Not a lot has been happening - with the health issues we have dealt with over the last months - this is definitely a good thing! Judy and I have been preparing for our stamping day - November 2. We have a group coming over to make some cards for our troops. We will be using some of the same designs we used for the last batch we sent, but we want to include some Valentine's and Easter cards as well.

I did however make another of the fold out brag books from UStamp. I used Christmas colours and instead of using ribbon to close it, I made a belly band and embellished it with a medallion that is also a 'shaker'. I used - Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss cardstock; Holiday Treasures DSP and Kiwi Kiss ink. The little tree is from the Deer Friends stamp set (level 2 Hostess). This next card is based on one of the UStamp Holiday projects. I adapted it to be a gift card holder. I used Kraft cardstock; Ski Slope DSP; Chocolate Chip Ink; Soft Sky ribbon (retired); Snowman from the Just Celebrate stamp set and the greeting is from Flaky Friends set (both stamp sets are retired)

I will post photos of some of the cards from our Cards for the Troops day next week.

Marjorie

The last week has been pretty quiet as far as stamping and papercrafting go. One of my nieces got married on Sunday - an outdoor ceremony. Lucky for her the weather cooperated. It was a beautiful sunny day - a tiny bit cool, but overall great. I had woken up with a cold the day before and it got progressively worse as the evening went on. It has decided it likes me so much it is still with me even a week later.



Yesterday we took our great-niece to Build-a-Bear workshop for her birthday (she is going to be six on Wednesday). We did this last year for her birthday and she asked if we could do it again. So off we went. When we got there she had to choose her "bear" skin. She selected a kitty and then headed off to the stuffing station. Once the kitty was stuffed to her liking she went to the bathing station where she fluffed up the fur. As the kitty was orange with a pumpkin, she decided on a pumpkin halloween costume to dress the kitty in. That with the black pumps looked sensational. We also had to create a birth certificate and then we were ready to go.



The whole time she was working on her bear, we were taking pictures, so I made this cute little brag book for her. I got the directions as one of the teaser projects leading up to the release of the September UStamp projects. We filled it up with the photos we took and this will be her birthday card from us.



Here is the brag book all closed up and tied with some chocolate brown ribbon (nonSU). I used Tangerine Tango textured cardstock for the folder and all the DSP is from the Sweet Always pack. The little dew drops are nonSU (I just cannot get the Crystal Effects to stay as a droplet!)



This shows the brag book opened up. The pattern from UStamp used 3 envelopes - I adapted to allow for a fourth to accommodate the photos we had. The envelopes have been stamped with images from Crazy for Cupcakes.

And this shows some of the photos and how the "pages" flip out.

Thanks for looking.

Marjorie

Our great niece is celebrating her sixth birthday later this month and for her gift we are taking her to Build a Bear Workshop. She will be able to select her own 'bearskin' , she'll stuff it and select some clothes & accessories. This is the invitation we are sending her so that she can save the date.

The stamp is non SU. I used DSP from Sweet Always and Tangerine Tango cardstock. The centre panel is raised up on dimensionals.

My niece is getting married this weekend and this is the card I have made. It matches the scrapbook I gave her at the bridal shower last month.

I decided to participate in a swap hosted by Marie Kirkwood. The theme of the swap is Masculine cards. I have to submit 11 card fronts and I will receive back 11 different card fronts. That is why I decided to participate - it is always difficult for me to come up with ideas for cards for the men in my family. This is the card I submitted (sent off my package yesterday). I had to do two versions as I did not have 11 of the square silver 'buckle'. I had to send 11 with the square and 2 with the round. The rules of the swap are that cards are to be the same (but you could have a minor difference). We had to use all Stampin Up supplies, but it did not matter if some of the items are retired. I was going to colour in the image, but decided I really liked it just as it was. Hope everyone else likes it as much as I do!

Stamp Sets - Lovely as a Tree; It's Your Birthday (retired)

Paper - Chocolate Chip Cardstock; DSP from Home Again Simply Scrappin Kit (retired)

Ribbon - Old Olive Poly Twill (retired)

Hardware - Styled Silver Hodgepodge

Ink - Chocolate Chip Classic

Here are the two versions of the card front I submitted.