Some Stitching

We were away on vacation last week...nothing terribly exciting, but still fun.  We went to visit my dad, and spent the week relaxing at "home" and seeing some of the local sights that I grew up going to.  I wanted my kids to get to experience some of the places I've gone to a million times.  I also got to catch up with an old friend, and eat my favorite pizza in the process.  One of my out of town cousins was there with her kids, so it was great timing to get to see them as well.

Since I wasn't home, I haven't been doing a lot of stamping.  But I did get to do some sewing while we were away.  Here's some random trivia about me:  I have no nephews.  Only nieces.  Five of them.  Plus two grand-nieces.  Lots of girls on both sides of the family.

A few years ago I made some simple fleece and flannel blankets for my brother's (then) three girls.  The blankets have a pocket on them, so that it can fold up and turn into a pillow.  My Grandma made me one (although a much fancier version) when I was a girl.  Each one has the girls' initial on the pocket.  Fast forward a couple of years, and now those three girls have a little sister.  She was in need of her own blanket, so as a belated birthday present, I made one for her.

See the pocket?  Her initial is on the inside so that when everything is folded up, the letter is visible on the outside.  Here's a view of it all folded up (along with one of the original ones I made for the other girls.)

I should probably put a tutorial here, and maybe at some point I will (because I'm planning to make more of these!)  But it's not realistic right now.  If you want to know how to make these, just do a search for "quillow" and lots of directions should magically appear on your computer screen. :)

Corny

Q:  What did the corn say when he was complimented? 
A:  Aw, shucks!

It's a corny corn joke, get it? :)  I know, it's hard to control the eye rolling at this point, isn't it?  But I just had to do it.  I mean, if I'm going to show you a corn card, how could I not include a corny joke?  OK, enough already!

I think I could make cards all day long only using the Orchard Harvest DSP and Perfectly Preserved.  I {heart} this combination of products!  I especially love the Indian corn on the DSP, so I used my markers to color the individual kernels of corn on the stamp.  I stamped the husk on Lucky Limeade card stock and clear embossed it.  It pops out a little bit more, and I love the look.  The Indian corn makes me think of my Grandma, who grew it once and gave me a little arrangement of three cobs.  Whenever I pull them out in the fall, I think of her.  :)

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved, Itty Bitty Banners

Ink:  More Mustard and Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Markers, VersaMark

Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Cajun Craze, and Very Vanilla card stock, Orchard Harvest DSP

Accessories:  Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, More Mustard 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Linen Thread, button (this one is retired, but Neutrals or Regals Designer Buttons would work, too!), Bitty Banners Framelits, Big Shot, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Gently Falling

Have I mentioned how much I love fall?  I do...it's hands down my favorite season, and with all this heat and humidity, I'm sort of ready for fall to come.  Although I'm not really ready for summer to be over.  Wouldn't it be nice to have the fall weather with no school?  I'm ready for the cooler weather, but not ready for school.  Not even close.

Since I'm thinking fall, it was time to pull out the Gently Falling stamp set.  These leaves are just so pretty.  I stamped the outline of each one, then did the background in the same colors, but stamped off once first.  It's hard to see, but I then covered each leaf with champagne shimmer paint, so they each have a little bit of sparkle to them.  So pretty!  I also sponged the edges of some of the papers with a little bit of Soft Suede ink.

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Summer Starfruit Classic Ink

Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze, and Very Vanilla card stock, Comfort Cafe DSP

Accessories:  Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Designer Label Punch, Sponge

Merry {Mini} Christmas!

OK, last Christmas card for a bit.  This card was so super simple to make, and yet that little rosette makes a big statement.  Once again, I used the Be of Good Cheer DSP and Merry Minis.  I also used some retired ribbon, but that's easily substituted with Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding or Scallop Dots Ribbon.  Either would look great!

Stamps:  Merry Minis, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Gumball Green

Paper:  Ivory Naturals, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, and Very Vanilla card stock, Be of Good Cheer DSP

Accessories:  Merry Mini Punch Pack, Simply Scored, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Border Punch, 1" Circle Punch

Ladybug

Please excuse this horrible picture.  I'm so sorry for the blurriness and the inept cropping. :)  But it was super cute and I needed to take a quick picture before it left my house.  This one is for our friends, former neighbors who are adopting a little girl from China.  They are hoping to go pick her up next month.  Apparently, ladybugs mean good luck in China, and they are definitely going with a ladybug theme with clothing and other new things for Piper.  So I had to make a ladybug card for the surprise shower that I missed while on vacation.  I'm sad to have missed it, but I'm looking forward to meeting this special little girl!

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature (retired), Rough Edges Alphabet (retired)

Ink:  Gumball Green and Basic Black

Paper:  Naturals White, Gumball Green, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, and Melon Mambo card stock

Accessories:  1 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch (retired), Melon Mambo ribbon (retired), Bitty Banners Framelits

Christmas CASE

This card is a CASE of this one that I found on Pinterest.  I loved the original, but wanted to try it with Christmas colors.  I didn't add as many embellishments to mine...just  few rhinestones and some ribbon.  The little Christmas trees were stamped with Merry Minis and punched with the coordinating punch pack.  I love those cute little images!

Stamps:  Merry Minis

Ink:  Gumball Green

Paper:  Be of Good Cheer DSP, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, and Gumball Green card stock

Accessories:  Scallop Square Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Merry Minis Punch Pack, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbons, Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

More Christmas

I have lots of Christmas cards to show you over the next few days.  I guess hanging out in my cool basement and thinking of December helps deal with the heat and humidity outside.  This card uses the new set, Ornament Keepsakes.  I was so happy to see this set in the Holiday Catalog, because my favorite ornament set retired in May.  This one is very similar, only better, because there are a lot more stamps, in a lot more sizes!  And there is a coordinating set of Framelits, so you know I love that!  If you look closely, though, you can see that I need a little more practice using them. :)  Oops!  Actually, after making this card, I realized that by putting a bit of removable adhesive (I used Dotto, which retired) on the card stock, the Framelit will stay in place, and it does a much better job of perfectly cutting out the stamped image.

There are only three colors here:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, and a tiny little piece of Crumb Cake.  I used a new embossing folder, plus the new Core'dinations card stock, then sanded it.  The ornament is embossed with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, and hung with a piece of linen thread.  And then I went crazy with my new favorite finishing touch:  Champagne Shimmer Paint.  I know, it's not a new product, but believe it or not, I've never used it.  I decided to open my brand new bottle and go to town.  Everything is covered in it, and it is so pretty!  I think I avoided it because I thought it would be too gold.  Nope!  It's absolutely gorgeous, and adds such a pretty, yet subtle effect.  I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long to use it!

Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes, Tiny Tags

Ink:  VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake Classic Ink, Champagne Shimmer Paint

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Crochet Lace, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Big Shot, Lacy Brocade embossing Folder, linen thread, Jewelry Tag punch, sponge daubers, sanding block, paper piercing tool