A 'Cheerful Critters' Easter bunny!

Check out this little bunny!!  As this is another one of the cute cards everyone made at my March classes.  I think this 'Cheerful Critters' set is just adorable- for all age groups.  This card is similar to one that I got in a swap from Michelle T that is in my GoDiva group.  I changed some of the colors & added some layers & changed the words- but loved how she used it with the On Film Framelit. 

Isn't the new Calypso Coral Pom Pom ribbon neat too!  These colors are just so bright & cheery!!

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We started out with terrible dense fog yesterday morning- but it sure was a nice, warm & sunny day later on.  The boys played outside.  We swang & swang & swang some more.  Last night was my farmer night.  It was a late night on the farm.  I was just beat when we got in. 

I'm off to pick up the boys to spend my day with them.  Deke is headed to the office this morning.  Then my plan is to finally be home tonight- as I have tons to do.  I have boxes of stamps I need to sort & get ready.  And hopefully will have time to create a couple of cards too for my upcoming workshop I have at Jo's house on Saturday!  

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

A Blendabilites Update....

I am so very sad to share this news with all of you!  These were one of my favorites & I used them tons!  

 

Here is an update from Stampin' Up! (R) that they just released today....

There have been continued quality issues with the Blendabilities Markers product line.  Due to the nature of the defect (see below), Stampin' Up! has concluded that difficulties, dissatisfaction, and product returns will only become more widespread. The manufacturer is unable to correct the problem in a manner that Stampin' Up! is certain would meet their high quality standards and provide them with a stable, long-term solution. Therefore, after a great deal of deliberation and in order to prevent further disappointment, the Blendabilities product line has been discontinued.

Some Questions & Answers that you might have......

• Q- Will the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad (item #132708) and the Tuxedo Black Memento Pad Refill (item #133456) still be available for purchase?  
• A- Yes. These items will continue to be available for purchase.  WOO HOO!  The Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad is my FAVORITE every day black ink.  I use it all of the time.  You know that if you attend my classes & stamp with me!

• Q- What are the quality problems with this product?  
• A- When the tip is welded to the barrel, the welding process can leave microscopic (invisible) holes in the marker tip. This leads to accelerated evaporation of the alcohol in the ink.  I have always highly suggested to all of my customers that you store your Blendabilites in an airtight container.  I have done this with all of mine & they are still working wonderful!! 

• Q- Are all Blendabilities markers defective?  
• A- No. Most Blendabilities markers work as intended and I personally haven't experienced the drying issues.  I sold many of these over the past several months & used them at many of my events.  I have had one customer that received one of her markers that was dried out.

• Q:  What if I have Blendabilities markers that are defective?  If you ordered them through me, please contact me immediately & I will contact SU! 

'Just Kidding'- It is NEW!

Check out this months new Photopolymer stamp set!

'Just Kidding'= #140667= $14.95

This weeks "WEEKLY DEALS"- March 10-16, 2015!

A great guy card using 'Moon Lake'!

Here is a quick card that I created using the stamp set- 'Moon Lake' out of the Occasions Catalog.  I was just having fun playing around with this stamp set using different colors.

Are you wondering how I made the shadows across this?  I used the amazing 'Work of Art' stamp set.  It is a probably one of the most versatile sets we have, along with 'Gorgeous Grunge'- I don't want to leave out putting in a plug for how great it is too.

stamp sets:  Moon Lake, Work of Art
card stock:  Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
ink:  Soft Sky, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake & Black Memento
 
This is a great guy card....

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OH my......Life at our house is crazy busy!  This whole month is going to be wild!!  Deke & I are both going to be finding ourselves coming & going & will be trying to keep up with all we need to do.  

I will be posting a new card each day so be sure you continue to stop by to check them out!   But I probably am not going to have the time to keep up with a supply list & much chat.

Deke has several meetings to go to for his Board of Supervisors this month.  And I have lots of stamp classes yet coming up.  I have an in home workshop on Saturday.  And then I have my 2 big annual 'All Occasions' card classes coming up on the 21st & 28th.  Plus we are getting ready to get baby piggies in towards the end of the month too, so we have lot of pigs to sell, piggies to move & buildings to wash out.  The late evenings are my time that I get to stamp....and they are going to be limited, so every chance I can be creating & cutting card stock I have, I need to be doing so.  I hope you understand.

The boys sure had a fun time playing together outside yesterday afternoon.  I'd hate to guess how many times they rode up & down the driveway hill on their trikes.  I bet they slept well last night.  Trey enjoyed watching the 3 big boys playing, while he was sitting in his walker on the driveway.  And of course- they were all a little muddy too- even though they were suppose to be staying out of the mud.  Ha!Ha! Today it is suppose to be warmer yet.  Woo Hoo!!  We are going to be enjoying the Spring weather while it is here.  Hopefully Mother Nature doesn't just tease us with it this week & then hit us hard again with some more winter weather.

I'm headed out to pick up the boys here soon to spend my day with them.  As soon as they leave late this afternoon I'm headed out to work on the farm all evening with Deke.  We have 2 loads of hogs to sell.  At least it won't be too cold out.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!!
Happy Stamping!
HUGS!
SUSIE

"Celebrate" with this 'hinge' card!

As I promised- today I'm sharing more photos & details about THE CARD that I posted yesterday.  Here is a close up of the front of the hinge card.  Isn't it cute!  I colored it with our Stampin' Write Markers. I think that it is a real wow card.  Can't you just imagine how excited the recipient of this card would be when they get it.

Here it is opened up!  Check it out!  See why I call it a hinge card.  And it is so easy & so much fun to do!  It was definitely a big hit at my monthly classes this past week.  I know that it is a favorite of mine too.

Stamp Set:  'Big Day' (SAB)
Card Stock:  Softy Sky, Coastal Cabana, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Designer Paper:  Best Year Ever (SAB)
Ink:  Black Memento
Stampin' Write Markers: Soft Sky, Coastal Cabana, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry & Calypso Coral
Other:  Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Starburst Framelits, Circle Frameltis, Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Bow Builder Punch, Owl Punch (for the circle on the bow), Candy Dot Brad Base, Paper Piercing Tool, Paper Piercing Mat, 2 1/2" Circle Punch

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

How would you like to have the measurements for this card?
Here they are-

• Card base- 4 1/4 x 5 1/2- Soft Sky
• Card front- 4 1/4 x 2 3/4"- Chocolate Chip; 4 1/4 x 3 1/4"- Coastal Cabana, 4 1/4 x 1- Crushed Curry; 4 1/4 x 1- Best Year Ever Designer Paper

 For the Circle part-

• 2 3/4" Whisper White strip- stamp Birthday Word image onto card stock & punch out using the 2 1/2" Circle Punch
• 3 1/2" Chocolate Chip Strip- cut our Starburst Framelit
•  4" Crushed Curry Strip- cut out Circle framelit

Next-

• Adhere Crushed Curry strip onto the front of card (onto the Chocolate Chip piece) & then attach the bow to it.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Adhere the Chocolate Chip Polka Dots directly to the Soft Sky at the bottom.  DO NOT PUT ADHESIVE ON the top 1" of the Chocolate Chip card stock (what I would call the top of it- which is at the center of the card).  You want to be free so that the Coastal Cabana top part can slide down into the Chocolate Chip piece.  They over lap together some. 

If you have any questions- don't hesitate to contact me & ask.

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WOW!  What a busy weekend we had.  I was beat last night by the time I got home.  I answered a few emails & I hit the hay.  Cathy & Judy had a great party yesterday!  I enjoyed getting to share with everyone that came to stamp with us!  

I'm off to pick up the boys.  With the warmer temps I think I'll put old jeans, old coats & their boots on them & let them play.  It will be good to get some fresh air & run off some energy.  It has been a long winter cooped up in the house.  Deke was up early to chore & is headed to the office for the morning.  We'll have a late lunch- as we'll wait on him to get home to eat with us.

Tonight Brayden will be here after school.  I'm looking forward to seeing him & hearing all about his weekend & day at school.  He is so excited that he gets to ride the bus here now and so is g'ma.  It makes it so much easier on all of us.  And he is here by 3:45, so he still gets to play with the boys some before they leave too. 

After Brayden leaves I'll be spending my whole evening entering orders & finalizing things with my hostesses from yesterdays party.  

Gotta run....
I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

Celebrate!!

Here is another one of the cards everyone joining me for my March classes will be making.  It is a fun pop up/hinge card.  Be sure to check back tomorrow & I'll show you more & have a supply list along with it.  It is super cute!  

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Deke was up & out yesterday morning to chore & then headed to town.  He spent the majority of his day at the courthouse for a meeting & then back home to chore again.  I spent my day yesterday cutting card stock & getting things ready for today's classes.  Deke & I did run to Albia last night & had supper with Nathan, Sarah & her parents.  We enjoyed getting to visit with all of them.

 

I'm headed out bright & early this morning with a car full of projects for everyone joining me today to make.  I'll be having a class this morning & a then another class this afternoon.  I have a big group attending both events & I can't wait to see everyone & share!!

I am not a fan of this time change.....I'm a night owl & a morning person & I can get along on having 5 hours of sleep.....BUT not last night with the time change.  I'll have to try to get to bed earlier than normal tonight when I get home.  I know I'm going to be tired after a full day of stamping!

I've gotta run.....

I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

'For the New Two'

Here is a pretty black & ivory wedding card.  I ended up adding a bit of red to it to make it pop.  It is a door fold card.  I love the background stamp I used here from the Occasions Catalog.  It is called- 'Something Lacy' & is definitely my favorite background stamp right now!  I have used it on several cards I've created in the past couple of months.

This is one of the cards that everyone joining me for my March stamp classes this past week got to make.  I don't think that you can ever go wrong with any card that is created in Black & Ivory.  They are always so striking. 

stamp set:  'Something Lacy' & 'For the New Two'

card stock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Real Red

ink:  Black Memento

supplies:  Real Red  1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Basic Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

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My weekend is going to consist of stamping pretty much the whole time.  We are going to run in town & have supper with our kids tonight & Sarah's parents too.  I'll then come home & finish packing up for my classes I have tomorrow.  

I need to make sure I try to get to bed earlier than normal tonight.  Gosh- it is already daylight savings time & we'll loose 1 hour of sleep.

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

Is it Spring yet?

Today I'm thinking Spring.  As Spring is only 14 days away!  Woo Hoo!!  Next week we are to have temps in the 50s, so I'm looking forward to playing outside with the boys.  If it is muddy- oh well- we'll just wear boots & old clothes.  It has been a long winter having to be inside so much.  We're tired of the cold, ice & snow.  It will be nice to get all of this ice melted away.

Don't you just love these pretty flowers?  I have a bunch of thank you notes I need to get sent out for my birthday.....so this is it.  I think this card turned out bright & cheery- and Spring like.  What do you think? 

 Hopefully Saturday I'll have time to go back & update my past posts with a supply list.  I'm sorry it has been a crazy week here for me & I just haven't had the extra time to do them.

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I had a busy day yesterday with the boys......school got out early so Brayden was here too.  They sure have fun together.  Wish you could hear all of the laughs & squeals.  When Steve picked up the Seeley boys he also took Brayden home to play at their house.  I can't wait to hear all about it when I see them in the morning. 

Last night I had a full house of happy stampers!  We had a great time!!  Several of them are coming to my upcoming 40 card class in a couple of weeks- so hopefully I'll get to stamp & visit a bit more that day with everyone there.

I was up late last night & up bright & early this morning getting things picked up from last nights class so that our house was all back in order for the boys.  I'll be headed in the to pick them up here soon.  Sigourney kids don't have school today , but the teachers do.  Deke will be home this morning & then has an appointment this afternoon.  Tonight I'll be cutting supplies & getting things ready for my 2 classes I have on Sunday.   I'm looking forward to my day with everyone in CR.  Cathy & Judy are our hostesses this month.  Yipee!!!

I hope you have a FABULOUS Friday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE

Here is a quick quy card!

 

I needed a quick guy card........and how fun it was to add color to it & not actually have to do the coloring.  I just grabbed my 'Work of Art' stamp set, 4 ink pads & I was done in a flash!  It must be an ok card as when I showed it to Deke he said "Wow- I like that".  So there you have it- this is a great guy card.

I used one of the newer sets from the Occasions Catalog here.  The stamp set is called- 'Moon Lake'.

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

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From the time the boys went home last night until wee hours this morning I was stamping.  I got alot done.....but still lots more to do.

I will be stamping the night away tonight too with a house full of friends.  Woo Hoo!  Tonight is my Stampin' Night class here at our home.  I still have some more things to do when the boys leave to finish getting ready, before everyone gets here.  But I can't wait to see everyone & stamp.

I'm off to pick up the boys.  Deke is on the farm all day today working- so the boys are looking forward to getting to have Papa come in the house to eat lunch with us.  Brayden gets out of school early due to Parents Teachers Conferences- so he'll ride the bus out & be here early today.  That will give the boys a little more time to get to play.  Ok- gotta run.....

I hope you have a very special Thursday!!

Happy Stamping!!
Hugs!
SUSIE

'Celebrate Today'

Here is another birthday card I got.  Isn't it cute!  My dear demonstrator friend Sally sent this to me.  She is like my Stampin' Up! mom and I love her to death!  I enjoy the time we get to spend together when we attend convention & leadership events together.  And I'm thankful for emails & facebook to keep in contact with her, since she lives in Ohio. 

This stamp set & coordinating framelits can be purchased together as a BUNDLE or separately.

stamp set:  'Celebrate Today'
card stock:  Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral & the Birthday Bash Calypso Coral Washi Tape
ink:  Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral & Whisper White Craft Ink
supplies:  Big Shot, Balloon Framelits, Dimensionals, Painted Blooms Cotton Twine

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Off to get the boys.  Deke is gone all day to meetings.  And tonight I'll be a stamping away!  Gotta run....

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE 

This weeks- "WEEKLY DEALS"- March 3-9, 2015!

Wow!  This weeks 'WEEKLY DEALS" are all about packaging!  

A beautiful butterfly card!

Here is another beautiful butterfly card!  This one was created by my friend & downline Dawn Klein.  She is a very talented stamper & I love her vintage style.  We have a great time together traveling to Stampin' Up! Conventions & Leaderships events.  I so treasure her friendship.  This is the card that she sent to me for my birthday.  I love it!

She stamped the little butterfly in the middle onto vellum card stock & then cut it out with the framelits.  If you look close she has some gold strips behind the butterfly.  I believe that they came out of the Gold Metallic Baker's Twine.  Cool huh!

This card is created with the 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set & coordinating fromaelits that are in the Occasions Catalog.  They come as a bundle or you can purchase them separately.

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Brayden was here after school yesterday- so it was great to get to see him.  He had to go up to the shop with his dad though as soon as he got here after work.  Nathan's 2015 race car is back & painted.  It is purple this year!  I can't wait to see it when it all done & lettered & on the race track.  The purple race car he had in 2009 was fast & good.  So we'll see if this one can be it's twin.  This is what the guys have been working on in the shop all winter.  

Check out the photos below of the progress in building the race car.  It originally started out as just a few bars.  This is a photo of the cage after it has been painted.

And after countless hours welding & grinding & bending pipe- they are gaining.

 

Here is Brayden's Papa Mark Sheetz working on it.  They are hanging the body on it.  It is finally beginning to look like a race car.

WOW- it is all done & ready to go to get painted!!

And here it is back & ready to get finished with the lettering & decals.  Mark & Nathan are headed to Nebraska to race in 10 days......I can't believe our 2015 racing season is beginning.  But we are all excited & ready to go cheer Nathan on.  Brody asks almost every Wednesday if we get to go racing in Osky tonight.  It is so cute!  Gosh....we've been racing for many years & it is definitely a family affair. 

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Last night I got connected with Joyce & got orders finalized from her party.  I then worked on other stamping stuff the rest of the night.  Gosh....I have stamps all over our house!  I swear we live, eat & breath stamps around here.
 

I had planned to have the boys all day- but we have ICE- so school is cancelled.  WOW- what do I do first to get checked off of my long list?  Deke is on the farm most of the day today.  We are having problems with one of our pumps to the hog houses- so the pump/well guy is coming this morning to help Deke get that fixed.  Then I'll be a farmer later this afternoon, helping Deke outside, as we sell hogs.  Then tonight Deke has a night meeting after supper.  So we'll head to the voting booth together on his way to his meeting, as Keokuk County is having a special election today on the local option sales tax.  Only rural residents can go vote on it.  I hope it passes!  We are already paying the 1% extra at most locations in the County, but since the rural residences haven't approved it in the past- any of the money collected in the County from it is getting split between the towns (which is nice), but the County isn't getting any of it.  Hopefully we will so that the money collected from it can help to fix some much needed rural bridges & roads that need repaired.  

Tonight I'll be cutting & working on my class for Thursday night.   I can't wait for everyone to come stamp with me....it will be here before we know it.

I hope you have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!! 
Happy Stamping!

Hugs!
SUSIE

Here it is....

Here it is...... the rest of the card that I posted yestersday (you can see it here).  Isn't it beautiful!!  This is one of the cards that everyone stamping with me for my March classes will be making this week.

 It is a fun fold card.  Check it out!  
The flowers are stamped onto vellum & then layered onto a Whisper White piece of card stock.

• I stamped onto the vellum card stock using the Black Stazon pad.   
• I turned over the stamped vellum & colored the image on the back side using the Stampin' Write Markers:  Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi & Chocolate Chip.
• I then turned it back over & attached it to a piece of Whisper White card stock by using 2 glue dots in the top corners under the vellum.

NOTES:  

• Be sure to let the markers dry on your vellum so that you don't smear it.  It only takes a few minutes- so be patient.  You can also press the colored side lightly onto your grid paper to blot it a little.
• Originally I had planned to color this image using my Blendabilites Markers, but since they aren't available to purchase currently (See post HERE!)- I decided to change my plan of action & go back to the basics with our Stampin' Write Markers.  

stamp set:  Indescribable Gift
ink:  Jet Black Stazon pad
markers:  Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip
card stock:  Vellum, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi
designer paper:  Subtles Paper Stack- 12x12
other:  Wild Wasabi Seam Binding ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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Joyce had an awesome party yesterday!  I think we all enjoyed our day!  Great company, yummy food & cute cards!  Just what the doctor ordered us to do on a cold winter day in Iowa.  At least the roads were good & traveling wasn't dangerous.  

I'm off to pick up the boys here soon.  Deke will be gone all day..... he has a board meeting this morning, a meeting this afternoon & a meeting tonight.  He'll have a late night on the farm choring when he gets home.  I think I'm actually home for a change & when the boys leave I plan on connecting with Joyce & finalizing orders from her party.  I'll then work on cutting supplies for my other 2 classes I have this week. 

Gotta run......

I hope you have a MARVELOUS Monday!!

Happy Stamping! 

HUGS!
SUSIE

An Indescribable Gift!

Here is a quick post.....this is a peek at one of the fun fold cards everyone joining me for my March classes will be making.  This stamp set if called- 'Indescribable Gift' & is in the Occasions Catalog on pg. 35.  What pretty apple blossoms these are.  It makes me think of Spring!  Can you tell that I stamped these blossoms onto vellum using a Black Stazon ink pad.  I turned the vellum over & I colored on the backside of it using the Stampin' Write Markers. 

I will post the whole card & supply list tomorrow.  I'm still getting ready for today's class & will be heading out here soon.  Joyce is our hostess & we have a big group coming.  I can't wait to see everyone & spend our afternoon stamping together.  We have a few 'oldies' joining us that I haven't seen for awhile, so I'm looking forward to catching up with them too.

We got Jenny & Clint's wedding invites designed yesterday morning.  Oh my gosh....they are super duper cute!  I'm excited about them!  I think she is too.  We even designed a coordinating shower invite too for her sister Jordan to send out.  When she sends out her invites I'll share it with you all, as I don't want to spoil seeing them too soon. They are getting married in June.   Her colors are Calypso Coral & Crumb Cake.  

Manda & Trey were here yesterday morning too to help with Jenny's wedding invite designing.  Then Steve & the twins stopped in to say hi to everyone too.

I have to brag about my husband.  I know I help him on the farm, thus he helps me too.  He ran the Big Shot for several hours last night cutting things for me.  I so appreciate his help!  He is a keeper.

I had great mojo yesterday & am excited about the cards I created.  I also designed a bonus gift too for everyone coming to my classes this week to make for Easter.  Woo hoo!  I'll see you soon......

Gotta run.......
I hope you have a SUPER Sunday!!
Happy Stamping!
Hugs!
SUSIE