Country Roads Stamping

A New Year

Well, again - a new year and I celebrate another year completed in blogdom!  I do have a resolution, revolving around my blog for this year - but I'll keep that resolution quiet for now :)  I will share one of my other resolutions in just a minute.

I am so happy to put something up here today besides Christmas Cards!  Yeah!  I needed to work on my stamp camp cards, which finally, I got 5 made that I will use for camp cards, then I needed some cards for my Secret Sister for Leadership conference - which I can't put up here until the week of Leadership and then I needed to do a swap card and you know  the list just keeps going on and on!  I was a little stressed this week-end trying to get it all designed.  I think everyone thinks that we just "breathe" and cards appear - nope - it is just as hard for us to create as it is everyone else. So the breathing was pretty stressful the past week-end.  Here's one that I like and gasp - it has butterflies on it! 

 
This is leaning towards the right because I just did a card front - so it "lists" whenever I do that!  This is done using the technique "inlaid embossing", which I've done on here before, actually before I knew it had a name!  I simply put all the elements on the blue layer (excepting the word greeting) and ran it thru the embossing folder and it embosses everything into one compressed piece, then I adhered it to the card front.  This flower is using the new blossom punch from the new mini - which is available beginning TOMORROW!!!  Yeah!!! Everything in the new Occasions mini goes live tomorrow.  So you will be seeing items from it this week - that's for sure!

So, did you make your new Year's resolutions?  I seldom do them - waste of time - the last one I did was the blog and I have stuck with that.  However, this year, while working done in the stamp room I was listening to the radio and heard of this woman, locally, who decided to set a goal for walking 300 miles in 100 days.  Hmmmm, so I've been running, but seems like it doesn't take much to let me move that to the back burner - not as much fun to run in doors as it is to run out on the spa deck - so beginning January 1, I have sit my goal to complete 300 miles in 100 days - running - not walking - I'll "report" in here every week - I'm thinking that if I post it on here - there are plenty of people to bug me about it and Hey, if you wish to join me - walking is fine - sit your goal and get started.  The 100 days ends on April 10 and I figure by that time it will be a well established routine again for me and hopefully I can move outside by then.  Lots of luck for those of you that have your own resolutions. 

Water Color Trio

Easy, Elegant and very duplicatable.  That's how today's card would be described.  This takes mere minutes to put together - well, if you have a Big Shot - it takes mere minutes!

Black and white - always classic - used En Francais for the background then cut out a Top Note and a Scallop Circle #2 to stamp the image on - large oval and scalloped oval to complete the card - Whew - you could crank out a bunch of these - just change the colors and have a great variety of cards in no time at all.  Short and quick - same for the blabber!  See you! 

Circle Circus

Middle of the week and time for a little Circle Circus.  Once again - bet you can't guess one of my favorite new colors - Cherry Cobbler!!!  I love it combined with crumbcake and black - didn't think I would but I do - this is a rather unusual style:

Well, let's see - there's a lot going on here - First off - the cherry Cobbler, paired with basic black, basic gray and Crumbcake.  I used our new large scallop punch - it pairs nicely with the 1 3/4" circle punch.  Ofcourse I also used the lattice die cut and put a couple of brads in the middles just for interest.  Then I pulled out something I rarely, if ever use - Texture Plates #4 - I used the definition one - however, I inked it with cherry cobbler ink first - then ran it through the Big Shot.  so the kraft paper "peeks" through so that the words really pop out.  Now, this is definitely not something I would normally do - but actually I like this one.  I do like these colors - they have a masculine look to them - although this one would not work for a guy - they could by changing the stamps.  Think anything else on there should make sense!  Off and running - have a great day! 

Spring has Sprung!

Yeah!!! Finally it is official - Spring is here!  So many things starting to show a little bit of green- the forsythia is starting to perk up - daffodils are blooming - 60 degree days!  Oh yeah - Spring has sprung. 

So with that bright start to our week - remember that card I asked you about last week?

I asked what I used for the top note - it was one of the cards I was using for my Big Shot class this past Saturday - no one guessed correctly - until I walked into stamp camp on Friday night - when Miss Janet said - I think you used a Coke can!  She was right!  Now I have to tell you that it is what we did to the coke can that makes it look so wow - and that isn't going to go up here for awhile - sorry - it was my experimenting that came up with this and we had fun with this on Saturday- the photograph does not do it justice - it shimmers and sparkles like crazy.  Now Janet won - but she's already making the card at the Big Shot Class this Friday night - so I'll have to come up with something else for her to get I guess!

Now for today's surprises.  This evening I'm heading to a Quilting group - probably some of Miss Janet's friends, as a matter of fact.  I'll be showing them things to use the Sizzix for with Fabric and quilting.  This is a new area for me to go demo in - so I've planned several things to show how they work with the Big Shot.  Here's one of the things I made to take.

You know what this is?  I love this - this just opened up a whole new thought process for my brain -

It's a cell phone bag!!!  Now. .. . we can make rag purses and then matching phone bags!  I can never find my cell in my purse - this way I do believe I can locate it quickly!  Simply used the top note and flower folds to match the little daisies - I just stitched around the edges - nothing fancy here gals.  Then tried something else I had seen.

 

This one is a pin cushion.  Another cutie and easy too - This used the scallop circle die cut and the flower folds die cut and for the daisies I used the smallest circle on the circles die cut.  Both of these were easy - do you realize that if you "LOVE" your phone - you could use the petal card die cut and actually make a Heart to store it in?  Well, I can't say that I actually love my phone - it is just a necessity to have with me - though it is seldom on.  So I chose the bright daisies instead. 

That's all for today - however, on a side note - we saw 3 Blue herons below our house yesterday morning - all within 100 feet of each other - was neat to see and if my friend Lee is reading this - she's an avid birder- so I'm sure she would love to see that many herons in one place.  I need to go listen for their call so I can recognize them - Steve will ask me when we wake up in the mornings and hear the birds outside - Now who is that?  and I'll tell him who is singing outside our window!  Our little flycatcher returned this week-end - she comes back here every year and usually builds a nest under the eave of the second floor and we heard her Sunday morning.   Ofcourse you know - the bats should be out too - here's hoping they survived and will be back in full force.     Have a great day! 

Pulling My Hair Out

Well, this is my second round at posting - some days it is probably better to just roll back over and stay in bed!!  I had my first post nearly completed - and it was slow going due to the heavy fog here this morning and making the server slow - then as I typed the last line - thanking you for stopping by - the electric went off ACCCCCKKKKK.  I lost everything because I know now that there is no automatic save when that happens - I tried but it was gone. sigh.  So there was a complete 40 minutes wasted.  So this post is going to be quick now since it is number 2.

Card today is using the movers and shapers.  Different style - I was not going for anything fancy here - basically showing you something different to do with the die cut.

I was thinking of using this for our anniversary card tomorrow - but I just don't think it is the kind of think that will catch my husband's eye - so I'll have to go searching for a better idea - something with bees most likely! 

so you can better understand the look of this card - I took an inside view also - explained it on the other post but time and the risk of electric blinking off again is not going to allow that this morning.  sigh - life in the country - gotta love it. 

While I've got you looking at hearts - here's a note also - the sale for this week is the Heart to Heart PUnch - it is #28 on page 187 of the catalog.  I'd put a picture but too risky this morning it appears!  It is on sale for $10.99 until Friday the 31st - if you are interested in purchasing one - let me know quickly! 

Also - I think today is egg day - that's my guess - I don't think anyone else has guessed today - but I'll have to check to be sure - our friends chickens delivered eggs to them this week-end - so I have high hopes that today is our day - I'll be sure to let you know!  Thanks for stopping by and sorry for the quick, post - not taking any more chances!!!

Sneak Peek Saturday

Finally made it to Saturday.  The best part is that there is no rain forecasted for today - Woohoo!  Now we can go slop around outside!  Today is going to be just a little different - a lot of demonstrators, myself included, already have the new catalog in our hands, which becomes available on July 1.  Now we also have several stamp sets, in colors, and designer paper and ribbons in our hands - we are allowed to post samples using those sneak peek items but we are not to elaborate on other items, which I am just fine and happy with.  Several demonstrators are filling their blogs and emails with new samples - but here's my view on that - we only have June to get the items that are leaving the catalog - we have a full year for this new stuff - my choice is to feature the ones that are leaving the catalog because once they are gone - I am done with them.  However, for Saturday - I'll give you a sneak peek of some of the items.  If I can figure out how to load the new colors, I'll post that here also.  I thought I had it last night - but then it wouldn't show up.  Anyway, the card. 

NOw you are probably looking at this asking - what in the world is new on this card?  Ofcourse I have mixed the new with the old - getting mileage out of each!! You see that nice star punched out of the middle of the card - right in the center?  That is not a hand held punch - that is the new Movers and Shapers to fit in the Big Shot - really cool - you just pull out the little magnet that is in there now - the curly label and pop in one of the others.  I chose the star this morning and then covered the inside of the card with yellow and while I didn't photograph the inside, I also stamped some of the Independence Day (another retiring set) swirls on the inside of the card.  then I did add some small punched out hearts to the front for a little dimension.  This large star can be moved around anywhere - punched in the center, on the right, the left - anywhere you decide to move it and then the die cut will punch and score your card at the same time.  So there is your sneak peek for today -but I still managed to use items that are retiring - the best of both worlds I'm thinking!!!

Remember those robins that I pictured their nest on here several weeks ago?  Well, I never took pictures of them because 2 of the three died - not sure why but the third one came up missing also so I figured three for three - but yesterday I found the last one "hiding" under my hostas along the porch.  That poor little bird survived all that rain this week under the hostas - which are so big that he was dry as could be!  It is doubtful that he will survive, since he is on the ground - but he's made it 4 days - so maybe he will.  When the robins moved out - the bats moved back in!  they are back in the light - so we will have to do something about that - cover the opening or something.  Off to fix breakfast - have a great day and thanks for stopping by - there sure are a lot of you stopping by!!  Amazing!!

A good Day for Sleeping In

    What a joke that title line is!!! Sleeping in?  I don't think that exists here - my son in law teases that whenever they travel with the Hamricks they run on very little sleep and lots of energy.  I said to my DH last night - can't we just sleep in tomorrow?  Till maybe 6 a.m.?  Now I know most of you are choking at the idea of 6 a.m. being sleeping in time - however, for us it is.  So it was agreed that yes we would sleep in - this would be an event!!!  Until the electric went off - sometime - I'd guess around 5 a.m. and it woke us up - the lack of "sound" like the refrigerator humming, the beep the microwave makes, etc.  So yep - rise and shine - no sleeping in here - I actually think he was out of bed earlier than on a week day.  He phoned in the power outage and the dispatcher wanted to know if our electric really was out - Oh yes, that's something we joke about at 6 a.m.! 

     So we started working in the dark - I went out and watered the flowers and washed the car - then when it was daylight enough to see inside the house I started breakfast while Steve went to cut up a tree that he is going to move here to the house to make a bee hive in our front yard.  I do have to tell you that it is a little tricky fixing pancakes and sausage and eggs without electricity - kind of dicey to see when that sausage is ready to turn!!!  We ate out on the picnic table, which is normal for SAturday mornings.  Steve is now helping my dad cut up some firewood and then we will power wash the back porch before I head off for a workshop this afternoon. 

    My picture this morning is a little different - I used the Sizzix Cake die cut - working on doing some different ideas with this as a team challenge.  Last night while STeve was chatting with his brother on the phone I could hear the dogs barking and figuring it was coyotes - headed outside - but I was to find out there were no coyotes (that night anyway) but rather an owl.  We had not heard them in a while and usually we hear Barred owls, but I'm not exactly sure what kind this was - going to have to get out my bird tape to double check the sound I heard.  So . . . . with that said . . . I decided to try for an owl tree:

Isn't he  cute? The first question my husband asked was if it would fold up to be a card - yes, it would - but I didn't want to crease it - I just wanted it to stand like a centerpiece - typically this die cut is used to make a birthday cake - but there are allllllllll kinds of different ideas out there now using this die cut.  So I am going to have to put on my creative cap this week and see what I can come up with.  I do wish I had put this cake form - upside down - then it would look more like a tree - I may have to try that later.  Something a little different that your average card. 

Enjoy your day - looks like the rain is going north of us in this area so get the yards mowed and all the outside work done!!!  Have a great day. 

New Toys

Oh boy - yesterday my "new toys" from the Occasions mini, which will be released in April arrived - now I can't release any of those things here on my blog, with the exception of those items that are available now.  So there will be a few new things!  the first thing I absolutely love - that's the Fifth Avenue impressions folder - this cordinates with the stamp set but oh my what a statement it makes on a card.  This is used with the Sizzix - ofcourse.  I just love the look of it - then I decided to add just a little strip of the Rockabilly designer paper at the bottom, but the card would have been fine without anything added there.  There are several easter sets that are available now also- which I should put the pictures up of those.  Sure wish I had more time to play with all this new stuff today - it just isn't going to happen.  Off to a ladies meeting this morning and then stamp camp in pennsboro this evening.  Still crossing my fingers that the chicks will arrive.  This is like waiting on a new baby to arrive in the house!! Thanks for stopping by. 

Brrrr

Well, just a tad cold here today - or maybe a lot cold here!  Spring is trying to push its way through but winter just keeps pushing back as hard!  Husband is home today - he actually has the cold back in full force - he sounded nasty last night and I "suggested" he stay in today - so he finally listened - I'm going through the house disinfecting everything he touches, i.e. computer keyboard, phone, door knobs - I do not want this cold back!!!  Definitely a day to fix some chicken noodle soup, then I will stay in the stamp room so I can stay away from the cold monster! 

I was pleased with this card last night - now this morning - not so sure.  Maybe it will grow on me!  Note that it is a little straighter than usual!! Mary suggested that I push it to one corner and then keep my finger on it as I lower the lid - so it is straighter - the ribbon was an afterthought - and It looks like I should have thought that through a little more because that is crooked!!This uses the embosslit for flowers and I really like these little guys -   because these are so different to add  to a card front or a scrapbook.  I also did the textured background using the dotted swiss design.  The dsp I used is Tea party - I just keep grabbing it and rockabilly all the time.  Also I seem to be stuck with these colors - the green and the pink.  Maybe if I add one more flower so there is a grouping of three instead of two - that might balance things a little more. 

We do have a new background noise here now - a gas well is being drilled above our property - it is not loud and annoying - although it is driving the dogs nuts - they find it their guard duty to lay in the back yard all day and bark at this strange noise they hear!  As if something or someone is going to sneak into their yard!  In two weeks another one will go in closer to the property - and it will be loud and annoying.  We will actually be able to see it from the house - so that won't be as much fun.  They are fascinating to watch work - my parents had one on their property several years ago and geeks that we are - we pulled up chairs on the overlooking bluff to watch!  Oh and big news - the chicks arrive today!  Woohoo - 12 new mouths to feed!!!  Pictures will soon be coming!!

Little Green Frog

My little green frog - we have a frog here, "on the ranch" as my friend Debbie calls this place.  He lives in the little water pond beside our home.  Occasionally we will hear him although he is generally quiet - my really loud ones are the little tree frogs that take over our pool cover early May before we start up the pool - these little fellows will number in the 20s and they will sing and cavort on the pool top whenever it rains.  I love hearing them at night - my youngest daughter tells me it was one of the things that made her homesick while she attended college in the Midwest - she would hear tree frogs singing on rainy nights and wish she was back home.  So - I obviously like frogs - I like this little guy sitting among the flowers. 

He looks like he is impressed with the flowers - once again I pulled out the impression pads with the Sizzix machine - just love those things. 

To make the frame around the frog I cut a 2 3/4 inch square and then punched out the eyelet trim edge punch equally on each side and it makes the little frame - I would have liked to add one more layer of color behind the frog but then it would have covered up the eyelet and did not want to do that. 

Off to work - looks like there are 5 deer at the feeder this morning thus far and they are not being very sharing this morning - one deer is pushing all the others out.  SHE/He must be a regular - I don't know which as they have all lost their antlers right now.  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.