My Sweet Birthday Boy

Without June 30, 2001, "Life with a Wiener Dog" would not exist.

You see, on June 30, 2001, the wiener dog in my life was born. That's Frank the puppy back in 2001 below his picture taken tonight, June 29, 2011.

Blogger isn't cooperating on my computer tonight, so I can't say as much as I'd like about my sweet boy, barely getting this on with my iPad.

So let me just say this.
Frankfurter, you are the smartest, sweetest dog I know. You've made the last ten years a million times better than they would have been without you. I love you so much! Happy Birthday, Little Pup!

All the little wiener dogs in the whole world and God gave me the very best one.

LNS Challenge and So Long, Long Fellows

The final retiring stamp set that I will miss the most is, of course, Long Fellows. All of the stamps in this set are cute, but as you can imagine, the wiener dog is my favorite. He was perfect for this final card made for the 2010-2011 Stampin' Up catalog year.

So long, retiring stamp sets, papers, ribbons, and other embellishments. You've served us well!

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Long Fellows and Sweet Shoppe Alphabet Lower Stamp Sets

Night of Navy and Basic Black Classic Inks

Whisper White, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, and Night of Navy Card Stock

Brights Brads

Uncharted Territory with Retiring Elegant Soiree

Thankfully, the stamp set "Uncharted Territory" is not retiring. Since it is my go-to masculine card stamp set, I would truly be lost in uncharted territory! The Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper, however, is retiring. So, this is my last card of the year I'm using it on. Farewell, to all the great Designer Series Papers of this year!

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Uncharted Territory and Sincere Salutations Stamp Sets

Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake Classic Inks

Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, and Night of Navy Card Stock
Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper

Blender Pen

TSSC180 Cheep Talk

The parade of my favorite retiring stamp sets continues! Today it's "Cheep Talk," a cute bird set that has been in the SU Catalog for a couple of years. The Designer Series Paper and Ribbon are all retiring as well. I will miss them all because they make happy cards- my favorite!

Thanks to Mary Jo who created another fabulous sketch! 

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Cheep Talk Stamp Set

Tangerine Tango, Temping Turquoise, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers

Very Vanilla, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip Card Stock

Play Date Designer Series Paper

5/8" Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon

LNS Challenge Animal Antics and SFF A Good Egg

My card doesn't exactly look like it matches this sketch, but it truly was inspired by it. I thought the sketch reminded me of a quilt so I punched some scallop squares. Then, I decided it needed some more scallop squares. Before long, I had the entire background covered and it no longer looked like the sketch. It was cute though, so I left it alone, added the chick and the sentiment and my card was finished!

 

It's another Animal Antics card for the LNS Design Team Challenge. The sketch comes from the Sketch Frenzy Friday challenge. It also features a set retiring, A Good Egg, which I will miss. It's so cute for babies and Easter. The sentiment comes from another retiring set, "Family Phrases." You have until June 30 to make these a part of your collection!

 

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

 

A Good Egg and Family Phrases Stamp Sets
Basic Black Classic Ink

Blushing Bride, So Saffron, and Bashful Blue Card Stock

In Color Designer Series Paper Pack Hostess Reward

Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack

Scallop Square and Scallop Circle Punches

Stampin Dimensionals

Now to see another card made with this sketch, check out Deb Currier's blog, http://www.artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com/. Then share your own card with us at http://www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com/.

 

LNS Challenge Animal Antics A Flower for all Seasons

Hello, Friends! Happy Wednesday to you all!

This is another one of my favorite stamp sets that is being retired- "A Flower for all Seasons." I like each of the four seasons, but I think summer and fall are my favorites. I love the frog and the ladybug. Of course, spring and winter are also cute. Maybe they're all four my favorites!?

 

Anyway, this card is an "old meets new" because the stamp set is retiring but the Designer Series Paper will be in the new catalog. It's a fun combination of the two. It also meets the Animal Antics Challenge for the LNS Design Team this week!

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

A Flower for all Seasons and Season of Friendship Stamp Sets

Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso and Basic Black Classic Inks

Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, and Baja Breeze Card Stock

Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper

TSSC179 and LNS Challenge Bugs and Kisses

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I hope you all had a great weekend and a special Father's Day!

This card features a lot of retiring Stampin' Up products that I'm going to miss!

I love the Sweet and Sour Designer Specialty Paper. I love the Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. But, most of all, I love "Bugs and Kisses." It's so cute and a stamp set I've reached for many times this year.

The card is based on Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge. It also goes along with our LNS theme for this week featuring all animals, including bugs! I'm so glad so I could make one more card and share it on my blog featuring this set!

 

Happy Stamping!

 

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Bugs and Kisses Stamp Set

Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie Classic Inks

Very Vanilla, Rose Red, and Pumpkin Pie Card Stock

Sweet and Sour Designer Series Specialty Paper

Circle Punches

1 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

SFF Tart and Tangy

Happy Friday, Everyone!

I'm featuring another retiring stamp set today in this Sketch Frenzy Friday Challenge. "Tart and Tangy" features these cherries, an apple, a strawberry, and a citrus fruit that can be an orange, lemon, lime, or even a grapefruit. I love using the cherries with this sentiment. I'll miss you "Tart and Tangy!"

Happy Stamping!

 

I used the following Stampin' Up supplies to make this card:

 

Tart and Tangy and A Word for You Stamp Sets

Real Red Classic Ink Pad

Real Red and Garden Green Stampin' Write Markers

Very Vanilla, Real Red, Garden Green, and Crumb Cake Card Stock

Regals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

Brights Brads

1 1/4" Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Now, to check out Deb Currier's card that she made with this sketch, visit her blog at www.artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com. Then make your own and share it with us at www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com.

SSC207 and SPCC104 Pun Fun

I'm continuing to make cards with my favorite Stampin' Up stamp sets that are retiring June 30th. I knew I had to make one more card with "Pun Fun," more specifically with the hedgehog.

I had a pet albino hedgehog named Dan D. Lion because he looked like a dandelion that had gone to seed when he curled up in a ball. You might not think a hedgehog could be a loving pet, but Dan definitely was one. He was especially fond of my Dad and my Dad was especially fond of him! Hedgehogs are very protective of their tummys because that is their most vulnerable point. It took years of learning to trust my Dad, but Dan finally would let him rub his tummy. We all miss Dan a lot. He was a good little friend.

To make this card, I used the sketch challenge this week on www.stamping411.blogspot.com. The color challenge came from www.thescrapmaster.com. Inside, I stamped "Happy Birthday Wishes" from "Fun and Fast Notes." It just wasn't the original sentiment with the hedgehog stamp.

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Pun Fun and Fun and Fast Notes Stamp set

Black Stazon Ink

Tempting Turquoise, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso Stampin' Write Markers

Whisper White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso Card Stock

Circle and 2" x 1 3/8" Oval Extra Large Punches

5/8" Early Espresso Satin Ribbon (also retiring)

Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

Big Shot

Blender Pens

TSSC178 and LNS Water Challenge Uncharted Territory

Hello, Friends!

My card today goes along with two different challenges. The sketch challenge comes from Mary Jo's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge. The LNS Design Team challenge for this week is to make a card that features water.

I have to say, I'm not very good at making masculine cards. They might turn out alright, but they aren't just naturally easy for me like some other styles are. Since I make birthday cards for all my leaders at church, including the men, I had to get better! When I saw this sketch, I knew it would make a good masculine card if I put the sailboat stamp from "Uncharted Territory" in the circle. The sailboat works for masculine cards and the LNS Design Team challenge this week.

The printed paper is from the "Elegant Soiree" collection. I'm going to miss this paper so I also used it on this card!

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products on this card:

 

Uncharted Territory and Sincere Salutations Stamp Sets

Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso Classic Inks

Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, and Night of Navy Card Stock

Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper

Circle Punches

Tasteful Trim Bigz Extra Large Die

Big Shot

Blender Pen

Stamping Sponges

VC Rocks Big Shot Blog Hop with Tasteful Trim

Hello! Welcome to the June 2011 VC Rocks Blog Hop. This month, we're all featuring projects we made using our Big Shot Machine. You can start at the beginning of the hop to see all of our projects at http://www.vcrocks.blogspot.com. If you've been following the hop, you probably came from Heidi Sorg's blog, http://www.cheekiesinkpad.blogspot.com/.

I decided to use a lot of my favorites to make this card. I used the "Tasteful Trim" Bigz Big Shot die to make the waves. It reminds me of a quilt you would find in a little girl's bedroom. "Tasteful Trim" is definitely one of my favorite Stampin' Up dies and can be used for a lot of different looks. I also chose to use our new In Colors for 2011. I love how they are so tranquil looking when placed together. The sentiment stamp from "All Holidays" is another one of my favorites. It will soon be retired so I wanted to make at least one more card with it!

After the hop, be sure to break out your Big Shot and make a card featuring your favorites with it!

Happy Stamping!

 

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

All Holidays and Itty Bitty Bits Stamp Sets

Island Indigo and Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Markers

Versa Mark Ink Pad

Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, and Wisteria Wonder Card Stock

Tasteful Trim Bigz Extra Large Die

Big Shot

Now to follow the tour, go to Shirley Northy's blog at http://www.stampershirley.blogspot.com next!

SFF Pun Fun

Well, if you're reading this, I survived VBS 2011!

It was actually a great year and I really enjoyed my time with the 5th and 6th graders. Even when they threw flour bombs at me and covered me with pudding. (Both games planned ahead! There wasn't a riot!)

Now, it's time for things to "go back to normal" which Frank will be happy about since he won't be home alone in the evenings.

This brings us to Sketch Frenzy Friday. Isn't this a fun sketch? I chose the stamp set, "Pun Fun," to feature. This set will only be available through June 30th. I love it so I wanted to be sure to show it on my blog one more time.

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Pun Fun Stamp Set

Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Basic Gray, and Basic Black Classic Inks

Whisper White, Poppy Parade, and Peach Parfait Card Stock

In Color Designer Series Paper Pack- Hostess Level 1

Circle Punches

1/2" Poppy Parade Stitched-Poly Ribbon

Now check out Deb Currier's blog, www.artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com to see what she made with this sketch. Then, make your own card and show us at www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com.

Forest Friends Onesie

This is a little onesie I made a while ago for a friend who had a new baby girl. It's super easy to make with circle punches for the neck and leg holes. She liked the card and I hope you do too! The little bunny is from the stamp set "Forest Friends" which is only available until June 30th!

Happy Stamping! 

I used the following Stampin' Up supplies to make this card:

Forest Friends Stamp Set

Melon Mambo Classic Ink

Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, and Melon Mambo Card Stock

Circle, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Extra Large, and Scallop Edge Border Punches

LNS Graduation Challenge with Wisteria Wonder and a Whole Lot More!

When I made this card, it was for three reasons.

1. To show off a new Stampin' Up stamp set and color.

2. To have a graduation card for this week's challenge.

3. I wanted to make a card with a star on it.

It did all three of those things.

But then, I have to tell you about tonight.

Our church's VBS where I'm the elementary pastor began. Our 5th and 6th grade VBS runs separately from the rest of VBS for the younger kids and I was in charge of it. We were expecting 70 kids. Then, we thought we'd have around 80. Then they all came tonight. There were 13 groups of kids with 7 or 8 kids in each group. I think we ended up with around 95-100 kids.

"Imagine the Possibilities" took on a whole new meaning when I came home to put this card on my blog and this is why.

This is not what I had planned. I was going to teach elementary school forever. I would be the old lady who retired and her kids she taught thirty years ago came back to see her with their own kids. But God had other plans. I had decided to leave teaching and work in the church. I had been in my first church and they didn't have a lot of young families at the time. So, they didn't really need me there to work with the kids. When I was leaving, I was sad to be going and said, "I just want to tell kids how much God loves them. I don't understand why He doesn't want me to do that."

"Imagine the Possibilities."

Little did I know that He'd soon be sending me to Chandler, Arizona, where almost exactly 3 years later, I'd get to tell 95 5th and 6th graders tonight about how much He loves them.

Unfortunately, the person who was going to get this card, now needs a new one. I'm keeping this one in my office for those days when I need to remember that, no matter what, God's plans are bigger and better than I ever imagined- even when I tried to "imagine the possibilities."

Happy Stamping!

I've got to go to bed because I get to do it all again tomorrow night! :)

I used the following Stampin' Up supplies to make this card:

Pennant Parade Stamp Set (coming in the new catalog!)

Word Play Stamp Set and Wonderfully Worn Background Stamp

Wisteria Wonder Classic Ink (a new "In Color" coming in the new catalog!)

Daffodil Delight and Elegant Eggplant Classic Inks

Daffodil Delight, Wisteria Wonder, and Elegant Eggplant Card Stock

Petite Pennants Builder punch (coming in the new catalog!)

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch

Stampin' Dimensionals

SFF and LNS Challenge for Teachers with Every Little Bit

Happy Sketch Frenzy Friday, Everyone!

The pinched nerve in my back is still acting up. I'm able to type on my computer at work, but then that about does it for my left arm for the day. However, this week I created the sketch for Sketch Frenzy Friday, so I didn't want to miss it. Plus, I've missed stamping so I decided to make this simple card. It also fits the LNS Challenge for this week- to make projects for a special teacher.

Please say a prayer my back is on the mend so I can be back to...

Happy Stamping!

I used the following Stampin' Up products to make this card:

Every Little Bit Stamp Set

Basic Black Classic Ink

Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, and Basic Gray Stampin' Write Markers

Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, and Daffodil Delight Card Stock

Circle Punches

Big Shot

Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

3/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon (soon to be retired!)

Now check out Deb Currier's blog to see the card she created at www.artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com. Then make your own card and show us at www.sketchfrenzyfriday.blogspot.com.