Hi Friends! I hope you’re doing well and are having a nice weekend so far! I know I’ve not been posting or making video tutorials as often as I usually do – however, I think most of you know I’ve got a ton happening right now!
Brian & I have been working on a new addition to our home (a sunroom/office extension); redesigning & renovating our kitchen; installing new windows and putting new siding on our house and garage; extending our front roof to create a covered patio with beam posts & railing (we poured the concrete for the patio this past summer). A lot has been on hold due to supply availablity and of course, winter weather. Now we’re rockin’ & rollin’ though. I’ve also been painting (living room, bathroom & kitchen so far); plus I’ve been starting my veggie & flower seeds for this year’s garden.
Oh, and let’s not forget WEDDING! Brian & I will be getting married this summer (August) and I’ve been in full-blown prep-mode. Our tents, dance floor, tables, chairs, etc have been booked. I’m about to start on our invitations; I want to get them sent out by the end of this month (I haven’t even designed them yet!). Next will be to create our wedding favors and decorations. I’ll be preparing all the food for our wedding (and brunch the next day), so pretty soon I’ll be quite busy in the kitchen, cookin’ & bakin’ (and freezing everything before the big day).
We anticipate approx. 120 guests. We’re doing EVERYTHING ourselves, but thankfully, we have incredible friends & family who are helping us. So exciting and while lots to plan & do, it’s a LOT of fun too!
I am doing my best to prepare as much as I can as early as possible. My dad and his wife will be arriving from BC a couple of weeks prior to our wedding and we want to be able to take time to relax and enjoy our visit. The days are going by so quickly!
Amongst all of this I still have my Stampin’ Up! business to run! So while I may be quiet ‘online’ I will certainly be working behind the scenes, keeping the wheels turning! I will continue to make videos when I can, but I suspect I won’t be able to get back to posting them weekly until after the fall (as I’ll be catering for the tuna charter season, which will run end of August to mid-October).
Ok, I think that’s it for an update – and I suspect you can get the gist of everything I’ve got on my plate right now! LOL So please excuse my absence here and there for the next few months, my friends. Having said that, however, I’ll still be posting on my blog, sending out my newsletters and sharing tutorials with you whenever I can.
If you’ve placed an order with me during the past year I will also be sending you a complimentary copy of our new 2022-2023 catalogue, which begins May 3rd. Catalogues will be mailed to you by the end of this coming week.
Beginning next week I’ll be sharing my TOP TEN RETIRING products that I do every year. It’s always fun, albeit a bit sad, to see some of the cards and projects I’ve loved using products that are going away.
Alrighty – that’s about everything. If you’ve read this far, then you deserve a free tutorial!
Here is my card for this month’s Leader’s Project Sheet Group. It’s a simple layout, with a bit of the “Thumping” & “Misting” techniques, but I really like this card and I hope you do as well!
I chose to use the “Grassy Grove Bundle“, which could be my new favourite bundle (I’m even debating using it for our rustic-themed wedding invitations!).
Grassy Grove Friend Card
Measurements:
- Shaded Spruce: 8 ½” x 5 ½”
- Basic White: 1” x 5 ½”, 4” x 5 ¼”, plus scrap for die cuts
- Early Espresso: 1 ¼” x 5 ½”
Instructions:
- Fold Shaded Spruce card stock in half to create a card base.
- Glue strip of Early Espresso card stock on the front of card.
- Ink sentiment from “Peaceful Moments” stamp set with Shaded Spruce & Early Espresso Markers. Stamp onto the strip of Basic White card stock & glue to the card.
- Ink trees with Old Olive ink pad. Tap the Mossy Meadow Marker on top & repeat with Shaded Spruce marker (this is known as the “Thumping Technique”). Go over the tree trunk with Early Espresso Marker, taping up across to the tip of the trees. Lightly mist stamp with water using Stampin’ Spritzer. Stamp onto scrap piece of Basic White card stock. Cut with die and glue to the front of card.
- Wrap twine around card and make a bow, securing into place with Mini Glue Dots.
- Ink the three tree image stamp the same way as step four, stamp onto scrap Basic White card stock and set aside to dry, then cut with die. Stamp the 4” x 5 ¼” Basic White card stock for the inside of the card. Adhere the die-cut with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and glue. Use Shaded Spruce & Early Espresso markers for the inside sentiment.
- Ink bird image from “On the Horizon” set with Early Espresso ink and stamp off onto scrap paper, then stamp inside of the card.
- Ink deer with Crumb Cake ink pad and use Early Espresso marker on the nose and eyes. Stamp onto a scrap piece of Basic White card stock and cut with coordinating die. Adhere the die-cut with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and glue it to the front card.
Enjoy the day & HAPPY STAMPING!
Congrats on your upcoming wedding…may you have many years of happiness together!!!
Deb Thill
Iowa
Thanks Deb!!!
I so enjoyed reading all your exciting news. Best wishes for you and your soul mate.
Thanks Dolores. Lots going on, that’s for sure! LOL I hope to start making our wedding invitations this week and I’ll be sure to share them and do a video tutorial too! xx