Make, Take and Donate (to Oasis)

I have been watching Liz's idea for a Make, Take and Donate class for quite a few months now. I finally decided to do my own class using this same idea. I will be starting a class with the same idea at our church's outreach program, Oasis, on Saturday, January 9 at 2:00 p.m. The class will be $5 and participants will make 3 cards. Each participant will keep 2 cards and donate 1 of their choice to Oasis for the thrift store. The entire $5 will all benefit the Oasis program as we are hoping to start an outreach program soon!So, here are the cards we will be making - they are all 3 made using the Animal Crackers stamp set. The one above says, "Reach for the stars," so I added lots of star punches to the side of the image. In addition, I added some gold ultra-fine glitter to the star in the image.
All of the cards use Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Soft Suede, and Night of Navy in the color schemes.

I liked this little image here - "I'm nuts about you!" I doodled around the image with my marker and added some glitter to the nut. I watercolored the squirrel and finished off the tail with a mixture of heat and stick powder and chocolate embossing powder. I did NOT heat it, though, I just added it with glue like you would any other glitter.

Going with the "Have an ice day" idea in this image, I decided to try and make an ice cube with melted water surrounding it. To acheive this look, I first watercolored the image with bashful blue. Next, I added some dazzling diamonds to the puddle. I made "ice" by adhering a thin layer of crystal effects to the ice cube. I finished off the image by sponging around the edges with bashful blue. At the bottom, I cut off a 1/2" strip and scalloped the edge - then I sponged night of navy on the bottom layer of the card and all the way around the top 4 edges of the card base.

If you would like to make these 3 cards, join me at the Oasis building off the 914 bypass in Somerset, Kentucky on Saturday, January 9 at 2:00 - the cost is only $5 and all proceeds benefit Oasis!

Hand-made reindeer

Now, this is literally a hand made reindeer! This is a sweet little gift for loved ones - whether family or friends who need a darling little present your little one can help make! I traced Halleigh's hands on chocolate chip and one foot on creamy caramel to make this reindeer. We used a couple of the smallest chocolate chip corduroy buttons for the eyes and punched a 3/4" circle for a nose. Halleigh decided we needed lots of glitter to make Rudolph's nose glow, so we used the chunky red glitter for his nose. Finally, we matted everything on some of the beautiful Christmas Cocoa paper and spritzed it with some of the ever popular homemade shimmer mist (frost white shimmer paint and rubbing alcohol) to add the final shine to the project. Finishing it off in a 12X12 gold frame it makes a perfectly darling and elegant gift from a preschooler!

Sparkle on a scrapbook page

Well, a little more of this Merry Moments paper and I have a quick and easy scrapbook page. I used a Very Vanilla background with two strip of Merry Moments paper. I used 2 chocolate chip swirls from a sizzlits die and a tag from another sizzlits die cut for the sparkle title. Next, a Real Red photo mat and a Real Red snowflake from the elegant Snow Swirled set. I finished it off with more shimmer mist - this time I added a little bit of Sahara Sand re-inker into my shimmer mist and you could really see it this time! I'm going to miss the Frost White shimmer paint!

Snow buddies

Here is another one of my re-creations from Andrea Walford's designs. I have had this adorable Snow Buddies set for a few weeks and hadn't even used it - I just needed a good, simple design to use it on! I used Garden Green, Real Red, Sahara Sand and Merry Moments designer paper. Now that I have a total of 14 Christmas cards made....I'd better get back to work!!!

Gift bag

Well, I absolutely love Andrea Walford's simple and elegant style. I like the fact that you can create beautiful products without spending too much time! Here, I just used her idea for a gift bag and the supplies that I had on hand. I stamped the starry little symbol on the bag with Silver Encore ink and stamped my ornaments in Bermuda Bay, Kiwi Kiss, and Regal Rose. I sponged the Bermuda with Night of Navy, the Kiwi with Always Artichoke, and the Regal Rose with Rose Red. For the swirly image from the Baroque stamp set, I stamped it in VersaMark and used Heat and Stick powder and Silver ultra-fine glitter to make it really shimmery. I also learned very quickly to stop forgetting to use my embossing buddy before using ultra-fine glitter!!!

Christmas card set

I made two sets of these cards last night while I was watching tv. Both of the card sets use the same color schemes. I used Kiwi Kiss, Tempting Turquoise, and Real Red. I used a little patterned paper that had a nice quilted star look to it and I alternated between the Merry and Bright stamp set and the Delightful Decorations stamp sets.
I used the Word Window, Modern Label, and 3 flower punches on the top card and the Ornament punch on the bottom card. I'm looking forward to some new punches in our new Occasions catalogue!

Thanks beary much

Can you tell we have a 3 year old daughter who loves this stamp set? I didn't think I would be crazy about this little Build a Bear set until I turned my 3 year old loose with it. She just loves to color the images and look at the finished product.
I know what you're thinking....no....she didn't color this bear! I used this card to send thank you notes from all of her loads of birthday presents! I stayed with the same colors from the party and added a touch of glitter (which you can't see, of course!!!) for a cute and simple birthday thank you.

Little Bearthday card

Here is a quickie little bearthday card I made just the other day for my daughter's friend. It used a few scraps of paper for the background and a stamped little girl bear on watercolor paper. I colored her using Melon Mambo and Soft Suede markers. I finished it off with just a touch of glitter. This set is just perfect for giving children presents! I always think it's funny, too, that all of our friends know exactly who gave them the present when they open the card! Oh, well....that's what sharing your passion is all about!!!

Gift card holders

Here are some different gift card holders I made. This particular gift card holder also doubles as a Ghirardelli chocolate holder. I found the fabulous idea and measurements for this little darling quickie on UStamp with Dawn and Friends - it's a great little website that gives you a project a day for about 30 days or so!!!! It is absolutely fantastic for quick and beautiful, innovative gifts. Check it out on the right side of my blog - there is a tan colored blinkie that will take you right there.
This is what I did with the inside of the holder. As you can see I used the Definitely Decorative ornament stamp and ornament punch. It is terrifically quick - just like this project. Although you can't see it, I mixed some Frost White shimmer paint with real red. I love all the sparkle it makes!

Here I have used Andrea Walford's idea to create a stocking that can double as a gift card holder and an ornament. The top of the stocking lifts up to reveal the gift card. It's very cute!

Getting ready for Christmas

At our club meeting this past week we played with the oh, so beautiful shimmer paints! We made our own shimmer paint color using ink refills and did a one-sheet wonder to use on all three projects. Here are two of the projects that we made. We did a simple little scrapbook page that you see above.

Next, we used one of my role model demonstrators, Andrea Walford's idea, to create these little folios in which you can put a set of 4 bookmarks. I know you can't see it, but the front of this is spritzed with my homemade shimmer mist, so it is very sparkly! I LOVE shimmery things!

On the inside are 4 magnetized bookmarks I created. These can be used as gifts or for yourself. As you can see, I added just a little bit of magnet on the fold to attach it to the front. Then you can use it again for something else cute!!!

My baby is 3!

Well, it took a while for me to get this posted, but I actually used Liz's sketch to create Halleigh's 3rd birthday card. I liked the sketch and needed something that wasn't too complicated, but had enough character to get a quick card done in time for the birthday party last Sunday.

Of course, it got tossed amidst all the wrapping paper and boxes...but Halleigh did like all the glitter and the popped up sentiment on the front. This, of course, is always verified by the need to re-stick the sentiment on after lots of playing with her glittery card! Here is the inside, also...why is it that I always see the crooked pieces AFTER I post my cards?!

Serene Snowflakes class kit to go!

Don’t have enough Designer Paper? No Problem. This class will solve that for you. These six cards are all created using a One Sheet Wonder technique. Stamp these beautiful snowflake images as your Designer Paper, add the co-ordinating matchbook and you have an amazing gift set!

Supplies

• Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Four the Holidays

• Ink: Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand Classic inks, Frost White Shimmer paint

• Paper: Kraft CS, Not Quite Navy CS, Very Vanilla CS, Medium Very Vanilla Envelopes

• Accessories: Sticky Strip, Snail adhesive, Paper Snips, paper-piercing tool, mat pack, Scallop Edge punch, Jumbo Snowflake punch, bone folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin’ Scrub and Mist, paper trimmer and Scoring blade, pencil, Stamping Sponges, Sponge Daubers, grid paper, paint palette, paint brush, RSVP pen, Crop-A-Dile

You can purchase this class kit for $25 through Pay Pal OR you can get it for FREE with a $50 purchase on my Stampin' Up website.

Shop right now at http://valeriedurham.stampinup.net/

***This offer is not good for SU demos. Please visit demotodemo.com if you would like to purchase a class kit.

Tree of Life

I decided I couldn't do all of my Disney trip pics in an ongoing album, so I think I'm going to try an 8.5 X 8.5 album for them. So...this is the opening page of our trip - we went with some of our best friends. Thus, this is "friends for life at the Tree of Life." I cut out the birds in the Tall Tales DSP and set them on a few branches I cut out from the birds and branches sizzlits die cut. For the title letters, I smeared Old Olive craft ink all over some chipboard letters and embossed with clear powder (while they flew all over the place!!!) Finally, I dotted the little spots on the birds with glue and dipped it into green glitter because everything needs a little sparkle!

New challenge blog - Treasures from Scraps

How would you like to win a $20 gift certificate to 2 Peas in a Bucket?
Well, you may have noticed a new little gadget to the right side of my blog...I was selected to be on a brand new design team for a great new challenge blog called Treasures from Scraps. You can click right on the banner to go directly to the website. If you would like to join in on the challenge, you could be the lucky winner of a $20 gift certificate to 2 Peas in a Bucket!!!
So, here in this post you get to see my first creations for the design team! The challenge was for items that would help you decorate your home for fall and since the leaves are falling everywhere around me, I was quite inspired!
Above you will see the scrapbook page I made to put some lovely pictures of my sweet daughter who is turning 3 on Sunday (boo hoo - she's not a baby anymore!) If you notice the little Curly Label punch on the left side, it pulls out to put journaling underneath the picture spot.

Here are a few closeup shots. The one above shows the letter. I don't know who makes these chipboard letters, but they were a natural woodgrain color. I didn't mind the color, but I decided to mix a little shimmer paint with Soft Suede re-inker to create some shimmery brown paint. It didn't take much - just a few drops of each. Next, I painted the letters using a q-tip - it was nice and easy to smear and really quick to just throw away when I was finished.

Now you can see the image on the page. I put a definition on the page - Gratitude and used some chocolate chip buttons to accent that definition. Next, I stamped the above image from the Wandering Words stamp set onto some Very Vanilla paper. I used some More Mustard and Really Rust stampin' spots to twist some color onto the leaves and swirls. I say twist because that is the best way to describe it! I wanted it to resemble the changing colors of the leaves in the fall. Then I took a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker and colored the sentiment with it. After stamping the image, I spritzed the image with my homemade shimmer mist for a final touch of glimmer.

Here is a lovely and simple card to make for a thank you note in the fall. I used the same stamping technique on this image and accented it with a mini library clip and some chocolate chip taffeta ribbon. Now, you may think the picture looks grainy, but it is actually my homemade shimmer mist again! I love this shimmer paint - and I especially love the simple addition of mixing it with alcohol to spritz across things! (Just don't spritz too much or you might get a little too spritz happy!!! Or stinky....) At least it dries really quickly!!!

Here is a little turkey for your table that doesn't have to worry about getting eaten! I made this out of chipboard and cardstock. I wanted it to stand up on it's own, so I made a stand for the back so you could place a notepad or even your salt and pepper shaker behind it.

The feathers are made using the Sweet Centers stamp set - they are actually meant to be flower petals, but I used them for feathers. Inside the Sweet Treat cup is the center of an artificial sunflower. I often take apart artificial flowers to use on other projects, so since I hate to throw things away (yes, I admit I'm a packrat...) I end up finding a new use for them later on! For the legs, I crimped some More Mustard and let his legs dangle in the front.

So, here is my humble little ensemble - hope you like it!!! Join the latest challenge at Treasures from Scraps - you might just be the lucky winner of $20 from 2 Peas in a Bucket!

Stamps: Wandering Words, Define your Life, Sweet Centers

Ink: More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip, Autumn Meadows

Accessories: Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, mini library clip, chipboard letters, chocolate chip buttons, curly label punch, Sweet treat cup, sunflower center from flower

Purse sized Christmas planner

Here is a (crooked picture) sneak peek at the project we are going to make for our club meeting this month. We are making a purse sized Christmas planner to take with you when you go shopping. It has Christmas card lists, wish lists, gift lists, a calendar, and even a thank you list! What a handy little item to take with you in all the holiday buzz that is already starting!

The Great Pumpkin Day is coming!

Well, I guess this image blurred a little bit! So much for getting a clear picture on the scanner! Anyway, I did a quick little treat for the preschoolers at church and daycare. I wrapped a little notepad in Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry and then stamped the Halloween image from the Sweet Treats for the bottom part. I used a glue dot to hold on a set of Halloween crayons and finished it off with some jute and the center of the stamped image. The next two are pins that I made for the daycare workers. I used the curly label punch as the base and then a few hole punches and paper snips to make a Frankenstein and Dracula. Hopefully they weren't too scary for them! I also covered each with 2 layers of Mod Podge just to keep it from being too flimsy to wear on a shirt.

And here is the bag that I sent all of the worker's pins in. I used a white paper bag and covered the front with a 6 X 6 inch piece of black cardstock. I used the Whisper White and Old Olive craft ink to set the Baroque images on the background. For the pumpkin, I just glued a bunch of wide oval punches together and snipped a little stem for it. Finally, I used the Movers and Shapers Curly Label to punch the Old Olive paper and put some stampin' dimensionals under it. For a little ending touch, I added a few Boho Blossoms to the corner.

And one last bag that I made for my little niece, Brinklee. I found a few board books to send her for Halloween, so I used the Build-a-Bear pumpkin outfit to make a sweet and simple bag for her as well.

Last MDS pages

Well, I just finished the last of my certification quizzes for My Digital Studio...I guess if I had watched all of those webinars BEFORE I started this, I could have just made a video to post of the whole entire album. Ah, but that will be a project for the next album, because I am most certainly NOT done playing with this fun program!

So, I apologize for small photos and blurry reproductions, but I will say that the album that I ordered from SU is truly outstanding! It was definitely worth every penny!

Here are a few pics from Belize - we went to Mayan ruins, a place called Altun Ha. They were located in a clearing in the middle of the rain forest - very thick with mosquitos! But also rich in culture and history.

And here is the Belize Zoo. Certainly not the most outstanding zoo I have ever been to, but definitely the most darling and natural zoo. All of the animals truly live in their natural habitat - no man-made living environments for them (unless you count cages). The zookeeper was near the jaguar, so she allowed Toby to touch his paw. I think Toby was on cloud 9 for the rest of the day!

And what other background color can you choose for beautiful pictures of a sparkling ocean? I never knew the ocean could be so vividly clear until going on this trip. After snorkeling in Cozumel I am now a huge fan of it! I saw angel fish, lobster, a huge school of fish, porcupine fish, and even barracuda!

And as if that weren't enough to make me ecstatic, there were fabulous fajitas just a mile down the road from our stop!

Well, thankfully we aren't treated to dining like you see above every night...my hubby ate 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts every night! You would think I couldn't cook! We enjoyed the beautiful view and the outstanding food, though!

While we were at dinner the last night, we had our friends from our table sign their names to a picture we took of them so that we would never forget them. They were terrific company every night!

And one last look at the cruise had to remember how much our little girl loved the kids area. We didn't have to feel guilty dropping her off for a date night, because she begged to go play in the kids room every night! Well, I guess if I got to do fun things like face painting every night, I would probably beg to go, too! I believe I'll just have to beg for enough money to go on another cruise someday...maybe in another 10 years we can save up again! For now, I think it's time to cruise on through some more pictures and projects!

More MDS

Okay, so here is where the pages that I created start. I started with our cruise pictures. I realize that the picture below this is a terrible picture, but despite the terrible lighting, I loved the way that the picture highlighted my daughter's beautiful, long curls in her hair!

And here the layout above was a pre-made layout, but I figured out that you could add a mirror image and even flip the details, so I really like the cohesive look it created - nice and simple, but just perfect for our pictures together. I really liked these pictures to showcase our anniversary - they just showed us - the way we are together. We're just silly and happy!

Again, the pictures for this layout were terrible, so I converted all but one into black and white - that way, it was okay to use all these bright colors on the layout! Here, you will notice that as I put the layout of photos on the pages, the same idea was used on the second page, but it was flipped over.

Yes, those are real stingrays...no they did not cut the tails off of them. In the Grand Cayman Islands lies a HUGE sand bar where the water is only 2 - 4 feet deep and hundreds of wild stingrays come to swim with people it was awesome!

So for the scrapbook page - I took the same beginning layout of the opening page of the previous post below and changed the papers, lowered the opacity and used different embellishments.

Here is a page I wanted lots of pictures on. We had so many pictures from Roatan, an island off of Honduras. This is one of the beautiful things about My Digital Studio - it is so easy to add many photos and to get the largest majority of your picture in each photo spot. I have tried printing pictures at home in different sizes to scrapbook in the past. The problem was always that if you sneezed, cried or slightly scratched the picture, the image would easily deterioriate. In MDS, I can add pictures of any size and in turn, I don't have to create so many layouts. Plus, there are no wasted pictures that I might have printed out and not used!