Finally I stamped....

I finally got some time to stamp tonight... I've been so busy drooling over the new catalogue, making my wish list, and my for sale list of retired sets... and cleaning up from Fun Folds last week. It was nice to put ink to paper again finally tonight.

The last two weeks have been so busy that I'm just beat tired, and I'm off to bed. Besides, night photos never seem to come out nicely anyways. Tomorrow my darling husband is getting up with Little Man and letting me sleep in a little. I'm actually excited to go to bed tonight knowing that I won't have to get up at 5:45 for the first time in a long time! HOORAY!

Photos tomorrow... Sleep well everyone!

Wanna Swap?

I'm organizing a swap featuring the new SU In Colors...I know there has been mixed reaction to the new colors, but I look back to this time last year, and I wasn't really jazzed about last years in colors, that is, till I started to play. So, lets play!! Here are "the rules"

• I'll do as may groups of four as people want to sign up for, when you submit, please send in four cards to swap, plus an extra for me, so a total of five cards. You will receive back one of your own.
• ATC's will be due to me by August 1st. I'll sort them and mail them back as quickly as possible. And, I'll be posting the entries to my blog throughout the month of August as well.
• Swaps should be ATC sized. You can find a tutorial for ATC's on SplitcoastStampers or email me and I'll send you a link.
• Your swap doesn't have to be limited to the in colors, but should include at least one.
• Please include at least two layers and one "embellishment" ribbon, brad, button etc to your ATC's.
• You can feel free to use either a new stamp set from the Fall-Winter Catalogue, or give an existing set "new life" using an in color!
• Since I'd like to share these at upcoming workshops, they should strictly be SU brand.

Okay, so who wants in??

Edited to add groups.... I'll continue to add more groups as people sign up!

Group One

1 Meri W.

2 Rachel F.

3 Laura H.

4

Also, here is a link to the SU tutorial on ATC's

Meet my Friends - Week 3

This week, the friend I’m introducing you to is my mom. I’m so lucky to have a mother who is so young, and so with it. I swear, she has a hipper wardrobe than I do! Quite often, when she's out with my boys, people are astounded to find out that they are her grandchildren, rather than her kids!

Anyone that has been lucky enough to be invited to a party that she’s thrown, or has been invited to my parents home in Nantucket, can tell you she is an absolutely fabulous hostess. Seven years later, her friends are still raving about my wedding, and my sisters this fall will be equally amazing! I'm bouncing with excitement for that day, I can't wait!

Mom has simply outstanding taste, a home that is just built with parties in mind, and it helps that she is only the most organized person you could ever meet. I mean really, she puts those people on “Mission Organization” to shame. She usually has about six different knitting projects going on at any one time, and has recently picked up golf too.

This month we’re descending on my parents with the boys for a few days at the beach. I can already anticipate the smell of the hydrangeas, the feel of the salt air and the taste of her absolutely unbeatable fried chicken and potato salad. Last year, we could watch fireworks right from their front porch (a crazy nut down the street had a full blown – illegal - fireworks display out of his backyard!)

Most of all, I’m looking forward to having a glass of wine on the front porch with mom (and yes Dad, you too!) in the late afternoon, and family times after the maniacs have gone to bed for the night.

As I always say to her "Thanks Mom for everything you do to make life so great for all of us." Really, you're the best.

Rain Rain Go Away!

Okay, I have 10 people arriving for my card class in just over an hour, and it is POURING rain, buckets of rain. And thunder and lightening. I just pray that we don't lose the power, because I don't think we can stamp by candle-light.

But, we could drink wine.....

Who wants Cake?

Here's one more sample for this Thursday's Fun Folds class. Cambria named this fold the "Mish Closure." Its a quick easy way to use some designer paper for a little pop. I also think its smart that the slit punch holds the card closed.

I'm trying to resist the urge to pull out all my new stuff for Thursdays class, so that I'll have something new to show in my classes in July. You'll notice however that I did sneak some Groovy Guava in there.

Instead, I'm giving a fond farewell to one of my favorite sets "Blooming with Happiness." I think this is one of my favorite hostess sets, it really makes such pretty wedding cards! And really, who doesn't love cake anyways?

Anything can go on this main panel, today I played with "All about You" and the new "Pick a Petal" sets, but Laura liked this one best. And really, since she's obviously so excited to come on Thursday, I wanted to make one she likes! (wink!!)

So Laura, you like it?

Flowers of a different variety

There have been a lot of "spoiler" emails circulating regarding the new catalogue. And, rumor has it that "Doodle This" has made it in!

This is another sample for this Thursday's Fun Folds class. This is the Triangle Trifold that Beate wrote a tutorial for on Splitcoast. This version of her design uses the new double sided paper that we first saw in the Palette O Prints, and then again in the preview catalogue. Each of the trifold cards uses just a 3 1/4 piece! So you can make a lot of cards with a pack of designer paper.

The large flower from Doodle This was stamped with Stazon and the aquapainted with Soft Sky ink for the petals and Blue Bayou for the center. The scrollwork from Doodle This is stamped twice with soft sky ink on whisper white paper for the layer under the flowers. I only wish we had our hands on more colors of that new paper because this would have been SO fun with some groovy guava paper mixed in there.

The inside panel is stamped on one side with the scrollwork from "Doodle That" and left some room for a note.

Since we weren't able to order any of the new ribbon that we got a glimpse of in the preview catalogue, I died a piece of white grosgrain ribbon by running it across my soft sky ink pad. If you try this, just wait for it to dry before adding it to your project. In my excitement to finish the piece, I jumped the gun and left a few ink marks on my project. Bad girl, that's what I get for rushing.

I'm going to offer a few different sentiments on Thursday night so people have the flexibility to switch up what they might use this cute little number for.

The photo here is really washed out, couldn't find my card holder thing-a-ma-bobber to prop it up. I'll have to find it, and re shoot. But not tonight, we're going to dinner and a movie! Minus the kids, which is good because Little Man has been a testy one today.

Hope you like it!

Fun with Flowers

This Thursday night, I'll be holding my "Fun Folds" class and this week, I'll be posting a few of the samples we'll be making.

The first card we'll make is this quick and easy tent topper. These were initially designed by Michelle Wooderson at Mish Mash and I just love them.

This layout would also work well with the scalloped punches with faux eyelets, or with the large flower from Doodle This. But you know me, I love the big blooms!


The only real trick to these is to make sure to lay the card on top of an envelope as you assemble it so that you're sure not to make it too tall to fit inside the envelope.

All of the cards I've selected for this class use designer paper, but what I love is that with each one, you don't need a whole LOT of designer paper to complete the card. I was able to use just a few sheets for an entire class of 12 people! How great is that! So, if you're a paper hoarder like me, you can use the paper to make cards without panicking that you've dug too deeply into the stash!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Meet My Friends - CraftyMomof2

I know I talk about her here all the time, but this week I'm introducing you to CraftyMomof2 over at Paper Canteen.

We’ve been friends for what feels like forever...I met Meri on bid day for our sorority. She was literally bubbling over with enthusiasm, hardly able to contain herself, simply gleeful. During our time at UMASS we had many, many adventures, and stories that will still make me laugh so hard that tears stream from my eyes.

She jokes that she has an addictive personality...but, I say that when she sees something she likes, she throws herself in whole heartedly. I asked her last week if she'd be willing to send me a little something for my blog, and will you look at this funky little tin with a mini scrapbook inside that she made especially for all of you to see?? I got my hands on it at my project club meeting last night and let me just say that the details go on and on and on! Sparkle here, bling there, a snip or ribbon here, and a great mixture of reall cool paper.... I love all the photos that capture the personality her two children just perfectly.

Here's what she had to say when I asked her for a little snippet....I'm a SAHM of 2 kids. My daughter is 2.9 and my son is 15 months. I'll be married for 11 years this coming October and I'll be with my husband for 16 years next month. Life is hectic, wild and fabulous. I have a degree in Apparel Marketing and was in retail for years. I was into scrapbooking years ago and then fell out of interest with it for a long time. That was until I had my children. I have 2 12x12 albums just of my daughter. The album for my son has yet to be started (poor guy!). I have everything collected, packaged, and ready to start...but I always seem to have other projects going on. But it's ready when I am so hopefully I can get to it soon!

My dearest friend Joanne and I have been friends now for almost 15 years. She was my confidant and partner in crime in college as well as Maid of Honor in my wedding. We are very lucky to live very close to each other and despite life's twists, turns and challenges we've remained always close.

I love this craft as it provides instant gratification and is truly practical. I love to learn new techniques and there's nothing better than hanging out with dear friends sharing a hobby that you love. Gone are the days of pouring over fashion magazines and shopping at Bloomingdales *sigh* but this is much more rewarding and gratifying. The best part is that I get to share and enjoy with the women in my life that I love dearly. "

Meri, thanks for all the laughs, smiles and yes, even the tears we've shared. Here's to the next 15 years of our friendship!

details:
Cardstock: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Pink Passion, Chocolate Chip
Designer Paper: Heidi Grace Designs - Mushroom print, Stacy Claire Boyd - Mod Squad Collection, Martha Stewart
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Pomegranate
Stamps: SU! Three For You - Punch Box, Wild About You, Bugs and Kisses, Warm Words, Doodle That, Stampendous - Princess ChickEmbellishments: Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and Die Cut (bee and flower), Heidi Swapp Bling, Dots-Dashes-Check ribbon from Michael's, SU! 1/4 " Grosgrain ribbon in Chocolate, Turquoise, Apple Green, Rhinestone brads from JoAnn's, Swirl Clip - Making Memories, All other brads are Making Memories, Sakura Stardust Pens, SU! Three For You Punch, a variety of adhesive

Process:

I created a template/pattern using the tin as a guide for the top and bottom as well as the inside. I traced the tin on scratch paper and then cut the pieces out. I then traced them (all free hand) onto my chosen cardstock. I then cut the pieces out free hand (there has to be a better way but I haven't figured it out yet since it's my first one). The pieces don't fit *exact* but they're very close. I'm kind of picky about details so the fact that they don't fit perfectly vexes me a little.

I then measured the inside and cut my album at 12" wide by 3" tall. The individual album pages are 2" each so there are 6 of them on each side.

I printed the photos of the kids on regular paper (just because I didn't have photo paper) but if I were doing it for someone else I would invest in the photo paper. But my printer is pretty good so the pics on regular paper came out pretty decent. I decorated the tin first and then the album. I added the pics of the kids at the very end and then decorated it a little more. All in all it probably took me about 3 hours.

Quiet, when its so loud in here

Its always a madhouse here, my house is always trashed from all the kids, and last night, after being so annoyed with not being able to fix my prior swap attempt this was just the bit of quiet and serenity I needed.

There were a lot of pieces to stamp here... three flowers to trim up for 12 swaps not to mention four additional layers. Sitting quietly with my paper trimmer cutting up all the elements, stamping and trimming all the flowers while watching "trash" TV (pretty sad when the 4400 is the only thing on to watch). I got at least half of the cards I needed stamped, I'll finish the rest tonight. Its a relief to have something to swap, and to have so much of it accomplished already.

This card is a huge departure from my usual style, usually "cutesty" is my thing, but I really love the two new blues together and it was nice to step out of my usual comfort zone. Its funny, this was the stamp set that I liked the least out of the preview catalogue, but then I saw all the gorgeous creation all my blogging friends were making with it...I had to give it a try. Ironic that this stamp is now the one I like the best out of my preview purchases!

The question is do YOU like it?

details: Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Bayou Blue Ink: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky accessories: Silver Brad, dimensional - all supplies Stampin' Up.

Love the Lady

I have thus far been able to restrain myself from purchasing "Little Lady" from PaperTrey Ink. After all, I am trying to replace all my SU stamps that will be retiring in just a little over a week so that I'll have something to demo come July!

However, I was able to borrow it from my craftie friend over at Paper Canteen. (too tired tonight to hyper link, but please check out my "Blog Stalking List" to visit her site!!)

Oh boy, is this set so super cute. I might have to pick her up after all. I made this card last night before I started my swaps... good thing! The clear nature of these stamps do make it so easy to line the images up just right. These were fun to do, and why I love to stamp. This card came together so effortlessly that I was able to make several to have them on hand.

I love this scalloped top border that I've been seeing so much of lately. I **think** it was Amy Westerman who first used it for one of her Super Sketch Sunday challenges? Is that right? I feel like I'm seeing it a lot lately, it was fun to finally get to play!

details: Little Lady from Papertrey ink. paper all from SU! Ruby Red, Kraft, Basic Black and Whisper White, ribbon from Cindy's Starlit Studio on Ebay. Ink

is Stazon black and SU's Ruby Red

Thank you and Summer Fun!

Thank you to everyone who posted about my "uninspired" card. I did lift and tear and pick it apart this afternoon and incorporated some of the changes. Luckily I took a picture at that stage, because then I continued to lift, and pick, and add and change, and made a big old mess. (Craft ink...what a mess!)

So, tonight, I put it away. I still have the pieces, and will come back to it. But for now, I just needed to move on, think fresh, and not stress. After all, this hobby for me is supposed to be my relief from stress, not a source of it! (wink)

Today marked the switch to my "summer hours." I've decided to close my daycare early two days a week to make the most of the summer with the boys. After all, that's the whole reason I'm home, to spend time with them.

We went to the pool club where Little Man tried to swim. He doesn't want me to hold him at all, he wants to swim like his brother. Who is nearly five and really CAN swim. He kept jumping out of my arms saying "Swim. Swim. Sammy, SWIMMING!" As he's blowing bubbles, and sometimes gulping water.

There is a beach entry where he can just wade around, and he was walking calmly in the water, thinking he's tricked me when he practically dives headfirst into the water saying "SWIMMING!" Luckily I anticipated this, and jumped just one step ahead of him, caught him from going under, and also skillfully avoided a Janet Jackson style "wardrobe malfunction." Yet, he looked at me with utter disgust that I had spoiled all his fun.

Afterwards, we went to a local farm to pick strawberries. The boys were amazed. Little Man's favorite color is green, and I had a hard time convincing him that the green ones would simply not taste good. Someone (here's a hint, it wasn't me!) had to use the bathroom, and the only available option was a porta potty - which would have been oh so fun with both boys...So we ended up making an abrupt ride home instead. But for 10 cents a basket, you can bet we'll be back again soon!

Swapped Out

Since I'm still feeling stressed about the swaps for tomorrow night's demo swap, I thought I'd post my recent Bella swap.

The pink bg paper is from the Island Blossoms simply scrappin kit. Beachabella is carrying a matching towel and beach tote which were paper pieced. Her turquoise bikini is polka dotted with the help of a white gel pen. Paper piercing around the edge and a little prima from one of Jodi's fabulous prima shares!

My swapped out cards are on their way back to me in the mail and I can't wait to see what everyone else came up with.

Sunshiny day planned for today, and I'm hoping to get the boys over to the pool once daycare hours are finished! wahoo! I love summer!

Uninspired?

Okay, I've been trying to complete a swap sample tonight for the past hour. What gives? The problem, of course, is that I'm trying to come up with something original. Trying not to go visit all the blogs I love to look for inspiration in the form of a color combination, or a layout.I also want to make something that I can easily reproduce another 11 times to swap out on Wednesday. (Why do I wait to the last minute. I mean really?)

I love black white and pink, so that was a natural for me. The flowers are colored and then given some bling-a-ling with Dazzling Diamonds. The Regal Rose layer has the scroll work from the new Baroque set in craft white. What I **think** I need to do is some doodle-ing around the white block to help fill it in, but eeks. I'm dreadfully afraid to do that. I think I'm just hopelessly lost without designer paper!!

What I wish we already had was the scalloped circular punch that we caught a glimpse of in the recent issue of Stampin' Success! Or some new ribbon.... oh July 1st, I'm so anxious!!

So, is this swappable as is, or what would you do to kick it up a notch? (Oh goodness, I sound like Emeril. Its late, I'm tired.)

To bed I go, maybe you will all have brilliant advice to improve this card tomorrow! Please? Goodnight.

Thomas the Train Recall

I'm sure many of you have already heard, but there is a large reall, 1.5 million units, on Thomas the Train wooden products. My two boys are deeply addicted to Thomas, and we have a pretty large collection.

I just spent nearly a half hour digging through the playroom and found at least nine products that may be affected by this recall. Of course, my youngest loves James and many of the recalled trains are James, (seems Red and Yellow items are affected.....)

If your little ones have a Thomas collection, please be sure to check out the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website for more details on this recall.

What to do?

So, I need help in selecting the final project for this Thursday's "Gifts and Goodies" Project Class. I've designed two items, and I'm not sure which to use.

One option is this 2, 4, 6, 8 Box that I made last night. This project uses Polka Dots and Paisley, Seeing Spots and the corner rounder with the guard removed to make the scalloped edge. The box is filled with teeny scraps of cool Caribbean that I ran through my crimper.

The second option is to make the Tiny Takeout Boxes. I've designed one with a Baby Theme, which would be super cute for a baby shower, or a small baby gift. But, I guess that's my problem, while cute, I'm just worried that they're too small.

Here's my question, what would YOU put in a little box this small? And if you were coming to class, which one would you prefer to make? Come on stalkers, I can tell your here, now let me know which one you like better okay? (wink!)

Family Fun Time

I haven't had a chance to do any scrapbooking of our vacation to Florida. But, I've got to get cracking on pages for the boys books while everything is still relatively still fresh in my memory.

In the meantime, though I thought this would be a nice gift for my husband for Father's Day. A little something to tuck on his bookshelf in his office to remind him of what's waiting for him back home.

The Big Boy helped me pull this together this morning, however he had a total fit about the photo trimming. He sobbed anytime I pulled out the paper trimmer to fool with the pictures. "Oh no mom, you cut off part of Buzz's spaceship! What are you DOING?"

Wishing all of you a wonderful day with your family tomorrow, and of course, lots of Family Fun Time.

Meet My Friends!

I'm starting a new feature on my blog called "Meet My Friends" Fridays. This week, I'm posting it on Saturday, because I had a crazy busy day yesterday, and simply didn't get a chance to post.

I consider myself so lucky to know so many amazing women, and each week, I'd like to share a little bit about my wonderful friends.

This week, I'm sharing this stunning card from my friend Audra. I first learned of Audra's amazing talents a few years ago when our gift to a fellow playgroup Mom was a hand made quilt.

Each of us worked with Audra to make one square of the quilt, and then she pieced them all together. Clearly MUCH more work than our individual squares, plus she had to instruct each of us with our pieces. I can not sew, at all, and let me tellyou, was so frustrated by making only one square. To date, I am in awe of the patience that she has to make such beautiful things.

Audra gave this viewmaster card for Little Man's birthday, but really, I think it was for me. (wink) I seized it right out of his little paws quick as could be. What really makes me laugh about this card is that these stamps were mine, I purchased them to make birthday invites for the big boy when he turned three. Afterwards, I said "What will I ever do with these?" and sold them to Audra! Who knew??

I asked Audra if it would be okay if I posted a photo of her card, and for a little blurb about herself, and here's what she had to say:

"In my past life as a college professor, I worked creatively through my research. Once I retired to raise my three young children, I struggled to find creative outlets to escape from the daily routine. Now, I'm a self taught quilter, scrapbooker, stamper and card maker. I currently really enjoy stamping and making papergoods because there isn't alot of time commitment to finishing a project. My oldest daughter, who is now five, recently has found a joy in scrapbooking as well. It is something I look forward to sharing with her in the years to come. In my future life, I will go back to my love of teaching science and have also promised myself that I will learn to knit."

I've been lucky enough to watch her two eldest here in my daycare, and I love them dearly. We joke that her son would gladly take up residence in my home and I'd glady take him! Her eldest daughter is a bright, inquisitve and beautiful child that insists she will marry the Big Boy one day. Her youngest is the best behaved baby I have ever known.

All that, and she is one of the very nicest, most considerate people I've ever known. Lastly, please join me in wishing her a very happy birthday today!!! Happy Birthday Dear Audra!

Gifts and Goodies

So, here's a sample for my upcoming Project Class. This month, the theme is "Gifts and Goodies" We'll be making one of the gift cards that Cambria got me hooked on, this genie bag, and a tiny takeout box.

These bags were designed by Jen Del Muro at i{heart}2stamp. They're so easy to make, super cute, and are perfect either for goodie bags or for small little treats. Basically, they cover a small white bag which I found at Walmart it was a pack of 10 for I think a dollar! Much more affordable than the little gift bags I usually use from the craft store for my son's birthday. But, obviously, I won't be doing pink polka dot ones for the Big Boy's party!

This uses two of my new stamps from my box o' goodies that the man in brown delivered last night! The bakcground is the new jumbo wheel "See you Around" which I highlighted many of the polka dots with my white gel pen. The flowers from Year after Year were colored with my crayons then dusted with dazzling diamonds. The bag is Pretty in Pink with a Wild Wasabi mat which I distressed to rough up the edges. Handle made with my word window punch.

You can call me the Cambria Copy Cat, but really I was planning on making one of these for this project class even before she posted one yeseterday. I promise!

I'm hooked!

I love making these cute little gift card enclosures that Cambria gave a tutorial on the other day. Her instructions are SO easy to follow.

And Beate showed how to use the diamond stamp from "All in a Row" to make fast faux stitching. I LOVE this technique.I purchased that stamp set as part of my starter kit and hadn't trimmed it up yet (bad girl!) This also uses one of the new SU Hostess Sets "In the Spotlight" which I got free for signing up as a demo!

These are for some end of school gifts later in the week... I'm also hoping to get my hands on a "Like it a Latte" maybe later today to make a version with a yummy cup of coffee on the front.

I will be showing how to make these gift card enclosures at my upcoming "Gifts and Goodies" project class to be held the evening June 21st. I have three spaces available in the class, so if you're local (S.E. Massachusetts) and would like to come, please email me at basilefamily@comcast.net

At last! Candy finds a good home!

Rachel F. you are the winner this round! Unclaimed loot for 10K Candy was redrawn this morning! Rachel - lucky for you I know how to find you!

Finding Time for Time with You

Oh, what I'd give for a leisurely chat with a friend like this. But usually chasing one of the children around, and getting only about half our sentence out before we have to dash off to avert some catastrophe!

My friend, and upline, Erica gave me this set as a very special thank you for signing on as a demo. (She's SO sweet!!) However, I've been so crazed, that I haven't had a chance to sit down and trim up the rubber, but this evening, I just finally MADE the time because I really wanted to just play tonight.

Sadly, this stamp set is retiring at the end of the month. The other image is of a girl on a bike and its really adorable...... SO, I'll have to break that one out maybe tomorrow night.

We'll be making a version of this card at my upcoming Fun Fold class, but I'll have to switch up the background because this one uses some of my Palette O Prints and unfortunately, I don't have enough to make eight cards! I promise the new one will be just as cute!!

details: Time With You and Noteworthy stamp sets, round tab punch, grosgrain ribbon, cert celery palette o prints paper, cert celery, apricot appeal and whisper white cardstock. stazon ink, various SU markers, dimensional, mat pack piercing template and piercing tool, white gel pen for faux stitching

I'm down to one available space for the class, so if you've been thinking about signing up, please email me!

Cambria to the Rescue!

On Friday, in a panic, I realized that I was without a graduation card for my cousin (who was graduating from high school yesterday.)

I've been wanting to make the little gift card holder that Cambria gave a tutorial on last week.

Her tutorial made it so easy that the hardest part was picking the paper, because possibilities are endless, but for my cousin who has eclectic, quirky taste, this striped paper from the spring mini was perfect!

I pulled all my materials together to finish it up at my mother's house yesterday. I just forgot to grab the little "for you" stamp I had planned to put on the tab.... so I had to hand write it in. I wasn't sure what Em might need for school, clothes or bedding so cash it was!

Congratulations Em and happy shopping!!

Candy!

So, the winner of the 10K candy never came back to let me know where to ship her blog candy off to, so I've redrawn and the lucky number is 34!

This round, the lucky winner is Lillian who said "i am going to miss french script background the most... and also hip hip hooray, that set is too cute." Lillian, please email me at basilefamily@comcast.net to claim your prize! (Unclaimed loot will be redrawn again on Tuesday am if I don't hear from Lilian. Stay tuned... you still may win!)

Also, my dear friend CraftyMomof2 is giving away blog candy to celebrate her first 1k visits! Check out her creations and enter her contest to get your hands on some goodies!

So big.

For a few weeks now Little Man has said "Saucy Mommy" instead of "Sorry Mommy" anytime he got in trouble. Kills me. "Saucy Mommy."

Then today "Sorry." clear as day and totally out of the blue. Of course, this is great news, but it just takes me by suprise to suddenly hear the little boy that has been so late to talk trying so hard to speak clearly like his brother.

Tonight, he pointed right at me and said "Joanne." Of course, I cracked right up, which was totally the wrong thing to do because little monkey thought it was so funny and said it about 50 times.

Putting him to bed tonight, I gave him a hug and kissed him goodnight. I gave him a hug and said "Are you my baby or a big boy?" and he yelled out "BABY!" at the top of his lungs. Little runt, he's so much smarter than he lets on. He's right though, even if he's getting bigger, he's still a big baby, my big baby!

One Card, Three Ways

Before I get to the cards, can I just say I LOVE the show Studio 60? If you watch it, and you saw tonight's show, then you know exactly what I mean.

You may recall that I create cards for my aunt using either Right at Home or Sellabella each month, and each month I try to change it up a little bit. I thought this paper would be a fun way to change it up.


I also create an assortment of thank yous for her each month, and I really love any excuse to use my Think Big set. I dug into my prima stash to see what I could find. Once I found the best match I tacked them with a brad so that each of the three colors could be seen.


However, once I finished that card, I decided I liked the prima flower so much that I'd replace the treatment on the Happy Birthday card I showed earlier this week! Which one do you like the best?

Details: Kraft Paper with linen stamped in chocolate chip, Crate Paper Cowgirl, Cranberry Crisp and Choc Chip matting with Choc Chip ink. Stamp sets are Think Big (I love that one!), Happy Birthday and Right at Home.

Pocket Card Invite

I really think that Pocket Cards really just make the best invitations! This cute little number is a sample for a client (and a friend!) who is using "Wild About You" for her children's birthday party this summer. Gender neutral since it is a joint party for her son and daughter.

A stamped envelope to match...and the giraffe is hiding inside the pocket. The reason it looks so unfinished is that its awaiting the arrival of my new "Hugs and Wishes" set for all the 411 about the party! However, even naked, it still makes me smile. I'll post a photo once the Man in Brown arrives with my preview goodies - I got an email today that they're en route, but it will be DAYS before they're here.

I think you'll be seeing this little layout again soon for my son's birthday invitations. He's picked out "Bugs and Kisses" for his party invites. I've got to get started, but many client orders to fulfill first!

And the winner is.....

......Alex who will miss Baby First and In Full Bloom.

I'll be selling a LOT of my retired sets come July 1st but there are some that I just can't bear to part with. Do the Hula is one of my favorites, though rarely used. It is a set that I bought about this time last year, and did my first really big project with. My son's fourth birthday invites. They were a TON of work, but I really loved them. I also created a collage with some of my favorite vacation photos from our trip to Hawaii last spring. But, if I sold it, I know I'd be sad, and come across an occasion I needed it.

I'm really going to miss Cool Carribean. I use it all the time. Its my crutch. But, I'm very much looking forward to Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate. I also really like the sentiments in the new Hugs and Wishes set.

I think the most commonly mentioned stamps in the list of loved but retiring stamps are Roses in Winter, French Script and Cute as a Bug.

So, although there are many sets that will be leaving us at the end of this month, I am really excited to see what that new catalogue will have for us come July 1st. With over 230 stamp sets retiring....there should be LOTS of new stamps to keep us busy.

Alex, congratulations! Please email me at basilefamily at comast.net with your snail mail address. I won't be able to make it to the shipping place till Friday.... however, if your loot goes unclaimed by Friday morning at 9am EST, I'll be generating a new number.


PS.... I'll be running a Virtual Rubber Yard Sale come July 1st to sell off some of my retired sets. Please check back on the 1st for more details!

Blooms are the Best

I was on the fence for a while as to whether to buy the Big Blooms or not. But can I just say, I'm SO glad I did. I've used it so much already, and I've only had it a few weeks. Hopefully they'll continue to keep me amused until my pre-order from the new catalogue arrives!

This card uses the "Mish Closure" so named by Cambria and designed by Michelle Wooderson. Both are amazing artists and bloggers, so be sure to check them out. To create the "Mish Closure" all you do is cut off 1.5 inches off the front of the right hand side. You then use a slit punch, pushed all the way in, to hold the flap in place. The greatest part of this, I think, is that all you need is just a little piece of designer paper!

I'll be demonstrating this layout at my upcoming "Fun Folds" class at the end of the month. If you're interested, please email me for more details!

Details: Big Blooms stamp set, Rose Red Paper, Palette O Prints paper, So Saffron paper and Ink, Old Olive marker and grosgrain ribbon and very vanilla paper all from SU! "Feel Better" sentiment from PaperTrey Ink. Black Stazon used for Sentiment.

The Month of Ted.

Dad, if you're reading today, no peeking. A photo of your Father's Day card is below.

We joke at our house that June is the month of Ted. Its his birthday, Father's Day and our Anniversary all in one. He was going to be working tonight, so I was going to have some time to design his birthday card...but he just called to let me know he's not working after all!

Lucky for me, I had a Father's Day card just about done, so at the last minute, this card is going to switch to a Happy Birthday card for him. It will be a Father's Day card for my clients to use and for my dad too!

This uses the Joy Fold, you can find a tutorial on Beate's blog. I'll be teaching this fold at my upcoming "Fun Folds" class at the end of the month. For more details on the class, please email me at basilefamily at comcast.net. I'll be showing more of these "fun folds" from all my blog-idols leading up to the class.

Belated 10K Candy

Okay, better late than never right? I did mean to do a contest right at 10K, but was SO busy getting my first two workshops up and running!

So, here's the "Belated 10K Candy!" Some goodies I picked up at a recent trip to AC Moore, three Studio G clear stamp sets, as well as two Michael's $1 Stamps from Kolette Hall. They're really ...just a little something... to thank you for visiting me here!

To enter, please post a comment on this post letting me know which stamp set you'll be saddest to see go at the end of this month, and if you have anything that you've already decided you MUST have out of the preview catalogue. This contest will run through Wednesday at noon EST. I will pick a winner at random with the help of http://www.random.org/ of course! And I'll let you know which one I'll miss the most, as well as what I'm most anticipating out of my pre-order!!

A card for his hero.

As he's nearly five, my older son is obsessed with Super Heroes. I bought this stamp ages ago from Amuse, and just haven't had time to use it.

I find the Big Boy gazing at it whenever he's at my craft table with me, and I thought it would be perfect for him to give his dad a birthday card made from that stamp set. He's going to be SO excited when I show him this card tomorrow.

Make it count.

Today was a rainy, blah sorta day here in New England. While cleaning up around here,

I ran across some paper that I had cut, and somehow never used! So, rather than pack it away, I used it up.

In my starter kit, I got "Happy Birthday" and I just love this sentiment. As I'm typing this, the colors here are WAY off. In real life, this flower is cranberry matching the little bits of cranberry in this designer paper. I'll have to post a new photo in the morning. Those nightime photos are always snarky... but its the only time I have to stamp! Hope you've had a wonderful weekend.

My Favorite Things - I WON!

What exciting news! I had posted a picture of a card I made with my new "Say Charge" set from My Favorite things last week, and guess what! I was the second place winner! So, I'm off to pick two free new stamp sets. So hard to pick, because they're all super cute! I know I have to get the new "Hot Stuff" but then there are SO many others I'd like to have its hard to pick! Any advice on my selections? Please drop by Kim's blog to see the winners (there were three of us!) and visit www.mftstamps.com to see her awesome stamps!! My Favorite Things

Wiped Out!

I'd love to thank everyone that came to Stampdate on Friday! I hope that you're loving the cards you made, learned something new, but mostly, that you all had fun!

I had a full house most of the day Friday, and it was great to get a chance to visit with everyone! I've taken Michelle Wooderson's advice and tonight, rather than packing everything up, I've been making cards for my for sale bin, and to get myself stocked up on birthday cards.

What a full day we had today, the Big Boy took a class at the Home Depot with my husband and came home sporting kids sized orange apron that they then fill up with pins for each project they complete! Way Cute!

Little Man and I went out shopping for a birthday present for my husband, and popped into Michaels Craft Store. All I can say is Holy Cow Martha Stewart!!

Tonight, I placed my pre-order for a few items from the upcoming Fall and Winter Catalogue. Wow. I'm always anxious for a new SU shipment, but I'm literally bouncing with excitement for this package. Its going to feel like Christmas with all these never before seen goodies!

Sorry for the non-crafting, no photo banter, but although yesterday was fun, I'm still drained. Photos tomorrow!! And, blog candy posting will be made tomorrow to celebrate passing the 10K mark. My little shopping adventures equal goodies for you stalkers too!