My Newest Obsession!

I know you are all thinking I don't need another obsession. Stamping and scrapbooking have been my passion for the last 7 years and I've spent plenty of money feeding my obsession, LOL!!! However, my stepdaughter, Leah, asked if I could teach her to knit. We are both Twilight fanatics (okay, she's a little more obsessed with Edward than I am) and she had found "wrist warmers" worn by Alice in the New Moon movie. Well, we both HAD TO HAVE THEM!! Thus began my obsession with knitting. My mom taught me to knit when I was a teenager and I found out it's like riding a bike -- you never forget. So I needed to make a pair of wrist warmers first so I could teach Leah. This led to numerous trips to JoAnn's and Michael's to get knitting needles, yarn and patterns. Below you can see one of my pairs of wrist warmers that I made. These are for my good friend, Ashley, who owns the local scrapbook store that I frequent, Scrapbook Castle 316. She is also a Twilight fanatic -- wait aren't we all!!!


While I was drooling over all the yarns at JoAnn's, I found patterns for dishclothes made with cotton yarn. One of my customers, Mary Ann, makes these for me and so did my mom so I had to try these myself. Check out my first dishcloth in my favorite color -- lime green!!!

That's enough for now. I've got to get back to my knitting!!! I hope you enjoyed my lastest obsession.

Linda

February Stamp-a-Stack - Part 2

One last card from my February classes. It is one of my favorites and all of my customers agreed. It's my attempt at "shabby chic" and I CASEd it from a card made at the Super Bowl of Stampin event I attended on Super Bowl weekend. Take a look -- I just love it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Kraft, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla and Thoroughly Modern DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy and Versamark
Accessories: Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by. Have a "stampin'" week!!

Linda

February Stamp-a-Stack

Here are the cards that we made during my February Stamp-a-Stack classes. Many of the ideas I got from attending the "Super Bowl of Stamping" which was hosted by three of the best stampers in our Gateway Glitter 'n Ink group -- Sally Nusbaum, Sarah Klasing and Mary Derhake! Whenever these ladies get together and plan an event it is the place to be and the Super Bowl of Stamping was no exception.

This first card is sized at 3x6 and fits in the small open-end envelopes. I loved the colors -- it looks like spring!

Supplies:
Stamps: With all My Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede and Confetti White
Ink: Cameo Coral and Soft Suede
Accessories: Soft Suede & Certainly Celery Ribbon, Perfect Polka Dots Impression Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card was inspired here. I also used it for a Gateway Glitter 'n Ink swap I just attended. I love the faux pinwheel technique and it's so easy! You can see a video tutorial at stamperdog.com. Just click on Stamper's video gallery.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stem Sayings (retired)
Paper: Pale Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White and Cottage Wall DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1 1/4 inch Square Punch, Dotto Adhesive, 5/8 brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

This card is so pretty. I just love the softness of it. I was inspired here. It was so perfect I just CASEd it just the way it was!

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue
Paper: Whisper White & Old Olive
Ink: Regal Rose, Old Olive & Crushed Curry
Accessories: Pretties Kit, sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here I wanted to demonstrate the Movers & Shapers die. I CASEd the card here. Once again, I didn't need to mess with perfection!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Moments (SAB)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Rose Red, Whisper White and Thoroughly Modernl DSP
Ink: Basic Black, In-Color Markers, Rose Red & Old Olive Markers
Accessories: Movers & Shapers Die, Curly Label Punch, Scallop Trim Punch (SAB), Rose Red Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend.

Linda

Happy Valentine's Day

I know, it's the day after Valentine's Day. I'm a little late sharing my Valentine creations. I made all these cute little Valentine's for my 8 grandchildren who live near me. (My other 4 live in Wisconsin.) Actually there are only 7 treats because Mylah is only 6 months old and doesn't need candy!

My inspiration came from Diana's blog. I used the Sweetheart stamp set (clear-mount) and the cute heart-shaped treat cups offered as a special promotion for Valentine's Day. The other punches I used was the small heart punch from the Occasions Mini and the round tab punch and corner punch from the IB&C. The treats are a 3x3 note card with a 2 x 2 5/8 inch piece of cardstock that slides between the front of the card and the 2 7/8 inch cardstock that holds treat cup. This way it hold the candy in yet the kids can still get it out.

After making these on Sunday afternoon, I decided to deliver them to my grandchildren. To our surprise the weather changed quickly and we found ourselves in the middle of a winter storm. It was lots of fun and the kids were so happy to see Grammy and Grampy show up all snowy with candy!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones.

Linda

My Poor Baby!!

My oldest dog, Luke, has had a skin tag/tumor since late summer. It didn't seem to bother him and wasn't very big. It was in a place he really couldn't get at. Well, last Saturday night as I was in my craft room, I noticed he was licking his legs more than usual. He is a "licker" but seemed to be really interested in what he was doing. That's when I noticed that his "tumor" had grown to twice the size and was now bothering him. I won't go into the gory details but off to the animal hospital my husband and I went -- great way to spend a Saturday night together, LOL!.

My baby ended up having surgery that evening and came home the next day. Everything went well with his surgery but I was worried he would have to wear one of those cone-shaped collars to keep him from licking his stitches. Instead, the vet recommended he wear a T-shirt. He looks so cute in it that I had to take his picture. As you can see, he isn't that crazy about it or he's irritated at me for taking his picture. Either way, he sure is a pathetic like boy!!

"Do you have to take my picture??"

"Mom, go way -- leave me alone!!"

Thanks for checking out my little Lukey. He's all better now and back to his old self.

Linda

January Stamp-a-Stack

Okay, I wanted to get my January Stamp-a-Stack post done while it was still January!! Does anyone else feel like this first month of the year went by too fast. Well, I've already held one of my February on Tuesday and I'm still trying to get my January post up.

Most of these cards are for Valentine's Day which are always fun to make. The first one is from the Christmas shoebox swap I attended. I think it was designed by Lynn Luetkemeyer. Thanks, Lynn, for a great card that I could use at my class -- what a time saver!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay & Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black, Markers (Old Olive, Bermuda Bay & Melon Mambo)
Accessories: Melon Mambo Ribbon and Stampin' Dimensionals

This next card I found here. It was so simple yet looked elegant using the Sending Loving Specialty Designer Series Paper. I love the glitter on the paper!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love You Much
Paper: Whisper White; Real Red; Pretty in Pink; Sending Loving Specialty DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

The inspiration for my next card came from Gretchen. Check out her blog here. The card was easy to make but I added a WOW when opened (I gave it a little pop, Gretchen!). I used the new heart embossing die. I love new toys!

Here is what it looks like open.

Supplies:
Stamps: I {heart} Hearts; Whimsical Words
Paper: Whisper White; Real Red; Pretty in Pink; Sending Loving Specialty DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

My final card for January was not a Valentine card. I used the With All My Heart stamp set from the Occasions Mini. My inspiration came from Sarah Klasing who is a wonderful demo from our group Gateway Glitter 'n Ink. You can see her original card in my January 7 post. I love the new clear-mounted stamps. What about you?

Thanks for continuing to stop by to see if I've posted. I'll try to stay in contact more, LOL!!!

Linda