LEAP YEAR SPECIAL

Now through Wednesday, February 29, I am offering a 10% discount on all orders over $75.00. 

I like to keep my blog clutter free and attractive.  You can find links to Stampin' Up!'s current catalogs are at the top of my blog.

Celebrate leap year by receiving a 10% discount.  Celebrate even more when you take advantage of the free products being offered with every $50 purchase. Free product information can be found in the Sale-A-Bration catalog above.

For customers ordering outside of the Jasper, Alabama area, here are the payment arrangements available:

• I will Invoice you through Paypal
• Money Order*

This 10% discount is being offered by me and is only available for orders I personally place for you. I do not have a Stampin' Up! webpage and cannot offer direct ordering online with the 10% discount.

*Money Orders must clear before I can place the order

CASEing - A Simple Tutorial

When I saw this card online (created by a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator named Claire), I knew it would be perfect for my Card Mission for the United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church of Jasper.

When I find a card online that I like, recreating the card can take some time and possibly waste of precious cardstock.  I use a very simple method to recreate the card.  Using inexpensive cardstock, I cut the cardstock layers to the size I think will work for the card.  I write the width and height on each piece cardstock and keep them as templates in a folder. It is so much easier to take the different size card templates I created (from my folder) to more accurately "guess" each card layer size.  Time Saver AND Paper Saver! 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Lavender Lace cardstock

• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Basic Black cardstock
• Layer measures 3 3/4" x 3 1/4"
• Strip measures 1 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Strip measures 1 1/4" x 4 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 3 1/2" x 3"
• Fresh Vintage Stamp set
• Lavender Lace and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
• Scallop Circle and 1 1/4" x 1 3/8" Circle punches
• Designer Jewels - Black Flourish

Other Products

• Sentiments were created on my computer and printed on Whisper White cardstock and punched out

I also did the same card using Ballet Blue cardstock.  This time, I added a slight change - on the Old Olive strip (1 1/4" x 4 1/4") I stamped the image using Old Olive ink.  I also placed the sentiment layers at the bottom edge. Dimensionals were placed under the scallop circle punch.


*CASE means Copy and Share Everything. 

I have also used various software programs to create my layer templates.  One program you can use is Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio.  I have more experience using Microsoft products and have used Microsoft Publisher to create my layer templates.  For those who are not familiar with Publisher, the simple cardstock layer template mentioned above is all you need to save time and money.

A Dynamite Voice - Kim Dunn

We are blessed to have Kim Dunn in our church - Jasper First United Methodist Church.  Listen to her sing and imagine how wonderful it is to hear her voice nearly every Sunday church service.

Get Well Soon

Stampin' Up! Products

• Ballet Blue cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Sage Shadow cardstock
• Layer measures 4" x  5 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Mixed Bunch and Sincere Saluations stamp sets
• Ballet Blue and Sage Shadow inks and Stazon Jet Black ink
• Blossom, Blossom Petals , 1" Circle and Owl Builder (flower circle center) punches
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brad

With Deepest Sympathy

Stampin' Up! Products

• Certainly Celery cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Layer measures 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"
• Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper
• Strip measures 4 1/2" x 1 3/8"
• Thanks for Caring stamp set
• Old Olive ink
• Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (approximately 14")
• Trio Flower Punch
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Branch punch
• Rhinestones

Casto Family Tree

I have been, from time to time, working on my family tree. I did it without going to Ancestry.com. If you have date of births on the members of your family, most likely with some creative internet surfing, you will find amazing information about your family.

Internet 101
• A basic search, Jennings Bud Casto (my grandfather) will net many results. Included in the results was information on the Jennings Family Genealogy.
• An advanced search, "Jennings Bud Casto" will filter out the Jennings Family. Just by placing quotes around my grandfather's name, I found information about his siblings.

Fortunately, many of my relatives (who I do not know) have done most the work for me. I was able to go back six generations all by beginning a basic search on my grandfather. I was able to validate that was truly my grandfather's family tree because I did have his date of birth.

I have information that William Evans Garrett was born in May, 1768 and married Elizabeth Hendricks in June, 1971. William died in April, 1846. Elizabeth was born in June, 1774 and died in July, 1833. I was able to find that Elizabeth's parents were Joshua Redwine and Rosanna (unknown last name).

Jennings Bud Casto - my grandfather
His parents Everett Parker Casto and Alwilda Iona Skeen
His grandparents Franklin Pierce Skeen and Phoebe Garrett
His great great grandparents James Garrett and Sarah Buckley
His great great great grandparents Williams Evans Garrett and Elizabeth Hendricks
His great great great great grandparents Joshua Redwine and Rosanna (last name unknown)

Meet my grandfather - Jennings Bud (JB) Casto. I believe this picture was taken in Kent, Ohio, in front of his car dealership.

I wish I knew who to thank for gathering all the information that I found, so easily, on the internet. If you are reading this blog, please email me.

Almost Amethyst Tea Party

Have you ever gone into your craft room and can't even create a simple card?  That has been my problem for the last few days.  If you are not familiar with Clean & Simple (CAS), check out the blog HERE.   To inspire card makers, this blog uses "card maps."  The card map used for this card is at the bottom of this posting.  You can access all the card maps from this blog HERE.

I am not in love with this card, but I know the recipient will love that I took the time to say "thinking of you."

Stampin' Up! Products

• Almost Amethyst cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2"x 4 1/4"
• Strip measures 5" x 1/2"
• Certainly Celery
• Scraps for leaves
• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card layer measures 5 1/4" x 4"
• Tea Party Designer Series Paper
• 5" x 1 1/2"
• 5" x 2 1/2"
• Almost Amethyst, Basic Black, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink ink
• Trendy Tree stamp set
• Blossom, Blossom Builder, Modern Label and Word Window punches
• Bird & Blooms Sizzlits die
• Sponges

Other Products

• Brad