Plant a Little Love

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge is to make a sympathy card. Let's add to our stash of sympathy cards this week so we have them on hand when needed. I know everyone is always looking for ideas for these cards that are not always the easiest to make -- so let's help each other out and let our ideas flow! On my card, Spellbinder's Labels Six, number 5 & 6 dies were used along with Kaiser adhesive pearls. Added is machine stitching before attaching panel to card. The stamped floral image is from JustRite's Plant a Little Love set. It is stamped with StazOn black ink onto watercolor paper, then watercolored using SU watercolor crayons and a H2O brush. All cardstock is SU and patterned paper is from Kaiser's Lilac Avenue.

Close up of the watercoloring gives you a look at the liquid pearls dots that are added in the center of open flower. We hope you will be able to play along this week! Please use keyword ssnotime128 if you upload to Splitcoaststampers, and upload on Sharon's Mr Linky over on her blog!

Check out what the talented designers of the Stamp Simply Challenge Team has created this week! ENJOY!

Sharon Johnson AJ Otto Barbara Anders Deb Saaranen Janine Orchard, taking the night off Jennifer Buck Jenny Gropp Tammy Hershberger Deb Neerman, (February guest designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate it so very much! Take good care!

Oh, what a TREAT!

I'm having a couple friends over for coffee and wanted a little treat to share! Cappuccino chocolates, coffee, and friends! Yes, indeed, some of life's greatest perks!

My Mom gifted me this package of chocolates. She knows I love coffee and Lindt chocolates! What I especially love about these is the size! The are considered bite size and are smaller than the original Lindt chocolates. I'm looking forward to sharing!

My idea was to start with a base and set the chocolate upon it. That way, the chocolate could be consumed, and the base could be taken home and re purposed! Or, take the entire treat home would be fine!

I went to my JustRite set, A Little Caffeine and used the bottom middle border. This is one of those sets, when I look it over, my mind races with ideas! Base papers and info below.

A pic of two of these cute treats! I love the colors, kinda matches my new kitchen. The greens, rusts, orangy, browns, these will look perfect! Hope they like them! TAKE GOOD CARE! See you tomorrow, with some more of that floral goodness! DETAILS:

Stamps: JustRite A Little Caffeine Set

Paper: SU

Ink: Adirondack Espresso, Tim Holtz Distress Old Paper

Other: Chocolates, Kaiser adhesive pearls, Spellbinders Small Circle die #4 and Small Circle Scallop #3, Michael's bin ribbon, 1 3/4" EK success circle punch

Breath of Spring Tulips, Made with Love!

Welcome Wednesday! Hope you had the chance to BLOG HOP yesterday with the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Design Team! You still have time to win the Webster's Pages kit blog candy! All blog candy details are HERE! Good Luck!

A quick, simple card today! Cardstock is SU, and Spellbinders Labels Four dies-4 & 5 were used. The white panel is dry embossed with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The tulip floral image is from JustRite's Breath of Spring Set. Tulips are one of my favorite flowers. The image is colored with Copic markers, and cut along two stems to raise up, that adds great dimension. Closer look at the tulip image and the Made with Love tag. Perfect little sentiment! Memento tuxedo black ink is used on all stamping. All ribbon is from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. I punched two holes in the stamped ribbon to run my 3/16" silk ribbon through and tie!

This is JustRite's Tiny Words Borders and Centers Set. A great set to have on hand that adds a little extra to your creations!

Take good care, and thanks so much for stopping by! I so appreciate your visits. Tomorrow I will have a cute little coffee related idea! Simple & Sweet! See you then!

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store BLOG HOP

Welcome to the first ever Stamp Simply Ribbon Store BLOG HOP! Our theme is BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. All the designers are creating, keeping in mind what makes their creations something they LOVE to design, staying true to the style they really LOVE. I put some thought into today's theme and this is what I came up with. A repurposed recipe box, to save seeds and sowing information! I don't have one particular style, I love all sorts of trends, styles, colors, designs & designers, etc. and can adapt to several different styles in my work. But one thing I know for sure is I LOVE to create three dimensional items, altering something bought or already in the house. I LOVE finding several uses for one item. And, I realized that this creative approach really comes from being raised where you had to make something out of nothing, in a word, poor! I'm not sharing this for sympathy, rather for insight. After college and since getting married 30+ years ago, I have been blessed beyond measure, and have much more than I could ever ask for or deserve! So, my point is, most of my creative thinking still goes into the mode of multi purposing items, trying to stretch their usefulness, and attempting to catch every detail possible. Ok, enough babbling! Here is a top pic of the index card box lid. I purchased the recipe box at Michaels for one dollar! I covered the box with my Webster's Petite Papers combo pack, Postcards from Paris & Sweet as Cherry Pie. A Stamp Simply kit is pictured above at the beginning of the post! The $45 value kit is up for blog candy! (more info below) I used scor tape to adhere papers to box and sanded all edges.

My favorite item on this project is the floral embellishment. I folded the striped ribbon in half, hand stitched, and pulled my thread to gather. The GinaK buttons are added with silk ribbon and sewn onto the flower. I attached the leaves separately. After sizing down the suede leaves for this project, I discovered they are two sided! This created a pocket to add filling. I placed a tiny bit of a cotton ball before gathering and stitching the leaf end. (the top photo shows the fullness a bit better)

Using my sentiment from Seeds of Kindess, I stamped with StazOn black ink and circle punched. I set my 15pt Times New Roman font (scroll down page to view stamps) to create an oval border to place my punched circles on. The edges are distressed with a sponge and Rich Cocoa Memento ink. Buttons and silk ribbon finish the front embellishment.

The inside of box reveals dividers and pockets I shared last Friday, HERE. The divider labels are computer generated and punched with an oval punch and attached with scor tape.

I came across this idea some time ago here at the daytripsociety.com site. I wanted to try something similar to this box and thought since our move it would be perfect to help me organize the new little garden patch in the backyard! Another feature I love is the large buttons used as box feet! They are attached with glue dots and I LOVE the look! Also another use for those large buttons! There you have it, staying true to what I LOVE! As a thank you for joining us on our very first blog hop, one lucky commenter will receive a complete Webster's Pages Postcards from Paris Kit! In order to be in the drawing, you are encouraged to leave comments along the hop. At 6pm on Saturday February 27, 2010, a number will be drawn that corresponds to the blogs involved. Another number will be drawn for the comments on that blog and the winner will be then be notified via e-mail. Commenting, while not required, is highly recommended so that you will be eligible for the drawing! Good Luck!

The fabulously talented Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Designers:

Sharon Johnson - No Time to Stamp?/Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Deb Saaranen - Dream in Color Holly McMillen - Toy's Haven Michelle Woerner - Stop and Stamp the Roses Sherry Cheever - Walkin' on the Bad Side Linda Duke - Linda's Works of Heart Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover. (you are here)

Recipe Cards with a TWIST!

Our Stamp Simply Friday Challenge, is to make a card (for a recipe if you like, but it need NOT be a true recipe card) that has some tabbed element on it to give you that impression of a traditional recipe card in a box. For my recipe card like creation, I chose to use unruled index cards. I embossed one with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, folded down the top edge, used scor tape on the sides and bottom to adhere to a plain card, creating a pocket. The pocket will be used to store mini envelopes. For the decorative paper on the cards, I utilized my Webster Petite Papers, the collection combo pack of Postcards from Paris & Sweet as Cherry Pie. Tabs were cut using my SU label punch and stapled on the top of back index card. The decorative paper strips of paper were attached with scor tape.

Here are three more, the Webster pages are double sided, so I had lots of coordinating possibilities. It was also fun using various brads, I have not had those out in a while!

Here is a peek of the mini envelopes, I mentioned. I will be placing items in the envelopes to store in my recipe/index pockets. Then I created a holder for all the pockets! But I can't show you that yet! It will be revealed in it's entirety at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store BLOG HOP on Tuesday, February, 23! Hope you can come back and take a peek! The possibilities are endless for recipe/index card usage! Let's see what you create! If you upload to Splitcoaststampers, please use keyword, ssnotime127. And be sure to upload with Mr Linky over on Sharon's BLOG! Check out what the talented designers of the Stamp Simply Challenge Team has created this week!

Sharon Johnson

AJ Otto

Barbara Anders

Deb Saaranen

Janine Orchard

Jennifer Buck

Jenny Gropp

Julie Koerber

Tammy Hershberger, taking the night off, feel better Tammy!

Deb Neerman, (February guest designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate it so very much! Take good care and I'll see you tomorrow with a little floral goodness!

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Design TEAM!

Hooray! I can finally let you in on a special announcement! Sharon Johnson, owner of the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store is revealing her Stamp Simply Ribbon Store DESIGN TEAM! And I am thrilled to the core to be on that list! You will be wowed at the talent, in awe of the product, and inspired beyond measure! What a privilege to serve among these talented designers! Pictured above is Sharon's new kit release as well. I utilized the gorgeous Webster Postcards from Paris papers and Stamp Simply ribbon on my creation today! I mentioned HERE that I have a friend who is battling cancer, so I decided to create a chip board album for her. Living life day by day, and especially now during these difficult times, One Day at a Time (JustRite Times New Roman Font) has taken even a deeper meaning for her. This is the album front cover. The front and backsides of the chipboard coasters are covered with Webster papers, with the days of the week journaling cards affixed for each day of the week.

This crochet lace ribbon is magnificent! I created the album cover floral embellishment by folding it in half, running a gathering stitch, and pulling my thread to create a circle. Looks a bit like a yoyo! Love the ease and look of this embellishment. I then sewed a button center to finish.

Have you seen this wonderful suede leaf ribbon? These leaves are the softest and have the most beautiful feel to them! Oh my! I trimmed two down and ran a stitch to gather the edge that is underneath the lace flower before attaching to the cover with scor tape. The lace flower is attached with glue dots.

A peek of the backside of the cover reveals the first day of the week, Sunday! I used the journaling space to write friendship notes, and scripture.

Here is the Monday page! The album consists of four pages, front and back. My crop a dile was used to punch the hole for book ring. Velvet ribbon is tied onto the ring for embellishment.

And yet two more pages of the album. The journaling cards are trimmed down a bit to fit the pages, enabling more of that gorgeous Webster paper to be seen!

Mark your calendars for the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Design Team's first BLOG HOP on Tuesday, February 23. I can hardly wait to show you what I have created for this hop! And well, I can't wait to see what the other gals have been up to! Who are the other incredibly talented designers on the team, take a look!

Sharon Johnson - No Time to Stamp?/Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Deb Saaranen - Dream in Color Holly McMillen - Toy's Haven Michelle Woerner - Stop and Stamp the Roses Sherry Cheever - Walkin' on the Bad Side Linda Duke - Linda's Works of Heart Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover.

CREATION DETAILS

Stamps: JustRite New Times Roman Font

Paper: Webster Postcards from Paris & Days of the Week Journaling cards

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: chipboard coasters, scor tape, glue dots, needle & thread, metal book ring, crop a dile, lace & velvet ribbon, sanding block

It's A Stamp Simply Friday with JustRite's Breath of Spring!

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge this week is a color challenge, PURPLE & GREEN, ANY shades go -- totally up to you! I LOVE this color combo and can't WAIT to see your beautiful creations!!! In fact, I have been using that Lilac Avenue kit a lot lately! Oh what fun it is using this gorgeous color combo!!!

My stamped image is from JustRite's Breath of Spring Set. It is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copics. Colors used are: VO1, V12, V15, YG03, G21. G24.

A closer view of the stamped image! Kaiser pearls, color-Snow, are placed on flower centers. Lavender Kaiser pearls are on decorative die cut on each side of image. I wanted to try sewing on my silk ribbon! That is what I did to get it to gather before attaching to my oval.

This is what I learned. Use a VERY FINE fabric needle. Other needles will rip the silk. Ask me how I know this! LOL I folded my 1 1/4" width ribbon and sewed closest to the folded edge.

This silk ribbon is so fine and luxurious, when I started to gather by pulling one thread, it automatically started to curl, with the little folded edge turning upon the larger ribbon side. I then used the stitched edge to attach my scor tape, then adhere to my oval edge, bunching it as I went along. It wasn't hard to accomplish, just fussy. I LOVE the result!

We hope you play along this week! You may play along any time, as many times as you please! If you upload to Splitcoaststampers, please use keyword, ssnotime126. And be sure to upload with Mr Linky over on Sharon's BLOG! Check out what PURPLE & GREEN goodness the Stamp Simply Design Team has been up to!

Sharon Johnson

AJ Otto

Barbara Anders

Deb Saaranen

Janine Orchard

Jennifer Buck

Jenny Gropp

Julie Koerber

Tammy Hershberger

Deb Neerman, (February guest designer)

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY! HAVE A SUPER WEEKEND! TAKE GOOD CARE!

CREATION DETAILS

STAMPS- JustRite Breath of Spring

INK- Memento Tuxedo Black

PAPER- SU Cardstock, KaiserCraft Lilac Avenue Collection (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store)

ACCESSORIES- Silk Ribbon & Kaiser Adhesive pearls (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store), Spellbinders Borderabilities Lattice & oval dies, 1/16" Scor tape (Joan's Gardens), sewing machine, Copics

Valentine's Day Cookie Mix

I'm winding down my Valentine's Day gift giving! This is a box sugar cookie mix I found, loved the heart shaped cookies on the front of box. When I spied it, I knew it would be perfect for Valentine's Day! Wanting some cuteness for the box, I remembered this image in my Crafty Secrets "HOMEMADE" Images and Journal Notes. This is the top half of the page. Since the box had the bluish teal color, I added that color to the image bowl and window with a dauber and chalk! All other colors were already on the image. Since this is for my daughter, I wanted to use this image, and simply added the color to make it work! Easy!

The Happy Valentine's Day tag is an extra I made while creating this Valentine HERE! JustRite fonts are the best way to personalize any creation! The rolling pin embellishment comes from a 6 piece embellishment "Dress It Up" set purchased at Michaels. The gorgeous Stamp Simply ribbon is sheer with suede dots! Simply wonderful ribbon! Love the polka dots! The jute string is also from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! Take good care, thanks so much for stopping by!

Oh, Baby! Stamp Simply 125

Happy Friday! Time for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge! We are to create something baby, first birthday, shower, congrats, anything, as long as it's baby! etc. Created this first birthday card for our grandson. Upper and Lowercase 50pt Times New Roman Font is used for the name. I love this Flower Soft stamp, it's how I imagine our grandson, Kaylub...as he grows. The image is colored with Copic markers.

What great timing is Sharon's challenge, because Kaylub turned one yesterday! A peek of him with project I made HERE. Can't believe a year has passed us by!

Here is the card inside. Using 15pt Times New Roman JustRite font I created my sentiment, then added a chipboard number. I sanded the number and added that cute fish jar for embellishment!

Remember to check Sharon's BLOG to link up Mr Linky with your creation. If you post on Splitcoaststampers, please use keyword ssnotime125.

The Stamp Simply Design Team has been busy, check out what they have been up to!

Sharon Johnson

AJ Otto

Barbara Anders

Deb Saaranen

Janine Orchard

Jennifer Buck

Jenny Gropp

Julie Koerber

Tammy Hershberger

Deb Neerman, (guest designer)

Card Positioning Systems Sketch meets JustRite

This weeks Card Positioning Systems sketch is sponsored by JustRite! You have until Saturday, February 6, 8pm CST to play along! If you share your CPS creation (details on their BLOG) you will receive a chance to win JustRite's new set, STITCHED WITH LOVE! How cool is that? I turned the CPS sketch to create a vertical creation. I will be using this creation to give a garden center gift card. So, this Journal Note from Crafty Secrets Homemade fit the sketch nicely! I purchased my note pack from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. I trimmed the bottom, but left a few lines to write a message. The Kraft card stock is 4' x 11" and scored 2 11/16" in from the top and bottom. I then marked the center of the flap end (2"), and cut diagonally from the score line to the center mark. The point was corner rounded.

The stamped sentiment is from JustRite's set, Seeds of Kindness. All circles are punched using EKSuccess punches.

I have shown you how I placed my dimensionals to create a channel, so my string runs through it perfectly.

You can see the placement of the black circle to the top flap. I stitched the journal note to the black card stock, then machine stitched along the sides and bottom of the black creating a pocket for the gift card. Scor Tape is used to adhere to Kraft card stock and also to attach the Kraft to the green.

CREATION INFO:

Stamps: JustRite Seeds of Kindness

Ink: StazOn Black, Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink

Paper: Papertreyink Kraft, Crafty Secrets Homemade Journal Note (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store), all other is SU

Other: Dimensionals, circle punches- ,oval punch, sponge dauber,sewing machine, Glue Glider (Joan's Gardens), Jute String (Stamp Simply Ribbon Store)

Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate it so very much! The JustRite set, I used yesterday for my pin cushion project is shown in it's entirety HERE. Take good care!

Stitched with LOVE

Welcome to JustRite's Garden Tour 2 BLOG Hop! Today, the JustRite design team has created wonderful garden items to share! So grab that coffee (or tea!) and enjoy! I chose to make a pin cushion, gift card, and button jar gift set. Stitched With Love is one of four new JustRite sets available to order on February 5. When you see the Stitched With Love in it's entirety(tomorrow on the JustRite BLOG) it was easy to gain inspiration for today's creation. I chose the flower heart image for the gift card and replicated elements of the image design in creating the pin cushion.

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I thought the heart shape tin would create a perfect pin cushion! After tracing the heart tin base onto 3" thick foam, I cut it out using a xacto knife. I didn't worry too much about the rough edges because all will be tucked inside the tin with just the foam top revealed.

A peek of the foam piece inserted into the heart shape tin. Here, I have started to embellish the tin and tin lid (placed on bottom) with papers from my Lilac Avenue Kit. Scor tape is used to adhere papers onto tin.

I knew I wanted the foam to be covered. I cut a square of fleece material, placed it atop of my cut foam and gently tucked into tin. The foam is soft, but with the fleece, after being pushed into the tin, creates a wonderful snug fitting piece that puffs just a bit over the top of the tin.

Now onto embellishing the pin cushion. I used silk ribbon to sew the button and flower atop the fleece material. You are looking at the underneath side of the fleece. I picked a larger eye needle to thread the ribbon and sewed just like thread, knotted to secure. The needles were purchased at my local fabric store.

I cut apart a green prima flower to create leaves and stitched those onto the fleece, mimicking the stamped image. Adding the ball head straight pins and needle also follows the image.

Here is the back side of the embellished tin. I added a silk bow, and scalloped edging to complete the tin. The bow is attached with Scor Tape.

For the button jar, I chose a coordinating image and sentiment border for the lid. All designer papers from the Lilac Avenue kit. Cardstock is SU. Green silk is from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

The jar lid reveals the embellishments used. I cannot understand why the purple button looks blue here in the picture! (Really, it's purple in real life and just maybe the photographer needs skill. LOL!) The stamped heart image is paper pieced, with buttons sewn on. Pretty straightforward, using punches and Nestabilitie dies to cut circles used.

Ink used for images, Memento Tuxedo Black. Copics used on gift card image, G24, YG03, YG06, C1, Y15, V12, V15. Enjoy Garden Tour2 and be inspired by these super talented JustRite designers!

JustRite Inspiration Blog Becca Feeken Kellie Fortin Sharon Harnist Debbie Olson Heidi Blankenship Kathy Jones Michele Kovack Michelle Wooderson Sharon Johnson Angela Barkhouse Barb Schram (that's ME!)

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY TODAY! I LOVE WHEN YOU VISIT! TOMORROW I HAVE A UNIQUE GIFT CARD HOLDER TO SHARE! SEE YOU THEN AND TAKE GOOD CARE!