HOSTESS APPRECIATION PARTY - FUN!!!

Happy Tuesday stampin' friends!!! WHEW! It was a hugely busy weekend since I had my Hostess Appreciation Event on Saturday!! It was a lot of work, but it was really worth it because I think everyone had a good time!! I wanted to share the make n' takes with you today as well as some pics of the decorations and such! So, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy!! This first card is one of two make 'n takes that we did! The theme throughout the whole event was the Big Top Suite using all the fun papers in that collection and the Sweets for the Sweet stamp set as well as the Up, Up, and Away stamp set.  This one features the former and is just too too fun!  Sorry for the bad pic - not sure what is going on there, but my camera has been acting wonky lately!! The background of the card is embossed using the Polka Dots embossing folder, and I just love how it looks with those bold, bright colors! The pinwheels are stamped twice - once on the card, and then once on another piece of card stock, then cut out and popped up on dimensionals.  The two candy pieces are also up on dimensionals and all four items have the liquid diamonds on them so they are nice and glittery IRL!

This second card is a gate fold card, again using the Big Top Suite, although the sentiment is from the Happy Greetings Stamp set.  The small candy was stamped and punched out using the 1 inch circle punch, and the sentiment was stamped on Whisper White card stock, and then punched out with the 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle punch, then layered on a 2 1/2 inch circle of Real Red card stock.  We added some rhinestones underneath the sentiment and again added some Liquid Diamonds to the candy piece so there is lots of glittery fun on the front of this card!

The inside of this card is really fun, with the balloons from the Up, Up, and Away stamp set floating away into the clouds!  I was not sure I was
 going to use this stamp set much, but I find myself using it for lots of different occasions, it really is very versatile and definitely fun to play with, lol! It's a great card that can be used for all kinds of occasions, so I made a couple for my card stash - you never know when you are going to need that quick card, right?? *wink*  These next pictures are just some of the fun decorations I made to spruce up the room we were using since it was at the back of the local pizzeria and has tons of sports decor - nice, but not really what I was going for, lol! I kept true to the theme, using the Big Top Suite! I am not going to address each and every decoration so if you have any questions about anything, you can just email me and I will be happy to answer them :-)

This was the food and drink table - it didn't look so empty once the pizzas were brought in, lol! I made a cute banner that says thank you, and then each water bottle had some flavor of Crystal Light to add. I also made some fun cupcakes because I think every party should have cupcakes, don't you??  Here are some better shots of each of these items so you have a better idea of the decorations and how they were put together! I tried to make it personal and fun since these special ladies hostessed for me all last year

and introduced me to lots of local ladies who have since become my friends and fellow stampers!!! Which is why I totally love my job - I get to meet wonderful people like these ladies!! Out of the 27 ladies I invited, 15 of them came, so I was thrilled to see them! I wish they all could have been there, but that just does not seem to happen with everyone's busy schedules these days!! They all know how much I appreciate them though - I make sure of it!! Aren't the little pennants cute on the cupcakes? I had such fun making those!! And, the water bottle holders were perfect to keep the little Crystal Light packets in and they brightened up the room as well! Many of the ladies actually kept the holders so I know they enjoyed them as well. There were lots of different flavors to choose from but I discovered that I really like the Green Tea Raspberry something I never thought I would drink - who knew??  LOL - it's very rare I try something new *wink*  I also made each of them a little goodie bag full of different embellishments as well as some 3x3 cards and envies and their own sponges!! For some reason, these silly things are so popular with them that I thought it would be fun to give them each their own and the loved them - a couple of the ladies actually squealed - over a sponge - I know, right??!! In addition to the goodie bags, I also made them each a treat box filled with an assortment of Hershey's kisses - they even have cookies and cream now! Aren't they cute with those pinwheels?  I had the best time making those although by box 20 I was done, lol!

Here are some fun pics of the ladies eating, doing their make n' takes and playing some of the games - we had bingo, word search, stamping scavenger hunt, and stamping unscramble, and they all competed for prizes of current product! 

It was funny to watch them get all competitive in bingo, and then frustrated over the word unscramble - they had a hard time with Crop-a-Dile, lol!! There was a lot of laughter too though, and that made me smile - I really wanted them all to have a good time, after all, it was for them!!

Dawn was one of my very first hostesses after moving to Northren California and we have become great friends! Her group of friends actually formed a scrap club that lasted a year, and it was a really fun time! She is super talented and creative, and enjoys stamping! Here she is holding up her make 'n take - what a ham, lol! Katie is also a real sweetie, and I had the added pleasure of also having her mom Kim there as well - I love to stamp with these ladies, they are amazing! I adore them, as well as the regulars that stamp with them - I always leave a workshop with them feeling really good and happy because they are some of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to meet! Here is a pic of Katie with her new sister in law to be Barushka - I am sure I butchered the spelling of her name, but hey, I tried, lol!!! She is a sweetie, and just discovered the joys of stamping, and, judging from all the wedding favors they have been making, she is quite the natural!

Katie is also quite the competitor, you can see here how hard she is concentrating at bingo, lol! She was one of the finalists in the three rounds, so she got to go home with some fun goodies!!  All in all, I thought it was a really fun day and I thoroughly enjoyed spoiling them because without them, my business would not be a business at all!! I hope to see many of them again this stamping year as hostesses and again next year at the Diva Event!!! I will leave the recipe for the cards so that you can know the products used, and again, if you have any questions, just let me know!!! If this looks fun to you, and you would like to come to my next Hostess Appreciation Event, contact me and let's get your workshop set up! I promise you it will be a lot of fun, and your friends will really enjoy the creating, the products, and ME :-) Plus, I would love to come and stamp with you - I am always up for a girls' night out *wink* Have a wonderful day and I will be back tomorrow (hopefully with clearer pics if I can figure out what is wrong with my camera) with another couple of fun projects I made this past week! Until then, take some time to be creative!!

Card One Recipe:

Paper - Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight card stock, Big Top Birthday designer series paper

Inks - Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Peach Parfait classic inks

Stamps - Sweets for the Sweet 

Tools - Big Shot, Polka Dots embossing folder, Modern Label punch, 1 inch circle punch, dimensionals, sponge

Accessories - Dazzling Details liquid

Card Two Recipe:

Paper - Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White card stock, Big Top Birthday designer series paper

Inks - Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Peach Parfait, Bashful Blue, Real Red classic inks and stampin' write markers
Stamps - Sweets for the Sweet, Up, Up, and Away, Happy Greetings
Tools - 2 1/2 inch circle punch, 2 3/8 Scallop circle punch, 1 inch circle punch
Accessories - Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Details liquid

THE FRAME THAT WASN'T

Hi all! Well, I promised you all yesterday that I would show you the frame I made for Tony's Grandma BUT I got it all finished, proudly showed it to my husband, and promptly packaged it all up in the shipping box and FORGOT TO TAKE THE PICTURE!!! LOL - sometimes I wonder where my head is :-) So, instead of the frame, I have a workshop card to share that I did with my workshop gals last week! It was quite the crowd with 16 of them all packed around three tables - I could have used more of ME, heeehee! We had a great time though, there was lots of laughing, and everyone enjoyed the projects which is ALWAYS my goal! I have been doing so much stamping of holiday stuff that I decided to make a project that had nothing to do with the season, lol!  This card uses two separate stamp sets:  one is a hostess set called Precious Butterflies and I absolutely love it! The other is the Creative Elements stamp set, which we used to stamp on the patterned paper itself. The base of this card is Poppy Parade card stock, and the patterned paper comes from the First Edition Specialty Collection - Yummy! We punched along the edge using the Eyelet Border punch, and then sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink. The images are stamped on Naturals Ivory in Poppy Parade and Daffodil Delight inks, then backed with some Not Quite Navy card stock. The sentiment is stamped on Daffodil Delight card stock in Not Quite Navy ink, then punched out using the Large Oval punch, and popped up on dimensionals. We tore the edge of the patterned paper (some of them had a tough time with this, they thought it was too pretty, lol) then added a small Navy designer button. Last, we used some of the Daffodil Delight Taffeta ribbon across the top of the card, and it looks so pretty!! Love that ribbon, and in every color too :-) A simple but pretty card that is perfect for workshops! I hope you like it too!! If you like the products you see here, you can purchase them in my online store OR contact me and I am happy to take your order! Don't forget the Precious Butterflies set is a hostess only purchase so if you are in love with this one (I am!) then give me a call and let's get your workshop booked! I will leave you the recipe, and then I am off to make some more pretties for my Hostess Appreciation event this weekend - can't wait to spoil those ladies :-) I hope your day is fabulous and you take some time to create something!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy, Naturals Ivory, Daffodil Delight card stock, First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper
Inks - Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy classic inks
Stamps - Precious Butterflies (hostess set), Creative Elements
Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Large Oval punch, sponge, dimensionals
Accessories - Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon, Designer Buttons

PRETTY FLOWERS MAKE ME SMILE

Good morning all!! WOW! We are having a gorgeous day today here - lots of sunshine and a nice, soft breeze - days like this make me happy :-)  I will be in the craft room most of the day though as I have two classes, two workshops, and club this weekend, lol! Nothing like getting it all in on one weekend! But, with us leaving here in the next week I had to fit it all in so I will be nice and busy - just the way I like it *wink* I wanted to share a card today that I made using our new stamp set called Fabulous Florets.  It is so very pretty and I just love the sentiment! I wanted to make a pretty spring/summer card because I am soooo ready for them, lol! I decided a Peach Parfait base would get me on the right track......was I right??  I love this color, so yummy! I embossed it using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - loooove it! The images are stamped in Pear Pizazz and Marina Mist, and I added some Basic Black cardstock in there to give it some pop! The ribbon is the oh so fun Pear Pizazz twill ribbon.  The sentiment is awesome, isn't it? I just love this saying, it just makes me happy! Again, I added a small pop of black with the brads.  I love how this card turned out - simple but happy, right??!  That's what I am all about lately :-)  If you like what you see here and would like to have some of these products to be in YOUR crafty space, you can shop online with me or contact me and place an order that way! I know that I am lovin' everything in this new summer mini - I don't know how they do it, each one that comes out is better than the last, and I just have loved them all! Soooo, I am off to run a few errands and then back to the crafting table for me, lol! I have TONS of cardstock to cut, and one more design layout to do for my scrappy gals coming over this weekend! I just love my life :-) Take care, have a wonderful day, and happy stampin'!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Basic Black cardstock
Inks - Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz classic inks
Stamps - Fabulous Florets
Tools - Ticket Corner Punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
Accessories - Pear Pizazz twill ribbon, black brads

A LITTLE BIT O' VINTAGE

Good Monday morning all!! Well, I guess it is....is there such a thing as a "Good Monday morning"?? LOL - well, I hope your week is going well so far anyway *wink* I had a pretty quiet weekend, nothing earth shaking going on.  Kayla and I repainted her bathroom (with help from her very tall brother, lol) and I stamped a lot to get ready for some classes I have coming up! Like tonight - my Advent in August Christmas Card Stamp a Stack :-)  I also did some stamping for some swaps I am in, and I wanted to share one of my swap cards today.  This one is made using the Forever Young stamp set, which I love because it screams vintage to me, and I seem to be drawn to that style more and more!  I just love the silhouette images in this set, they make me think of fun summers, being a child, and not having a care in the world - too bad we don't find that out until we are adults, right??!  So, the base of this card is Cherry Cobbler, which I then layered with some uber pretty paper from the Timeless Portrait Designer Series collection.  I don't know if you can tell in the picture but I actually embossed the DSP with the Finial Press embossing folder and my Big Shot - looks awesome! (If you click on the photo it should let you get a closer look).  I then stamped my image in Versamark on Newsprint Designer Series paper, covered it in black embossing powder, and heat set it using my heat gun.  I tore the edges of my DSP, then sponged them using Cherry Cobbler ink - yummy!! The ribbon along the bottom is actually another pattern from the Timeless Portrait paper collection that I punched out using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, and then I ran it through my Crimper, which gave it those cool folds! The sentiment piece is done also using the Forever Young stamp set, and I added some Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, one of our new silver mini brads, and a pearl.  I really like the way it turned out, and I hope my swap group does too - hey, I might not know any of them, but my name IS on it, lol!!!  If YOU like what you see here, and want to order any of the products I used, you can place an order in my online store or contact me and I will be happy to place your order for you! OR, you can earn these products FREE by hosting a workshop with ME :-)  I would love to come and stamp with you and your friends!!  Now, I am off to Physical Therapy and then back home to prep for my card class later on tonight - whoohoooo, stamping with my friends, what could be better??!!! I hope you all have a fabulous day - I will be back tomorrow with another swap card I did, but until then, take some time to STAMP SOMETHING!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Baha Breeze card stock, Timeless Portrait Designer Series Paper
Inks - Versamark, Cherry Cobbler classic ink
Stamps - Forever Young
Tools - Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder, Black embossing powder, heat gun, Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch, Curly Label punch, large oval punch, Crimper
Accessories - Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon, silver mini brads

A FUN SWAP SNEEK PEEK

Good morning all!!! I hope you had a wonderful weekend - I know I did!! I spent lots of time by the pool, and in my stamp room - doesn't get much better than that *wink* Now, if I could only figure out how to combine the two, lol!!! Yesterday I had a friend over and we scrapbooked all day, amidst much laughter and chatting - I think there was more of the latter, to tell you the truth :-) It was a fun day though! Today I wanted to share a fun swap card I made for a swap I am in with my stamping group.  Let me tell you, these ladies are mega talented, I can't wait to get my swaps back!!! I made this one using products from the new catalog so you are getting a preview of all the fabulous things to come! The base of this card is Daffodil Delight, which is one I reach for a lot - love this bright, sunny yellow, so perfect for the summer! The stamp set is called My Friend, and has some beautiful images in it! I stamped the flowers in Versamark , then added white embossing powder, which I heat set  with my heat tool.  Then, I layered the Pear Pizazz on Early Espresso, tore and inked the edges - aren't they soooooo purdy??!!! The patterned paper is from a new collection called Just Add Cake and has some fun and beautiful designs.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set, stamped in Early Espresso on Daffodil Delight, then trimmed out, and popped up on dimensionals.  Lastly, I added some fun Whisper White taffeta ribbon with a little bit of bling. So fun - I hope the ladies like it!!! Today is a busy day full of appts and errands so I am outta here for most of the day!  I hope you all have a wonderful day and have time to get creative!!! I will be back tomorrow with some fun pics of my downline meeting tonight and a cute project we are doing, but until then, happy stampin'!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Pear Pizazz card stock, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper
Inks - Early Espresso, Pear Pizazz, Versamark
Stamps - My Friend
Tools-  Heat Tool, embossing powder, dimensionals
Accessories - Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Basic rhinestones

HAPPY FRIDAY - IT'S FLIP FLOP TIME :-)

Happy Friday everyone!! It's hot but beautiful here in sunny California - definitely going to be some pool time for me today :-)  I love the summer, I hardly ever wear shoes except for maybe my flip flops so this card I am sharing today is perfect - it SPEAKS to me, heehee! This is another one from my stamp camp this past week - we had such a great time!  We used a fun set from the Summer Mini called Sunny Fun and it has such cute and fun images in them - like these flip flops!!! Don't you wish you owned a pair like these??!! LOL - we had a great time decorating them, everyone kind of did their own thing by either coloring or blinging or whatever they wanted to do! Some people even took them home and added a bunch of stuff - love that, it tells me they really liked the card!!! The patterned paper is from the main catalog and we have to say goodbye to it in six days! It is called Lap of Luxury and I used the heck out of this this past year - just love the colors, patterns, everything about it! The color combo for this card is one of my favorites: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, and Concord Crush with some Very Vanilla - YUMMO!!!!  The flower was made using our new three-way punches - can you believe one punch can do three different designs???! Talk about getting more bang for you buck - I totally LOVE these!!! We actually used both of them and layered them together! They are called the Doily Triple Layer punch and the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, and they can both be found in the Summer Mini! And, of course no flower is complete without some bling so we added a rhinestone to make it pop!  Totally fun and easy to put together, this card makes me smile!!!!  If it makes YOU smile, and you want the products used here, you can shop in my online store or email me directly and I will be happy to place your order for you! Remember, the main catalog items are retiring in SIX DAYS, so don't wait to put that order in - get it now before it's gone!!! I am going to be stamping today and getting my class schedule ready for July - can you believe it is almost July already?? Time sure does fly by :-) I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned that includes some creative time and family time! Enjoy - and, until tomorrow, Happy Stampin'!!!!
Card Recipe
Paper - Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Very Vanilla card stock, Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper
Inks - Concord Crush, Blushing Blossom, Going Gray stampin' write markers and classic ink pads
Stamps - Sunny Fun
Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Doily Triple Layer Punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch
Accessories - Basic Rhinestones

SUMMER SAILIN' STAMPIN' UP! STYLE :-)

Good morning all!! I hope everyone is enjoying some fun summer activities now that our kiddos are all out of school! I know mine are enjoying playing in the pool everyday which is nice - free entertainment, right in the back yard :-) And, since it has been over 100 degrees here everyday this week, it is getting a lot of use :-)  Speaking of water, I wanted to share another card we made at the SAS using the fun Summer Mini products.  I swear, this is my favorite mini EVAH - all that nautical stuff is right up my alley!!!  We actually used two different sets (well, three if you count the sentiment, lol) on this card.  The background stamping uses the anchor from The Open Sea set, which is soooooo amazing!!! And, the sail boat is a single stamp that is called Sail Away.  The patterned paper is also from the mini and is from the Nautical Expedition collection - super yummy, I have used TONS of it already, lol!!! The sail boat is stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock - I love this and have used it a lot lately, I just like the pulpy and old world look and feel it has! It is stamped in Not Quite Navy, edges are sponged, and then we sprayed the image with Frost White Shimmerz - yes, it makes it run just a tiny bit, which is what I love - it totally makes this card old-world! No ribbon but we did play with the super cool new Bakers Twine, again from the mini.  This one is the Cherry Cobbler/White but it comes in three colors and makes every project just pop!  And, to top the card off, we added one of those super cute Antique Brads - just love these!!!!!  We all loved how this one came out - it was definitely a crowd favorite!! I sure enjoyed making it!! If you are interested in having any of these products for yourself, you can shop in my online store or email me directly and I will be happy to place your order. Remember, ONLY SEVEN DAYS LEFT OF THE CATALOG SO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR ORDERS IN FOR YOUR LAST CHANCE STUFF! And, you can earn a GOLDEN TICKET from me which enters you into the drawing for two HUGE prizes!!!! Check back later as I reveal what those two are *wink*  I hope you all get a chance to spend some time creating - that is what is on my agenda today! I will be back tomorrow with another fun card we did in Stamp Camp, so until then, HAPPY STAMPIN'!!!!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals Ivory card stock, Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper
Inks - Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler classic stampin' pads
Stamps - The Open Sea, Sail Away, On The Grow(the sentiment stamp)
Tools - Scalloped Trim Border punch, Sponge, Modern Label punch
Accessories - Bakers Twine, Antique Brads

STAMP A STACK CARD - GOTTA SAY GOODBYE!

Hi all! I hope you are all  having a fabulous week - mine has been busy so far, which I love because it keeps me out of trouble, lol! I wanted to share a card we made in my Stamp-a-Stack(SAS) on Monday night.  We made a mix of cards using retiring sets and some of the new sets from the Summer Mini, and it was a really fun night! This particular card using the retiring set called Fast and Fabulous, which is one of my all-time faves and I will be very sad to see it leave! I just love the two-step stamping method, and this set makes the images beautiful every time!  I love these colors together too because they just scream summer to me - they are Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red, Wild Wasabi, and Peach Parfait - YUMMY! The patterned paper is also one of my favorites and is retiring as well. It is from the Sunny Garden Collection - fits perfectly, right??! The sentiment is actually from the hostess level I set in the Summer Mini called Swirls and Curls Verses and has quickly become a set that I reach for very frequently - just really cute fonts and sayings in this set! You can earn this set by hosting a workshop or placing an order that is $150 or more - I love FREE dont' you *wink*  This card came together fairly quickly, which is good for a SAS since they are making lots of cards - this time they made 12, which was a good amount for the time allotted! I had a great time sharing this fun card and I hope you like it as well! If you are interested in ordering any of the products shown here (full list in the recipe below) you can shop in my online store or email me directly and I will be happy to place your order for you!  Remember, there are ONLY EIGHT MORE DAYS UNTIL THE LAST CHANCE STAMPS AND ACCESSORIES ARE GONE FOREVER SO ORDER NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!  I am now off to take my son shopping for golf clothes - I swear, this is the most expensive sport, lol! But, he loves it, so off we go! Enjoy the rest of your day and I will be back tomorrow with another fun card we made! Until then, Happy Stampin'!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper- Peach Parfait, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi card stock, Sunny Garden designer series paper
Stamps - Fast and Fabulous, Swirls and Curls Verses (hostess set)
Inks- Riding Hood Red, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight classic stampin' pads
Tools - Scallop Edge punch, Bitty punch, Scalloped Oval punch
Accessories - Daffodil Delight thin ribbon, Bitty Buttons

THE OPEN SEA IS AMAZING!

Happy Monday all! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Mine was VERY busy as I had a class Friday night, two workshops on Saturday, and my Scrapbook Club yesterday - WHEW! Lots of stamping going on but I loved every minute of it!  I have a full week ahead of me as I get my family and I ready to leave next Saturday for Maryland to see my son graduate! I am so excited to see him, just makes me grin from ear to ear when I think about it! So, this week will fly by I am sure since I have TONS to do! The card I am sharing today is one of  the workshop cards I did over the weekend.  I used the new Summer Mini set called The Open Sea - Loooove it! I paired it with the Nautical Expedition patterned paper as well, which is yummy and a must have! This set is just amazing, I love to play with it! I kept is simple as it was a workshop card, but we really had a good time putting it together! I used Naturals Ivory card stock because I think the pulpy look lends itself well to this set - it makes it all looked aged like old world maps, lol!  The journal stamp was stamped in Early Espresso and then we tore the edges and inked them with the same color - doesn't it look like we took a match to it? Love that look! We then stamped the anchor right on top.  The map was stamped and then cut out and popped up using dimensionals.  We also used some of the yummy new Bakers Twine - this is the Early Espresso but you can also get it in Whisper White (and make your own colors with reinkers *wink*) and Cherry Cobbler.  We added an antique brad as well - this one looks like a compass, perfect for this card!  The sentiment is actually from the stamp set called Travel Log - the stamp actually includes the whole definition of adventure, but for this card, I just wanted the word.  Simple but came together nicely, I think - my workshop gals really liked it too! If you would like to have these products for yourself, you can purchase them in my online store or contact me and I will be happy to help you place your order! I am going to be working on some downline projects today as I have my meeting tomorrow so I will be back to share some of those tomorrow! Have a wonderful stampin' day!!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Crumb Cake, Naturals Ivory, Night of Navy card stock, Nautical Expedition designer series paper
Inks - Night of Navy, Early Espresso classic inks
Stamps - The Open Sea, Travel Log(sentiment)
Tools - Word Window Punch
Accessories - Antique Brads, Bakers Twine

THE OPEN SEA - AAAAAAHHH! MAKES THIS SAILOR SMILE :-)

Good afternoon all!! I know I took a break but I needed one - the knee is still hurting and the work comp system works slower than anything I have ever seen before, which frustrates me because I am not one who likes to sit around and do nothing - and that is about all I can do right now! So, I took a break, spoke sternly to myself, and have gotten back on track with things that I CAN do - like STAMP!!! So, I decided to ink up some of the new summer mini stamps, which I am soooooo excited about it because there are soooo many nautical sets in this mini - makes this sailor smile!!! This card is made with the set called The Open Sea - love, love, love this set!! It is so very versatile, I can tell already I will be inking this baby up quite a lot, heeehee!  I made this one to send to my son who is finishing up his last week as a college student and getting to embark on a new adventure as a 2nd LT in the Marine Corps! I can't believe it - in two short weeks he will graduate and receive his commission!! He truly is all grown up *sniff* but I am soooo very proud of him! Anyway, back to the card - I wanted to make him something that represented what he has done at the Naval Academy for the last four years and I think this set is perfect for that! I kept it very masculine - no frilly bows for that boy of mine *smile*  I used the new patterned paper Nautical Expedition (YUMMY!!!) and tore and inked the edges.  I stamped the images on Marina Mist cardstock and tore the edges of the cardstock as well.  The anchor is stamped in versamark and then embossed using gold embossing powder - although I scratched some of it off to give it that rusty, aged look - and it sure does look old :-)  I used one of the beveled windowpanes that was carried over from the Occasions Mini - so very glad we still have them, I just love playing with them! The twill ribbon is stamped with the background stamp from that set just to give it some texture.  I took the sentiment from the other new nautical stamp set in the summer mini called Travel Log - this is another must have!! Fabulous, fabulous stamps in this set!! I just used the word for the sentiment although the stamp shows the full definition of the word, this just worked better for me!  I love how it turned out - lots of paper crumpling and tearing, which I love, LOL!  I think he will like it - he is one who appreciates what I put into making a card :-)  Want to see a picture of my handsome son?  I have to share - I am a proud momma, LOL!

He is the one being held by all his friends at the Ring Dance - this is something they do when they reach their 2nd Class Year (a Junior in college) and is a huge big deal.  I love this picture - it makes me smile!! I am so very glad he will have all these wonderful memories and lifelong friends - that is just how the military is!!! I sure do miss it sometimes......but I digress, lol! I hope you like the card I shared today.....and, if you have to have the products you see here you can get them in my online store or by contacting me and having me place your order :-)  I will back tomorrow to share something else I am making for my young Marine to be :-) Until then, have a wonderful afternoon and I hope you get to stamp!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Marina Mist cardstock, Nautical Expedition Designer Series paper
Inks - Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Versamark Stamps - Out to Sea, Travel Log(sentiment)
Tools - Word Window punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, heat tool, gold embossing powder
Accessories - twill ribbon, beveled windowpane

FOUR FRAMES TAKE TWO :-)

Happy Good Friday everyone! I am happy that they are predicting nice weather for our Easter weekend - makes for a good family day! We are going over to the in-laws to watch all the kiddos hunt for eggs and to have a nice meal together.  We have not seen them in awhile so it should be nice.  And, I only have to make deviled eggs, and rolls so I am good, lol! I plan on spending a lot of this weekend stamping as well in order to get ready for two large events I have coming up!  Meanwhile, I wanted to share two more of the cards I made with the beautiful Four Frames stamp set and the Paisley Petals designer paper - I just love them! Remember, they are only on sale until the 30th of April - you won't see them again until the new catalog comes out in July!  This first one is made with a Whisper White base that I ran through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - just love it! I used some Bravo Burgundy with the patterned paper, both of which I punched with the Scalloped Trim border punch.  The image and sentiment are stamped on Baha Breeze in Bravo Burgundy then punched out with the Designer Label punch.  And, I could not resist - I had to add a sweet little bitty clear heart button!  The ribbon is the gorgeous Whisper White organza ribbon - it adds a touch of elegance to any project you use it on! I tend to hoard this ribbon, it is just sooooooo pretty, lol! 

This second card focuses on the Pear Pizazz that you find in the patterned paper pack.  I just love how many beautiful colors you can use with this same paper - makes it really easy to create several different looks with the same paper! And, those big flowers are gorgeous, aren't they??!The base card is again Whisper White, but this time I used the Finial Press embossing folder.  I paired the patterned paper with some Baha Breeze and Peach Parfait card stock, and punched all three with the Eyelet Border punch.  The ribbon is the yummy Pear Pizazz twill ribbon - love how beautiful this ribbon is! The stamp I actually colored using my Peach Parfait and Pear Pizazz stampin' write markers - love how it turned out! I then punched it out with the Designer Label punch and added some rhinestones to make it pop! I am really enjoying playing with this paper and this stamp set - endless possibilities here, don't you think??!! If you like the items you see here, you can order them in my online store or send me an email and I will place your order for you! For all the details on this special, check out my post from yesterday where you can find all the details! I hope you all enjoy your wonderful Easter weekend - I will back on Monday with some more fun projects that I am making for the craft fairs! Until then, happy stamping!!
Card one Recipe:
Paper - Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Baha Breeze card stock, Paisley Petals Designer Series paper
Inks - Bravo Burgundy classic ink
Stamps - Four Frames
Tools - Scallop Trim border punch, Designer Label punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
Accessories - Whisper White Organza ribbon, bitty buttons
Card Two Recipe:
Paper - Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Baha Breeze card stock, Paisley Petals Designer Series paper
Inks- Peach Parfait, Pear Pizazz stampin' write markers
Stamps - Four Frames
Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Designer Label punch, Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder
Accessories - Pear Pizazz twill ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

FOUR FRAMES FUN!

Hi all!!! I hope you are enjoying your week - I am as the sun has been out, and it is starting to warm up! I am definitely NOT a cold weather girl, lol! Sooo, the sun on my face is wonderful and makes me happy :-)  I also found out some news about my knee this week:  I definitely have a tear in my meniscus as well as some damage to my knee cap so I will be seeing a specialist next week to see what the next step will be in making me better and getting it to stop hurting! All in all, I am starting to feel like maybe there is a light at the end of this tunnel and I can start getting my life back to normal soon....whatever that is, lol!  Meanwhile, I have been doing some stamping and having fun with the promotion stamp set and designer series paper on special this month! The stamp set is called Four Frames and the paper is called Paisley Petals and is BEAUTIFUL!! The stamp set ROCKS - there are four fun stamps in the set and they can all be punched out using the Designer Label Punch!  I have two cards to share with you today that I made using this paper and stamp set - and I am loving playing with them!  The first card uses Whisper White as the base and I embossed it using the Finial Press embossing folder.  I pulled the Peach Parfait from the patterned paper so I could use the yummy ribbon and the card stock, which I stamped with the Sanded background stamp.  Both patterned paper and card stock have been punched using the Scallop Edge punch.  And, just look at that frame from the stamp set - just soooo pretty! I stamped it on Marina Mist in Peach Parfait and then punched it out, adding some pretty pearls! Simple but pretty, and I am loving the colors!

This second card uses the same set and papers, but the emphasis of color is on the burgundy, which I love! For the base card, I embossed the Whisper White with the Perfect Polka Dots folder this time, and edge punched the papers with the Eyelet Border punch.  The frame is stamped on Whisper White using Pear Pizazz ink and then I stamped the sentiment in Marina Mist on the same color card stock, punching it out with the Small Oval punch and popping it up on dimensionals.  That yummy ribbon is the Marina Mist Satin ribbon - isn't just beautiful??!! I love that big bow, makes me happy!! :-)  This stamp set and patterned paper are a sneak peek from the new catalog that will premiere in July BUT you CAN own it right now and here is how:

Spring is Blossoming Promotion: April 1 - 30, 2011

The Stampin' Up! Spring is Blossoming Promotion offers customers the opportunity to purchase two sneak peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog. You can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

1) Online Order

•Spend $20* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper.
•Both items can be purchased once the $20 minimum is met; there is a limit of five per product once the $20 minimum is met. Ordering another $20 of Stampin' Up! products resets the limit and allows you to purchase another five Designer Series Papers and/or stamp sets.

2) Host a Workshop

•Host a $350* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE! Email me for details if you would like to place a combined order with friends or place a single order through me to earn these products free!

Item Costs: 

Four Frames Stamp Set

W: item 123440, $20.95
C: item 123442,$15.95
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
item 122367, $9.95

•There is a limit of one Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper per workshop.

*Net sales before tax and shipping

Pretty awesome, right??!! BUT, this offer is only good until the end of this month so if you want them (and you know you do, lol) go to my online store or contact me and we can get your order in! I hope you like the samples I have made with these fun new products - I have two more cards to show you tomorrow! Until then, have a wonderful day and happy stampin'!

Card One Recipe:

Paper - Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Marina Mist card stock, Paisley Petals Designer Series paper

Inks - Peach Parfait classic ink

Stamps - Four Frames, Sanded background stamp

Tools - Scallop Edge Border punch, Big Shot, Finial Press embossing folder, Designer Label punch

Accessories - Basic Pearls, Peach Parfait twill ribbon

Card Two Recipe:

Paper - Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist card stock, Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

Inks - Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz classic inks

Stamps - Four Frames

Tools - Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Eyelet Border Punch, Designer Label punch, Small Oval punch

Accessories - Marina Mist Satin ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

YEEEEHAAAWWWWW!!!!

Well, good morning y'all!!! Here it is, a Monday morning, and I am still at home nursing my knee.....but, I am one step closer since I had the MRI on Friday.  Now, I am awaiting the assignment of a specialist to read the MRI and see what kind of treatment plan they recommend.  I will be honest - anything involving no surgery will sound good to me as I want to be mobile for my son's graduation at the end of May.  Meanwhile, I am still home from work, and resting the knee.  So, I thought I would share a workshop card I did last month! This was a special request design - my hostess really wanted something western themed so I pulled out my Out West stamp set and went to work! I love this set, it is sooo much fun to play with! I was glad I had an excuse to pull it back out and ink it up! I made this more of a male themed card since we card makers tend to focus on flowers and ribbons and pretties, lol! The base of this card is Early Espresso, which I ran through the Big Shot and embossed it with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Then, using the Elegant Soiree designer paper, I die cut the Top Note shape and a large circle, using them as the background to my images.  The cowboy is stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock - perfect for a male western card! I also used my Big Shot for that circle - both of these circle dies can be found in the Occasions Mini!  I stamped the cowboy hat on the same card stock, but I cut it out and popped it up on a dimensional after stamping the sentiment on some Soft Suede card stock that has been punched out with the Designer Label punch.  I added some twine at the top of the card - no ribbon for this cowboy!! I am thrilled with how this turned out as was the hostess who informed me that she cannot part with this card so she keeps it up on her mantel so she can look at it all the time, lol!! I LOVE making my hostesses smile - it will never get old!!! If you like this cowboy set as much as we do, you can order it and everything else you see here in my online store or contact me to place an order! And, if you would like to hostess your own workshop and have me come and stamp with you and your friends, let me know so we can get you set up on the calendar! Now, I am off to relax my knee and catch up on some paperwork while I can - it is raining outside and the kiddos are on Spring Break so I am sure that once they get up this morning (teens can sleep FOREVER) they will want my attention, lol! I hope your Monday is going FABULOUS - I will be back to share something special tomorrow so until then, happy stampin'!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Early Espresso,Soft Suede,  Naturals Ivory card stock, Elegant Soiree Designer Paper
Inks - Early Espresso classic ink
Stamps - Out West
Tools - Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Top Note Die, 3 1/2 inch Circle Die, 3 inch Circle Die, Designer Label Punch
Accessories-  Twine

A DEAR FRIEND

Good Morning all!!! I am so happy - the sun is shining and no clouds in sight, lol! I am soooo very tired of all the rain....bring on the Spring! We still have the heater on....crazy! Today is MRI day - I am so glad because maybe now we can move forward with a plan to get my poor knee fixed......and get rid of the cane so my son can stop calling me granny, lol!  So, lots on the agenda today! I want to share a card with you that I made for a friend of mine whose father just took a very nasty fall off of a ladder  - he insists on picking the oranges off the tree although he is getting up there in age and really shouldn't! Sooo, I wanted to let her know I was thinking about her with a card!  I chose to use the Blessed Mother stamp set because I just love the flowers in this set - see, you don't have to just use it for Mother's day, lol! It is in the Occasions Mini and the images are just gorgeous! The background on this card is embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper folder and then heat embossed with Iridescent Ice (click on the image and make it larger so you can check it out).  It just sparkles and is soooooo pretty IRL! I kept is simple, and used a small strip of the Springtime Vintage patterned paper, focusing on the blues and greens this time - I just love this paper, can you tell?*wink*  I know, you probably are tired of seeing it, but I can't seem to stop using it, lol!  The sentiment is from the Hostess Level I set Silhouette Sentiments - love this set! If you want this set, all you have to do is host a workshop of $150 and it is YOURS! The images are gorgeous and it has great sentiments as well! To top this card off,  I added some Old Olive seam binding ribbon, which I love because is it so easy to use - it is so pliable you really can do a lot with it! I hope this card makes my friend smile - she is such a neat lady, I have really enjoyed getting to know her! Another fabulous benefit of being a demonstrator - I have met some really wonderful people!!! I am sure as paper crafters yourself, you know EXACTLY what I mean, right??  So, off to do some stamping before I go to the doctor! Thanks for all the sweet emails and comments, I love that you all think about me!  I will let you know what they have to say and whether surgery is in the cards for me......sheesh, I am ready for my knee to be normal again, lol!! Take care and have a wonderful day! I will be back tomorrow - until then, happy stampin'!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper
Inks - Not Quite Navy, Old Olive stampin write markers and classic ink pads
Stamps - Blessed Mother, Silhouette Sentiments
Tools - Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, 2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle Punch, Small Oval punches, 1 3/8 inch Large Circle punch, Eyelet Border punch, 1 3/4 inch Circle Punch, Heat Tool
Accessories - Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Old Olive Seam binding ribbon, Basic Pearls

*STAMPIN HUGS* ALEX

A CUP OF JOE!

Here it is, Monday again - I swear the weekends go by faster and faster, lol! Mine was especially busy as I had two classes to teach and some regular home items to get done (we DO need to eat and have clean clothes, heehee) It was fun although I am not quite ready to go back to work!  And, losing an hour did not help either, lol.  But, the one thing I do look forward to each and every morning is my coffee - it is something I truly enjoy! For those of you who know me really well, you know I don't function at 100% until that first cup has hit the bloodstream :-) So, when this stamp set called Morning Cup came out in this catalog, I HAD to have it! This is a card we made in a recent stamp-a-stack - and there were definitely some coffee drinkers because this card and stamp set were a hit :-)  It's a pretty simple card to put together, but I love these bold colors together - funny, I never really used too many of our bright colors before, but with all the new ones, I find myself reaching for them a lot! The colors used here are Night of Navy and Daffodil Delight on a Whisper White base - aren't they fun together??  The fun polka dot patterned paper is actually from the Christmas paper set called Jolly Holiday, but to me, you can use this paper year round - nothing on this card says Christmas, right? *wink*  We punched the sides using the Eyelet Border punch, and then punched out the background to the sentiment out of Daffodil Delight using the Decorative Label punch from the Occasions Mini.  We stamped all over it with the same color ink using the steam stamp - isn't it cute??  Then, we layered with a piece of the Jolly Holiday punched using the Modern label punch, and finally, the sentiment was stamped on Whisper White in Early Espresso, punching that out with the Small Oval punch.  It is popped up on dimensionals, which really makes it stand out.  For the main image, we created a tag out of some Whisper White, then stamped the coffee pot, coloring it in with blender pens and ink pads.  Super fun and easy to do!  Finally, we added some Night of Navy and Early Espresso ribbon and some super fun Daffodil Delight pom pom fringe, and we were done! Super fun and easy to create, I really enjoyed sharing this one! If you are in love with the products used here (come on, you know you are!) you can order them in my online store or email me and I will put your order in for you! Remember, we are winding down the last few weeks of Sale-A-Bration where you can get free products with every $50 order you place  - you don't want to miss out when it goes away at the end of the month! Especially with all the fabulous things in the SAB catty this year - I swear, they just keep getting better and better!  So many fun products to choose from - it's hard to decide what to get, lol!  Soooo, I am now off to work, but I will be back tomorrow to share the Vintage Canvas that I taught this past weekend - I have to say, it is one of my all-time favorites and I am excited to share it with you! Until then, have a wonderful Monday and I hope you have some time to stamp today :-)
Card Recipe:
Paper- Night of Navy, Daffodil, Delight, Whisper White, Jolly Holiday designer series paper
Inks- Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler ink pads (used with blender pen)
Stamps - Morning Cup
Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Modern Label punch, Small Oval punch, Decorative Label punch, blender pen
Accessories - Pom Pom fringe, Early Espresso and Night of Navy thin grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

BLISS IS BLISS!!

Howdy all! Whew! It has been such a busy week so far, I cannot even believe it is already Thursday! I reallly like my new job though, and the people are great, which is always nice! I have gotten to stamp some too, which is always fun - I was worried that I would have less stamping time, but I think I have just gotten better at managing my time, lol! I had a wonderful workshop this week with some fun new friend so I wanted to show you a card that we made together.  We used the Sale-a-Bration set called Bliss and I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this set!!! It will no longer be available after the 31st of March, so if you have not gotten this one yet, you need to make sure you do - it's FREE with your $50 order - yep, I said FREE!!! Can't beat that :-)  We had such fun putting this card together! I shared the wonderful Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder using Early Espresso card stock  on a Crumb Cake  base.  Don't they look great together?!  Good enough to eat, *wink* The patterned paper is the Sweet and Sour Specialty series paper from the main catalog and is sooooo pretty! I really do like the diverse selections of patterned paper we have in this catalog - sooo much to choose from! We used the Eyelet Border punch to create the pretty borders, then added some Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon that can be found in the Occasions Mini.  Have I told you how much I love this ribbon? So easy to manipulate, I and the colors and texture are gorgeous!  The main image butterfly is stamped in Rose Red ink, then stamped over with the sentiment in Early Espresso.  After punching it out using the Designer Label punch, we ran it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - love how it turned out! We mounted it on a Scalloped Circle of Marina Mist card stock that is stamped with the swirly stamp from the Bliss set - well, that's my name for it anyway, lol! Lastly, we added one of the gorgeous Vanilla Rosette flowers that can also be found in the Occasions Mini - you get three sizes of flowers in this fun set, and they reallly make a project pop! In the center, we added a rhinestone - every flower needs a little bling, don't you think?  The ladies loved it, and I sure enjoyed sharing it with them!  If you would like to make projects similar to this one with YOUR friends, contact me and we can set up your workshop! And, if you have to have these items right now, you can purchase them in my online store or email me your order and I will get your order in!  Now, I gotta run and get to work, but I hope you all have a wonderful day and find some time to stamp!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla card stock, Sweet and Sour Specialty paper
Inks - Marina Mist, Rose Red, Early Espresso classic inks
Stamps - Bliss from the Sale-a-Bration catalog
Tools - Extra large scallop circle punch, Exrra large designer label punch, Eyelet border punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders
Accessories - Rose Red Seam binding ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Vanilla Rosettes    
   

BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS

Hi all!!! I know, I know, I missed a few days - cut me some slack, I now work a full-time job outside my house as well as run my stamping  business so this gal is BUSY, lol!!!! I have settled into somewhat of a routine - a busy one, but a routine, lol! I stamped all weekend and worked all week so I was a little tired - took one day off to just relax and clean the house, do laundry, etc. - I guess that is not all that relaxing though, heehee!  I had a wonderful workshop this weekend, meeting all kinds of new friends and I have to say, they were just the medicine I needed after a hard week at work! We laughed, stamped, played, and laughed some more - ahhhh, I just love it!! I wanted to share one of the cards we made using the Build a Blossom stamp set(clear item 121994) from the Occasions Mini.  This is such a fun set - and what makes it even more fun is the fact that it has a coordinating Blossoms Petal punch(item 121808) to go along with it!!! Too fun!!! Sure makes punching out all these petals and leaves a snap to do - loooove that:-) We used some of our purples on this card, which is not a color I reach for very often, but I have to say, I do like how they look together on this card! The base card is Elegant Eggplant card stock(item 105126) and the petals are stamped in the same but on Perfect Plum card stock(item 101889) .  Yummy, right? The flower is actually mounted on a piece of Whisper White card stock(item 100730) that has been embossed using the Framed Tulips embossing folder(item 121809) also found in the Occasions Mini.  Soooo pretty, I love how elegant it makes your cards!  The center of the flower has a Whisper White designer button(item 119743) with some linen thread threaded through - I just can't seem to get enough of my buttons lately! Add to that some oh so yummy Old Olive Taffeta ribbon(item 119256) and you have a WOW! of a card! At least I think so, LOL! And, so did the ladies at the workshop - this card was a definite favorite!! I have to tell you, workshops are the highlight of my business - I just love introducing stamping to new people, getting to spend time with some of my favorite customers, and best of all, meeting and making new friends! I had a happy surprise at this workshop as well - I got reconnected with a woman I went to a crop with my very first month after moving here from Jacksonville! She was my table mate and we had a great time with each other even though everyone else at that crop wasn't very nice - we had a few laughs about that at the workshop too :-)  If you would like to have a fun night with a bunch of your friends making some cards or a scrappy project, give me a holler - I would love to set a workshop up with you! And, if you have fallen in love with the products you see here for this card, you can order them in my online store or email me and I will be happy to put your order in for you! Now, I have to go to my other job but I WILL be back tomorrow with another fun project I shared with my new friends! Until then, happy stampin'!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Old Olive card stock
Inks - Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive class inks
Stamps - Build a Blossom, You're a Gem(sentiment)
Tools - Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Blossoms Petal Punch, small oval punch
Accessories - Old Olive taffeta ribbon, designer buttons, basic rhinestones, linen thread