To 'CASE' or not to 'CASE'...is the question

Hello there and welcome~ can't wait to share with you today's post. In my personal collection of blogs that I LOVE to follow is Elizabeth Price's blog. Be sure to add it to yours~ she is AMAZING!!

I will get to her and my 'CASE' in just a moment...but first let me explain.
The past couple of weeks months have been trying. Since before Christmas, a time that everyone should be celebrating with family and friends is often the worst time of the year for me and my family. My husband is a self-employed contractor/carpenter and this time of year is always slow. Lately is has been extremely difficult finding work and he has been home quite a bit. If you live locally....call me!! He is great~ has TONS of references and can do just about anything!!

Anyway...a few weeks ago can't even remember when, Aiden my youngest came to inform me that there was a leak in the basement...the ceiling. Ughhh!! After holes were cut we discovered that it was 'minor' (thank-goodness!) Then a week later, the toilet in the half bath started making funny sounds, it would run all the time, gurgle and gasp as if it were coming alive! It's also the only toilet we have not yet replaced in the house (what does that mean???) We had a hard time finding the guts to fix what was wrong...not sure of the exact 'toilet' lingo~ but anyway John fixed that yesterday and started repainting the walls and ceiling in the basement because he was home. So...for that I am grateful that he is as 'handy' as he is...and could help me put the basement back together for Stamp Camp this Friday (yup...tomorrow!!)

Well...wouldn't you know it, I went into the storage closet late last night and noticed water under the water heater...SERIOUSLY????
I think I have kept my sanity throughout this time with stamping...and a few glasses bottles of wine.
Luckily it doesn't seem to be anything major...it has to do with the water pressure coming into the house and since we replaced the guts in the toilet...the pressure seemed to be building in the water heater and was coming out of the overflow pipe. So... we need to install an expansion tank?? I just nod and agree...sip more wine and stay out of the way holding a flashlight when asked. So at some point over the weekend, he'll try to tackle the water heater. In the meantime...momma had to get ready for Stamp Camp!!

That is when I decided that the easiest thing to do was to get on the computer and search for inspiration...I came across Elizabeth's beauty (click here)and the light bulb went on...angels were singing...you get the idea!

To CASE means to (C) copy (A) and (S) steal share (E) everything. So...I did and thank-you to Elizabeth for creating such a beauty and making my life a wee bit less stressful!!

We will also make a coordinating gift:

It's a 2 1/2"x 3 1/2" frame I found and I'm sure it will brighten someones day. For Valentine's or any other occasion.

Supplies (for both)
Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter (129252 C), Tiny Tags (118592 C), Sale-a-Bration Bloomin' Marvelous (129654 C)
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Baja Breeze Core'dinations (129321), More Amore DSP (129301)
Ink: Crumb Cake
Access: Basic Pearls (119247), linen thread (104199), 5/8" crochet trim (118481), Big Shot (113439), Honeycomb embossing folder (129378), sticky strip (104294) , jewelry tag punch (117190), small heart punch (117193), Hearts a Flutter framelits dies (130159)

Note: you can save $$ and purchase the Hearts a Flutter Bundle (131098 W, 131097 C)

Please let me know if you have any questions, leave me a comment and let me know what you think and remember to check out all of Elizabeth's beauties!!

BIG hugs,
~Erin

Shop Online 24/7 (even in your P.J.'s)
website: www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net
email: stampingwitherin@yahoo.com

World Card Making Day 2012

Happy Saturday!! Today is World Card Making Day, this year I have spent the entire day crafting away in my studio (a.k.a basement). I wanted to share with you another 'Breast Cancer Awareness Card' that was inspired by the ever so talented Kimberly Van Diepen's. Click here for a video tutorial she made the other day on how her card was made. I had all the supplies on hand...and went to work. I really didn't change much~ but when I saw her card...especially how she embellished it with the ribbon (that girl knows how to make ribbon look so pretty!!) I imagined it being a Breast Cancer card...you could use it for several things...but this month is as you know...Breast Cancer Awareness Month SPREAD THE WORD AND SAVE A LIFE!!

Supplies:
Stamp Set: From My Heart (126557 C), Tiny Tags (118592 C)
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso Core'dinations Card Stock (127848)
Ink: Early Espresso
Access: linen thread, (104199), 5/8" crochet trim (118481), Crumb Cake 1/2" seam binding ribbon (122332), vintage trinkets (118764), Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection framelits (125598), Lacy Brocade embossing folder (127819), Stampin' sanding block (129367), Subtles Designer buttons (119745)

The cards that I am sharing with you this month for 'Breast Cancer Awareness' will be donated along with a percentage of my sales for the entire month of October to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

In addition, towards the end of the month I will also host a 'Breast Cancer Fundraiser' Stamp Camp. Together...let's stamp out this terrible disease!!

Together there is HOPE
Take care,
Erin

Shop Online 24/7 (even in your P.J.'s)
www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net
email: stampingwitherin@yahoo.com

Monday's Christmas Card Week 1

Today and every Monday until we get closer to Christmas I will be sharing with you my 'Monday Christmas Card'...Here is today's:

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Evergreen (127973 C), Tiny Tags (118592 C), More Merry Messages (126402 C)
Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper (127885)
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake, Versamark,
Access: color spritzer tool (107066), crumb cake marker, heat tool (129053), Vanilla scented embossing powder (125590), stamping sponges (101610), vintage trinkets (118764), jewelry tag punch (117190), sticky strip (104294), crochet trim (118481), 1/16" handheld punch (101227),
Here is a close-up:

and the inside:

While coming up with the idea on what I was going to make...I began singing the song 'Silent Night' and thought about the 'Music Notes' wheel....it would be perfect!  Well...after I looked it up in the catalog, I  then jumped on the site to order the wheel and thought...'wait'... "Maybe I already own it"~ Well...guess what?? I do!!! YAY!! Don't you love it when that happens?? (smile)
I also LOVED how the two stamp sets Tiny Tags and the sentiment used from More Merry Messages were so alike check out the dots...(sigh)! Thanks Stampin' Up! for making us OCD freaks smile (LOL)!

Christmas cards were originally the reason I started stamping, I have always liked the thought of sending out annual cards to keep loved ones in the loop~ perhaps 'shock' them with a family photo to showcase just how big the kids have grown, but since I began stamping and became a demonstrator I noticed that over the years I sent less and less out and last year because I was working...I didn't send out any!!! My time devoted to stamping was swallowed up~ Do you want to know the really sad part?? I even made them!!! The days that I did dedicate to stamping tickled me to death, I was SO happy!!
Here is one that I made:

Here is how it opens:

Who would do that you ask?? Make and not send it out?? Me~ I know I am a freak...quite honestly I said to myself..."Who is worthy??" I had only made a few of these...and a handful of others. What if I didn't make enough to send to all that I needed?? What about the cards that would come at last minute? Now being faced with a return address...would I have the time to make them a hand-made beautiful creation?? Ahhh~ So....I panicked and packed them all away in a box...and had decided last year that I would not send out ANY!! At times I think I hear them crying!! (frown)

I ended up making several others, prepared different designs for Workshops and Stamp Camps, but when it came down to 'me' actually needing a card to send...I didn't have one! Sure in reality I had hundreds...(seriously that many!) But I felt that if I needed a card I needed to make a 'freash' one~ a new design...something that I hadn't seen before.
Here was another card that I made a dozen or so of:

I know now that this stamp is retired,but you could use this for inspiration. Swap it out with a current image. I must really still like the look with the 'safety pin' & tag, since I used it again about a year later with today's post!!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I am looking forward to tomorrow's post about the Color Challenge at www.splitcoaststampers.com See ya then!! Have a great night!! Don't let the bed bugs bite....EEWWWW!!! Maybe I shouldn't even say/write that~ sweet dreams!
Stampin' hugs,
Erin
Shop Online 24/7 (even in your P.J.'s)
www.erinsstampart.stampinup.net
stampingwitherin@yahoo.com