Country Roads Stamping

Week is almost gone

I feel like one of those little hamsters in a cage running faster trying to keep up with the calendar as it seems to be moving at a very fast rate this week.  Here it is already Thursday.  I'm hoping that we dodge the rain forecasted for today but my oh my don't you just love these wonderful temps?  Sooo much better than the heat and humidity from last week.  Enough of that!

Today - I have a card that I love but am saving it until Friday to finish off the week but today's is a little different.  This is a birthday card but it had to be unique, like the gal that I sent it to.  I had to put either a cat or a dog in the card as she's as much, if not more, of an animal person than me and it had to have humor in it because she's always making me laugh -

 
 
So this one is a little unusual - and too much glare but it was the only picture I took and I see that the green is a little crooked on there - well, that is the beauty of handmade!  :)  The little birthday cake set Birthday Bliss is retiring and you'll see it up here again tomorrow.  The cat, is fortunately, staying.  So this is a little unorthodox for a birthday card but seems normal to me.  She'll get a laugh out of it.  See you tomorrow as we wrap up the week. 

Very Special Birthday Card

Today is a very special day for our family - our oldest daughter turns 30 today! Whew - I'd like to be turning 30 again - well, no, not really - then I'd have no grand children or son -in-laws and that would be sad - so I'll take being way past 30 instead!  I had to make a cupcake card for Casey because she is the queen of fixing special things for her little boys and she does a lot of cupcakes so here's hoping that she gets her card before she sees it here on the blog!  If Not - Well, Happy Birthday, Casey!!!

 
This uses the new cupcake punch in the Occasions Mini catalog and the cardstock I used is Marina Mist and Real Red with some regal rose for the pink "frosting" on the cupcakes.  I love this punch and coordinating set - you can make some really Fun cards.  Note I even stamped "sprinkles" on the cupcake top!  Hope you have a great day Case - wish I was there to take you out to lunch or give you some time on your own by babysitting!!  Hope you have a great day and the same to all of you that are reading this!  I'll try to report in from Leadership tomorrow - assuming I have any energy left by the time the day is done!!!

Don't Judge a card - by its cover

 WEll, it is my sincere hope that my daughter is not blog hopping today, but she probably is and so the "cat will be out of the bag" as it were.  Grandson #2's birthday is rapidly approaching when he will turn the BIG ONE so wanted an unusual birthday card for him.  So as you look at this you'll say hmmmm, not very impressive:

 
I mean - sure, it's cute - with the little paper pieced gift bag - even put tissue paper coming out of the top - and the 3 D baloon.  but just doesn't rock your world - However, - remember I said don't just the card by its cover - it isn't what is on the outside - but rather the inside - this is one of our new SOUND cards and I'm so sad that I have no idea how to play it for you because it would be on of those famous moments because you would hear myself and my husband singing happy birthday!  Hopefully Sawyer will be impressed, although for a one year old - he probably won''t - but I bet his 2 year old brother will think it is pretty cool to hear Nana and Grandpa singing inside this little card - I do believe Gideon thinks I live inside that little phone box and now this will only confirm that I live in a very small space!!!!  I wish I had ordered more of these - but wait! I can - I have until January - so I'd better get on it.

THEN BIG NEWS!!!!! Did you hear that Stampin Up! is offering a Half off offer to anyone that wants to sign up to be a Stampin Up! Demonstrator!!! Woohoo!!! A whopping 50% off - unheard of - I'd love to have some new teammates - so if you are interested send me an email or give me a call!  There is just no better job anywhere as far as I'm concerned!!!!  Time is limited - November 15 - 30 and then it is over.  Great way to start earning some extra money and meet new friends.  Hope to hear from you!!!

Birthday is In the Bag!

Welcome back to another day in the bizarre world of Country Roads Stamping!  Today's contribution is a fun Birthday Card from one of the Hostess Sets:  Birthday Bakery - Level 1.  This card is for my MIL to give to one of her friends and I'll fill a gift bag for her friend's birthday - so the card seemed fitting.

This is nice and bright and cheery for an 80 year old!  Everything is Stampin Up! except for the little flower brad in the lower right hand corner - I used retired designer paper to give it some pop and stamped the gift bag on the designer paper so it looked like the little bag was a "designer" bag!  I was going to put real tissue paper in the bag but then decided just to color the paper that was already there.  I used the scalloped die cut - I believe it is the Scallops #2 but I don't have that right handy so always the possibility for error here.  I ran the Regal Rose cardstock through the dotted embossing folder to patch the design on the bag, as well as the dsp and ofcourse I used Wild wasabi cardstock for the base!  Now I must go shopping today to fill a bag!!!  I think I just might decorate one of our white bags, if I can find one - to match the card as I still have some of this designer paper here at the house. 

That's all for today!  Computer is back!  Hallelujah - just had to get some new part for it - much cheaper than a whole new computer and it was only gone from the house 48 hours - not too bad!  Thanks for stopping by!

Party This Way

Running behind again - but still here!!  I needed to get a birthday card for my Sister in law, Mavis ready to mail - she's at camp this week, so hopefully she is not going anywhere to check a computer - this should be safe to put up here!  We are to that age where we need really bright, cheery cards when our birthdays roll around - I do believe that this one fits that criteria:

Mavis isn't likely to lose this card anywhere in the house!!  I do have to say that I must have stamped these candles 5 times and then I just gave up - I did not want to use the stamp a ma jig to line them up so I just decided it was okay if they were not in a straight line!  I added the dots to match the honeycomb pattern of the candles.  The colors I used were Pacific Point and the new in color - Poppy Parade - did you know that the in colors will now stay around 2 years instead of the usual one?

  The background was done the way I did the card the other day - punching out the 3/4" circle punch, layering it on the cardstock and then running it through the lattice folder.  On the inside I added a little pennant banner:

This was made by punching out a few "stars" using the star punch and then simply snipping off each point.  So the larger star could be used, the one cut out with the Sizzix and made a pennant for the front of a card. 

Well, that's all for today - off to work and have a great day.  

Happy Birthday!

Well, this week-end my mother in law celebrated her birthday so I needed a card and ofcourse I fiddled around until Sunday morning, the day of her birthday to put one together before we headed out the door to church.  I really should have done a little more thought process but it ended up pretty and my husband liked it so there you have it!  Pulled out the old stand by Flores Suaves again from the Spanish catalog, which is $21.95

I did get a little heavy handed with the glimmer paint, or shimmer mist I guess it is.  Just remember it was 7 a.m. in the morning!!!  I ran the designer paper - Greenhouse Gala through the vintage Wallpaper folder and then I had inked up the folder before hand - so while it embossed it also put some ink on the paper - Then the rest is simple stamping.  I even did the inside - however, I forgot to take a picture of that! 

Then the picture I promised for a little humor for your day.

This is my sassy new anniversary gift - the "old fashioned" mower!!!! I have wanted one of these for a couple of years now and they were just way too pricey - however, while visiting the daughters in Iowa - there was an ad in the local newspaper for these on sale - I told Steve I wanted one for an anniversary present - so ofcourse - off he went - I love this - no gas needed, no air needed for tires - no "jumping" the battery - none of the things that s l o w w w w w me down with my mowing - and once again - I can walk behind the mower!!!  This even has a bagger - but I've chosen not to use it.  I am probably the only wife alive who didn't speak to her husband for a few days when he brought home a riding lawn mower!!!  I hate the thing - there are some places I will continue to use it - but this "sweetie" is my favorite - so see, I am certifiably nuts!  My husband did want to know if I wanted perhaps a new chain saw, weed eater or some a little more useful around the house for my birthday ;)  Have a great day!!!  

Birthday Birthday Birthday

WEll, there are a lot of people that have birthdays this first week of April - one of my friends was the last day of March and I was scurrying to get a card out to her.  Then some little bugger, the same little bugger from last year passed the word that my birthday was Monday and so cards have been coming in here - caused hubby to panic because he thought he had already missed by birthday because he can never remember it anyway!!!  However, I got a birthday gift last night that trumps any other gift or card!!! My oldest daughter called and put the grandson on the phone and he said Nana!!!  Well, okay there was some prompting - like the picture of me was put in front of him and she asked him who it was - but hey, I'll take it however I can get it!  I'll miss his birthday this year but I'll get to see him a few weeks later so that's okay!  Anyway, I digress - the card I sent my friend.

I kept this one simple - used the ovals die cut to layer the pieces behind the itty bitty birthday cake.  Also made the envelope to match. Added the scalloped trim punch along the bottom that was available for free during sale a bration - it will be available to purchase in the new catalog so I'll probably keep right on using it! 

Now I'll put the other card of Dot's up here too but I think I'll save the birthday cards until Monday - several gals are off today and will not be looking at their computers so I'll just wait when everyone gets back to work to put those up here.  Kind of forgot it was a holiday.  Hubby is off anyway so I'm all goofed up for the days' off! 

So here's Dot's third card this one  with the chocolate bunny.  Cute.  I forgot I had made a bunny hutch - using the milk carton die - but probably won't get that picture up here.  Time to move on with Easter ideas and head into spring!  Hope each of you have a wonderful Holiday - hopefully many of you will attend church to celebrate Easter - be thankful that we live in a country that we still have that freedom to do so!  Have a wonderful week-end.    

Computer Slow Down

Sorry I'm late today - few computer issues - but I think that's been taken care of - plus my husband seems to think he can have access to the computer in the evening!  I finally gave up trying to post last night and decided to try this morning, like I used to do - before the day of posting and scheduling ahead! 

First order of business - you must must must remember to come back here this evening after 10 - or first thing tomorrow morning because the RAD Open House Tour begins tomorrow - we will actually go live this evening at 10 p.m. with our first view of the houses - I've seen them and let me tell you - this is one very creative group of ladies!  So, in reality, I'm actually glad I didn't get to post yesterday so I could remind you of this blog tour.  These little houses are just great for gift giving. Now on for today's post.

Last night was stamp camp and we used the Movers & Shapers Die - now without revealing what the card was - I wanted to try one using one of the sale a bration free stamp sets - yep - don't forget sale a bration - where you purchase  $50 of merchandise and get free "stuff"!  Contact me if you don't know about that.  So I chose to use Happy Moments.  I wanted a birthday cake because I also wanted to use Whimsical words and that greeting that says "The more Candles, the Bigger the wish"  I love that - probably because my cakes now have soooooo many candles ;)   so here's the birthday card:

Man, there's a lot going on for this card - but I was loading it up for a challenge!!  I have used the designer paper from Welcome Neighborhood, which is also free.  Then I pulled in some ribbon and a corduroy button, always my personal favorite and I even used some of the rubons from the Eggcelent Egg kit - at the top of the card. Let's face it - there are a lot of things on this card. I'd have to look long and hard from someone card worthy on this - probably my daughter or my mom!  and hmmm, mom does have a birthday this month - wonder if she will be on here checking the blog? 

 

Here's one with the card laying flat so you can see the greeting peeking through the opening of the card. 

Well, that's it for this morning - just don't forget the blog tour - you are going to be amazed and then you will want to sign up for one of the classes yourself.  Thanks for coming by today.    

Slow going this morning

Well, the fog that is outside seems to be slowing things inside!  Hubby was called out early to work - so took advantage of the early minutes to read a little - I'm going to give the exercise a day at home today as I don't like running in the thick fog when it is cool - then you get all soppy and foggy wet.  Real close to rain!  I was going to load the picture of the robin's nest, as I said I would yesterday, but then decided I should make a "bird" card to accompany it - so I'll do that tomorrow - I made this card early this morning and the verdict is still out on it - don't know if I like it or not.  I wanted to use the cupcake sizzlit to make a card, but probably should have gone with a scrapbooking page instead.  This seems "busy"  I toned it down, by adding the solid colored squares opposite each other on the gate folds.  This dsp is from the Level Three Hostess Set.  I did get the gate fold done - and that is the only thing that I actually stuck with from what I had started out on this morning. 

I get one thought in my head and then it all changes!  The colors used are So Saffron, Certainly Celery and Riding Hood Red and then a little of Baja Breeze thrown in for good measure!  Then when it was completed I added just a touch of bling by sprinkling on glitter on the cupcake top.  I tend to think of birthdays as bright and happy events - so I go with the bright colors a lot.  I'll still have to think on this one. 

No interesting stories today - pretty quiet here yesterday except for the thunderstorms that rolled through.  Hopefully we will get our young chickens moved over to the "Big House" this week.  So I'll be sure to add that picture also as several people have asked about the "chicks" and they certainly are not chicks anymore - Evidently we have a rooster - we purchased a straight run of chicks, which means I should have had all hens - but we have one chicken that tries crowing every day - pathetic sounds - actually sounds like he is in quite a bit of pain as he works to get that down.  He won't be staying here long - I'm no fan of being awakened at 4 a.m. by a crowing rooster!  Off to get some work done - much cardstock to cut today.  Seems like I say that a lot!!  Have a great day!

Fun Card

Well, this morning dawns a little "misty" in the words of the local weather girl - so I'm delaying rushing out of here to see if it is going to rain or shine - I'm not fan of running in rain - especially with my head starting to clear up from what has now been called allergies.  Just jolly - but that is better than fearing I had the "never ending" cold.  So I'll wait another half hour to see when I can get in there. 

I have a fun card this morning - wanted to get it posted today in case tomorrow goes down the tubes with extra time!  This one took a little more time to scan and post.  Ahh, so now you are saying - big deal - this is just a nice, bright card with a big, fat 1 on the front - so what? . . . . Well, it isn't what is on the outside that makes this card special - it is what is on the inside - remember a few weeks ago when I said I bought the choo choo set to make a birthday card for my grandson's first birthday ?  Well, this is the card and I love it!  All these bright colors - he'll like it too - his mother will wring my neck for the glitter on the Number 1 but that's okay - that's what sweepers are for!!! oh yes, - the Inside . . . ..

Doesn't this just say fun?  I know Gideon won't really care about anything more than the fact that this is a bright card and he will probably try to "pick" off the train cars!  They are all on 3d dimensionals and the balloons and cake, as well.  I think I will try to do a few balloons to add to the front of the card.  Whether he is impressed is unimportant - if he just likes the colors - that's the desired goal!  I'm hoping my daughter is so busy getting ready for us to arrive that she does not sneak a peek on here today to see this. 

Now this is rather funy - I'm sitting here typing at my computer desk and just looked out the window - there's a bat that just "dropped" down on the picnic table - uh oh - guess I'd better keep my eye on him to see where he ends up - he might be having some difficulties this morning.  I had one of my readers - oops there he goes - ask last night what they are good for - remember these little fellas eat lots and lots of mosquitos.  They are more worthwhile than they are risky to have around! 

Yesterday, while outside cleaning up the little chicks, which are no longer so little - I noticed the dogs grousing around the bottom of the pool and found a 12 inch garter snake - They were trying to kill it - so I intervened and moved the snake away from them - yes, that's not a typo - I moved the snake - we like them here (not the poisonous kind ofcourse) and we let them live right here with us - however, while we were doing adopt a highway yesterday afternoon - they got him out and killed him.  I was upset with the dogs.  Now I am guessing those words will stir up some comments today!  Probably a few calls to see if I need to be committed to some rubber room somewhere!  You just have to find the positive in all the critters that are around here - you can't kill them off just because you don't like them.  With that said, I'd better go check the weather outside - thanks for stopping by!!