These are the items we will be making for the Oct. 19th Fall Fun Festival Day.  I did not make 6 each of the boxed candy and candy bars for the photos, but you will receive 6 each of them at the class. 

The large accordion pleated circle in the middle is the "lollie" Thanksgiving wall hanging.  It measures 12" diameter.

 

 

What a great and awesome vacation!  Europe was as wonderful as I have always imagined it would be.  I saw some of the most awesome sights in the world! In London it was Buckingham Palace (inside), Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, Westminster Abbey, and Kensington Palace, just to name a few.
I have never seen so much granite, fresco, marble, bronze and gold in my life, and probably never will again.

Paris took us to the Louvre (again bronze and gold), and the Palace of Versailles with it's historical and timeless portraits enhanced in gold frames.

On to Venice for a taste of Italy that I can never forget; gondola rides, water taxis and buses, cobblestone streets (no cars on the island), pasta with the most delicious meat sauces,the Doge's Palace, various museums and churches, and of course gelato. We toured the small island of Burano famous for its hand-made lace. 

The tour of Italy took us on to Florence to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the world famous statue of David by Michaleangelo, and a side trip to a quaint little village of Lucca to see the every day life of the people residing there.

Rome was the most awesome of it all:  The ancient ruins of the city.  The colloseum and Roman Forum, the largest church in the world (The Vatican) and Sestine chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square.  I am not Catholic, but no matter your religion, you have to see in your life-time if possible.  I am awestruck with the beautiful of all of it. 

We walked between 5-10 miles per day on this tour, but no matter I felt, it was worth every minute.

These are only a few of the sights on our trip, but at the moment I'm writing it, it is the best I can do to describe it all, and the biggest highlights of the entire trip.  I thank God that I was able to experience this in my life-time.  I consider it a "gift" from heaven.

What have I been up to? Designing Christmas cards and gift card holders, cutting paper for bulk Christmas cards for the club, designing Fall Festival class, and now my latest, successful, but yet failed project:  The Halloween Banner.  Turned out great, but too expensive to turn into a class...  Here is my latest "mistake".

Simple Christmas Cards for 2013 Stamp & Stack

 

 

Well my blogger friends, it has been a very busy June.  I have been so busy designing new projects with products from the new catalog.  I have even been putting lists together for products needed for the up-coming Fall crafting and Christmas holiday season.  You may not be seeing these products yet, but we demonstrators are already having to deal with all of it.  It seems like it never ends, and I never get a "breather" from it all.  All I can say, is it's a good thing that I LOVE what I do...

Brian has all the painting done for this year, and I think before the summer is over, he will wish he was still painting.  I have "wonderful" plans for him to help me...

I haven't really had a lot of time to think about our trip to Europe, but I guess it's time I had better think about it!  What do I have for clothes, what do I need to pack, and as you know, the list keeps going on.  We did buy a new camera, so hopefully we will come home with some great photos that sooner or later I will need to scrapbook. I'm not a scrapbooker, by the way.  I adore the little mini albums and albums up to 8 x 8 in size, but after that, forget it. I sure hope we bought the right one.  Our friend says we did, so I'm confident that the pictures we take will be good ones. The pictures of the July and September projects that we took were done with our new camera.  I think they are far better than our old ones.  What do you think?

I'm going to post pictures of our July and September club projects now.  There is no August club meeting, and I won't have a lot of time when I get back to do it, so look and enjoy.  There is one thing to note regarding the July club:

THERE IS ONE PROJECT SURPRISE in addition to what I have posted out here, and therefore you will not see the picture.  You will just have to wait for the club meeting to see that one.

Closing (finally), and going to bed!  Sweet dreams everyone.

Denise

 

I have been very busy lately.  Working on the club cookbooks, placing my orders from the new SU catalog for the up-coming clubs, working on a special project for a club member, putting together the entire June club cards, AND getting all my projects ready for the church craft bazaar in September.  I think I made close to 150 cards this week (YES, all this week), plus 6 special cards.  I am going to post the special projects.  I would like "suggestions" on how to price them for the bazaar.  What do you think on pricing?

 

 

 

Oh dear... I forgot in my very recent posting (of about 2 minutes ago)... It's Bon Voyage for us! We (Brian and I), will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in far way places!!!  As lyrics of the song say: "I'll see you... in September..."  Can anyone guess what's up and where we are going?

Busy, busy, busy is the name of this game.  Cookbooks now done for the gals to put together, and I will bind them over the summer. We will finish them up in November. 

Special Project for a club member is coming together well.  I should have it ready to deliver in "kit form" within the next few days.  I sure am getting good at cutting HUGE amounts of paper, in a very short time.  As they say, "practice makes perfect".

New catalog is truly AMAZING!  So many new things, and new stamping trends and styles to introduce to the club. I can't wait to begin using it!  I'm really going to spend time showcasing this catalog.  July and September will be BIG, exciting crafting months.

My favorite store is closing.  It is so sad... we have made so many friendships, and the worse thing of it all, is losing contact with so many people.  No place to hang out and crop together.  I'm going to try to keep  in contact with a couple of my good friends, and use my basement as a crop room.  As they say, as one door closes, another opens.  We shall see.... So sorry this had to happen.  I could just about cry.

Stay tuned for new and exciting postings featuring the new Stampin' Up! catalog.  I hope for a grand "reveal" around the middle of June!

Well, it certainly has been awhile since I've had a chance to post out here.  I've been crazy busy with all my club projects.  I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on the cookbook, now. I don't have much to go.  The Tea for Two workshop is over.  It was really one of the hardest projects for me to figure out and cut, but we all survived it.  A couple of glitches along the way on Saturday, but over-all, I think we did ok.

If  I could just get a few solid days of work in my craft-room, I would be in good shape (notice I said "days", not nights.  I already "do nights").  I just can't seem to get in there and stay there during the day without constant interruptions.  You know, every day interruptions like we have to eat and have clean clothes, and visit sick relatives, and clean house, and you know the "rest of the story". Those of you old enough, will recognize these words as the closing words of a well known radio commentator by the name of Paul Harvey.  Always a story, usually with a happy ending or something to ponder and reflect upon.

Ponder and reflect upon.  That's exactly what I need to do.  In my craft-room with ink and stamps.  What would I do with one whole week, to create anything I want?  Something new and abstract, or old and vintage?  Complete opposites.  Or practice layered coloring techniques with my Copic markers. I took and flunked Copic 101, three times.  I took Copic Skin and Hair and didn't do as badly in that class.  If I don't use it soon though, I will definitely forget it.  That's what I would do!  I would color for one solid week! (and CUT out the pictures because I love to cut almost as much).  What a "vacation" that would be.!

Vacation... so far no plans.  It's our 25th anniversary this summer, and the "dream" we had just isn't going to come to fruition, for many reasons.  Things just aren't working for us to do what we wanted.  We are starting to think of "Plan B".  Will we always think of it as "Plan B"?  Still working on this one.  In the end, we will be together and that's all that really matters....

Goodbye from blog land, until next time... take care everyone!

Here are the May club cards that we will be making.  I got an early start on them, as I will be spending the next couple of weeks cutting materials for the Tea for Two Workshop.  Jessie designed our bird and flower card this month, to help me out.  Thanks, Jessie!  Great job!

We are coming up on Father's Day real soon, so we have two masculine card designs this time.  It is so hard to find images to do men's cards.  I love this horse though, and when I first saw it I wondered what I would do with it.  I have made it a 3D image by stamping and cutting it out 3x,and popping it up with dimensional pop dots.  He is awesome in person!  Also notice, that I have used the aluminum duct tape (found at Home Depot), that I mentioned to you before. I just cut off a piece from the roll and ran it with an embossing folder through the Big Shot.  It is cool, indeed!  I think you will have fun with this.  If any of you want some of this duct tape for your own projects, just let me know.  I have a huge roll and will sell it to you by the foot. It was the only way it was sold, and it will last me more than a lifetime! 

Until next posting.... be good!

 

Meets Stampin' Up copyright requirements

By Jessie Teeples (under the direction of

Denise Tretheway/Independent Demonstrator)

 

Jessie's Card - Elements of Style Stamp Set - a classic for sure!

 

 Deep, bright and regal is the name of this one.  Pumpkin Pie flowers and Rich Razzleberry cardstock are a striking combination together.  Set on a Very Vanilla mat (rather than white), to soften it a bit.  Very good job, Jessie.  You are/and will be a great crafter!  Congratulations on your first design job!

 

Meets Stampin' Up copyright requirements

Denise Tretheway/Independent Demonstrator

 

 Anniversary Card

Paper is shimmery/glossy white but doesn't show well in the picture.

The flowers have been sprayed with Scotch adhesive and dipped in Dazzling Diamonds (again doesn't show well).  I think you will really like this one.

 

Meets Stampin' Up copyright requirements

Denise Tretheway/Independent Demonstrator

 

Here is the 3D horse with the duct tape in the background.  The bottom portion of the card is sanded down to take on the look of barn wood. 

Notice he is the Blue Ribbon champion!  He just won the Kentucky Derby.  What's his name?  I think you all should come to the club meeting with a cool name for a race horse.  Something like "Sir Walter Raleigh" (not really, but you get the idea).  Like they name them. 

Meets Stampin' Up copyright requirements

Denise Tretheway/Independent Demonstrator

 

The Open Sea Stamp Set.  Simple and elegant (gate-fold card).  The paper is retired.  I sure wish they wouldn't do that.  They keep the stamp but retire the paper.  I grabbed it off the clearance rack when it was out there.  I absolutely loved this paper line.  I'm down to only a few sheets left.  Only the best for my gals!

This is not a SU! image

 

Don't tell the SU! police, but this is an embossing folder that I picked up from somewhere... It is of course a wedding card. It is made with SU! upgrade shimmer and glossy white cardstock.  It is sparkled up with Stickles in 3 colors, Liquid Pearls, and "real" (fake) pearls.  Very pale, pink blush ribbon bows (already tied for you, of course).  This card will have to be done and put aside somewhere to dry.  CAREFUL is the word on this one! 

 

I'm making great progress on the club cookbook!  I'm amazed at how much I accomplished this week!  I wish I could keep going on it, but will have to once again put it aside to cut materials for the Tea for Two Workshop (scheduled for May 4th).  It's hard to put something away and come back to it.  I lose a bit of productivity, just trying to figure out where I left off and get back in the "groove and rhythm" of doing it.  Believe it or not, there is "groove and rhythm" to it.  At least for me there is!

I'm really hoping to finish the cookbook soon (the cutting part), so I can work on some new projects.  I have a couple of things I would like to do with my club (classes), but I would also really like to do a few projects of my own, personally.  I just seem to never have time to get to them.  I want to make two "altered art" memorial albums.  One in recognition of my sister's life (Audrey), that passed away last May, and one in memory of my beloved Golden Retriever, Savannah.  She was truly the best dog anyone could ever hope to have in their lives.  When my sister passed away, she knew how much I needed her.  She spent countless hours by my side, as I grieved her.  Then, I lost her in November...
On a brighter note, I want to make a shadow box (for the first time).   I have lots of great products sitting, waiting for me to use them, and many, many plans in my head for designing it.  These three things are my personal goals this year.  I really, really want to get to them.

I'm ready for the club meeting this Saturday.  I'm sure we will all have a good time, as usual.  I'm looking forward to spending time with my friends...

Until next posting... take care.  May club cards will be posted next week sometime.

Denise

Here are the April club cards.  I know they look simple (and they are), because I purposely made them that way.  I've been so busy designing for the Tea for Two Workshop (scheduled for May 4th), and wanted to devote more time on that.  Also, most club members picked the vintage style Mother's Day card (or a special lady friend card), which will take at least one hour to make, so I decided I had better keep the others on the "plain and simple" side.  I hope my club won't be too disappointed in them.  Please let me know if you are too disappointed... I promise I won't do this too many times!  Club members will be making the card they chose, plus have the option of a young male, or young female confirmation card.  Additional cards this month are a baby shower card, bridal shower card, and a "Welcome Baby" card.

Images below meet Stampin' Up! copyright requirements.

I changed this card a little bit than the display card.  I think it will look a little better than this one (color tones)