Top Note Tags

Hi there Stampers! Hope you are having a great Saturday! Sorry for the later than usual post. We went for a drive out to a nearby lake for a change of scenery-it was fun but I forgot to post on my blog before we left!


The new Stampin' Up Exclusive Top Note Bigz Die is one of the most versatile die cuts around. I've seen the Top Note used on cards, as toppers to cello bags, as scrapbook pages, on 3-D items like the purse we made here, and now as a tag. I love it!
If you are interested in ordering the Top Note Die (#113463)you can click to the right on my blog and order 24/7 from my website! If you order starting tomorrow Feb. 1st Stampin' Up will include your very own copy of the 2009 Spring Summer Idea book for FREE! If you order $50 or more you also qualify for FREE items in the Sale-A-Bration catalog! Don't miss out!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Love You Much, Daisy Dash Jumbo Wheel, Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel Paper: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, WW, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive Ink: Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Boho Blossoms Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Small Star Punch, SU and Non-SU Riboon, Making Memories Eyelets, Crop-A-Dile

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Furry Friends Friday

Good morning Stampers! Welcome to another Furry Friends Friday! Today I am going to introduce you to Squishy. We rescued her from a hard life on the streets when she was just a baby. Her real name is Squash but when we first got her she would dart for the door everytime someone came in or left and we would almost "squish" her in the door trying to keep her inside. I absolutely prefer my kitties to be indoor only kitties but we've made an exception for poor Squishy. :)
She's about nine or ten years old now and a real hunter. She likes to leave us "gifts" now and then, thankfully she leaves the "gifts" outside. She loves to be outside but at night she is usually curled up at the end of our bed. She knows where the most comfortable spot is!


Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with another stamping post!
Elizabeth

Valentine's Bunco Gift

Hi there stampers! Today's project is an absolute awesome one that I saw here at Becky's blog. I need a gift for our Valentine's themed Bunco night this week and thought this filled with Valentine's goodies would be fun!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Sweet Stems, Priceless, Happy Heart Day Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Old Olive, Regal Rose, Rose Red, WW Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Black Accessories: Sticky Strip, Wide oval Punch, Small and Large Tag Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Slot Punch, 1/8" Handheld Punch, Non-SU White Ribbon, Silver Elastic Cording
Thanks for visiting me!
hugs,
Elizabeth

Sketch Challenge

Hi there! Thanks for visiting me today! One of the fabulous blogs I stalk is the sweetest thing Karen started doing Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenges each week. These are a lot of fun to play along with so here is my submission for this week's challenge.
I just love this new Just Buzzin' By stamp set!
Ingredients:
Stamps:Just Buzzin' By Paper: Summer Sun, Only Orange, Basic Black, Whisper White Ink:Basic Black Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Non-SU Ribbon, White Gel Pen, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, SU Markers, Embossing Buddy
Have a terrific day!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Monkey Birthday

Good morning Stampers! Hope you are having a great day! Today's card is one that I CASEd (Copy And Share Everything or Copy And Selectively Edit)from Jill, an incredibly talented SU demo whose blog I stalk daily. See her card here. I made this card to go with a cute gift bag I had with a purple monkey on it for a friend's son's first birthday. It was super easy and quick and I think it turned out pretty darn cute!
Ingredients:
Stamps:None! Paper: Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, WW, Basic Black Ink: Creamy Caramel SU marker Accessories: Heart to Heart punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 3/4" Circle punch, 1 3/4" Circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Scallop Circle Sizzix Bigz Die
Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Fresh Cut Pomegranate

Hi there Stampers! Today's card uses a retired color called Purely Pomegranate and a stamp set called Fresh Cuts. I honestly initially didn't like the stamp set all that much but after playing with it a bit, I've decided it's not too bad. :) It actually makes a very elegant card I think.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Fresh Cuts Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink, WW Ink: Purely Pomegranate, black Accessories: Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Elizabeth

Valentine Swaps

Good morning stampers! Hope you are having a great weekend! I recently participated in a swap with some friends and thought I'd post their cards since they were all so terrific!

by Lynda Lee
By Johanna McAtee

By Allison Rowlands

By Julye Cox

By Elizabeth Fortuna

By Tarja Little

By Michelle Delgado

By Melina Crain

By Judy Crain

The pictures due them no justice at all as my photography skills leave much to be desired! Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

Color Inspiration Challenge

Good afternoon stampers! Sorry for the later post today, I actually have been being lazy this morning! My Valentine's Class last night was fun but ran a little late! I think everyone had a good time and liked the projects though!
Today's card was my submission for another Kristna Werner Color Inspiration Challenge. I really like the way my card turned out but the picture not so much. Sorry it's not so great.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Sock Monkey (sentiment) Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, WW, So Saffron Ink:Real Red, Basic Black, So Saffron, Green Galore Accessories: Small and Large Oval Punches, Word Window, Ribbon, It's Beautiful Jumbo Wheel
I hope you all have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Another Furry Friend Friday

Happy Friday and welcome to another "Furry Friend Friday" post!
Today I am going to introduce you to Polka Dot. I met Polka Dot when she was just 4 days old. She was so tiny! She is so not tiny anymore! She is huge! She is almost 2 years old now and is bigger than her older siblings! She isn't the friendliest kitty-not big on cuddling and definitely not a lap kitty-but she likes to play and especially loves our dogs. She likes to lay on their beds, eat out of their bowls and wants to go outside with them when I let the dogs out in the yard. She has a stubby tail due to an accident when she was 9 weeks old but it doesn't slow her down at all.

Hope you enjoyed this week's kitty post! Have a great weekend!
Elizabeth

Birthday Blitz

Hi there! Today's card is a bright one! I wanted to make some birthday cards that could be for boys or girls that wasn't too babyish. It came together pretty easily and I got to play with my Color Spritzer tool!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Holiday Blitz, Celebrate Everything Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Black, WW, Gable Green, Summer Sun, Only Orange Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Gable Green Accessories: 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Word Window Punch, gold brads, Color Spritzer, SU Markers
Have a great day!
Elizabeth

Valentine's Gift Class

Hi there Stampers! Hope you are all having a terrific day! I just finished prepping for my upcoming Valentine's Gift Class and thought I'd post all the projects we'll be doing.
>

I am looking forward to this class and spending time with some of my favorite people! It's going to be fun!
Have a great afternoon and thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Petal Pizazz Challenge

Good Morning Stampers! I am so excited as the new 2009 Spring and Summer SU catalog will go live at 11am today! I will add the links to my blog as soon as I am able so you can check out all the fabulous new stamps sets and products available!
This is a card that I made that meets the criteria of two challenges. The first is Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge(of course, I missed the deadline again!) and the second is a new line of sketch challenges that Karen of the sweetest thing is creating.
I used the brand new Petal Pizazz stamp set and it was fun to ink up some new rubber!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Petal Pizazz, Celebrate Everything Paper: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink, WW Ink: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty In Pink Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Scissors, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sizzix Big Kick, SU Markers, Round Tab Punch
I hope you come back to check out the new catalog in a little while! Have a terrific day and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Elizabeth

Last Day to Order!

Just a quick reminder that today is the absolute last day to order from the Fall/ Winter Catalog. Just click on my shop 24/7 logo on the right side and it will take you to my website where you can order directly and get any last items you don't want to miss out on! Don't forget about the inventory blowout and the retiring list.



The NEW catalog comes out officially tomorrow! For those of you who have scheduled workshops with me - I have your catalog!!! It's full of brand new products and I am so excited about it! Also Stampin' Up is offering a great promotion starting Feb. 1st thru April 30th- if you order through my website you will get the new Idea Book and Catalog for free! That's a $9.95 value!
I hope you have a terrific day! Thanks for stopping by!
hugs,
Elizabeth

Sock Monkey

Good Morning! This is a card we made at a couple of my workshops. The monkey is so funny! I started with a Very Vanilla base, added a Ridinghood Red panel randomly stamped with the banana in the same color. The sock monkey is stamped in black and then stamped again with one of the Itty Bitty Background stamps in Close to Cocoa using a mask. He's colored in using SU markers and the banana is popped up on dimensionals. The "just for you" is stamped in Close to Cocoa and punched with the Small Oval and layered on a Chocolate Chip Large Oval. The bottom edge is a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock punched with the Scallop Edge punch.
Hope you enjoyed today's card and we'll see you tomorrow!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Sock Monkey, Itty Bitty Backgrounds Ink: Close to Cocoa, Black, Ridinghood Red Paper: Close to Cocoa, Ridinghood Red, Very Vanilla Accessories: Scallop Edge, Ticket Corner, Small Oval, Large Oval, SU Markers, Dimensionals

Pick a Ladybug

Hi Stampers! Sorry for posting so late. I had a garage sale here this morning and now I'm exhausted!
Today's card is a cute one. I started with a white base, added a crimped piece of black cardstock with silver brads to the side, and stamped the wings of my ladybug with the Pick A Petal stamp set. I cut them out and adhered them to a black 1 3/8" circle and added it's head made with scissors and the slit punch. I adhered my ladybug with dimensionals on white cardstock matted on Wild Wasabi (retired)with the corners punched out with the ticket corner punch. The sentiment is stamped in black on WW, sponged red on the edges and matted on black. The corner is accented with a Real Red word window punch folded in half with a brad stuck through. It's one of my favorite cards since I really like ladybugs (because they remind me of my mom )
Ingredients:
Stamps: Pick A Petal, Hugs and Wishes Paper: black, WW, Wild Wasabi, Real Red Ink: Real Red, Black Accessories: Scissors, Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Crimper, silver brads, Ticket Corner Punch
Hope everyone is having a great Saturday! See you tomorrow!
Elizabeth

Furry Friends Friday!

Good morning! Here's another "Furry Friends Friday" post.
OK, so those of you who know us know that my family and I are crazy cat people. We have quite a few beloved family members of the feline persuasion as well as a couple of dogs floating around the Fortuna compound. This summer we started fostering kittens through an organization called Valley Vet Non-Profit. It's head is a friend of mine named Diane. She is a vet tech at Valley Vet and she helped start a low cost spay and neuter program in our city to try to lower the number of cats and dogs euthanized because they were unwanted. I have a link under "sites to visit" to read more about the program.
Through Diane we take in kittens that would have otherwise been euthanized at the pound or are strays and we take care of them until we can find a home for them. We get them used to people, kids and other animals and prepare them to be loving, family kitties. Before being put up for adoption, Diane makes sure they are spayed or neutered and have their shots. It has been both fun and rewarding saving these kittens from certain death and finding them homes and familes to love them. Of course the hardest part of doing this is letting the kitties go after bonding and taking care of them.
The first litter was a litter of four, two boys and two girls. We always name our foster kitties a temporary name, the first litter was of course, Eenie, Meenie, Miney and Moe. They were all so sweet, but Moe he was a snuggler. That little guy with his wide nose and big goofy ears was always happy to see us and would purr instantly. Try as we could there was no way we could let him go, so introducing one of the newest members of our family...Mr. Moe

He is a little skittish sometimes and loves to snuggle under the covers (like me!) and is all boy. He loves to sneak up on a sleeping Peek-A-Boo and attack her. It's like the WWF when he plays!
Hope you have enjoyed meeting our Mr. Moe and that you'll come back and check out my post tomorrow!
Elizabeth

Valentine's Pop-Up Card

Happy Thursday Stampers! Today I am posting a card I made with a friend as we tried to figure out her card for a swap we are doing next week. We decided to play with this pop-up card tutorial we found at Dawn's Stampin Studio and came up with some super cute ideas. This is my version, I'll post my friend's card after the swap!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Happy Heart Day, All About U (retired)Paper: Real Red, WW, Pretty in Pink Ink:Black, Pretty in Pink, Real Red Accessories:Paper Trimmer, SU Markers, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch
Thanks for stopping by! Come back tomorrow for another Furry Friends Friday post!
Elizabeth

Coaster Scrapbooks

I made these coaster scrapbooks a while ago for one of my holiday boutiques and had a couple left over. These are super cute as gifts for moms, friends, etc. and easy to make. I used my Bind-It-All machine to put them together (love that thing!)
Ingredients:
Stamps: Pun Fun, Tart & Tangy Paper: Summer Picnic DSP, Bali Breeze DSP, WW, Real Red, Regal Rose Ink: Black Accessories: SU markers, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Bind-It-All Machine.

Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Cupcake Tags

Good Tuesday morning! Here are some really cute cupcake tags that I totally cased from here It felt like there was a lot of cutting involved but I think they are too cute!
Ingredients:
Stamps: Simple Birthday Thanks, Best yet (Hostess set) Ink: Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel Paper: Careamy Caramel, Lavendar Lace, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Tangerine Tango, Pixie Pink Accessories: Crimper, 1/4" Circle Punch, Designer Label Punch, Eyelets, Scissors, Markers, Non-SU ribbon
I hope you all have a terrific day! Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Elizabeth

The Love Tree :)

Good morning! I absolutely love this stamp set! It is by far my favorite and so versatile! Those of you who have attended my stamp camps in the fall and winter can attest to that! We made a Thanksgiving card and a Holiday card using the various stamps in this set. We made a similar card for my Valentine's stamp camp. I was inspired by this card I found on Splitcoast Stampers. This stamp set is available in the Holiday Mini until Jan. 18th so don't miss out on it!
Hope you all have a great day!
Elizabeth
Ingredients:
Stamps: A Season of Friendship, Love You Much, A Happy Heart Paper: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, WW Ink: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch, Scissors, Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals

Scallop Love You

Good Morning! Here's another card we made for my Stamp Camp. It's cute and super simple! The base is made using Lovely Lilac cardstock die cut with the Sizzix Bigz Scallop Circle(#113468). This size is perfect to use a CD sleeve as the envelope! I stamped it with the Love You Much stamp set(available in the Love You Much bundle #115405) and A Happy Heart stamp set out of the Holiday Mini that is available until Jan. 18th.
Ingredients:
Stamps: Love You Much, A Happy Heart Paper: Lovely Lilac, WW Ink: Lovely Lilac, Pink Passion Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensionals, Non-SU ribbon (Michael's)

Hope you have a terrific day! Happy Stamping!
Elizabeth

Color Inspiration Challenge

It's time for another Kristina Werner Color Inspiration Challenge! These are fun to do especially when you like the color combination! :)

So for this challenge I decided to make a refrigerator magnet calendar. I started out with a plain coaster, covered it with Old Olive DSP, and attached a self-adhesive mini calendar I got from Vippies. I then punched holes with the bigger hole on my Crop-A-Dile and threaded some Chocoloate Chip Grosgrain ribbon tied into a bow. To finish it off, I added a textured Pumpkin Pie Die Cut flower with a Baja Breeze Boho Blossom punch flower and a white button with white ribbon tied in the center.
Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Furry Friends Friday #1

Good Friday morning! Are you happy it's Friday? I am! The first week back from vacation is always hard to adjust to.
So I have decided to make Fridays my "Furry Friends Friday". We are a animal loving family and I thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite furry friends. So if you are only here for stamping you might want to skip Fridays ;)
So... introducing the furriest love of my life, Peek-A-Boo.
We got her from my friend, Diane, who works at a vet office here in town. Someone dumped her there along with a couple of her siblings almost 2 years ago. I loved her immediately. :)She is the silliest cat I have ever had. We're pretty sure she thinks she is a squirrel. She likes to launch herself from across the room to land on your shoulders. She's pretty accurate though I've had some nice puncture wounds from near misses. She is also the most tolerant cat I've ever seen. We have been fostering kittens since the summer and with every new litter that shows up here she just accepts them without so much as a dirty look.

I hope you enjoyed the first of many of my furry friends posts. Come back tomorrow for another stamping project :)
have a great day!
Elizabeth (the crazy cat lady)

Happy Birthday Birdie

Today is my friend Allison's birthday (Hi Allison!) so I am posting her birthday card and gift today since she has already seen it. :) I made her card using the negative of the Top Note Bigz die (#113463). This die is exclusive to Stampin' Up and can be found in the Holiday Mini Catalog. It's one of the most used dies I own. I stamped the card using Season of Friendship (#111776) which is my favorite set for sure and a set called A Little Birdie Told Me. I paper pieced the bird using the Ski Slope DSP in the Holiday Mini.

I've seen these Top Note purses on a few different sites. I believe I saw it first on Angie Juda's site but I followed a tutorial I found at Barbara's site here.>

It was so easy and I think it turned out super cute! I used the A Little Birdie Told Me set on this as well and also paper pieced the bird with Ski Slope DSP. I stamped the flower image randomly on the tissue paper and inside is a gift certificate for SU products thru her favorite Stampin' Up demonstrator-ME! ;)

CARD Ingredients:
Stamps: Season of Friendship, A Little Birdie Told Me Paper: Ski Slope DSP, Baja Breeze, WW Ink: Black, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Real Red Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals
PURSE Ingredients:
Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me Paper: Ski Slope DSP, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla Ink: Black, Baja Breeze Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, Top Note Bigz Die, Baja Breeze Striped Ribbon, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Birthday Wishes

Happy Wednesday! Sorry for posting so late, I've been having a heck of a time uploading this picture. Maybe a sign that I shouldn't? Ha ha! I was looking through my birthday card stash and, as always, don't have a lot of masculine or at the very least non-extremely girly birthday cards. I don't know why it is so hard for me to make a masculine card! So I looked through my DSP (designer series paper) scrap pile and went from there. Not so sure I like the finally outcome but since most men look at their cards for about 3 seconds-it's ok! ;)
Ingredients:
Stamps: Holiday Blitz, Wow Flowers (sentiment) Paper: WW, Black, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Petals DSP (I think??)Ink: Tempting Turquoise Accessories: Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Word Window, Ticket Corner, Designer Label, Michael's ribbon
So right now in Orlando, FL Stampin' Up is having their Leadership Conference, unfortunately I didn't qualify to go this time. So all those lucky ladies who are there right now have gotten their new catalogs and seen all the fabulous new products that will be available Jan. 18th. I found someone who is posting pictures (yippee!!)so if you are as excited as I am and want to check it out click HERE This is Lydia's blog, Understand Blue. She is a fabulous artist and her blog posts are a crack up!
Thanks for stopping by!
Elizabeth

Hugs and Kisses

Good morning! I was playing with my new Pillow Box Bigz die(#113466) the other day making gifts for my family in Wyoming (Hi guys!)and used up some of my retired Dashing DSP. I had some pieces left over and thought I'd put it together on a Valentine's card. I started by layering 3 panels of the DSP (designer series paper) on Real Red cardstock. I put those on a piece of Very Vanilla and then onto my base of Real Red. I took a strip of Real Red (I save every little scrap and this is why!) and adhered it across my three panels then added 4 hearts punched with the new Heart to Heart punch from the Love You Much bundle(#115405)popped up on dimensionals. Last I stamped the scalloped Hugs and Kisses stamp (also from the Love You Much bundle)punched it out with the coordinating Scallop Punch and colored it in with my Real Red and Pretty in Pink SU markers and adhered it to the middle of my card.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Love you Much Paper: Dashing DSP (retired), Very Vanilla, Real Red Ink: Real Red Accessories: Real Red and Pretty in Pink Markers, Heart to Heart Punch, Scallop Punch, Dimensionals