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

Creativity Can Take Months

I started making a Joy Fold Card in early November using my new favorite color combination Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard.  I prepared are the cardstock layers and I drew a blank on what stamp set I should use.  I pushed the cardstock pieces aside and waited, and waited, and waited until last week.  Over two months to create one card - seriously??  I am glad I didn't toss the cardstock pieces into my scrap bin to be used for another project. 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Elegant Eggplant cardstock
• More Mustard cardstock
• Fresh Vintage (Sale-A-Bration freebie!!!), On Your Birthday and Well Script stamp sets
• More Mustard ink and Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard Stampin' Write markers
• Punches
• Circle - 1", 3/4" and 1/2"
• Boho Blossoms
• Dimensionals

I loved the card so much; I thought it would make a great Valentine's Day card using Basic Black and Real Red cardstock.

Joy Fold Basic Measurements

Card Bases (Basic Black)

• Main Card 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” (score at 5 1/2”)
• Smaller Card 3” x 8” (score at 4”)

Main Card Base Layers (Real Red)

• Main Card inside measures 5 1/4” x 4"
• Right side measures 2 3/4” x 4" (If you want your card to open differently, this layer would be on the left side.)

Smaller Card Layers (Whisper White)

• Outside and inside layers both measure 3 3/4” x 2 3/4”

Constructing the closure made for this card

• The 1" circle is glued to front of the card on the the right side of the card. 
• Layer together the 1/2" circle onto to the Boho Blossom flower, then glue them onto the 3/4" circle punch out.  Place a Dimensional on the back and attach to the 1" circle already glued to the card. 

There are so many ways you can create a closure.  Check out my other Joy Fold Cards for more closure ideas.

Chris Twina created a great video tutorial on the Joy Fold card. The video with step by step instructions including measurements can be found here.  I am so grateful for the talented women who share and create wonderful tutorials. Comments are always appreciated; please leave Chris a comment or at least a "thumbs up" on her YouTube webpage.

Valentine's Day Card - Free Workshop

Stampin' Up! Products

• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Real Red cardstock
• Beginning measurement is 4 1/2" x 3 1/2.  Punch one side (longest length) using the Scallop Edge Border punch.  Final layer measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 4 1/4" x 2 7/8"
• Basic Black cardstock
• Strip measures 3" x 1/8" (length may vary depending on where you stamped the sentiment)
• Stazon Jet Blake ink
• Stampin' Write Markers - Pretty in Pink and Real Red
• Fashion Hearts Embosslit
• Outlined Occasions stamp set
• Heart and Scallop Edge Border punches
• Dimensionals

Participants in my free workshop will make one of these cards.  Cardmaking experience - NONE!  Workshop is scheduled at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 27 and 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 28.  Class size is limited to five - RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.  Contact me by EMAIL.

If you would like to purchase the supplies used in creating one of these cards, please email me.  The supplies will include everything you need except for the stamped image.  Stampin' Up! does not allow selling of their stamped image in card kits. 

My card was inspired by Debra C. of Art Felt Impressions. 

Check back or follow me by email (top of blog) and see how I CASE (Copy and Share Everything) a card when no measurements are given.

A Special Valentine Treat

Valentine Heart Treat Card

Stampin' Up! Products

• Whisper White cardstock
• Card base measures 7 1/2" x 5 1/4" - scored at 3 1/8" on n the long side
• Top layer measures 2 5/8" x 4 3/4"
• Tab pull measures 2" x 3 1/8"
• Basic Black cardstock
• Strip measures 1 1/2" x 6 1/4" for Lace Ribbon Border Punch (Variation – use Real Red)
• Scraps
• Real Red cardstock
• Layer measures 2 7/8" x 5"
• Scrap for optional small heart punch out*
• Stamp sets
• I {Heart} Hearts
• Sweetheart
• Well Scripted
• With All my Heart
• Real Red and Stazon Jet Black inks
• Hand punches
• Circle – 1 3/8” and 1 3/4"
• Corner Rounder
• Heart
• Lace Ribbon Border
• Modern Label
• Small Heart
• Word Window
• Heart Treat Cup
• Dimensionals
• Stamp-a-ma-jig
• Optional glitter paper can be used for the heart punch out

I have created a tutorial on how to create this unique Valentine card.  The special design allows the recipient to easily remove the candy without damaging the card.  The tutorial is only $2.49 (less than the cost of a milkshake).  Once your payment is processed, I will email you the four-page PDF, with step-by-step instructions with pictures.  If you have any questions regarding the tutorial, please email me PRIOR to making your purchase.. 

Heart Valentine Treat Card

Please check back tomorrow or simply subscribe to my emails so you don't miss any of my blog postings (click here) - I have been working on a Heart Valentine Treat Card using the Heart Treat Cups by Stampin' Up!.

Here is a sneak peak of my "creation."

I have been putting together a step-by-step instruction tutorial.  It takes more than two days to fine tune a tutorial.  I started with an idea, and kept "upgrading' it, and three cards later, I have a card that I am truly happy with.  The pdf tutorial will be available for purchase for only $2.49 (far less than the cost of a Starbuck cappuccino). 

As always, I will post all the supplies I used on my blog (at no charge). 

Valentine Thinking of You

I donate an average of ten greeting cards (every month) to the United Methodist Women unit at my church (First United Methodist Church of Jasper).  Our United Methodist Women unit meets the first Monday of every month for a general meeting.  The individual circles also meet, usually the third Monday of the month. 

Charlene Stephenson, UMW President, adds a scripture to the inside of each card.  Charlene has a flair for choosing the perfect scripture for the type of card that is being sent (Thinking of You, Praying for You, Sympathy, etc.).  The cards are signed by everyone who attends the meeting(s).  My hope is that each card represents how much the person is loved.

I made six of these cards to send to members of our United Methodist Women who are not able to attend most meetings.  I thought they would be great Valentine greeting cards.  

Stampin' Up! Products

• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Strip measures 3 3/4" x 7/8"
• Regal Rose cardstock
• Card base layer measures 4 " x 5 1/4"
• For lattice die begin with a piece of 3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Certainly Celery cardstock
• Loves Me Designer Series Paper
• Card base layers measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Fashionable Hearts embosslit and Lattice Bigz dies
• Bird Builder hand punch
• Sincere Salutations stamp set
• Stazon Jet Black ink

Mixed Bunch of Flowers

Stampin' Up! products

• Brocade Blue cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Regal Rose cardstock
• Start with 1 3/8" x 6" strip and punch using Lace Border punch
• Whisper White cardstock
• 3" x 9" strip for stamping
• Brocade Blue, So Saffron and Regal Rose ink
• Blossom, Blossom Petals, 1" Circle, Modern Label and Word Window hand punches
• Dimensionals
• Mixed Bunch and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets

Masculine Thinking of You

Stampin' Up! products

• Sage Shadow cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Chocolate Chip cardstock
• Strip 3/8" x 4 1/4"
• 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" for scallop circle
• Sahara Sand cardstock
• 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" for stamp image circle
• To the Nines Designer Series Paper (DSP)
• 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
• Lovely as a Tree  and Teeny Tiny Labels stamp sets
• Chocolate Chip ink
• Corner Round, Modern Label, Wood Window punches
• Modern Label from the Movers & Shapers Curly Label Bigz XL die
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Circle and scallop circle dies

Helpful Hint - use liquid glue as your adhesive because of the textured DSP tends to pull away from adhesive tape.

Blossom and Mixed Bunch

Stampin' Up! products

• Cameo Coral cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Layer measures 2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
• Strip measures 4" x 1/4"
• Kiwi Kiss cardstock 4" x 1/4"
• Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
• 4" x 2 3/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Card base layer measures 4" x 5 1/4"
• Sentiment layer measures 2" x 3 1/4"
• Stamp sets
• Mixed Bunch
• Blessing from Heaven
• Easter Blossoms
• Kiwi Kiss and Stazon Jet Black ink
• Blossom and 1" circle punches
• Dimensionals
• Basic Pearl Jewels

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

I gift wrapped some presents today.  I like how they turned out.

Stampin' Up! Products

• Garden Green, Old Olive, Real Red and Very Vanilla Cardstock
• Christmas Jingle and Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
• 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large and 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Large punches

Other Products

• Velco dot

What is inside the boxes? Only Santa knows...........

For instructions on how to make your own, check out Southpaw Paper Arts for a free tutorial.  Please take time to thank Kelly for sharing her design with you by leaving a comment on her webpage.

Luncheon Party Favors - My Table

These are my party favors for this year's United Methodist Women's December luncheon. 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Old Olive and Very Vanilla cardstock
• Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
• Old Olive ink
• Matchbox and Two Tags Sizzix Dies
• Corner Rounder and Ornament Punch
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Ribbon
• Pine leaf punch
• Brad
• Glitter paper

The tag was left blank so it can be used again - a PIF tag.

*PIF - Pay it Forward

Luncheon Party Favors - Bookmark

I have been busy designing party favors for this year's United Methodist Women December Luncheon.  I had two ladies request bookmarks as their party favors.

Stampin' Up! Products

• Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White cardstock
• Snow Swirled Stamp Set
• Riding Hood Red ink
• Multipurpose liquid glue
• Glue Dots
• 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and Circle Scallop punches

Other Products

• 8mm magnets

This bookmark is unique as it can be inserted in the book under the last line you read.  Saves you from reading the same paragraphs twice.

Hiding the magnets

• Apply a glue dot to one magnet and place it on the inside of the bookmark, in the center of the scallop. 
• Attached another magnet to the magnet already in place
• Apply a glue dot to magnet and close the bookmark
• Open bookmark carefully
• Apply liquid glue on a scallop circle punchout and secure to the inside of the bookmark, hiding the bookmark - this prevents the magnets from damaging the pages of a book

To cut a folded bookmark

• Start with a piece of cardstock 9" x 2 1/4"  ( this is a very tight fit - you may want to start with a wider piece of cardstock)
• Score in half (4 1/2")
• Place folded bookmark on die as indicated in the picture
• Helpful hint - I placed a repositional tab in the center of the scallop on the die, this helps hold the cardstock secure as you run it through the Big Shot.

"Performs related duties as assigned."

Did you ever have a job description that listed a number of responsibilities and the last one was "Performs related duties as assigned?" My job description as a senior secretary at Kent State University included that description. This was one of my assigned duties.....

WAIT FOR IT!!!

.....turn a bus into a boat.

Gilligan's  Island

This is what happens when your employer knows you can sew.  Under this ship is an ENTIRE BUS!  This boat float was made in the mid 1990's.

I was responsible for:

• Creating the pattern
• Tracing the pattern
• Sewing material to metal frame

Praise the Lord they didn't make me dress up as Gilligan. 

I worked in the Campus Bus Service Department.  Every other year or so, we gutted the inside of a bus that was no longer usable and created a float for the Homecoming Parade. 

Our first float was the magic lamp from the movie Aladdin.  We paper mached a bus that was wrapped in chicken wire - what a mess that was.  We also created space shuttle and diner restaurant.  Phew....glad those days are behind me.

The moral of the story:  Keep your mouth shut!

All Occasion Planner

Amazing Crafters - Sharing Their Talents!

I am often inspired by the many women (mostly women) that share their talents to everyone via the internet. I have created a few tutorials in Adobe PDF and know how much time it takes to create on tutorial. I have not attempted to even make a video to post to YouTube. I use a customized search on YouTube and look every day for videos created with Stampin’ Up! tag lines. I stumbled on these videos this week and I had to create a planner for myself. I decided to make mine an all-occasion planner rather than a Christmas planner.

Check out these two videos by Michelle Suit to see the step-by-step process to make the planner. I did not come up with the planner idea and they are not my videos. Please take the time to “Like” the video and post a comment for Michelle. Videos: Part 1 and Part 2.  Please refer to Michelle's video for an explanation on how to put the planner together.

Stampin’ Up! Products

• Tangerine Tango cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 8 1/2" x 11 (Score at 5 1/4" and 5 3/4" along the 11" length)
• 2 strips each measuring 4" x 1 3/8" (the final measurement after using the Scallop Trim Border punch is 4" x 1")
• Flower on envelope
• So Saffron cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 5" x 4 (Score at 1/4", 1/2", 4 1/2" and 4 3/4" along the 5" length and score at 1/4" and 1/2" on one of the remaining sides (I constructed my pockets differently than Michelle)

• Front panel embellishment - circle
• Old Olive cardstock
• Front panel embellishment - scallop circle
• 1 3/8" circle
• Whisper White cardstock
• 1 1/4" circle
• Haiku Designer Series Paper
• 5" x 8 1/4"  to cover the panels.  (I covered four panels)
• 3/8" x 8 1/4" to cover the spines
• 4" x 1/2" for trim on pockets
• 5" x 2 1/4" to cover the legal pad (Score at 1" and 1 1/4")
• 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" to cover envelope
• 1" x 12" for front panel medallion embellishment
• Tangerine Tango and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
• Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set
• Scallop Trim Border and 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle punches
• Flower Burst Embosslit die
• 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon
• Sticky Strip
• Multi-purpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Envelope - A2 size (5 3/4" x 4 3/8")
• Scallop circle die (3 1/4" diameter)
• Circle die (2 3/4" diameter)
• 3/8" coordinating ribbon (similar to Old Olive)
• Low-temp hot glue
• 5" x 7" legal pad
• Velcro dots (I placed these behind the legal pad instead of adhesive)