Hostess Club October

Thursday my wonderful Hostess Club ladies are coming over for our monthly meeting. We're learning Masking, a technique in stamping that allows you to cover up part of your image to stamp around it cleanly. Here are the two cards we'll be making

Birthday Balloons
Stamp Sets: Pumpkin Patch, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade
Stampin' Pads (Classic): Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Post-It notes

Thanksgiving Wreath
Stamp Sets: Falling Leaves
Cardstock: Really Rust, More Mustard, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stampin' Pads (Classic): More Mustard, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Linen Thread, Masterpiece Ribbon Originals

I've really come to enjoy my monthly Hostess Club meetings. The group is so fun and we always have so much to say to each other! Sometimes it's a stretch getting 2 cards done in one meeting. :) I'm looking to start a second club soon - if you're interested in learning more about stamping, slowly adding to your stamping/scrapbooking supply closet, and love girlfriend chit-chat, let me know!!!

World Card Making Day = success!

Because I ran the 10-Mile race on the actual World Card Making Day, I conducted my own celebration this past weekend. The event was free (best kind!) for guests. We made some Christmas cards, listened to Christmas music, ate Christmas treats, and had a jolly good time! Yes, it is early for Christmas, but - it snowed in Minnesota this weekend. It set the tone for our kick-off to the holidays!

I set the event up so guests would make 4 cards, all using slightly different techniques, colors, layouts, etc. But, I asked each of them to donate at least 2 of the cards they made to the Ronald McDonald House in the Twin Cities. We came up with 15 cards to donate! That means 15 people in need this season will have a beautiful hand-made card to send to someone they love.

Here are the cards. I love them all, but I will tell you my favorite at the end of this post. Please leave a comment with your favorite of these holiday cards!

Polka Dot Snowman

Stamp Sets: Snow Buddies, Chic Boutique
Cardstock: Real Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White, Watercolor
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, Polka Dot Real Red ribbon, various circle punches, Circle Scissors Plus

Snowy Pine
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, real Red, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Merry Moments
Stamp Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Playground buttons, Mistletoe Ribbon Originals


Razzle-Man
Stamp Sets: Snow Buddies, The More the Merrier
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Whisper White
Designer Series Paper: Rich Razzleberry patterns
Stamp Pads (Classic): Stazon, Rich Razzleberry
Stampin' Write Markers: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Dusty Durango
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, dimensionals

Three Pines
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Christmas Greetings
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Garden Green, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Scallop edge punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon

Naturally, I didn't spend a lot of time designing these cards. Some are old sketch challenge layouts I found in my stampin' space. Some are reconfigured cards from the catalog. Polka Dot Snowman is an exact copy (with change of colors) of a card I saw in Stampin' Success, the monthly magazine demonstrators get. But, I love the cards nonetheless! Who cares if I made the design or not? :)

My fave? I love Three Pines. It's just so classy and clean to me. I also love the not-quite-traditional colors in it.

What's your favorite?

Twin Cities 10-Mile

I did it!! On Sunday, Oct. 4 I ran the Twin Cities 10-Mile Race! What a life accomplishment for me. I felt great the whole race, walked only through 2 or 3 of the water stops, and even picked up the pace a bit at the end. I finished in 1:43:15 (yes, on HOUR, 43 minutes of running!) I really wanted to finish in 1:40:00, but I had to drink some water along the way - so I guess my time if fine. My next one will be better!!

My family from all across the country came to cheer me on - Aunt Dee from South Dakota, Aunt Jean from Pittsburgh, and Aunt Donna from Atlanta all crashed on couches and spare bedrooms at the house to be part of the event. I can't thank them enough!! And of course, my husband Aaron. What a guy! The best parts of the race for me where running by and seeing him waving to me from the sidewalk. He's the best!!!!

I learned some things from running a distance race. Such as:

1. I can set a goal, and make it!
2. Having a group to support you makes all the difference.
3. Training pays off!
4. Running with a friend is the key to not getting bored.

And most important..... 5. I like running! And I'm actually good at it (for me, anyway!)

Between my husband and my aunts, I have a ton of great photos of the day to remember it by. I recently received my copy of My Digital Studio and had to use it to create a fun scrapbook page to remember my big day. Here's what I came up with:


It uses Enjoy Every Moment and Define Your Life ("Journey"). I think both these sentiments are fitting for the day! I love the simple Rich Razzleberry background and Old Olive accents. I only made one page, but maybe I'll continue and make an entire book of the event.

Thanks to everyone who supported me in training (especially Aaron!) and for those non-runners for putting up with running posts here. :)

Now - to think of a new goal. Maybe a 1/2 Marathon....? :)

Simply Scrappin' Birthday

In an un-like-me event, I've planned ahead for classes in mid-NOVEMBER. I am usually so far behind on planning that few people ever come to my classes because I haven't had time to promote them. Well, not this time! I want this class to be a success - because I need a successful class, because mid-November's a good time to stay in and stamp, and because this SSK is just so darn cute!

Participants will pay $25 to me. They will get the Happy B-Day Simply Scrappin' Kit, cut ready to make 20 cards. I'll also provide envelopes, white cardstock, ribbons, and some embellishments to "fancy up" the cards. And of course, they'll get to keep the leftovers from the SSK! I hope this is a big hit - and maybe can become a regular class on the rotation (but with different themes).

Here's just one sample. The other samples I've made are just as cute - but I don't have photos of them. :-(

Happy B-Day

Simply Scrappin' Kit: Happy B-Day
Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, Brocade Blue
Designer Series Paper: unnamed, included in SSK
Accessories/Tools: Elementary Ribbon Originals

And now for a bit of random chatter.... tomorrow is my big 10-Mile race! I'm so excited, but also starting to get nervous. The weather here in the Twin Cities has been rainy for 3 or 4 days - but forecasts say it will be clear and cool tomorrow morning. I sure hope so! I'll post results & photos on Monday. (Which is coincidentally a day off work for me. Didn't that work out nice?)

And, so far the highlight of my weekend has been going to my final Twins game at the Metrodome! A baseball fan since I was born, the Dome has always been special to me - especially as an adult. When I first moved to the Cities 7 1/2 years ago, I worked as an usher at the Dome. I was there from 2002-2006 seasons and loved it. Since not working there, I've loved the Dome even more as a fan! And now the Twins will move to Target Field next season. It will be awesome and fun, but not the same. My family & I did get the PERFECT farewell from the Dome, though - we made it on the Jumbotron TWICE! Awesome! Once was with my friend Andrea. We took a photo on my phone and sent it in. They put it on the big screen. Yay! Here's the famous shot:


Good-bye Dome!!

Fall in St Paul

Out of nowhere Fall arrived. A week, 2 weeks ago, we had highs in the mid- to high-70s, unusually warm for this time of year. I remember saying while running "I wish it would cool down!" And cool down it sure did! This week has posted highs barely in the 50s and gusty winds to boot. It definitely feels cold - I even turned my furnace on! Next thing you know, I'll get digging out the old flannel p.j.s.

To celebrate Fall in St Paul, I dug out an old favorite of mine, Season of Friendship. I love how versatile this set it. It easily makes fall, winter, spring, summer, (yeah, all the SEASONS, like the name of the set says....) but you can also use the branch as a background, add some other tidbits to the trees, use the leaves, snowflakes, bird in other ways, and so on. Totally worth the investment! And, in my quest to utilize others' great design ideas, this card uses Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 37.

The tree looks like the big old maple in my front yard. I'm anticipating the dropping of leaves coming soon. Last year I filled 15 lawn bags with leaves while raking. Guess that's what you get when you live in a 60-year old house.

Fall Friendship
Stamp Sets: Season of Friendship, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories/Tools: Paper Crimper, Sleigh Bells ribbon

Thanks for looking! And happy fall!!!

World Card Making Day sample

World Card Making Day is coming up! Typically, WCMD is Oct. 3, but, due to my 10-Mile race that weekend, I'm postponing my celebration until the next weekend, Oct. 10. I'm inviting all crafters, customers, friends, and relatives to come over for a free stamping event. We'll make 4 cards total - 2 for guests to take home, and 2 for guests to give to the local Ronald McDonald House so families in the Twin Cities have a bit of cheer to send to their loved ones this holiday season. I hope this "give-and-get" idea really gets people interested and they come to the event!

This is the first sample I've come up with. I just LOVE the new Patterned Pines Hostess Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog! Customers can earn it FREE when they hostess a Stampin' Up! workshop of $150 or more (or place an individual order, like I did!) :)

WCMD Patterned Pines
Stamp Sets: Patterned Pines, Four the Holidays
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Real Read, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Merry Moments
Stamp Pads (Classic): Old Olive, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Playground Button, Sleighbells Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals

This card uses Weekend Sketch Challenge 99 found on Beate's blog here. The Weekend Sketch Challenges are great! They are usually easy sketches that allow you to add to pizazz where you see fit. :)

If you're in the Twin Cities area, I'd love for you to come to my WCMD event and make this card! Please let me know if you are interested. :)

Thank You Challenge

One of the things I love best about stamping is the fact that you don't need to really be all that artisitic to be good at it. Lord knows I can't draw, paint, sculpt, or do anything else that's considered traditional "art." That's why I love stamping. It's like following a pattern - which is especially easy when there are so many great challenges out there for you to work with! Today I made a Thank You card using a sketch challenge from Pal Paper Arts, a relatively new challenge Web site. I love the challenges on this site because they vary every week: sometimes there will be a sketch, sometimes color challenge, sometimes "anything but a card" challenge!

Here's what I came up with. I used a Simply Scrappin' Kit for most of it.

PPA 7 - Thank You

Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Simply Scrappin' Kit: Petal Party
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, So Saffron, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: unnamed, included in SSK
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pumpkin Pie
Accessories/Tools: 5/8" So Saffron Ribbon (2009 SAB), Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch

I love how it turned out - a simple Thank You for a recent customer order. And I got to use up some old stuff that was laying around. Don'tcha just love that?!