Confetti Stars Punch

“When it’s darkest, we see the stars.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good Tuesday Morning!  I finally was able to try to stamp last night and decided to try out the new Confetti Stars Punch.  I want to think it’s because I’m sick, but it took me four tries to figure out that it works pretty much like the other border punches.  After inserting cardstock to line up with the little black line on the bottom left (see photo above), punch, and then move the cardstock until the punched stars line up with the silver stars on the grey base of the punch.  It’s easy (once you figure out how to do it!)  I’m dying to show you the card I made, but it’s for our stamping classes in October and I don’t want to ruin the surprise.  We’ll be using four new products on the card so it will be a good one!  (And yes, Katherine, it has an October holiday theme!)  : )  October classes will be held on Oct. 20th and 21st at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.  There is one opening for the Monday morning class and one opening for the Tuesday evening class.  Just let me know if you’d like to join in the fun!

Hello, Pardners!

“When we stand before God at the end of our lives, we would hope that we would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “We used EVERYTHING you gave us.”

~Erma Bombeck

Hello!  Does this look like a bandana to you?  The VERY talented Debbie Henderson taught us how to make it at the Maine Stamping Day.  We used the Flowering Flourishes stamp set and with the end of the stylus from the scoring tool, made the white dots with acrylic paint.  An easy technique, but oh, so much fun!  : )  Below, my upline, Stace Coombs on the left, and downline, Johanna on the right, enjoying the process!

A Cut Above

“Never worry about the size of a Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are ALL 30 feet tall.”

~ Oscar Wilde

Good Thursday morning!  I missed you yesterday!  We got up at 5:00 a.m. and we had no electricity.  We started our day with candles…so peaceful.  This is a card that we made at the Maine Stamping Day with presenter Jean Tarrio.  The green cardstock is is 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2 “, folded in half.  On the left side, make a small pencil mark at 1 1/2″, top and bottom to the left of the fold.  Then made another small mark at 2 3/4″ on the left edge.  Cut from each 1 1/2” mark to the center mark.  Cut the square out with a square framelit and then run that left side through the Big Shot with the new Lucky Stars Embossing Folder from the Holiday Catalog.

The trees are from the new Festival of Trees stamp set, stamped on Pistachio Pudding for the front of the card, and Whisper White for the interior, and both are cut out with the new Tree Punch.  The 2 1/2″ Cherry Cobbler square on the front is sitting on a 2 1/8″ square of Shimmery White paper (p. 193 in the Annual Catalog).

The Garden Green cardstock is glued right to the back of the Whisper White Cardstock.  A little piece of Real Red Satin Ribbon (p. 15 in the Holiday Catalog) dresses up the tree and both the front and interior are embellished with In-Color sequins and rhinestones.  It was such a fun card to make.  Thank you Jean for teaching us such a great new “technique!”

Some Fall Cards

“It takes courage to grow up and be who we really are.”

e.e. Cummings

Some have grown up to be amazing paper crafters and I just love to see everyone’s work!  These projects are all from the Maine Stampers Day that our Stamping Peace group went to recently.  In the back are the fry box favors that we received when we picked up our nametags.  (they were filled with delicious no-bake cookies)  : )   In the middle is Linda’s card on the left (a Thanksgiving card using the Autumn Accents Bigz Dies) and our Katherine’s card on the right (a thank you card using the Butterfly Sizzlets, the Bird Punch and the Hardwood stamp).  In the front is our Beth Mills’ card, using the new Seasonally Scattered stamp set.  She used a fun technique…sponge daubers on the stamp to add different colors.  Beautiful work everyone!

This is off subject, but I am Catholic in religion (the word catholic means “universal”) and the Pope, Pope Francis, has asked for prayers.  The group that the U.S. started airstrikes on today has targeted him for assassination and he would like prayers for protection.  He is asking for one Hail Mary….Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.   Thanks, may we all know safety and peace.

Swap Cards

“She would rather light candles than curse the darkness and her glow has warmed the world.”

~Adlai Stevenson

I’m still glowing in the aftermath of last Saturday’s “Maine Stamping Day” for Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. (And a good thing that is…33 degrees this morning and a high of 57 today!)   The Stamping Day was organized by Debbie Henderson, Jeannine Tarrio, Cathy Davis Autrey and Carrie Arsenault and it was wonderful!  We got on the road at 7:00 a.m., stopped for coffee and arrived in Augusta at 8:30 for more coffee, donuts and some socializing to meet new “stamping sisters.”  : )  We then all made a group project and then split up into tables for two sessions, making two cards at each session.  At lunch, which was provided,  33 of the 40 attendees participated in a card swap.  These are a few of the cards from our Stamping Peace group…Terry’s sweet “old-fashioned” card is in the front, my invitation card on the left, my upline, Stace Coombs card is in the middle, and Sue’s card is on the right.  We all used new stamp sets from the holiday catalog.  I’ll show you more of the swaps next week!  It was my very first swap ever and it was so much fun!   In the afternoon we had two more sessions, making two projects at each one.  We had a wonderful presentation about the Ronald McDonald House, and lots of amazing doorprizes. (I won the new “Cheerful Christmas” set!)  It was such a fun day and we learned lots of new techniques.  I’ll share those with you next week as well.  Until then, have a nice week-end!

Fall is here!

“October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came ~ the chestnuts, oaks & maples ~ their costumes all aflame.  Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band, the guests were all aflutter & danced off hand in hand.”

~Aster George Cooper

Good Thursday morning and Happy (belated) Birthday to my good friend and stamping buddy, Val!  Today’s card reflects the leaves I have started to see on my morning walk with my granddog and was designed by the uber-talented and fellow Stamping Peace Leader, Beth Mills.  Beth used one of the beautiful new borders from the “Bordering Blooms” set down the the right side of the card, but I don’t have that set (yet!)  : )  The base card stock is Hello Honey, the inks are Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow and Early Espresso.   The leaves and the sentiment were stamped with the new “For All Things” set.  The mossy meadow cardstock is embossed with the woodgrain embossing folder.  We made this card at our four stamping classes this week and everyone had the choice of “Grateful for You” or “Hello Fall” for the inside sentiment.  They are included with the “For All Things” set.  I want to thank all who started the fall season stamping with us…every class is so fun and so different!

Old Fashioned Autumn Card

“I love the nostalgic myself.  I hope we never lose some of the things of the past.”

~Walt Disney

Good Wednesday morning!  Yup, I’m an old-fashioned girl myself…which is why we don’t have cable t.v., a microwave, a cell phone, an answering machine, etc… (but I am a little progressive ’cause I have a computer!)  : )  This sweet little old-fashioned card is a variation of my self-proclaimed granddaughters (a downline’s downline!) swap card for a big stamping event we went to this past Saturday in Augusta (love it Carolyn!)  We made it at our stamping classes this week and it uses a few new stamp sets…Fall Fest for the pumpkin (pumpkin pie and stamped off mossy meadow inks), Holiday Invitation for the little green leaves around the circle, Holiday Home for the little Cajun craze leaves around the circle, and Good Greetings for the sentiment.  The background stamp is Hardwood with crumb cake ink.  Cardstocks are Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Pumpkin Pie.  Although the calendar doesn’t say fall yet, the weather does, so I’ll say “Happy Fall!”  : )

Bats for You!

“On All Hallow’s Eve…soul cakes (donuts) remind of us of eternity at every bite.”

~Florence Berger

Good Tuesday Morning!  This was another card that I made with the Boy Scouts last week for their prayer partners in the assisted living center.  Terry, our resident pro with the owl punch, taught me to make this bat.  The wings are made with the Butterfly Sizzlet.  Coral from the “By the Tide” stamp set added dimension to the moon.  This was such a fun project, made “even funner” with a retired stamp I have for the inside of the card that says “Bats For You”.  : )

A heartfelt congratulations to Nancy in New York, one of our blogging friends, who was a guest stamper last week on Mary Fish’s blog.  Your cards are beautiful Nancy!

Have a great day…will “talk” to you tomorrow.  xo Dawn

Hello Fall!

“The heart of autumn must have broken here, and poured its treasure out upon the leaves.”

~Charlote Bates

Good Friday morning!  I’ve missed our blogging community this last week…hope all is well for all.  : )   This little 4″ card is one that I made with our Boy Scouts last night for their prayer partners at the local assisted living center.   Although the elders do not get out much, these cards will give them a little touch of fall in their rooms!  We used the new “For All Things” stamp set, along with some “Color Me Autumn” Designer Series Paper.   Base cardstock is Mossy Meadow and Cajun Craze.  Ink colors are Crushed Curry, Blackberry Bliss, Cajun Craze and Mossy Meadow.  Autumn is bearing down on us here in Maine…a few red leaves here and there, plummeting morning temperatures…it’s glorious weather for walking the dog early every morning!

Tomorrow, nine of us Stamping Peace Leaders are traveling to Augusta for an all day stamping event.  Please pray us safe.  Have a wonderful week-end!  xo

Checking In!

   

“Happiness walks on busy feet.”

~Kittie Turmell

I haven’t had a minute to stamp this week … my son Joseph started his Senior year in high school, I started working at my son Jonathan’s landscaping company and we started our new Boy Scout year.  Tomorrow night some friends are coming over to stamp, so I’ll have something to show you on Monday.  Until then, have a wonderful week-end!  Love, Dawn  P.S.  These are some of my flowers in our backyard.  : )