SWEET PEA - BUNNY

SWEET PEA - BUNNY

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Don't Let This Be YOU!

Oh no!
The deadline to save big bucks is fast approaching!
Don't miss out.
Join my team of 
Pieces of Heart Stampers 
while you can for
just $125!
Contact me ASAP
stamppad@sbcglobal.net

Ugh...Taxes

Steve has always encouraged me to gather my tax information quarterly, if not monthly.  But, of course, who can be bothered with that stuff when there is stamping to be done!  So, needless to say, right now there is no stamping happening in my 'studio'.  I'll have something here in a few days, as soon as I can get through this pile of receipts and spreadsheets.  Wish me luck.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Thanks, Mike!

(Click photo for closer view)
Steve and I are very blessed to have so many friends in the 
St. Louis area.
Two of those friends are our former neighbors,
Kathy and Mike.
They have been exceedingly helpful by keeping an eye on the 
house and checking the mailbox.  
Mike is even mowing our yard!
So, of course, I had to make a card to show our
gratitude.
This is a retired stamp set that I could not part with called
And Many Mower.
The tricky part is that little man was facing the opposite
direction and had a golf club in his hand.  
I wanted him to be mowing, 
so I stamped his image on the transfer sheet of the 
Stamp-a-ma-jig.
A piece of acetate would work too.
Then I turned that sheet over and pressed it onto a piece of 
Crumb Cake Card Stock.  
With my Basic Black Marker,
I carefully darkened the lines, cut him out
and placed him behind the mower.  
I love his skinny legs...
kinda like Mike's!
Thanks, Mike!
We owe you a cold one!

Monday, March 26, 2012

New Home

(Click photo for a closer view)
My oldest daughter, Megan, and her husband, Brian,
just purchased their first home.
I needed a special card to put a little 
'somethin' somethin'
inside for them 
and remembered this fun designer paper.
It's a couple of years old, 
but that's why I held on to it.
I knew it would come in handy.
It's called 
Welcome Neighbor!
Congratulations,
Megan and Brian! 

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Carrots & Kisses

(Click photo for a better view.)


These little cuties are sour cream style containers 
with chocolate Kisses inside.

If you are in the Champaign/Urbana/Mahomet,
Illinois area on March 31,
and attend my Stamp Camp,
YOU will go home with one! 
I would love to stamp with you!
Contact me for camp details
and to reserve your spot!
stamppad@sbcglobal.net
217-590-0210

Friday, March 23, 2012

Cupcake Chicks


How cute are these little Chicks?
The top one is made using the
Top Note Die with the Big Shot,
along with a few punches.  
The cupcake was placed in one of our
Cellophane bags and sealed.
The little 3 x 3 card below it was made
with the Curly Label Punch 
and the Scallop Oval instead of the
Scallop Circle. 
The card stock used is
Daffodil Delight
with a bit of 
Pumpkin Pie 
sponged on the edges.
I dare you NOT to smile when you look at them. 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Pool Party & Crumb Cake

(Click photo for larger view.)

When attending the 
Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference
 in San Antonio recently, 
we were able to take some time
to stamp.
The card above is one of the
Make and Takes we made.  
I just love all of the little surprises. 
This would be a great card to use 
all those scraps we have a tendency to have around.
Don't ya think?

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Inspired

(Click on the photo to get a better view.)

In the past, I have always been a pastel kind of girl.
Recently, having moved to a new house,
I seem to be drawn to the 
blacks and browns 
when decorating.  
And also, it seems, when making cards.
The background stamp set is one I haven't used
 until now, and called
Elizabeth.  
Below it, I used the 
Stripes Embossing Folder
on Soft Suede Card Stock. 

This card, like my new furniture and decor
is a departure from the whimsy I'm used to
and shows maturity. 
Maybe I'm finally growing up.....Nah.

Inspired by Tara Vosbourgh


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Mini Card Gift Set

(Click on either photo to get a better view.)

I just love giving mini card gift sets.
Using the 
Scallop Envelope Die,
Designer Frames Folder,
Elegant Bouquet Folder,
and 
Finial Press Folder
with the Big Shot,
I was able to make cards and envelopes.
For an added touch of class on the 
Very Vanilla Card Stock,
a few Basic Pearls were added.  
To wrap it all up,
I used a 
Cellophane Bag 
with a
Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon 
and the 
Top Note Die
bag topper. 

Inspired by Annette Martin

Monday, March 19, 2012

Welcome New Team Members!

I am so happy to announce that we have TWO new
Pieces of Heart Team Members!

My new recruit, Susanne Jeffery, is an amazing card maker
and I am so happy to have her part of our group.
I have been the recipient of some of her cards and 
love seeing what she can do.  

Judy Sumner's new recruit, Mary Taylor, 
is so full of ideas that she inspires me!  
I love her enthusiasm.

Ladies, I welcome you both to 
Stampin' Up!
and 
The Pieces of Heart Team.

As you can see,
our group is growing.
Come join us and be a part of this 
fun team! 

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

Happy Birthday, Susanne!

Today is Susanne's birthday!
She is a new member of our
Pieces of Heart Team. 
I wanted to send a special card and since 
I love doubling a holiday with a birthday
card, the challenge was on!


One of my favorite St. Patrick's day cards is the one
my sister, Penny Thomas, made, seen above.
As you can see, I shamelessly copied her idea.

The set I used is called
A Flower for All Seasons,
(retired). 
The hearts for the shamrocks are made using the
Owl Builder Punch.
Love the bling,  
Basic Rhinestones,
in the center of each shamrock.

The embossing folder,
Square Lattice,
was used for the background texture.

Hope your birthday is a great one, Susanne!
I had a blast making your card.


Thursday, March 15, 2012

New Book - Old Friends

I recently had dinner with
two very sweet friends from my high school days.
What a wonderful opportunity to catch up on
40 yes, 40 years!
I wanted to make them something to show
how much I enjoyed visiting with them.
At Leadership, in January,
my sister and upline,
Penny Thomas, made all of us these cute little 
notebooks. 
I thought it was so thoughtful and wanted to make
them for my high school friends.
Thanks, Jane and Sheila!
I'm looking forward to many more visits!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

A 'Wheelie' Cute Baby Card!

The challenge for the Pieces of Heart Team
this month is to use the one of our
Wheels.  
That is a HUGE challenge for me
because I don't use them very much.
Although I used the 
Baby Tees Jumbo Wheel,
I kinda cheated because I cut the
little onsie out and made it the 
focal point of my card. 
I used all kinds of tools as well:
The Designer Frames Embossing Folder,
Stripes, Perfect Polka Dots 
and Square Lattice Embossing Folders,
Ovals Die,
Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches
Whew!
It was a lot of work to avoid using the wheel,
but I think it's stinkin' cute.  
Hopefully, 
the team won't throw wheels at me.  


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Happy Birthday, Judy!

A dear friend and downline, 
Judy Sumner,
is having a birthday today!
This card is actually one piece.
The little owl lifts up and 
my birthday wish is underneath.
I made the envelope too, using 
our new Diagonal Simply Scored.
I am super excited to have that so I can
make lots of pretty envelopes now.
Hope you have a great day, Judy!

Inspired by Mary Fish

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Happy Birthday, Haley!

My niece, Haley, had a birthday recently.
 I wanted the card I sent her
to reflect her sweetness!
These little punch art Popsicles are so easy to make.
It's basically a square with the top corners
chopped off.  
The 'bite' is made using the Scalloped Circle punch.
The Word Window was used to fashion the 
sticks. 
Sweet for the sweet!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Kathy & Judy

I love to make and send cards,
but I love to receive them just as much.  
I think we all have that little moment of excitement when
we get mail and see an envelope containing
a personal card instead of bills or junk mail.

These cards were sent to me by 
Kathy Boxdorfer (top)
and
Judy Sumner (bottom).
They both are taking advantage of 
Sale-a-bration 
and getting stamp sets for FREE!

Thank you, ladies.  
You made my day!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Barbershop Quartet?

When I see these cards,
why do I hear
"On a Bicycle Built For Two"
in the background?
The mustaches on these mini cards
are made using the 
Curly Label Punch!
What a fun idea for Father's Day,
 a masculine birthday,
or someone who might need a
  smile. 
The sentiment is from my newest
favorite stamp set,
You're My Type.
I've had a vintage kind of feel these last few days!
Makes me want to sing in four-part
harmony!
(It's okay.  I'm in my basement.  No one can hear me!)

Inspired by Jacqueline Nimrichter

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

You're Just My Type!

When I originally saw this,
it was in a 3 x 3 version.
Loved making it a regular size card.
The stamp set is from the mini catalog,
and called You're My Type.
The Designer Paper is called 
First Edition.  
The flower, stamped in VersaMark, 
on the side of the Soft Suede Card Stock, 
is from the
Sale-a-bration set called 
Fresh Vintage.
I actually learned to type on 
a typewriter just like this one,
back in the day,
when dirt was new!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Jayne's Pretty Card

The Pieces of Heart Team
recently attended a local 
Stampin' Up! Demonstrator's event in the St. Louis area.
I couldn't attend, but hear they had a great time.  
My dear friend and downline,
Jayne Singleton,
sent me her card swap, seen above.
I think it is fabulous and love how the black accents
in both card stock and ink really make it POP!
Thank you, Jayne. 
I feel a CASE coming on!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Poppy Parade Calendar


A CD case calendar has been done so many times, 
but I was just tickled with how the color
on the calendar matched the 
Poppy Parade 
card stock and the 
Everyday Enchantment
(Free during Sale-a-bration!)
Designer Paper. 
Literally a five minute
 'WOW'
project!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Little Baby Bunting

I have a dear friend who is going to be a 
grandmother for the fifth time!
So when I saw this punch art card 
on our Demonstrator sharing site,
I felt it had her name all over it.
It was fun to make and our
tiny clothespin is such a cute addition.

Inspired by Kayleen Clements

Friday, March 2, 2012

FREE Fresh Vintage and Everyday Enchantment


What a cute little note card set!
The stamps, Fresh Vintage,
and designer paper, 
Everyday Enchantment
used to make this
are part of the Sale-a-bration promotion
and can be yours
FREE!
Until March 31, for every $50 order you place,
you can choose from items found
in the Sale-a-bration catalog
 absolutely free.  
Need a catalog?
Let me know and I will make sure you get one
and you can be on your way to making
projects like the one above.

Inspired by Robin Merriman

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Happy March To Ya!

I originally saw this little cutie on 
Judy Garza's blog.  
And, of course, I had to CASE it.
The Garden Green card stock 
is wrapped around an
empty brad container.  
Inside, I've tucked a little bag
of Andes Mints.
Matches perfectly.
Thanks, Judy!