A Touch From the Heart

Shakey, Shakey Valentine

Wow!  Another week has come and gone.  I've been fortunate to take a few afternoons off from work this week to spend some precious time with the family.  We've shopped at Mall of America, played arcade games at Dave & Busters and visited with friends who we haven't seen since the summer.   Whew!  I get tired just thinking about all we've done.  But, it's been SO MUCH FUN!!!!

 

Wanna know what else is fun?  Why it must be this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card.  This time I decided to make a card you can play with.  It's a shaker card!!!!  In fact, I had to photograph this card flat on a table because the hearts within the shaker box would shift to one side if I had it standing up like I usually do when photographing my cards.  So, I hope you'll forgive me for the quality of the photo.  

My base card is Real Red......the perfect color for any valentine!

Layer #2 is some Pretty in Pink polka dotted patterned paper that I picked up on the Clearance Rack.  It's the same patterns as in the Patterns Stacks, but you just get the dsp in Pretty in Pink and Real Red.    This layer measures 4" x 5 1/4".

I wrapped a length of Real Red Satin Ribbon before gluing this layer to the base card.

Layer #3 (the shaker box) is made with two pieces of Whisper White cardstock cut to 3 1/4" x 4 1/4".  One of those pieces is cut with the brand new Labels Framelits.  I just love how I can see exactly where I want to cut my window.  This makes for a very happy stamper!!!!  I used my Real Red marker to dot around the window.  On the back side of the window I attached a 3" x 4" piece of Window Sheet.   The hearts that make up the shaker pieces are made out of Real Red cardstock, Pretty in Pink cardstock, Silver Glimmer Paper and Red Glimmer Paper.  I've used the new Fashionable Hearts embosslit to cut the cardstock hearts, and the Heart to Heart punch for the glimmer paper ones.  Aren't the embossed patterns wonderful?  

To make the shaker box, use the edges of the dimensionals to build a barrier for the hearts to be contained in.  Place the second piece of cardstock directly on top of the first.  Then you just need to shakey, shakey away.  Fun, fun, fun!!!!  

My shaker box fits onto a 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" piece of Real Red cardstock.  

Rather than adding a bow and a button (as depicted in the sketch), I chose to stamp a heart from the I {heart} Hearts stamp set.  It coordinates with the Full Heart punch.....which makes cutting it out easy peasy!!!!  I dotted the "i" in the word friend with a Basic Rhinestone.  

All that's left to do now is to play with it.  Shakey, shakey, shakey!!!!!  LOL!!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  I {heart} Hearts
paper:  Real Red, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Pretty in Pink dsp, Silver Glimmer Paper, Red Glimmer Paper
ink:  Real Red
accessories:  Full Heart Punch, Heart to Heart punch, Labels Framelits, Fashionable Hearts embosslit, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Real Red marker 

 

From Our House to Yours

From the Chesky household to yours......we wish you a blessed Christmas filled with family and friends!!!!

Spreading the Love

Happy Friday before Christmas!!!  I must say that I played quite a bit of catch-up this week.  I had the presents purchased and wrapped by Wednesday.  Most of my Christmas cards are done and mailed.  But, I haven't baked as much as I would've liked.  That's also making it easier on the weight loss journey.  I'm just like my dad....I love me a good cookie!!!  I asked Dennis and the kids what treat they HAD to have this season.  For Christopher it's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.  Amanda chose Christmas Cut-Out cookies (a recipe dating back three generations).  Dennis is craving my lemon cookies.  The first two wishes have been fulfilled.  I'll make Dennis' lemon cookies tomorrow afternoon. 

As much as I would love to show you a Christmas creation for this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge, I was inspired by love!!!  So, I made another Valentine's card. 

For this card, I chose to make a homemade frame.  They are SO incredibly simple to make, and they always seem to generate a "wow" from whoever sees them.  Let me teach you how to make them.....

1.  Start with a 3" x 3" piece of cardstock
2.  Punch the center of each side of the square with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.....only once per side.

That's it!  I told you it was simple. 

For the center of my frame, I inked the flower spray from the You Are Loved stamp set using Pink Pirouette ink.  I grabbed my Regal Rose marker and colored some of the areas before stamping onto Whisper White cardstock.  I cut out the image and popped it up on dimensionals. 

The frame even fits the sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes).  Love that!

My card is dazzled up with some ruffled Seam Binding, an antique brad and some pearls.   Oh la la!

Well, I still have some preparations to make.  Tomorrow is the annual Chesky Christmas Eve Pizza Picnic.  It's a smaller crowd this year as my brother and his family rotate between the families.  I am thankful that we have them for Christmas dinner this year.  Oooohhh!  I have plans to make cute namecards for the kid's table.  I better get right on that, huh? 

I'm not sure if I'll be posting again before Christmas.  If I don't, I want to wish each of you a wonderful Christmas.  If you do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a wonderful day. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. 

{{{{{hugs}}}}}}

Wisteria is Wonderful!!!

First of all, I want to thank everyone who took the time to leave a comment or email me about my weight loss journey.  Some of you are on your own weight loss journey, and I loved hearing your stories!  Thank you for sharing them with me!  Please know that you can email me anytime you want if you need someone to talk to or to give you a virtual high-five!!!

Now, I did promise you something pretty to look at!  I FINALLY had the chance to play with some of my Occasions Mini pre-order goodies!  It felt so good to stamp for fun.....not for Christmas cards!!!   Speaking of Christmas cards, I did manage to stamp them all on Saturday, and they are mailed out.  Whew!!!

Can you see all the new items I've used here?  

Let's see......there's the new stamp set called Bordering on Romance.  There's also some new Big Shot items.  The label shapes were cut with the brand new Framelits.  If you are a nestabilities fan, you are going to love these babies!!!  The fancy edge was cut with the Edgelits.  I love how the stamp set has a stamped image that compliments the shape.    I didn't use it on this card, but there's also embossing folders that match the Edgelits too!  

My focal image is inked with Black StazOn ink.  I then watercolored it with my markers and an Aquapainter.  Watercoloring just makes me happy and helps me de-stress.  

I also added just a touch of Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine.  The Occasions Catalog has Baker's Twine in all of the 2011-2013 In Colors.  Yay!  The colors are wonderful and refreshing!!!

Have you received your copy of the Occasions Mini Catalog?  If not, let me know and I can send you one (as long as your not already working with another demonstrator.  I don't want to step on anyone's toes).  It's SO fabulous!!!!

 

 

Sharing the Journey

If you've been reading my blog since the Spring, you know Dennis and I have embarked on a weight loss journey.  Well, I've had several readers asking me for photos.  

We've been on Weight Watchers since April 30th, 2011, and it's been a life-changing experience.

Are you ready for some before and after photos?  In fact, seeing this before photo was what shocked me into realizing how big I really was.  You don't know how long it's taken me to get the courage to post this picture.

Here's the before..........

And here's the after...........

Dennis has lost 28 lbs so far, and I have lost 43 lbs.  The journey isn't over, but it feels wonderful to not be in plus size clothing anymore, to climb stairs without getting winded and just knowing that I am eating healthier.  

 

Thanks to everyone for their love and support!!!!  I'll be back soon with some stamped pretties!!!!

Valentine's Piggy

So, it's the week before Christmas and panic mode is setting in.  Guess who encourages her customers to get their holiday cards done while procrastinating about her own?  Yup, that would be me!!!!  

Besides my Weight Watcher's meeting on Saturday morning, I don't have one single place that I need to be.  That means I am going to get some serious cardmaking, baking and wrapping done!!!!

Do you think I made a Christmas card for this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch challenge to add to my measly stash?  Nope!!!  

 

I made a Valentine's piggy card instead!!!!  

Isn't it cute?????

Let's chit chat about this happy little card......

My base card is Whisper White.  

Layer #2 is some fun pink patterned paper from the Flirtacious dsp pack.  

Layer #3 is a 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" strip of Melon Mambo cardstock.  I attached some of the Pretty in Pink Dotted Scallop grosgrain ribbon to the back of the cardstock before adhering it to my card..

Another length of the same ribbon is tied into a classic knot.  

My piggy (from Button Buddies) is stamped with Pretty in Pink ink onto Whisper White cardstock.  I used my Basic Black marker to dot his eyes, and grabbed my Chalk Pastels to blush his cheeks and darken up his cute little ears.   I love how this simple touch really gives him some personality!!!!

Now, I am all out of pink buttons......so I punched a 1/2" circle from Pretty in Pink cardstock.  I drew in little heart shaped nostrils using my Pretty in Pink marker and shaded the edges of the circle with the Chalk Pastels.  His little piggy nose is popped up using a dimensional.  

My piggy is matted on some Basic Black cardstock.  It truly makes the image "pop" especially when placed on dsp with so much detail.  

All that's left is my banner.  I stamped the greeting (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) using Basic Black ink onto Pretty in Pink cardstock.  To get the banner edge, I inserted the strip into the Photo Corner Punch (currently on the Clearance Rack).  I love this technique to getting perfect banners every time!!!

Well, that's about it for my pink piggy card!!!!  But, I would love to see what you make with this week's sketch.  If you do make a project, please link it's web address to the Stamping 411 blog using the Linky Tool at the bottom of the post.  

I guess I am off to stamp my holiday cards.  Maybe I can make holiday piggy cards with Santa hats on.   Hmmmmmmmm...............

Card Recipe

stamps:  Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Flirtacious dsp
ink:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink
accessories:  Pretty in Pink Dotted Scallop ribbon, Photo Corner punch (clearance rack), markers (Basic Black, Pretty in Pink), 1/2" circle punch, Chalk Pastels 

Clearance Rack Blitz Starts Today

Wow!  Stampin' Up! has pulled off a spectacular surprise...even for their demonstrators.

 

I woke up this morning to see the announcement that Stampin' Up! is having a Clearance Rack Blitz.

 

What does this mean?  Well, Stampin' Up! has added over 200 products to the Clearance Rack, and they are marked down up to 80%.

 

If you love the old style punches, you need to check out the Clearance Rack ASAP. 

 

These items are only available while supplies last and can only be ordered on an online order.  The blitz ends on January 5th.   

 

To place an online order, click here to go to my demonstrator website.

 

Then, click on Clearance Rack to see all the new items on sale.

 

 

Orders of $150 or more entitle you to Stampin' Rewards (free merchandise from the catalogs).  You will be prompted to enter your free merchandise item numbers.

 

Have fun shopping!!!  I already did!!  I bought my beloved circle punches, Love Letter dsp, buttons and lots of ribbon!!!  Ohhh.....it feels just like the sales on the 26th of December!!!!! 

Birthday Balloons

Has it really been a full week since I've blogged?  Wow!  I am SO sorry about that, but I am just overwhelmed at the moment.   I've been decorating the house for the holidays, holiday shopping, designing projects for this week's class and then add in all the normal activities (working, exercising, Mom's taxi, grocery shopping, cleaning, laundry) and I just need another two hours added to my day.  

I promise to be back blogging regularly again as soon as possible.  

I was able to make a card for this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.   The diagonal element adds such a fun twist to this sketch.  

This week, I decided to make a birthday card.  It's crazy birthday week here at our house.  We've got my brother's, son's and niece's birthday all within 7 days of each other.  Wowza!   That's a lot of celebrating!!!  I'll be working out extra hard to work off all that cake!!!

My card starts with a So Saffron base.

Layer #2 is Marina Mist cardstock that's been "texturized" with the Direct-to-Paper technique using Marina Mist ink.  

To build my card, I started with the patterned paper.  This fun pattern is from the Just Add Cake dsp pack.  I just adore these colors.  They work for both males and females alike.

Next, I stamped my greeting onto a strip of Whisper White cardstock.  I matted this onto some Basic Black cardstock.  Make sure that these strips are longer than needed for the diagonal.  Lay them on the diagonal and attach to the dsp.  Using your paper trimmer, trim off the excess.  The dsp is then matted on some Tangerine Tango cardstock.  

Every birthday boy or girl loves a bunch of balloons to celebrate the day.  I made mine using the balloon image from the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set.  I inked the stamp with Versamark ink and stamped onto Real Red and Tangerine Tango cardstock.  I carefully cut out the images and added some White Baker's Twine to the back.  The balloons are placed on the card with dimensionals.  

I'm not sure who's going to get this card, but I sure hope they like it!!!!

I bet you'll also like the projects all the other Stamping 411 operators have made this week.  They are a great source of inspiration.  

 

Love, Love, Love

Even though it's December, and the holiday season is in full swing, I just couldn't bring myself to make a Christmas card this week.  I've been designing them since July, and honestly, I just wanted to play with something new.  

So, I decided to make a Valentine's Day card instead.  It would work equally as well as an anniversary card, a wedding card or an "I'm sorry for what I did, but I really do love you" card.

The Stamping 411 sketch this week was pretty simple.  I like that....especially this time of year!!!

I did tweak the sketch a little to make it match my vision.  Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

My base card is Poppy Parade. Oh, how I love this color!!!!  It's bright but not obnoxious.  It's just refreshing!!!  

Layer #2 is Pink Pirouette.  It's just pink enough to work with the brightness of the poppy.  

Layer #3 is Poppy Parade.  I inked up the floral spray image (from the "You are Loved" stamp set in the Holiday Mini) with Versamark ink.  I sprinkled on some white embossing powder and heated it with my heat gun until melted.  

The Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon is wrapped on the diagonals of the focal image layer.  I just love this look.  It reminds me of the fancy gift wrapping from the high-end department stores from my childhood.  

My sentiment is stamped twice.  First it's inked up with Pink Pirouette ink and stamped on Whisper White cardstock.  I punched this with the Decorative Label punch.

Secondly, I cleaned the stamp and inked it up with Poppy Parade ink.  This time, I stamped it onto some Pink Pirouette cardstock.  I punched just the center portion with the Large Oval punch.  I popped this layer on a dimensional and added a rhinestone in the center of the flower.  

A very simple sketch and an equally simple card.  Just because it doesn't take hours to make doesn't mean it's not beautiful!!!  I just love that!

What would you do with this sketch?  Well, I know everyone is busy, but if you find some time, we at the Stamping 411 would love to have you play with this sketch.  When you post your project, please link your project's web address to the Stamping 411 blog.  You never know....your project might be one of those selected for the Stamper's Showcase.  

Card Recipe

stamps:  You are Loved
paper:  Poppy Parade, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
ink:  Versamark, Poppy Parade, Pink Pirouette
accessories:  Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Large Oval punch, Decorative Label punch