From Me to You in Forty-Two AND Muffy and Lexi’s Excellent Adventure…NOT

Don’t you just love making the occasional quick and easy card?  Even though I am “the more layers, the merrier” kind of girl, I know I do.  I LOVE a well-done clean and classy card, and admire those stampers who create those cards with ease.  Clean and Simple cards take me outside of my comfort zone.  Yet…if I don’t practice designing them, I will never get better at making them.  Enjoy today’s attempt!  And remember to scroll down to read about Muffy and Lexi’s latest adventure.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
The finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

  • Pierce! Paper piercing is a perfect way to accent a sentiment. Stampin’ Up! has several templates which make piercing a breeze.  The Feel Goods sentiment was stamped in Midnight Muse onto Whisper White and pierced for a little sass.  But “Layered Ann” couldn’t leave it alone…she HAD to layer it onto Midnight Muse.  But it’s OK…I’m taking baby-steps on my journey to “Clean and Simple Land”.
  • Blingy Butterfly! The Butterflies, from Summer Solstice, sport single Rhinestones.  Inked in Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Raspberry Ripple, two of the trio are actually snipped out and popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

  • Bow! A simple Midnight Muse bow ties it all together.


I think today’s card is pretty clean and simple…for me. What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?   And if you would like to read about the latest Boxer escapades, continue on for a rather lengthy story…

Muffy and Lexi’s Excellent Adventure – NOT!

What do you get when you mix two bouncy Boxer girls, loose slats on a vinyl fence, and a bunny?  It’s the recipe for 1-1/2 hours of nerve-wracking search and rescue for two canine fugitives on the run.  (I can only guess about the bunny part, but I know that there is a gang of renegade rabbits who love to torment the furkids, and there were incriminating bunny tracks beside the fence.)

It was Brody who first alerted us to the missing girls when he came up to the patio doors, asking to get in.  The Twins are always together…and there was no Muffy with him.  I immediately looked, and not only was there no Muffy in the yard, there was no Lexi.  A quick glance to the side yard alerted me to the missing slats.  I ran to the front door, grabbing leashes and a coat on my way.  My husband followed on my heels.  As we flew outside, our neighbor across the street opened her door, pointed, and said, “They went that-a-way!”  I continued heading up the block on foot, while my husband, Kim,  jumped in his car.

I made my way to the elementary school, thinking that as much as Muffy loves kids, maybe she would lose interest in the Easter bunny and head to the school.  It was there I was told they were spotted near the city pool…about 3/4th’s of a mile in the opposite direction.  I headed back to the house to call the police, and to get my car. 

Luckily, because of all of the snow,  people were out shoveling.  “Have you seen two Boxers?” I would ask.  I would either get the finger-point or the head shake.  “If you do see them, their names are Muffy and Lexi. Catch them if you can, and call the police.”

For an hour and a half, Kim, I and the police drove and searched.  I was in tears at times. I prayed at times.  I was desparate.  And then my cell phone rang.  The police had found one of the girls two blocks from where I was.  It was easy to spot the location as I drove toward the site.  There were three squad cars, all with flashing lights, parked along the street.  “Are you the owner? Is she mean?” yelled a woman from the front door.  “Yes and no,” I answered.  I hope she didn’t mind that I just went ahead and plowed through the drifts to her back yard.  And there she was…Little Lexi, curled down in the snow.  As soon as I called her name, she ran straight to me and smothered me in puppy kisses.  Once I had her lead on, she greeted the officers with Boxer butt wiggles.  One missing dog down…and one to go.

I drove Lexi home to see if by chance Muffy could have returned.  I had left the garage doors open just in case she decided to wander back.  I will admit that I was worried, since the girls were no longer together.  But as I pulled around the corner, there was a blue pick-up parked in the driveway.  In the driver’s seat sat a man in a stocking cap.  On the passenger’s side sat Muffy.

“She sure is a sweetheart”, the man said.  “She came right up to me when I called her.”  He lifted her out of the truck, and I placed a lead around her neck.

“Won’t you let me pay you something,” I shouted, as he pulled out of the driveway.

“You don’t owe me a thing” answered the good Samaritan.  “I love dogs, and bringing her back safely is reward enough.  But I do want you to know that when I knocked on your front door, your other dog opened it up for me.”  Yep…in my haste, I had forgotten to lock the front door, and Brody can indeed open it.

    A remorseful Lexi
     An exhausted Muffy
    What a day! Needless to say, all sorts of pictures and thoughts flashed through my mind as I was searching for the girls.  They are my babies.  Luckily, their story today had a happy ending, thanks to a fabulous police department, and the actions of a complete stranger.  Until next time…
    Stamp Sets:  Feel Goods (W 129681, C  129684), Summer Solstice (W 122024, C 122037); Inks:  Calypso Coral (126983), Pool Party (126982), Raspberry Ripple (126859), Midnight Muse (126860); Card Stock:  Whisper White (100730), Midnight Muse (126843); Tools:  Paper-Piercing Tool (126189),  Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (126187), Paper Snips (103579), 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (119861); Glitz and Glam:  Midnight Muse 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon (126847); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

    It’s a Fabric Frenzy

    Starting today, and running through March 31st (while supplies last), Stampin’ Up! is offering its fabulous fabric at 50% off!

    Not a seamstress…neither am I.  But after watching this video, you can bet I am going to be placing an order today and fabric crafting my little heart away! On my agenda are the fabric necklaces and the memo boards, as well as fabric flower bouquets.  And I think I know a Boxer girl…or two…who will be sporting flirty flowers on their collars!

    Here are the details:

    • No minimum purchase required to receive the discount.
    • All items are limited quantity at the discounted price and the discount will be removed once the limit is reached. So shop early!
    • This special offer runs through March 31st, or while quantities last.

    And here are the item numbers, with the discounted prices:

    126892 Essentials Designer Fabric…$14.98 
    126983 Floral District Designer Fabric… $4.98  
    126894 Comfort Café Designer Fabric… $4.98 
    125411 Summer Smooches Designer Fabric …$4.98 
    125412 Twitterpated Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    122337 Timeless Portrait Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    122336 Beau Chateau Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    124066 Spice Cake Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    122335 Flirtatious Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    129308 Tea for Two Designer Fabric…$4.98 
    129307 More Amore Designer Fabric…$4.98 

    Ready to place your order?  Click HERE to access my online store! Until next time…

    Field Flowers for The Paper Players

    It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week we have a sketch challenge for you,  courtesy of Anne Marie.  I was feeling “springy” when I sat down to make this card, so I reached for a floral set…Field Flowers.  Enjoy!

    The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  It’s All About the”B’s”
    This finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

    • Bling a blossom! The Field Flower blossoms were inked in Pool Party and overstamped in Soft Suede.  After popping up the centers on Stampin’ Dimensionals, single Rhinestones were added for a touch of bling.
    • Bling a bitty butterfly! A pair of  Calypso Coral butterflies, punched using the Bitty Butterfly Punch, sport a trio of Rhinestones.
    • Bling a border! Pearls delineate the edge between the Pool Party Finishing Touches Edgelet and the Calypso Coral Polka Dot Designer Paper from the Tea for Two collection. What an extra-special touch they add.
     

    • Beautiful bow! Stampin’ Up!’s Seam Binding is my favorite for making soft and feminine double bows.  To view a video on how I create my double bows, click HERE.
    • Background 101!  The Distressed Dots background stamp, inked in Pool Party and stamped onto Crumb Cake, makes a sweet background. This is a perfect stamp to use when you need a coordinating background in a specific color.

      I was thrilled when I found out that Pool Party and Calypso Coral are featured in Stampin’ Up!’s new This and That collection. I love these two colors.  For more information about the This and That product line, see yesterday’s post.  I have added a Stampin’ Up! video to yesterday’s post that gives more information about This and That.  The cute thing is that Lexi LOVES the music! It makes her excited and happy!  You will definitely have to watch the video to hear the music.  For a direct link to the video, click HERE.

      I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  Won’t you leave me a comment and let me know what you think?  Your comments are important to me.  Of course, if you have questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  And please, won’t you join me on Tuesday for a quick and easy card? Until next time…

      The Paper Players Design Team

       

       
      Stamp Sets:  Field Flowers (W 122760, C 122762), Sweet Essentials (W 126455, C 126457), Distressed Dots (122815); Inks: Pool Party (126982), Soft Suede (126978); Designer Series Paper:  Tea for Two (129311); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Crumb Cake (120953), Pool Party (122924); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Finishing Touches Edgelits (127010), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Sponge Daubers (102892), Paper Snips (103579), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430); Glitz and Glam:  Basic Rhinestones (119246), Basic Pearls (119247), Very Vanilla Seam Binding (120999)