Deaming in Green

I am still dreaming about my next trip to Ireland, some day in the future. I can't help it, I have had only wonderful experiences there and I can drink in that countryside all day - and the towns and cities, too, for that matter.

Twice my husband Dave and I have sailed into the port of Cobh, once named Queenstown in honor of a visit from the British Monarch Queen Victoria. And to greet us, the towering spire of Saint Colman's Cathedral. The woodwork, the tile, the stained glass windows, the pipe organ (undergoing restoration)  ~ magnificent. Construction was begun in 1868 and completed in '79 and it was concecrated in 1919.

It is fitting I think for a catherdral in a harbor to include a depiction of Jesus calming the waters.  When I visit I always lift up a prayer beneath that window for my oceanic ventures. I am sure my prayers have not been the only ones as Queenstown/Cobh was the last port of call for the HMS Titanic on her maiden voyage April 11, 1912. Titanic boarded 123 passengers in Cobh; 79 perished. 

  

Commemorating  HMS Titanic ... In special memory of the Irish emigrants and all those who lost their lives in this great tragedy.   

The Queenstown Heritage Center located at the cruise piers/train station tells the Titanic story, along with the stories of thousands of emmigrants leaving the Irish shores for the US shores and Ellis Island. Although questioned by historians, the story is told of a young Annie Moore traveling with her two brothers as the first emmigrants to leave Queenstown, arriving in New York on January 1, 1892.  A happy ending ...

May your days be blessed with happiness and safe adventures.

This little card was reworked a couple of times for you ~ it requires a wee bit of math and there was a fiesty little leprechaun stealing me hearts and playing with me stamp. 

I used a surprising combination of Pear Pizazz and Granny Apple Green colors and designs from the 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper Assortments. It takes only a bit of paper, scraps almost, to create the windmill. 

I cut 2 Pear Pizazz squares  2 7/8; 2 Whisper White squares at 2 3/4.

Layer a white on a green, twice,  and place one new square diagonally on top of the other.

Choose 2 coordinating designs of DSP and cut a 2 5/8 sqaure from each.

Cut each 2 5/8 square into fourths for 8 8 squares.

Start at top point and adhere one square, on teh diagonal, guiding it into the corner  ~

glue down only the right side.

Alternate the 7 remaining squares  - the last will slide half way under 

your first placed square.

I created the shamrocks by punching the reverse side of one of the DSP patterns 

with a heart punch (retired ~ use any die or framelit that will fit, or draw and cut).

Lucky golden gems sparkle from the middle of the shamrocks. 

I think there is still one other rework in the furture of this greeting card.

But I think I need a nice cuppa of strong Irish black tea before I continue. And maybe a little something on the side ...

Care to join me?

Don't forget, you may order any Stampin' Up! supplies right from this blog ~ 

click on Shop Now! I am also happy to order for you if you'd prefer. And I am happy to make any suggestions, should you need. 

Let's stamp!

Chatting Over Coffee

Just about the only coffee I drink is the coffee my husband brews in the morning. The coffee is really just flavoring for my sweet milk, anyway.

I am a tea drinker - all day and all night, hot or iced.

I wish Stampin' Up! realized how important tea is to me and would have a teacup or teapot stamp set like Lovely As A Tree that never retires.  Perhaps we need another Tea Party Revolution ~ tea drinkers unite!

Nonetheless, I have just ordered the Coffee Break Suite (pages 30 & 31 in the new catalog).

It's not that I don't love the stamps and framelits and ..... I Do!

I like browns,  and I think they go with so many colors. In addition to the British Burberry pink and tan combo, I  like browns and reds together and browns and blues and I like browns and black even though my stylish daughters frown at it.

The Coffee Break Suite DSP features Pear  Pizzazz and Garden Green in combination with Early Espresso,  Soft Suede and Crumb Cake ~ delicious! (Seriously,  coffee and cake!)

I also ordered the Burlap Background Stamp (page 165) - another source of texture. I have burlap ribbon, plus I ordered the new 3/8" Classic Weave Ribbon in Crumb Cake. Oh, and the Corrugated Elements. I love texture!

I am anxious now to start designing.  The tall coffee cup stamp could be an iced tea glass - add a few stripes for a vintage look, or do a little paper piecing ( remember those aluminum iced tea glasses?)

  

My youngsters grew up with Slurpees from 7-11 in times when it was fairly safe enough to walk five blocks and cross at the light. Banana flavor,  lemon lime, berry ~ add a domed lid and straw .

Truthfully, these shapes would not be hard at all to fussy cut, but I will happily use the framelits. Bundles save you 10% ~ join my team of Nite Owl Demonstrators and save 20%!

I know I will certainly use this suite in upcoming classes ~ Hot & Cold?

And I think I will also begin a Cards and Coffee event in an area coffee shop. Will you come and join me if I do ~ sip a cup of your favorite brew and craft a card or two? Stay tuned.

I know you're going to want this suite, too. I will be happy to place an order for you ~ place an order in June, my birth month,  and I will send you a free pack of Basic Pearls, my birthstone! Let me know how I can help.

And keep drinking tea!

Let's stamp!

We Are Family, Sort Of ...

It was a family reunion of sorts Sunday at the Stillwater House Tea Room in downtown Suffolk.

A group of regular stampin' friends met at the tea room for a Stamp & Tea Party. I was excited to offer the event because I knew the tearoom served delicious tea trays, and who does not enjoy scones and raspberry bars and creamy pimento cheese and ... and I knew the stampers would be up for creating unique and attractive cards. An equation for success if ever there was one.

I enjoy learning new techniques, too, so I asked a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator friend if she would show me, and my friends, some collage ideas using a variety of stamps.

The stamp sets used were Gorgeous Grunge (an odd name, yes?) and Timeless Textures. Punched flowers and punched leaves and lace ribbon built up one card for several layers of whimsy.

New Stampin' Up! In-Colors, available on June 1, were used with new Designer Series Paper for a second, similar card. Peekaboo Peach and Flirty Flamingo (colors) proved to be a terrific combo. Butterflies were punched out for embellishments and with the DSP, everyone's card was a unique design.

Celebrating together as family ~ Mary Kay brought a daughter and two granddaughters as guests. None of her girls had stamped before Sunday; you would never have known! Our instructor Sarah welcomed all of all experience levels and graciously provided encouragement as well as directions.

Mary Kay's youngest granddaughter confidently sat at a table across from her grandmother and immediately found her crafting mojo ~ Jeanne helped with questions, as needed. And across from them were Jeanne's girls, also first time stampers.

Mother and daughter stampers Catie and Cay joined us for the afternoon. (Catie has already received her new catalog in the mail and was busy putting together her wish list!)

The 'orphaned' stampers gathered together in an adjoining room ~ but by now, we are all family! And how thankful we are for that!

Thanks so very much to Stillwater House Tea Room proprietress Dianne: tea was delicious, the setting welcoming, your hospitality gracious.