on MyDigitalStudio.net in the just-added Resources section.  I will add this link to the left sidebar in the catalog section for you as a future reference.

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

My downline, Emily had her first workshop this weekend.  She did a fantastic job!  Here is the Valentine Treat pouch we made.  This is a great way to use the Top Note Big Shot Die

Good Works

I played along with Mojo Monday again this week.  When I saw the long space for an image, I knew I wanted to use the Inspired By Nature stamp set.  I colored the sunflower image with chocolate chip, crushed curry and old olive markers.  Then huffed on the image and stamped.  Perfect!

Materials used are stampin’ up! Unless noted

Stamps: inspired by nature

Paper: old olive, whisper white, crushed curry (retired), cottage wall (retired)

Ink: chocolate chip marker, old olive marker, crushed curry marker (retired), old olive

Accessories: brad (other), dimensionals, scallop squares duo bigz die

Punches: 1" punch, 5-petal flower, boho blossoms

Techniques: direct marker

I am going to my sister's this weekend to attend one of my downline's (Hi, Emily!) first workshop.  YAY!  My mom is meeting me there, so we can have a girls weekend.  See ya next week!

I would like to thank those of you who have purchased my Basic Brayer 101 online stamping course.  If you are still interested in purchasing this class, you can do so by clicking the Buy Now button at the top of the left sidebar.

He's Going to be TEN

We can't believe Tate is going to be "10" this month.  Wow!  Time flies, when you are raising kids.  Usually we just invite Grandmas and Grandpas to have cake with us for the boys' birthday, but since Tate is going into double digits I told him he could invite a couple of friends over to play and have pizza and cupcakes.  Yummy!  More cake for me...hee hee!  I love cake!

Since I never make birthday party invitations, I am taking this opportunity to make one for him.  I love how easy it was to change the birthday invite template from My Digital Studio.  This invite had an owl on the front and a tree on the inside page.  I was able to play with it and make it perfect for Tate's invite.  He loves to skateboard and he has been snowboarding this year.  It turned out perfect!  He might only be giving out a couple, but his mom got to play with her toys anyway.

I deleted the address and phone number for security reasons.

Reminder....you can still purchase my online Basic Brayer class by clicking the Buy It Now button on the top of the left sidebar.

My sister sent me these phrases.  
It is nice to know how many times I am quoting the bible.  
I need to go back to my bible study next school year.

Top 50 Most Popular Phrases From The Bible

In our modern culture, we commonly use phrases which have originated 

from the Bible without even knowing their origin.

Note- Some originate from the Bible yet have changed over time.

• 50 - "My cup runneth over" - Psalms 23:5
• 49 - "O ye, of little faith" - Luke 12:28
• 48 - "Living off the fat of the land" - Genesis 45:17-18
• 47 - "Like a lamb led to the slaughter" - Jeremiah 11:19 / Isaiah 53:7
• 46 - "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" - Matthew 26:41
• 45 - "Flesh and blood" - Matthew 16:17
• 44 - "Spare the rod and spoil the child" - Proverbs 13:24 / 23:13
• 43 - "Forbidden fruit" - Genesis 2 & 3
• 42 - "Can a leopard change his spots?" - Jeremiah 13:23
• 41 - "A man after my own heart" - Samuel 13:14 / Acts 13:22
• 40 - "Do not cast your pearls before swine" - Matthew 7:6
• 39 - "The fruit of your loins" - Genesis 35:11
• 38 - "The powers that be" - Romans 13: 1-2
• 37 - "Drop in the bucket" - Isaiah 40:15
• 36 - "Eat, drink, and be merry" - Ecclesiastes 8:15
• 35 - "Eye for an eye" - Exodus 21:24 / Leviticus 24:20 / Deuteronomy 19:21 / Matthew 5:38
• 34 - "The good Samaritan" - Luke 10:25-37
• 33 - "He that is without sin, cast the first stone" - John 8:7
• 32 - "Labor of love" - 1 Thessalonians 1:3
• 31 - "The root of the matter" - Job 19:28
• 30 - "Fight the good fight" - 1 Timothy 6.12
• 29 - "Letter of the law" - 2 Corinthians 3:6
• 28 - "Many are called, but few are chosen" - Matthew 22:14
• 27 - "Man does not live by bread alone" - Deuteronomy 8:3 / Matthew 4:4
• 26 - "Salt of the earth" - Matthew 5:13
• 25 - "No rest for the wicked" or "No rest for the weary" - Isaiah 57:21
• 24 - "Sweat of your brow" - Genesis 3:19
• 23 - "Apple of my eye" - Deuteronomy 2:10 / Zechariah 2:8
• 22 - "The love of money is the root of all evil" - 1 Timothy 6:10
• 21 - "All things must pass" or "This too shall pass" - Matthew 24:6-8
• 20 - "The truth shall make you free" John 8:32
• 19 - "There's nothing new under the sun" - Ecclesiastes 1:9
• 18 - "For everything there is a season" - Ecclesiastes 3:1
• 17 - "As old as Methuselah" - Genesis 5: 25-27
• 16 - "Ashes to ashes" - Genesis 3:19
• 15 - "Twinkling of an eye" - 1 Corinthians 15:52
• 14 - "A fly in the ointment" - Ecclesiastes 10:1
• 13 - "Faith will move mountains" - Matthew 21:21
• 12 - "Signs of the times" - Matthew 16:3
• 11 - "It is better to give than to receive" - Acts 20:35
• 10 - "My brother's keeper" - Genesis 4:9
• 9 - "Physician, heal thyself" - Luke 4:23
• 8 - "Out of the mouths of babes" - Psalm 8:2
• 7 - "How the mighty have fallen" - 2 Samuel 1:19
• 6 - "Bite the dust" - Psalms 72: 9
• 5 - "Sour grapes" - Ezekiel 18:2
• 4 - "The writing on the wall" - Daniel 5:5
• 3 - "At my wit's end" - Psalm 107:27
• 2 - "Blind leading the blind" - Matthew 15:14 / Luke 6:39
• 1 - "By the skin of our teeth" - Job 19:20