An elegant 'Watercolor Winter' card

Good morning!
I want to share an elegant card that I created for my Go Diva "WOW Christmas Card" swap group.  We swap a few time per year.  This is an amazing group of ladies- many of whom I've connected with through Founders that past 6 years.  I'm honored to part of this group.  I hope they all like my card.  

I am also having my downline make this card at my meeting here tomorrow.  I really like this stamp set.  Since it is a 2 steppin' style & a watercolor design I decided that I wasn't going to stress over making them all line up perfectly.   Don't you think it looks ok?

I used the MASKING technique when stamping this.  I stamped the outline of the poinsettia in Early Espresso; then stamped the inside of the poinsettia in Cherry Cobbler; then using a post stick it note I stamped the poinsettia onto it & cut it out using the scissor snips= creating my mask; I put the mask over the top of the stamped poinsettia;  then stamped the outline of the leaves; then the inside of the leaves; then the pine needles; and then removed the mask.   I colored the center of the poinsettia with the awesome new Stampin' GOLD Dazzle marker on pg. 19 of the Holiday catalog.  I also colored the smallest basic pearls using this GOLD Dazzle marker & put 3 of them in the center of the poinsettia.  Cool huh!!!   

 'Watercolor Winter' & 'More Merry Messages'

cs:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler & Naturals Ivory

ink:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler & Always Artichoke

supplies:  Big Shot, Lacy Brocade Embossing folder, Early Espresso Tulle, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Gold Dazzle marker, 2 1/2" circle punch, 2 3'8" circle punch, glue dot, dimensionals

I first stamped the pines along the outside edges of the Always Artichoke layer & then ran it through the Big Shot using the Lacy Brocade embossing folder on pg. 6 of the Holiday Catalog.  In person this is very pretty & elegant.

Do you see the sparkle on the card?

When I was finished with making the card I sprayed it with Champagne Shimmer Mist & rubbing alcohol mixture.  One of my favorite things to do to a finished card.  I love the sparkle!

The twins did great yesterday while we unloaded & sorted new baby piggies.  
Here are a couple of photos of them.

 I pulled them up to the hogs houses in their little wagon.
Here they are talking to Papa while we are waiting for the piggies to arrive.

 Here is a picture of me holding a black baby piggy so that the boys could touch it.
They both liked it!  He is cute little baby piggy!  I love baby pigs!

 Here the twins are checking out the big piggies with Papa.  These pigs will go to market next week.  
They weigh approx. 270#. 
I LOVE this photo of the 3 of my guys!

Ok.......I need to go.  Another busy day ahead.  Or should I say we have several busy days ahead. 
The twins are staying with us until their parents get home Monday evening.  
So grandma & Papa are going to be tired.  But we'll have lots of fun!!  
Brayden gets to come spend the day with us today.  I am sure he is going to want to head right out to see the baby piggies since he's been in school this week & couldn't be here when they arrived.

I hope you have a fabulous day!!
Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

Founders Circle Group photo

Here is a picture of our group taken at our PJ party at Founders.

I am sitting on the floor.

I am in the 2nd row,  the 6th person in from left side (when looking at the photo).

Shelli is sitting right in front of me.

Wow!!  Lots of friends & a great time we all had together last week! 

Here is a picture of me at our PJ party!

'Daydream Medallions' card

Good morning!
Here is a card that I am doing at my August workshops.  This is a stamp set has endless possibilities.  I love the coordinating framelits!  AND notice the 5/8" Stitched Satin ribbon on this card.  This is the Raspberry Ripple color.  You can get any or all of the 5 new In Color ribbons for FREE this month from SU! as their special this month.  For every $40 that you spend you get to choose one roll of ribbon for FREE!  Choose-
Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green or Primrose Petals.

'Daydream Medallions', 'Sweet Essentials' & 'Pursuit of Happiness'

cs:  Raspberry Ripple, Rose Red, Whisper White

Floral District Designer Paper

ink:  Raspberry Ripple

supplies:  Big Shot, Floral Frames Framelits, Fancy Fan Folder, Tasteful Trim die, Boho Blossom punch, Essentails Paper Piercing tool, Pierce Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, dimensionals, glue dot, Large Pearl, Raspberry Ripple ribbon

We got baby piggies in on Tuesday & will get more in this morning.  Here is a photo of Brody & Drake with Papa.  The twins & I went out to help him.  Brody LOVED the piggies & Drake was  a chicken.  They are so total opposite......so sweet & so much fun!  We get more baby piggies in today.  It will be interesting to see how Drake acts today.

Here is Drake standing at the gate watching the baby piggies come off of the trailer.
He liked this- they weren't too close to him.

 Here is Brody in the pen chasing the baby piggies.  Notice that he also discovered the water nipples.  He sure wasn't afraid.  He chased them, touched them, & just had a blast screaming with excitement!

It hasn't been a good week at our house.  We've been swamped & lots of things have broken.  I keep thinking we are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel.....sure hope so!!  

My washing machine broke yesterday......so I made a quick trip to town & bought a new one.

I got great customer service & Doug delivered it & hooked it up within 2 hours of me buying it.  This wasn't in my budget......but I didn't have a choice- can't live without that around here.  I've already used it!

THEN- we have been fighting with getting enough water supply to the hogs.  Our water comes from our pond- which is extremely low due to the drought.  So we had the pump guy come out on Monday night & lower the pumps & the backhoe guy came out on Tuesday to dig around the pumps to get more water to them.  AND it still wasn't working right, so the the well guy came on Tuesday night to look at things & give us his opinion.  He showed up with all of his equipment to dig a deep well for us yesterday afternoon.  Talk about not being in your budget!  WOW WEE!!  

 Here is a photo of them starting to dig.  My new washing machine costs peanuts compared to what this is going to cost.  But we didn't have a choice.  This severe drought has been so hard on alot of different things this year.  But it has affected the farmers really hard in MANY ways.  I pray that we get some much needed rain.  We needed it months ago for the crops (that we didn't get), but we still need it now too.

On a positive note- my sister Julie stopped by yesterday.  Wow- was great to have her here to visit & help with the boys while Doug was putting in my new washing machine.  She was a blessing!

Ok.....gotta run.  The twins & I are off to help Deke with the new baby piggies that are coming this morning.  Then the twins have an appointment this afternoon to get their one year shots, plus their flu shots.  Poor little guys- they get 4 shots each today.  We are not looking forward to this.

Have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

A CUTE black cat!!!

Good morning!

Here is a cute card that I am doing at my September works.  It is a little different fold & I just love it!  

I am a cat lover & I also love Halloween so this card is just so totally me.

Be sure to scroll on down & check out the other photos of this fold.  It is something simple & fun! 

'Frightening Feline' & 'Border Banter'

cs:  Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Paper

ink:  Black Stazon

supplies:  1/8" Taffeta ribbon, glue dot, 

Basic Rhinestones- colored orange with a permanent sharpie marker

 Can you tell that the front piece is what opens up on this card?

Front view with the card open.

Back view with the card open.

Measurements:

Basic Black- 4 1/4 x 5 1/2-  for the base

8 1/2 x 2 3/4- folded in half & wrapped around card to make the part that opens

3 1/4 x 3 1/4- to layer the black cat

Tangerine Tango- 4 x 5 1/4- for the base layer on top of the Basic Black

3 x 3- to layer the black cat

Very Vanilla- 2 3/4 x 2 3/4- to stamp the black cat on

designer paper- 2 1/2 x 4- to put on the front Basic Black flap

ribbon- approx. 3 1/2"

Have a great day!!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE