Show and Tell

Clean and Simple. Remember?

Well, I'm trying to get back in the clean and simple groove. It is what I'm most comfortable with. And, maybe you remember, I'm working my way through Natasha's sketches on the Clean and Simple blog. The goal was to do the current one and a past one, two a week. After all, they're clean and simple, right? How long could that take? Apparently, longer than I've had time for recently. So — I'm no longer current, but I'm not terribly behind. (However, "behind" seems to be my usual place in life... I should really be used to that feeling...)

Here are two birthday cards. The first is for Fall-to-Layout 64. I cut my cardstock a little smaller and hung my decorative die-cut over the edge. I seem to be liking that look lately.

 

 

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AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Floral Fusion, Guide Lines Two); cardstock is PTI (Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush); patterned paper is several years old so I have no idea where it's from; ink is Stampin' Up (Positively Pink) and VersaMark embossed in Detail White; ribbon is PTI (Dark Chocolate satin); also used Stampin' Up Beautiful Butterflies die and PTI Cream Button Twine.

The next birthday card is for Fall-to-Layout 15.

 

 

 

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Those flowers are actually all on one stamp. They're meant to be used with a branch image included in the set (which, I'm sorry to say, is not for sale — it was the "free with required purchase" set from the CHA Supershow last summer). Anyway, I inked it with Melon Berry, "erased" the ink from the smaller flowers with a baby wipe, and then reinked those with the corner of a Summer Sunrise ink cube — a fairly easy way to get two colors on one stamp.

AND TELL:  all is from Papertrey Ink — stamps (Floral Fusion); cardstock (Melon Berry, Vintage Cream); ink (Dark Chocolate, Melon Berry, Summer Sunrise, Tea Dye Duo); ribbon (Dark Chocolate grosgrain); orange gemstones.

I actually made these cards a couple of weeks ago. Must've been in a subdued mood. Wait 'til you see the cards I'm posting next. Subdued would not be a word to describe them!

Until then — be well and be safe! Thanks for taking the time to stop by my little blog!!

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Last week we had our November Prayer Breakfast at the preschool. Our "fruit of the month" for November is faithfulness, so I whipped out a new scripture card to add to our collection. (See this post for the folder and kindness card, and this one for the self-control card.)

Before giving the card to the staff members, I added Psalm 89:1 — "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations." The Lord is so faithful to me. I certainly need to display faithfulness to Him and to others.   

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AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (2009 Autumn Tags, Fresh Alphabet); ink is from Stampin' Up (So Saffron, More Mustard)

Thanks for coming by today. Hope you're having a great one!

{belated} birthday wishes

Yesterday was my sister-in-law's birthday. Ken reminded me twice last week. You would think that I could've gotten something finished and in the mail. Or picked through my stash of already completed birthday cards and quickly sent one off. But, not me. Oh, no. I had to create something new.

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She deserved a brand new card, don't you think? (And, what do you think of that bling? It was in some blog candy that I won from Ashley Newell's blog several months ago.) 

Since the base cardstock is so dark, I lightly stamped a piece of Vintage Cream for the inside. Gotta have somewhere to write (a note of apology for being late). So, tomorrow this card is off to California. Happy {belated} birthday, Kris! Hope your day was fabulous!!

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (Giga Guide Lines, Polka Dot Basics II, Background Basics: Text Style); cardstock is PTI (Plum Pudding, Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise, Lavender Moon, New Leaf); ink is PTI (Summer Sunrise, Melon Berry, Dark Chocolate) and VersaMark Watermark; also used a Sizzix die (Flower Layers) and the bling is from Prima Marketing.  

One more word on the card. I cut it smaller than 4-1/4" wide so that I could hang the leaves a little over the edge and still have it fit in a regular-sized (A2) envelope.

Oh, and one more word. I promise this is the last on the card. (Obviously, I'm a little chatty today.) The words on the leaves are upside-down. I know. Well, I didn't know until I put the photo nice and big on my computer screen. What a pain to have your eyes get old! Since Kris is older than me, maybe she won't notice. :)  (Except that I just spilled the beans...)

Now, if you can stand it, I'm going to share four more pictures from our jaunt to the NC State Fair last month. Then I think I'll stop. Here's the big and small of the fair.

Those are some big sweet potatoes. And, yes, they're all large.

Then, look at this watermelon. All 211 pounds of it. Look, but — whatever you do — don't touch. Please.

And, how about this. I know it's not a great picture, but (for the family) you can see Britt, Ken, and Kenneth gawking at the great pumpkin.

 
I guess the lady sitting there is the pumpkin's guard. You never know when someone might try to sneak off with the prize-winning pumpkin. Or, touch it. Don't. Please.

Yep, one more picture. You've seen the big. Now for the small.

What does one do with teeny-tiny peppers like this?

OK, that's it for today. Thanks so much for coming by for a visit. I didn't resize my pictures before putting them in today's post. Let me know if that makes a difference in the amount of time it takes for the blog to load. Just trying to save myself some time, but if it makes it harder for you I'll go back to resizing. Hope to see you again soon! 

Plum Crazy!

Yep, plum crazy. That's what I must be to have tackled this project for this month's stamp club.

You know I'm usually quite clean and simple. Few layers. Not much trimming of anything. Just let the stamps, papers, and sentiments speak for themselves. Well, maybe I don't accomplish that much, but that's my preference. Quick and easy. Especially when I'm making 12 of something.

But, our theme for November's stamp club meeting is "packaging". So, I thought I'd dress up simple lunch bags by sturdy-ing and fancy-ing them up with cardstock fronts and backs. And, I thought I might as well step way out of my comfort zone and participate in Cath's Moxie Fab Plum Crazy challenge.

Packaging for Stamp Club. Moxie Fab. Plum. Those were my starting points. 

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Here it is from the side. Using a plain, ordinary lunch bag makes the base of the bag inexpensive and really provides ample room for a nice little gift. Add some tissue paper, maybe tie it shut with ribbon, and you've got a pretty classy looking gift. Especially considering its humble beginnings. 

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Medallion; Delightful Decorations); cardstock is Stampin' Up (Perfect Plum, Pale Plum) and Papertrey Ink (Kraft); ink is Stampin' Up (Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Craft White); ribbon is PTI (Plum Pudding): buttons are PTI (Lavender Moon); Kaiser clear rhinestones, gold thread, and Stampin' Up punches (Scallop Border Punch, Ornament, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, 1" Circle). 

Thanks for coming by today. I know I've been a bad blogger this week. I really appreciate you not giving up on me! Gotta get to club...

Iced Pumpkin Cookies

Today we went to a Pig Pickin' at the home of some of our Bank of America Stadium Section 204 friends (where we sit for Panthers games). The Panthers were playing in Arizona, so we ate some good ol' North Carolina pork barbecue and watched the game at our friends' house. And, the Panther's won! Yippee!!

Anyway, remember yesterday I told you I baked pumpkin cookies? Mmmm. They're so tasty and they make your house smell divine! I thought I'd take a container of them with us today and at the last minute decided they needed a label. I know I always appreciate knowing what's on those plates at a potluck-type event, so a quick label seemed like a good idea.

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Here's a link to the recipe, if you're interested. (I seem to remember discovering these yummy cake-like cookies through the blog of one of the Papertrey Ink design team last year about this time — just can't remember which one. Sorry — at least I have a link to the recipe, right?)

AND TELL:  stamp is Papertrey Ink (2009 Autumn Tags); cardstock is from Stampin' Up (Whisper White, Certainly Celery); stamp is inked with Stampin' Up markers (Pumpkie Pie, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa) and writing is done with the Basic Black marker; also used EK Success 2" Scallop Circle Punch.

I think that's going to be all for tonight. Better start getting ready for the first week of November! Thanks so much for stopping by — hope to see you again soon!!

from our patch to yours

Happy Halloween!

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Well, I couldn't help myself. I had a whole day at home. I put hot spiced cider on the stove. Made banana bread. Made iced pumpkin cookies. Should've cleaned the bathrooms, but instead I made a card — just for you! (And enjoyed all the fabulous aromas coming from my kitchen!)

AND TELL:  stamps are from Stampin' Up (Pumpkin Patch); cardstock is Papertrey Ink (Kraft, Vintage Cream, Orange Zest) and Stampin' Up (Confetti Cream); ink is PTI(Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, True Black, Vintage Tea Dye Duo); ribbon, button, and button twine are PTI (New Leaf, rustic); also used Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder for the Cuttlebug, Classic Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Stampin' Up Modern Label Punch, and an orange Kaiser rhinestone.

Thought I'd take a little break from showing you State Fair pictures and share a few from our Halloween.

A few years ago Ken discovered that he could carve a pumpkin with his power tools. That changed his whole attitude toward the task! :)

And here's Jack, all cleaned up, just waiting for it to get dark and for all the fun to begin.

While I was out taking pictures of the pumpkin, guess who showed up?

Tinkerbell!! Oh, how we love having a three year old next door!

Hope your Halloween has been safe and happy! Thanks for taking a little time to come by here!
 

Trees for Every Season

 
I made this set of cards for the October Papertrey Ink Guest Star Stamper contest in the Best Use of a Previous Set category. They didn't win, but I still think they're pretty cute.

Back in August I had done a similar card for the Papertrey Blog Hop (here) and just reworked and expanded on what I had done there.

The starting point was the trees stamp from Everyday Button Bits. Instead of buttons for the treetops, I used patterned paper or punched cardstock circles that had been stamped with images from Guidelines II. I adhered buttons on top of some of the paper circles. Others I left "as is" and some I embossed to represent snow-covered branches.

SHOW:  Spring Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, Mega Mixed Messages; cardstock: Lemon Tart, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Spring Rain), Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet); ink (Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Fresh Snow) and Stampin' Up's Pink Passion; buttons: Raspberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet; also used Divine Swirls Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, Fiskars Apron Edge Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, pink rhinestones from my stash.

SHOW:  Summer Card   

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, Scattered Showers; cardstock: Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Ripe Avocado), Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Rain); ink: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, New Leaf, Fresh Snow; buttons: Pure Poppy; also used Fiskars Apron Edge Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, green rhinestones from my stash. 

SHOW:  Autumn Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, 2009 Autumn Tags; cardstock: Summer Sunrise, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Box Basics (Spring Rain), Bitty Dot Basics (Ripe Avocado); ink (Dark Chocolate, Summer Sunrise, Fresh Snow) and Stampin' Up's Tangerine Tango and Real Red; buttons: Dark Chocolate, Melon Berry, Pure Poppy; also used Divine Swirls Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, EKSuccess Embossed Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, orange rhinestones purchased from PTI.

SHOW:  Winter Card

AND TELL:  all products are PTI unless noted; stamps: Eveyday Button Bits, Guidelines II, 2008 Holiday Tag Collection; cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Dark Chocolate, White, Kraft; patterned paper: Bitty Dot Basics (Spring Rain); ink (Dark Chocolate, Fresh Snow) and VersaMark; also used Swiss Dots Embossing Folder from Provo Craft, EKSuccess Embossed Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Up's Modern Label Punch and 3/4", 1", and 1-1/4" circle punches, Stamp 'n Stuff white detail embossing powder, prisma glitter adhered to circle with Xyron, clear rhinestones purchased from PTI.

And, you know I have to show you more pictures from our trip to the State Fair. How about some livestock? It just wouldn't be a state fair without small children trying to get big animals to cooperate in the show ring.

 

Watching that boy with his cow reminded me of this boy with his cow.

 

August 1942. That's my dad with his cow, Beauty. The two of them won a blue ribbon at the 4-H fair.  Dad was 11 years old. I didn't know my dad as a cow-handler. I don't think I ever saw him with any animal larger than a dog. Well, we did ride horses a couple times, but by the time I came along, he had completely transformed himself from farm boy to professional educator. We were town folk.

And, I don't know about you, but I live in this relatively sanitary suburban world where we don't see (or smell) things like this.

 

Yet, I love the smell of the hay mingling with the scent of the animals and, well, you know what else. It just seems so natural and wholesome and clean, in an odd sort of way. I'm probably making no sense. I think I'm just feeling a little sentimental tonight. Probably a sure sign that I need to get some sleep! 

So that's where I'll head off to now. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. (And, if you read this far you probably deserve a reward! Give yourself a star and have a great night!!) Hope to talk to you again soon! And — maybe show you more State Fair pictures. :)
 
 

 

I tried, but I couldn't stop...

I loved the thank you card from my previous post so much that I made another.

And another.

And another.

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And another. And another. And another. And another. And, yes, yet another.

I used the die to cut the birdies from random scraps that were laying around, so I just had a lot of fun playing with various color combinations. The die also has trees and snowflakes on it, so pretty soon I'll have to get busy with those.

AND TELL:  the card base is Papertrey Ink Stamper's Select White, the rest is all Stampin' Up — stamps from Berry Christmas and Very Versatile; cardstock in Tangerine Tango, Pink Passion, Glorious Green, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Soft Sky, Brilliant Blue, Kiwi Kiss; ink in Crushed Curry, Soft Sky, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay, Pink Passion, Pacific Point; Merry Details Sizzlit die; Stampin' Dimensionals.

Now, more food from the NC State Fair. First? Chocolate-covered bacon.

 
The crunchy, savory bacon combined with the sweet chocolate covering was pretty tasty. I don't feel any great need to have it again, but I probably wouldn't turn it down if it were offered to me either. (Turn down chocolate? Turn down bacon? I don't think so!)

Now, look at this next picture. Is there any wonder there is an obesity problem in the USA??

However, I do love me some fried food now and then. So — how about...

a deep-fried Twinkie and a deep-fried HoHo?

These I would have again. But, I may have to work my way through the rest of the menu first. Deep-fried PB&J anyone?

Thanks so much for dropping by today. Life is busy, but I'll try to get back here soon — hope you do, too! Have a great evening!!

Thank you!

Trying to get a quick post in before we head to the Panthers game. Remember how last Monday we were at the Taste of the Panthers event using tickets that the people who sit behind us at games couldn't use? (I wrote about it here.) Well, when we got home from church this morning I decided I needed to make a quick thank you card for them that I could take with us today. 

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Now, isn't that cute? Cute, fast, and colorful. Just the way I like my cards!

AND TELL:  everything is from Stampin' Up unless noted -- stamps (Berry Christmas, Very Versatile); cardstock (Bermuda Bay) and Papertrey Ink white; ink (Real Red, Basic Black); Sizzlit Merry Details die; Stampin' Dimensionals.

We had a great day yesterday. We drove to Raleigh and spent the day with our daughter and her boyfriend at the North Carolina State Fair. And, if you've been reading my blog for long, you know what's gotta be coming next. Yep, food. It's always about the food isn't it?

In the interest of time, I'm only going to share one photo today. This is me with Britt and Kenneth. (Yes, I have a Ken. She has a Kenneth.)

Oh, and roasted corn. Mmmm. I'll save the chocolate-covered bacon and Deep-Fried Twinkie and Hoho for another day. :)

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great Sunday — and Go, Panthers!

Nora's Birthday

Our next door neighbor turned three earlier this month. We were invited to her "Great Pumpkin" birthday party.

Instead of a card, I decided on a gift tag to hang off the basic white Wal-mart-purchased gift bag.

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I wanted to do something girl-y and pumpkin-y and think I succeeded pretty well. The pink and purple, orange and green color scheme worked out — making a tag that's worthy of becoming a bedroom-door embellishment.

AND TELL:  stamps are from Papertrey Ink (2009 Autumn Tags, Vintage Labels, Fresh Alphabet); cardstock is Stampin' Up (Lovely Lilac) and Papertrey Ink (Stamper's Select White)(butterfly and leaves were from my pre-punched stash and I think are SU's Pink Pirouette, Glorious Green, and Old Olive); ink may be Papertrey Ink's New Leaf and True Black, and is definitely their Tea Dye Duo; markers used on the pumpkin stamp are from Stampin' Up (Only Orange, Close to Cocoa, and, I think, Garden Green); also used lots of things from my miscellaneous stuff drawer: chipboard number from Target's Dollar Spot, glittered and embossed sticker from a clearance priced K&Co. set, self-adhesive pink rhinestones, Adornments fibers from EK Success, and then quite a bit of Star Dust Stickles. Oh, and Spellbinder's Labels One dies, butterfly and leaf frond punches from Martha Stewart, and Stampin' Up's Little Leaves die.

I made the tag to complement the contents of the gift bag.

If you don't know about Fancy Nancy and have a preschool or early elementary school girl to read to, you should really look into these books. Nancy is just fancier than the rest of her family and loves to learn (and use) big "fancy" words. She's especially fond of words with a French origin — which was perfect for Nora, as her oldest sister is studying French and went on a school trip to France last spring. (I haven't read all the books, but the ones that I've read also contain a good lesson about dealing with disappointments or embarrassments that come along in life.)

Back to the party, a pumpkin patch had been created in Nora's backyard, and the children — one decked-out in her party finery (very "Fancy Nancy-ish"!) — had fun picking out pumpkins to paint.

The cake carried the theme out perfectly.

What a fun party with a great October birthday theme!

Thanks for coming back by today. I don't say it often enough, but I really, really, really appreciate all of you who come by and sometimes even leave me little encouraging comments. I read every one of them and I don't always let you know, but every one of them makes me smile.

Have a great October day, wherever you are!