Gift Card Set

I just love a little compact gift that gives that WOW factor!
I first saw this at the Branson Regional.
I wanted to give a sweet lady something special as a thank you,
and thought this would work perfect.
It contains four cards plus envelopes,
all in a little folder no bigger than 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"!
I used card stock and retired designer paper called Botanical Gazette.
Perfect use of leftover designer papers.
I just love that little bee.

Simple Sympathy Card

This is just a simple sympathy card using the Awash With Flowers stamp set.
I pulled a thread from the end of the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon to gather it.
Then added layers of Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler card stock on Naturals Ivory.

Pieces of Heart Night Out

Last Tuesday night was our monthly Pieces of Heart Team night out.
It also was Kristine Thurber's birthday, so we had even more reason to get together
and celebrate.

Somebody let the cat out of the bag and told the wait-staff we had a birthday at our table.
I love this picture of Kristine. She is trying so hard not to rip that hat off.
Sorry Kristine. You just look so cute enduring that silly song and hat.

Every month we have a new challenge to meet.
This time Mary Ellen Cope gave us jumbo clothes pins to alter.
Not an easy task I might add.
The one above is Judy Sumner's.

Patty Schnell's

Mary Ellen Cope's

Mine

This entry is by none other than our Mascot, Don.
He didn't have a jumbo clothespin,
so he used a regular size one and turned it into a grasshopper!
It REALLY did look like one too!
He wanted everyone to know that he put it together in about 45 minutes,
just before they left for the restaurant.
Once again he is just showing off!
Next month a new challenge.
Tune in to see what Mascot Don comes up with then!

Hallmark CASE

My husband, Steve, and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary,
(38 years, thank you very much!).
I received the above card from one of my dearest friends, Toni.
(Yes, I have some non-stamping friends, but don't worry, I'm working on her!)
Please excuse the coffee stain. Sometimes things get kinda wild in my stamping room.
My first thought was "Oh, that sweet Toni, she never forgets an important date."
Then my second thought was " I am so CASE-ing this card!"

Here is my version of that Hallmark card.
I had just ordered and received the Finial Press Embossing Folder
and instantly put it to work on Very Vanilla card stock.
What is hard to see here is that I patted the Whisper White Craft Ink pad
over the embossed design.
I did the same with the embossed Perfect Polka Dots on Whisper White card stock and Very Vanilla Craft Ink.
A little ribbon and a sentiment and it's ready to send to someone special...
maybe Toni!

Happy Birthday, Kristine!

Today is Pieces of Heart Stamper,
Kristine Thurber's birthday!
So I wanted to make a 'cake' for her special day.
The original idea came from Deana Schultz.
You can see her 'cake' on my April 5 posting.
It's easy to make.
Start with two Styrofoam discs, one bigger than the other
Wrap chocolate nuggets with designer paper and adhere to the outside of each disc.
It takes on the shape of a cake. Then decorate as you wish.
The 'flames' on the candles are from the Two-Step Bird Punch!
I used my Big Shot and the Naturally Serif Alphabet Die for the letters.
Hope you have a great day, Kristine!

Strawberry Daiquri Anyone?

Are you all of a sudden craving a Strawberry Daiquiri?
I've made these little strawberries before, but thought they would be perfect for the stamp set called Cheers To You!
I used the Itty Bitty Bits Heart Punch to make the body of the strawberry, and the greenery at the top is also an Itty Bitty Bits Punch. After I adhered them to my white card stock, I ran it through my Big Shot in the Square Lattice Folder.
(One of my favorite looks lately!)
Just a touch of Crystal Effects on that little strawberry on the drink glass,
and Dazzling Diamonds makes you want to have a
Strawberry Daiquiri doesn't it?

On The Grow

I am in love with this little stamp.
It's called On The Grow and can be found in the Summer Mini Catalog.
(Don't have your mini? Contact me and I will make sure you get one.)
I water colored the flowers and jar with Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Baja Breeze and our Blender Pens.
That luscious ribbon is our 1 1/4" Grosgrain in Daffodil Delight.
It makes such a pretty addition to those sweet flowers next to it.
Words are not even needed.

Petal Cone Die Cupcake

I posted this cute cupcake made with the Petal Cone Die on my blog yesterday
and for some reason it was dropped.
So here it is again.
Cuteness wrapped up with a bow!

Doing the HAPPY Dance!

O.M.G!
I have been given an award from one of my favorite bloggers,
Heather Klump!
(I kind of stalk her...but in a good way.)
She is just one of the nicest people you will ever meet and I am such a fan of her designs.

Now, to return the favor, I must list five bloggers that inspire me!
(It goes without saying, my sister, Penny Thomas, but she was included in Heather's picks.)
I check the blogs of these ladies constantly for inspiration:

Judy's Stamp Pad
Ink Bug's Stamping Fit
Live, Laugh, and Stamp with Karen
To Stamp or Not to Stamp...What a Silly Question!
Stampin' With Di


Also, I must list three things you may not know about me:

1. Cannot miss an episode of either Amazing Race, Top Chef or Project Runway!
(Kinda tricky...sometimes those last two are on at the same time!)

2. I love the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team!
Catcher Yadier (Yadi) Molina is my favorite.
(Bonus fact - My daughter went to school with
Cardinals' pitcher Kyle McClellan! So we root for him too!)

3. Worked in an elementary school for exactly THREE days.
I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Just couldn't do it!
That's why I hold a place dear in my heart for teachers!
(Plus, I raised two!)

Thanks, Heather! Keep rolling those awesome designs out so I can CASE them!
:o)

Easter Owl

I know Easter is over,
but please indulge me for just a bit.
I came across this little guy originally done by Celia Cawthon.
It is, yet again, another reason to have the Owl Punch.
There is just no end to what you can do with it.
Sorry, Mr. Owl, you are not fooling anyone!
Besides, the chocolate eggs are all gone.

Sail Away

I took part in a card swap with other demonstrators recently
and this card was one of the swaps I received.
I just love it and thought you might like to see it too.
It was made by Marsha Parsons who used the new stamp set called Sail Away.
The designer paper is Nautical Expedition.
The Baker's Twine is new too and is perfect for this card.
All of those new items can be found in the Summer Mini Catalog!

Reminds me of the song by Enya
Sail Away, Sail Away, Sail Away!

Tote-ally Krissie!

A very special young lady in our family recently graduated from Beauty School.
We are very proud of her and wanted a special gift card holder for her.
I thought of the scissors in the stamp set called Tote-ally Tess.
Perfect!
She also wears an apron and looks ready to start styling!

The gift card holder is made from an envelope that has been folded in half.
One side is taped shut and the other side holds the card.
I used a pretty ribbon to tie it closed.
How easy is that?

Congratulations Krissie!
We love ya!

May Calendar

This is the May page of the little calendar my sister, Penny Thomas, gave me.
She used the stamp set called Pocket Silhouettes for those sweet little flowers.
The Itty Bitty Shapes Punch was used to accentuate them,
along with the Basic Pearls.
The sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes.
Isn't that little butterfly cute? He is from the Embosslits Die
called Beautiful Wings.
The Embossing Folder called Perfect Polka Dots was used for the base
and the Scallop Trim Border Punch just below the flowers.
Thank you, Penny!
And Happy Mother's Day to you too!

May is National Scrapbooking Month

If you like to scrapbook, May is the month for YOU!
Now through the 31, you may purchase selected stamp sets,
hard and soft cover photobooks, individual and double-sided pages,
along with three My Digital Studio download bundles, ALL for 30% OFF!
Check out the link below to see the details and selected items:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/pamdurso/promotions

Graduation Stars

We have a family member graduating from
the University of Illinois.
(GO ILLINI!)
I just love the look of the embedded technique and applied it to this card for her.
It's so simple and really gives you that 'WOW' factor you want in a card.
After adhering the punched stars and strips at the bottom on
the Whisper White card stock, I placed it in the Square Lattice Embossing Folder
and ran it through my Big Shot.
I even tried it on the flap of the envelope!
This layout would work for a new baby, Fourth of July, birthday
and all kinds of situations when you need a quick, WOW-ful card!

So Many Shopping Bags, So Little Time!

Do you have sheets of Scrapbook or Designer Paper that you would like to use?
Make a shopping bag!
Once I started, I couldn't stop making them.
They are perfect for a small, lightweight gift.
You can coordinate the colors in your card as well.
They are cute to give as gifts too, with a little tag hanging
from the ribbon handles.
I am always searching for the right packaging,
but from now on I'll just dig through my designer papers!
An Angie Juda tutorial.

Tooth Fairy - Treat Cup

When showing you the Pieces of Heart Stampers answer to the latest challenge,
I forgot to show you mine.

It's a little container to hold the tooth in anticipation
of the Tooth Fairy's arrival.
That's exactly what the single stamp is called too, Tooth Fairy!
I added Chunky Glitter and Basic Pearls and Basic Rhinestones to really
'Bling' it up.
On top is one of our Treat Cups with some 'Fairy Dust',
otherwise known as Chunky Glitter.

You need a soft place for that tooth,
so I used our Circles # 2 Die on several pieces of felt,
and sprinkled a little more 'Fairy Dust'.

I guess you could say this is a GREEN project since I repurposed a throw away container.
But I like to think it is more of a PINK project!
:o)
I Love My Job!

Spring Is Blossoming Sneak Peek

Many times, less is more, as in this sample.
I used the new stamp set Four Frames that will be offered in the new catalog in July!
Would you like one?
Check out the details here:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryID=791
But hurry, the promotion only lasts until April 30!

Vintage Kind of Mood

I was so lucky to be able to attend the Leadership Conference in Nashville last January.
We were given the stamp set called
Clearly For You.
I liked the vintage look to it, but never pulled it out to use until now.
(You can still order this lovely set from the Occasions Mini Catalog until the 30th.)
The card layout is from Julie Marshall.

Wrap Up In This!

The colors in the Springtime Vintage Designer Paper are so pretty.
I love how they soften after being run through the
Square Lattice Embossing Folder.
The punches used were the
1 1/4" Square Punch, Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch
and the Decorative Label Punch.
Look closely at that little butterfly.
He is wearing his 'bling' today!