Blooming Hello!

Here is the last card in the Spring blogger swap series! This one is by blogger Fairle Beaman Carroll and shows off Stampin' Up! flower punches and Soft Subtles.



Fairle's recipe:

Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Alphabits
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Basic Black, Glossy White, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Accessories: Celery grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals
Tools: Daisy Punch, Spring Bouquet flower punch, 1/4 inch circle punch

Notice how the placement of the 5 flowers along the ribbon adds depth to a simple classy card. I'm in awe with Fairle's choice to use Basic Black along with soft subtles. Daring... yet it works to frame the piece out very well.

Thanks Fairle!

An Apple a Day keeps Stamp Fever at Bay!

I don't remember where I got this card. I didn't make this card... Someone named Sherry made this card. But I've been showing this card off at lots of recent workshops. If you are reading this and attended one of my workshops, you will recognize this card.





Anyhoo... I just think this is a clever use of the Stampin' Up! tab punch in the spring mini catalog. I never would have thought to make the tab into an apple.

Isn't this the cutest thing?

So, thanks Sherry, whoever you are. My customers love your card. If you are reading this, email me so I can remember where it was I got this card.

Blogger RAK from Julee Tilman!

Julee is one of the Splitcoastblogger website volunteers and a talented card maker.

Here is a Blogger RAK from Julee that features an adorable Japanese kitty!




Inside Julee writes:

Hi Michelle - Just wanted to say hi and thank you for all you do to keep splitcoastbloggers up and running. I'm so glad I can be part of the team. Happy Stamping! Julee Tilman

Julee blogs over at Poetic Artistry!

Thanks Julee! That background paper is awesome!

Blogger RAK from Debbiedee!

This card was made by blogger Debbiedee over at Snickerdoodle Dreams! How nice for this to appear in my mailbox today. And funny that the two most recent Blogger RAK's I'm posting today both showcase the color red.

I wore a red skirt and red floral shirt today at work. Red must be the color of the day!

Meet the Cowboys!

Meet three amigos who came to us from the Humane Society. Our Serbian and Fairy kittens have almost all been adopted. Only 3 remain... Natasha, Cobweb and Oberon are the only ones left at the shelter. Now we are foster parents to the cowboys! The Humane Society called Kindred Kitties and asked if our organization has any foster families open for taken these three kittens because they didn't have room there to keep 'em. We volunteered to step in and care for them until they get adopted!

These three kittens were named by my brilliant husband who has an amazing talent for naming cats.

Meet Angus:


Angus is a black boy kitten who is the color of an Angus cow. A little spunky but not too spunky for a nap, Angus didn't take long to get accustomed to his foster home.




Meet Jersey:


Jersey, a sweet boy, and swift on his feet, is the color of a Jersey cow. He keeps his white paws and tummy very clean with regular grooming.




Meet Guernsey:


This little black and white boy knows how to climb! And he does it very well. He loves climbing up the sides of his kitty condo to get into his hammock and take a nap. He is the color of a Guernsey cow.

Pastel Paper Joy

These rain boots would be perfect for me to wear tonight if they were my size. We just had a soft spring rain storm a short while ago.



Robin Desko's Blogger swap is perfect for a rainy day.

Thanks Robin!

Here is the recipe:

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Amethyst, Shimmery White
Ink: SU Classic Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Amethyst, Apricot Appeal
Stamp sets: Print Pattern, Aida Cloth, Small Script, Flower Filled
Accessories: Large/Small SU Oval punches, Coluzzle, Paper Piercing Tool, White gel pen, Ticket Corner punch Glassy Glaze, Dimensionals, Soft Subtles brads

Pattern Perfect

Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black - this swap features colors I would have never thought of putting together, yet it works.




Blogger Amy Porter got her inspiration from Stampin' Up!'s Spring designer series paper!

Here is her recipe:

Recipe:

Cardstock: Old Olive, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise
Set: Polka Dots and Paisley
Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Petals and Paisleys Designer Paper, Black grosgrain, brads, clip, Dimensionals

Thanks for the great swap, Amber!

CHA Bound!

I managed to secure some tickets to Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show - Chicago!

Now... I need to start getting my suitcases ready. I LOVE free stuff!

Stampin' Dimensionals Took a Bath

I just read this over at SCS: Stampin' Dimensionals Took a Bath. Funny! By the way...

I have 3 new foster kittens in the house! Three little boy kittens. We are working on giving them names.

I just can't resist it!

Who can resist getting a swap card such as this - with bright colors, an awesome Crayon Resist technique, and great workmanship!

This is a Blogger swap card made by Julie Purdum at Rubber Room Ramblings



Stamps: Doodle That, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Much Appreciated all by Stampin' Up!
Inks: Tempting Turquoise, White Craft, Real Red and Jet Black Staz-on - Markers, red, yellow and green
Cardstock: Glossy White, YoYo Yellow, Real Red and Whisper White
Accessories: Brayer, White gel pen, Turquoise grosgrain, red brads, paper piercer and white crayon

To achieve this look, Julie had to color everything with the white crayon that she did not want to be turquoise. She also wanted some outline in white around the images.

After coloring everything white, she brayered with turquoise, let dry completely, then colored in with markers and let dry again.

She made one big sheet of this and cut it up. If you do this, Julie recommends you be sure it is dry before cutting or coloring in.

Paper Pierced Posies!

Now if this isn't most clever! Polka Dots & Petals is the featured stamp set on this Blogger swap card.



The stems on the pink flowers are paper pierced! What a clever alternative to stamped or drawn stems! I simply must remember this little technique for future workshops. Blogger Tracy Harp over at Inky Doodles created this card.

Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Petals Stampin' Around Wheel
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery and Shimmery White
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery
Accessories: SU brads, paper piercing tool, celery grosgrain ribbon, hand held rectangle punch, dimensionals, ticket corner punch, 1/8 hole punch

Thanks Tracy!

A little Doodle Swap

Here is Debbie Seyer's contribution to the Spring Blogger swap. The flower is cut out and adhered with dimensionals. I love the patterned paper!



Debbie's recipe:

Stamps: Doodle This stamp set
Paper: Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Petals & Paisley Designer Series paper.
Accessories: Slit punch, rose grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals
Inks: Jet Black Staz-on, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal

Kitty update!

My friend and downline Karen told me today that she was at Petco and two of our foster kitties got adopted - TOGETHER!!

Yesterday we took Larisa's babies to get adopted and Boris Yeltsin got adopted and his sister Svetlana got adopted to the same family! They are the two newest feline residents of Spring Grove, Wisconsin.

I was not able to stay very long at Petco because I needed to deliver Stampin' Up! workshop orders. I'm so glad they got homes! I'm still waiting to hear if the other two were adopted.

And now, for something completely different!

Today's Spring Blogger swap card is by Chris Smith... and how adorable it is! This cute little card would be perfect for a Seafood BBQ! Check out some great Seafood BBQ recipes here to play your own feast for this summer!



Chris says this card was inspired by some linen products she saw when she was at the Shedd Aquarium Gift Shop a few weeks ago. I've been to the Shedd Aquarium... very cool... but I haven't been there in several years. Perhaps it is time for me to make a return trip.

Chris says that although she designed this as an invitation, it would also be a good birthday or Father's Day card.

Chris' card recipe is:

Stamps: Crab & Company, Flannel Plaid, All Year Cheer 2 by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Ivory Naturals, Ruby Red
Inks: Buckaroo Blue, Black Stazon, Ruby Red, True Thyme, Night of Navy marker and inkpad
Accessories: Twill Tape, Ruby Red brads, 1/16' punch, Aquapainter.

I love your watercoloring on this card, Chris. Very professional.

"Craft in America" series heading our way at end of May!

Crafty folks like us will love this new three-part PBS Series called "Craft in America" beginning on May 30th.

Mission statement:
The mission of Craft in America is to document and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media made accessible to all Americans.
We are dedicated to the exploration, preservation and celebration of craft, the work of the hand, and their impact on our nation’s cultural heritage.

DOCUMENTARY:
AIRING WEDNESDAY MAY 30th 2007 at 8, 9 and 10pm*
Craft in America - A Landmark Three-Part, High Definition PBS Series
View the preview Here >>

EXHIBITIONS:
OPENING APRIL 2007
Craft in America: Expanding Traditions - A Seven City Exhibition

BOOK:
ARRIVING FALL 2007
Craft in America - Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists & Objects - A Random House Publication

ONLINE:
LAUNCHING APRIL 2007
An Online Vortex for Craft!

Blogger RAK by Jennifer Hensley!

Jennifer Hensley over at Stampin' in the Midwest recently sent me this silly card! How fun - the scrapbook paper used on this card has glitter stars.




Thanks, Jen!

Pocket Swap is a sensation!

Here is the Spring Blogger swap by Leslie Brown over at Continuing to Create...

She used the new Spiral punch in the Stampin' Up! Spring mini catalog on the flap of the pocket. What a cute idea! Her positioning of the ribbon as well as the paper piercing at the top gives just a subtle touch of delicious detail!

Recipe--

Stamps: Paisley and Polka Dots, Amazing to Zany
Cardstock: Cool Caribbean, Regal Rose
Inks: Cool Caribbean, Cranberry Crisp
Accessories: Paper Piercing tools, Spiral round and Tab punches, ribbons, Designer papers

Spazz creates a little fun!

Hey all, it's time for a little more Blogger Swap mania today with the help from Spazzgirl!

No day is a good day without my Daily Dose of Spazz! Simone Collins dishes up the spazz with style!

Colors, Patterns, Polka Dots... check it her swap!



Recipe:
Stamps: Big Blooms, Polka Dots & Paisley, Jumbo Petals Wheel
Ink: VersaMark, Pretty in Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose
Paper: Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, White, Ruby Red, Petals & Paisleys PP
Accessories: SS Brad, White grosgrain ribbon, Circle punches, White Signo pen, Dimensionals

Colorful country elegance by Ana

Welcome to the "Spring Blogger Swap!" Here is the swap made by talented Ana Wohlfahrt to start you off today!

Can you just imagine what it would be like to have Ana's hands and produce a gaaawwwwgeous jaw-dropping creation like this? I would just die to have even an ounce of Ana's talent.

Ana writes over at Ink A Stamp

Here is Ana's recipe:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Sassy Stems, French Flair, On the Spot
Punches: Designer Label Punch Box, Spring Bouquet Flowers, Word Window
Cardstock: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip, Marigold Morning, Very Vanilla
Inks: Basic Black, More Mustard, Pixie Pink
Accessories: Stampin' Up! grosgrain in Rose, Taupe, Mustard, markers in Coral, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive and Bashful Blue - Crystal Effects, Hodgepodge pewter brads, 3D Glue Dots
Techniques: Sponging, Paper Piercing, Faux Stitching

It looks like Ana has a little bit of glitter in the flower centers too!

Bravo Ana, you've created a masterpiece.

Pet Food Recall updated information

I've done several Stampin' Up! workshops lately where a guest said their dog or cat died as a result of the recent tainted pet food.

Luckily, none of our cats and the cats at Kindred Kitties, a non-profit cat rescue organization have been affected, simply because we don't feed our cats the foods on the recall list.

Here are some news story updates about the chemical reaction in the food that is thought to have caused the deaths and recent arrests in China. You may find these informative:

US: Another Chemical Emerges in Pet Food Case

Capitalism, Communism, and Cat Food

China Makes Arrest in Pet Food Case

Petition to boycott Menu Foods for purposely feeding their contaminated pet food to "test" the results. Dogs and cats needlessly suffered and died in these "tests"

Tainted Animal Feed/Pet Food Recall

Cool altered letters on Craft Critique today

I just popped over to check out Craft Critique and Colleen Schaan has a great article up there today about Altered Letters. You know... for your wall, for decoration. I'd love to make some of these with my SU Spring Flowers paper for my niece. (putting on my things to do list) Check it out

Nasty nasty cold

On Sunday I came down with a nasty cold. Lozenges and hot tea have been my friends for the last few days. This is just nasty. I've lost my voice too. I can't talk on the phone and I had to cancel my stamp class at the town of Caledonia.

Blogger Swap Card made by me!

Recently I participated in a Blogger only swap at SCS. Here is my card:




Stamp Sets: Polka Dots & Paisley, Everyday Flexible Phrases, and Expressive Flexible Phrases
Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Certainly Celery
Ink: Regal Rose, Night of Navy, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Word Window punch, Certainly Celery brad, Navy and Celery organdy ribbon, Celery grosgrain ribbon, Hardware, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

In the next week and a half, I will be posting each Blogger Swap card I received in this swap! Stop by again to see!

Blogger RAK from Janet Marks

Made especially for me!!!

Janet Marks knows how much I love the color purple, the lilac flower and KITTIES! Check out this adorable creation!



Janet used Puuurrrfect Plum, Lavender Lace and Whisper White cardstock. The kitty is colored in and she used the retired Meow Meow stamp set that I own also and I will never ever sell!!! She made the bow on kitty a pretty purple!

Thanks Janet! You ROCK!

Blogger RAK from Dawn Griffith!

A little dry embossed vellum graces this card from blogger Dawn Griffith. Oh, how I will hate seeing the Cool Caribbean In Color go away in July. Here Cool Caribbean is paired elegantly with black!

A little kitty photo therapy while you wait...

While you wait for me to scan and upload, take a look at our current foster cats.

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to Larisa and her babies. Larisa's babies are going up for adoption at the Kenosha Petco on May 12th. I'll be there with Larisa's babies:

Click here to view Boris Yeltsin
Click here to view Natasha
Click here to view Tatiana
Click here to view Svetlana

The Fairy Litter!

We have two litters of kittens... Larisa's babies and a litter of 6 fuzzy babies whose mother died. Our litter of fuzzy babies are all named after fairies in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". They will go up for adoption tentatively May 19th.

Here are the fairy kittens:



Click here to view Oberon
Click here to view Mustardseed
Click here to view Titania
Click here to view Peaseblossom
Click here to view Moth
Click here to view Cobweb

I could get accustomed to being lazy...

I'm taking a week of vacation this week. I'm not traveling anywhere... just being a home-body.

Today I slept 'til noon. I could get accustomed to being lazy.... being lazy isn't all that difficult.

Anyhow, I have a few Blogger RAK's to post and cards from a recent swap to post. Look for these posts here tonight...

2007 Retirement List!

Time to make way for new. Here is the 2007 retiring stamps list!

http://stampinup.com/us/enu/8071.asp