Impressions by Day

Babies and Birthdays

September 24, 2008

Do you know a lot of people with birthdays in September?  It seems like such a busy month for birthdays with at least 10 in my family - siblings, in-laws, and granddaughter!  Happy birthdays to Don, Juby, Gayle, Sue, Peter, Lynn, Paige, Graeme, Linda and Tom - whew!  I hope I got them all.  A very special happy birthday to Paige whose birthday is today with lots of hugs and kisses.

I so enjoy making baby cards as they always bring a big smile to my face.  One aspect of my business is making gift baskets and the ones I love making up most of all are the ones for babies.  Some of my customers like to have a baby card to go with the gift so how great is that make some more baby cards!  Here's a sample of one of the baskets that is made to order.

 

When I receive an order for a baby basket and card, I'm not sure what I am most excited to make up first - the basket or the card - even though I have a few cards on hand,  I always want to make up a new one.  Here's a baby card in the shape of a onesie.  I found this adorable design by Lauren Meader and had to try it out.

Pink Pirouette is the cardstock that I used for the base of the card.  I decorated the sleeves, neckline and legs with Georgia Peach DSP, page 169.  The little bird is from Nursery Necessities, page 75.  It was layered on Pink Pirouette, then layered on a Whisper White scallop square that was punched out with the new Square Scallop Punch, page 188.  The sentiment is also from Nursery Necessities and the little brads are Pretty in Pink.  Isn't it just the most adorable little card?

 

Recipe:

Cardstock:  Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Stamp Set:  Nursery Necessities

Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose

Accessories:  1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Punch, Square Scallop Punch,  1/16" Hand Punch, Brads, scoring blade.

Gift baskets are made to order and if you are in need of a baby gift or otherwise, orders can be placed with me at dayanna@perfectevent.com.

Happy Stamping and if it's your birthday today - a very happy one to you!

Lovely as a Tree

September 23, 2008

It's been days that I've been able to blog!  After a very busy time, I felt the need to escape to my craft room to relax and play with my stamps.  I received my Big Shot on Friday while I was away and although I received the actual BS, I do not have a lot of the dies that come with the starter kit as they are backordered (sigh) so I will have to be patient and hope that they come very soon so I can start playing with them! 

I made this card a week ago after coming home from an event.  As I was driving home, the sky was clear and bright blue with the moon shining brightly.  I could see the outline of the trees against this beautiful blue sky and the brightness of the moon as I was driving along.  Just had to make a card to try to capture the beauty of that night.

I used Night of Navy cardstock as the base for this card matted with Whisper White.  I took a smaller mat of Whisper White and used the brayer to roll over several coats of Classic blue inks starting with Bashful Blue, then adding Not Quite Navy.  Before applying the ink with the brayer, I cut a circle using the 1 1  /4" punch on a piece of Post-it note and put it on the WW before rolling over with the brayer to set the moon.  I stamped the trees from Lovely as a Tree (I just love(!) this set) first in Black Stazon.  The images didn't come out as strong as I wanted so I overstamped the trees again in Basic Black Classic ink.  I removed the Post-it note circle and sponged bits of Sahara Sand across the "moon" to simulate the look of the moon that night although it doesn't seem to show up too well in the photo.  I added little dots of 2 Way Glue and added Dazzling Diamonds to create the stars in the sky.

 

Recipe:

Cardstock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Black Stazon, Basic Black, Sahara Sand

Accessories:  Brayer, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Sponge, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Post-it Note

A very short post but I'll be back tomorrow!

Happy Stamping!

Bella Blossoms

September 13, 2008

When I first saw all the stamp sets and designer paper named Bella in the new catalogue, I knew that I would have to have them all.  After all, when your pet is named Bella, all things Bella in the IDB were screaming - buy me, buy me!

Here is Bella after she came home from her visit at the groomers yesterday.  She knows that when I make the last two turns in the car we're close to Brenda's where she goes for her grooming.  As I make the first turn, she's getting excited and when I make the final turn she's jumping around the front seat, tail wagging and so anxious to get out to see her friends at the grooming place.  When I stop the car, she's all over me ready to run in.  She's squirming around in my arms and as soon as I open the door to Brenda's I put her down and she runs to the back so happy to see her friends there.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are just as happy to see her and there's one lady who is calling her and gives her lots of love before she settles in.  When I pick her up, she comes running out all beautiful but the lady needs one last hug before Bella leaves.

 

I've made several cards and projects (August 18 post - Mailbox) using the Bella Rose designer paper - so today I'm sharing the card I made using the large flower from the Bella Blossoms stamp set.  I inked up the flower using the Barely Banana and Certainly Celery Craft Stamp Spots.  They were easy to use to apply the ink and as I was using Shimmery White cardstock, the depth of colour from the craft ink would show better on shimmery paper.  After stamping the image, I dabbed a bit of the Two Way Glue on the blossom and enhanced the shimmer by adding some Dazzling Diamonds.

I used simple mats of Barely Banana and Certainly Celery cardstock on a base of Basic Black cardstock.  I used the Corner Rounder punch on all corners and then smoothed the edges with the sanding block.  The sentiment "for you" is from the All Holidays set.  I find that its a stamp I go to quite often to add a little sentiment that can be used for birthdays, thank yous and just because.

 

With the shorter days its a bit more difficult to take pictures outdoors as the shadows start so early in the day.  The image is a little dark but IRL, the card is very pretty and you can see the glitter from the Dazzling Diamonds more clearly.

Recipe:

Cardstock  Shimmery White, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Basic Black

Ink:  BB and CC Craft Stamp Spots

Stamp Sets:  Bella Blossoms, All Holidays

Accessories:  Corner Rounder Punch

Hope you're enjoying this weekend as we're experiencing beautiful warm weather and looks to be another nice day tomorrow - great for our big rubber garage sale.

Happy stamping!

Online Ordering Winner

September 12, 2008

Congratulations to Ulla who was the first person to place an online order using Stampin' Up!'s new 24/7 online ordering system.  Ulla says it was very easy to do and it appears that her order is being shipped out today!

A sampler package of the Filigree Designer Brads, Flower Designer Brads, Designer Buttons, the new In Colour cardstock and Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon is on its way to you, Ulla.

To place an online order, just click on the link on the link on the left sidebar.

Happy stamping!

24/7 Online Ordering Now Available on Stampin' Up!

September 10, 2008

I am so excited to announce that online ordering is now available on the Stampin' Up! website 24/7!

Imagine the flexibility of just going online at any time to place an order for that item you just must have right away?  Think of all the time savings for special occasion gifts or even just for yourself?  You are just a click away from placing your order with Stampin' Up!

You can access online ordering either through the link  (to the left) or visit my demonstrator website at www.dayanna.stampinup.net.

Click on the Customer Login to create your own password.  Then click on the Shop Now button.

Orders will be shipped direct to you. 

If you currently have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Canada, please order through them, but if you do not have a demonstrator, I'm here to assist you with your orders, either online or direct with me.

Be the first to place an online order through my website and you will receive a special package of Stampin' Up! products from me.

If you have any questions, please contact me at dayanna@perfectevent.com.

Happy shopping!

Eastern Blooms

September 7, 2008

Hello Stampers!

What a gorgeous day it was today!  Just last week it felt like Fall but today was like a nice warm Summer day - too nice to be indoors but that's what I did.  Had a stamp class where we made the Target mailbox and three cards.

One of the cards in the class featured the Eastern Blooms set.  I had made some cards using the set and the Bella Rose DP but I decided on making the class card in my favourite black and white with an accent of Pink Pirouette.  The blossom branch was stamped in black on a white panel and it was stamped again using Pink Pirouette classic ink.  I cut out some of the blossoms and used tiny pop dots to place on some of the black blossoms.  It looks so elegant in the white, pink and black.  It was finished off with the new Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain  - don't you just love all the new ribbons?

 

The next card is not one that we made in the class but I wanted to share it with you.  There are always bits and pieces of designer paper left over from other projects so I thought I'd use up some of the pieces from the Urban Garden DP on this card.  Using a base of Baja Breeze, I overlaid that with a panel of Not Quite Navy cardstock.  I cut strips about 1 1/4" wide of the Urban Garden DP and adhered them across the panel.  The sentiment is one from the Bella Blossoms set and was stamped on Baja Breeze using Not Quite Navy classic ink.  I punched it out with the Small Oval punch and also a piece in the Not Quite Navy then used the Wide Oval punch in Baja Breeze.  I dragged the Baja Breeze ovals over the ink pad to add the colour around the edges.  The card was finished with a length of Gray taffeta ribbon threaded through a piece of Silver Hodge Podge hardware.  One of the small half pearls from the Pretties Kit fits perfectly in the HPH affixed with a tiny glue dot.

 

Recipe:

Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Urban Garden DP

Ink:  Not Quite Navy

Stamp Set:  Bella Blossoms

Accessories:  Small Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver HPH, Pretties Kit, Dimensionals.

Tomorrow starts another busy week but I hope to find time to do some stamping and will be posting by mid-week.

Stamp happy!

Flip Album

September 3, 2008

When I saw the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit in the new catalogue, it looked like a super kit to put together an album for the holiday season.  After seeing so many great ideas for various projects, I thought I would try the Flip Album inspired by Amy Celona.

This is my Flip Album using the I Wish SSK

 

Page 2

 

Centre page

Overview

This album can be easily adapted to any of the Simply Scrapping Kits.  Contact me for information on a special class for this album at dayanna@perfectevent.com.

Happy Stamping!

Recipes

September 2, 2008

It's not officially Fall, but the weather is telling us that it will soon be here as the mornings are definitely cooler and when the sun goes down in the evening, there's that chill in the air.  Back to school for many and the heavy traffic starts today with commuting into the city and basically everywhere one travels these days.

At my recent Hostess Appreciation Brunch, I served an Egg Pie (similar to quiche) with some yummy butter rolls, hash brown potatoes, garden salad  and fresh fruit.  We later had some Lemon Squares with our tea.  I've been asked for two of those recipes and thought I'd post them here. 

EGG PIE FOR BRUNCH

1          pkg Frozen Puff Pastry

8          Eggs

 ½        Tsp Salt

¼         Tsp Pepper

½#       Ham

3          Tsp Green Onions or Onion

1          Tbsp Water or Milk

 

Divide pastry in half.  Roll out pastry and line 9” quiche dish.  Arrange ham over pastry.  Break 7 eggs into pie.  Break yolks with fork but do not stir.  Sprinkle onions, salt and pepper over eggs and top with remaining ham.  Cover with other piece of rolled pastry – pinch or flute edges around dish.  Beat remaining egg with water or milk and brush over top of pie.   Bake at 400 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes.

 

LEMON SQUARES

Base:

2 c       Flour

½ c      Sifted Icing Sugar

¾ c      Butter (Soft)

 

Combine flour and icing sugar in mixing bowl.  Stir well to blend.  Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.  Press into greased 13” x 9” cake pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

Filling:

4          Eggs

2 c       Sugar

1/3 c    Lemon Juice  (recommend fresh squeezed lemon juice)

¼ c      Flour

1 tsp    Baking Powder

            Sifted Icing Sugar

 

Beat eggs, sugar, lemon juice, flour and baking powder together until smooth and light.  Pour over partially baked crust.  Bake at 325 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes or until set and golden.  Cool.  Before serving, sprinkle with icing sugar and cut into squares.  Makes about 4 dozen squares.

 

 

Oh yes, I do have a card to share with you today and here it is.  I wanted to use the Urban Garden DSP in a card and chose the one in the grey tones with the berry design.  It matches well with Going Grey cardstock and I've always wanted to use the berry cluster from the Fresh Cut set.  I stamped three pieces on Whisper White cardstock using Real Red as it really pops from the grey shades.  Used a length of Real Red Grosgrain over the matted card and then placed the three small panels over it.  I finished the card with the sentiment from the Fresh Cuts set stamped on WW and layered over Going Grey.

 

 

 

Recipe:

 

Cardstock:  Basic Grey, Whisper White, Urban Garden DSP

Ink:  Real Red

Stamp Set:  Fresh Cuts

Accessories:  Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Small and Large Oval Punches, Dimensionals

 

I apologize for no pictures from the Hostess event but I totally forgot to take pictures not only of the group but also the goodies that were given out!  But we had a great time!

 

Hope you enjoy the recipes and card!

 

Happy Stamping!