Egg Nesties

Okay I had an inspiration. You remember when you colored eggs as a kid and the Paas dye kit had paper stands that you looped together and then placed the colored egg on it? I made these stands with cardstock. The plastic eggs are the jumbo ones. I got a big bag of them for 1.40 at Big Lots. So lets see....I used one for the egg wagon on Sunday's post, two for this post....I only have 21 more to figure out what to do with. LOL

The eggs worked out good as for some reason there is two holes at the top of each egg. Perfect size to run the ribbon through so I could tie a bow at the top. Stamps are from the same set I used yesterday Bunnies and Chicks by See-D's. The cardstock eggs were stamped on Almost Amethyst, then embossed with Pearl Luster gold embossing powder. Maybe I'll just make more of these and take them to work to give to co-workers. Either that or I'll have to pack them up for next year. All this Easter stuff brings back memories of the kids when they were younger. One year I made bunny footprints from paper and put them on the floor from my daughters door. She had to follow them to find her basket. She was three when I did that. John hadn't been born then. Sarah got a real thrill from following those prints.

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People at worked were shocked to see my hair. Most of the comments were good. It's a big change for me. I even got some whistles!!! LOL

Sarah did my hair today and took this pic. I like it!!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 205

Missing Pieces

I saw this card about two years ago at a card shop. I've been looking ever since for stamps so I could make one. Finally found a bunny stamp at Pat Catan's from See-D's, called Bunnys and Chicks. I had to stamp one of the bunnys on acetate with Jet Black StazOn, and then stamped it again on Close to Cocoa. I turned the stamped image on the Close to Cocoa cardstock so the image was face down, then turned the acetate stamped piece over and taped it on top of the cardstock one. The ribbon hides the mini dots I used to adhere the two pieces. I had to do it this way so I was able to get a pretty good reservse image that I needed for the bunnies to be facing each other. The bunny on the left was stamped and embossed with black embossing powder. He was the easy one to do. I cut out his bottom and the girl bunny ears. Designer paper is by Basic Grey. Base card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 So Saffron. Words were done on the PC then I cut them out in the shape of word bubbles.

Hope you enjoy the card. I'm off to work.....I'm a little scared to go. I know I'll be getting lots of comments on the new hair.

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

New Hair

This was taken just a few minutes ago. It's me and my cat Burbank.

the other one was taken yesterday after we got back from the salon.

So what do you think?

Stamping trails

Karen 205 and blonde.

All Aboard! The Egg Wagon

Remember me talking about Matchbox cars yesterday? Well this still isn't a car, but it's a very cute little wagon made from the Matchbox die. I just cut the base with Certainly Celery added 4 button wheels, and made a wagon handle using a piece of chipboard. I free handed the handle then cut it out. Used direct to paper method to color the handle with black ink. One end of the handle was folded up so I could attach it to the wagon using a glue dot. The egg is one of those plastic fill eggs. I raided my scraps to decorate it. I have a ton of pre-made bows from Home Sew, so I used one of them for the top of the egg. The pink ruffle ribbon I found at Hobby Lobby on sale for 50% off. So I got 25 yards of it for 1.50 I also need to tell you that I got that ribbon in 3 colors, pink, green and purple. Cardstock for label White, and Lavender Lace. Large oval punch was used along with the new oval scallop punch from SU that will be in the new Occasions mini catty. Little bunny on the label was stamped with Going Gray ink. That little bunny is also in the new Occasions mini name of set Forest Friends.

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

Matchbox

Funny when I hear the word matchbox I think of cars. That's what happens when you have an older brother or a son. Well these matchbox's are not cars. They are cute little boxes filled with Easter candy. The Matchbox die is new in the SU line and will be in the new Occasions mini catty that will start in April. Just around the corner! YAY finally will be out of March and on to warmer weather.

The cute little bunny on the box is also in the Occasions mini called Forest Friends. It's just a darling little set. The tags on the front of this matchbox are also part of the matchbox die. There are three different labels and different sizes. For the base of the box I used Elegant Eggplant. For the top I used a clear acetate sheet. Bottom of the box only takes two pieces of mono adhesive to hold it together. For the clear top I used three mini glue dots. Since I designed these for my neices I wanted them to be able to open them up with no trouble so once the grass and candy was added I glued a piece of ribbon to the bottom of the box, wrapped it around and tied it in the front of the box. When the top is on the box it can be opened by pulling the ribbon in front. Other things used, flower punch, small button, white gel pen, stamp-n-ma-jig.

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Getting my hair cut and dyed today. Make sure you check back tomorrow for a pic! I'm a bit scared but I'm hoping it will look good.

Stamping trails

Karen 205

"Z"

Not talking about getting ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ's. I'm talking about the Z fold card. This was so fun to make. Can't wait to make another one!!!!! Takes a little bit of time but it's worth it. I used a bunch of my "toys" on this card. Martha Stewart doily punch. Although I don't really care for Martha I comfort myself by saying the punch was really made my EK Success. Believe me....it really helps!!!! Label 1 by Spell Binders, Serene Spring stamp set by SU. Perfect Plum, Close to Cocoa, Going Gray, More Mustard, So Saffron, and Old Olive ink, aqua painter. On the scallop border I used SU Pale Plum marker the brush end and went through every single hole. Then I sponged the edges with more Pale Plum ink.

Well I made it through the work week

I don't know how. I've been sick all week. This cold is really hanging on. Still coughing and congested. I'm really looking forward to some warmer weather. I think it will really help.

Not planning on doing much this weekend. I want to stamp some more, and maybe pick up the house a bit. Since I've been sick the house has not been touched. It was all I could do to keep up with the dishes.

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

Bubbles!

How fun is this stamp?! Just love the Little Changito Singles by Stampendous! I found them at Archivers. So fun, and soooooooo CUTE!!!!!

I used Prisma pencils and Gamsol to add color to the monkeys. Crystal Effects on the bubbles to make them shine, and look transparent. Just happy that I got to use so many things on this card. Large Nesties for the circles, Basic Gray designer paper. Cuttlebug circle folder, scallop punch, and of course ribbon!!!!

This is just a very happy card! Hope you enjoy it.

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

Belli Challenge #60 Bookmark "Flight"

The Belli challenge for today is bookmarks. I've been seeing these bookmarks around, but never got around to making one. Wish I would have sooner! So much fun! I selected Styled Silver Hodgepodge hardware from SU. The brown and pink ribbon was pretty wide so I had to bring out the Crop-a-dile to make one of the holes bigger on the hardware so the ribbon could go through. I punched a hole in the ribbon on the back and folded up the brad ends into the layer of ribbon. That way the ends of the brad would be concealed. Once that was done I use Crystal Effects to glue the ribbon in down and along the raw edge so it would unravel. Stamp is an Inchie set from Ink-a-dink-a-do. Butterfly charm I found a pack of them at Pat Catan's for .50 cents! I was happy about that! I used a small clip on the other end of the brown ribbon. That was an after thought. At first I was just going to tie a knot, but when I got to thinking about it I thought the clip would be great as now I can clip the bookmark to the page in a book. Pretty smart of me!

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That's all for now readers. Got to get busy stamping more stuff so I can share with you!!!!

Stamping trails

Karen 205

Punch Bunny Card

Now how cute is this card? I just love it! I'm thinking about using this one for my Easter Card this year. Very simple to make


Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Blush Blossom, Going Gray, Confetti White
Ink: Basic Gray, Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum
To make Bunny: 1 3/4 circle punch for bunny bottom
1 3/8 circle punch for bunny head
small oval punch for ears
All bunny pieces punched with Going Grey cardstock.
Flower punch for the tail using Confetti White.
All of the punch pieces except tail were sponged using Basic Gray ink
I bent down one ear just to give the bunny some character. Bunny put together with mono adhesive, tail was popped using pop dot.
Perfect Plum base was stamped with Paisley background stamp using Basic Gray ink. I really wanted the detail of the paisley image to show through so I selected the gray ink instead of using plum ink.

Blush Blossom cardstock was cut with Top Note die then stamped with Canvas background, edges sponged with Perfect Plum. Grass was added using Inspired by Nature stamp set with Artichoke ink.

I really like how the ribbon worked so well with this card. Light and airy. Reminds me of Spring. The little carrot I found in a package at Pat Catan's. I added that to the card using a mini glue dot.

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That's it for today. Be sure to stop back in tomorrow. I'll have a bookmark to share with you for the Belli Challenge #60

Stamping trails
Karen 205

Blue Bird....Of Spring

I found these malted milk ball eggs at the store the other day. Pickup them up as Hubby really likes malted milk balls. After holding the egg up to my color wheel I found they matched Temping Turquoise, and since they reminded me of Robin's eggs I selected the bird as a topper. Big Shot Top Note die was cut from Certainly Celery and folded in half. Branch stamped with Old Olive. Bird was stamped on Confetti White using Temping Turquoise, color was added to the swirls on the bird using aqua painter and Appricot Appeal ink. Two pop dots to perch the bird on the branch. Word stamp is from SU Serene Spring. Word window punch was used with Apricot Appeal cardstock. Topper was sponged with Old Olive to finish it off.

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It was cold yesterday. Went down into the 20's over night and didn't get past 46 during the day. Since Spring officially arrived on the 19th I'm just a little bit impatient for it to get warmer!!!

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

Yummy Basket

So I started feeling better yesterday. Still hacking, and feeling yucky, but it's not as bad. Me and hubby went to the grocery store yesterday afternoon and he thought I was going to pass out in the checkout line. I just got overheated and felt a bit dizzy. Took it easy for the rest of the day. I did get down to the stamp room and I made some stuff... that made me feel almost normal again!

The box was made using

Round Top Box pattern

I got the idea from Julie's blog Super simple to make the box. You have to cut two boxes, and assemble each one. Next you take the large oval punch and punch one hole in the center. Place the boxes back to back and adhere together using Red Line tape. Line up the oval punch again and punch the second box. You need to do it this way as the oval punch is not designed to punch through two layers of cardstock. I selected Tango Tangerine for the box and was really excited to used the new Basic Grey designer paper Marrakech. The paper was cut to fit as a liner on the inside basket part, again line up the oval punch and punch out the liner after gluing it down. On the last oval punch for the other side I couldn't get the punch to go though all the way so I had to use my craft knife. The strip of 2x12 paper didn't go all the way around the box so I cut another small piece to make it fit then added the Chocolate Chip piece with "Yummy" to cover it up.

Not planning on doing much again today, just going to take it easy. I'll have to go back to work on Monday and I'm dreading it. I know I'll have lots of work waiting for me after missing two days. Oh well I can only do so much....Right?

Stamping Trails

Karen 205

SICK!

Just popping in for a quick moment to let you know I've been sick. Hubby was sick last week and he was just ever so sweet to pass it along to me. On Wednesday about the last hour I was at work I noticed that my throat was getting score. By Thursday morning I could barely squeak out a few words. I did go to my weigh in Thursday morning. Lost some weight! YAY! But anyhow my head started hurting and with me not being able to talk I couldn't stay at work and answer phones all day, so I went home sick. Still not able to talk much this morning, and still feeling icky. I haven't gone to the doctor as I don't think it's strip. Had that enough to know what the signs are. I still have cold symptoms, and no fever. I'm going to lay around on the couch all day watching TV like I did yesterday and sleep!

Hope everyone else is feeling there best!!!!

Stamping Trails
Karen 205

Belli Challenge #59 " WHEELS"

I had fun making this card!!! This week's Belli Challenge was to use wheels. I can't even remember the last time I even used a wheel on a card. I got a free pack of designer paper from Archiver's this weekend so I started with a piece of that for this card. It's pink with small leaves. Inked up the Spring Solitude wheel with Brocade Blue and wheeled on the designer paper. Next strip is wheeled on Orchid Opulence, last strip is Certainly Celery. I wheeled the bottom of the base card, then mounted the strips. Stamped the bird, branch and word from matching stamp set Spring Solitude, and added the flower at the bottom and window punch pieces at the top of the card.

I was pretty darn happy with how this came out. I'm in the mood for Spring so these colors really worked for me.

Stamping Trails

Karen 206

Shamrock Day

And a Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!!!

These are cards I received from my friends. Thanks Bunches girls!!!! I'm hanging my head in shame as I haven't made a single card for this holiday. Shame on me and after I got stamps to make them also. Oh well. I'm still going to get them made even though it will be late.

I spent a good deal of time last night making Shepherd's Pie to take to work today. We are having a pot luck with food to celebrate the holiday. Of course I modified the one I made so it's Weight Watcher friendly. It smelled so yummy cooking. Can't wait to have some for lunch later today. Here is the recipe if you'd like to make some. Point value is 5 per serving.

2 large potatoes peeled, cut into pieces

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

1 tbsp light margarine

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp olive oil

1 cup onion chopped

2 carrots diced

2 celery stalks diced

1 lb lean ground turkey

3 tbsp flour

1 tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 black pepper

2 cup chicken broth

heat oven to 400

boil potatoes till fork tender, drain, return to pot mash with sour cream and margarine. I use the old hand potato masher for this. Good way to mash is to return the taters back to the pot and put back on the burner on low for few minutes. This absorbs the extra water in them. Then mash.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery cook till soft. Add the turkey brown till meat cooks. Add flour, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper, stir to coat. Add broth, simmer till mixture thickens.

Transfer turkey mixture to 9 inch deep pie plate. Spread mashed taters on top using back of a spoon. Bake until taters are golden about 30 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

Of course I made a double batch and made two 8 x 8 pans instead of using the pie plate.

Off to work....enjoy your day and wear some GREEN

Stamping Trails

Karen 207

Gift Packet of Cards from Kat

My friend Kat heard I was sad last week from gaining 3 pounds. So she sent me this great 4 pack of cards. Just love them! Really lifted my mood this week, and I really needed it. Hard week at work, and hubby has been sick. So not a nice week for sure.

I did go to weigh in on Thursday. I lost 2 of the pounds I gained back. I was hoping for more but as long as the scale is moving down again. Seems like I'll never get past this last 10 pounds I need to lose to be in the hundreds at last. I'm hopeful with Spring around the corner my mood will lift and it will get easier to be outside to workout. I really struggled this winter with getting on the treadmill. Since it's in the un-heated garage it's been hard to get moving.

The sun is shining today. Still not what I'd call warm even by Ohio standards, but the sun makes you feel a bit warmer anyway. I told hubby that I feel like a caged animal. I was going to get my hair trimmed today and then dye it at home. Gray is showing. YIKES. Instead I made an appointment to have it cut and colored at the salon. Hubby is going to pay for it. That was sweet of him. Seeing how with my mid length hair it will be over 100.00 to have it done at the JC Penny Salon. I don't trust my hair to many people and there is a wonderful woman there named Joyce she has done Sarah's hair several times and it's always perfect. So I'll have to deal with the gray till the 28th of this month. It was the soonest she could fit me in. I'll take pics and put on the blog. I'll tell you now I've decided to go lighter. So it may be a shock! Now back to that caged animal... after I'm finished posting this we are going to the lake and take a walk then off to Archivers. Like Kat says......I need retail therapy.

Stamping trails

Karen 206

Belli Challenge #58

For this weeks challenge Chrissy posted this book cover. We were to get inspired by it to make a card. Took me a while on this one. I have all this glossy black cardstock that I've not used so it was easy to figure out the base card. As for the rest of it I had to think a bit more. When I first saw the book cover I thought of sorrow. Guess it was because the flower was hanging up side down, so I went with making a sympathy card. For my flower I inked it with VersaMark and stamped on a glossy page from a magazine. Next it was embossed with silver embossing powder, heat set, then cut out. Ric-Rac was added and the flower glued down. Also used the new silver hardward from SU. Purchased that last year and had not used it till now. Word is a single stamp by Antia.

Want to see more? You can view the Belli Team members artwork on our new blog! Also check out my side bar for all the Belli Team's sites. You will find some great stuff on there sites.

Stamping trails

Karen

Challenge Card

Me and my gal friends are doing a challenge. We each put in a single stamp and we have to make cards from the stamp. Kat put in this ornament stamp. I've been looking at this un-inked stamp for almost two weeks now thinking to myself the only way to use it would be to stamp it a ton a times and pop each layer. Well......sorry to say I'm a bit lazy and just couldn't bring myself to do that. Knowing that my other friends Lisa and Connie most likely would also be popping up layers. I chose not to. Sorry gals!!!!

I sorta of borrowed Connie's layout that she used for Lisa's Tree stamp. I inked the stamp with VersaMark and stamped it on a glossy page from a magazine. The page had red, silver and yellow on it. Next I embossed the image with silver EP, cut it out and glued it on glossy black cardstock. For the center I used Circle of Friends by SU. The only things that are popped on this card is the ornament top, star, and the small circle in the center of the ornament. Layer of Hunter Green, and base card textured cream finished off the card. I'm happy with it. Lisa I'll be mailing you this stamp this week at Connie's request. LOL She didn't want to tackle it yet.

Stamping Trails

Karen 208

Change

I've been thinking a lot about change the past two days. Ever since the Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday. Our group leader read us a children's story about the crunching, munching caterpillar. Cute story about a caterpillar that saw a bee, bird, and butterfly that all had wings and could fly. The caterpillar wished that he had wings too and could fly, but sadly could not. Soon the caterpillar went into a deep sleep and when he awoke discovered that he could fly, for he had turned into a beautiful butterfly. That story inspired me to make this card.

Quote:

Change is the Essence of Life

Be willing to surrender what you are for

What you could Become.

I've often heard mostly at work that Change is good. Well I don't think I believe that's true 100% of the time. But for me weight loss is a good change. I've been overweight for so long that sometimes I think I try to sabotage myself. The closer I get to being under 200 pounds the more I try not to. Anyway it's just an internal battle that I have with myself. With that said I'm going to follow the above quote and continue toward my goal.

The card was made using the new SU eyelet punch. Pretty simple to punch around a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 piece of cardstock and turn it into a punched eyelet square. Center squares are 1 inch So Saffron stamped with Close to Cocoa ink. I had to ink my pad. I didn't realize it was so dry. Big difference in the color after I stamped the butterflies. I think I'm going to make time this weekend to re-ink all my pads.

Stamping Trails

Karen 208

Just Chillin!

Well Spring is almost here, but before it gets here I had to make this adorable "Just Chillin' Chick" bag. I found this little stamp where else.....Pat Catan. Paid a buck for him. The snowflake ribbon I picked up from Big Lots back before Christmas. The ribbon behind the snowflake ribbon on the handle is Chocolate Chip felt ribbon from SU. Cardstock: Bordering Blue, Confetti White, and Not Quite Navy. Stickles was used on the hat and boot trim.

Seeing how I've been stamping with lots of un-mounted stamps...I was having issues with the acrylic block rocking when I tried to stamp my image. I came up with this technique....Place the stamp you want to use on the block and ink it up. Also put a smaller un-mounted stamp on the other end of the acrylic block to balance it out. Don't ink the smaller stamp. Now when I stamp no more rocking!

That's all for today. Thank goodness it's finally Friday!!! Seems like it's been taking forever to get here. Don't forget that Saturday night you need to set your clocks ahead an hour. I know I'll miss that one hour of sleep but it will be nice to have more daylight. Means Summer is just around the corner!!!! I'm ready for some warmth.

Stamping Trails

Karen 208

When I Grow Up.......

I want to be a wonderful artist like my friend Connie. Just love to receive cards from her. Her cards are always so beautifully done. Nice and clean, with every attention to detail.

She was a bit late getting the Valentine card to me. Didn't help that hubby had lost the envelope that the card was in so it had been on the kitchen table buried in with the newspaper. Glad I finally found the card.

The next card was done for a challenge. My buds and I put in a single stamp each and we have to make each other a card using the stamps that we put in. The tree is just stunning with the ribbon woven in through the branches. Connie said it was a pain to make but I think it was worth it!!!

I had my first bad weigh in. I gained 3 pounds this past week. I tried very hard to stick to the plan but because of my pulled muscle I couldn't work out, and the pills I was on did not help matters. Good news is I'm better and will be able to start working out again tomorrow. Time for some damage control. I need to get back on track. So ladies I really need some encouragement cards this week!

Stamping Trails

Karen 208

Bunny Top Note Bag

Had fun this afternoon making this little bag. Base is from Confetti White with Top Note die, sponged in Going Grey ink. Eyes are small and large oval punch. Eyelids are Going Grey cardstock stamped with a background stamp. Pupils are 1/2 circle punch with Basic Grey cardstock. Nose is Pretty in Pink with three flower punch. Whiskers, mouth are hand drawn with Basic Grey marker. I tried to make the ears using punches also but the oval punches are not long enough. So I ended up free handing them.

And what bunny would be complete without a tail? I used the scallop circle punch to make this tail. Same background stamp was used for the tail and the eyelids.

Small paper flower was added, and white gel pen was used on the eyes and nose.

Okay that is it for today. I want to get some more stamping done so hopefully I can have some more new stuff for the blog this week.