{SSSC109} Just Cut the Grass!

That's right!  Today is the first day of SPRING! And I can rightfully say that I "cut the grass"! . . .

. . . with my new CRICUT cartridge Plantin SchoolBook, that is!  : )   It looked more like grass before I tied the ribbon around it, but there is no turning back now that it's all glued together.    This layout is from Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #109.  It's been way too long since I've played along were her challenge and today is the day I'm gettin' my groove on again!  oh yeah!  : )

All I have to do to take a peak at the samples made by Karen and her "Sweet Sunday Stampers" and I'm grabbing the paper cutter and a stamp pad!    They always inspire me to create, even when I'm not so sure I have it in me. 

and the inside...more grass...and a tiny daffodil delight butterfly!

The designer paper used on this 5-1/4" square card is all from an 8 x 8" DCWV pad titled "The Green Stack".  It's filled with 70% recycled paper and all such earthy patterns.

How's your weekend going so far?   I'm glad you chose to stop by and visit me!   While you're here, please check out my Stamp Sale too!  (links in upper right corner)

Happy First Day of Spring!  Enjoy!

Quote for Today ~

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself - Zen Proverb

Sending you Sunshine!

Perhaps I should think about renaming my blog "The Weekend Stamper" as it seems that's the only time I get a chance to stamp and post anymore. : )  Today, I've been working on a few cards for my Etsy Shop and then created this one just for FUN!    Isn't it wonderful to stamp because you want to, with no challenge or direction in mind?  Love it! 

This card is very similar to the baby card that I made 2 weeks ago.  I adore pretty designer papers and this is a great layout to use that won't hide your pretty papers.   See the pretty yellow gingham pom pom?  How cool is that?!  Well, one of my sweet Nebraska stampin' buddies ~ Debbie Fisher from The Paper Garden ~ sent me a few to use as a "challenge" to see what I could create.   Love them...almost as much as the sweet crocheted flowers she makes!  We did a wonderful trade....I sent her a couple of my neglected punches and she sent me an envelope full of flowers and pom-poms to play with!     Please keep Debbie in your thoughts and prayers as she just had back surgery yesterday.  ♥ 

how's this for a fun embellishment?!  : )

If you're wondering, the "sending you sunshine" stamp is a wood block stamp that is not marked.  I've stamped it on natural white cardstock and die cut it with my new die from "A Cut Above by VERVE."   The corduroy button is by Stampin' Up! and that hot brown and white baker's twine was purchased on Etsy.   I hope you like it!  : )

the inside, finished with a strip of leftover dp!

Before I forget, I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to all of you who have been shopping my STAMP SALE and giving my neglected stamps a new home.  I really do appreciate it!   I've updated the pages and deleted out what has been sold.  There are still many more for sale at great prices, so please check it out!   In the next week, I will be listing a few more stamp sets and other supplies, so check back! 

I'm so glad you stopped by and I hope you're all enjoying your weekend too!

Happy Stamping & Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~

Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. ~ Louisa May Alcott

Stampin' Up Sets for Sale at Bargain Prices!

Today, I've been doing some SPRING CLEANING!   I've sorted through all my Stampin' Up! sets and have finally decided to part with several of them that I rarely use.   Actually, some of them I probably only used once or twice.   Such a shame!

Sooo, I'm listing them here at BARGAIN prices in hopes that some of you will be enticed to give them a good home.  ; )   What I've done is added them to the pages I created previously.  I deleted all the sets that have already sold and added in the new sets.

If you want a certain set or sets, please email me with your name and address and I will calculate the exact postage rate for you.  I prefer payment via PayPal as it is quick and easy for both of us.   Your purchase will ship out immediately via USPS First Class or Priority Mail with confirmation of delivery. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.  

Stampin' Up! Stamps For Sale - Page 1
Older SU Sets For Sale - Page 2
Miscellaneous Stamps For Sale - Page 3
More Stamps For Sale - Page 4

Thanks so much for blogging by!  If your stampin' buddies are looking for any stamp sets, please send them my way.  I appreciate it!

Happy Shopping!

Quote for Today ~
Stamping makes an ordinary day more colorful.

Custom Cardmaking is a Challenge!

Hip Hip Hooray! 

It's another weekend and I've got time to STAMP IT UP!  : )

For the past three hours or more,  I have been working on creating this "custom" card for a friend at work to give his wife for their upcoming 7th wedding anniversary.  I'm not sure why, but I find it much more difficult when I'm creating for someone else.   All I had to go on was that it was their 7th anniversary.   He didn't suggest favorite colors or whether it should be a romantic or fun theme.  I did ask for ideas, but he just said to do whatever I thought she would like.  Oh my, that's even more pressure.  ; )

I've been seeing a lot of these fun little pennant banners on cards so I had that idea in my head.  First, I was going to use 7 of them and number them 1-7.   As you can see, I've only used five pennants and simply stamped a "7" on all of them.   If you're wondering how I made them, I used my Cricut and the diamond shape on the "George & Basic Shapes" cartridge set at 1-1/4".   Then I just had to cut them in half.  I used naturals white and layered with early espresso brown.  

What I would really *love* to know, because I'm a newbie with a Cricut... is there a cartridge that has a pennant banner like this that you can cut all in one piece?    And while I'm asking, if you own a Cricut, what are your favorite "go to" cartridges?  Please leave a comment below so we can all read your suggestions!  Appreciate it!  ♥  

I couldn't decide what to use for a sentiment on the front and both "Happy Anniversary" stamps I own were simply too large and elegant looking.   So, I used my computer and a couple different fonts to type out "Celebrating US!"     Then on the inside I used a stamp from the "Best Yet" Stampin' Up set . . .

the inside...

The base of the card is 5-1/4" square of Early Espresso brown.  The designer paper is an oldie from my stash and don't ask me why I decided to use it.  ha ha     Recently, I ordered a few different colors of this awesome baker's twine from an Etsy Shop.  It's quite inexpensive and so great to work with.  I'm sure you'll be seeing more of it on my future cards. 

Thanks so much for blogging by today!   I hope you're enjoying your weekend and finding time to do what you most enjoy!

Smiles 2 U All . . .

Quote for Today ~
A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year. ~Paul Sweeney

Oh Baby! It's the Verve Fan Hop!

"Sometimes the smallest things

take up the most room in your heart."

~ Winnie the Pooh

I love this quote and just bought the stamp online a week ago from VERVE Stamps.  Their service is remarkable and so are *all* their products.  Oh, how I wish $$ was no object, as there are several sets I would love to have!  Which is just one of the reasons I created this card today. ;)   Verve is having a Blog Fan Hop and there is a $30 Gift Certificate as the PRIZE!   Oh Baby, I could really use that!  ;)

Don't you think the Winnie the Pooh quote is perfect for a baby card?  Although I'm not so sure that using designer paper with *elephants* really goes with the saying!  But I've been hoarding this Oh Baby Girl paper by Basic Grey long enough.  As you'll see, I couldn't bring myself to cover up the cuteness, so not much layering on this one...

Die cut shape is from "A Cut Above Dies" by Verve

the inside finished to coordinate with the outside...
stitching, button & linen thread too!

Blogger is being a challenge today and I just lost half of what I typed.  ugh!  Oh well, I really just want to give a shout out and a very warm welcome to all of you who may be visiting my blog for the first time as a result of the Verve Blog Hop.  Thank you for stopping by and do come back again real soon!   ;)

Enjoy every minute of your weekend!  Smiles 2 All of U !

Quote for Today ~

A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on. ~Carl Sandburg