What a Hoot!

Katie and Serena

Sometimes there are things that just make you smile and want to shout!. Like this morning I was checking through my blog updates and saw Shirley's recent post on her Stampin' Up Fabric Owls and Staging for the Stamp Show in Pullap Washington.  The booth she helped stage is being manned by Terry B. and Kim C. this weekend.

These are truly talented and amazing women. Shirley's full of energy and imagination and she hangs out with the very talented Terry Blais another awesome demonstrator from Washington State.  Together these two are a real "hoot".  I haven't met or followed Kim, but I know she'll be terrific too!  Since I met Shirley and Terry a year ago on their blog A La Card Monkey I've really enjoyed visiting their blog sites and playing along with their challenges. 

So if you've got time it's really worth taking a wander over to their blog sites "Look at All My Cute Stuff" and Going Over the Edge to check out their Stamp Show and these cuties. 

Happy Victoria Day

Happy Victoria Day!



Queen Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 to until her death.  She was the longest reigning monarch in history, serving 63 years and 7 months. 

To all my Canadian family and friends have a wonderful Victoria Day holiday. Victoria Day for those who may not follow our Canadian history and holidays is the celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday (May 24th). Canada is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, of which the Queen is head.

Victoria Day always falls on a Monday and is celebrated as a long weekend, which is commonly referred to as the Victoria Day Weekend, the May Long Weekend, the May Long, or the May Two-Four (a case of beer there is called a "two-four" and many of these are consumed over the holiday). The weekend is also called the May 24th weekend, although it does not necessarily fall on May 24th.

Our special holiday always falls on the weekend before Memorial Day in the U.S.  Most Canadians see the May 24th weekend as the kick off for Spring and Summer in Canada.  It's one of the most popular weekends of the year and people begin their summer travel, open up their cottages, plant gardens, or just get away. Festivities including fireworks, parades and fairs held all over Canada to celebrate this happy occasion. 

My wish to you this weekend is for a safe and happy time no matter where you celebrate!

Birthday and Thank You Cards

While on my recent vacation I had very limited stamping supplies and stamps on hand but I tried to rise to the occasion using what I had.  I needed to make a masculine card for my friend John's 86th birthday and thank you cards for two very dear female friends. Looking through my sets I decided to do double-duty and use a retired set called Nature's Wonders to create both cards. 

This wonderful 4-piece wood block stamp set from 2006 features stippled reverse images of a flower, sand dollar, dragonfly and a leaf or twig. 

To make the most of these images you need to have a very juicy stamp pad and a firm hand.  I chose to use the flower and leaf stamps for my cards.   I'm thinking that the new foam pad stamp pads that Stampin' Up will be releasing in June would be perfect for this type of stamp image.

My card base is Whisper White layered with a piece of 4  x 5 1/4" Poppy Parade cardstock.  The next layer is a piece of Whisper White that's been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  The image is stamped in Poppy Parade and layered up with dimensionals on more Poppy Parade and Whisper White layers. 

Here's a closer look at the image which I absolutely love. 

I kept the inside of the card simple just adding the flower image to the upper right hand corner and adding a Thank You sentiment.  Both were stamped in Poppy Parade. 

For the masculine birthday card I chose Really Rust (retired cardstock) for my card backer. I layered this with Basic Black, Really Rust and a piece of Whisper White cardstock that was stamped in Really Rust with the French Script background stamp. 

To make the leaf image pop off the page, I first stamped it into Versa Mark Ink and then inked it up again in Basic Black Ink.  I stamped the image four times (reinking each time) on my piece of Whisper White Card stock and then covered the four images with Clear Embossing Powder and heat set them. 

I then cut the images into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" squares which were mounted with dimensionals onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, leaving a 1/4" gap in-between the four images to give a window pane effect.

In this closeup you can see the fine detail of the images and sentiment and how embossing and heat setting really brought the images forward.  You also get a small glimpse at the French Script on the 4th layer. 

For the inside of the card I chose to layer again with Basic Black and Whisper White and added a simple stamped leaf in Really Rust to the bottom right corner.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was heat set using Basic Black Ink, Versa Mark and Clear Embossing Powder.

I hope you enjoyed these cards and the steps used to make them.  Although the Natural Wonders set has long been retired it is one of those sets that I've brought out time and time again and I've always been pleased with the results.  

Embossing Powder and Glitter Storage

I love organization and when I found a Pinterest link to Janet Morrow Wakeland's fabulous blog Remarkably Creative, I knew I'd struck it rich and wanted to share one of her remarkable ideas with you.

Janet was celebrating her Sweet 16th year with Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator and wanted to show her appreciation by having a free draw. She was looking for a special give-away prize and decided to make her's based on a K-cup storage idea she'd seen on Pinterst.  Here's what she came up with.  Isn't this just too cute?

When I read Janet's post and looked at this picture I became super excited about getting one of these holders for all my embossing powders and glitter that currently are in a drawer.  With all good intentions I repinned her picture and link to my Pinterest Organization Board, and then just as quickly forgot all about it.  Tell me it isn't just me that does this??

While shopping at Costco this week I stumbled upon one of these K-cup holders, going for $15.95 and it all came rushing back to me. I just couldn't resist and purchased one.  I could barely contain my excitement all the way home. 

This unit has a very strong swivel base which makes it very easy to turn.  The large Stampin' Up! bottles of Embossing Powder and Glitter fit in the slots extremley well.  The smaller bottles are looser  and have a tendency to slip through the holders if you spin the rack too quickly. I'm not likely to do that, so this is just something to be aware of. 

All in all I'm so pleased to have this unit.  Here's what I did with mine. It's not as fancy as Janet's but it works like a dream.  Love that swivel base and the fact that it fits securely on my shelf within an arm's reach.  

Hope you enjoyed this post!

LNS Treasure Hunt Winner!!!!

Hi folks.  I'm just back from vacation and trying to catch up on all that's been happening blog wise and stamping wise in the past three weeks. 

So many changes and events coming down the line that it's mind boggling.  But, before I get into changes the biggest thing I have to announce is the lucky winner of the Treasurer Hunt Blog Hop for Late Night Stampers. 

And the winner is, Lisa Eisner from Hawthorne New York. Congratulations Lisa. Lisa sent me all 20 clues and a comment on my blog.  So, glad you participated and enjoyed the blog hop Lisa!  You'll be receiving your prize shortly.  

LNS Treasure Hunt Blog Hop and Blog Candy

Just a reminder the LNS Treasure Hunt blog hop has started and runs only until May 15th!

If you want to be entered into my draw for Blog Candy join in the fun on the blog hop and gather 20 Treasure Hunt Clues. It's easy and you could be my winner on May 15th. 

Let the Hunt Begin .......... Treasure Hunt That Is!

Hint:  When you see this picture posted you'll know you're on a LNS Blog that's participating in the Treasure Hunt.  Once you're there for the "clue". It will be one of Stampin' Ups! fabulous products.  Make sure you record the name of the blog and the clue.

 

If you've been reading my recent posts, you'll remember I told you about an upcoming Treasure Hunt and an opportunity to win some FREE Stampin' Up! products, have some fun, and get some great ideas by checking out the LNS Stampin' Up! Demonstrators Web Ring. 

Well, the time is here!  Get ready to have some fun! It's easy to play this Treasure Hunt, all you have to do is:

1. Visit the blogs listed on the LNS Web Ring page on the menu line at the top of my blog.  Look for the blogs that are highlighted in red.  When you click on a name it will take you to that person's blog.  Once there scroll through their recent posts looking for the treasure hunt "clue" in their posting (see hint above under picture).
2. Collect 20 clues and put into a list showing the clue and the blog it was featured on and then email your list to me at pennyhanuszak@telus.net (that qualifies you for one entry).
3. Leave a comment on my Treasure Hunt post to let me know you're emailing me the list (that qualifies you for a second entry).
4. Follow my Penny Tokens Stampin Blog if you're not already a follower....... that will definitely qualify you for a third entry).
5. Visit my Stampin' Up! website http//pennyhanuszak.stampinup.net and check out my "shopping on line" button for preferred pricing on all orders placed online.  If you are a Canadian visitor and you place an order during the contest period you'll qualify for a fourth entry.

Here's My Clue to start you off:

Stampin' Up! Stamp-a-ma-jig

 

THIS TREASURE HUNT CONTEST CLOSES ON MAY 15TH SO DON'T DELAY GET YOUR ENTRY IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  GOOD LUCK!