Our 3 boys at the Easter Egg Hunt.

Brody, Brayden & Drake

A Shadow Box Graduation Card!

Good morning!

Here is a quick post.....

This is one of my April workshop cards.

It was a big hit with everyone.

I love it & have lots to make in May for all of the graduation parties we are invite to.

This is a Shadow Box graduation card.

Check out the cut tassel made with the Fringe Scissors.

Cute huh!

'Pomp & Circumstance', 'Dictionary' Background stamp

cs:  Basic Black & Very Vanilla

ink:  Black Stazon

supplies:  Candy Dot Bases, Neutrals  Candy Dot (Black), 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Simply Scored Scoring tool, Paper Piercing Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, Sticky Strip, Fringe Scissors, Linen Thread, Paper Snips

See how it stands up.

And it lays flat to fit into our envelopes.

card measurements:

Basic Black- 

*4 1/4 x 5 1/2- score at 1/2", 1", 4 1/2" & 5" 

(need 2 of these- one for front & one for back)

*2 3/4" Strip for 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch

 Very Vanilla-

4 x 3 1/4- need 2 of these

(for inside piece & then piece on the back to stamp greeting onto)

3 1/2 x 1- for front of card (w Dictionary words stamped on it)

4x 1/2" - stamp congratulations on this

2 1/2" strip- to stamp graduation cap on & punch out

3 1/2 x 1 1/2- put sticky strip on top edge & snip with Fringe Scissors to make tassel

I stamped all day yesterday & plan to stamp all day today!

So much to do to get ready for my big Spring Stamp 'Til You Cramp that is next Saturday!

I have noodles to make tonight too for our Easter dinner tomorrow.

Woo Hoo!

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

FREE SHIPPING- April 21-25!!

WOW!  

What an awesome special from Stampin' Up!

Get FREE shipping on everything (excluding expedited orders) April 21-25! 

The lists of retiring products will be available on April 21, so you can take advantage of free shipping by ordering all your favorites right away!

THE RETIRING LIST will be released next Monday, April 21st....so be sure to note that date now!

Here is an update from Stampin' Up! 

Retiring Products: Your chance to stock up on retiring products is almost here-watch for the list on April 21!  You won't want to miss out on getting any of your favorite items before they are gone!   

New this year: 
BOTH stamps and accessories will be available only while supplies last.

A clean & simply Sympathy card......

Good morning!
Here is another card I did last month at my class.

It is a clean & simple sympathy card.

 'Simply Sketched' (hostess sets)

cs:  Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe & Whisper White

ink:  Baked Brown Sugar & Crisp Cantaloupe

supplies:  Big Shot, Circles framelit, Tea Lace Doilies, Paper Snips, Sponge Daubers
 

NOTE:  I just dabbed on color onto the flower using a Sponge Dauber.
 

 Deke is headed to meeting all day again today.

Aunt Kathy is coming down to stamp with me.

I have lots to get put away from all of the classes I've had the past 3 weeks.

HOPE I get it all done.
 

 I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

Step By Step on how to do these labels.....

Good morning!
I've had a few of you ask how & what these labels are.

Below is the steps & supplies I used when creating this pretty card with 'Happy Watercolor'.

Click here to see my previous post! 

 These are the labels that I used.

 1.  I stamped the image onto the label sheet.

 2.  I colored the flowers using my Pink Pirouette marker.

 3. I then peeled the back side, approx. 1"- like shown above.

 4.  I lined up the edges of the labels to a piece of card stock that measures 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".

NOTE:  Be sure to leave them all together & attach to the card stock piece all at one time! 
You do not have to stick down each label individually.

5.  I made sure that the labels were straight & pressed down good onto the card stock & then carefully pulled the backing piece off & pressed down the labels as I went.

Thus they are all stuck onto the card stock at one time- not individually.

6.  Finished pressing the labels all down to the card stock.

NOTE: If you get the labels crooked you can carefully pull the labels back off of the card stock, as long as you do it right away & reposition them each individually then. 

 7.  You are done!

COOL HUH!

There is no school in Sigourney today, as it is their Easter break- which means I don't have the twins.

So I'm sorting & bagging stamp orders this morning & then getting my hair cut right after lunch.

Tonight is my normal stamp delivery run, so I'll be doing that too.

 I have a list a mile long of things to do in the next 8 days.

I hope you have a very special Thursday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!

SUSIE 

I'm having a Bulap & Bloosoms Simply Created Wreath Kit Class!

 

Check out these beautiful flowers!
They are on the #133333-Burlap & Blossoms Simply Created Wreath Kit ($17.95)
 shown in the Occasions Catalog on page 21.

Would you like to make this werath with me?

I'm having a wreath class & I'd love to have you come make one with me.

WHEN:  Saturday, May 17th, 2014
TIME:  11:00  a.m.  to 1:00 p.m. 
WHERE:  At the Pizza Ranch in North Liberty, Iowa.

Be sure to RSVP by Saturday, May 10th!
 NOTE:  
This wreath class will be held before our monthly May Stampin' Card Class.
Come join me for both of them!
Contact me for more information about either of these class.

A 'Happy Day' with 'Zoo Babies'!

Good morning!
Here is a cute 'Zoo Babies' card that I made for my class last month.

Isn't he cute!

And I love the Coastal Cabana with the Smokey Slate.

It is just a great color combination.

 'Zoo Babies' & 'Happy Day'

cs:  Coastal Cabana, Smokey Slate, Whisper White

ink:  Smokey Slate

supplies:  Big Shot, Alphabet Press embossing folder, Basic Pearls, Paper Snip, dimensionals

Brayden & Nathan were here last night.

The guys worked in the shop & have the race car ready to go for tonight.

If the weather is decent I might go & take all of the boys.

We'll see how the day goes & decide later.

Manda has parent/teachers conferences tonight & Steve has dance pictures to edit-

so I'll have the twins. 

Brayden was trying hard to talk his dad into letting him go racing tonight too.

I just pray that the 52 Team has a good night!

They have spent alot of hours in the shop lately fixing the car from Saturday nights mishap.

I've been a stamping fool.....

Maddison's invites are just about all done & she will be here this afternoon to get them.

They turned out cute & she was pleased with them!

I will get a photo of them & post it sometime soon.

We had a late night last night on the farm, thus making it a short night of sleep.

Our semi driver was late getting here due to waiting to unload a prior load.

It was after midnight when we got in.

I'm off this morning to Manda's to get the boys.

I hope you have WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

Are you a scrapbooker!! HERE IS SOME EXCITING NEWS!

Get ready for a scrapbooking revolution with Project Life & Stampin' Up! being partners! 

Project Life helps busy people (so basically all of us) document life using photos 

and journaling in a quick, simple, and fabulous way. 

Stampin' Up! has partnered with Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, 

to offer a complete line of elite products. 
CLICK HERE to read more about it & watch a video that is posted on Stampin' Up!'s blog!
 

"Becky explains, "It's called Project LIFE because it's about YOUR LIFE. Whatever your life is. Whatever your stage of life. Whatever your family circumstances. Whatever your lifestyle. Project Life is designed to help anyone and everyone get their pictures into a book."  

In a nutshell, it's all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them."  

I'm IN!  

And I'm very EXCITED about this news!  

I'm a scrapbooker at heart & so behind on my pages that this will give me the edge to get going again on preserving our family memories!

You will be able to order a selection of Project Life products starting May 1. 

And with the launch of Stampin' Up!'s new annual catalog on June 2, 

you'll be able to buy from the complete line of Project Life products!

WOO HOO!!!

• Coordination, coordination, coordination. You know Stampin' Up! does it best, and the Project Life line is no exception. 
• Our products center on things that matter most-weddings, babies, kids, and the everyday moments of getting together with your favorite people-all things that need to be remembered.
• Our card collections come without rounded corners so you can decide if you want to keep them that way (and match the corners of your photos as they come) or use our Project Life Corner Punch to round them out. 
• Our card collections come packaged in an exclusive storage system that holds all your Project Life supplies on your desk: cards, journaling pens, photos, accessory packs, stamp sets, and more.

Here are the products that will be available for you to purchase from me beginning May 1st!
 
STAY TUNED FOR MORE EXCITING DETAILS!

Weekly Deals- April 15-21, 2014

Another Envelope Punch Board Bow!!

Hello!

Gosh- here is a card I did at my class last month 

& I forgot to share it with you.

I created the bow on this card with Envelope Punch Board. 

Click here to see how to make it!

'See Ya Later Alligator' (SAB)

cs:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla & Real Red

ink:  Black Stazon

supplies:  Small Heart Punch, Jumbo Pearl, Envelope Punch Board, Big Shot, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SAB), 2 1/2" Circle Punch

Isn't this an elegant Wedding or Anniversary card!

Last night Brayden & Nathan were here.
Deke was gone to a night meeting & didn't get home until late.
AND

I stamped all night- until wee hours.....as

Maddison's graduation invitations are piled high!

I'm gaining!

I'll be so glad when they are done so I can go on to my next stamping projects.

Maddison is stopping by this afternoon to pick up the ones I have completed.

Hope she likes them!

I'm headed to Manda's again this morning.
Tonight I'm a farmer helping Deke outside all evening-
sorting & loading hogs on the semi.

Gotta run.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!

Happy Stamping!
HUGS!
SUSIE

Happy Monday with 'Happy Watercolor'!

Good morning!
Here is a card that I created for my April classes.

I LOVE IT!

It is totally a "Susie card".

I love these 2 colors together!

And check out the labels that the flowers are stamped on.

This technique is one that I first learned over 13 years ago when I started stamping!

I think all of the girls stamping with me this past week thought it was cool too. 

Yes- I am a technique junkie.

Yes- I love different folds.

 Don't you like the way that this card opens up.

 And check out how I punched out the words on this card.

My dear demonstrator friend LeeAnn Greff shared the awesome way to do this using 

the Decorative Label Punch.  
Check out my step by step process below on how to do this!

'Happy Watercolor' 

cs:  Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede & Whisper White

dp:  Neutrals Designer Series Stack (Soft Suede)

ink:  Soft Suede

markers:  Soft Suede & Pink Pirouette

supplies:  Large Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Soft Suede 3/8" Taffeta ribbon

other:  Address Labels

#1- stamp words onto strip of card stock towards the bottom

#2- punch out words with Decorative Label Punch

#3- cut a strip of card stock to make a "HANDLE" to attach to your Decorative Label Punch out

#4- using handle- slide punched out words into the top of the punch like this!

#5 Punch & you are done!
Isn't this a cool & different look you can get using this punch!

I am off to Manda's this morning to get the boys.

She has an early meeting to attend.

Deke is in the office today.

I'll be working on Maddison's graduation invitations every spare minute I have the next 2 days.

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE 

Spring is here with Tulips!

Hello!

This is a fun fold tulip card.
It is one of my April class cards.

 Isn't the grass along the bottom cute!

It is made using the fringe scissors.

I will update this post with the supply list sometime soon.

I spend the day/night yesterday cutting card stock.
I was hoping I got to go to the races- but that didn't happen.

But the guys & Brayden did go to Bloomfield last night.

Nathan won his heat & the Stock Car Dash.

His good luck went bad when his motor blew up in the main 
& to top it off, he was leading at the time.

What a bummer!!!

As I type this post it is storming & we've been without power for about the past hour.
Deke went out to start the generator.
We are waiting for the power company to get things going again.
 
I still have a little more cutting to do & packing up before I'm headed out for my class today.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone & stamping with them.

Fran & Lona are our hostesses this month.

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

A CUTE little Bunny!

Hello!
Here is the bunny card that I told you yesterday that I would post today.

Isn't he cute!!

His eyes are basic rhinestones colored with a black sharpie marker.

His whiskers are made by cutting strips with the fringe scissors.

The egg is made with the small oval punch 

& the Sweet Sorbet Designer Paper from Sale-a-bration.

I also used the Small Heart Punch, the Extra Large Oval punch, the Large Oval punch 
& the Oval Framelits to make him.

His little tail is just so stinkin' cute too!
It is made using the 7/8" Scalloped Circle punch.

cs:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Pink Pirouette

dp:  Sweet Sorbet Designer Paper (SAB)

ink: Early Espresso (sponged around the edges)

supplies:  Oval Framelits, Extra Large Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, dimensionals, glue dots, Fringe Scissors, Basic Rhinestones, Small Heart Punch, sponge

 
I got a bunny card swap from Carol Stephenson 

& adapted her idea to create this little bunny!

What beautiful spring like weather we had yesterday!

The boys & I enjoyed playing outside for a couple of hours.

Today I'm cutting card stock & packing up for my class I have tomorrow.

If it doesn't rain the guys will be going racing in Bloomfield tonight & depending on how much cutting I have done will depend on whether I am going with them or not.

 Deke is gone to a meeting all morning & then home to chore & work in the shop.

I hope you have a SENSATIONAL Saturday!!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

"Hoppy" Friday!!

Hello!
I've been making some fun Easter cards.

Here is a peek at one of bunny cards I made.

Stop back by tomorrow& I'll show you the rest of this cute little bunny!

I had a full room to stamp with me at the Pizza Ranch in Sigourney last night.
I am so glad so many could join me!!
Many 'THANKS" to those of you that helped me pick up, pack up & carried things out to my car.  

Nathan didn't have too good of luck last night racing.
He started 12th & finished 9th.
At least he didn't tear anything up.
Tomorrow night (Saturday) we'll be headed to Bloomfield to race.

I'm off to Manda's this morning to get the boys.
I will then enjoy my day with them.
Tonight I'll be cutting & getting ready for my stamp class I have on Sunday!
AND
sometime I've got to get Maddies' graduation invitations done.
There just aren't enough hours in the day!

Wishing you a "Hoppy" Friday!!
Hugs!
SUSIE