SU Catty Review Part One!

is in the house. I thought I'd share a few of my opinions. Level One Hostess Sets: Event Full: 6 stamps with line drawings and sayings on each one. Stocking/fill 'er up; graduation cap/ hats off; cake on wagon/ you take the cake; bunny jumping out of a hat/ you amaze me; hanger with hearts hanging down/hang in there; peapod with 3 peas, one is smiling; sweet pea. Grade: B So Many Sayings: 3 rectangles full of sayings in different fonts, etc. Things like love of a lifetime, missing you, celebrate life, small wonder. Each block has about 10 sayings, so this is an absolute STEAL of a deal -- but unrelated sayings are on the same block. This set cries out for cutting up and going unmounted. Grade: A+ (if you go unmounted); B- if mounted as shown in catty. Oh, So Lovely: set of 4 stamps. Reminds me of Art of Life. One is a long rectangle that is kind of scratchy and then 3 individual flowers in a light double line style that will each fit on top of the rectangle. Very nice. Grade: A Party Punch: set of 6 desgined to go with either the Designer Label Punch (3) and the Tab Punch (3). Grade: B Creative License Simply Scrappin: colors are pumpkin pie, soft sky, wild wasabi and blue bayou (nice combo, by the way). And you get some textured paper (looks like Bazzil). I can never figure out how to use these kits, but if you like scrappin kits, this is a solid A. Sidekick Sayings: set of 3 stamps. Each is a rectangle, with a saying in a font like Friendship Flowers and each has an image to the right of the saying. Christmas is here .... with a tree; the grand essentials of happiness are ....with a branch with leaves; let us be grateful to people who make us happy with a flower. The images are the double line doodle style. This is a nice idea. I think the words are a bit close together, making them hard to read. For that reason I'm giving this one a B-. end of Level One Sets************ A New Hardware Kit -- Pretties Kit $29.95 Nice, very nice. White embellishments and a lot of them -- flowers, pearls, rhinestone brads, beads, etc. You can dye the flowers, which come in 5 sizes (10 each size). I think this is a good buy and give it an A+. More on Stamps: There are some baroque style stamps -- similar to the Baroque Motifs we've seen in the sneak preview and Carte Postale, which is in this catalogue. One is a set called Illuminations. It is 4 stamps, each is a large letter followed by the rest of the wordwith a lot of swirls around the words. It is $28.95 and has an old English feel. The words are Cherish, Joy, Hope, and Thanks. This is one of those sets that isn't my style, but someone else will do something awesome with it!! I'm giving it a C+, partly based on the price. With tax and shipping, that's about $8 a stamp, which is reasonable given the cost of other wood mounted, but I'm just not loving this one enough to pay this amount. Some Western Theme Sets: Hey, I'm a Yankee, so I shouldn't even try and grade these (but I will anyway). Wanted: set of 8, with a solid horse, star, paisley, the word "WANTED" in a Western style (duh) and a few medallion type stamps. $22.95. This is pretty nice. Not something I'd probably buy, but nice. A good B. Bronc Buster: set of 4. A rodeo guy on a bucking bronco in a solid scribbly style, with some flourishes, a stamp that says Genuine The One and Only with a star in the middle; another star with some flourishes and another flourish. B- Starstruck: a set of 6 small stamps. Sort of like Little Pieces only each one has a star in it. $10.95 A+ if you like stars!! Probably a B- for me. Bronco Wheel: this goes with the Bronc Buster and Wanted sets. Kind of a scribbly/solid style with a badge, doodles, a boot with spurs and a steer head(?). $6.50 This is soooo NOT me. C- Do you like dots and circles? There are a lot of sets similar in style to Big Pieces. One is Big Flowers and a coordinating Little Flowers. Big Flowers is a set of 8 for $22.95 and Little Flowers is a set of 6 much smaller stamps for $10.95. Each stamp is a circle with a flower in it and there are a fair amount of dots and scallops. Pretty nice. Not different enough for me, but talented stampers will make really nice stuff with this. B+ Ginormous Flowers set of 6 for $28.95 -- think Big Flowers only really big! I have too many similar flowers, but if you are looking for some big solid shapes, this is for you. B+ Garden Whimsy: A set of 8 for $23.95. I like this one a lot. Solid butterflies, tulip, snail and lady bug with two sentiments and a couple of small bugs with tails. Each has swirls and dots built into the design. Do I need this? No. Will I get it? Probably. Solid stamps are easy -- this will make quick pretty cards. I'm giving it an A-. Whimsy Jumbo Wheel -- more dots and swirls. It's nice enough but how many swirls and dots does a stamper need? I won't buy it, B-. More later, have to go be a domestic goddess....

Soon, Baby, Soon

I made this card for a co-worker, who is expecting her second child (a boy) in July. In all honesty, I was stumped by these little silhouette stamps. They are quite small -- almost too small. So I fooled around for about 3 days until I found a way to incorporate this pregnant woman into a card. I wanted a suitable sentiment, but nothing I had fit, until I saw the word "soon" and I knew I had hit the jackpot for a 9 months pregnant woman in July in DC!!! The inside text is "Hang in There!" Supplies: Stamps: Stampendous Sassy Silhouettes and Impression Obsession Clear Set Sentiments II; Memory Box Homespun and Eggshell papers; Stampin Up cream grosgrain ribbon, blue eyelet and Bashful Blue cardstock; Marvy scallop and oval punches. The base of the card is made with White Papertreyink cardstock -- sent to me for free, courteous of Robyn, a/k/a The Pink Stamper, and Robynstamps on Splitcoast. BTW, totally awesome paper for the base of a card. I wish I didn't have 10,000 (it seems) sheets of white cardstock already! Robyn also sent me an amazing collection of cards -- all of which I will post soon. Isn't that sweet?

Poor Thing Mom Mystery Contest

No stamping today. Just a mystery and a contest with a prize. I had to pick up Poor Thing Son at 4:30 pm today. I gave him "clear" instructions -- stand here in front of Maggie Moos at 4:30 and I'll be there to pick you up. Maggie Moos is an ice cream shop and is in an outdoor "village" of stores, restaurants, book store, library, theaters, etc. Long story short, by 5:00, no Poor Thing Son, but a very worried, very HOT, Poor Thing Mom. After searching for a half hour, I went from annoyed to scared to freaked out. So, I got back in my car to shift the search from foot to vehicle, and as I was driving through the shopping village I spied him. He was . . . So, what was Andy (age 16) doing during the half hour I was having a nervous breakdown? Comment on this post and describe what you think Andy was doing. First person to guess what Andy was doing will win a $35 gift certificate to Paperosity One guess per person. If you live outside of the USA, please check and make sure that Paperosity ships to your home or you are not eligible. I'll announce the winner on Sunday July 1. The fine print: (I didn't go to law school for nuttin') Please leave your name with your entry. At least a first name with an initial for your last name. Anonymous won't work! I will be asking you to contact me through Splitcoaststampers to claim your prize. You will have a week to claim your prize, after that, well, I'll run another contest! Oh, and am I affiliated with Paperosity? No, just love the store!

Poor Thing Son

My order from Paperosity came today, chock full of Memory Box stamps!! I love this store and Karen is sooo easy to deal with. Thanks, Karen for the extra goodies!! I decided to break in Mr. Penguin to make a card for my Poor Thing Son. He started his first sort of real job last week. He is working in an office for 8 weeks this summer. Has to wear nice clothes, etc. Poor Thing Son's comments so far: "I'm in a cubicle with no window!" "Why did we move so far from the city, this commute is killing me." "I have to get up at 6!!" "It's boring being in an office all day." "I worked through lunch because it was interesting." Hey, welcome to my world!! And your Dad's and several hundred million other worker bees!! Anyway, I'll give this card to him tomorrow and wish him some happiness at his "job." Geesh, kids nowadays. Were we this lazy when we were 16??? Note: IRL the card and the images are not blurry!! Supplies Used: Memory Box Posey Penguin (wood) and clear Modern Elements for the little background flowers; Stampin Up Warm Words (I think, the stamp is out of the box); Memory Box Homespun collection (the green gingham) and Holly cardstock from Ellen Hutson's store; SU Black Cardstock and Basic Black ink; White gel pen; SU Real Red marker.

Autism Contest Card Gallery

Finally! Here are the adorable cards stampers made with Gina K's Love You to Pieces Set. Gina designed this stamp set specifically to raise funds for Autism Speaks. (Hint: it is still available and funds will still go to Autism Speaks). As I posted earlier, I picked an envelope out of a box and Christy Nelson won an awesome prize -- a $50 gift certificate to Gina's store, donated by Gina. Gina has proven to be one of the most talented and big hearted stampers in our little community. Thanks, Gina. Now, sit back and enjoy these cards -- each one sure to bring a smile to someone's heart. (Note: they are blank inside and I am going to donate them to the troops in Iraq.)

Beautiful Baby

I'm making a set of 3 baby cards for a woman who expressed interest in buying some. Hopefully, she'll be pleased. Here's my first effort -- I was looking for a gender neutral, simple look. I like the way this came out -- if my potential customer doesn't buy it, I know I'll use it myself. Supplies: Memory Box Sage Duplex Card and checked paper from its Homespun collection; Stampin Up Mini Mates Stamp Set, cream ribbon, brad, lilac cardstock and ink; Impression Obsession words. (I wish I had lilac ribbon, but the cream was a good substitute.) A little trick for easy placement of a small wood mounted stamp -- I took the stamp off the wood mount, slapped it on my acrylic block, stamped 3 times, and put it right back on the wood! I'm not sure how many times I could do this without wrecking the stamp, but it sure came in handy for these little safety pins. (I know I could use the stamp - ma - jig, but I'd have to find it first!!)

Dad's Day

My husband is a great Dad. I could write a book on how patient and caring he is. Instead, I made him a card for him from his teenage son! And, here's the inside of the card: Supplies: Memory Box Holly card; Marvy Uchida Rectangle punch; SU Night of Navy ink and cardstock and Brilliant Blue ink (more on that later); SU Real Red marker; Sakura White Gel Pen; SU Unfrogettable stamps set; Amuse Arts small polka dot alphabet (clear) and the circle stamp is from Impression Obsession Mod Flowers; EK Success 1 inch circle punch. I measured the center of the card towards the top so I would know where to place the rectangle punch and cut out the window of the card. The duplex (white on the inside) nature of these Memory Box cards cry out for windows once in a while. My husband likes really bright cards, so I originally stamped "dad" (one letter at a time) in the brilliant blue ink -- just closed the card and stamped right through the window. However, when I stamped the circles in the same Brilliant Blue, of course, they came out much darker. So, because the alphabet it clear, I was able to ink up "dad" again with Night of Navy ink and it came out perfectly. I find that it is easier to line up the letters or a word with clear stamps if I stamp one word or one letter at a time, rather than trying to get them to line up perfectly on the acrylic block.

Graduation Part Three

My final graduation card for 2007 -- this one is for a friend of my son's. Natalie will graduate from high school on Saturday. They grow up and away! Too wonderful and too sad. Supplies used: Memory Box Sugar Plum duplex card and coordinated paper from the Sugar collection. Memories Black ink; Wordsworth clear graduation stamp; Amuse Arts mini twinkle. No soapbox today!!

Stamping With a Purpose

Personal soapbox alert! Before I get to that, here is the card I made for my father in law for Father's Day. You'll see in a minute why this prompted my soapbox alert. Supplies Used: Cardstock and Inks by SU: Real Red and Always Artichoke; non SU shimmery white cardstock; frog image Rubber Soul; heart by Memory Box; words from Impression Obsession (a set of individual clear words); Cuttlebug Heart Embossing Folder; bling on flower by Amuse Arts twinkle mini. Ok, now that the card is out of the way, here's my problem and my solution. Problem: stamping with no purpose This wastes my money and time -- two things that I happen to like! I've been randomly making cards with no particular purpose other than to have fun. While having fun is a good thing, I've been struggling with the point of this hobby, given its expense, time and space hogging qualities. Sunday is Father's Day. Today is Tuesday. I had no card ready -- and my FIL is many miles away. So, tonight, after rushing so fast to make this card that I forgot the artichoke layer under the frog, and really was too stressed to enjoy my little froggie, I'll slog through a thunderstorm to get to the post office to mail this priority mail (wasting even more time and money). Solution: stamping with a purpose I'm not looking to get published or to try for a design team or to make money. So, what can I do to infuse this hobby with a purpose? I'm making a list of all the cards I know I'll need for the next few months and I'll work my way through the list. Next, I'll be sending cards to the folks who send them to the troops for their use, and I'll be sending RAKs. There is always the need for a bit of brightness in someone's life. So, instead of making and posting stuff and letting the cards pile up, I'll be directing my money, time, and energy to something useful and purposeful. Whew, I feel better already!! Now -- off to the post office . . . . and yes I am going to photograph and post the autism contest cards. It is on my to do list!!

Graduation Part Two

This card is for my nephew Ian, who -- along with his twin Ali -- is graduating from high school this week. Congratulations!! Supplies Used: Memory Box card (Vanilla Bean); Stampin Up Brushed Gold cardstock; star stamp is from a clear set on my table. I think it is from Memory Box's clear Modern Elements set (things are still a bit messy. . .); graduation word block from Art Gone Wild; graduation cap Santa Rosa; SU Chocolate Chip marker to color in cap and to stamp the stars; Sakura glitter gold pen for the tassle and the middle of the stars. The white cardstock is the other side of a scrap from the Vanilla Bean card (yes, my first attempt resulted in scrap paper!). The Vanilla Bean card is identical in color to SU's Chocolate Chip -- I'm annoyed that my camera casts a reddish tone to it, which I've been unable to remove from the picture; however, the texture of Memory Box is quite different. It is smoother than typical cardstock and the fact that the inside of the card is white is so slick!! This also has a matching envelope -- I'll use a mailing label for the address. Due to the new postal rates, I'm avoiding using bulky embellishments on cards that I am going to mail. What a major drag!! I think the crafting industry needs to lobby Congress on this one.

Graduation Part One

Having spent some time yesterday rearranging the piles in my stamp room, I cleared off a big enough spot to make some graduation cards. Here is the first one (for a girl) -- I'll be posting more of them later this week. Supplies Used: Memory Box Card (Sugar Plum); Stampin Up Chocolate Chip Classic Ink; Papertrey Ink Little Lady (scroll dots stamped twice); Brown Prima Accent Flower; SU's Looks Like Spring Punch with which I punched out a flower using some 6x6 patterned paper from the Sugar collection by Memory Box; pearl accents; Hero Arts Happy Graduation stamp. What I especially like about the Memory Box cards is that they are made with duplex paper -- meaning that the insides of all their cards are white. I think it gives the card a more professional look. They also came with matching envelopes and I stamped a few of the swirl dots on the envelope as well. On the down side, most of my inks are Stampin Up inks, and they do not match the Memory Box color palette. Thus, the need to buy more inks -- of course!

Got a Hero in Your Life?

Look no further. Karen at Paperosity has some really nice military themed sets from Art Declassified. They are unmounted rubber on cling foam. I particularly like the sets called Hero. Here's a pic of one of the sets. *********** So, why no card to post? Hmm. My stamp room was/is the worst it has ever been. I have 3 tables and one chair. Even the chair was piled with stuff. It took me an hour and a half this morning just to collect all the paper and put it on my bed so I could see the stamps that must be cleaned and put away. And then there are the punches, inks, etc. -- you get the picture. I also removed a huge trash bag of, well -- trash! So enough of the ying yang, time to go back to cleaning....

Stamping Royalty Winners

Papercrafts Magazine recently announced their winners! Not surprisingly, Debbie Olson was one of the crowned! Congrats, Debbie! You rock. You can get all the details at PaperCrafts magazine blog. Just scroll down a bit.

Simple Joys

Yum -- strawberry shortcake! Papertrey Ink stamps! Not sure which is better, but both bring real joy! Supplies Used: Shimmery white cardstock (source unknown); Stampin Up Real Red and Green Galore Cardstock, Black Gingham ribbon; Classic Black ink; brads;Corner Rounder punch (with the guard removed to make the scallops); and Papertrey Ink Green Thumb stamp set. I know that I've seen a card similar to this one, but I cannot recall where I saw it. If you made one that looks like this, please let me know so that I can credit you with the inspiration. ********** Does anyone else have an ATG gun and have trouble with it? I cannot get the roll of tape to dispense smoothly -- the whole roll gets all messed up. It worked fine for a while but I just put in a new roll (actually, my husband did!) and it is messing up again. Is this me, do I have a defective gun, or are they all like this?

Chatterbox Card

This card is 5" x 7" -- a nice change. I picked up a Chatterbox Card kit at Michaels today. This one is the Beachhouse Kit and comes with 3 different designs -- a floral, a polka dot and a striped -- all with a different design in the inside, and matching green envelopes. It also came with coordinating stickers, but I'm not a big sticker fan. I think I'll use them for the envelope flap. I took the polka dot card and cut a piece of it to add some interest to the top of the floral card. Aren't these flowers gorgeous? Warm Birthday Greetings is from Impression Obsession and the flourishes are from Papertrey Ink, both stamped in SU's Old Olive Classic ink. I added some May Arts pink polka dot ribbon a some Stampin Up pink brads. You would think that with the cards already made, patterned paper and all, this would have been a snap. But, nope, took a while! I swear every week that I will stamp and post more often. I keep breaking my promises to myself. Maybe next week I will be better!

Krafty Birthday Wishes

Here's a basic all-purpose birthday card that is easy to make -- and you can substitute any favorite color combo. Supplies Used: Papertreyink Green Thumb set for the flowers and center dot; Impression Obsession WP17 Sentiments II for Warm Birthday Wishes (3 different clear stamps); Limited Edition Art Warehouse Ribbons and Lace clear stamp set (to make the faux ribbon pieces); Stampin Up Kraft and Night of Navy cardstocks and classic inks; Stampin Up Sage Shadow classic ink; and the shiny green mini brads are from Prima Accents in Meadow purchased from Paperosity. About the Sentiments II set, you get a boat load of clear words for $17.00 and they stamp beautifully. However, the beginning and end of each word is surrounded by a bit of extra "photopolymer" -- a/k/a acrylic -- but way stronger. In order to get the words nice and close to one another, trim the beginning and end of each word prior to placing on your clear block. I had to experiment about 10 times to get just the right placement -- the downside to clear stamps. But, the combinations I can make with this set are truly huge!!

MOD Summer

I don't plan out each element of my cards -- making sure I have coordinating accessories, etc. I just make one piece at a time -- a bit impulsively -- which is why I wish I had made the "Just Because" oval with Rose Red ink, instead of Celery, but I didn't figure that out until the whole card was done. Bad stamper!! How I made this card: All inks and cardstock from Stampin Up: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Barely Banana, and Cameo Coral (right from the SU color wheel). Flowers from Impression Obsession's Mod Flowers clear set. "Just Because" is from Impression Obsession Oval Greetings clear set, stamped with Celery ink onto white cardstock and cut out. I used the Japanese Screw Punch to punch through the oval and the SU Celery ribbon. The "striped paper" is made with Art Warehouse clear Ribbon and Lace set, stamped onto white cardstock. I also used a couple of pieces from Memory Box's Modern Elements clear set -- a small Banana flower and the thin Celery stems to fill in the background. I cut out a couple of flowers, popped them up with SU dimensionals and used an Earth Elements brad from SU for the center. Now, for the leaves -- I stamped the small strawberry bottom from Papertreyink's Green Thumb with Celery ink onto Celery cardstock and cut out. (I love those polka dotted "leaves.")

Random Ramblings

As many of you know, my job is in downtown DC, smack dab in the middle of the monuments, etc. My office looks out at the Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery is behind that. Awesome. Sometimes working in DC, surrounded by constant political bickering and gossip, etc. gets a bit much, but not today . . . There is a Holiday Inn across the street from my office, where I park. I went through the lobby today on my way to the garage and had one of those moments that make you stop and think. The lobby was full of elderly veterans -- obviously in DC for Memorial Day weekend. Many were there with their wives and frankly, these were the WWII and Korean War vets for sure. So frail and proud -- sipping Starbucks! Thank you soldiers. Well done.

Inspired By My Pocketbook

I bought this cool pocketbook the other day and when I got him home, it spoke "Stampin Up Brilliant Blue and White Craft ink!" I'm sure I'm not the only stamper who "sees" stamping colors everywhere. The other side has stitching around each flower. Not sure why the 2 sides differ, but each is gorgeous. So, of course, I had to make a card using the same colors. I haven't embossed in a while, so I used the "Damask Flower" set from Impression Obsession (these clear stamps ROCK!!), stamped with the craft ink and embossed with some Ranger white embossing powder. The phrase is from the Close to My Heart "Moments" set (free with qualifying purchase in May only). A few Brilliant Blue brads and the SU small corner rounder and we are good to go! Here is the card: Not exactly the same type of flower, but interestingly enough, just today I got an Impression Obsession order in the mail -- and it includes a nice set of great looking fresh flowers. It is called Mod Flowers and you'll be seeing it here soon. I love new photopolymer!! (can't say rubber anymore!) ******** Mom Brag Announcement: Yeah. Our son, 16, just got selected for a paid science internship this summer. I walked in from work today and he handed me the email. That's a "moment" I will remember. He is so happy. Thank you Federal taxpayers. He'll be working with a scientist "modeling solar storm frequency and potential impact on human missions to the Moon." Who knew the sun had storms? I thought it was always "sunny" by the sun!!!

Strawberry Thanks

I am so loving my Papertreyink sets. I waited to get a few sets at once in order to get free shipping -- not sure I'll be able to wait for another 3 sets to debut! Here's a thank you card I made for one of my son's teachers. Supplies used: Green Thumb stamp set from Papertrey ink: SU Classic Real Red and Garden Green inks; SU Real Red marker; SU oval punches; white brads; Japanese screw punch; May Arts sheer polka dot ribbon; SU Garden Green cardstock and Beckett's Expression #80 Iceberg cardstock. I lined the inside front cover with the Iceberg cardstock to hide the ribbon ends. I used the small strawberry stamp (bottom only) to make little "hinges" for the card. Here's a pic of the hinges: While I like the idea of the hinges, I'm not sure how much I like them on this particular card. But, it is done!