SCRAPBOOK SATURDAY

Hi all! Well, another week has flown by and I am loving having my son home but the time is going by too quickly for me! We leave on Monday for our houseboat vacation and I am really looking forward to that! But, because I love you all, I have posts for everyday while I am gone - I wouldn't want you to forget about me *wink*. So, this post is REALLY late today because our phone line was damaged early Friday morning and is still not repaired which means we have no internet connection either since it goes through the phone line! Since I had to come down and pay my bills online before we leave, I figured I might as well post too - LOL! So, I am sitting in our internet cafe coffee shop! Today is another Scrapbook page I made using the fabulous paper line from Black Market Society! I love it and have used every scrap of what I had!!! These are pics of our children Christmas 2006 that I am just getting around to scrappin' - I don't really scrap things in order, I scrap about what hits me that day - my kids baby books are still not done, but Zach's entire senior year is - teehee!! But, I digress.....I did use some of my SU! rub-ons on this page, I just love the way they look on a layout! I also took my Taken With Teal reinker and added it to some white paint which I then painted on to the chipboard hearts from the Onboard Hearts and Stars chipboard pack and the chipboard doodles and I am really pleased with how it came out! I did some stitching in Close to Cocoa around all the photos as well...I can't help myself! The flowers are new from Prima and I am in love with them - if you click on the page for a close-up, you can see how they are different colors. I added some buttons to their centers to give the page some dimension. I also used my build-a-brad as a center to one of the rub-on flowers and added some Taken with Teal brads to the other ones. I also used some Teal rhinestones on all the rub-ons to give a little bling to my page! The ribbon is some fringe from my stash and has been a favorite for some time...but now, it is all gone *sniff*. All in all, I am very happy with this layout! So, if you are joining me in Scrapbook Saturday, please let me know so I can check out your page!!! I would love to see them! Have a fabulous weekend - until tomorrow! Toodles!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

STAMP SOMETHING CHALLENGE - WHOOHOO!

Happy Friday everyone!!! Whoohoo, today's Stamp Something Challenge is fabulous - but I would expect nothing less because this week's challenge is being hosted by Melissa over at Simply Pink - have you seen her mad talent?!!! So, this week the challenge is to makes something red, white, and blue BUT it cannot be a card! Fun, huh?!! I love this theme -it speaks to me! So, I decided that since I needed a gift, I would create something that fits the challenge! I made a gift box that when you open it, it folds down into this really cool stationery set!! And nope, the idea is not mine, I first spotted this on Dawn's blog who made a beautiful version of this and she told me that Jackie was the original creator! See, I just love stampers who share - teehee! Anyway, here are the details of this project. The first picture shows the whole box put together, lid on and all. I used lots of punched stars on this project and not a whole lot of stamps but I still really like it. This next picture shows what the box looks like on the inside when you take the lid off - it actually folds down - cool, huh?! This is where the stationery part comes in - see all the labeled compartments? There are all kinds of goodies inside so I thought this would make a great gift. Want to know what is all in here? Okay, I will tell you! There are six full-size cards with matching envies, six 3x3 notecards with matching envies, six coordinating gift tags, a book of stamps, and a cute little address book that I made out of notebook paper and dp! The brads holding it together are from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and have stars on them - perfect for this project! It also includes a pen - I picked red because it matched my project, but you can use anyone you want really as long as it fits inside the box. And, I did stamp some here, I stamped on the sides of the flaps using the star stamp from my the Free and the Brave stamp set; stamp it twice in a row and you get a perfect row of stars! The labels are all written in White Gel Pen on punched out with my Small and Large Star punches. I also used lost of brads which you can see better in the next picture. What? You want to see the next picture? Well, okay...here it is! I took everything out of the holders so you can see the details! Yes, I stamped all the envies with stars as well and they coordinate wonderfully with the punched stars! I did use a retired dp called Outlaw because I love the stars and figured it was not a big deal - you can use any dp you like...I was just out of Western Sky dp which is the current dp with stars on it. I also used white brads which are not Stampin' Up! because, well, we don't carry white brads.....YET!!! Who knows what the new catty might bring??!! So, there you have it - my challenge sample. Please make sure you go on over to the Stamp Something site and see what fabulous creations the other Design Team members have come up with - I swear, every week they awe me, they are soooo very talented! And, if you decide to do the challenge, make sure you upload the link to the site so we can all come and check it out! Have a fabulous weekend, I will be getting ready to go on vacation on Monday evening - whoohoo!!! And, for those of you who were asking, Get Smart was a FABULOUS movie, and well worth seeing - I have not laughed that much in a looooonnnnggggg time!!!! Happy Stampin'!

TAMARA's SKETCH AND SOME NEW SU! GOODIES!

Okay, first things first - it is Thursday and that means another sketch challenge over at Tamara's - whoohoo! I have to say, I love all of her sketches, but this one is a favorite and I can see myself using it again! I used my Fresh Cuts stamp set which has already become a favorite, I mean it is sooo much fun to play with! And, the card was fun to put together!! So, make sure you get on over there and see what the rest of the DT did this week - they outdid themselves and their cards are just gorgeous! And, how about giving it a shot yourself? Make sure you upload the link on Tamara's site so we can all come and check it all out! I know I love to see what everyone comes up with and have seen some beautiful creations and I am sure the rest of the DT feels the same way! This card is pretty self-explanatory so I will leave you with the recipe and if you have any questions, you know you just need to ask!


Card Recipe: (all products SU! except for the pearls)
Paper - Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Naturals Ivory card stock, Ginger Blossoms Designer Series Paper
Stamp sets - Fresh Cuts
Inks - Cameo Coral Classic Stampin' pad and stampin' write marker
Accessories - Ticket Corner Punch, Mat Stack and paper piercer, Groovy Guava Double stitched ribbon, vintage eyelets, jumbo pewter eyelets, Crop-a-dile
Now, on to some exciting news that I should have already shared and did not - shame on me!!!! Stampin' Up! rolled out a new product line - DECOR ELEMENTS! It is totally AWESOME, I love it, I have ordered mine already and customers can order their very own starting July 1st - whoohoo! So, what does it look like? Well, check out the catalog here and see for yourself!! It is so dang beautiful and versatile and oh, I can't wait to decorate with mine! Many of them coordinate with stamp sets we have such as the Baroque Motifs set - so you can also stamp with these to make a fabulously decorated room in your very own style! I am already planning on doing some things in my family room, stamp room, daughters room.....you get what I mean, right -teehee!! So, because I am so very excited about this new line of goodies AND we are heading into a new year, I would like to offer a special to those of you who have been sitting on the fence saying, man, I want to be a demonstrator! Want your own business doing what you love? Just want to join to get your stamps at a wonderful discount? Contact me and I will help you out! Join my team - I promise you will have LOADS of fun! And, because it IS the end of the stampin' year, I will throw in a FREE stamp set of YOUR choice out of the catalog - yep, any one you want! The only thing better than stamps is FREE stamps - LOL! So, contact me by Saturday if you are interested, and let's get you started on a wonderful new stampin' adventure!

ANOTHER TWOFER!

Hi all!! Well, I am very bummed today because we were supposed to be going to the Jelly Belly Factory but I called yesterday and they don't restart production until June 30th - and yes, they are open and you can tour, but you won't see anything!! So, rather than drive the two hours there to see NOTHING, we will go once we get back from the houseboat! Seems the shut down the last two weeks in June for maintenance of their machines - why June? Why not, say February when nobody wants to go - sheesh!! So, we are going to the movies instead! Anyway, back to my card - today's card is based on Jen's Sketch for Saturday. I just love this one and have put it in my faves folder to pull out for more use! And, my SBS sister Louise is sponsoring a color challenge of pink and brown so I got that one done too! Head on over to Louise's blog, she is giving away blog candy to a lucky winner who posts a card for the challenge - anybody can play so what do you have to lose? Besides, she is fabulously talented so you get to see her beautiful creations as well! So, this card has two of my favorite colors in it, pink and brown - I just love this color combination and was thrilled when I saw the challenge. I really wanted something soft and pretty since I am sending this to someone special, so I rounded all the corners to keep the soft effect. All in all, I am pretty happy with how it turned out and I hope you all like it too! So, I will leave you the recipe as I have to go grocery shopping for the houseboat before we head to the movies - we are seeing Get Smart!! So, stay tuned tomorrow, when I have another one of Tamara's fabulous sketches for ya! Until then, toodles!
Card Recipe: (all products Stampin' Up!)
Paper - Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, and Whisper White card stock, Flowers for you Designer Series Paper
Stamps - Stitched Exotics, Fresh Cuts
Inks - Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa Classic Ink, Brown Stazon, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write markers
Accessories - Corner Rounder Punch, 1/2 inch circle punch, small oval punch, Regal Rose narrow grosgrain ribbon, Regal Rose brads, Pink Rhinestone brad, stampin' dimensionals, mat stack and paper piercer

A FUN LITTLE BOOK

but first, you all have to see me and my handsome son in a picture my daughter took yesterday! Not the best picture, but I love it anyway because he is with me!!! Isn't he handsome?? Poor thing, he said that his skin all broke out on the boat (last three weeks that's where he was!) because it was so dirty and oily, and HOT!!! But, he looks PERFECT to me!!!! So, I wanted to share this with you and hopefully will have lots more to share over the next coming month while he is home! So, on to the project for the day - I made this mini scrapbook that I saw on my friend Shannon's blog AGES ago, and that she was nice enough to send me directions for (love ya girl!) if you have not been to her blog, get on over there (well, after you read my post, lol!) So, I decided since we leave for our houseboat vacation next week, I would make a little summer and kind of beachy little book! Here is the cover of the book - the empty square in the middle is for a picture that can slide in form the side, pretty cool, huh?! I used my Life's A Breeze stamp set for all my stamping on this project, which I love and I am glad did not retire!! This next picture is the inside of the book where you can see there is a pocket that contains three pull-out mini pages as well as a page opposite that can also hold another picture by sliding it in from the side. This last picture shows you a close-up of the three pull-outs - aren't they fun??!! I loved making this and will probably make a bunch more - I am thinking a class is in order here! So, I have to run and don't have time to leave the recipe right now, so if you have any questions, just let me know!! Until tomorrow! Smooches - off to the forebay for some swimming and a picnic!!!

HAPPINESS

Hi all! Well, the title says it all...I just love having Zach home, I feel at peace again! So, I decided to do a card that talks about happiness and where I am in my life right this second and this is what I came up with! I used some of the new Black Market Society Dp - this is such a new company that they don't even have a website, BUT there paper is FABULOUS...I love it, totally up my alley! And, since I am down to bare bones on SU! dp and don't want to order anymore before the new catty comes out, I am using my other marvelous papers! But, everything else IS Stampin' Up! and I will leave you the recipe so you can check it out! Oh, and this paper was also the paper in the June kit from Coconuts, which I loved! So, on to the card! I used my Garden Whimsy stamp set to make the butterfly and some of those yummy rub-ons that we have! I did lots of stitching as well, and loved how it turned out! This card reflects my mood - happy, at peace, and enjoying the moment! The sentiment says it all - The Time to be Happy is now, the Place to be Happy is Here! So, on that note, I shall leave you with the recipe as I am heading out the door with the kids to go have some fun! Until tomorrow...toodles!
Card Recipe: (all products SU! unless otherwise noted)
Paper - Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa card stock, Black Market Society Dp
Inks - Black Stazon ink, Taken with Teal Classic Stampin' Pad and Stampin' Write Marker
Stamps - Garden Whimsy
Accessories - Paper Piercer and mat stack, Build-a-brad, Ticket Corner Punch, Slit Punch, Chocolate Chip narrow grosgrain ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, bling from my stash (the sentiment was cut freehand)

A DOUBLE PLAY!!

Happy Sunday - well, it is for me because my baby is home safe and sound and ready for me to spoil him! He looks soooo much like a man, I have a pang every time I look at him....he really is not my little boy anymore, but a wonderful, young man ready to make his mark on the world!! I will have some pics to share tomorrow but for now, on to my project! For this one, I did two challenges - one is for the Dirty Challenge Inside and Out that I saw on Rose Ann's blog where she has posted the rules for this particular challenge. Pretty simple and fun and oh so up my alley! I also combined this with another challenge for my good friend Dawn who is on the new OCC design team and posted their challenge of using buttons and brads! And lastly, I decided to try my hand at this cute little box in a bag that I saw on Nancy's blog who in turn found it on Diana's blog. THIS is why I love Stampin' Up! - these ladies are fellow demos who share their fabulous projects so that the rest of us can benefit too - love it, love it, love it and why I will NEVER leave my fabulous SU! roots!!! So, now on to the project! Look at that cute little bag, I love it and see myself making lots of these for gifts! And, the card, well, yeah, the stamp is NOT Stampin' Up! but I have a vast array of patriotic stamps and love my Uncle Sam image so I inked him up and watercolored him - he turned out pretty well, doncha think? And, for the challenge, I had to do the inside and decorate the envie as well so here are some pics of those. This first pic is of the inside of the card - I hand wrote the sentiment myself since I did not have one that I liked! (note to self, need some patriotic sentiments!) And, of course there are brads and buttons on the front to fulfill the requirements of the second challenge! This next pic is the stamped envie - well, I actually used my jumbo roller but hey, it's still stamped, right? I had a blast making these two projects and I hope you will give these two challenges a try! I will leave you with the recipe because I need to run and spend time with my son!!! Until tomorrow...happy stampin'!
Card and Bag Recipe: (all products Stampin" Up! unless otherwise noted)
Paper - Night of Navy, Ruby Red, and Whisper White card stock, Rose Red Prints Designer Series paper, Adorn It! Dp
Ink- Night of Navy, Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Pads, Night of Navy, Ruby Red Stampin' Write Markers
Stamps - Classic Stars Jumbo Stampin' Wheel, Uncle Sam by Art Gone Wild, Flag by Stampabilities
Accessories - Small Star Punch, Large Star Punch, Slit Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Picture Frames Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1/4 inch Circle Punch, Fresh Favorites buttons, mini glue dots, red sticky tape, dark blue ribbon from my stash, white brads from my stash, Basic white brads