PIF cards

Had to make a sympathy card the other night for Mitch's best buddy, whose father-in-law passed away suddenly last week.

This was an image I received from Michelle (JustPaintingAround) on the PIF thread a few weeks ago. This card took me very little time to put together because the stamping was done for me! All I had to do was match the cs to the ink and go from there.

Recipe: Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, WW, Almost Amethyst DSP. Mellow Moss and Almost Amethyst markers. Photo corner punch, mini brads.

I also made a card for Brandon's birthday party on Saturday using To the Finish (retired) PIF image from Laurie (laurlynn). Again the card went together really quickly, but I forgot to take a pic before it went in the gift bag. I also used a PIFed CB background Dot and Spots from Diane (DLS881). I'll make some more and post those, so it will almost be the same.

Dad's Birthday

Dad drove up yesterday to spend his birthday hanging out with us. Being a man who doesn't really NEED anything, I decided to make him a name frame for his Husker room. He has been a huge Nebraska Husker fan forever. Getting him anything Husker is always a safe bet, so I went with a fairly safe gift but made it. Picked up a frame while at Wally's World getting a birthday gift for Brandon's little buddy.

Well, all was going well Sunday night while I made this, except I left the frame in the car. It was late and raining, so I decided to finish it before Dad got here yesterday. Of course that didn't work!

So here I am yesterday, trying to explain this frame to him holding the letters in a pile with an empty frame. Being a guy, he did the best he could to be excited. But being my dad, he made it sound like he was thankful.

Mitch went to bed alone again while I finished this up. I'm pretty happy with how well it turned out.

The frame had a thin mat for three pictures, so I trimmed the mat to have even sides. Using retired Cerise paper, I choose the least girly pattern and cut strips trying to match the pattern at the corners.

I had stamped, matted and trimmed the letters on Sunday. The longest part of the evening was cutting and mounting the tiny alphabet Rough Edges that I wanted to use for the frame. I pulled out my neglected Hodgepodge Harware to use some of the pieces. I have a hard time using these and I've used all the brads that match, so I had to find a different way to finish it off. A little ribbon doesn't make it too girly either.

Recipe: Headline Alpha (retired), Rough Edges. Cerise DSP (retired), Real Red, Black, WW CS. Real Red, Black ink. BOHO West Rub-ons, Hodgepodge hardware, black grosgrain ribbon.

Two down, one to go

Still no cards or projects to show you today.

But I met with two of my three STs this morning at Panera. I got the paperwork I needed from them and gave them my stuff. I still have one rec letter to write, but I have all the finals written. Last year it was, like, June before I finally started this. This year the university gave supervisors a deadline for paperwork to be turned in.

Just a side proud mama note: C was with me, as usual. We were at Panera's for 1 1/2 hours and SHE WAS FABULOUS! Didn't fuss, didn't whine that she was bored. She was awesome. I just love that little one!

And I was on time to pick up the boy from PS.


Since I don't have any pictures, here's another blogger friend from the PIF thread. Stephanie has incredible talent!

Check her out and let her know that I sent you over.
http://stephaniesstampinspot.blogspot.com/

Student teacher evaluations

No cards to post today. I've been finishing up my student teacher final observations. Of course being the Queen of Last Minute, I started working on these last night because I'm seeing my three tomorrow morning. So here's a run down of what I should have been working on the past few weeks instead of PIFing over on SCS:

***** The last written observation form for all three ---- completed
***** Final Evaluation Form based on 19 Praxis criteria --- finished all three (first hand-wrote these. Not very professional, so I redid all three in Word. Much better!)

**** Recommendation letters for all three----still to do.

Plenty of time! It's only 4:30! We're meeting tomorrow morning. Plenty of time!

Mama Robin still has eggs, no babies yet. If we're going to have babies, they should arrive this weekend.

So here are a few blogs of some ladies I've met on the PIF thread.

Check out Jada's (hobbywoman) http://mysanityblog01.blogspot.com/
She has a clean style that I really like.

Pam has been creating these fabulous outfits and jewelry for little girls. Check out her blog
http://pamspride.blogspot.com/

She has an ESTY shop also if you are interested in any of her outfits or jewelry sets.

Sandy is another wonderful PIF friend I've made lately. She has a wonderful clean style of stamping also.
Check out her blog here http://stampinsandy.blogspot.com/

I'll get some stamping done tonight. I have a sympathy card to make for Mitch's best bud whose father-in-law suddenly passed away earlier this week.

This is very cool!

A robin made this nest on our electric meter while we were in Cincinnati a few weeks ago. Mitch was able to hook up a remote camera so the kids can watch the bird from inside the house.

Over the course of 4-5 days, she laid these eggs. Mitch did some research and found this out:
***Robins tend to lay 4 eggs, one egg a day.
*** Robins lay their eggs in the afternoon, rather than in the morning like other birds.
*** The mama rotates the eggs so the yolks don't stick to the inside of the shells.
*** If fertilized, the eggs will hatch in 10-14 days.

The meter is located by the garage. The kids and I have been trying to stay off the driveway so she doesn't stay off her eggs for too long. Of course, we have had the nicest weather this past week!

Hopefully, we will see some baby robins soon!

PIF images used

Here are three cards I made last night using PIF images. I even used a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug piece that was a PIF. I've picked up my own Bug, but it was PIF night, so I used what had already been done.

I wanted to make a card for a PIF friend who fell last week and shattered her wrist in 12 places. I also wanted to make a card for my friend Steph, whose birthday is Friday. I think this will be the first year that I managed to get a card out to her BEFORE her birthday. The fact that I'm sending a card in the first place is an accomplishment!

The Moose You card took about 10 minutes to complete! That included cutting out the three hearts! Love that!

Riot of Petals, Black ink, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pom, White CS, Watercolor Crayons, aquapainter.

Sassy Suzy, black ink, Sahara Sand, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky Designer paper, white.

watercolor crayons.

Moose You, black and Real Red ink, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, white, Sahara Sand CS, Swiss Dots CB embossing folder.

The best part of these cards---they went together very quickly because I didn't have to think about placement. I had to work with what I had. Love it!

Thoughtful people make me smile

I received this wonderful card from Denise (peanutbee) as a thank-you for hosting Round 23 on the PIF thread.

I have been trying to send more cards to my friends just because. I always enjoy receiving cards, so I'm trying to do that for my friends.

I've been tagged!

I've been blog tagged! I'm supposed to list 7 random things about myself then "tag" 7 other bloggers.

1. I met my husband in a bar the summer before my senior year at Bowling Green. I am eternally grateful to my friend Stephanie for that intro.

2. Since Mitch is a huge BGSU football fan, I have learned to like football also. I have been to every championship bowl game that BG has been to since 1992 : Las Vegas Bowl, 1992; Detroit Motor City Bowl, 2003; 2006 GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL; 2007 GMAC Bowl in Mobile.

3. My family has a history of being teachers or attorneys. Grandparents were educators, Several aunts are teachers, my mother is a college administrator/professor, my sister is a teacher and I was a teacher before I stayed home with the kiddos. My father is an attorney and so is my youngest sister.

4. I'm not a very out-doorsy kind of gal, but I enjoy camping and working in the garden.

5. I have visited over 30 states and three countries.

6. I can live with an amazing amount of clutter, until I can't find anything.

7. I got into stamping three years ago when I joined SU! as a demonstrator. It's been the best thing I've done for myself because I've met some fabulous people and made some truly great friends!

I was tagged by Sandy. I met her through the PIF stamp image swap over on SCS. So I tagged ladies from that thread. Here are the blogs I've tagged so far:
Shanna's blog http://photoholic-sb.blogspot.com
Sandy http://stampinsandy.blogspot.com
Alison http://stampersramblings.blogspot.com
Denise http://thepaperlandscaper.com
Julie http://paperandsuch.blogspot.com
Stephanie http://stampincats.blogspot.com
Tessa

PMS Night Tech class samples

Here are two uber cute treat holders. We made the handled basket at Cindy's stamp club workshop. I also showed masking, which I showed at the last PMS Night tech class. Masking is a basic technique but it really is fun and adds a ton of dimension to your cards.

The treat box on the right will be featured at this month's PMS Night technique class.

I probably shouldn't show this picture because I gave my secret sister the Pinch Proof box for St. Patty's day. She probably knows it's me, so I'll post it anyway.

I used my favorite punch, the scallop. LOVE this punch. It is sooo versatile!

Recipe: Garden Whimsy. Cutie Pie DS, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava, WW, Purely Pomagranite CS. Purely Pom ink. Scallop, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle, brads. Peppermint Patties.

Pinch Proof. Green Galore, WW CS. Green Galore ink. Scallop punch, acetate sheets (transparencies), bone folder.

PMS Night is April 18th at the Donato's on Norton Rd. Bring your projects to work on. Email or call if you want me to bring a specific punch or stamp set.

Hanging head in shame

Remember that box I sent to Kim for her first Open House. Well, it didn't go to Utah---it went to Nevada. Yes, that's right. She lives in Nevada.

How did I get Utah? Who knows. The only thing I can think of is that the Convention chatter has began and Convention is in Utah.

I know. It's a stretch.

Kim, I really do know my US geography!

Open House gift

I sent this to Kim, my new downline, who lives in Utah. I couldn't be at her Open House this past weekend, so I sent her a box of goodies to help her get her business started. I included cardfronts from various swaps that I made or received from other demos, various punches in different colors, half sheets of the In colors, punches from the 5-petal flower punch in the In Colors so she could showcase how great these colors are (plus this fabulous punch!), and a SU! money bag. Welcome, Kim!

Pinch Proof

These are two cards I made using Pinch Proof. Shannon brought it with her to the 60 card class, so I stamped up a bunch of images in various shades of green.

It turned out to be a really easy set to use. Shannon also had the brilliant idea of using this guy if you are a Notre Dame fan. Brilliant!

Date change for PMS Night

PMS Night was scheduled for this Friday, April 11.

It has been changed to April 18th. Donato's on Norton Rd. at 6:00. $7.00 for pizza, drinks and use of my stamps, inks and punches. $3.00 for optional technique class.

This month's class will feature Clear boxes, using acetate (clear transparency sheets). I'll also show you how to make the little treat box if you missed last month's Stamp Club meeting. See the SCS tutorial here http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ee/index.php/resources/tutorials/tiny_treat_basket/

Tribute to the fallen

When I saw that SU! finally had a new patriotic set in the Spring/Summer Catalog, I knew that I would have to get it. Since I'm currently under a new stamp restriction (self-imposed so I can save money for Convention in SLC in July), I had to earn it using Hostess Benefits. Thankfully, I had a good response to the 60 card from a Simply Scrappin' Kit last month and was able to get this set for free. It has been a popular set to snag over on the PIF thread, so it's on my table all the time. When I learned that SSgt. Matt Maupin had been found in Iraq, I was incredibly sad. Mitch really took it hard; even knowing there was little hope of finding him still alive after almost 4 years. But until he was found, there was always hope. He had participated in or organized almost weekly missions while he was in Iraq looking for Matt, so he has been invested. When he went to bed early, I headed up to the loft to stamp some PIF's. I felt compelled to make this card for Mitch and I gave it to him as he was leaving for this week's Pride Conference in Cincinnati. I wanted the soldier to be the focus, so I didn't color in the flag. I punched out the key words from the sentiment with the word window and placed it on top of some other punched pieces so it would line up the way I wanted. And I was able to use mostly scraps, so that made me happy as well.

Recipe: The Free and the Brave. Kraft, Black, Night of Navy, Real Red, WWhite. Stazon black, WWhite Craft ink. Word window punch, Watercolor Crayons, blender pen.

Here are some pictures of a name frame that I made for Shannon's daughter. She won this during our annual MOPS silent auction last week. with Anna Marie's birthday this weekend, I needed to get a move on. Shannon had said that AM loved pink and blue, but she wanted something that would not be outgrown in a year or two. All but the flower brads are SU! Now that it's finished, I wish I had popped up the name letters on pop-dots. But I'm not going back and doing this since we are leaving for Cinci later today to see Mitch and the National Guard 88 car at the conference.

I added a bit of bling to the flowers with Dazzling Diamonds.

Recipe: Headline Alpha, Island Blossoms (both retired); Cutie Pie DS paper, Night of Navy, WWhite, Pretty in Pink, Lovey Lilac, Bashful Blue, Regal rose, So Saffron, Barely Banana CS and Inks, Dazzling Diamonds, Flower brads(non-SU!)

Even though I donated this to help raise money for MOPS, it my first commission piece. Whoo hoo! Crossing fingers for more to come in the future!

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Wow! That was easy!

Well. I did it, as you can see. I joined the blogging craze. I'm going to begin this blog assuming that those who will read it already know me a bit; so I won't go into huge detail about me right now.

I have been thinking of starting a blog for several years. I look back and think that it would have been cool to have one while Mitch was in Iraq. It would have been a great journal. I type faster-and neater- than I write, so a blog seems like the right fit. Since this will be mostly a stamping/papercrafting blog, it would have been cool to see how my style has changed and improved over the almost three years I've been stamping.
I went to my first Stampin' Up! party almost exactly three years ago. I had never really stamped before--just a few $1.00 stamps and ink pads from Meijers and Michael's. Well, I liked to think of myself as a scrapper, since I began scrapping after I had my oldest daughter. I had been looking for something to do from home that involved scrapbooking and had been researching various companies. I went to this SU! party thinking I would only purchase the stamp scrubber and mist. Well, I got the scrubber and mist and a stamp set, Sincere Saluations, that was being sneaked peaked for the upcoming catalog. During the party, I pretty much decided I would join, so I thought this would be a good set to get. (I still LOVE this set and use it all the time!) I signed up and officially became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator on April 4th. So this blog is kind of like an anniversary present to myself. I wasn't sure I would last this long. I said I would stay with being a demo as long as I was having fun.

I made this card while on vacation in South Carolina. I took my big rolling bag with me so I could stamp during down times. I had several PIF's to stamp and a gift certificate to make, so I packed accordingly. I also knew that I would have time during naps and at night to play with my new punches.

Here's the recipe: Calendar, Hug and Wishes. Whisper White, Real Red, Taken with Teal, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou CS. Stazon Timber Brown (retired). Large and small star punches, Dazzling Diamonds.


PIF's are Pay It Forward stamp images from a thread that I'm currently addicted to over on Splitcoast. It's a great concept. It basically comes down to this: Person A posts their stamp list they are willing to stamp images of and mail off to someone. Person B sees the list and is the first to post their request for one of the stamp sets listed. If they are the first to "snag" the image, then they will receive those images in the mail. Then Person B posts their stamp list for all to see. Persons C-Z look and try to be the first to snag an image set from Person B's list. Person B will send those images chosen to Person C. And on and on it goes. It's a great way to get images of different stamp sets or stamp companies like Stamping Bella. Come on over and join the fun!
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=337775

Here's a PIF image of Blooming Beautiful from the Ocassions mini. I really like this set and was fortunate to get some fabulous images!