Can't live with 'em...Can't live without 'em

Computers, that is.

I have been having issues with my computers at home and at work. I won't bore you with the details...but uploading my photos has not worked for a while. Hope to get things going...this weekend is Virtual Stamp Night (VSN) on splitcoaststampers! Love the boatload of challenges, but I REALLY need to update my gallery with my new creations! LOL!

I think I will be buying a new computer for home soon. Last night, I received conflicting advice from two super talented stamper friends. One insists on the benefits of a Mac, the other says "PC all the way!" What's a girl to do?? I'm sure my dear hubby will have his own ideas...but he doesn't have cyber friends or an online gallery, so my choice should take priority, right?? That's my plan, at least!

But hey, if there is no computer to distract me, I should get LOTS of stamping done this weekend. Bruce has to work 12 hours tomorrow...wonder how many Christmas cards I can get done?

I'll post pics when I can!! Happy stamping!!

LIFE is good!

Well, I just waned to post a quick note today. If you look at my profile, you will see I am committed to the Sanctity of Human Life. I work at a ministry which helps women see the gift of life as a beautiful, good thing. I believe every baby is precious, from the moment of conception!

Sometimes we have sad days. One of our clients recently miscarried, and she is having a hard time understanding why. I know she likes butterflies; she told me this when she saw all of my butterflies on the wall in my office (cut out with my Big Shot, of course!) I wanted to send her a special note, letting her know I was praying for her. I made a card for a recent Featured Stamper challenge... CASE-ing my cyber friend Riley. (A CASE [copy and send to everyone] is a project inspired by someone else's work, just changed up a bit.) Everything on the card is from Stampin' Up! I changed the colors and layout a little and added the butterfly for my client. I used chocolate chip and very vanilla card stock, some pumpkin pie and retired kiwi kiss DSP, Inspired by Nature stamp (the flowers) are stamped in choc chip and heat embossed, grass is kiwi kiss. I also used Flight of the Butterfly and Very Versatile stamps. Finally, brads, oval and scallop oval punches.

Last week, I received a call from a young woman who was convinced she needed an abortion. She counseled with my staff, and had an ultrasound today. Then, she chose LIFE! Praise God! When she realized that she was not alone, she found the courage to accept this baby. We will talk adoption with her, as well as parenting, with various supports our ministry offers.

Now...time to create a special card for her too! Happy Stamping!!

Christmas Cards

I signed up for the Christmas Card Challenge on splitcoaststampers...intending to do a dozen cards each month, March through November. I am so far behind! I will work on some more tonight, but I decided to show you some that I did earlier this year (in the summer). This first one features rich razzleberry, old olive, very vanilla and gold...plus the famous Top Note die. The ribbon is non-stampin' up...I bought it last year, but it's gone now that I made 12 of these! The stamps are from the retired set Miracle of Christmas. I use it every year!!!




















These next cards are nice and cozy with this amazing polka dot grosgrain ribbon from SU! I made these while visiting my mom, and ran out of garden green card stock...but I had chocolate chip to finish the dozen. Isn't it just like chocolate to save the day! The DSP is from Merry Moments. The sentiment (retired) is colored with markers, so I could have more than one color on a single stamp. I outlined the layer with my real red marker, giving the illusion of an added layer, but without the bulk. I am really pleased with these!


Finally, after taking forever on the above cards, I went with a Clean and Simple (CAS) design. The colors are soft sage, night of navy, and whisper white. The image is also from Miracle of Christmas, and I used a marker to add just one word from the stamp I used above. Another great reason to have markers!!


Well, I still have about 6 dozen Christmas cards to make...so I better go!! Happy Stamping!!

Fall Cards

I am uploading a few cards tonight...all with a warm fall color scheme. I love this time of year! Making cards is easy when the color combos are so Yummy!!

This first card was a "Limited Supply Challenge" on splitcoaststampers. Hosted by my stampin' friend Wendy, it truly was a tricky challenge. The theme had to be fall which was easy...but NO embellishments! No ribbon, twine, brads! Back to the basics, baby! Well, I needed an anniversary card for my hubby. Bruce likes my cards, but he doesn't "need" all the extras, LOL! No embellies just screams Guy Card, dontcha think?? So here it is...the image is from Lovely as a Tree ( a Stampin' Up classic!) and the DSP is Autumn Meadows, found in the Holiday Mini. Card stock is close to cocoa, really rust, whisper white, and taken with teal. I used my photo corner punch and dusted off my paper crimper. Finally, I hand wrote the sentiment. It's kinda corny, but it made him smile!!


This next card was for a swap with 2 friends (I made 2 of them of course!) I love not quite navy with really rust. I used Pattern Pack paper, which comes out as a Hostess Level 1 item each catalog now. LOVE them! Several colors of DSP in 6x6 pieces. The image is from Gifts of the Earth, stamped with Stazon black, so it wouldn't bleed while I colored it with my aqua brush and Wonderwatercolor Crayons. I also used my oval punch, scallop oval punch and corner rounder punch, some brads, and some dimensionals. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.


Finally, I am gonna upload one of this weekend's projects from my Stampin' Mania Club. The Medallion background stamp is featured on a piece of very vanilla cut out with the Top Note die (my Big Shot fave!!). It is colored using the very messy baby wipe technique, using re-inkers in not quite navy, more mustard, and dusty durango. I texturized the strip of really rust with my Big Shot, and added a round "fire" brad. My image is not as crisp as some of my clubbies...but I think it looks distressed and old-world pretty! Another Teeny Tiny Wish on an oval! I'm hooked on this little detail!


That's it for tonight! Time to go to bed!! *wink*

Punch-y Cards

I am getting ready for this week's Stampin' Mania Club...and I realize I don't have last month's projects uploaded. Now I admit there are 2 main reasons for this: first, one of the projects was designed by my fabulous SU leader, Meg. I obtained a card kit for participating in a business challenge (one of my demonstrator perks!) from Meg...and it was perfect because the Club met the week before my biggest fund raiser of the year. So, I did not want to take credit for her creation. The other problem was my computer went whacky...then when I got back online, I forgot all about it! Tsk tsk!

So...I made a card for Halloween so the gals could order their own Halloween goodies with plenty of time too create. Problem is, I don't have any Halloween sets! Gasp! I have some sentiment sets with "Happy Halloween" but nothing else. And I knew my September hostess wasn't a big fan either, but I thought someone would be! After all, Halloween is second only to Christmas in retail sales.

So, I opted for a card featuring punches. I used my oval punch for the pumpkin...sponging each oval (cut from Pumpkin Pie, of course!) with a bit of Really Rust. Got that idea from a stampin' friend in Florida...thanks Michelle! The grass is a piece of Old Olive punched once with the scallop punch, then again, off-set a bit. The sentiments are from the hostess set Holiday Best, and matted with elegant eggplant, one also with pumpkin pie DSP. I made the stars with my gel pen and added bits of grosgrain ribbon in elegant eggplant, whisper white and old olive. The card base is basic black...and I should have used my bone folder..Oops!
The picture doesn't do justice to the colors...but they are fun!

By the way, turns out my entire group is not into Halloween! So they used the "give thanks" sentiment from the same Holiday Best stamp set...Go figure!

More WCMD cards

I really need to be stamping tonight. My 16th anniversary starts in 3 hours! LOL!! Bruce is in bed already since he has to be at work at 3 a.m. for another 12 hour day. It kinda stinks...but it is a good job, so we are grateful. He will likely be too tired to do anything tomorrow, so we are celebrating on Saturday.

But before I can create a card for him, I need to clean up my WCMD mess. I will post a picture later (I really did take one!) First, I want to post a few other projects from last weekend.


This little card was made for a volunteer at the pregnancy ministry where I work. We recently had a fund raiser, and I had LOTS of help! The stamps are retired (Baby's Firsts & Many Thoughts)...except I did stamp "thank you's" in yo-yo yellow on the baby panel...just can't see it. That thank you stamp is from All Holidays. The colors are inspired by the Brazilian flag, which was one of the challenges. I used yo-yo yellow, green galore, and pacific point. The yellow panel is embossed w/ a texturz plate, and I used a corner punch and FABULOUS ribbon!





Here is a simple Christmas card, also for a challenge. I needed to incorporate ornaments. I don't have the new Stampin' Up punch or ornament stamps yet (Gasp!) but I had these die cuts from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, and the branches are from the retired Peaceful Wishes. Chocolate Chip, old olive and ruby red ink...modern label and ticket corner punch, riding hood red taffeta ribbon.
















Here is another thank you card...the large round "fire" brad and the layers with lots of dimensonals make this one better for hand delivery. A simple color scheme of mellow moss and rich razzleberry combined with the True Friend stamp set. The challenge involved off-set panels for it's "sketch" or layout.
















Finally, this card was made for a color challenge...pumpkin pie, very vanilla, and chocolate chip! Doesn't that sound like a yummy fall dessert?? I used some DSP, grosgrain ribbon, and brads...texturized and sponged my main panel..stamped the flower from Wings of Friendship (hostess set) and the retired (BooHoo!) Very Versatile. I bought that set just for this thank you verse!!! Perfect for volunteers and donors!! I think this is my favorite for the weekend...maybe 'cuz it makes me feel cozy!!

Ok...time to go make that anniversary card!!!

WCMD projects

So, I had hoped to upload this stuff on Sunday...didn't happen! Then the last 2 days have been crazy busy at work...plus we are having a spiritual retreat of sorts at church for 4 nights this week. Wow! So, I will just post a couple of things tonight...this could take a while! LOL

This is a "One Sheet Wonder" gift set. I LOVE making these! I did a workshop with a few friends on Saturday. Planned it way back in February, before I knew it was World Card Making Day...kinda cool how that worked out! This set features the stamp set called "Serene Snowflakes" found in the Mini Holiday Catalog from Stampin' Up. I usually use 4 colors,and one neutral, then I make 5 or 10 cards. You can use Designer Series Paper (DSP), but I like to make my own! I am a STAMPER! LOL!! The colors are rich razzleberry, bermuda bay, melon mambo & taken with teal.




Now, here is a card I made with one of my favorite stamp sets...Thoughts and Prayers. I used chocolate chip, always artichoke and very vanilla card stock; brocade blue ribbon ( I LOVE ribbon) brads, scallop and ticket corner punches...oh I almost forgot. Chocolate chip, brocade blue and always artichoke ink. I made this for a woman at church whose husband died lastweek. So sad..hope this will give her some comfort.




Ok, one more for tonight. I needed a lot of thank you cards for volunteers at the ministry where I work. WCMD was the perfect time to get some done, plus use some of my HUGE stash of last years In-color goodies. The first challenge on splitcoatstampers for Saturday was to incorporate a quote. This one from Mother Teresa is perfect...I have had this stamp for eons! The card stock is baja breeze (retired) basic black, and whisper white. I used baja breeze ink to stamp the flourish from the Wings of Friendship hostess level 2 set. The plush ribbon is retired...but black grosgrain would work too. The buttons, in kiwi kiss and baja breeze have the new silver elastic cord from the Holiday Mini...plus I added a dab of Crystal Effects to keep the knots in place. That stuff is so versatile! Of course I used a corner punch (rounder) and dimensionals...
because I *have* too! I can't wait to make more of these in various colors...I always need thank you cards!!


Whew! Now I think I will go to bed! Hope to stamp and post more tomorrow!!

World Card Making Day!!

Today is World Card Making Day...and I have been busy, busy, busy! I began my day prepping for a One Sheet Wonder workshop with a few ladies, spent a few hours with them, then jumped into the challenges posted on Splitcoaststampers. I thought I would upload here...but I have not finished yet! LOL!! It is about 11:30 at night, and I am completed with challenges A-H. Just 4 more to go...I'm gonna skip "I" for now, and jump to "J" since it is a yummy color combo. Then I should go to bed...gotta sing at church in the morning! I will upload some cards tomorrow...stay tuned!!

A fun project

I have attempted uploading this little photo wallet to my gallery on Splitcoaststampers with no success for daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays! It is kinda pathetic how quickly we expect things to happen anymore,so any delay feels endless. Oh well...I realized I have his new blog, so I will post pictures here! Hope you like it!

Here it is closed...


I made this photo wallet from a template found on splitcoaststampers.com I used Stampin' Up's Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin Kit. This was a project for my Stampin' Mania Club, and they LOVED it! The concept is simple, so any scrappin kit will work. No ink was used at all!! Just paper and punches and self-adhesive dies! I used the corner rounder punch and the slit punch, both seen on the front.

The first inside view shows off some of the die cuts...
Once upon a time, I didn't care for these die cuts. After all, I am a STAMPER!! Why use such easy-peasy shortcuts?? Well, shucks, if you are making a lot of quick gifts, this is a wonderful way of getting through your list! Not to mention, if you have a group of kids who enjoy crafts, this is a NEAT and CLEAN project! Perfect for your Brownie troop or homeschool art class!



On the next inside view, you can see that I used the photo corner punch. I also used dimensionals ...found on almost everything I make! The borders are all cut from 12 inch strips. Even though these kits are designed for scrapbooks, they can be adapted to any project! By the way, the top "flap" opens too...but my photographer (aka hubby Bruce) wanted to keep it closed for the photo shoot. I can't complain...his rates are cheap! LOL!!



Looks like I managed to get 3 pics in one blog post! WooHoo!! Let me kn0w what you think!!

Inky Hugs!!


Kim
(berlycece)





By the way...the "Stampin' Mania" name refers more to me than my mild mannered friends.

Ummm...maybe!! *wink*

Posting My 1st Blog Card

Hey there fellow stampers, I am just seeing if I can upload a photo.

I made this card for an area Stampin' Up Demo swap. There were several of us who had a lot in sales for one or two quarters. I don't remember the specifics...you see, I am my biggest customer!! I didn't SELL a lot, I BOUGHT a lot! My hubby would like to see that change! LOL!!

This card is made with the Gifts of the Earth stamp set from the SU Holiday Mini catalog. You can't see it, but the inside says Happy Thanksgiving with a stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes. I used very vanilla card stock on Autumn Traditions designer series paper (DSP). The ric-rac is Orchard Ribbon Originals. I stamped the image in soft suede, and colored with stampin' pastels. The doodle on the front and sentiment inside are in elegant eggplant. The card folds into a 4x4 square...I learned this from Splitcoaststampers...Techniqu Lovers Challenge #201. Hope you like it!!

Hello out there!

Ok, so this is really weird. I can't figure out how to change the look of this blog. Doesn't help that my computer is acting weird. Guess I'll have to try new templates later!

So, I have a lot to figure out with this creative blog. Colors, background...
But first I need to make a sympathy card. Never an easy assignment, this one will be especially tough. A family lost their 10 year old son recently. I hope I can do justice to such a sensitive subject. I lost my one and only son at birth. Similar pain, but I would never dare to claim that I "know" how they are feeling. This is one card that will take loads of prayer.

Hey, I finally did it!

Enough talk! I finally took the plunge to start this blog! We'll see what happens...how often I post...and if it consumes my life! LOL! At least now I can keep up with my stampin' friends!!