Saturday Farmers Market, a thank you and a welcome!

Our Saturday morning started with a three mile walk (coffee in hand!) along the Boise River. It's always a beautiful place to spend some time, a great walking path, a nice river, and people out enjoying the day.

Thirty seven years with this wonderful gentleman! Still fun to spend time with him! 

On to the Farmer's Market - a favorite stop of ours with it's incredible produce

and flowers and musicians!

Isn't this a very cool sign - first time I had noticed it!

Besides the great bread sticks, which we always eat while we're browsing, a hand held rhubarb pie is high on our list!



And now for a card and fun mini-tutorial!

I needed a simple card... to go along with scones for a friend and a neighbor and this will work just fine.

I had seen twist ties re-made with paper and tho't I'd give it a try. Kinda' fun!

Here's how to make them.... I just started with regular twist ties - mine came with the cellophane bags I had bought. Cut 1/4" strips of DSP, adhere sticky strip to wrong side of one strip of DSP. Adhere to twist tie and then add second 1/4" strip of DSP on top. What if you embellished the edges with scallops? Could be kind of cute!

 

Post Script: After posting, I had to run back up to my stampin' room and create a few in bright polka dots - and with embellished edges! The Finishing Touches Edgelit makes a perfect little sawtooth border! Ta Da!

Have a wonderful week! Penny

All Dressed Up for Christmas!

You may remember that I had promised to recreate Twitterpated for Men in Christmas

papers during July...

well, it's July and here is a brand new tutorial ( and a kit!) for you!

I took the earlier ensemble, changed it up just enough to give it an entire new look - but it really is the same, except for the treat box. The treat box I had used earlier is no longer available so I created something new!

This twenty-two page tutorial includes well written instructions, along with photos for three cards (one of them is an easel card!), a gift card holder and a treat box.

I am making it available both as a tutorial - available for immediate download and a kit. The kit includes precut papers for  two of each of the three cards and gift card holder and six treat boxes along with the tutorial download.  I have also die-cut the "HO, HO, HO" and the treat boxes for you. So that's a total of six cards, two gift card holders and six treat boxes!

                                                          

Dress this treat box up with a small fir branch -

perfect for a place setting at a holiday table!

Fill it with a few candies or a small treat.

Use it as a package topper instead of a bow.

It also is a darling Christmas tree ornament or

can be used as part of an Advent calendar!

Comfort and Joy

This card using the Top Note die cut is dressed up with Victorian Crochet Trim and a Vintage Faceted Designer Button further accented with a pearl.

A three dimensional star adds a special touch to a gift card holder. Pretty enough to

be a present all on its own!

                                                    
 An easel card that can be enjoyed on a desk, bringing Christmas Cheer with it!

                     ChristmasTutorial                                                     

                 $3.95 - immediate download

                                                                             

                        
                     Christmas Kit

               $24.95 - includes download 

                    

   

Storytime Friend

I love this Storytime Designer Series Paper and have been creating quite a collection of cards and projects with it.This specific card was created for the  Pals Paper Arts Challenge PPA138.

We were to use Daffodil Yellow, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso. I believe I squeaked them all in! I'm new to challenges and this was fun!

And while you're here, please notice my new watermark!

I'm so excited and a huge thank you to Benjamin, the super talented son of

super talented Becky Roberts!

No big surprise, right?!

I count my blessings every day that I picked up the phone almost two years ago

and asked her to please do a workshop for me!

It has led me to a wonderful Stampin' Up! business that I wake up to each morning with enthusiasm and excitement.

If you would like to be part of a team that is moving forward, please contact me. I'd love to chat with you! There are so many, many benefits and incentives for having your own online business - what a great time to get started!

Happy Stamping,

Penny

A little birdie told me...

Life doesn't always go the way we had planned so here's a

 simple little "the sun will shine for you" card.

I love this stamp, with birds on a line, anchored  with a couple of clouds and a

 cute sun (think Boho Blossoms punch). A perfect  "it's going to be all right!"

The clouds are from the Cupcake Builder punch.

Doesn't that cupcake frosting makes great little clouds!

The card is 3-1/2" x 5"  - found in the Note Cards and Envelopes set, 107311.

 It's a perfect size for smaller sentiments and images.

The lower edge is  accented with the Adorning Accents Folder -

I'm sure I use my Big Shot! with every card I make!

Top it off with Whisper White Taffeta ribbon and a Designer Brights Button.

                                                    And a quick peek at the inside.

                                                                        For the Birds
                                                                  126405w 126407c

Another Reason to Smile on the 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July! to each of you.

It's a wonderful holiday full of friends, family, great food and exciting fireworks!

Distressed edges and Boho Blossom stars create a calico Independence Day card.

If you don't have your 4th of July card made yet, you still have time!

Simply create 3/4" x 4-1/2"distressed strips by scoring the DSP until it tears.

I used Polka Dot Parade and Twitterpated DSP to create the stripes.

Stars - Daffodil Delight using the Boho Blossoms punch accented with Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons tied with Baker's Twine.

Twitterpated DSP makes an appearance again when you open the card.

Bring On the Cake creates a "Happy 4th"!

And besides living in the greatest nation in the world, we have products from one of the greatest companies - Stampin' Up!
And this month they are giving you another reason to smile!

A great new stamp set available to you for only $5.00 when you order  $50.00 or more of any Stampin' Up! products. Offer available only in July.
Click here to learn more!

131274w  131275c 

Hello, Good Friend

Isn't this a great background paper - simple and with great lines!

It's brand new and is called Birds of a Feather. There are some wondeful papers included in this collection, as well as coordinating stamp sets.

The birds were stamped in Island Indigo on top of a Crumb Cake nest found in the

Take Care set. Then, rather than hand cut around the nest, (I didn't really need a nest, just a bit of background interest), I used the 1" Circle Punch.

On this card I paper pierced two opposite corners and distressed the paper just around the area that was embellished with piercing.

The buttons are new also - Natural Designers Button and add a warm touch,

especially when secured with Linen Thread.

The center embellishment is one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits, which I've added a little extra interest to by using a Finishing Touches Edgelits.

Die cut your Framelit first then take off just a tad, upper and lower, with the little

sawtooth border Edgelit. Very crisp and a nice change!

                                                                    Flock Together
                                                               126730 w   126732 c

                                                                       Take Care
                                                                126310 w 126312 c

                                                Birds of a Feather Designer Series Paper
                                                                          126889

Sun's comin' up and cakes on the griddle...

There's nothing better on a Saturday morning than eating breakfast at the pond....

doesn't hurt to catch a fish or two also! This weekend's score was 30! 
It's a catch and release pond in our neighborhood and the fish are so funny.
It's kind of like they know the ropes. You reel them in, they open their mouth, out comes the hook and back in they go! It's almost like they're happy to oblige.
I'm happy because I don't have to cook the little rascals!
The guys go down early for a little quiet fishin' time and then we girls show up with breakfast and coffee about eight o'clock. Good times!

And the Winner Is!Lynette Siebrasse

As some of you know, we had a little contest last week on stampsnsmiles.

Lynette correctly guessed (along with many  of you) that I use Basic Grey almost exclusively
for stamping sentiments - I love the softness it lends to a card or project.
 I even use it on my blog. Black just seems a tad harsh to me!

She will receive the Stampin' Up! ink pad of her choice - Always Artichoke.

So Lynette, congratulations!

We're not just sitting around this summer, so stay tuned for more contests, a new Christmas tutorial (right around the corner!) and some great tips and techniques!

Happy Stamping!

Penny