Bridal Shower Invite

I'm frustrated because I've been working on this scan all morning, and it still doesn't truly represent what it looks like in person. I'm posting it anyway, so you can at least see something I've stamped lately! :) If you click on it, though, you will be able to see the detail of the card more clearly.

Supplies: Close to Cocoa & Vellum card stock; Petals & Paisley deco paper; Basic Brown classic ink; Linen BG, Sincere Salutations & Simply Sweet stamp sets; narrow white organdy; double hole punch.

I ran the vellum cardstock through my printer (printed with brown ink that doesn't quite match Basic Brown!) to print the invite details. Then I cut everything to size. I glued the deco paper to the Close to Cocoa cardstock stamped with Linen and attached the printed and stamped vellum with the ribbon. And I didn't have enough of the pink paper to do all 20, so some of them have the same pattern, but in the So Saffron color.

This card will fit in a legal size envelope or one of SU's large open ended envelope.

I'll be posting more items (shower favors, door prizes, gifts, etc.) that will go along with this shower in the coming days!

VA Beach Regional Swap

Here is my VA Beach swap card for next month. I will be making at least 50 of these, 100 if I can find the time. I love to participate in swaps because it gives me ideas for stamp sets I have that I wouldn't have thought, or ideas with stamp sets I don't have that I can use with what I do.

Supplies: Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set (Spring Mini); Basic Black, Whisper White, So Saffron, Regal Rose card stocks; White craft ink; So Saffron, Basic Black & Regal Rose classic ink; Regal Rose, So Saffron & Old Olive markers. (I stamped the flower by coloring directly on my stamp with markers, "huffing" on it, then stamping it in place.)

ModPodge Madness!

I've been going a bit crazy with the ModPodge. It's just so fun. I think I've been modpodging anything I can get my hands on. Well, ALMOST. hee. . . . hee. . . .

I found this desk organizer in my basement while searching for something else. I decided to cover it with Au Chocolat designer paper to match the paper holders I've been working on. Super easy and quick. I also tied on a piece of ribbon to my paperclip holder to tie in the color scheme.

This is the most recent photo of my paper holders. They are still a work in progress, so when they are completely done, I'll post one last photo. I want to add chocolate ribbon to the cream piece across the top. I need to straighten some of the labels, and I need to finish staining them.

More mini comp books

I have been working on these little composition books so that I have something other than cards to swap at the VA Beach regionals next month. I hope some of you reading this blog will be there and have some fun things to swap! (I still may add an image or ribbon to them before I go.)

Hang in there

I just LOVE using the Cuttlebug! I have a friend who lets us borrow hers at our monthly crops. Last week, I cut out this monkey with her Cuttlebug then created this get well card. I also used SU decorative paper and brads as well as SU markers to color the monkey and branch. It was a very quick card. (I need to get a "get better" staying, though, as my handwriting isn't the best.)

Embossed frame

I created embossed frames a while ago, and just unpacked this "friendship" one. I simply took a frame and stamped onto it using white craft ink. Then I sprinkled white embossing powder on it and shook off the excess. Finally, I heated it with my heat gun. That's it! With an organdy bow tied around it, it's an elegant, inexpensive, but very personal gift to give. I've also done some as wedding gifts. (Some of the embossing came off due to my poor packing job!)

What I do when I'm not stamping. . . .

For those of you who were wondering (LOL) . . . when I'm not playing with my three children (or cleaning up after them!!), when I'm not stamping, browsing stamping blogs, or placing SU orders, I am a freelance editor/writer. I've worked on a few projects with Barron's Educational Series. Last fall, my FIRST ever book came out! Truly, the neatest thing about this book is that my husband drew ALL of the artwork throughout the book. Who knows? Maybe we'll write a children's book together someday!

The Grade 8 FCAT Reading and Writing + is a test preparation guide for 8th grade students studying for the reading and writing portions of the FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test). I have ambitions to write other books, especially about my adventures as a stay-at-home mommy, but right now life is a bit too busy to work on it.

In addition to parents wanting to give their children extra help for the FCAT or any state test in reading and writing, this book would be helpful for moms who homeschool their children. It's a very simple guide in writing a basic essay, and it gives some practice in reading comprehension.

Most recently, I finished editing/writing the 14th ed. of Barron's GED preparation guide. This new edition should be coming out sometime later this year. (I also worked on the 13th ed. of this book several years ago.)

My new license plate!

I just received my new personalized plate in the mail this weekend! I'm so excited to have this on my van. I've never had a personalized plate before, so it's fun. My husband is VERY reluctant to drive the van now, though. hee. . . hee. . . .

It took me a while to decide what to get. Of course, every combo of "Stampin' Up" had been taken pretty much, so I opted for just "STAMPER." If you're on the roads in Virginia and see me, honk! (Hopefully, I won't think you're just a crazy driver.)

Paper storage solution

I just visited my favorite store recently (IKEA) and found these great wooden paper holders. Previously, I had a paper shelf type system that was not very efficient. That has been retired to my husband's art studio for him to store magazines now. Plus, the old shelf was very heavy, and if it fell, it could have hurt my young children.

I like SU's paper storage holders, but wanted something a little more decorative than the see-through white plastic containers. Plus, this was a little cheaper, and definitely could be an inexpensive stamp camp idea. I've only covered two so far, and may use different paper styles on the other boxes, so stay tuned. Of course, I'll post a picture of all the boxes together, once they're all done.

DIRECTIONS: I used SU's new Au Chocolat designer paper (Spring Mini) and ModPodge. I also mixed in some Basic Brown reinker with ModPodge to stain the sides (as I didn't have enough paper to cover all 6 containers completely). To label the boxes, I used HodgePodge Hardware (pewter) and printed labels on Very Vanilla (adhering it all with mini glue dots).