UStamp, Free Tutorials, and an Award

The Hey BigShot... That's How we Roll UStamp session opens today!! I am so excited to reconnect with friends and meet new ones.  Each time I have been delighted to get to know others from around the world who share this great hobby.  

UStampers will be seeing TWO of my tutorials this session.  Also I will be featuring lots more Big Shot projects and free tutorials here on Kitty Stamp during that time so be sure to check back!  I am off for a weekend trip but will be back in force next week with lots of fun things to share.  In the meantime you can check out past tutorials here.

This week, I received a Sunshine Award from a great friend I met on UStamp.  We have had the best time with late night chatting and laughing.  My family thinks I am crazy when I sit typing and then burst out laughing.  Thanks Kristen for the fun times and the award.  You can see her new blog HERE.  She is one talented lady!

Part of the award is to then pass it along to other bloggers that you enjoy visiting.  I have three wonderful people I have met through UStamp.   

Jen Picard is just a delight!  She is another partner in crime on the hilarious chats we have.  Her stamping projects are creative and beautiful.

Sue Blankenship always has a great variety of stamping projects on her blog.  Lots of cards and great My Digital layouts too!

Penny Hanuszak is a wonderfully caring lady.  Always ready to help others.  Your the best Penny!

My Digital Studio Window Clings

This weekend we had a retro themed party.   I bought window clings at the office supply store and then used My Digital Studio to print some stickers to decorate our drink coolers and the windows.

The flowers and borders are from the Happy BDay Designer Kit that come with the My Digital Studio program. 

These were a fun addition to our party!

Edited:  I found these containers at our local Meijer store.  Meijer does have online shopping as well but when I tried to find the dispensers on the website I was not able to.  These hold 3 gallons each.

Under the Stars Birthday Gift Bag and Blog Candy Winners

I made a quick gift bag to go with this "Many S'mores" birthday card.  I just love this card and made a stack of them to have on hand.

Whenever I make a mask for a stamp I keep it with that stamp set to have it handy for the next time.  This mask is well loved!

Masking is a simple technique for adding dimension to a project.

1.  First stamp the image on a post-it note and trim it carefully.  (If the sticky wears off eventually you can add temporary adhesive such as Dotto it keep it from slipping.)

2.  Stamp the image to be masked on cardstock.

3.  Cover image with mask.

4.  Stamp image you want to appear in back over the masked area.

5.  Remove the mask to see your "layered" image.

I added gourmet cookies to the bag for our friend's surprise birthday party.  Everyone brought a pie to share - yum!

And now for the winners of the Free passes to UStamp:  I entered all names into the list randomizer on Random.org.... the top 2 names are... Kristen and Tilly!!
Here is a screen shot of the list:

Congratulations!! I know you will enjoy all that is in store at Hey Big Shot!  UStamp!

Tiger

Blog Candy!!!   Leave a comment on any of the posts starting with Wednesday April 21 and you will be entered in a random drawing for 2 FREE PASSES to the HEY BIG SHOT!  session of USTAMP.  You may comment once on each post between now and April 29.  See THIS POST for all the details. 

It has been a while since I have done a "kitty post".   Today's featured kitty is "Tiger".  Not a highly imaginative name but it fits him well.  He is a delightful yet "low maintenance" cat.   He loves to come in the house for petting and attention but is happiest outside where he is captain of the Rodent Patrol.  (He is very proud of his work and brings us proof of his prowess quite frequently.)

As our oldest kitty (he is 12 years old), he has weathered his share of kittens.  He at first tries to ignore the pesky little newcomer.  Then as they try to play with him, he walks off in huff.   But after a few days he will be playing with them and from that point on they are best buds.

Not so with the dog.  He does not tolerate Chester at all.  Chester knows better then to get too close.  Tiger is definitely "top dog" around here.

Tiger loves a tummy rub:

 

A game of cards:

Or a comfortable napping chair:

He has a quirky way of napping, hanging over the edge:

 We love our Tiger!

You can see past "kitty posts" HERE.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Blog Candy!!!   Leave a comment on any of the posts starting with Wednesday April 21 and you will be entered in a random drawing for 2 FREE PASSES to the HEY BIG SHOT!  session of USTAMP.  You may comment once on each post between now and April 29.  See THIS POST for all the details. 

My parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on the 23rd.    You can see a scrapbook page I made for a calendar for them on MDS with pictures of their wedding HERE.   This is the card I made for them.  Of course for a Golden Anniversary, I needed to go gold and glitzy.  Really hard to get a decent photo though.

The card base is River Rock which looks lovely with gold and Very Vanilla.  The flowers were cut with the Floral Fusion die and then spritzed with Vanilla Smooch spray.  It is impossible to photograph the shimmer of the Smooch spray but it is SO very pretty IRL.  

Supplies:  Paper: River Rock, Very Vanilla.  Tools: Manhattan Flower embossing folder, Floral Fusion Sizzlet die, Scallop Trim Border punch.  Accessories: Vanilla Smooch Spritz, brads, Non-SU! ribbon.

Multiplying Butterflies

Blog Candy!!!   Leave a comment on any of the posts starting with Wednesday April 21 and you will be entered in a random drawing for 2 FREE PASSES to the HEY BIG SHOT!  session of USTAMP.  You may comment once on each post between now and April 29.  See THIS POST for all the details. 


Lately I have been using lots of butterflies on my projects.  In particular, I have been using the Beautiful Wings Sizzlet die.  It cuts five tiny little butterflies at a time.  That is great.  Except I use one or two from each type of paper on a project.  That leaves three or four extra butterflies each time.  And OF COURSE I could never just throw away a perfect little die cut butterfly.   I have a pile of these little guys that just keeps growing and growing.

I decided to make some cards to use them up.  Easier said than done.  I start designing a card and think "Oh, such and such a color butterfly would look so cute with this layout.  And I end up cutting more of the little rascals!

Here are few of my flurry of flutterby cards:

The center square card has little leftover pieces from cutting out the lattice die cut.  I couldn't throw those away either!

You will be seeing more butterflies in the near future - the butterflies continue to multiply!

4H Fund Raiser-Stampin' Up Donation

Blog Candy!!!   Leave a comment on any of the posts starting with Wednesday April 21 and you will be entered in a random drawing for 2 FREE PASSES to the HEY BIG SHOT!  session of USTAMP.  You may comment once on each post between now and April 29.  See THIS POST for all the details. 

The kids from our 4H club had a fund raiser for a local camp for disadvantaged children.  Stampin' Up! donated a wonderful generous assortment of stamps and products for the silent auction.

 Bidding on the items:

A great time for a great cause.

The club members were delighted to be able to donate over $500 to help other kids.  Thank you Stampin" Up for your support!