Stamping Out Alzheimers

You may have noticed the box on the left that says Stamping Out Alzheimers--well some girls started a blog about people in their life that have this terrible dementia and are getting donations to give to the cause. It's a great place to share your story and read about others--AND they have WONDERFUL give-a-ways everyday! There is only one day left to donate, if you are interested...Thank you , ladies for helping this cause!
I joined the group because we have it in our family (a form of Alzheimers called Lewy Body dementia-same except with hallucinations and extreme paranoia). My mom is in the later stages, but is physically healthy and living at home with my dad taking care of her. (Bless his BIG heart) My 2 uncles are in special living facilities, and my grandma died of it, also.
Have you seen the documentories on HBO that Maria Shriver has put together on Alzheimers? If not, you may want to watch them, since it will soon be an epidemic with so many Baby Boomers....

This is a picture of me and my mom when I visited over Easter (they are 500 miles away). We made little Easter baskets with the stamped York peppermint patties to give out to her friends at church. Actually, I made them and told her she helped! Sadly, when we gave them out, she had no idea that we even made them. And I am now her best friend because her daughter is about 10 years old and she doesn't know where she is (me). And we can't get her to ever take off the sunglasses! Gotta love her!

Dad's birthday card

Well, I better get this in the mail! My dad's b'day is Monday-yikes! And I know he won't see it here, first...he doesn't get the bloggin stuff! They are up in Chicago and I'm having my daughter take them out for dinner on Sunday--I figured he'd rather have a nice dinner with his granddaughter than a new shirt....
This is a great set in the mini for "guy" cards--also made my Father's Day cards with it. I snipped the end of the designer paper to look like grass and watercolored the picture with aquapainter and ink.

Thanks for looking! I was number 8 in most popular blogs in Kansas City, today! Woo Hoo!

Initial notecards

These are High School graduation gifts for my niece, Jane and friend's daughter Amy. They are regular size (and perfect for writing to their moms when they are away at college!) I used the new Jumbled Alphabet (on sale now-20% off til end of May) and the Flamingo designer paper. Also, their initials are stamped on the envies. Put them in a plastic box, and tie it up with a ribbon and it's a great gift for anyone! (I'll probably include a check, also-but it won't have to be so much--I made sure my husband knew how much I was saving!!!) The white cardstock is the "open-up" part and is layered on a single sheet of colored cs.

Do you know anyone that could use a set of handmade notecards? Go make some! And save some $$$$!

Incorporating designer paper....

Even tho this paper is retired now, this card shows how you can match up the paper with the Stampin' Up stamp sets to make a great card, with little effort. All of the SU designer paper is designed to coordinate with the stamp sets. Just use the paper in the background, and stamp an embellishment to match! (and, of course, the Crystal Effects on the cherries are a perfect addition!) Great for making several of the same card for gifts, too! The sale of buy 3-get 1 free of the packs of DP has just a few more days left! You can click on the SU catalogue on the left and place an order anytime....

Happy Memorial Day! We had friends over for a cookout yesterday--all set up outside-then it started to rain, so we brought everything in :-( AND then found out the air conditioning is not working! (just what we needed-another big expense!) Then we played games-did you know Jesse James fought for the South in the Civil War?
Well, I'm off to stamp--need to make some graduation and Father's Day cards! Thanks for stopping by!

Handmade Purse

I took a class on how to make a "free form art" purse with Peggy (www.thewiredangel.blogspot.com) and it is SO fun! She taught me how to crochet, and we made knitted and crocheted pieces, then sewed them onto a grid purse form. It was so relaxing and fun to sit and chat, drink and snack while worked on our creations! Everyone's turned out differently--and are beautiful! I went to another class yesterday because I've started a second one and wanted to learn a few more techniques with crocheting. Thanks, Peggy, for such an inspirational class! These are the front and back pics of my finished purse....(I even incorporated a Stampin' Up rhinestone brad and build-a-brad in my purse!)

Drawing by Jeri

I drew this from a big pot of flowers I have on my front porch (with a black sharpie fine point pen)-then colored it with Prisma pencils and gamsol. The saying is using SU's new scallop punch and matching stamp set from the mini (Oval All). Sadly, I don't have a "green thumb" and I can't even tell you what flower this is! I'm just focused on trying to keep them alive! Everyday I check to see if they are still vibrant and not dead and brown...watering helps-duh-but I forget alot since I don't have many REAL plants around! Gotta love those hearty Hostas!
Thanks for stopping by!

File Folder Album-class

What a perfect way to showcase pictures of a special event-b'day, showers, graduation, trip, wedding, anniversary, family reunion! Tina is having a class on how to make these albums and they make a GREAT gift! The class is even in time for Father's Day!

The class is Sunday June 7th at my house at 1:30. $15 includes everything you will need and most will be pre-cut for you! She will have several kinds of designer paper so that you can match your occasion.--just bring a glue stick! The size of this album is 1/2 the size of a file folder. If you are interested, there are a few spots left and just let me know by June 1st @ rjrholm@aol.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Iris Folding-upcoming class

Aren't these beautiful? This is called "iris folding" and Sheri is teaching a class at my house on Tuesday, May 26th at 6:30--we will be making these techniques (patterns)--and they use the SU punches! If you are interested in the class, please email me at rjrholm@aol.com for more information. (there are only 4-5 spots left in the class-so let me know asap) It's a GREAT way to use your designer paper scraps!

Ruby slippers

Sorry about the glare! This is from the SU set "Humor in High Heels"-- The ruby slippers are embellished with chunky glitter. The background is embossed on the Cuttlebug and I added glitter oversome of the swirls. It kind of reminds me of "Wicked" (I LOVED that book and my daughter took me to see the show last year for Mother's day!)

"Onesie" Gift bag

Isn't this a cute way to give a baby or shower gift? All you do is "squeeze" open the inside gusset at the top, snip down a couple of inches, bring the arms out and glue together. I used the scallop punch on the outside of the sleeves. You can also punch a neck hole at the top. The letters are chipboard sponged with Craft ink and embossed with irridescent ice embossing powder. Make a matching card, and you are sure to be a hit at a baby shower! Thanks for looking!

Digi stamp?

No, not yet...but this is something I drew from the beautiful tulips that my daughter sent me for Mother's Day. I'm thinking about drawing digi stamps--what do you think? I also went outside and drew an iris and fake frog in my front yard to color. (Will be posting those next) Any comments on if I should pursue some drawing (cartoony and realistic)??? I used to draw all of the time and it was SO FUN to do it again!! Altho, I'm NEVER gonna give up regular stamping!!!
This is colored with Prisma pencils and gamasol--they won't bleed if you print an image from the computer to color.
p.s. I'm going to send this as a thank you card to my daughter for the flowers!

Cards for this weekend's make & take

Here are the cards we are making this weekend--The last one is a black and white photo that we will color with pastel markers--it makes a nice notecard! As does the one with the "j" on it--you will be putting the initial of your choice. The sock monkey is a b'day card and has crystal effects on the hat. And don't we all need a wedding card on hand this time of year?

Let me know asap if you are coming and how many sets you want to make! I am cutting tomorrow (Thurs)... Thanks for looking!

Stamping on Designer paper

I received this card as a swap from coonvention or Regionals--One of the main things I got from it (besides the neat way it slides up) is the way the image of the lighthouse was stamped in black on designer paper! No need to color it in... I would feel like I NEEDED to color it or something! I think it turned out great - especially for a "man card"!

Altered Clipboard

Have you noticed that the past several posts have used Designer paper? I used to think it was only for scrapbooking---I love Designer paper! Especially the quality and double-sidedness (is that a word?) Anyway, covering a clipboard is a fun way to use it and it makes a great gift OR is fun to use yourself and get compliments on!. This is actually a chipboard clipboard from SU-I've also bought the regular size ones from Walmart for $1. What you need to remember is to use Modge Podge as a sealant and glue.
Here, I've embellished it with flowers from the Pretties Kit and colored them with ink using a dauber.
What a great teacher's gift this would make, don't you think?

Embossing Folder storage

It was SO NICE out today! I'd say it was the first great day of the year, weatherwise...Went window shopping with a friend and then to Johnny's tavern for wine and a hamburger-outside!

What is this thing? A great way to use your designer paper (which is on special this month from Stampin' Up--buy 4 packs get one free!) for one thing! Actually, I got this at our local Thrift Shop--I think it was used for floppy discs or something! It is the PERFECT size for storing embossing folders and dies! It even came with the dividers and cost me a buck! Go in one sometime and think "outside of the box"--they have some great, cheap things....

I'm ALMOST hoping for rain so that I can go stamp and not feel bad--I want to design the cards for our upcoming make & take. I did say almost--I'm going to stamp anyway!

Altoid tin purse

What a great gift for a teacher, friends or mom! This designer paper covered Altoid tin is perfect for them to keep in their purse-- Just trace around the ends for the correct size, and be sure to cover the sides with matching ribbon. This is embellished with a button. You want to be sure you have everything adhered with sticky strip and then Modge Podge so that it will stay pretty after getting banged around in a purse! This was a gift from my downline, Dina.

Big Shot Dies

Yay! It worked! I'm STILL never sure exactly what I'm doing and am amazed when the picture actually comes up! This card was designed by Sherrie at our get together last weekend http://www.girlsjustwantostamp!.blogspot.com/ and uses several of the Stampin Up dies Top Note, Sweetest Stem and Daisy Flower #2. The center of the flower is one of the new cordoroy brads. You can't see from the picture, but the edges of the flower are sponged-giving it a real 3-d look.
I immediately went home and ordered the Daisy die after making this! And I don't know where all of this money is coming from to keep ordering everything I like! Do you have that problem, too?

Problem! It's not letting me post a picture! And I have a great card to show you! I will try again soon--

Girl time

I just had a great evening having girl time! (of course, my hubby wasn't so thrilled--but hey he's playing golf tomorrow with the guys!) Wine, talks about aging parents, shopping for clothes, wine--and wine!
OK! On to stamping stuff!

Branch Out

Where did this weekend go? It was a busy one! We had our last Punch Bunch until September (then we'll make some holiday punch art). I will start posting some of the things we punched soon. And went to my final "purse" class where we learned how to make the NEATEST free form knitted/crocheted purse! I'll show it to you when I finish it...

The card was designed by friend and downline, Sally. I love the colors in the tree! AND it has glitter, too (hard to see it in the pic). This set, "Branch Out" was on my maybe list and now I think I'll have to get it! The background of the So Saffron layer is cuttlebugged with Swiss Dot.

Matchbox

This is another swap that we made..DeAnn brought the things for this adorable matchbox !(www.desadie6.blogspot.com ) She even brought a bunch of buttons and things that we could play with to embellish it. I was SO glad to have a chance to put the box together, since I'd just ordered one--so now when I die cut it out, there will be no figuring it out on my part! And the BEST thing is, it's SO EASY to do! I can't wait to make some more! The Die is found in the Occasions Mini....