We have been going through a season of grief, and joy.
Our sweet Katy Pup was diagnosed with kidney disease the beginning of this month. Thankfully. with the amazing care of her new vet doctor she has bounced back - for how long, we don't know, but we are cherishing every little moment that we have with her. (EDIT* Katy passed away Tuesday, January 28th as I held her in my arms - we miss her terribly)
Our 4 year old grandson, Liam, comes on Sundays so Katy gets a lot of loving when he is here.
And our neighbor kids came over to see her too. They are so sweet and love on our pups all the time.
Another wonderful neighbor who owns one of Lucy's puppies came to give Katy some loving, but all of our dogs love her so much that they wanted to get into the picture too
Our daughter, Julie & Josh, came for some final good-bye's as well.
We are so thankful for all the love and concern that we have been getting for Katy in the time we have left with her
In the meantime I had two different friends that lost their fur friends. One to cancer and one to kidney disease (which totally scares me).
I decided to make each of them a pet sympathy card - which I know will help them while they grieve.
This first card is for little Piper's mommy
Such a sweet little pup -14 years old. Our Katy stayed with Piper once while we went out of town when Katy was just a tiny puppy.
and then this second card is for Jesse's mommy
Jesse is a Vizsla and super well loved by her mommy Jen, one of my stamping friends. such a handsome boy!
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Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin before February 10th to receive the February Paper Pumpkin Kit
If you are a Paper Pumpkin subscriber you can also purchase the add-on die set SPRING IS IN THE AIR for only $12 and it will coordinate with the January, February & March Paper Pumpkin Kits
I have several people who purchase the Paper Pumpkin monthly subscription through me, and for everyone who does, (or if they are on my C3 stamping team and subscribe to Paper Pumpkin) they are invited to come for a fun evening of assembling our kits together. We usually meet on the last Thursday evening of the month, but we have been known to switch things up to work around our schedules. Many times there is just the two of us (Anna & myself), but we will have a larger group when my snow-bird friends come home from Florida.
We research the Paper Pumpkin Fan Club on Facebook to glean ideas and then sometimes we make some of our own creations. It is just so much fun to do it together.
This is the intended projects for the kit...
The March kit celebrated Paper Pumpkin's Anniversary/Birthday so it included some bonus products (4 decorative masks)
While it is too late to subscribe to the March kit as you see here, you can still subscribe at any time and take advantage of the next months kit. (and many times you are able to purchase a refill kit from previous months)
Want to have a sneak peek of what they have in store for us for April? Subscribe by April 10th to get the next kit delivered right to your door.
Follow the instructions included in the kit or make some changes - it is totally up to you.
This kit will coordinate with the Sweet Ice Cream Stamp Set from the January to June Mini Catalog
(Good News: the Sweet Ice Cream stamp set and dies will carry over to the new annual catalog)
This month Anna and I enjoyed a fun evening together stamping, creating and enjoying some delicious tea.
These are the cards that Anna made: some she was inspired by the Paper Pumpkin FaceBook Fan Club page and some she created on her own
We both made this card using the printed envelope liner, making these images into birthday candles.
Anna used the "Here's to you!" stamp that was included in the kit and I used a "Happy Birthday". I also made mine with a more narrow piece of the Pretty Peacock card stock.
We saw someone use the little die from Hippo Happiness to make the candle flames (I think this die was intended for the inside of a darling animals ear)
I love the look of the flames using the die, however I also saw Rachel Tessman (the creator of the Paper Pumpkin Facebook Fan Club) use the Sprig Punch for the flame which was so much quicker, but I still prefer the looks of the flames made with the dies.
Anna's second card has a patriotic theme and she used one of the stencils with some embossing paste
Anna's 3rd card - she used the floral envelope liner for her card front
We both struggled a bit with this busy pattern,
My first try with the floral envelope liner...
I cut the image out from one of the card bases using a Stitched Shapes Die (hey! it's on the last chance list - it's a must have, so grab a set now). I backed it with a Pretty Peacock layer. Wasn't thrilled so only made one.
but then...
We both made this version...
I saw someone do the diagonal piece, but then I changed it up by cutting out a detailed butterfly using the Brilliant Wings Dies, and the tiny butterfly is from Nature's Thoughts Dies. Fancy Phrases Stamp Set (retiring soon) gave us the "Birthday Wishes". A heads up, too, is that the Pretty Peacock ink and card stock used here is also on the Last Chance List.
Anna used the Gilded Gems on her butterflies and I used some retired dots on mine. I really love the detailed butterfly cut from that paper. Our Stitched Rectangle was embossed with the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder - and YIKES! it's on the Last Chance List - I love this embossing Folder - I use it ALL the time!
Here are the cards that I made (other than the ones I already showed you)
I was totally inspired by a sample I saw on line to use the girl stamp from BEAUTIFUL YOU. What I changed up: I added the smaller Happy Birthday stamp included in the kit (the original designer used a stamp from Beautiful You) and I am not sure what dots she used on her card, I chose to use some retired Candy Dots for mine. Always trying to use up some retired stock. I stamped her dress onto some Seaside Spray Designer Paper and then fussy cut both the girl and the dress and pieced them onto the card. I think this was my favorite one to make that night.
Melissa made a card using the Mountain Air stamp set (which I prefer), but I thought it could work for this image as well.
The next day I decided to work on some more cards focusing on using the (4) bonus decorative masks. I started with the stars mask, and some embossing paste, but first I heat embossed the constellation heart from (retired) A Little Twinkle, then added the globe from Beautiful World. Added some gold glitter stars and a couple Night of Navy stars. I was inspired by Kathy Kartak
This is what I did for the inside:
The second mask I used is the one with multiple clouds. First I sponged Balmy Blue ink onto Balmy Blue card stock and then I used some embossing paste.
I really wasn't sure where this card was headed when I was using the mask, but I was happy with the outcome.
The Dog Punch is on the LAST CHANCE LIST in case you want to grab that while you can.
The sentiment comes from KINDNESS & COMPASSION (retired) Stamp Set, and the green grass is from the SPECIAL DAYS Dies. Super sale on these dies for only $7.25 (regular price $29.00), but you might also want to grab the coordinating stamp set Special Someone.
Inside: Some more sponging with the clouds mask and just a silhouette doggie.
After I was all done I started to think that the front needed just a touch of color with some little hearts.
I used my (retired) Confetti Hearts Border Punch, and literally held my hand over the card and dropped them onto the front. A little adjusting for placement and the card was complete by securing them with some Liquid Tombo Glue. Now I really like it, but I will be so sad when I have occasion to send a pet sympathy card.
Talking about our pets...want a quick photo on our newest batch of puppies? They are 3-1/2 weeks old and starting to get some chubby tummies. They seem very content, but we are also seeing them get a bit more active. We've heard some little "growls" and see the wagging of their itty bitty tails.
Their favorite hobbies are still eating and sleeping.
The next mask I wanted to play with is the one with the mountains. These masks only measure 4"x4" so I felt a little limited. As I was playing with it I was making a mess by sponging where I didn't want ink, etc. so I ended up using some large post-it notes to make it cleaner and easier. I decided to go with a note card size of 5" x 3-1/2" in Pretty Peacock. (a retiring color)
For the mountain on the front I sponged s few layers in crumb cake ink, then sponged on the pear pizzazz greenery. I sponged on some Balmy Blue sky then added sun rays in Crushed Curry ink using the 4th (and final) decorative mask. Then I remembered that the Paper Pumpkin Kit came with these little tree lines so I used 2 of them, sponging some extra Pretty Peacock along the bottom on the front piece. The trees on the front piece are popped up with Mini Stampin' Dimensionals. It really felt empty and I knew it needed an animal to fill the gap. After browsing through all of my current and retired stamp sets I landed on DASHING DEER, but my littlest deer was still too big for this space.
Here's what I did: I stamped the deer in Early Espresso onto Basic White card stock, then photocopied it at 80% and fussy cut it out. It ended up being the perfect size!
The green area still seemed a little bare to me so I added the "thinking of you" from the April 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit, using Early Espresso Ink.
Inside: just a little more sponging with the mask for a mountain then added some green grass and blue sky. I know exactly who will receive this card and I can't wait to send it to him.
Here are the links to shop with me or to join my Stampin' Up! team we would love to have you join us!!
We definitely felt the prayers, hugs and love sent our way this past week.
One dear friend, Bev, brought over a ginormous bowl of yummy potato soup, delicious bread and some amazing almond bars for dessert. Her love language is cooking and baking for others and we have been the recipients more than once! She even made the potato soup without meat so that I could eat it! So thoughtful!
I know that the funeral home provides thank you notes for us to send out, but I wanted to make a special thank you for my friends.
Another friend brought over a wonderful gift of wind chimes. I LOVE it! Every time I hear the chimes ring I can think of my momma! (and the special friends who gave them to us)
Dale's brother and sister-in-law sent this amazing greenery basket. I can't wait to put the memory stone in my flower bed next spring,
Another special thank you was made for these two gifts
And this is the beautiful card that Carla made for us
My drawing for October is... MAKING EVERY DAY BRIGHT Photopolymer Stamp Set
And the CHRISTMAS BULB BUILDER PUNCH
There is so much more to this stamp set than just Christmas. Can you see the cute little bunny, and one that looks like bunny ears? So cute for Spring, along with the flowers. Then there are pinecones, feathers, spider webs and so much creativity!
HERE ARE THE DETAILS for the monthly drawing special:
1. For every $50 ONLINE order (before shipping and tax) you get your name in the drawing.
2. This cannot be in combination with placing an order for a free class, sorry.
3. The drawing will take place on Tuesday, October 30th (because I am leaving for Florida on the 31st for ONSTAGE)
That's it! So now - please - go place your online order!!
October also brings a new Stampin' Up! year and time to start earning the next incentive trip. I have yet to earn one of these and I am super geeked to give it a try again this year. The 2020 incentive trip will be in Maui and I most definitely want to go with all my Stampin' Up! friends.
Each month you will see incentives for sales from me so that I can earn this amazing opportunity. Won't you partner with me to work toward this goal!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Here is the list to my quick links to contact me or to shop with me...
I have been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator since February 2008 and I LOVE IT! I have been married to Dale, the little boy I fell in love with when we were only 5 years old, for 45 years now. Our three adult children and our married-in children and our 7 wonderful grandchildren are our joy and delight. I am so thankful that they all support me in my Stampin' Up! business. My blog content is my sole responsibility and Stampin’ Up! does not endorse my website.
