Dream Craft House update

Since it rained on Friday, the builder and one worker-bee came and put up the OSB on the walls and some beams across the top on Saturday. Any hooo... I think it's coming along pretty fast. I sure do love it. It's so much fun to walk around inside the building and pretend where everything is going to be placed.

My husband and I walked around inspecting everything last evening and it's still hard to believe it's happening. I'm so blessed in more ways than one.

Hope you enjoy the journey with me.

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Debbie

Dream Craft House update

Yesterday was Day 5 on the craft house and was a wash-out due to rain. Oh well... they did have some lumber delivered.

Now.... today is Day 6 and Saturday, and the builder and one worker-bee started bright and early, (7 a.m.) putting up the wood panels on the outer walls. Woo-hoo! They are trying to get work done while it's not too hot outside. It was mid-60's this morning. Perfect day!
(Pix will follow after worker-bees leave.)

Scarlett and I worked for four hours in my craft room going through old stuff to see what can be thrown away. It was a very painful experience I must say. I had a VERY hard time parting with some of the things that I've hoarded for a few years now. No tools or things like that. Just containers I was saving for future projects, or maybe a ton of old labels and rolls of paper. Some of these items were from where I used to work.

I worked 26 years for a large volume printing company that would throw away tons of paper after a print job was over. Back then the company printed a lot of clothing, furniture and all types of tags that you see hanging on products in the store. We always had some cool paper left over from the jobs. If I was lucky, the paper-mover (a sweet man) would save it for me. Then I'd get it cut to 8.5x11 or 7x10 and share it with other stampers in the office. Us girls had a stash to die for. We were very fortunate that our bosses didn't care that we recycled the paper for our own use.

Then I was extra lucky in that the sales reps for the paper companies would give me their expired "sample" boxes of paper. Oh me... these had the coolest colors and textures that you'd ever want. So I would share that with all my stamping buddies. We were a spoiled lot of girls. Needless to say, I still have a LOT of this paper. Most of it is acid free and kept out light as much as possible. I did part with some of the old label material I had. I've even donated tons of it to the school my granddaughter goes to, daycare centers and friends that want to start stamping.

So sorry to digress.... geeze... just thought I'd give you some "background story" reading material. Probably not too interesting huh?

Also yesterday, Scarlett and I covered two cork boards with fabric to use in the new craft house. They each turned out beautiful. We hung our latest cards on them. I'll show pix of those later. I didn't even feel good yesterday and the last few days, just super tired. I forged ahead with my high-energy granddaughter and got a lot done.

Stay tuned for craft house pix later today. WOO-HOO! (I just have to do that!)

have a great weekend and again... Thanks for visiting!

Debbie

Birthday card

This is a cute little birthday card I made for a Design Team project for Sunday International. I just went kinda crazy with the grid background stamp from the ATC Stamps Set 2.

This may not be on the Sunday International website yet so here are the instructions.

JOY BIRTHDAY CARD details
STAMPS: Dee Gruenig’s ATC Stamps Set 2 (SI)
PAPER: Die cut ATC envelope (SI), Whisper White card stock (Stampin’UP!) purple and orange card stock (my stash)
INK: Dee Gruenig Signature Series Marvy markers and Marvy Blending Blox, assorted colors (SI)
ACCESSORIES: Pink Offray ribbon, Cricut Expression die cutting machine, pop-dots, glue runner, Exact-O knife, scissors, ruler, corner rounder, paper piercing tool, ruby colored glitter glue, mini-brads (Stampin’UP!), yellow mini-flower brads (my stash)

1. Using Sunrise Blending Blox, rub stamp pad directly onto die-cut envelope to create a striped pattern
2. Using Marvy markers and ruler, draw lines on envelope to create a plaid pattern in shades of pinks, purple and dark blue, assemble envelope
3. Cut ATC card to 3.5x2.5, round each corner, stamp kimono, flowers, sentiment, gridline and symbol images, color in the details on kimono, punch holes in top two corners of ATC
4. Cut 8” length of narrow pink ribbon, punch holes 1” from ends using paper piercing tool, attach ribbon into the top two holes on ATC with mini-flower brads, set aside for now
5. Stamp JOY on small piece of white cardstock, (to fit front of envelope), use purple marker to color edge of cardstock, attach green mini brads to top and bottom corners on right side, cut scallop border on Cricut Expression using pale orange cardstock, , trim off two scallops so it will fit white cardstock piece, use paper piercer to punch holes around the scalloped edge for stitched effect, layer the scallop border piece onto left edge of white cardstock piece
6. Cut purple scalloped round shape, attach to lower right edge of envelope
7. Stamp fan image and fold accordion style to create fan, put glitter glue on dots of fan handle, attach to purple die cut with pop-dots
8. Stamp grid image at an angle on folded card front, stamp flower border around four edges of card front
9. Attach the finished envelope, at an angle to front of card with pop-dots , insert the finished ATC into the envelope exposing the yellow flower brads
10. Stamp sentiment inside of card, stamp dragonfly image randomly from bottom to top inside of card, create stamped border to frame sentiment

If you have any questions let me know.... as always thanks so much for visiting!

You may not be able to tell it in the photos, but the darker pink plaid you see if the little ATC envelope folded up to be a pocket. The second photo is the ATC removed from the pocket, to show detail.

Dream Craft House update

Thursday was day four and we are still impressed at the speed at which the guys are working. It's one man and two of his nephews. I call them worker bees.

Scarlett, my granddaughter, took her drawn floor plan (on graph paper) to the building and marked off little lines where everything should go. She wanted to see if her drawing was accurate. She was so excited to show me there was room for everything. How funny!

It rained later in the evening, but I don't think it hurt anything. I can't wait to see what happens today. Everyday when I get home, Scarlett and I run out there to check things out. Whoo-hoo! It's still hard for me to believe it's happening. I continue to live a blessed life.

Have a great day and thanks for taking the time to visit.

Debbie

Exciting Things at Sunday International

You've just got to go over and visit http://www.sundayint.com/ and check out Dee Gruenig's new releases. This is from my Sunday International newsletter.

(Its finally here! The first release of Dee's ATC sized stamp sets are now available to order. There are four new stamp sets available to purchase, unmounted or mounted, on EZMount and ready to use. As a special introductory offer, we are offering free shipping to retail customers when you purchase two or more of these great new sets! Please enter coupon code "NEWATC" during checkout. )

Now... check out the cute little ATCs that I made using my Junior Jungle set. It's just too cute for words! I just loved stamping with it and laughing at what I could do with these images. It comes with 24 stamps and can be used for so many other things.

Here's the how-to for each one... and thanks so much for visiting!

TROPICAL ATC

STAMPS: Dee Gruenig’s Junior Jungle ATC Set (SI)
PAPER: Whisper White card stock (Stampin’UP!), natural kraft cardstock (my stash)
INK: Dee Gruenig Signature Series Marvy markers (SI)
ACCESSORIES: Post-it note, black ink pen, white marker, StarLightz glitter gel pens (Wal-Mart), pop-dots, cloud template (my stash), hole punch, white glue, glue runner, cosmetic sponge

1. Cut white cardstock to 3-1/4” x 2-1/4”, Cut natural kraft cardstock 3-1/2” x 2-1/2”
2. Color light blue marker onto a plastic surface (I use my acrylic blocks), use dampened cosmetic sponge to pick up the color, add marker to sponge if necessary to get darker sky color
3. Use cloud template to sponge a sky, move template around to achieve desired look
4. Use torn Post-it note to make sand line for shoreline, and use Post-it note to cover sky, use blue marker to make the ocean
5. Color then stamp palm tree onto left side of image, Stamp fern on left side and leaves on right side
6. Stamp each image on scrap paper, cut out each one and attach using pop-dots, use white glue on the flower, mosquito and fern, curl the alligator tail and palm leaves out with your fingernail for added dimension
7. Punch a round yellow colored circle, cut in half, attach with pop dot in center of blue skyline at waters edge
8. Use white marker to make white marks in water and at waters edge
9. Use glitter gel pens to add yellow lines on round edge of sun and in water beneath the sun
10. Attach the completed image to natural kraft stock, write message with black ink pen

Jungle ATC

STAMPS: Dee Gruenig’s Junior Jungle ATC (SI), Tiny Dot Letters alphabet stamps (Hero Arts)
PAPER: Whisper White card stock (Stampin’UP!), natural kraft cardstock (my stash)
INK: Dee Gruenig Signature Series Marvy markers (SI), Distress Ink Pads-Ranger (SI)
ACCESSORIES: Pop-dots, sponge, glue runner, scalloped oval punch Stampin’UP!

1. Cut white cardstock to 3-1/4” x 2-1/4”, Cut natural kraft cardstock 3-1/2” x 2-1/2”
2. Use sponge and two shades of Distress Ink to create background
3. Stamp fern image around sides and top of white cardstock
4. Color and stamp animal and flower images onto scrap cardstock, add extra color onto leopard, after stamped, for shading (Shading on little cat was done on the stamp)
5. Attach all images with pop-dots
6. Use marker to make dots for the ground under the animal’s feet
7. Punch oval shape and stamp desired sentiment, attach with pop-dots
8. Attach completed design onto natural kraft stock

These were really easy and a lot of fun. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Stamping is a lot of fun to do and share!

NEXT UP.....

A fun little birthday card made with the Junior Jungle ATC set. Check it out...

Jungle Birthday Card

STAMPS: Dee Gruenig’s Junior Jungle ATC, ATC Stamps Set 2 (SI)
PAPER: Whisper White card stock (Stampin’UP!), Dark blue, light green and black cardstock (from my stash)
INK: Dee Gruenig Signature Series Marvy markers, assorted colors (SI), Marvy Blending Blox (SI), White Brilliance pigment ink pad in Moonlight White
ACCESSORIES: Stampin’ Pastels, Stampin’ UP!, small pom-poms, small green brads, paper cutter, Exacto knife, soft paint brush, glue stick, white eraser, 1/6” hole-punch, pop-dots

1. Cut black card panel to size 4-1/4” x 2-3/4”
2. Stamp palm tree, small and large monkey and elephant in white pigment ink, let dry for a few minutes
3. Color with pom-poms and chalk in desired colors, adding highlights with light and dark chalk colors
4. Brush excess chalk away with soft paint brush, then use white eraser to clean up the edges of colored images
5. Use green chalk to color the ground to anchor the animals
6. Layer the black panel onto light green, then onto dark blue cardstock
7. Use Blending Blox Shades of Caribbean to rub color around all four edges of card
8. Attach the layered panel onto white top folded card base
9. Cut small piece of light green cardstock, Stamp Happy Birthday using Shades of Caribbean, also ink edges of stamped piece
10. Punch 1/6” holes on each end of stamped piece, put green brad in each hole, attach to card bottom with pop-dots

That's it for now. Again, I just want to say thank-you for stopping by and taking the time to read about me and my projects.

Have a Great Day!

Debbie

Dream Craft House

Dream Craft House

Wow… I know I’ve been away too long. I’m getting back on the blogging train and hope to write about a dream come true.

I feel so blessed and fortunate to get to have a craft house built in our backyard. It’s something I’ve dreamed of for many, many years. I really never thought we’d be building a little house (more like a room) so I’m just on cloud nine right now. I do thank God everyday for the many blessings that are in my life.

So… check out the pix and you’ll see my backyard before the digging started. Yep… we have a pretty small back yard with a steep hill at the back of it. Hey, I’ll take it where I can get it! Just after three days we’ve got the foundation and sub-floor (if that’s what it’s called). We’ve had so much rain for the past month, I don’t want another drought, but I do hope the guys can have more dry days so they can work.

I’ll do my best to keep a record of how things are coming along including the move-in. Phew… that will be a job. I’ve got a room that’s busting at the seams with stuff, so I’ve got to do some major cleaning out and see if I can part with anything.

I jumped the gun and bought two desks, a work table, and a wide file cabinet from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at wonderful prices, but I bought them three weeks ago. Geeze… they’re under my carport just waiting for their new home. One desk is for my granddaughter and one for me. She and I painted the top of the work table white.

My granddaughter has been busy drawing floor plans where she thinks everything should go. She’s a hoot and having a great time watching the progress. She’s in the photos and loves posing for the camera.

I hope you’ll enjoy going along on the journey of a dream-come-true in my life. If you’ve got any ideas about organization please send them my way. I’m just so confused about what I want… shelves or cabinets or carts… oh my! I really don’t know what I should do.
If you’ve read this far you’re just the best… and I truly appreciate it.

Now stay tuned for some pix of my recent stamping adventures!

Debbie

Embossed Rose box

This started out as a plain white die-cut box from Sunday International. I haven't embossed anything in a while so I thought I'd play around with embossing in clear on the white box. Pretty cool... huh?

STAMPS: Dee Gruenig’s Watercolor Valentine POSH#-82
PAPER: Die cut box from SI
INK: Ruby Red and Marvelous Magenta ink pads “StampinUp!”, Versamark ink SI
ACCESSORIES: Offray ribbon, clear embossing power “StampinUP!”, white tissue paper, sponge, paper towel, mini stick-on stones (my stash)

Emboss rose image in clear on front and back of box/ emboss tiny heart image on two sides
Rub Ruby Red ink over entire box covering all edges of box, wipe off excess on the embossed images with a damp paper towel
Attach 3 little stones on top left corner of box front and back, rub edges of box with magenta ink to darken edges a little
Add tissue paper to box, attach ribbon to tie handles together