Saturday, October 9, 2010

No pictures....uuuggghhh!!

Well, here's the story.....I finally got about 1/2 hour to myself in my stamp room today - made a thanksgiving card and a baby card (I'm an auntie again to my brothers new baby girl!).  I came downstairs, took the pictures and got ready to download to my computer to post them here.  My computer wasn't co-operating, had to re-start, still wasn't working and by now, baby is letting me know that my time is OVER! She needs me NOW!  In my sheer frustration of not getting the pictures to load, crying baby and not to mention sheer sleep deprivation.... I got up from the computer in a bit of a "huff", tripped on the cord connecting the camera to the computer and the camera smashed on the hardwood floor.  I can hear your gasps.  That's right...no more camera, the lens has a big dent in the side and won't retract or focus.  This has happened to me before, I have absolutely no luck when it comes to cameras - this is my 3rd one.  I secretly was wanting a new one, but this is not how I had intended getting it.  So if you've read along this far, there won't be any posts for a little bit, until I can sort this out.  I hope to be back soon

Friday, October 8, 2010

Because I Care and a start on Christmas


The first card is made using the Because I Care hostess stamp set.  It's a really beautfiful set with the hydrangeas.  I also love, love, love the scallop sqaure die.  I borrowed it from my sister's stash and have finally broken down and ordered my own.  I also just ordered the Scallop Oval Frame - it's all about the scallops for me these days!!  The colors are Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso.

The second card is the start of my creative Christmas process.  I usually end up making quite a few card designs before I find one that I want to use for my own cards this year.  I am also designing the cards for my upcoming Christmas card workshops, so there's alot of Christmas happening in my workshop right now.  The set used here is A Cute Christmas and the paper is Candy Cane Designer series paper along with the Tiny Tags set for the greeting.  Which reminds me.....where on earth did I put the co-ordinating buttons????  I seem to lose things in my workshop and then they all of a sudden appear - kinda like the missing socks from the dryer!

Right now I am enjoying a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.  We have guests visiting from out of town (so forgive me if I dont' get alot of projects posted this weekend) and she is taking the baby for a walk.  The silence in the house is heavenly and it's so wonderful to actually get to enjoy a cup of tea that hasn't gone cold and taken 3 rounds in the microwave only to be forgotten and not found until dinnertime!!

Enjoy your weekend....

Monday, October 4, 2010

Seasonal Creations



Here are a couple of projects that I found in my stash....sometimes there is just no need to re-create the wheel!  I actually really like the thanksgiving card, it's a recessed window and the pumpkin is made from the oval punch.  The papers are retired now, but any Pumpkin Pie patterned would work.  The second little project is made with the Pillow Box die and the Batty for You stamp set....a very fitting set for me!  I have been trying to steal some time this afternoon to work on my Christmas ideas, but a little somebody just won't let me.  I have 3 of the Christmas Cards planned out and am just having some trouble getting the 4th one just perfect!!  I may have to change gears and go in another direction with it.  Ever have that happen?  Something looks really good in your head and then not so great when it actually hits the paper!!  The Christmas workshops are filling up so if you would like to be a part of the fun, make sure you sign up soon!!

I'm off to figure something out for dinner - the million dollar question!!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

One more time...with feeling!

It has come to my attention that I posted the incorrect date for the Christmas Card Workshops.  The Monday evening is October 25 NOT October 26.  I apologize for any inconvenience

One more thing....

Guess I should have mentioned how to reserve your spot!  Please email me at brian.sheila@shaw.ca or go to my website at http://www.sheilabatty.stampinup.net/ for further contact information

Thank you and I hope to be back later today with some possible "card contenders"

Happy Saturday

Christmas Card Workshops

Christmas is right around the corner - wouldn't you love to have all your cards done and in the mail early this year?  I have finalized the details for my upcoming Christmas Card Workshops.  There are 2 dates to choose from:  Saturday Oct 23 at 1pm or Monday Oct 26 at 6pm.  You will be making 8 cards, 2 each of 4 designs and a 3D gift item. Cost is $30 and deadline to sign up is Oct 6.  Seating is limited at each event, so get your friends together and reserve your spot and in usual fashion there will be door prizes, snacks and lots of fun!!  Hope to see you there!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Club Projects


Just a quick post, I have been coming up with Christmas cards all night and it's way past my bedtime - LOL.  Pretty sad when 9:30pm is past your bedtime, but when you have a little one that has been waking up 4-5 times a night this week, you've got to get to sleep early.  These are the two fall projects we will be making on Tuesday night with my club girls - hope I haven't ruined it if any of you were looking forward to a surprise!!  I won't elaborate on the details,( don't want to spoil all the fun) but so quick and easy and perfect for the fall season.

Coming Soon to a workshop near you........

It's getting to be that time of year again, sure doesn't feel like it with this beautiful weather we are having.  I am beginning to plan my Christmas Card Workshops.  It's going to look a little different than the last couple of years.  I will be having them in my own workshop and will be offering 2 different dates as space will be limited at both events.  When I have more details ironed out, I will be letting everyone know.  So keep checking back as sign up will be happening within the next week or so.

Will be back in a bit with a post of my club projects for this month - see you soon!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

For Grandma...

Here is the project that I was working on, meant to get it posted yesterday, but these "two little feet" have been keeping me very busy.  I used the Blusing Bride ink on the bottom of my baby's feet and pressed them on the paper.  It's hard to tell in the picture, but you can really see the little wrinkles in the bottom of her foot.  I made this for the grandmas, I had also made my other children's feet when they were small as well, so now the collection is complete.  I just have to get to the store to find a frame.  My "to do" list is about 40 feet long today....hope I can get at least one thing done off of it.  I also must get ready for my club next week, some really cute projects coming up!

Happy Stampin'!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Birthday Bakery


This card is made with the Birthday Bakery Hostess Set and as always, is so darn cute!!  It was inspired on Friday when I was talking with a friend/co-worker and it was her grand-daughter's first birthday, so in honour of Ashlynn's birthday, I made this card.  Happy Birthday Ashlynn, hope it was a fun filled day!!  The color for the inside photo didn't turn out so well, sorry.  I like to put a stamp/sentiment on the inside as well, feels like it completes the card.

See you tomorrow with another really cute pink and brown project!

supplies:  Early Espresso, Blushing Bride cardstock and ink/markers
Birthday Bakery Stamp Set
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Scallop Square Die
Adhesive Pearls
Assorted Punches

Friday, September 24, 2010

Elements of Style


This is one of my favorite sets - Elements of Style.  It is so pretty and soft.  The main image was stamped in the background and run through the BigShot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  It really gives it a "french toile" look.  I used Basic Gray with Very Vanilla and used my blender pen to give a little more color to the center images.  A couple of my club girls missed the month that we did these, so these ones are for them!

Have a great weekend, hopefully you will get some time to create!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Gift Bags


Here is a quick little way to fancy up your next gift bag.  The first one is a bag that I am not sure where it came from, I have had them so long.  I ran it through the BigShot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and used the Got Treats stamp set.  The second one is the Crazy for Cupcakes set, colored it with my markers and added a little Dazzling Diamonds for the frosting.  They were quick and easy and will be just right for the next birthday gift

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Greeting Card Kids

I made it into my workshop...finally.  I left the housework until later and stole some time to play.  I got caught up on a few cards that I owe my stamp clubs girls who missed a month.  So here is a sweet little card that we did for club last week, she is from the Greeting Card kids set - I love the vintage look of these stamps and for those who know me, pink and green are my fave and with a little early espresso - well that's just about enough to put a girl over the edge!  LOL!

Supplies:  Blushing Bride cardstock and ink/marker
Pear Pizzazz cardstock and ink/marker
Early Espresso carstock and ink/marker/blender pen
Stamp sets: Greeting Card Kids and Fabulous Phrases
Pear Pizzazz Poly Twill Ribbon
Sticky Strip and Asst Punches

Enjoy

Got Treats?


Here is the first of my Got Treats? cards - I am going to love this set just because it will have so many uses and co-ordinate so well with my mini milk carton die.  Stampin' Up is so smart!!  I am in the process of making a matching set of milk cartons to go with this card, but then realized I had lent out my die, so I will be back with that post later on.  Any of the supplies listed below can be purchased on my website at http://www.sheilabatty.stampinup.net/

Supplies:  Concord Crush cardstock and ink/marker
Pumpkin Pie cardstock and ink/marker and taffeta ribbon
Got Treats? stamp set clear mount
Embossing folders: SU Perfect polka dots and one non SU
In Color DSP (Concord Crush - this pack of paper is amazing, tons of paper and patterns)


Thanks for taking a peek!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Kinda Crazy....

I'm sorry I have been a little slow with the postings this last week.  My home and my family have needed me and I just haven't been able to find anytime to get in my room and create.  I have a card on the go right now and will hopefully get it finished tonite after everyone is in bed and should have it posted by tomorrow.  I've just picked kids up at school, traded the younger ones for the older ones and am off again to take them to their skating lessons, then back to pick up the younger, home for dinner, homework, baths....and on and on the list goes - I know you can relate.  I am feeling pressure (self inflicted) to get something posted everyday on my blog, but then as I look as my favorite blogs I like to visit, I notice they are the same way.  Everyone is just busy and it makes me feel better,  Why, as women, do we tend to have the "superwoman" syndrome?

Anyways, I will be back with the Got Treats? card shortly
Thanks for checking in...

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Some Fall Fun

This card was inspired by/case'd from one I saw on Splitcoast by Sue Bayliss.  She had originally done it as a baby dresser card, but I (meaning my sister and I) thought it would be cute with the Make a Monster stamp set from Stampin' Up with the monsters jumping out of the drawers!  The little tag around the monster's neck is "Boo" from Tiny Tags set.  What a fun idea - thanks to Sue Bayliss for the inspiration.

And now absolutely adorable is this!!  This was a demo that was done at a recent Stampin' Up Regional event. I believe it's Sharon Cheng who did it - thank you Sharon! I have been to one of these events and they are so much fun!!  Just picture a few hundred demonstrators going crazy with all the excitement that Stampin' Up creates.  Can you guess what it's made from?  A coffee filter, plus ink and stamps of course.  Wouldn't they look great on your Thanksgiving table - you could change the greeting and make them for place settings or add a face and you have a jack-o-lantern.  I didn't have the same leaf die that she used by substituted one that I thought looked like a vine.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Stamp Club Thank You

Here are the little welcome gifts I have been working on for my new stamp club starting up tomorrow.  I absolutely love the little milk carton die from Stampin' Up. They are just the perfect, cute little something when you need a thank you or birthday.  I will be making good use of these for Halloween and Valentines for the kids school.  I got the tutorial from Inking Idaho - remember I said how much I love her creations- thank you Becky Roberts for such great tutorials.  I made these ones from the Celebration papers and the polka dot embossing folder.  Now I just have to get the rest of the projects prepped for tomorrow night.  Hope they like them!

I'm heading out for a walk to get the last little bit of sunshine before summer is really over.

Monday, September 13, 2010

The best thing ever.....

.....is when your child looks into your eyes and says "i love you"  with this gigantic smile.  I just had to share this picture.  I have saved it as my wallpaper on my computer and everytime I look at it, I am reminded that it's all worth it - every sleepless night, every crying spell...every catnap - she is so worth it!

I'll be back tomorrow with a little project I am making for my second stamp club that is starting up this week.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

My First Love


I have finally done a scrap page for my album.  I haven't done one in a very long time, I think I've only done 3 in the last year.  The urge hit me last night, so I grabbed my PageMaps book and chose a layout and here's what I came up with - very bright, but loved doing it.  I started scrappin' about 10 years ago and had to scrap just about every picture, then I went to scrappin' only the really great "moments", then I got into cards with a friend who was a Stampin' Up demonstrator at the time, got hooked on that, 4 years later became a demonstrator myself.   With little kids time seemed to get away from me and cards are so much faster than a page layout, that all I seemed to do was cards.  I really do miss scrapbooking and as I finished up the page today, my oldest two children were with me in my craft room looking at my last three albums.  They loved recalling the moments in the pictures and I enjoyed reliving those moments with them - that's what it's all about, the very reason I started scrapbooking in the first place.  So without putting a whole bunch of pressure on myself to get caught up on all those pictures on my computer and in boxes, I will start again and continue to share those memories because memories are those moments that make us who we are.

Happy Sunday

Friday, September 10, 2010

Friends 24-7



Today's creation is another "distressed" looking card.  The stamp set is Friends 24-7, a set that has gathered some dust lately.  The colors are Basic Black, River Rock(so glad Stampin' Up brought this one back) and Cajun Craze.  I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder with my BigShot.  It's really hard to tell in this picture, but once I was done the card, it just needed something else.  I used the new Smooch Spritz and the new half back pearls and it gave it the WOW that it needed.  The smooch spritz is a spritzer bottle that comes in different colors - the one I used here is just a shimmer.   It looks beautiful on your papers and really softens and blings at the same time.  The pearls come in a few different sizes in one package - you can get rhinestones now too.  You can order any Stampin' Up product from my website at http://www.sheilabatty.stampinup.net/.

We are off to the Fall Fair later this afternoon, hope the rain holds off!  Have a great weekend!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Seeing Spots

This morning as I took the kids to school, you could really feel that little bit of fall coming in the the air.  A little bit of fog over the lake, the sun shining against the trees, school buses, kids with backpacks - it all says that the season is about to change.  So it inspired me to use some fall colors today and  stamp set that was a "must have" and have had a hard time using it.  So here is the Circle Circus set with Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Early Espresso.  Not too fussy, more of a clean and simple look and only took 10 minutes.

Thanks for having a look - see you tomorrow!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Decor Elements

Well, we made it - back to school!!  It was wonderful this morning to have my cup of tea in absolute silence!!  It was also wonderful to have my children home for the summer, we spent lots of time together, not really doing alot but always together.  I felt a pang of "mother's guilt" when I thought I should have done more with them, but I also think it was an important lesson to learn - that we don't always need to be going somewhere or doing something, learning to play with your sibling and using your own imagination and just spending quiet time at home.  Now we are ready to jump back into the crazy schedule of fall.

Anyways, here is a quick little home decor item I whipped together this afternoon. It is made with a dollar store frame, the new Holly Jolly DSP from Stampin' Up and a Decor Element, add a little ribbon and a couple of bells and PRESTO - you have a great seasonal decor item or gift.   My sister inspired it as she made a really cute one first (check out her blog at http://www.sweetsevenstamps.blogspot.com/).  We are always taking pictures of what we make and emailing them back and forth - she seems to have alot more creativity than I do these days, so she inspires me with an idea and then I make my version of it. 

I'm off to finish setting up for my stamp club tonite - have a wonderful day

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Masculine Antique

My dad asked if I could make a card for a birthday that he is going to - he asked if I could make it old and antique looking.  So this is what I came up with - lots of distressing techniques and "man" colors!  The colors I used are the new Early Espresso(my totally all time fave!), Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  Masculine cards don't come easy for me - I think part of it is that when you give a card to a woman (especially another cardmaker) I always love the reaction.  Women usually love handmade cards - men- maybe not so much.  I'm not sure if they don't notice or they just can't relate to the "passion" that went into making it LOL!  Anyways, hope this works Dad!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Holiday Mini Swaps


Have you got your Holiday Mini in the mail yet?  I know it feels early to be thinking about Christmas, but it will be here before you know it and wouldn't it feel good to have all your cards done and ready to go early this year.  Every year I say I am going to have them out by December 1 - think I've only managed to do that once!  Here are some cards that I got from a swap that a few local demonstrators.  As a demonstrator, we get the privilege of ordering items prior to anyone else.  So we ordered our Christmas goodies,swapped some cards and shared ideas.  It's always so much fun to get together and play!  I'm sure I will be using a few of these ideas in my upcoming clubs and classes.

Enjoy your day, I'm off to finish my "to do"list from yesterday, the never ending list!!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Pawsitively Prints Purse

Here is an adorable little purse that I made from a template that I purchased from Inking Idaho.  She is an amazing demonstrator and I love her creations.  This one is made from the Pawsitively Prints DSP and will hold 3x3 cards and envelopes - the perfect little gift. When I first got this paper, it took me back to my childhood, it's very summery. The particular pattern I used here reminds me of my one of my favorite aunts!  Funny how our memories are triggered - she must have had something like this in her home.  The stamp set is Greeting Card Kids, which actually reminds me of her too.  I must send this card off to her and let her know.

My goal today is to get into my stampin' space and clean it up and prep for my club.  For those who visit my space, they know it's still under construction - I must paint those stairs this weekend!  I really hope to get it done before my next club on Tuesday night.

Have a fabulous day!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Materials for the Big Shot


For the last little bit, I have been playing with all kinds of materials that you can cut with your BigShot.  The first one is a tin can - how earth friendly to re-use your pop tins!  I cut it with the Build a Flower die and embossed it with the Polka Dot Embossing folder.  I will be making this funky embellishment with my club girls this month.  The second one is the wood sheets from Stampin' Up.  They are very thin sheets of wood.  I cut the card front piece with my regular paper cutter then embossed it as well with the new Elegant Lines embossing folder - who knew you could emboss wood!  It turned out really great, now I just have to make the rest of the card to go with it.  I also used the Hearts and Brackets die and then stamped with Classic ink right onto the wood.  Something fun and different for your cards or scrappin' projects.  There are 50 different kinds of materials you can cut with the BigShot so your creative possibilites are endless.

Thanks for stopping by, now lets see what you can use around the house to make the perfect embellishment for your next card or scrap page

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Aviary


Just had to post one more - trying to get the hang of this - LOL!

7 days to go


Well, here I am in blog land (if that's even a word!).  I have always been intimidated by it, not enough time, but now have decided to give it a try - because after all, I couldn't let my "little sister" have one and not me -LOL!  I hope that you will enjoy seeing the creations and maybe find a little inspiration.

  Does it make me a bad mom if I am getting really excited that the kids are going back to school in 7 days!!  I have loved every minute of our summer together, but am craving the routine again.  Not looking forward to lunches and getting up early, but having only one child need me during the day will feel alot easier!

So this is the back to school card I have planned for my September club.  I must say it is not my own design, but one I found on the internet somewhere by a very talented stamper (I'm sorry, I don't know who it was).  I just love this cute little guy and thought it perfect for kids lunches the first day back or a new teacher.

Check back tomorrow for some ideas with your Big Shot