October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month…Have you gone pink yet?

Hi All,

Hard to believe another October is here and almost gone already.   The Supreme Court is back in session (time to watch that grand old movie “First Monday in October” again),  Halloween is looming and we’ve been celebrating National Breast Cancer Awareness month all month long!   Not that Breast Cancer isn’t something to be thinking about every month right ladies?   Ah,ah,ah…you guys too should be concerned, for yourselves and for the women in your life.   Monthly breast exams are no longer just a female thing!

Stampin’ Up!  with their wide array of colors, embellishments and stamps that all work “Pink” give you unlimited possibilities to share your support for Breast Cancer Awareness and those affected by the disease in your life.

If you would like a flyer of the following grid and information click for my SCRIBD files here (PDF) or here (Word version)- or this will get you the PDF here  Pink Grid Flyer.  Fellow Demonstrators – Please feel free to share, alter and use as needed though I wouldn’t object to a wee bit of credit or a link to my blog (LOL!).

October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Inspire, Create & Share with Pretty in Pink to Spread Awareness

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Pretty in Pink Products

  1. Cardstock – 8-1/2 x 11 & 12 x 12 pkgs.

  2. Classic Ink Stamp Pad  

  3. Classic Ink Refill

  4. Stampin’ Write Marker

  5. 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon

  6. Craft Ink Refill – use with new uninked Craft Pad (Holiday Mini item)

  7. 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon

  8. 1-1/4” Wide Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

  9. 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon

 10. Simply Adorned Charm – pink the insert

 11. Supernova Fine Stampin’ Glitter (inc. pink)

 12. 1/8” Taffeta Ribbon (white borders)

 13. Décor Element – Manhattan Flower

 14. Simply Sent Sweet Hello Kit – includes pink ribbon rosette flowers to attach to card

 15. Décor Element – Upsy Daisy

 16. Jumbo Stampin’ Around Cartridge (blank) – ink with the classic or craft pink reinker of your choice

 17. Ribbon of Hope – Single Stamp

 18. Décor Element – Faith, Hope, Love & Life

 

Many of these products are also available in other light or “ dark pink” colors: Rose Red, Melon Mambo and the lighter newly returned Pink Pirouette or Blushing Bride!

 

There are more Pretty in Pink Décor items and Stencil images for inking in the new Definitely Decorative Catalog.  More wonderful stamps too in the full catalog.

 

Décor Elements can be broken up into smaller pieces for small projects and applied to mugs, tiles, votive candle holders, plates, laptops, pictures. Many other imaginative uses as well – apply to walls, mirrors, windows, Cars or other large surfaces.

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Tip:  Besides the Ribbon of Hope stamp several other stamp sets are also perfect for inspiring Think Pink projects.  Inspired by Nature’s text stamp Live With Passion is the perfect text for Breast Cancer Projects and is available in several languages.   Just Believes text stamp “Some things have to be believed to be seen” has many applications as well.  Particularly in our search for a cure and our fundraising efforts to bring it to fruition.  Cottage Garden is another terrific stamp with flowers, butterfly and a great text “Love life & it will Love you back”.  All great stamp sets for creating Think Pink Projects.

 

Think Pink – Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp Project and Event ideas:

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2010/10/05/breast-cancer-awareness-tutorial-365/

http://igotstamps.com/?p=2629 – a bouquet that lasts forever

http://fastamper.blogspot.com/2010/06/relay-for-life-update.html – Ribbon of Hope

http://igotstamps.com/?p=2717

http://kimevans.typepad.com/stamping_with_kim/2010/08/catching-up.html – Breast Cancer Awareness Journal

http://www.littlemissscrapalicious.com/2009/10/pals-paper-arts-14.html – Pink Punch Owl

http://www.littlemissscrapalicious.com/2009/07/stampin-out-breast-cancer-fundraiser.html – Going pink scrap page

http://createdbyu.blogspot.com/2010/09/diva-coffee-break-designs-team-color.html

http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/2010/10/just-add-ink-38.html

http://kerrids.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/jai-38-challenge

http://southerncaliforniastamper.blogspot.com/2010/10/praying-for-you-anita.html – check out the inked pink ribbon behind the text

http://stampinbythesea.com/goals-exceeded

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html

http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2045107/entry/a_treat_for_you_blog

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html – afterthoughts

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/setting-up-for-gilbraltar.html

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/marvelous-magnets.html – magnets

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/bookmarks.html – bookmarks

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/trick-or-treat.html – Fancy Favor boxes – did you know Halloween comes in Pink? 😀

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/five-more-cards-for-run-for-cure.html – cards

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/in-memory-of-geri-hoffman.html 

http://www.stampinup.net/blog/2045107/entry/a_treat_for_you_blog

 

http://www.maryrindal.com/2010/10/pink-out-afterthoughts.html – afterthoughts 

 

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/setting-up-for-gilbraltar.html

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/marvelous-magnets.html – magnets

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/bookmarks.html – bookmarks

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/trick-or-treat.html – Fancy Favor boxes – did you know Halloween comes in Pink? 😀

http://totallyawake4-stampin.blogspot.com/2010/09/five-more-cards-for-run-for-cure.html – cards

 

 

In addition to the stamping info, here are a few links to resources and information about Breast Cancer and what you can do to help find a cure or find answers to questions for yourself or others you know affected by the disease.  

 

In last years post here there are even more links and general info as well as some stamping links for Ribbon of Hope projects.

Information sources:

 http://breastcancercare.org/

  http://breastcancercare.org/resources.php – List of online resources

http://www.nbcam.org/index.cfm 

Breast Cancer Awareness Image Sources for blogs, letters, emails etc.:

http://webclipart.about.com/od/ribbonclip/l/blbc1.htm

http://www.redhatclipart.com/bca.html

http://photobucket.com/images/breast_cancer_awareness%20ribbon/?&userinit=true&source=header

http://photobucket.com/images/breast_cancer%20awareness%20%20month/?&userinit=true&source=homepage

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And two last notes….

 

During the rest of October, anyone placing an order of $50 or more on my website that includes a product from my Think Pink flyer will be rewarded with free shipping.  I’ll also donate some Think Pink cards to a local Cancer Charity for any sized order placed in my online store.  

 

 I considered writing the whole post in hot pink but decided it was a bit too hard on the eyes even if it would be appropriate for the subject matter.  Hopefully the special deal will reward you for reading through it – LOL!

 

And lastly… here’s a fun video I also shared last year:

 

The smiles and the dancing and the hope are catching…aren’t they!

Hugs and Blessings – Jean

 

Pink never looked so good!

Hi All,

Pink never looked so good! 

Now what I want to know is where can I get me some of those pink gloves!  Might make even doing housework fun – not to mention keep the ink off the fingers while stamping!  Makes me proud to be an Oregonian – hopefully the creativity is catching – the smiles sure are.   Enjoy!

To see Stampin’ Up’s and my take on Pink and Breast Cancer Awareness check out this previous post from last October.

And one more:

With thanks for all the Doctor’s, Nurse’s and Medical & Hospital staff who’ve been a part of making my life and my families lives and end of lives a good one….

Share the love…

Hugs and blessings – Jean

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Thanksgiving

Loving God,
let the gratitude
we know today
seep like a gentle rain
into the lives and hearts
of all people we meet
in your world and
at your table.
Amen.

—The Blessing Candles:
58 Simple Mealtime
Prayer-Celebrations

 

May your Thanksgiving time with friends and family be among the blessings you count today.   You my dear readers are the blessings I intend to count as well.

Hugs and Blessings always – Jean

P.S. Please take a minute to click on the hunger site badge in the sidebar today of all days.  All you have to do is click and a sponsor donates food on your behalf.  It doesn’t cost you a thing except a bit of time and a click.  Thanks!

Sunday’s Rogue Thoughts and Playtime peeks = 100th post

Hi All,

I hope you are all having a blessed Sunday.  It’s been a while since I had a chance to sit down and put a Sunday post together.  Not a whole lot of introspection going on around here these days.   Well occasionally in the middle of a sleepless night.  Or one of those weird peri-menopause nights with the following scenario.  Go to sleep laying on my right side until pain has me turning over on my left.  Once settled on my left side the hot flashes begin!   Roll back over to the right and the hot flashes go away the body gets comfortable once again…until of course the pain starts all over again and so does the spinning!    Anyone else have one sided hot flashes??   Seems pretty weird to me!

*****

Note:  As I was wrapping up this post I clicked over to my blog stats and discovered that this will be my 100th post since I started my blog back on July 18th.  Just a wee bit over 3 months ago.  And on top of that I passed the 10,000 hit count yesterday as well.  Thought I should come back here and insert a thank you to all of you who choose to read, subscribe and follow this blog.   And a thanks to the Creator of us all who inspires and instills in us our own brand of creativity.  I’ll be mulling over a blog candy offering but in the mean time my heartfelt thanks to you all.

*****

Still on the high I wrote about in my last newsletter….(ah ha, yup I’m recycling my writing…those of you who get my newsletter for demo’s might recognize this…) and still creating like mad.  Though I did take one day off when all of a sudden the overload from creative energy gone wild set in and quite literally I had no energy for anything…not even eating.  Fine for me not so fine for their majesties the cats!

Whew! Stamp a Stack and Open Studio Day are behind me and I managed to be there for both!  After weeks of seizures I was getting a tad worried but stamping fever won out!  Yay!  Cheryl and Linda and I had a fun time last Saturday sharing our love of stamping and learning a few new tricks.  Cut lots and lots of Jan Tink’s luminaries (keep going back and forth with various names, votive surrounds, votive covers, votive shields, luminaries, luminarias, etc, etc. whatever the name they are fun).  Now I just have to complete a few of them.  Also went nuts making Christmas trees from the new O Christmas Tree die.  As I told my friends I’m no longer a tree virgin!  The scary die sitting on the table has been used….and it turns out to be very, very easy and very, very addicting!!  I find myself looking around and wondering what else I can cut a Christmas tree out of.  Boy would I love to get an order for someone’s Holiday Banquet so I could make a couple of hundred or so!  Sound nuts?  Nope just fun. Stack the pieces – put some music or a book on tape in the player and enter the construction zone.  I’m down to about 5 minutes per tree for the assembly.  Cutting takes a wee bit longer though not much once the paper is cut.  I’ll have pictures on my blog hopefully next week of just a few. I would suggest that for your first attempt you work in cardstock.  As the stiffer material is a bit easier to handle and manipulate until you learn what you are doing.  

 

Now that Fall has arrived I’m grateful for each warm day that comes down the pike (or through the valley in my case – lol!).  Grateful for the rain too as my poor trees are looking a bit dry as are the lilac bushes.  The trees have finally changed color and are beginning to drop their leaves.  The pine trees too are doing their bit to litter the landscape.  Poor deer are still missing the tall stands of brush that disappeared a few weeks ago thanks to modern machinery and the kindness of friends.  Haven’t sighted the kittens under the deck for a few days so I’m wondering if they’ve moved on.  While they are cute it might be easier to get the house sold if someone doesn’t think they have to buy the kittens as well!  Perfect weather for the pot of soup I put together this afternoon.  Looking at the pot now I’m wondering just how many people I was planning to feed when I started it.  Somehow soups and stews always get away from me.  By the time I add a bit of this and oh yeah that could get used up the original portions always seem to double in size.  Kind of like that old story of stone soup.  Turned out yummy especially when paired with open faced ham sandwiches grilled with mustard and mozzarella under the broiler.  Drove the cats nuts even after I gave them some chopped up ham of their own.  Hmmm….they always seem to think my food is better than theirs!  So like a cat!

 

Here’s the project that kicked off the whole Open Studio Day (click the pics for close up shots).  I put these together while waiting for Linda and Cheryl and continued after they came and went just adding to the pile. 

 These tag/ornament/bookmarks made use of two different Big Shot dies and a few punches.

Both the Petal Card die and SU exclusive Two Tags die were used along with circle punches, Wide Oval Punch, Trio Flower Punch and the Round Tab Punch.

Stamp sets used: Christmas Punch a Level Two Hostess set.  A Cardinal Christmas text stamp.  Snowflake, Flower and Flourish from A Season of Joy.  

Papers are Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Very Vanilla Cardstock.  And a bit of the elastic Silver Cording was used on one and will probably get added to the others as well.

 

 Here’s a closeup of the slider that fits inside the petal card. 

It might be hard to see but I stamped the outside and inside of the petal card with the flourish stamp from Season of Joy using Melon Mambo ink on Melon Mambo Cardstock.  The Round Tab Punch piece had the flower from that same set stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink on the RR cardstock.   The inside slider tag had the flower stamped in Melon Mambo using the stamped off technique then the text over stamped in Rich Razzleberry.  Snowflake is also stamped in Melon Mambo and layered with a Rich Razzleberry Circle Punch piece and then adhered with a dimensional that holds the petals of the card closed in order to create the pocket.

 

Here’s a quick peek related to some items that will be shown next week here on the blog. 

 The tree was cut using Very Vanilla Cardstock and the new O Christmas Tree die featured in the Holiday Mini.  Then each cut piece was run through the Finial Press Impressions Folder and then assembled and spritzed with Shimmer Mist (spray made using the new Shimmer Paints added to alcohol).

The card is a little 3×3 perfect for a gift enclosure or table decoration (could even be a place card if you put a person’s name in place of the Give Thanks stamp from the Holiday Best hostess set.  I created the wreath using three colors of ink (More Mustard, Always Artichoke and Real Red) and the berry stamp from the stamp set Always.  I’ll have more details in next weeks post that will feature this wreath in a number of projects.  With luck I’ll even get some step by step pictures taken to show you how I made the wreath.

Here’s a close up – albeit a blurry one.  Anyone know why when I crop my pictures to get rid of extraneous background the picture gets blurry?  Only happens with my camera shots not the scanner pics.   Unfortunately my scanner is resisting the healing I’ve been trying to effect by laying on of hands and prayer so for now I’m stuck with the camera.

 

 

 

Here’s a grouping of just a few of the trees I created this last week.  I’ll be posting about them in the near future as well. 

I’ve been hearing from some of you that snow is already flying in the Midwest and some parts of the East Coast.  Winter seems to be trying to move in early this year.  For the rest of you get out and enjoy the Autumn colors and leaves and cooler temps and whatever bits of stray sunshine you can find.  Winter will be here all too soon and Daylight Savings time ends next weekend.  For myself it’s time to put the stamps away for a bit and get back into a well ordered round of long walks, prayer, praise and generally dipping back into the life I’ve put on hold for the last week.  Need to take some time to cuddle with the cats as well. 

One other thing I’ve been meaning to mention….

I’ve added a few new buttons to the righthand sidebar of my blog.   One for the Hungersite helps feed the world with just a click.  No contributions required. Though I can highly recommend their Fair Trade store and products.  Most years that’s where I do my Christmas Shopping and every purchase provides more cups of food.  Now with money tight to the point of strangulation I can still feel good about clicking over there daily to make my clicks that sponsors then register and provide food based on the number of clicks received that day.  So please when you stop by and visit don’t forget to click so others can eat.

I’ve also added a button to Mercy Corps International.  A very well respected aid organization that functions worldwide – even in places the US government won’t go.  They have one of, if not the highest percentage of direct funded aid of any NGO (non governmental organization).  They keep their costs as low as possible with mostly volunteer staff and partner with others to match with grants the amounts raised.  They too have ways to help even if money is tight.  So please go and check them out and support them if you can.

And for the four footed felines and pups we all love there is a button that also provides food for clicks as well as some fun trivia and games.  Sign up for their reminder emails and click daily and know that you are providing food for less fortunate animals than your own.

That’s the list and the end of the appeals for your goodness and generosity.  Stampers I’ve discovered have giving hearts and caring souls and I’m blessed to call you all Friend.

Hugs and blessings and God grant you Peace and Joy in his infinite wisdom and mercy to each according to their need.

Joyfully in Him – Jean

Frugal Friday is Going Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Features – Ribbon of Hope

 

In the kingdom of pink every woman is queen in her own castle!

 

Hi all,

Can I get personal for just a minute before we get into the frugality of being pink? 

Did you know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? 

Are you aware of the state of health of your very own breasts? 

Okay I know that last is a very personal question but really ladies, it’s too important to ignore out of embarrassment or social mores.   I hope you all have (you guys too since this affects a percentage of men as well) regular checkups and do your self exams on a regular basis as well as noting any irregularities any time you happen to be naked!  Too much??  Did you know there are actually statistics out there showing the number of cancers found because a spouse, boyfriend or photographer (for you playboy bunnies out there) noticed something and sent the women in their lives to a doctor? 

Okay check out the links I’ve added for more info and then think about going pink this month!    After all if you’re frugal in your stamping this month you’ll have that much more to donate to groups that do research, help those afflicted with the disease and other related charities.   You might also consider donating those frugal cards to groups that send out cards to cancer and chemo patients. 

Your local Cancer Society might also appreciate card sets and 3D pieces they can raffle, auction or sell to raise more money for research and patient services.  They would appreciate any time you can donate as well.   Many patients can use a ride to the chemo center or there may be envelopes to stuff or race events in need of a few hours work on an occasional basis.  Okay public service commercial finished…On to the stamp!

Stampin’ Up! with a number of other companies has created Ribbon stamps that work so well for this month as well as for other causes that also use ribbons.

Here’s two sources for information about different ribbon colors and their meaning:

http://www.craftsnscraps.com/jewelry/ribbons.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awareness_ribbons

 

I was amazed to see how many groups have adopted the ribbon and added color.  Hm…must be a lot of secret stamper wanna be’s out there.  After all that’s a bit like what we all do.  We buy similar stamp sets and add color and creativity and make it our own.  WoW.  Who knew!  Most people could be stampers if they only knew!  I’ll have to keep that in mind…..

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tip:  Another tip if you want an actual ribbon for your lapel but don’t have the right color….check out this earlier post with how to’s on dying ribbon to match whatever color you need.

*****

Ribbon of Hope – #115552, $7.95, pg. 208 IBC –  available in all languages (hee, hee). 

This ribbon image fits easily inside the Wide Oval Punch, 1-3/4” Circle Punch, Round Tab punch.  Fits snuggly inside the Scallop Oval Punch, Scallop Circle, Large Tag and the 1-3/8” Square when set corner to corner style.  Works well with a number of Big Shot die cuts and tags as well.

The image can also be used…are you ready for this…as an actual ribbon!  No cause necessary… just stamp in a project coordinating color and place a layer across it.  Maybe a Hodgepodge label piece with text highlighted on a punch piece inside or a word window punch piece with text or even some Boho Flower or Trio Flower punch pieces with a brad or two.   And while none of the projects I have links to did this perhaps using this image on a candle with some flowers from the Pretties Kit attached with a brad would also be appropriate.  So many uses and since you didn’t blow your stamping wad on the cost of the stamp you have lots of room in your budget for embellishments!

You might also consider coordinating your ribbon stamped projects with other uplifting sentiments and images from our Decor Elements line.   The three text elements below and the other images listed in the grid lower down in this post have several uses for this think pink October theme.

 

          

 

Décor elements (for details download the Decorative elements catalog in the left hand sidebar):  

Be – available in various sizes, colors and prices ($4.95 – $7.95)

Faith, Hope, Love and Life – available in various sizes, colors and prices ( 4.95 – 5.95

 Live Every Moment – available in various sizes, colors and prices ($16.95 – $20.95)

The Décor Elements can be broken up into smaller pieces for small projects and also applied to items like mugs, tiles, votive candle holders, plates, laptops, pictures and many other imaginative uses as well as applied to walls, mirrors, windows, Cars and other large surfaces.

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Ribbon of Hope Inspiration Links:

http://www.juliabettencourt.com/blog/?p=4810 – Sweet Treats and a bookmark

http://www.juliabettencourt.com/blog/?p=4797 & http://www.juliabettencourt.com/blog/?p=4777 – Ribbon of Hope & Refuge and Strength cards and card box

http://www.stampwithjanis.com/my_weblog/2009/07/im-so-glad-to-see-this-stamp.html

http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2009/09/ribbon-of-hope-class-kit-in-the-mail-offer.html

http://stamp4life.blogspot.com/2009/07/ribbon-of-hope.html– domino pins one for breast cancer and one for the troops

http://studio1203.typepad.com/stamping_at_studio_1203/2009/07/embrace-life.html – with embrace life stamp set

http://kweenbee.typepad.com/kweenbee/stamp-set—ribbon-of-hope/

http://www.mysweetstampinspot.com/2009/09/regional-swaps.html

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1464388?&cat=17518– Punches and Texturz

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1459512?&cat=17518

http://lauralspassion4paper.blogspot.com/2009/09/wings-of-hope.html

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1479988?&cat=17518 – Uterine cancer version

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1478735?&cat=17518 – Petals a Plenty embossed Folder

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1447384?&cat=17518 – paired with Simple Friendship

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1426737?&cat=17518 – CAS

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1413327?&cat=17518 – CAS

http://kreateskards.blogspot.com/2009/08/pink-ribbon-stamp-cards-inspiration.html

 

Splitcoast Gallery: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=17518

For images using these templates or for other templates check this link.

http://www.karlum.com/bra_and_pants_template.pdf  – lingerie template

 http://www.karlum.com/Body.pdf – body template

Splitcoast Gallery of lingerie cards: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=lingerie+cards

*****

Tip:  Okay this might be heading into the TMI or risque category one more time but have you considered using the new ornament punch as a breast?    Okay I meant on a card obviously!  And of course you’ll want to cover some of it up just to keep it PG right?   I’ve also added some links to templates for Lingerie cards.  Done up in pink they are perfect for this months theme.

***** 

Breast Cancer Information Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month – short history of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_cancer

http://www.worldwidebreastcancer.com/ – A different look at how to talk about Breast Cancer issues with visuals that are less graphic and uses humor – appropriate for any culture or age.

http://www.lucymacdonald.com/files/Self%20Breast%20Exam%20Chart.pdf – traditional screening chart for self exam

http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=show&page=about

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month.asp – American Cancer Society links for Breast Cancer

http://ww5.komen.org/  – Susan G. Komen for a Cure website

http://www.chemoangels.net/ – Chemo Angels – showing you how you can be an angel to someone in your community.

*****

Below is a grid of most of our Pretty in Pink products that might work for this month (did you notice the Castle at the top of the post?  It’s not in the grid but it is a Decor Element).  for my fellow demo’s or others interested I’ve created a PDF flyer that you can download here or from my SCRIBD sidebar download badge  that shows most of the same products if that would be of interest for you.   Please feel free to download or copy the grid from this post and spread the word.   If you need the code for the HTML grid to duplicate this contact me and I’ll be happy to share the fruits of my learning on this one.  I would appreciate a link back if you choose to use it.

*****

October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Inspire, Create & Share with Pretty in Pink to Spread Awareness

 

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Pretty in Pink Products

1. Cardstock – 8-1/2 x 11 and 12 x 12 packages

 2. Classic Ink Stamp Pad  

 3. Classic Ink Refill

 4. Stampin’ Write Marker

 5. Craft Ink Stamp Pad

 6. Craft Ink Refill

 7. ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon

 8. ½” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

 9. 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon

 10. Chunky Sprinkles Stampin’ Glitter – includes light pink

 11. Supernova Fine Stampin’ Glitter – includes pink

 12. Pink Bead Duo

 13. Décor Element – Manhattan Flower

 14. Décor Element – Flitting By

 15. Décor Element – Upsy Daisy

 16. Jumbo Stampin’ Around Cartridge

17. Ribbon of Hope – Single Stamp

18. Décor Element – Faith, Hope, Love & Life

 

Many of these products are also available in other “pink” colors:

Pixie Pink, Pink Passion

The Décor Elements can be broken up into smaller pieces for small projects and also applied to items like mugs, tiles, votive candle holders, plates, laptops, pictures and many other imaginative uses as well as applied to walls, mirrors, windows, Cars and other large surfaces.

Additional product details available in the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalog, Online Catalog or your Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.

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My thanks to Julia Bettencort who’s post here on her blog gave me the idea for this entire post and who’s email help in pointing the way to HTML to create my own grid introduced me to a whole new field of learning.  

Cancer in many forms and over several generations has touched my family and has made me rather passionate about supporting this cause.  My hope and prayer for you is that you may never know its touch.  And that together through our work and support we can eliminate this equal opportunity killer in the near future.

Thanks for tuning in today and viewing my world in pink :D!

Hugs and blessings – Jean

Playtime (continued) – Big Shot and Movers and Shapers die tips and ideas

Hi All,

Here it is Saturday and once again my to do list is staring me in the face.   So what am I doing here with you???  Hey its Saturday and to me that means playtime!   So how about a compromise?   I’ll show you some fun stuff from my playtime last week at Cheryl’s house and then I promise I’ll get right on that list…okay? 

But first….a confession….I get as much of a kick out of experimenting with my Big Shot and other tools just to see what they can do as I do with actually creating finished cards….yes I know blasphemy!    But sometimes you just have to see what the tools can do before you can settle down to actually making something.

So….

I really have a thing for SU’s Movers and Shapers dies and the base platform die that allows you to cut and score a card while cutting out a decorative piece from the card front all at the same time!  Stampin’ Up first came out with a version that replicates the shape of the Curly Label punch.  And even better the die and the punch are just slightly different in size so it allows for interesting layering possibilities.  The Occasions mini from last spring introduced 4 new shapes for use with the base platform from the Curly Label version.   And now our new Holiday mini has introduced 4 more!   Another day I’ll show you what I came up with for those new Holiday dies – this time combined with the very popular Impressions folder Petals a Plenty.

Traditionally the Curly Label Movers and Shapers die  does this:

Traditional Curly Label Movers and Shapers die cut

 

But did you know it could also do this:

 

Top: Movers & Shapers elongated windows Bottom: Punch created window

The first example is the usual thing.  Place the curly label die piece anywhere on the magnetic surface of the base platform die and voila you will have a window cut into the card front in addition to a scored card ready for folding and embellishing.  In the second set of examples I played around just a bit.   By placing the die a tad bit further into the center than I might otherwise do, I gave myself a second possibility.   The first time through the Big shot is the normal use and orientation.  The second time through I left the curly label die where it was for the first pass and flipped the card piece itself to the other side.  By carefully lining it up within the card area of the base platform die (ie lining up the score area) I had the card in the perfect spot to cut a second overlapping window that then gave me a much wider window to play with and a greater variety of images and text that I could fit within that zone.   Very quick and easy once you have the die lined up in the right place and can be repeated over and over for multiple copies. 

Then just for fun I took a single quarter sheet of  8-1/2 x 11 paper and placed it over just the bottom window part of the card area of the die and started running it through the Big Shot.  I did the now usual trick to get the elongated opening and then I flipped the card around completely end over end and ran it through to get a second elongated window.  Now depending on the placement you can have the double openings closer or farther apart.  I’ll probably end up trimming the edges a bit so it layers nicely on a card base.  I can see using one window for an image and the other for a text but who knows what will happen once I actually start playing with it.  I might even just put a lattice piece behind it like this:

So many possibilities with a Big Shot and a handful of dies.  However it is possible to go just a little too crazy.  When I tried to take the experiment one step further and create a larger square opening I realized that I was overlooking an even simpler tool.  As crazy as I am about my Big Shot I sometimes tend to overlook my first “die” cutting tool – the simple hand punch.    The curly label punch was one of the first punches I used to create my own windows before the advent of SU’s Big Shot and the Movers and Shapers die.    The locations however were limited by the reach of the punch so the Movers and Shapers die was a wonderful invention.   For creating the large square however I rediscovered the quick versatility of the punch.    The BS version as you can see was problematical- it slipped and slid just a bit, took longer and generally gave me a poor result.  Probably with a little more practice I could have gotten it down reasonably well.  However in under 10 seconds I was able to create exactly the look I wanted using just the hand punch.   A thrifty discovery for those of you who don’t yet own a Big Shot or the Mover and Shaper die set.  And offered a different look since there was no corresponding piercing around the image like the Movers and Shapers Curly Label die piece creates.

Movers and Shapers Versus Punch

 

 Well that’s it for todays peek at playtime.  Stay tuned as there will be more to come.  After all that one day covered almost 8 hours of fun and experimentation.

 Here’s the tools I used in the above examples:

Curly Label Punch (#112208, $15.95)

 

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 On a feline note:

Courtesy of my friend and fellow demo Jaydee’s blog I have a newly discovered cat and dog blog to share with you  that feeds hungry kitties and pups and all you have to do to help is click (although of course there are options for more – hee,hee)!  The cat version can be found here – http://www.freekibblekat.com/default.asp  and the dog version here –  http://freekibble.com/ .

Fun trivia questions, cartoons and links to fun pet video’s add to the fun and best of all these guys are located right here in my home state of Oregon though the shelters they help are extending outwards across the US.

*****

 And finally a cautionary tale (or should that be loss of tail?):

 

When love for purple and glitter goes sadly wrong!

***I told her she had too much glitter in her stash!! But would she listen.....!***

 

I guess that’s a reminder to go clean the litter box and get on with the rest of my list so I can get back to organizing my stamp room and creating more fun bits and pieces to share with y’all!

Hugs and blessings and take some time to play today! – Jean

Frugal Friday: Featuring – Very Thankful

 

Hi All,

Time once again for another Frugal Friday featuring another under $20 stamp set – Check the sidebar for a downloadable  list of the rest that fall into this category and for the Under $20 holiday mini sets as well.   And as you may have guessed by the image at the top of the post today’s set is a special one.

Tightwad Tuesday using Thank You Kindly seemed like the perfect set up for this Friday’s stamp set Very Thankful.  A set I might add that is way under $20 and with an extra special feature!   Very Thankful is this years Ronald McDonald House promotional set.  This means that $2 of each Very Thankfulstamp set purchased will be donated directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  This charity provides housing and a healing atmosphere for families of sick children receiving treatment at hospitals around the country.   And Stampin’ Up has adopted quite a few of these houses by encouraging demos to volunteer and by providing materials for stamping and other related projects to keep house occupants occupied.   See flyer about this promo here and more details about SU’s involvement at the bottom of the post.

 A few sample projects from Stampin’ Up sources:

        

  

 Very Thankful– Ronald McDonald stamp set ( # 115338, $14.95, inside back cover of IBC) – Also available in French and Spanish.

 While I haven’t officially taken a poll, based on what I’ve seen in blogland,  I think the turtle image and the Peacock image are pretty much neck and neck in the popularity department.  

I should note though that the boy image would work with the All in the Family set of stamps and accessory stamp sets rather well.  And all of these seem to have a step up in elegance when the French version of the Stamp is used.   I don’t know why that is.  The Spanish set seems friendly and informal and fun and the French seems very elegant even when the image is a cartoon!   Not a cultural statement just the way the two languages seem to affect me and my perception when it comes to this stamp set.   

Tip:  Two of these stamps text can easily be separated and place on the side of the block for use alone or with the image.  After all there are times when you want words and times when you don’t as every stamper knows.  

Tip: The little boy image with the heart can also have the words thank you left un-inked and would then make the perfect Valentine image too.  Same actually with the peacock and the turtle.  Lots of Valentine potential here.  Oh my,  not even Christmas and already thinking Valentines.  Bad blogger, bad blogger rushing the calendar.

French Version - click for larger image

Okay guys I’m trying very hard to show you both the French and the Spanish versions and WordPress insists on either melding the two or deleting both.  Maybe if some text separates them I can get them to play nice.  And here I thought only Spain and Portugal had issues.  I guess France and Spain don’t want to play nice either!   Hmm….must be some history there I’ve managed to forget.   Lets see both used to fight with England (but then who hasn’t right :D) so you’d think that would give them something in common….both have flirted with Communism…both have Catholic roots….both believe in long lunches….nope not seeing it!   Any history majors out there care to enlighten me?

 

 

 

 

Spanish Version - click for larger image

 

 Links to Inspiration using this set:

 http://georgiastamps.blogspot.com/2009/08/very-thankful-ronald-mcdonald-stamp-set.html – the new in color markers make this stamp gorgeous

http://www.stampinpretty.com/2009/07/mojo-monday-96-peacock.html

http://www.sandystamper.com/2009/08/very-thankful-gift-card-holder-directions.html

http://juliedavison.blogspot.com/2009/07/very-thankful-turtle.html

http://www.2stampis2b.com/2009/07/very-thankful-elegance.html

http://www.2stampis2b.com/2009/07/very-thankful-boy.html – great boy card

http://mystampingthoughts.typepad.com/mystampingthoughts/stamp-set-very-thankful/

http://www.inkychatter.com/inkychatter/2009/07/very-thankful.html – CAS that’s fun and elegant

http://www.jaydeestamping.com/weblog/2009/09/very-thankful-en-francaise.html – French Version

http://www.ilovepapercrafts.com/my_weblog/2009/08/box-2-basket-tutorial-featuring-very-thankful-.html – Big shot and tags

http://planetmarce.blogspot.com/2009/09/very-thankful.html

http://www.sandystamper.com/2009/07/ronald-mcdonald-very-thankful-set.html

http://www.verastamps.com/2009/07/08/nouveau-chic/

http://www.verastamps.com/2009/08/05/scs-dinner-swap/

http://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/stamps_paper_and_ink/2009/09/very-thankful.html

http://www.verastamps.com/2009/07/24/convention-swap-reject/

http://www.yamstamps.com/weblog/2009/08/layers-are-lovely.html

http://www.verastamps.com/2009/07/18/resisting-finial-press/

http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.net/2009/08/-did-someone-say-pizza-.html

http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/2009/08/3-very-thankful-cards.html

 

 Galleries of Inspiration:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=17508– SCS Gallery of images

 http://www.stampinaddicts.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3229– Stampin Addicts Gallery

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More information about Stampin’ Up! and Ronald McDonald House:

Making a Difference

Stampin’ Up!’s mission statement, called its Statement of the Heart, reads: “To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments . . . in this we make a difference.”

To help fulfill this statement, Stampin’ Up! launched its Making a Difference program in 2003. This program facilitates corporate giving and promotes service among demonstrators and employees.

Through the Making a Difference program, Stampin’ Up! partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Each year, the company donates $100,000 to the organization. In addition, we design an exclusive stamp set to promote the partnership with RMHC, and donate a portion of the proceeds from the each sale of that set. To date, more than $95,000 has been donated from RMHC stamp set sales.

Stampin’ Up!’s demonstrators are also encouraged to volunteer their time teaching local Ronald McDonald House guests the creative art of rubber stamping through the Making a Difference program. Demonstrators also create cards at training events which are donated to Ronald McDonald Houses. Those staying at the Houses then use the cards to keep in touch with loved ones while they are away from home.

In addition to contributing to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Stampin’ Up! donated $1.1 million to the September 11th Disaster Relief Fund from proceeds of exclusive stamp set sales, and more than $82,000 to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for breast cancer research. To support the Asian tsunami disaster relief effort, Stampin’ Up! donated more than $575,000 to Save the Children. It has also donated substantial funds for the fight against heart disease, and to help those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the southern United States.

You can help us make a difference. Purchase this year’s set, Very Thankful, and we’ll donate $2 to Ronald McDonald House Charities for each set purchased. To help get your creative juices flowing, we’ve created two samples using this set and included supplies and instructions.

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Okay before WordPress gets any weirder I’m skipping further tips and going straight to the thank you for stopping by my little corner of the stamping blogoverse.   I’m truly, Very Thankful for all my readers and your encouraging words mean a great deal.   Very Thankful too for having discovered this warm world of stamping in general!

Hugs and blessings my friends from a very warm Southern Oregon – Jean

 

News flash just in…..Famous blogger cats celebrate their first birthday!

 

Check out Lydia’s – Understand Blue – post here for details.  Then check out this list of posts relating to all Maddie and Splotchy’s crazy doings here.

As a birthday present to the little darlings this post is featuring (okay and begging for – your support )  one of Maddie and Splotchy’s nearest and dearest causes.  M & S were rescued from the streets of Austin, Texas and if they hadn’t ended up with Lydia they could only have dreamed about ending up at “A Place to Bark and Meow” (the meows were recently added due to the support of kind folks like you – hint, hint :D)

If you want to support cat (okay dogs too :D) rescue work and enjoy stamping at the same time check out this fundraiser appeal that lets you do both!

A Place to Bark (and now Meow)  is a wonderful no kill shelter, rescue and adoption facility run by an amazing lady (Hi Bernie!) with a Heart of Gold!

To learn more about them here’s a few places to see love in action:

website

Bernies Blog

You Tube videos  to warm your heart!  I watch these when I want to feel good and also when I want a laugh or just relief that I don’t have to work this hard! 😀

So…Happy Birthday Maddie & Splotchy (my little fur faces Sandy and Wicket send their greetings too).  It looks like Lydia has you covered so the present  from my end is going to help your extended family of fur faces still looking for a home.   Thanks for being such good little ambassadors for Cats the blogging world over.

Hugs and Blessings – Jean

PS:  Wicket was lucky enough to be born into a long related string of cats in my feline loving family and has never known any other kind of life.  Sandycat is my own little rescue miracle from the mean alleys of Buellton, California.   While the Humane Society in our town did great work finding homes for domesticated kitties in need neither they nor anyone else in town took in ferals as well as domestics until our local co-op of women vets (Buellton Veterinary Clinic) decided to change that.  They provided free spay, free shots and some limited free care for the first year – all I had to do was promise to provide a good home and to be prompt in getting Sandy care during that first year as needed.  Talk about a terrific deal.   Sandy was found in an alley next to her dead mother at 5 weeks.  The Lady vets took her in, cleaned her up, and quarantined her for 2 weeks to make sure she was healthy enough to be adopted.   Then at 7 weeks she fell into my heart and my home with a resounding thump and has been there ever since.   While she’s a feral in her core she is also a loving mostly domesticated and very mechanical cat.   Famous for calling her human grandmother using speed dial, calling China unassisted, operating TV’s, deadbolts and lights and doors of all descriptions she’s also the only cat I know who needs a night lite on inside at night.  Anyone else ever heard of a cat who’s afraid of the dark inside (outside she’s fine!)?  So yes miracles do happen for defenseless animals because of the greatness of love and the strength and determination of the human heart.  Thank you to all the caring individuals like Bernie and my lady vets in Buellton and others around the globe who try to make a difference for all God’s creatures great and small.

 

 

 

 

Then check out