I am sorry my postings disappeared for a few days. I might be mostly offline for a few weeks. We shall see how that goes. I am days away from my next knee surgery (Monday August 21st). Because I am on surgery countdown I am off all meds, including over the counter ones like Motrin, Aspirin and such. Yes I am uncomfortable and in pain. My mobility is limited to and from the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. I am most comfortable on the bed right now. I am making the most of my situation. Trying to craft anything right now, which is normally fun and good therapy for the mind, my mind is just not into it at all. I do try, once or twice a day, but I have to sit in bed, and the body mechanics aren't the best for crafting and my mind just flatlines quickly. I know it is because I am distracted by the impending surgery. Whats worse, I have all those new shiny Holiday catalog goodies, and just zero interest in playing. Or the interest is there until the supplies are in front of me, the

Here is an alternate card I created using the stamp set that is included in the all-inclusive Soft Sayings card kit, item 145466. I watercolored the background with Tranquil Tide re-inker and water and an aqua painter. Set aside to dry. I then stamped the Happy Birthday in Versamark ink and heat embossed with white heat embossing powder. I used glue dots to adhere the copper mesh trim as an accent. I did not feel it needed any more. I wanted to keep it simple and elegant. Not every project needs to be over-the-top many stepped. I have really been working on the KISS principal this summer - Keep It Simple Silly. Who has time to spend an hour or more on each card they need? Oh don't get me wrong, I love to sink my teeth into a WOW over the top card, but not everyone has the time nor ability nor desire to always have over the top projects. Simple supply list with no item numbers today: Aquapainter, Tranquil Tide re-inker, water, Soft Sayings card kit, White embossing po

Silently the snow falls in the forest over the winter pines. I stamped the greeting before I ran the layer through the embossing folder By embossing through it or over it, it softens the bold black greeting a bit, taking some of the emphasis of it away. That was my plan. It was just too bold with black ink stamped on white cardstock. I tried something that I learned others had known for a long time, you can flick paint with the Wink of Stella brushes! Position your Wink brush above the object and flick the pen with your fingers. That is how I got the frosted look on the pines. Honestly this would make such a lovely and easy mass produceable holiday card. And since it has no embellishments, would save a little on costs and make it just that much easier to replicate. Learn more about the Carols of Christmas special bundle  HERE . Purchase your Carols of Christmas bundle  HERE . I won't dwell on the supply list today. It is a pretty simple one anyway. Whit

Who doesn't love peace for the holidays! Well, anyone who has a family knows that peace is not literally celebrated at home. Holidays at our house means loud, music, stomping feet, silly games, laughing, and full bellies. It gives me peace to think that that is not that many months off. This card is cut 4 1/4" x 11 so it opens to the top, not the side. I used one of our layering circle framelits to cut out the whole on the silver spotted foil paper. To stamp and emboss the Peace on Earth greeting, I cut out a separate piece of paper, but it looks like it was done directly on the card base. That way if I messed up I didn't waste all the cardstock and it gave me flexibility in positioning it in the circle window. To punch the ticket tear border, punch the entire 12" by 1" or 1/2" length of the paper. Cut and place on one side. With the extra length, line up paper to match the pattern on the other ticket tear piece. Trim to fit. Feeling a shiny and s

It is never too early to start thinking holidays and cards and decking your halls. This darling card was created using the Carols of Christmas stamp set and framelits bundle you can purchase during August, ahead of the official release of the Holiday catalog in September. You can read more about that special HERE . You can purchase the bundle HERE . Supplies: Stamps: Carols of Christmas Inks: Versamark watermark ink  Pad • 102283 $8.50  Refill (0.5 fl. oz.) • 102193 $5.00  Papers : Whisper White cardstock 100730 $9, Garden Green cardstock $8 102584, Be Merry Designer Series Paper 144111 $11.00 Accessories: Copper Heat Embossing Powder $5 141636, Heat Tool $30.00 129053, Banner Triple Punch $23.00 138292 I cut my designer paper into all three sizes of the banner triple punch, 1", 1 1/2", 2" at varying lengths. I did staple them together to give them stability before I adhered them to the card front. Pro tip; When cutting the designer paper, make sure

This sweet card was a snap to put together. I cut a simple layer in white and ran it through the Big Shot using the new petal burst embossing folder. The greeting is from, you guessed it, Soft Sayings card kit, which I seem to use a lot. I know. I promise I think I am almost done sharing projects made with that kit. Maybe.... I love the new magnolia style wreaths that you can purchase. The gold dots are new in the Annual Catalog. I do apologize for this being a short, very non-descriptive post. I have been busy with home stuff and and catching up some lingering craft projects. Normally Thursdays are my scrapbook posts day. Someone needs to set aside a day and get some of (ahem) her summer trips and events and get them posted. Thanks for stopping by, Sandy

Get your Christmas holiday prepared early this year. Beginning now through all of August you can order this fantastic stamp set/framelits bundle through me. If you ordered in July, use those Bonus Days coupons to purchase this great set. Shop Now!  Carols of Christmas Bundle   Save 10% when you buy the stamp set and Thinlits bundled together!  You may also buy each item singly.  I love this stamp set and have already made so many projects with it. I was able to order it in July because I am a Demonstrator. The framelits are adorable and cut out the ornaments, the deer, sparkly edges and more.  This is a great value, and the fact that YOU can order it early is just terrific.  Scroll down to see some of the great samples Stampin' Up! has released with this bundle. How can you pass by this great opportunity!  ITEM DESCRIPTION USD CAD 146036 Carols of Christmas Bundle (wood-mount) $52.00 $69.25 146037 Carols of Christmas Bundle (clear-mou

This card was created using the Soft Sayings card kit. I watercolor washed a bit of the cardstock, set it aside to dry then heat embossed the flower and leaves to make a bright crisp image. I used one of the leftover note pieces for the greeting and some of the leftover bakers twine from the kit. I added all this to some lemon lime cardstock and a white card base. Simple and elegant! Short post today. Busy day ahead1 Thanks for stopping by today. Keep being creative, Sandy

Well, I meant to publish this during Bonus Days and Christmas in July promotion but my knee caused a lot of scheduled things to get off course. I was able to pre-order this stamp set in July because I am a demonstrator, one of the many perks of being one, getting to play with goodies early. I watercolored the top layer with a Lemon Lime Twist re-inker and an aqua painter. Set aside to dry. Stamp your greeting in black. Fairly easy to make card because it is just simple rectangles. No Big Shot work, no punches. Just gorgeous paper used. It is funny, that silver foil paper is so mirror like I had to find a good position that you do not see me reflected in it! You still kind of can see my hands. It was not a camera worthy moment for me. LOL Supplies: Stamps:   Carols of Christmas • 13 rubber stamps 144801 $28.00 (wood blocks included) • 144804 $20.00 (suggested clear blocks: a, d, g, h)  Inks: Lemon Lime Twist Re-Inker 144092 $3.75, Black ink 132708 $6,  Papers: Whit

I just love the gold in the new treat bags! The bag is pretty, just on its own. I wanted to try watercoloring the white stripes. I used re-inkers and an aqua painter, and colored in three of the new In Colors. To do this, mix a drop or two of your re-inker color of choice in a water safe container, I use an empty embellishment container. Squirt in a few drops of water from your aqua painter. Grab some of the color with the brush tip of your painter and brush on the bag. Tip: Be very careful when wiped excess off the gold stripes. You may end up wiping up some of the gold. Blot, don't rub. Set aside to dry for about a half hour. Decorate as desired. Add treats or a gift and give to someone special. Supplies: Stamps: Soft Sayings Card Kit stamp set 145466 $35 for kit Inks: Black ink Papers: Basic Black cardstock 121045 $8, Lemon Lime Twist cardstock 144245 $8, White cardstock 100730 $9 Accessories: Starburst Punch 143717 $18, Banner Triple Punch 138292 $23, C

If you are a regular follower you know how much I love and have been sharing projects made from the Soft Sayings card kit. I made the whole kit of 20 cards, about a dozen alternate cards already with the kit and some extra paper, and several 3D or gift items. Help! I need to stop. I do play with other stamp sets and products. And I will share those real soon. Years ago I purchased a lot of these giant photo holder clothespins from Oriental Trading. I continue to make them once in a while. I find that they are easy and make great gifts. I still have so many packs, and I am glad about that. The newer ones I have seen are not as big or as sturdy as their original stock. I have some that are wood colored and most were painted white. This clothespin I covered with our Wood Textures paper stack. Looks just like the real deal. In fact I had to pull out this project to verify if it was wood or wood paper covered. The white label on the bookmark was stamped and punched out wit

 Recently I had the priveledge to of celebrating my friends fiftieth. Did we all just meet for dinner and toast our good friend? No! She had a classy affair that rivals any wedding. Drinks were on the house. A dessert bar that broke any diet. Food that, well, just wow! She is a special friend to both my husband and I. We will be forever grateful to her. If it weren't for her, there would be no "us". She is the friend that drove me to my him at the airport, some 22 years ago. I was meeting up with him in Dallas. He was driving from Albuquerque. I didn't want to go on the plane. In fact, when she came to pick me up that morning, I was barely packed. Mumbling something about a "fools errand", "stupid", "risky" and more colorful descriptors. I had no business meeting a guy halfway across country that I had only been on two dates with. She encouraged me. She said, you have to see this through. She and her friend literally pushed me

I whipped up this cute box with no plans. In fact, I didn't even pull out my Simply Scored. Yup, I was feeling that lazy. I just bent the paper around the arm of my cutter. Honestly, that lazy. I love how it turned out. I used a half sheet of cardstock. Score at 2, 4, 6, 8 inches. Score bottom at 1.5" Trim some off the top, and use the new border edge punch on the edge. Add some Tear & Tape to get her closed together. Add a quick decoration on the front. Done! I did stamp on the sides of the box using the Soft Sayings kit stamp set. It is hard to see in the picture, but I thought the sides needed something more than plain cardstock. Truly a quick and easy project. Might have been easier if I had pulled out my Simply scored. The cutter arm was a bit of a challenge to get a smooth score. All assembled it works out. Supplies: Stamps: Soft Sayings Card Kit 145466 Inks: Basic Gray included in the kit Papers: Powder Pink cardstock 144244 $8, whisper white car