Beach Tote Anyone?

When I ran the pieces for this basket through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder it reminded me of a beach tote.  Instead of using the round bottom for the basket I inserted a rectangle piece between the front and back pieces.  I added a double scallop circle medallion to the front.  Notice the choc. chip accent strips?  I made those using my Curly Label Punch.  So easy to do.  This idea just came to me.  Don't know if anyone else had thought of this, but I'm claiming it as my idea since I've never seen it anywhere else.  I'll see if I can get DH to take a few pictures of me doing this when he gets home to show you how it was done.  I so wish I had a tripod for my mini digital cam recorder.  Anyone have a suggestion where I can get one cheap?  I would love to start doing videos for my blog.  Anyway here is the finished project.

I was pretty happy with how it turned out.  Don't forget that the Island Oasis DSP I used here is only going to be available until August 31 so place your order before it's gone for good.  This DSP is great for summer fun projects or scrapbooking those great summer photos.  Remember you can order on my Stampin'Up! website 24/7.  See the link here on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Renee

How about a 3D item?

I haven't shared a 3D item with you in a little while and today seemed like the day to do so.  I've been wanting to try one of these little milk carton totes and I found an easy tutorial HERE done by Ruth Norton.  Thanks Ruth for the inspiration and your easy instructions.

Isn't it too cute!  I think this would make a great gift and filled with?????  Whatever kinds of little goodies, but I'm thinking chocolate would be best. *wink*

Here's what was used:  Paper:  Woodland Cottage DSP, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Choc. Chip 

                                                cardstock

                                   Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Milk Carton Die, 

                                                       Choc. Chip satin ribbon, Boho Blossoms Punch, Half pearls

                                                       Large Oval Punch, corner rounder

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Renee

                                       

Good Thursday Morning

Yes, it's Thursday and almost the weekend.  What do you have planned?  We don't have anything planned other than I think I would just like to enjoy our pool a little.  It's actually been almost too hot to do that, if that's possible.  The humidity has been so bad one can hardly breath outside, but the weekend is suppose to be better.  Where we live there have been so many butterflies this summer.  I've never seen so many flying around all the time.  Actually at my mom and dad's they will dive bomb ya.  Just tons of them everywhere so I thought I'd make this card.  See you knew I'd get around to the stamping part.

I cased this card from HERE.  Darlene did an awesome job and even a video on this card.  It totally inspired me today and I ended up making ended up making several other cards today as well that I will share in the next few days.  Thanks Darlene.  It had been awhile since I had used my embossing powders and heaven knows I have a few.  *wink*  You can see all the details on Darlene's blog and video.  I made a few changes, but nothing real big.

Thanks for stopping and have a Blessed day!

Renee

Another Sympathy Card

I had another pet sympathy card to send this past week.  As I've said it's always hard to loose a pet and when you have to make that decision to put one down, it's even harder.  When I got the 2 pet sets this past SAB I had intended to use them for scrapbooking, but they have come in handy for sympathy cards.  I know some of you may think it's a little weird to send such a card, but that's ok.  Those of us who don't will just feel sorry for you.  LOL!

So here's the card.  It's a 4 x 4.

Stamp Set: C is for Cat, Priceless (swirls on fish bowl)

Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla and Baja Breeze (so glad they brough that color back!)

Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Early Espresso 1/8" taffata ribbon, 1 3/4" circle punch, self adhesive pearl

Blessings

Renee

A Little Sharing

Hello my stamping friends! 
I know my blog posts have been pretty sporadic the last few weeks here and to be honest with you I really haven’t felt like stamping a whole lot. How can that be you ask? So many new things from Stampin’Up! The new catalog coming out, new colors, new stamp sets and fun new embellishments and the list goes on. The answer I guess is, I don’t know. Maybe an artistic slump? The dog days of summer? Or was it the fact that I was missing the Stampin’Up! Convention for the second year in a row? I think the later may have been the reason. I love to go to convention and this year was to be special for me personally. I was going to get to walk across the stage for my 10 year anniversary with the company and also for reaching my lifetime sales of 200K. To most that might not seem like a lot, but to me it really has been an accomplishment I never thought I’d reach when I started this hobby/business.   Me attending was just not in the financial plans this year.  Sales have been lower than usual, recovering from our house fire, Frank's medical bills were all contributing factors and frankly those are things that told me I shouldn't attend.  I believe when God closes a door, He closes a door for a reason and I need to be content.  I'm not saying that is easy, by any means and this past week of knowing convention was taking place and I wasn't there was hard, but I don't want to be anywhere I'm not suppose to be that's for sure.


So convention 2010 ended today in Salt Lake City, Utah. I missed the “ride” so to speak this week, but I haven’t missed the adventure. The adventure of what the new Stampin’Up! year holds for not only me, but for my customers as well is right before us. I have lots to share with you from the new catalog and oh need I mention the new Holiday Mini Catalog that will debut on September 1, 2010? You are going to love it. It is absolutely stunning. That’s one of the words that comes to my mind when I look at it. If you would like to receive your copy (BTW it’s a full 43 pages this time) please drop me a line so that I don’t miss sending you one. Even if you’ve been on my mailing list for years still drop me a line. I would love to hear from you and know that you enjoy receiving them. OK?

So I guess I said all that to let you know why my posts have been lacking as of late and I am going to honestly try to do better. You deserve better from me as your demonstrator.

To end this post I’m sharing a card that just may have helped me get my mojo back. This cute little girl comes from the set Greeting Card Kids on page 36 of the New Catalog. You can purchase it in wood mount for $20.95 or clear mount for $15.95. Your choice, the only difference is that you will need a clear mount block to stamp with. I’m not a big Halloween person, but I then again when you look at this card you will see it’s probably not a traditional looking Halloween card.  I had so much fun making this card.

Items used: Stamp Sets: Greeting Card Kids, Teeny Tiny Wishes

                 Paper:  Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, watercolor paper

                 Extras: Chantilly Crochet Trim, Stampin'Write Markers, Black Stazon Ink, Concord Crush

                 Ink pad w/ Aqua Painter, Sticky Strip under lace, Big Shot Top Note die. Vintage Wallpaper

                 and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders

This card is actually even cuter in person.  Wanna see it?  Book your Stampin'Up! workshop and I'll be sure to bring it so you and your guests can see it in person.  Don't forget if you host a workshop from July 27-Aug 31 and have sales of at least $350 you will get an extra $25 in hostess benefits.  Woo Hoo!  What a great time to host.  Call me to book yours.

I know this was a long post so thanks for sticking with me.  I just felt the need to share my heart tonight with you.

Blessings

Renee 

Cherry Cobbler Please?

Don't you just love the new Cherry Cobbler color?  This color is now part of Stampin'Up!'s core colors and from the Regals group.  If you know anything about me you know that any color of red is my fav.  I found this idea HERE.  I used Certainly Celery for the leaves and made mine a little different from hers as well as using the Love Letters DSP, but the inspiration was completely from Patti Lee's.  Thanks Patti for the great idea.

Now do you want to see how you open the card?  Yes, I know you do so scroll down a bit........

Ta-da!  Now how neat is that?  The flowers are from the Big Shot die Blossom Party and the leaves were punched using the large oval punch and folding the cardstock.  I know, I know, you're not suppose to punch through more than one layer, but you really are only punching a portion and not completely.  If that makes sense?  The embossed background was made with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  This folder is so elegant.  I just love it!

I hope you enjoyed this extra special card and as always if you have any questions please let me know.  All items used are SU! of course.

Blessings,
Renee

Pet Sympathy

Good Tuesday afternoon.  Just a little card to share today.  Some dear friends of ours had to put their dog to sleep a week or so ago and if you've ever had to do this, you know how hard it can be.  Our pets are part of our families and it can be very hard to make this decision even when you know they no longer are having any quality of life.  So this is the card I will be sending them.

I used Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Early Espresso cardstock and the same with the ink.  The set I used is D is for Dog.  There is also a sister set called C is for Cat.  I used the the scallop oval Big Shot die for the frame and the large oval and scallop oval punches for the words.  Using the Baja Breeze Stampin'Write Marker to make the little stitch marks.  A very quick and simple card to express our sympathies.

Blessings,

Renee

Where've I Been?

That's probably what you've been asking or at least I hope you have. *wink*  The last couple of weeks have been busy with lots of things.  The new Stampin'Up! catalog year started on July 1 and I was busy with lots of prep for my New Catalog Open House and then I had a couple of SU parties as well.  My Open House was a success in my book.  Customers who attended got some awesome deals on retired merchandise.  They enjoyed make and takes, seeing new product, new samples (which I will share this coming week) orders for new merchandise and of course some yummy food as well.  I still have plenty of retired merchandise available for purchase so if you are interested in seeing the list please let me know.  A BIG THANKS to all who attended.

I have also started a Facebook page for my Stampin'Up! business.  Look for me under Renee Ondrajka, Independent Stampin'Up! Demonstrator.   It is a work in progress and hopefully I will get to more of that next week as well.  I'm still trying to figure things out so please bare with me.  So join me on Facebook.

Well that's all for now.  Maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance to post some of my latest creations.  Thanks for visiting.  Until next time............

Blessings,
Renee