Stampin' Bird

New Things

2010-09-03T12:44:00.005-05:00

I gave my Blog a make over. Hope you like the change.

Updated links to cagalogs, etc.

Since my last blog, I attended CHA in Chicago and the Scrapbook Royalty Crop. Had a great time at both and met a lot of great people. I was blown away by all the products I saw at the show.

Last month I attended a Shoebox Swap in Hartford WI. We made some beautiful cards and had some optional swaps and lots of great door prizes. Attendees vote on their favorite of each swap. Shoebox, ABC, Altered Notebook, 6x6 Recipe Card, Unique Technique and Lottery (Secret Sister). My Lottery item was voted the best.

I made a 'gumball' machine using terra cotta planters. The base is the planter turned upside down and the top is the dish that goes under the planter. The glass globe is a small plant bowl. I filled it with M&M's. I used some metal sheets and cut the hardware. Square punch and Round Tab Extra Large, Hodgepodge Hardware and the acrylic adhesive bubble from the Build-A-Bear. Also used some M&M stickers. The wire basket was filled with assorted stamping items.

For the ABC I made some square boxes using the Scallop Square Die and fabric. They fold up for storage and will hold scraps, pens, etc.

Off to see what I can do next.

Honor our Service Men and Women

2010-05-30T18:35:00.004-05:00

Monday, May 31st will be Memorial Day.

Let us all take a moment to remember and thank those who have served in the Armed Forces to keep us free. I will also be remembering my eldest brother who passed away 7 years ago on this day. He was a Navy Veteran of the Vietnam War. He also did a lot of volunteer work helping others without looking for recognition. I looked to him as a role model and miss him dearly.

I am still out of work and catching up on my stamp life while looking for the job to pay for my habit. Maybe some day my habit will pay for the 'real' life. I can keep hoping and working toward that goal.

This weekend was the VSN on SCS. So many beautiful cards. Working on spreading love in the galleries for all.

Hugs to all.

Door Closes - Door Opens

2010-05-17T15:01:00.000-05:00

When one door closes, another door opens.

On April 26th, I lost my job and so started looking for a new one. I have yet to find the door that the Lord has opened for me, but I'll keep looking.

In addition to apply for jobs, I've been able to catch up on all the blogs and web sites I like to visit. This week I plan on working on catching up on my stamping. I have several things I've wanted to try and just never made time before. Now is a perfect time.

The Friendship Swap was a success again. Saw 'old' friends and a few new ones. All the cards were fantastic and it was really hard to pick a favorite. The extra swap were once again excellent. I don't know how we keep getting better with all the projects. It is amazing to see what everyone comes up with.

My card for this was a simple one that I received as a swap at the Milwaukee Stampin'Up! Regional from Suzy Krebs . I had the strips cut, the participants only had to punch the one end, and punch the white circles and hearts and then stamp and put everything together.

This coming weekend I will be at the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo in Milwaukee WI. Working registration and meeting up with some more friends. I've done this for the past several years and have enjoyed it. Get to see lots of goodies, purchase a few and just have a good time.

Until next time, happy stamping everyone!

Out of the Darkness into the Light

2010-03-29T20:46:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go? I've missed updating my blog for over 2 months. Bad me.

Recovering from the winter blahs and SAD and stamping again. April is going to be full of fun.

Friday, April 9th, I'll be attending SU Regionals in Milwaukee WI. I got my badge in the mail today, so the excitement is building. I'll miss seeing Sherrill Graf present on Saturday, April 10th.

April 17th, is a 'Year of Cards' fund raiser. The hostess does all the work of preparing 13 card projects and card holder. We attend, make each item, eat, visit, buy raffle tickets and hope to win one of the great items.

Aprl 24th, is the Friendship, WI Shoe Box Swap. Time to meet up with some of the CURDS.
I've been working on my swaps and other items and will post items after the event as I don't want to spoil it for those attending.

I'm also working on my challenge for the MAY VSN over at SCS. I am a hostess again and hope that you'll stop by and join in the fun.

ALL MAY's SHOWERS

Mini VSN Saturday, April 23, 2010 6-10 PM ET

VSN Friday, May 28 6-10 PM ET

VSN Saturday, May 29 12 - 10 PM ET

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my Blog.

More Craft Room Photos

2010-01-10T11:31:00.000-06:00

Here are more photos

Craft Room Photos

2010-01-10T11:22:00.000-06:00

Here are pics of the craft room about 1/2 way done.

Chloe and Connor

2010-01-10T11:18:00.001-06:00

Here are the new precious additions to the family.

Chloe and her brother Connor

Another Year Has Come and Gone

2010-01-10T10:08:00.001-06:00

Wow. I can't believe that it is 2010. A new year to have new fun in. The holidays were not too exciting for me this year. Just Mom and I as usual. I made Mom's Christmas cards for her to mail out. Now I'm working on birthday cards.

We did have 2 new additions to the Family Tree on December 13th. My niece and God-daughter gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Chloe and Conner who joined their 2 yr old big sister Caila. Haven't had a chance to see them other than the hospital photos but both are home and doing fine.

My sister sent me some really neat gifts for Christmas that she had made. An inventory book for all my Stampin'Up! items and non-SU items. It is 4-1/2" x 7-1/2" inches and she bound all the pages using a Bind-it-All. She left it for me to alter as I wished. The pages are set for the different color family (Pads, Reinkers, Papers - all sizes, and markers). She also has pages for th In Color items, Designer Series Paper, In Color Ribbon, Ribbon by the different sizes, Big Shot dies by the types of dies, and stamp sets. She has lots of pages set up for the different sections that are blank - to fill in as I want. I am working on getting what I have listed. The book is a good size to carry to events that I may want to know what I have and what I don't have.

I also received a recipe book that she had typed up and printed out all the family recipes that we had that had been hand written or we had collected over the years. She made one for each adult female in the family - 9. A lot of work.

My craft room is almost done. I need a few more cubes and then I think I will have a place for everything. Working on labeling everything. It is nice to have things where I can see them and not have to dig through boxes. I have a desk for my computer and printer and another to work on. Now I have to get my stamping mojo going and make things.

Weather here has been typical winter - snow and cold. At least it has been sunny most days.

I am starting to fill in my calendar with stamping events with my Wisconsin Friends - The Curds. Can't wait to get back in the swing and meet with the old friends and make new friends as they join in the fun.

That's all for now. I hope this year I can keep this up better than I did last year. I also am working on learning how to add links and more exciting things to this blog.

Thank you for stopping by and checking me out. Happy New Year to one and all.

Time Flies

2009-07-15T20:25:00.000-05:00

Wow, I really lost track of time and missed keeping up my blog once again.

The last 2 and a half weeks I have been touring Europe on a Virtual Tour of Europe with some of my past and present VSN hostesses over on SCS. When we are done with our weekly tour we are challenged to make a card.

You can join us over here.

Week one we spent in the Netherlands. Went on a canal ride, visited museums and important sites, did lots of souvenier shopping. Stayed in some fantastic hotels and ate lots of fantastic foods. Of course, this is all virtual, so we can afford the top of the line.

Here is the card I made from my visit to the Netherlands. It is based on the wooden shoes I picked up as a souvenier and the Delft ware items I also picked up.

Week 2 we went to Greece. The crisp fresh air and all the beautiful places we saw and of course the fantastic hotels we stayed it. Very relaxing.

Here is the card I made for this leg of the tour.

I picked up a couple of teapots and loved the blue and white that I saw all over the place with the bright sunshine.

This week we are in Austria and I am enjoying every minute. Have to go so that I don't miss the play we are going to tonight.

Paper Chef VSN - check us out

2009-07-01T20:53:00.000-05:00

It's been a while. Soo many logins and passwords that I got mixed up and couldn't get on. Well I'm back.

My last post was not used on the RES-Q site, but that's ok. I had fun making the card.

Busy with VSN now over on SCS. I'm one of the coordinators (Paper Chef) for the next VSN. The theme is based on the program Iron Chef. A show where famous Chefs challenge a famous Iron Chef and they have to make 5 dishes using a secret ingreadient in each one. The Paper Chefs and Embellishment Chefs did their challenges to kick things off while we searched for Chefs to challenge us. We now have our Chefs and are working on the challenges that will be held on Friday, July 17th, Saturday, August 1st and the Main on Friday, August 14th & Saturday, August 15th.

Here is the card I did for the sample of my dish challenge.

DARTH TATOR SKINS

My Appetizer challenge was based on a plate of Potato Skins. Using the colors found in this appetizer, I challenged everyone to make a card.

Hope you can stop in and sample the food.

Also trying to get swaps made for Stampin'Up! convention, and everything else I have to do in the next 3 weeks.

The new SU Cattie is out and I love it. There are so many great sets and accessories that I have a wish list all most as big as the Cattie. Can't wait to see what else SU does this year.

Only 1 more day of work this week and then 3 days off. I have plans to paint and completely redo the spare room that I've been using for a craft room. Have to empty everything out of it....take down 7 cabinets, paint the walls and then move my cube furniture and craft items back in. When done, I'll post pics.

Off to wrap up a few things and get some sleep.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamping Finally

2009-06-14T18:03:00.000-05:00

I got caught up on organizing my computer and putting some things away in the craft room this week and weekend. I even stamped and/or made 3 things.

The Blog RES-Q-Challenge (http://resqchallenge.blogspot.com/)has challlenges every Monday. This is the challenge I submitted for Monday, June 15th. Stop on over and check us out.

Sorry about the fuzziness. Can't seem to get a good picture.

I am also a member of the SCS Dork's and the group in WI known as the Curds. We try to get together once a month at either a stamp/scrapbook store or Shoe Box Swap, stamping event somewhere in WI. Well Curds.....I saw something at Stein's when I took Mom to buy some plants and I had to have it. You'll all understand.
Here it is.

I also made a little ATC card holder. Will save that one for later.

Have to get working on my swaps for the SCS Dinner at the Stampin'Up! convention and my items for the Hartford ShoeBox Swap on August 15th.

Waiting for the announcement about VSN - want to set those dates aside.

Hope everyone has been well and enjoying Spring and life.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll catch you all later.

Another Month has come to an End

2009-05-31T19:05:00.000-05:00

May 31st. Where has this year gone?

Today was a bit sad for our family. Six years ago, my oldest sibling, my brother Ron, died at the age of 57. He was my idol and I miss him but know that he is in a better place and no longer ill. He had a heart that was only functioning at 10% capacity, and he had diabetes. He developed an infection in his gall bladder and his heart and body just could not fight it anymore.

We did have some beautiful weather...sunny, blue skies with puffy white clouds. Just a tad on the 'hot' side, but very welcome.

This week, I need to get some stamping done. I have serveral projects that I really need to work on and get completed. I think I have finally gotten this computer set up so that I can upload photos so I need to work on doing that this week. Need to get some photos on here to liven it up.

Thanks to those of you who have stopped by for a look see and for those who have signed on to follow.

If anyone knows how I can move the BLOG overlay in the upper left corner of the center panel to the upper right...let me know. Thanks.

Ramblings

2009-05-24T14:08:00.001-05:00

Every few days, I'm finding something that I need to reinstall on this computer to get me back to what I had before the old one crashed. Still trying to see if anything can be pulled off the old, especially my pics.

Viva Las VSN is almost over - wrapping it up this week. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed looking through all the fantastic items the players submitted for all the challenges. There are a lot of amazing 'artists' out there I am always blown away by all the ideas that everyone comes up with. I enjoy reading the posts of everyone and when I read the newbies it takes me back to my first time. Sometimes I think that those of us who have been doing this for a while forget what it was like when we first started. Encouragement and support can mean a lot. I remember when I was new and how blown away I was by everyone's work. I felt mine was so mediocore that I was afraid to upload it for everyone to see. Once I did and read through the comments, I was amazed by all the support and felt willing to try again and try things I wouldn't normally do. I now enjoy trying new techniques and help to inspire and support someone who is new. I also like to support those who have been around a while as we all need support.

Waiting now to see what the next VSN has to offer.

Getting ready for Stampin' Up! Convention in August. Registered for Convention, Hotel Reservations Made, Airfare Booked. Signed up and paid for SCS Dinner and signed up for the SCS Dinner Swap. Heading up the Donations commitee for the SCS Dinner, so I'm busy collection donations and trying to figure out what I'm going to do for the swap.

Debating if I want to do any swaps for general swapping or not this year.

Waiting for June 1st to place an order so I get my new Cattie with that shipment.

This week, I am resting up and enjoying some nice weather. Catching up on personal stamping and reading. Doing some surfing to find sites and blogs that I have missed and checking out the old standbys to see what's happening.

That's it for today. Hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Back in the Virtual World Again

2009-05-04T20:05:00.001-05:00

Since my last post, my computer died on me. I had to go out and buy and new one and work on getting connected again to all the places I visit in the virtual world. Also have to get used to a few differences. The biggest problem I am having is deleting what I type when I rest between thoughts. Not sure what I am doing but I have to stop doing it. Also have to find someplace that can hopefully get all my pictures and documents off the old computer.

Had a great time with the Mini VSN at SCS on April 24th & 25th. So many great challenges and fantastic creations by the participants. That was the weekend my computer decided to give it up. At least it waited until Sunday when all that was left was posting my cards and commenting in the galleries.

That Monday I went out and bought a new computer and an external hard drive to back things up on.

This past weekend I attended the Rubber Stamp and Scrapbook Expo at the Waukesha WI County Expo Center on Saturday and Sunday. I worked the Registration table both days and also had some free time to visit all the vendors and do a bit of shopping.

Now I'm working retaking pictures of cards I've done so that I can do some posting.

Hope things are going great for you and thanks for stopping by.

2009-04-20T22:41:00.000-05:00

It's been a while but I'm back. Feeling much better. I get my new contact tomorrow so I should be seeing much better and the eyes won't be itching so much.

This past Saturday (4/18) I attended a Shoe Box Swap in Adams/Friendship WI. We had newbies and experienced stampers but you would not have know it by looking at the cards and items everyone made. Several of the ladies are from a group of us in WI who try to get together every month. It all started when we decided we wanted to meet IRL and decided to get together at Gina K's shop in Madison WI one Sat. It was so much fun. We chatted and showed off some of our favorite cards. We went to a local Culver's for lunch and Cheese Curds and then some of us went back to Gina K's for a COPICS class. We had so much fun we went back again and are meeting at Shoe Box Swaps around the state. We are called the 'Curds' or 'Curd Hurd (Herd)'

This week I'm gearing up for the Mini VSN on August 25th. Stop in anc check it out.

Working on getting pics uploaded.

Web connection is acting up so will sign off for tonight. Catch you later.

2009-04-09T20:08:00.000-05:00

Stopping in to say Hi.

I have been down with a very bad cold that has kept me in bed for the past several days. My voice has finally come back and I can stay awake for more than an hour at a time.

I have a shoebox swap on the 18th so am working on those items. When the swap is over, I'll try and remember to post pics.

I am involved with the VSN on SCS this time around and things behind the scenes are heating. If you have never done a VSN, I recommend that you stop on over and check it out. No pressure, lots of fun.

Happy Easter

2009-04-05T20:07:00.000-05:00

Today I spent time working on the layout. I think I have this set up the way it will be for awhile. Hope you like it. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

I also worked on making something I saw on SCS. The tutorial can be found here... Woven Basket. It was so simple and fun to do that I will probably be making more of these. I don't want to post a picture yet, as I made it for a WOW item at a shoebox swap later this month. Will post pic after that event showing everything else I made to put in it.

I don't know if I'll have time to add anything this week so have a great week everyone, be safe and take time to relax.

Viva Las VSN

2009-04-03T23:53:00.000-05:00

I was chosen to be one of the six Pit Bosses for the next VSN to be held on May 15th and 16th on SCS. The Theme is Viva Las VSN. On March 28th the Pit Bosses did a PRE (mini) VSN to kick things off. We each did a challenge based on a Las Vegas Hotel/Casino. I chose the LUXOR PYRAMID for my challenge. I was inspired by the shape of the hotel and so I challenged the players to make a Triangular shaped card and use the FAUX FELT technique as either the top image layer or the layer immedicately below the image.

I had a lot of trouble with leaving enough of the card at the top peak so that I didn't separate the top and bottom layer of the card. I also used my FAUX FELT for my bee hive and honey pot.

The stamp set is Buzzin' By by Stampin'Up! Check out my Gallery for the full recipe.

Check out the other amazing challenges by following the VSN blinkie on the right side of this page.

BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2009-04-03T22:51:00.001-05:00

I am finally biting the bullet and setting up my blog. Please be patient while I set things up and figure out how to do everything.