June Christmas Card II

Today I'm sharing Card II from our Christmas Card Stamp camp - this one was Heidi's design.  She used the "Evergreen" set that's on the current carry-over list from Stampin' Up!  She did it all in gray tones - which is great now with our new "Smokey Slate" color.  But then, of course, because it was Christmas - she add the gem and silver glitter paper for that holiday sparkle.

The background layer is run through the woodgrain embossing folder.  I love having some cards in these non-traditional colors for my "non-traditional" friends :)  You can see more of Heidi's work at www.stampinking.blogspot.com.  Check it out, and sign up to come to our next Christmas card stamp camp - July 28th - after all we're over half-way to this year's Christmas!! ~Maureen

June Christmas Cards I

Today I want to share the first of two Christmas Cards we made at this month's Christmas Card class.  Since there are currently not a log of Christmas sets available - I had to get creative - so I used our new Mosaic Madness set and punch to create ornaments.   Not an original idea - I've seen many samples of cards similar on Pinterest - but this is my creation.

We also used the "Sassy Salutations" set which is on sale this month - but ONLY through tomorrow.  It is such a fun set.  We finished off the ornaments with a linen thread bow and some little gems to give it sparkle.  Sorry the picture was so dark - guess the flash didn't go off.  But hope you get the idea :)  ~Maureen

Cards, Cards, Cards 3

Okay - here we go - card number 3.  This card is very simple - but I really, really like it.  Recently I have gone through so many sympathy cards - not a good thing.  And I hate making sympathy cards when I need them, so it was time to make some while I didn't need them, and this is the card I came up with.  It uses the new Hostess set "Simply Sketched" stamped in Stazon black, sponged with our amazing new color Crisp Cantaloupe and watercolored with touches of Pistachio Pudding. 

That's really it, except for the rounded corners on the right side and a couple pearls - but to me it is the perfect card to let someone know you are thinking of them during a very difficult time.  Hope you liked it too.  Why not join us for our next Cards, Cards, Cards Stamp Camp on July 9th???  Let me know if you'd like details.  ~Maureen

Cards, Cards, Cards 2

Here is the second card we made at our Cards Stamp Camp this month.  It uses several new products- the new cardstock color Strawberry Slush.  The new DSP Quatrafancy Specialty.  New stamp sets "Label Love" and "Express Yourself" and a couple of my very favs - the new Artisan Label punch and our amazing new "Candy Dots". 

I am NOT a pink person - but I really like the way this card turned out and you could duplicate it in any color.  The flower is our small circle punch and we just cut from the edges toward the center, leaving a center spot big enough for the candy dot.  Hope you liked it too.  Stop back soon for card number 3 from this stamp camp.  ~Maureen

Cards. Cards. Cards I

Oh my - I LOVE our new catalog.  At my last cards camp we used tons of new product to make our cards.  Here is my fav from the night - it uses our new colors Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana, and Pistachio Pudding; our "Modern Mosaic" embossing folder.  It uses the new sets - "Mosaic Madness" and one of the verses from "Million and One" - also, our wonderful new Ruffle stretch trim - in Pistachio Pudding.

But I think my favorite part of this card is the strip of printed window sheet from our Quatrafancy Specialty paper - just look how great that makes this card look!   Let me know what you think?  Stop back soon for cards 2 and 3 that we made that night. ~Maureen

Tie cards for Father's day

Just wanted to share the two very simple cards I made for Father's Day for my husband and my son-in-law.  I saw a similar card on Pinterest and love the masculine simplicity of it.  You just take a white card base, and cut down a slit about 1/2-3/4" long, straight down from the top.  Then fold the two sides down at an angle to make the collar. I made it a little asymmetrical for character - it's how the one was that I saw and I liked that look. 

Then I punched a 1" circle out of scrapbook paper for the knot, and made a template for the tie and traced and cut it out from a 2" x 4 1/2" piece of scrapbook paper.  The tie is just taped down and the knot is popped up on a dimensional. The one I saw had a paperclip for a tie clasp, or I could have added a brad for a tie pin, but I liked the simple nature of the card just the way it was.

To me this was the perfect Father's Day card for two special guys in my life.  See you soon!  ~Maureen

Happy Father's Day!

Today I want to honor three amazing men on this special day.  First my father Basil (Jerry) - he passed away when I was just 20 years old and 35 years later I still miss him.  This picture was from my brother's wedding just months before Dad's death - and you can see he looks frail - but he was such a great Dad.  Miss you Daddy.

Secondly is my husband Paul - isn't he a cutie :)   He is a great Dad to our daughters and a fantastic Papa to our seven grandchildren.  Plus just an all around amazing guy!  Happy Father's day honey.

And finally, my son-in-law Aaron - he is daddy to four of our grandchildren and a great husband and father.  Thank you for taking such good care of our little ones.

I pray you all have a wonderful Father's Day!  You deserve it!! ~Maureen

Student Worker Gifts

Last week I took my three student workers out for lunch to thank them for all their hard work this past semester.  We had a really nice lunch at Mimi's restaurant and then I gave them each a little gift.  I had made these three note holders for on their desks.  It's a little wooden crate covered with DSP.

 Then I added a paper flower to spruce them up a bit.

Cut up copy paper to make some cute little notes, stamping some of them in a matching color.

And put in an RSVP pen with a matching DSP insert.  I think they turned out really cute.  Here are the 3 of them all  made up.

 

All ready for gift giving.

Hope they liked them and know how much I appreciate them.  ~Maureen

Open House Projects

As promised today I'm back with the rest of the FREE make and take projects we made at our Open House.  These were for everyone to do.  First this adorable tag made with these NEW products - Epic Day DSP, Pool Party CS, Smoky Slate Stamp Pad and the Hello, Lovely stamp set.  So cute.

Then they got to make this greeting card and envelope with these NEW products - Modern Mosaic embossing folder, Quatrefancy DSP, the Mosaic Madness set and Mosaic punch; and Label Love stamp set with the Artisan label punch.

Finally they each got to make one of these adorable bookmarks for their new catalogs using our Five NEW in-colors and the Smoky Slate cardstocks.  On the back it shows their names.   These are also a gift from me to anyone who purchases a new catalog from me. 

Catalogs are $5.00 each if you can pick up and they come with a $5.00 off coupon to use on your first purchase.  Here's a close-up of the bookmark.  Let me know if you'd like to order a catalog.

 

Stop back soon to see what else I've been working on.  ~Maureen

New Catalog Open House

We had our annual New Catalog Open House and retired merchandise sale and had so much fun.  Here are ladies checking out the cards for sale; and stamping one of our FREE make and takes.

One of the make and takes (special project for our hostesses) was this adorable floral tag and clothespin - the clothespin is covered with Stampin' Ups! new Gingham Garden washi tape.  It goes on so nice and look how great it then coordinates with the new Gingham Garden DSP on the tag. 

Here it is shown on top of a gift bag - who wouldn't want to get a gift in this cute wrapping. 

Stop back soon to see the rest of the projects we made.  ~Maureen

Flip Flop Card

Last post I shared about Paisley's pool party - so today I wanted to share the cute little flip-flop card I made for her. I made a template from a child's flip-flop then cut out the card on white cardstock leaving it attached at two spots on the left.  Then I cut out a layer of the green striped DSP and punched holes to slip the ribbon in and adhere underneath, and then I adhered the entire layer to the top of the card.  Finally I punched out a flower, secured with a brad and added to the flip flop.  I really like how it turned out.

 Here's the card showing how it opens (with a cute little gift card inside).

She got a lot of great and fun gifts.

Here she is (after the pool and some face painting) opening her presents. 

What a great day - celebrating a great girl!!  ~Gramma Maureen

Paisley turns 10 -

I just really can't believe that my first grand-daughter, Paisley, is now 10.  How I remember the first time I held her in my arms - talk about LOVE at first sight.  She changed my life from that moment on.  So for her 10th birthday she had a pool party - look how much fun they had.  That's her in the pink goggles.

 Here she is with her BFF's - I think they would have stayed in the pool all day if we would have let them.

 Smiles and giggles abound -

Jenee had a great party for her.  Here is just one of the cute things she did - she made mock nail polish bottles by dipping marshallows in green and blue melted chocolate.  The bottle top is made out of a tootsie roll.  The girls loved them.  So much fun for a pre-teen party.

 

 Here is a close-up - I wish I had taken the picture off the foil, as I got the glare.  But they were so cute. 

Stop back soon to see the card I made her.   ~Gramma Maureen

Gift for Gramma

So for Mother's Day I made this set of cards for Paul's Mom, Gloria.  She is such a wonderful lady - a strong prayer warrior - and such an important part of our family.  We don't get to see her much as she lives 2000 miles away, but is faithful about writing.  So I wanted to make her a set of cards.

This is what I came up with - using "Fabulous Florets" - one of my very favorite floral sets.

Gloria loves pink - so I had to include that - but added the blue and purple for some variety.  The set "Oh, Hello" had the perfect verse.  The flowers are each cut out, curved a little with the bone folder, then attached with a glue do.  I really love how they turned out - so pretty for spring and summer. 

See you soon!! ~Maureen

Paper Pumpkin

As you may have seen in a past posts I am offering a Paper Pumpkin class each month for all of my Paper Pumpkin members for just $5.00.  It is a fun and relaxing class with a FREE crop for them afterwards.  Last month my crew got there first subscription kit.  Each class we make one part of the kit as it is originally intended.  We make it following the directions as Stampin' Up! sends it.  Then we step it up a notch with other projects, and here is what we came up with!

 This box is made from a card base.  We scored one side in an inch from the center score line, and then each long side in an inch, trimmed, folded and a perfect box for tea, note cards or some candy!  Next we wrapped up a few chocolate bars with the DSP, added a tag and another cute little gift.  

 Here are the two cards we made with the remainder of the kit.   

Both pretty clean and simple, but we changed up the color a bit.  

Want to know more - check out www.mypaperpumpkin.com and sign up for your monthly delivery by the 10th of the month!  Then plan to join us an CREATE!!  Be sure to pick me as your demonstrator.  Thanks for stopping by!  ~Maureen