Cards for card club; pet show with dogs

We had our summer monthly cardmaking club meeting this week and I had the ladies make these 3 cards I designed, using Stampin Up items, both current and retired.  I gave the new Stampin Up catalog to everyone who came too.

Everyone oohed and ahhed at the edgelits embossing folders used on the chair card (fancy fancy) and yellow flower card! 

Here is a picture of my setup for taking the pictures of my cards, which is a corner on one of my closet shelves....Can you see my fancy camera holder right in front of the cards?

Here is a closeup of that fancy camera holder - a recycle plastic container of Pupcorn, now used to holder fancy cutting scissors!!  LOL 

I showed the group how cool it was to do watercoloring with Stampin Up's blender pen and inkpads on the cupcake card - so easy and looks super great with little bit of effort and ink.

I wanted to share some pictures of our furbabies at the pet event we took them too - it was inside a huge convention center and was totally air-conditioned - this was really great because here in AZ it was about 95 degrees that day and as usually, sunny, sunny, sunny.  Tootsi posed for a picture with her daddy...

Her daddy is wearing one of those Thunder jackets which are suppose to help with calming an anxious dog - you can tell he still doesn't like this situation; see how his ears are back, his little tail down, and he won't look at us?  Tootsi is so low key, as long as her people are with her, she is fine.

See her daddy's pretty blue eyes?  Tootsi got one of them, but as is standard for mini-Aussies, her other eye is brown.

 We visited the rescue group that we got our little Tootsi from - standing next to a regular sized Aussie, you can see how Tootsi is a mini-version - there are mini-mini versions of Aussies too that are smaller than Tootsi.  They are both looking up at a treat that is being held over their heads!

 The rescue Aussie is smelling the doggy treats my husband has in his shorts pocket!  LOL  Tootsi is sniffing the box of doggie treats we bought!! 

Lots of people and dogs at this pet show!  One more thing we did at the pet show - can you see Tootsi and Inu standing by their daddy in the distance middle of the pic?  They are all standing in line waiting to get free nail clippings.

Inu got to go first, and since dogs can be somewhat wiggly getting their nails clipped, daddy held her.  What a cute doggy apron the clipper man is wearing! 

Now Inu is turning away hoping the man will stop or go away!  If I ignore him, maybe he will get the hint, she thinks...

Inu has to check to see when he is going to get done; hurry up!  Actually the man is quite speedy!!

Now it is Tootsi's turn and as usual, she is nicely behaved and holds very still. 

The man finishes up with the front paws because those are the ones that most dogs don't have many problems with sitting still to get trimmed...

 Tootsi moves her head to check and see where I am!

Tootsi gives me this look that says "hey mom, do you see what they are doing to me?!  I could use some help here!!"

 

Finally both dogs are done (actually it was less than 10 minutes for both) and we move away from that place - Tootsi is very relieved and gives dad a kiss to tell him she is ready to go home now!  

We took them to the Dairy Queen to reward them for being soooo good, where they got their free pup cups of vanilla soft serve!  Did you know you can get a little free cup of ice cream for your doggie at Dairy Queen?  Our furbabies go crazy when they realize we are going through the Dairy Queen drive-thru!

Weekly card sketch design cards #45

Here is the card sketch design #45 for this week's design challenge!  Below are some of the cards by the Stampin Queen's design team members and even other cardmakers who posted their cards! 

http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-45.html

On the first card I love how Sharon used My Digital Studio for her card - can you see the beautiful ribbon pleating at the top of her digital card?  That is included in one of the instant downloads for the taffeta ribbon digital designs as well as the bows at the top of the tags. 

You can try My Digital Studio for free by clicking on the link for it posted on the right side of my blog - if you use Microsoft Windows, surf the web, do emails and digital photos, you have the skills to easily try My Digital Studio!   I have to tell you that it can be so much fun playing with My Digital Studio that you just might lose track of time!!  I know I do...lol

You could even use this week's week's card sketch design and upload your card to play along!  (use "export image" at the top of your My Digital Studio project)  There is even a My Digital Studio website that you can join for free and learn more things to do with it, view videos about it, and read  other users' postings - check it out here:  http://mydigitalstudio.net/

Be sure you look at this week's card designs and post your card design too, OK?

http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-45.html

Dog card; new dishes do double duty

Well, you must be able to tell that I love dogs, by my blog's name, Dogg and Pony Show!  So of course, any new dog items by Stampin Up I have to add to my dog collection!  This card was made using the new hostess set, Summer Afternoon - I used the "spotlight" technique to make the little dog pop and watercolored him.  I also cut up the greeting and rearranged it on a clear block so it would go around the scalloped circle.  Also the paper at the bottom of the card is from a new designer paper series "Comfort Cafe," which has a great set of colors in it, don't you think?  How can you resist this little doggy face?!

When you order $150 of Stampin Up products, either yourself or in a workshop/class party, you receive "hostess" dollars of $25 and can use that $$ towards special hostess priced products or regular products.  This stamp set, Summer Afternoon, comes with 4 stamps; here is what you get in it for $10-14 hostess dollars on page 205 (bottom right):

I have to share a new purchase I made from the online tv store, QVC.com - it is an insulated bag that came with 2 casseroles!  I loved the polka dots and the colors matched my kitchen - lol! 

See how the top opens up after you separate the handles, so you can put stuff in it? 

It has a removeable adjustable strap, and just look at all those cute pockets that zip or velcro open/closed!

You can access the insulated top and bottom of the bag through the top or fronts - the top unzips from the bottom bag so you can use just one bag, or both!  I didn't figure that out until I had used it for a couple weeks!!

Here are the straps inside the insulated part that hold the dish in place.

See what else I got to go with my new insulated bag??! 

No, the bananas and cherries didn't come with it!

I just had to get all the matching casseroles, dishes, trivets, and mini-casseroles with covers too!  The matching cloth napkins and large utensils came with the bag as well and they were a nice surprise....

See the other trivets, loaf pans, tray that came with the sets?  They are all ovenproof, freezer-proof, microwaveable, and dish-washer safe - I already have a set in the freezer!!

Don't you just love it when everything matches??!!  The holders came with the casseroles too, and fit the dishes perfectly. I also got the little rooster that holds 4 measuring spoons!

You can see how great the dishes look on my counter by the bay window! 

They were so elegant that I left them on the counter for a couple weeks so I could admire them lol.

Now we can go to those bring-a-dish potlucks with nice looking casseroles, be stylish, and keep the food warm!   Doesn't it make you feel like baking/cooking??! 

There was an added benefit to my new dishes....see the little round bowls (they had covers too) and the holder the bananas are in?  Guess where they ended up....in my craft room! 

The round bowls are perfect for putting little crafting things in and look pretty in my glass cupboards.  And the holder was the perfect size for putting cards into.  Fun!

Card sketch time! #44

 Yes, it's time for another fun card sketch challenge, using the card design above.  I got my weeks mixed up and so didn't get to do my own card, but there are some awesome cards posted by the Stampin Queens design team!   Here's the link, and I posted several of the cards below.

 http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-44.html

 In looking at these cards I realize the stamp set with the bicycles is great and I think I am going to have to get that in my next Stampin Up order...let me know if there is anything you would like to order from me, or check out my online store - make sure you look at the Clearance Rack too as there are some great price reductions!

Here's one more card posted this week - you know it's coming so why not get started now?  I actually made my first Christmas card this week lol!

You can upload your card using this design sketch here:

http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-44.html

Now that I have my weeks straightened out, and just bought some new My Digital Studio stamps and papers, even ribbons, I am going to use them for the next card sketch design challenge!

Recycle dryer sheets to super pretty flowers

Have you been saving all those dryer sheets you use??  You know they can be used for something, and there are suggestions for recycling and reusing them on the internet...  Another great use for them in making cards and stuff is to make gorgeous flowers and card fronts out of them!

This dryer sheet flower video was posted by Carol Gatton on the Stampin Up website in the area that demonstrators have access to and sometimes it is posted on Youtube:

When you join as a demonstrator you get lots of free stuff, a starter kit where you can pick from different choices and options of what you want in it, access to the demonstrator area, and tons of supportive newsletters and information from Stampin Up -  not to mention getting 20% on your purchases!!  The starter kit is only $99 right now, usually it is $125 or more, so this is a perfect time to join. 

If you live in my area (Mesa, AZ) you can come to my classes and learn all about stamping, papercrafts, etc. using Stampin Up products - check my online store for my classes, which are monthly.  You will make all sorts of fun items, such as these dryer sheet flowers!  

Or you can send me an email or fill out my questionnaire on my Stampin Up website - just click on the link on the left side of my blog here OK? 

Weekly card sketch challenge #43

 It's here - that is the weekly card sketch design and challenge #43!

 http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-43.html

Here is the card sketch that you can use, or modify slightly.  I made my card using Stampin Up's My Digital Studio and it allows me to do all sorts of things with what I have and make mistakes, then easily fix them....don't you just love it when you can turn a mistake into something great?!  

One of my favorite color combos is pool party and any shade of yellow.  Thanks to Madeline for this color duet...I can't seem to get onto her webpage to share the color challenge info. 

Another good tool for color combos is the Stampin Up color coach:

Let this coach help you put together custom color schemes to express your unique creativity. Whether you want a quick reference of all colors in a collection, a card for every color, or blank cards to record your own color combinations, this swatch book Is for you!

■ Includes 55 double-sided cards with removable metal post fastener
■ Includes color theory cards and individual color swatch cards
■ On individual color cards, one side shows color, the other side lists coordinating colors
■ Card size: 2-3/4" x 4-1/2"

Price $14.95 if you order from my online store or from me.

Once you have this, you can get cards with the newest colors and combos for only $2.50.  Stampin Up has oodles of tutorials, suggestions, ideas, that you have access to when you join as a demonstrator.  And of course a 20% on your orders!

Before I forget, here are cards from the design team for this week's card sketch design:

Come on over to the website below for more card pictures and ideas!

 http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/2012/06/sqsc-43.html

If you have any questions about joining, or having private classes, send me an email OK?