{stampin' gal val}: December 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Countdown to 2010~

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

William Arthur Ward~

PSA: If you imbibe in the bubbly tonight, please have a designated driver assigned before the festivities begin. Jay and I will probably usher in the New Year quietly at home with a little boy who isn't feeling all that swell.

Supplies:

Stamps: Cheers by Our Craft Lounge

Ink: Black

Paper: Black, Red by Bazzill, White by Neenah

Copic Markers, Black mini brads, Glossy Accents, Oval Nestabilities, Oval punch, Dimensional foam

Monday, December 28, 2009

Merry Christmas to Us~

Our side by side refrigerator has been limping along for some time and it was finally time to take the plunge and get a new refrigerator. Sometime within a four hour window today, this Samsung French Door Freezer Bottom model (in white though) will be residing in our kitchen. :)

The only downside, cleaning out the old; inside, outside, and underneath - blech.

Exciting!
V.~

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Happy Anniversary~

Today is my parent's anniversary, Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! We gave them this envelope gift card book I made for them after all the Christmas gift opening was finished. It's filled with gift cards for one of the restaurants they enjoy.

The pages are made from small open-end envelopes that have been
decorated with patterned paper flaps, punched patterned paper circles, and sentiments/images from OCL's Hearts and Hugs. A few sentiments from other vendors are also stamped on the pages.

The heart charm was made with Shrinky Dink and punched out with a heart punch and small circle punch before shrinking.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hearts & Hugs by Our Craft Lounge
available at eclectic paperie
Ink: Memento Rose Bud, Versafine Vintage Sepia, StazOn Blazing Red
Paper: Neenah Natural White, Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce Sweet Cheri
Other: Nestabilities Scallop and Circle dies, Bind it All, Chipboard scraps, Circle punches, Heart punch, Chocolate ribbon, Shrinky Dink plastic, jump ring, buttons, Linen thread, Dimensional foam

Have a Happy Day!

V.~

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Warmest Wishes ~

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Want some "almost free" Stamps?

ETA: Oh my heck, these went fast! Limited sets are left, pending is noted next to sets that are spoken for. However, PayPal transactions have not been processed yet and outcomes could change.

I'm cleaning the closet out and getting rid of a slew of SU! stamp sets. Listing is also on SCS.

US Buyers only.
Confirmed PayPal customers only; no charge card or debit card transactions. Personal payment tab, please, to avoid additional fees.
Check or Money orders also accepted, personal checks must clear the bank before stamps are mailed.
Stamps will be sent Priority Mail Flat Rate (envelopes or boxes) only.
Buyer pays shipping costs.
Combined purchases save on shipping, cram as many as will fit into the envelope or box!
Condition varies. Most in very good condition, some almost new, some fair condition due to class and workshop handling.
Smoke-Free home
All sets in their clam shell box with identifying label on box.

Due to the Christmas holiday, stamps will begin shipping the week of December 28th.

Backgrounds $ 3 each:
1.By Definition - sold
2.Canvas - sold
3.Checkerboard - sold
4.Fine Lace - sold
5.Flannel - sold
6.Floral - sold
7.French Script - sold
8.Houndstooth - sold
9.Just Jeans - sold
10.Linen - sold
11.Paisley - sold
12.Print Pattern - sold
13.Soft Swirls - sold
14.Word by Word

Other, in alphabetical order:
1.A Good Egg $3.00 - sold
2.A Little Birdie $3.00 - sold
3.A to Z Accents $3.00 -sold
4.Aged Perfection $2.00 - sold
5.All in a Row $3.00 - sold
6.Along the Same Lines $3.00 - sold
7.Alpha Shadows $1.00 - sold
8.Always 3.00 - sold
9.Around & About $1.00 - sold
10.Balmy Breezes $3.00 - sold
11.Be Happy $3.00 - sold
12.Best Blossoms $2.00 - sold
13.Beyond the Basics $1.00 - sold
14.Birthday Best $1.00 - sold
15.Bodacious Bouquet $5.00 -sold
16.Border Builders $3.00 - sold
17.Cheap Talk $3.00 - sold
18.Cold Play $3.00 - sold
19.Cool Cat $2.00 - sold
20.Easy Elegance $2.00 - sold
21.Eat Cake $3.00 - sold
22.Festive Four $1.00 - sold
23.Fishy Friends $3.00 - sold
24.Flower Filled $3.00 - sold
25.Fresh Fillers $1.00 - sold
26.Fun Filled $2.00- sold
27.Good Things $1.00- sold
28.Great Shapes $4.00 - sold
29.Happy Hearts $3.00 - sold
30.Hope Is $3.00 - sold
31.In the Sky $1.00 - sold
32.Island Blossoms $5.00 - sold
33.Itty Bitty Backgrounds $1.00 - sold
34.Itty Bitty Borders $1.00 - sold
35.Label Classics $2.00 - sold
36.Let’s Party $1.00 - sold
37.Letterpress Alphabet $5.00 - sold
38.Lexicon of Love $1.00 - sold
39.Little Pieces $2.00 - sold
40.Looks Like Spring $4.00 - sold
41.Love It $3.00 - sold
42.Merry & Bright $2.00 - sold
43.Mini Mates $4.00 - sold
44.Mini Messages $1.00 - sold
45.Mixed Bouquet $5.00 - sold
46.Moose You $3.00 - sold
47.Mostly Flowers $1.00 - sold
48.Nice and Narrow $2.00 - sold
49.Oh My Word $3.00 -sold
50.Olive You $1.00 - sold
51.Paint Prints $1.00 - sold
52.Painted Posies $2.00 - sold
53.Perfect Party $2.00 - sold
54.Polka Dot Party $2.00 - sold
55.Polka Dot Posies $2.00 - sold
56.Polka Dots & Paisley $3.00
57.Polka Dots & Petals $3.00
58.Quick & Cute $1.00 - sold
59.Reverse Prints $2.00 - sold
60.Scribbles $1.00
61.Seeing Spots $2.00 - sold
62.Shapes & Shadows $3.00
63.Simple Sketches $3.00 - sold
64.Simple Somethings $1.00 -sold
65.Simply Said $3.00 - sold
66.Simply the Best $2.00 - sold
67.Sketch an Event $3.00 - sold
68.Smile $1.00 - sold
69.Smorgasborders $1.00 - sold
70.So Many Scallops $2.00 - sold
71.Spring Garden $3.00 - sold
72.Spring Solitude $3.00 - sold
73.Springtime Stems $1.00 - sold
74.Stars & Swirls $1.00 - sold
75.Stipple Celebrations $2.00 -sold
76.Sweet of You $1.00 - sold
77.Sweet on You $2.00 - sold
78.Tagger’s Dozen $3.00 - sold
79.Tags & More $3.00 - sold
80.Tags So Much $2.00 - sold
81.Tart & Tangy $2.00 - sold
82.Terrific Tags $2.00 - sold
83.Terrific Tulips $3.00 - sold
84.The Shape of Things $4.00
85.The Snowflake Spot $3.00 - sold
86.Time Well Spent $3.00 - sold
87.Too Terrific Tags $2.00 - sold
88.Toucan my Love $2.00 -sold
89.Travels Abroad $2.00 - sold
90.Trendy Trees $3.00 -sold
91.Trick or Treat $1.00 - sold
92.True Friend $4.00 - sold
93.Very Punny $2.00
94.Wonderful Weaves $1.00 - pending

In the midst.........

of the little place I call home there is a spectacular nature area called Mission Trails Regional Park. You feel very removed from the hustle and bustle of the city and stress just seems to melt away when hiking there. Brett and I spent a bit of time there this morning with Riley.

Indian Grinding holes (filled with residual rain water from not too long ago)

Padre Dam, built in 1800

View looking down from the footbridge.

Brett and Riley, best buds~

It's so hard to believe that freeways, shopping centers, and homes are within miles of this oasis.
It was a wonderful way to spend the morning, not thinking about the craziness of right now, just talking about a whole bunch of nothing with my youngest son.

V.~

Blogs To Visit~

I'm doing a little sprucing up and want to list blogs here but prefer not to have a huge sidebar list, so I created this post and will link it on the sidebar. I will be adding to and maintaining this list periodically.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Baking, Stamping, Shopping..........

Oh My!

It's been a few days since I last posted, the days have been filled with baking for Brett's class party, high school teacher holiday luncheon decorating, shopping for gifts, wrapping presents, stamping gift card enclosures and creating containers for Jay to give to the people who work for him, plus all the regular day to day chores. Sound familiar to you? Lots to do this time of year! Jay and I did take a breather Saturday night for dinner at Outback Restaurant and seeing The Blind Side. It was a much needed break from the hustle and bustle! Fantastic movie, if you haven't seen it yet! (at least I thought so!)

Today I remembered that I promised my mom new place setting cards for her Christmas dinner. The six year old ones (and from my first holiday stamping season) are finally ready to be retired to the circular file.

While I had the supplies out, I made a series of thank you cards to send out after the holiday. These are smaller sized cards at 3-1/4" x 4-3/4"

Brett's favorite cookies are Hershey Kiss topped Peanut Butter cookies (Peanut Butter Blossoms, but he doesn't care for that name, LOL) and we made 6 dozen of them, a couple dozen for class, the rest for us to munch on around here. I used to do a lot of baking around this time, but now limit it - we just have no willpower when it comes to cookies and sweets! I still have to make fudge sometime before Christmas morning. Years ago, when Kyle was much younger, he asked for a tin of fudge for Christmas, his very own, so he didn't have to share the family batch. Ever since, it's been something that he's come to expect under the tree. Can't make it too soon or the freshness factor is compromised.....so I'll probably make his batch Wednesday or Thursday.

We are as finished for Christmas as we are going to be, I grocery shopped for our breakfast and for the 2 meals we are attending. Presents are wrapped and my stamping for the week is now finished. I have one more project to share with you but will have to wait until Dec. 26th to share as it's my parent's anniversary gift presentation. I highly doubt she has time to look at my blog right now, but just in case, I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Thanks for stopping by!

V.~

Supplies for projects:
Stamps: Happy Holly-Days , Growing Gratitude by Our Craft Lounge, Alphabet set by SU!
Ink: Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, Versafine Onyx Black, Olympia Green
Paper: Neenah Natural White, Gina K Designs Cranberry Tart, Fresh Asparagus, Ocean Mist
Patterned Paper: Christmas Cheer Designer Mat Pad by K & Company
Other: Nestabilities Labels 8, Circle Dies, Glossy Accents, Microbeads, Modern Label punch, Dimensional foam

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Simple Gift Card Enclosure Cards~

Gift card enclosure cards - check. Another item crossed off the to do list! YAY
These cards will hold office supply gift cards for Morgan's high school teachers, sandwich gift cards to the P and VP (running joke between us) and a juice/smoothie shop gift card for our mail gal.

Super simple to make; they are 4-1/4' x 11", scored at 4-1/4" and 8-1/2", flap border punched and adhered to card with Scor-Tape to make a little pocket to hold the card.

Front is decorated with College Press papers, a Copic colored Kim Hughes snowman, Glossy Accents on the heart and a button embellished Martha Stewart punched snowflake. Gina K Kraft, Chocolate Kiss, Rocket Red and Ivory finish out the paper choices.

Just 2 more small crafting projects by tomorrow and holiday crafting is officially over for 2009!

V.~

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Final Four~

Holiday cards for 2009 to send out to a couple of friends.

Supplies used for coloring and adding sparkle to the Purr-fect Wishes card above.
Baby Blue Sparkly Fluff for the snow, Glossy Accents on the carrot, Glazed pen on the coal, and Copic Markers to color the kitty and snowman.

Stamps: Purr-fect Wishes and Merry Wishes by Our Craft Lounge
Paper: Neenah Natural White, Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Be Jolly by Cosmo Cricket

All I have left to do is create gift card holders of some sort for Staples gift cards for the kids to take to school by the end of the week.

V.~

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Very First GinaK Card Kit Club Blog Hop!~

Welcome to our very first GinaK Card Kit Club blog hop!

For this month's hop, Jessica challenged each of us to design our projects using the same basic sketch and measurements of her class card, but to put our own personal touches on them by adding whatever embellishments, changing card stock choices, patterned papers, etc. to make them a little different than the original cards in the kit.

In keeping with the clean and simple theme the Lovely Shelf Card Kit offers, I kept my cards very clean and simple not only in color, but also layout and embellishments. I also kept them related to each other visually. This fun set by Nina Bracket for Gina K Designs is chock full of wonderful images and sentiments! The "Just for You" card utilizes the original sketch in a square layout with a circular focal point and ribbon instead of the card stock strip. In the "Thanks for the Lovely Gift" card I turned the original layout on its side and cut the black strip, that the kit contains, in half so it would stretch across a landscape format.

For both cards I used GKD Pure Luxury Ocean Mist (love this new color!!), Onyx Black, and Pure White. The leaves on the potted orchid are paper pieced with Green Apple and the pot itself is paper pieced with a scrap of My Mind's Eye patterned paper. Both cards have Cuttlebugged card stock layers - Swiss Dots and Stylished Flowers.

Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Copic markers in the following colors were used for the flowers: Y00, Y13 and the leaves on the orchid: YG95, and for the daisy: G40 and G82. The vase and water are BG000 and BG01, a bit of colorless blender is dotted on the water for a mottled effect.

Flat backed pearls accent the daisy flowers and aqua mini brads anchor the orchid panel. The same black and white gingham checked ribbon, in different treatments, adorns each card. Both image panels are raised up with dimensional foam.

For additional inspiration using this set, be sure to visit the Idea Center: Lovely Shelf

And be sure to visit the other Card Kit designers and see their wonderful card kit creations!

Bev Gerard {Warm and Wonderful}

Colleen Schaan {Life is Good}

Sankari Wegman {Tech Talk}

Suzanne Dean {Warm and Wonderful}

Valerie Stangle {Lovely Shelf}

Jessica Fick {CKDT Team Leader}
Gina K Designs Blog

Thanks for stopping by!

V.~

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Trimming the Tree and more~

December chaos continues.....so there's been a lack of posts. We were "forced" to go artificial tree hunting over the weekend when our other tree decided to go into permanent retirement while being stored in our garage. Our search took us many places looking for the right size tree for our low ceiling home, one at the right price for our December budget, and for me wishing for white lights on the tree. I had to compromise on my white lights as the kids wanted colored lights. Overall, I am happy with our new tree. We decorated it and the rest of the house over the weekend. I've been searching for years for the perfect topper, until then, the red bow is what tops our tree. I'll "know" the topper when I find it, you know? Now I hope I can get in to Christmas mood - it's been seriously lacking this year - by now I am usually done shopping and wrapping, not the case this year. We probably have just 25% of our shopping done and nothing wrapped as you can tell!

On another note, I've been asked and accepted a new design team member position with Gina K's newly created Card Kit Design Team and am very excited and thrilled to be working with Gina and her crew!

Gina's K's announcement here

And today, on SCS, you can find the Tag Box tutorial as a featured project. Complete with a video that Morgan, in her very small amount of free time, filmed and edited down for me. Boy, chopping almost 5 minutes off makes for tough editing. Please be kind, this is my first video tutorial with sound - not something that I find comes easy for me. In person, you bet, I can do this easily, but on video, not so much! LOL

Tag Box Tutorial

Thanks for dropping by today!

V.~

Friday, December 4, 2009

Purr-fect tag~

Yesterday's challenge over at SCS was to make a tag. I love to make tags and haven't made one in a while, so I sat (stood actually) today and quickly made this holiday tag using a fun holiday set from OCL called Purr-fect Wishes.

The image is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copics, and the snowflakes are dusted with Breezy Blue Crafty Sparkles. I trimmed a tag shape out of slate cardstock, added a sentiment banner and a bit of College Press patterned paper, a bit of cranberry hemp through the punched hole and this easy peasy tag is finished!

This is just about the only kind of kitty I can be around, otherwise those Crafty Sparkles would be everywhere if I sneezed!

V.~

Supplies
Stamps: Purr-fect Wishes by OCL, snowflakes from Merry Wishes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smokey Slate, Green Apple, Cranberry Tart and White by Gina K Designs
Other: Copic markers, Crafty Sparkles, Cranberry button, linen thread, 1/4" circle punch, Tag corner punch, Cranberry hemp, Dimensional foam

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Attn: Renae~

eta: I've "relinked" the hyper link - not sure why it stopped working.

OCL is short for Our Craft Lounge, and the set is called Merry Wishes, click on the link below to see the entire set:

Merry Wishes

HTH,
Val