Bird-watching

I have been wanting to take a photo of a cardinal for a while. This morning, I went outside and saw this beautiful cardinal on our fence. I quietly stepped back and ran to get my camera. 

Not a National Geographic photo, but I'm glad I could get a picture of it... 

 ... which reminded me of the birds nest that was made inside our front porch light!! Here it is. I found it a few days ago. As my friend Sheila said, I guess I won't be turning the lights on for a while... 

If anything exciting happens (baby chicks?), I'll keep you posted...

Spring Stamp Camp

My Spring Stamp Camp was last night and today.

Here are the projects we made. The supplies are given but if you need measurements, 

or more details about any of the projects, email me or call me.

Easter card

Stamp Set: Everybunny
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Stazon Black, Old Olive, Watercolor Crayons
Big Shot: Framed Tulips Embossing folder
Accessories: Stampamajig, Blender Pens, Snail adhesive, Dimensionals

Note: the greeting on the stamps says "Happy Easter everybunny". I used the Old Olive marker so I could have "Happy Easter" only.

I used mostly Subtles watercolor crayons on my card, but Lynn made hers with the Brights crayons and it looked very good. Wish I had taken a photo...

Here's the card with the envelope stamped with another stamp from the Everybunny stamp set.

Easter basket

Front

Side

Stamp Set: Every Egg Wheel, Delightful Dozen

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive (refill for cartridge), Soft Suede

Punches: Decorative Label, 1/16" circle, 1/2" circle, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Ribbon: 5/8" Satin in Old Olive

Big Shot: Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die

Accessories: Standard wheel handle, Stamping Sponge, Brads (brights), Medium Cellophane bags, 

Non SU: Cadbury's Mini Eggs (yummy) and "paper grass" 

Here's the candy!!

The 1/2" circle punch is used to hide the brads on the inside.

"Your choice" card and DSP Envelope

I had several stamps available for the greeting.

Note: I used Whisper White on my sample, but when I was looking through the DSP stack, it has Very Vanilla in it so I provided Very Vanilla cardstock for my stampers, and it works much better (see Dianne's card below)...

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art
Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White (but Very Vanilla works better!), Soft Suede
DSP: Everyday Enchantment (Sale-A-Bration)
Ink: Early Espresso ink pad, Markers: Pool Party - Calypso Coral - Lucky Limeade
Punch: Eyelet border
Big Shot:  Labels Collection Framelits
Accessories: Basic Pearls Jewels, Stampamajig, Snail adhesive, Dimensionals

This is the front of the envelope made with the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate.

I love this new addition to the Simply Scored Scoring Tool. 

I like how by using DSP, which is double-sided, you can make nice envelopes very quickly.  

Inside the envelope.

Dianne was very happy with her card, and she should be! It turned out beautiful. 

She used the Calypso Coral and the Wisteria Wonder markers on her flowers.

Here's a closer look.... very nice!!

(the greeting is from Delightful Dozen)

Mothers Day Card

aka "the Sale-A-Bration card" :-)

My inspiration was the notebook which is in the Sale-A-Bration Catalog...

Stamp set: Fresh Vintage (Sale-A-Bration), Messages for Mom

Cardstock: Whisper White, Textured Lucky Limeade

DSP: Everyday Enchantment (Sale-A-Bration)

Ink: Versamark, Soft Suede

Punch: 1/16" circle

Ribbon: Everyday Enchantment Ribbon (Sale-A-Bration)

Big Shot: Adorning Accents Edgelits, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die.

Accessories: Scented/Clear Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Everyday Enchantment Brads (Sale-A-Bration), On Board sheet, Stampamajig, Paper piercer, Snail Adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Here's a closer look at the embossing... too bad you can't smell the Cherry scented embossing powder :-)

Here's the card with a stamped envelope.

"MOM" is from the Message for Mom stamp set.

The flowers are from the Fresh Vintage stamp set (Sale-A-Bration)

This is the one I made for Sheila since she had to leave early. She requested the brad with the butterfly (of course!!). The stamp on the envelope is the same one that is embossed on the butterfly. 

Thank You card

Stamp Set: Tagtastic (Hostess set)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Punches: 1 1/2 circle, 1 3/4 circle
Ribbon: 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Elegant Eggplant
Big Shot: Houndstooth and Framed Tulips Embossing Folders
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones jewels, Snail adhesive, Dimensionals

Valentine's Stamp Camp (a little late!)

I guess the saying "better late than never" will have to apply here...

But any of the projects below can be changed for any occasions.

If you need details on supplies and how-to, please contact me.

We used the Kraft Gift Boxes in the Occasions Mini Catalog to present a little bag of Conversation Hearts

My stairs became the "drying station"for the Glass Glitter we used!

 

I liked the simplicity of this card, one stamp!

These are called "Sour Cream Containers"... 

I wanted to make one at my Fall Stamp Camp but I didn't, so I was determined to have one for Valentine's.

This is a "Waterfall Card". 

When you pull down on the ribbon, the squares flip and show the stamps one at a time. 

Very cool and easy to do.

And you can write a greeting on the inside of the strip that comes down...

We also made these little Valentine's using the Heart Treat Cups.

They featured a "gate" in the back that you open. Very popular because you don't have to tear the whole thing to get to the candy... However, the required use of the Stampamajig on this project wasn't welcome by everyone :-) 

Here's the candy!!

Margie & Sue

Mary & Sheila

Anita

Margie & Sue

Teresa

 Mary & Sheila shopping after stamping! 

Sorry I didn't take photos of the Evening session... but it was fun too.

It's sister time!

I hadn't seen my 2 sisters at the same time since 2 summers ago, when I broke my foot!!

But a few weeks go while in France, we were together again. 

My younger sister Emmanuelle (left) and my older sister Isabelle (right)...

We were on a little boat that takes you from France to Spain in 5 minutes. 

Sure, you can drive there, but it's so much more fun to take the boat :-) 

The Big Reveal

First and foremost, I'd like to include a thought 

for our Ladies of the Night friend: Nancy May. 

The Big Reveal was scheduled on February 22nd, 2012 which was Nancy's 66th birthday. We had hoped that she'd feel strong enough to be with us that night, but she wasn't. 

Nancy passed away 10 days later. 

We'll miss Nancy very much, 

she was the sweetest friend anyone could wish for.

The Big Reveal

Back in 2011, the Ladies of the Night Bee engaged in a fat quarter exchange over several months. The Big Reveal day finally arrived, and it was a great excuse for us to have some fun opening our bags and spend time together.

 Only a group of Quilters would understand the excitement behind this bunch of bags!!

 Debbie & Mary are carefully preparing the Pick Up Sticks exchange bags

Barb and Sheila

 Renee and Dianne

 Donna

 Joan and Gale (notice Gale's top and her watch... to match her boots!!)

 Barb brought stuffed mushrooms

 Donna and Joan

 Eva was in town to visit Nancy in the hospital so she joined us that night. Here with Joan. 

 A peek into Eva's huge purse... notice the clever use of a flashlight to actually find things inside...

 Gale entertained us with her "nose whistle"... yes, you have to blow your nose to make it work

It's not a LOTN party without food contributions! Mary, Gale & Cindy show us how it's done....

... followed by Joan, Sheila & Debbie

 A sampler of the yummy food we had. No, it's not split pea soup, it's homemade cream of broccoli!

Dianne had made cupcakes in honor of Nancy's birthday.

 We took turns opening our bags and had a couple of minutes to tell the group what we thought we'd make with our fat quarters...

From the look of it, we were all happy with our Fat Quarters, and had a good time.