More Regina Brett

Yes, I'm still here!  Just got a little caught up with the old car blowing up and buying the new one!   Anyway, I will post next weeks projects very soon.

Meantime, here's a couple more of Regina Bretts pearls of wisdom:

1. Your job won't take care of you when you're sick.  Your friends and parents will.  Stay in touch.
2. Pay off your credit cards every month.
3. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

Interestingly, how many of us overlook our relationships when things are busy at work?   I feel very stongly about having a good work/life balance.   No one will remember the long hours you put in at work except for those that really miss you while you're gone - that's right, friends & family.  

Don't overdo it!  And have a great day.

Karen

Cards, Cards, & more Cards

When I opened the front door this morning, the postie had been early and there was another envelope of cards!  And as promised, I was to report the cards received on Tuesday this week.  So a big thank you goes out to Genevra Higgs in Swanbourne, WA, Kay Koufalakis in Rostrevor, SA and Margaret Crawford in Mt Colah, NSW.  I should point out that this is Margaret's second batch AND it had a lovely big bag of Christmas cards in as well!   Ladies, your generosity is amazing, and greatly appreciated.  I'm getting quite excited about delivering all these to the department of defence and can't wait to see their faces!

I've also made some myself (not telling you how many, because I'm not finished yet!), and my Mum is still working on hers.  I think we're getting very close to our target!

Have a super day!
Karen

New Blog

Stampin' Up! have added a blog page to our individual demonstrator business web sites.  This means that you can read my blog information here and there!   This should eliminate the need to check each site out, and allow you to look at it all on one.  Of course, this blogspot will still be here, but it gives you additional viewing options.

Happy Stamping
Karen

Other than stamping...

I received an email today from a good friend which included a column written by author and columnist Regina Brett.    I love her "life lessons" so I thought I'd share some of them occasionally.
Here's the first few:
1.  Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2.  When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Quite thought provoking, don't you think?   I'm sticking the list on the wall of my studio where I can reflect on it daily.  Saves me a fortune on therapy!!!!   And a few holes in walls.....joking, I don't really punch the walls, just my paper.....hahaha!

Enjoy the rest of your day, wherever you are, whatever you're doing.

Karen

Quick Cards

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I have access to a pre-order system for the upcoming mini catalogue (you can too, if you become a demo - and there's lots of other benefits too!).  So, I ordered some of the new thingys - among them, the Textured Impressions Manhattan Flower & Perfect Polka Dots.  Both of which are EXCLUSIVE to Stampin' Up!   Here's what I did with them:

The Manhattan Flower card also uses Heard from the Heart stamp set in the autumn-winter mini catalogue.  Isn't that a gorgeous greeting? I love the size because it fits perfectly across the card.    There are 4 stamps in the set - you'll have to wait to see more, so check back often!!  The Manhattan Flower is embossed onto Bravo Burgundy cardstock using the Big Shot.  I've trimmed it to fit the card, which is Very Vanilla, and I've added some Taffeta ribbon in Kraft.   Super easy and totally gorgeous.  I'm thinking that these would make lovely Mother's Day cards for the troops.
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Next, is the Happiness Always card using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder.   It's sized perfectly to use on a card front.  In keeping with the "quick" theme, I used some ribbon - the Striped Grosgrain in Tangerine Tango, and "false" bow is in the So Saffron from a recent promotion.  The flowers & border are from the Simply Scrappin' Kit called Petal Party (gggggggorgeous).   And the greeting is from the Sale-a-bration set Whimsical Words.   Don't forget to use a liner inside cards that are very dark.  Not everyone has a white gel pen you know!!

Having fun here.......

MOJO129

Here's this weeks Mojo Monday card.  Oh goodness, I fiddled around for ages, and this is all I came up with!   So, it's off for some retail therapy because clearly, I've been sitting at the desk too long.

I was trying to use different colours, and break away from my flower stamps, but maybe I shouldn't have tried two new things at the same time!!    That pathetic little snail trail on the dragon fly body is Crystal Effects!  My attempt at making the disaster POP....hahaha.    That's also why I added the lady bug in Real Red.  It wasn't in the original colour scheme but it looked so drab that I felt I had to something drastic - and heck, it couldn't get any worse.....LOL

Oh well, it's the weekend, so not to worry.  Can't be perfect all the time.....enjoy your day!
Karen

Easter Class March 19 & 23

Thought I'd do a little version of the basket in my previous post for the upcoming classes.  We'll also make an Easter card to match so it'll be a nice little package.  Here's a pic of the basket.....so cute!   Friday class gets full so book early.

The rabbit is not my creation, but one I saw somewhere that I've adapted to suit this project.   You will also learn how to add texture to your projects using the BIG SHOT - woo hoo!  And I'll show you some other ways to use your punches to make fun embellishments.  Once you start, you'll not know when to stop.    I have a ton of punch art animals, flowers, and other objects that I've collected over the years.  And there's always room for more!

Happy Friday!
Karen

Gift Basket

Packaging for gifts is quite important to me - and I particularly like things that can be reused (as you probably know).   I wanted a basket or bag to put some nice smelly stuff in for a friend.   I modeled this on one I've made previously for easter eggs.  It uses a piece of 12"x12" that I've trimmed to be exactly 30cm square.    But you can use any sized square as long as it is divisable by 3.

The paper is Parisian Breeze - not sure how I'll survive when I've used it all up!   And I've also used wide grosgrain ribbon in chocolate chip and a couple of Jumbo eyelets.   I'm hoping that it's the kind of basket you'd be happy to have sitting on your bedside table or dresser with the smelly stuff making the room smell nice!

Envelopes

If you're like me, you make cards that fit into standard sized envelopes.   But sometimes you want a different look, and often that means either doing without an envelope or making your own.
That's what happened when I did my last Mojo.  I really like the larger square card (6", or 17cm) - you can see it in my last post.  But of course, I had to make an envelope.

I started with a piece of A4 cardstock in Very Vanilla.   I put it on my Scor-Pal http://www.scor-pal.com/
and  placed my Mojo card over the top allowing enough space all round to fold the Very Vanilla to make the envelope.   A4 is not quite big enough for a large square card, but that didn't matter because I wanted to use some of the same designer paper that I'd put on the card.   The Scor-Pal makes it really easy to get the size of the envelope right because you can measure everything in one go.

I may have overdecorated the front - I used Parisian Breeze Designer Series Paper, and also the Stamp Set Bella's Bloom.



The back of the envelope has the large piece of Parisian Breeze stuck over the Very Vanilla flap to make it large enough to take the card.    I've used a velcro fastener to hold it closed.   This also makes the envelope more easily recyclable.  I hate to think of packaging - well, handmade anyway - being used once and thrown away!

 Have a super day!

MOJO127

Here's my Mojo Monday from last week.  I'm a bit late so I've actually missed the cut off but thought I'd put it up here anyway.   I apologise for the image quality.  I left the flash off to keep the colours true but didn't quite get the focus.

I made the card using 12"x12" Very Vanilla cut to 6"X12" which makes a lovely large square card - it means you have to make the envelope too, but that'll keep me busy later on!
The colours are Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze & Close to Cocoa.   The Designer Series Paper is Parisian Breeze (retired, so you'll have to beg, borrow or steal!!).   Stamp Sets are Petal Pizzazz & Life Definitions.  I've used Stipple Kissing technique on the flower - basically, you ink up your stamp with the lighter colour, then use a stipple brush dipped in the ink of the darker colour & "stipple" over the stamp.   I do classes with this technique if you like it.

Happy Stampin'.
Karen