Yummy cookies!

Can I just tell you how delicious these shortbread cookies are that are on the Stampin' Up cookie press recipe?!  They did not last long at our house!  This was my first attempt at trying the actual recipe from the Stampin' Up brochure in the box.  Not only were they DELICIOUS, they took the impression of the stamp presses so well and were so clear even after baking!  Now I'm hooked on them!

Bug Me card

My daughter likes to plan her birthday party in advance......way in advance!  So, for this year's theme she wants a spring party.  Mind you, her birthday is in NOVEMBER!!   I decided that was just fine, though, because the big box stores have had napkins, cups, and decor for about 80% off over the summer!

I started making a trial card last week and here's how it turned out.  We have this color scheme, plus Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry in the decor and paper products.  Interesting, huh?  I got the idea for this card from a card I saw made by Becky Roberts.  I'm not sure that I'm in love with this one yet, though.  It's a start!

Stamps:  Bug Me

Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Real Red

Paper:  Whisper White, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Real Red

Accessories:  Large Scallop edgelit, finishing touches edgelit, Flower Garden embossing folder

And just for fun, this is what we got to enjoy watching during our club meeting Saturday.  I love it when the deer come eat the crabapples each summer! 

These two babies were literally less than 8 feet from our window in the kitchen!  So precious!

Handmade washi on your pages!

Here is the other page that we made at club Saturday.  This page I decided to create using a more distressed look.  I used my distress kit from last year's catalogue to add some tea stain and blue aging to the page.  I stamped the Distressed Dots background stamp at the bottom (I love that stamp!) using Summer Starfruit.

Here you can see some of the little washi tape I made - it blends in so well, I almost forgot it is not DSP!  You can see the blue piece at the top - that is the stamp from the Elementary Elegance stamp set from Sale-a-Bration last year.  I stamped it in Midnight Muse on tissue paper and glued it on with stick glue. 

Note to self:  Using an old dried up glue stick only results in tearing tissue paper and rendering it useless!!!

Here at the top of the page I stamped the flourish from the Creative Elements stamp and made some more washi with Summer Starfruit and another stamp from that set. 

Note #2 to self:  Liquid glue tends to show right through....only use stick glue for this technique!

All you need to create homemade washi is stick glue, tissue paper, and a stamp/ink!  I told you it is super cheap and fun to make!  See, even the hubbies will like that!!!  ;)

Stamps:  Distressed Dots, Creative Elements

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Distress ink

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Newsprint DSP, Comfort Cafe DSP, Midnight Muse, tissue paper

Accessories:  Gold smooch, Naturals designer buttons, linen thread, distress kit, retired love note die cut

Remember When page

Yesterday during our scrapbook club we had the best time making our projects!  And let me also just say that if you missed it....you missed some GOOD FOOD!!!! Yummy!!!  Our dear friend, Dorothy, left us leftovers and I just finished off the magnificent chicken salad - and no, I didn't share!!! ;)

Here is the title - you can see the stamp from the Word Play set right here.  I added a little butterfly from the Papillion Potpourri set next to it.  I inked up the stamp in Sahara Sand and colored the edges of the stamp with a Midnight Muse marker before stamping.  After I punched it out, I took some Gold Smooch and just brushed it around the edges and down the middle of the butterfly.

You can't really see it too well here, but I actually die cut a couple of lattice pieces with my Big Shot and spritzed Gold Smooch across the top and used them as a mask.  (It looks prettier in person!)  And you also see one of those lovely Naturals Designer buttons.  They look so nice with the Comfort Cafe paper!

Stamps:  Word Play, Papillion Potpourri

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Sahara Sand

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Midnight Muse, Comfort Cafe DSP

Accessories:  Lattice die cut, Naturals Designer buttons, linen thread, Gold Smooch, Gold Smooch Spritz

Perfectly Preserved flowers

I saw this original idea on Heather Klump's blog (magnificent stamper!) and just fell in love with the card.  I couldn't resist the card, the color combo, the way the jar looked so authentic.  I loved everything about it!  Note:  my card does NOT do justice to Heather's card!

In this first card, I stamped the jar on watercolor paper in Whisper White and used clear embossing powder to make it resist the Pool Party ink.  I like how it looks clear like a real mason jar!

Now, you can see that this card is nearly identical - this time I used StazOn ink.  Here I love the prounounced edges of the jar - everything stands out clearly!  I also did a better job of centering my jar toward the bottom!  ;)

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved

Ink:  Pool Party, Gumball Green, Wisteria Wonder, StazOn, Whisper White

Paper:  Whisper White, Black, watercolor

Accessories:  Cannery Framelits, Clear embossing powder, Wisteria Wonder baker's twine, Basic Rhinestones, Basic pearls, Punch Pack

My favorite layout from Owen's book

I recently shared my book that I made that showcased pictures of Owen's birth.  I just wanted to share my favorite layout from the entire album.  I loved these pictures that were taken by our friend, Carla, when he was just 2 weeks old.  I wanted pictures to capture those tiny hands and feet.  (Thankfully my unmanicured hands look okay in this closeup!)

I loved this little quote that I found on the internet:

First his little hands stole my heart....then his little feet ran away with it.

Can I just say too perfect for this page?!

Digital supplies (by Stampin' Up!)
So Saffron paper, My Sweet Pea DSP, Nursery Necessities Digital stamp brush, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Pictures by Carla Wells

My Digital Studio 2 has arrived!

Check out this fun new video showcasing items you can make using MDS2!  I totally want to have a party now!  Remember, there are 31 days for 31% off of select digital items this month!

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Express yourself and impress your friends when you create projects using My Digital Studio™—Stampin' Up!'s® digital designing product line. Design and print cards, photobooks, calendars, and more.

Life Shared layout

I made this layout a while back, but I am just now getting around to posting it.  The pictures in the layout to the viewer are pretty blah.....but you have to realize my daughter was making her first forts!  I remember making those as a child.  Do you?  I have great memories of that!  Sure, it leaves the house in a wreck for a while, but those forts are so much fun!  Halleigh even had to take her little brother in the fort to play! 

I thought this Life Shared stamp was just perfect for this particular layout.  I watercolored it using blender pens and the ink welled up on an ink pad.  I also added a few doodles around the frame of the wagon to add a little life around it.

Stamps:  Life Shared

Ink:  StazOn, Lucky Limeade, Riding Hood Red, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, So Saffron, Blush Blossom, Basic Black, Basic Grey

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Watercolor paper, Whisper White, Retired DSP

Accessories:  Blender Pen, White gel pen, Wisteria Wonder baker's twine, Wisteria Wonder brads

Back to School treats

As you know, school started for us this past week, so this past Monday was open house.   It was kind of odd being a teacher and trying to keep up with my classroom as well as visiting the homeroom class of my daughter.  Thankfully, my husband was there to help, because she was a bit over the top that evening - ready to run around the school!  Are all teacher's kids that way?! 

Anyway, she helped me make these little treat bags to give to the office staff, special area teachers, and a few other of her favorite teacher friends.  We made 16 treat bags total. 

I let her pick what she wanted on the treat bag, so, of course, she picked Forest Friends.  I got as much on her scene as I could possibly fit!  (In addition to what you see, she wanted the tree, the owl, some butterflies, and some flowers!!!!  The imagination of 5 year olds!)

I added a little cloud (the top of the cupcake punch) to hide the seam of the ribbon.

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Forest Friends, Inspired by Nature

Ink:  Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede

Paper:  Whisper White, Pool Party

Accessories:  CHOCOLATE!!!!  3X5" cello bags, sticky strip, Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, cupcake builder punch,

Storybook Friends

Did you miss me?  This layout will show you a good reason you haven't seen me around this week!  School started this week....needless to say, we started the baby in daycare, our daughter started kindergarten, I started back to work, she lost her first tooth and the tooth fairy came, and my husband got informed he will be laid off at the end of the month!  What a way to start a week, huh?  It's been just a little crazy....

I used the Storybook suite for this layout.  I just love the elementary school themed vintage look of this paper and the fun little animals to color!

Notice the spritzed area, I masked it with an Apothecary Accent framelit and pierced around that spot before I spritzed it.  (I used Glimmer Mist, but you could easily achieve the same result with water and re-inker in a Mini Mister).

Stamps:  Storybook Friends

Ink:  StazOn

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Real Red, Storytime DSP, Watercolor paper

Accessories:  Doily diecut, Apothecary Accents framelits, Paper Piercing template, Bitty Banner framelits, White Gel Pen, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Doily (Wilton), Thickers (American Crafts)

Baby Owen's Birth book

As you can see, I have been playing with My Digital Studio again.  This particular book template was included on the original My Digital Studio version I purchased a few years ago.  One of the things I love about these templates is that you can move, change, and delete most anything on the template and come up with something completely different!  The reason I love this is that I can keep a color scheme and theme throughout the book without getting terribly bored!  I can just keep on adding different stamps, journaling spots, designer series papers, etc until I finish my book and it looks like I took a ton of time to complete it!  (The best kept little secret?  It didn't really take that long at all!!!  And it looks terrific!!!)

Anyway, if you're interested in My Digital Studio, let me just say without hesitation....it's worth every. single. penny! I love this program and can't say enough about it!

Here's more information for you:

My Digital Studio Resources

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127217	Floral District Collection Disc	$ 23.95	$ 16.53
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129921	Check This Out Page Templates	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
129609	Blossom Builders Embellishments	$ 5.95	$ 4.11
128999	It's All Me Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127441	Whimsical Note Journal Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35
128342	Pinwheel Daily Calendar Template	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127599	Party Animal Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127600	Autumn Traditions Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
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126027	Playful Polka Dots Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
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131221	Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
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124463	One Great Year Digital Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
127175	Limited Edition Embellishments	$ 2.95	$ 2.04
129607	Walk in the Park II Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
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129923	Book of Birthdays Swatchbook Template	$ 12.95	$ 8.94
121071	Travel Journal Kit	$ 9.95	$ 6.87
129924	Get it Done Kit	$ 5.95	$ 4.11
129005	Sweetly Nested Framable	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
127758	Delight in the Day Photobook Template	$ 19.95	$ 13.77
130862	Blast Off Ensemble	$ 19.95	$ 13.77
129890	Little Milestone Birthdays Greeting Card	$ 7.95	$ 5.49
128892	Designer Gift Cards	$ 4.95	$ 3.42
127580	And a Happy New Year Photocard Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35
127435	Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set	$ 2.95	$ 2.04
127587	Sending Glad Tidings Designer Tags Kit	$ 7.95	$ 5.49
127762	Gratitude Framable Designer Template	$ 1.95	$ 1.35

Fresh new design by Carol!

I thought I'd share this today since we will be gone doing a family day today.  Carol designed this card completely herself - no borrowing ideas from others!  Didn't she do a fabulous job?  I love the color combo - there are so many fun details, like the paper piercing!  I think my favorite detail is the swirl of paper down the middle.  Her card inspired me to make one with my scraps the other day....we shall see how long it takes to make it to one of my cards!  ;)

Thanks for the inspiration, Carol!  Can't wait to see the next fresh design!

TBall Treat Bags

Since it's tball season, I decided to use the All Sports stamp set to make some treat bags.  Here was the tag that I made for the bags.  It took around an hour total to make all of the treat bags/tags.  Not too bad, I think!  Thanks to the big shot and some punches!

Here's what the bag's look like put together...full of treats sweet and baseball themed!

And here's a little peek at our little star.... they're playing for the championship tomorrow night!!!

Stamps:  All Sports

Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red

Paper:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Real Red

Accessories:  apothecary accents, bitty banners framelits, 1 3/8" circle punch, white gel pen, cherry cobbler dazzling details