Get Well Cards...To Me!

Well, if you've been reading this blog at all these past few months, you know that I had knee replacement surgery in the beginning of July. Surgery wasn't really difficult at all, but I have to admit that I am more than a little frustrated by the length of time it is taking me to recover! (I really thought I'd be much more mobile by now!) BUT, as I'm recuperating, I've received some of the prettiest hand-made Get Well cards.....almost makes the surgery (and recovery) worth it!

Recovery has brought all sorts of "adventures" along the way....it's been almost 8 weeks since the surgery. Today, my good knee is not allowing me to easily get up and down stairs....ugh! I'm sure that will pass...and then there will likely be another issue! AND I had really wanted to post something for all of you today. Well, today is one of those picture perfect days and the windows are finally open with the breeze blowing in....and tossing all my Get Well cards around to the floor. As I was picking them up for about the 4th time, I thought that I should share them with you!!

This first one in pink, features some retired DSP and ribbon, but isn't it just so pretty?!! Can you see that the DSP was embossed with one of the Texturz Plates? What a great idea! That little tea cup filled with flowers is just so cute and sure bought a smile to my face when I really needed it.....it's one of my very favorite images from the Fun & Fast stamp set. Such a simple layout in Regal Rose and Basic Black, but all dressed up. This is from my good friend, and sister demo, June. Gotta love that Black Gingham ribbon, "tied" with a flower brad!

Stamps: Fast & Fun
Inks: Basic Black
CS: Whisper White, Basic Black
Misc: Regal Rose DSP*, various markers, Black Gingham Ribbon*, Flower Brad, Texturz Plate, Big Shot

Then this lovely hydrangea card from another sister demo, good friend, and my upline, Nicole Jordan. As soon as I saw that hydrangea coming out from SU, I knew that it would be one of Nicole's favorites....she just adores hydrangeas! She stamped that image onto Watercolor Paper so that the image could be water colored in...not sure which method she used, but isn't it spectacular? Nicole used Very Vanilla, Rose Red, and Kiwi Kiss cardstocks....and it's all tied up with that beautiful, but now-retired Kiwi Satin Ribbon.

Stamps: Because I Care (Hostess Level 1)
Inks: Jet Black StazOn
CS: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss*, Watercolor Paper
Misc: Kiwi Satin Ribbon*
*Retired
Please note: Since I'm not sure which watercolor method Nicole, used, I cannot accurately share that information.



Next up is this fun little piggy card. Although I added in the watermark that it is by my sister demo, June (again), it is actually from her Mom, Joanne....and I know that Joanne played a large role in the making of this card. Joanne LOVES piggies! I suspect that June may have colored it in, though, 'cause coloring in things like this and seeing all the little details, is getting more difficult for Mom. Cute, huh?!!

Stamps: Flannel Plaid Background*, and the pig in bed stamp is part of a set that is long retired....I'm going to guess that it's called, You Cured Yet? Inks: Basic Black, Regal Rose
CS: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Misc: Old Olive Mini Brad (check out the thermometer!), various markers

I still have a few more to share with you....so please come back and visit soon. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting today!

The Big Shot is NOT Just for Paper!

Do you remember when SU first began marketing the Big Shot? We were told that this amazing machine could cut all sorts of products. To be honest, I've used mine only for cardstock...that is until recently. If you are a reader of this blog, you may remember the Rag Bag Purse and totes that I made some time ago. (You can see those posts here and here.) As you can see, I've made the transition of using the Big Shot for fabric! If you were to Google "Quilting with the Big Shot," you would likely find some amazing projects.

Well, I'm not really a quilter, but I can get by with a sewing machine. So, I've been using my Scallop Square Die in the Big Shot with fabric to create various projects. This past Saturday, I attended a gathering for demonstrators sponsored by my upline's upline.....and I was asked to demonstrate quilting. Boy was I ever nervous....but my presentation actually went OK! To prepare, of course, I needed ideas and samples. I brought my purse and totes, made a simple set of coasters, an ornament, and THIS....a Fall-themed table runner. When I pulled this out of my bag the ladies were so excited.

So, here is a photo of that runner....I wanted to share with you as well! As you can see, this was made with those scallop squares as well, but this time, the rows run on the diagonal. If you tilt your head a bit to the right, you'll see what I mean! I used 3/4 of a yard of calico for the leaf fabric squares; 3/4 of a yard for the green fabric squares; and 1 1/2 yards of a brown fabric for the bottom, which you cannot see (the underneath, which is solid). This was so easy to create and lots of fun to make....but in order to get that raggy-type edge, you need to clip the fabric in between each scallop...and this took quite some time. It wasn't really too bad, though....I did it in an evening in front of the TV and was done before I even realized it!

The only SU products used to create this were the Big Shot and the Scallop Square die. The fabric and the cotton batting were purchased at my local quilt shop. If you have any questions on how to create your own, please e-mail me and I'll try to answer your questions!

Thanks for stopping by today!