New Year, New Catalog & A Challenge From FMS

Hello! 

Happy New Year! 

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Today, I'm sharing a card made with new products from the 'Celebrate the Everyday' & the 'Sale-A-Bration' Catalogs.

The sketch over at FMS really helped me get started creating.  Check it out.

Here's what I did with it:

I've started a new card making stamp club.  We will make Birthday cards for a few months.  This is one of the designs I've created for January.  I'm so excited to share Birthday card designs with some friends.  This card would be fun for a guy too, just leave off some of the embellishments.

Supplies:

Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants

Big Shot: Banners Framelits die, Tasteful Trim die, Decorative Dots embossing folder

Cardstock: Whisper white, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Kaleidoscope Designer series paper

Accessories: Bermuda Bay ribbon, Basic metal buttons

Enjoy your Friday!

Christmas Project Overload

Hello Friends!

It's been too long since I've blogged, or shared projects with you, so today I'm giving you photos of many of my holiday projects.  We've made these things in stamp clubs and card clubs.  Gals have gathered at my house and stamped, punched and adhered their way into a festive holiday!  We started back in August!  These aren't all the projects, but here's a few.....

Oh what fun it is to create Christmas cards for five months!  (said no demonstrator ever.)  So, when we get down to the last month of card creating, I enjoy some non-traditional colors and layouts.  It's a pink Christmas!!

One of my favorite projects this season has been the Washi tape.  This time, we're using up the last of it for these Christmas tree negatives.  Merry Christmas!

I can never get enough notepads!  I love that big ole star!  It's beautiful embossed with the early espresso embossing powder.  The stamp club gals really enjoyed this simple project.

Ok, it's emboss resist.  I just did it because I was having such a hard time coming up with something cool to do with that giant tree...... out of desperation, I embossed with clear embossing powder onto whisper white card stock, grabbed a sponge and started inking away.  This turned out to be one of my favorite cards!  From desperation to favorite!  

I've seen so many people use the stars for boarders.... I had to join in.  This is a fun way to 'use up' the last remaining pieces of foil paper.  It's  a simple little design, but I really enjoy it!

RED!  This is a screaming RED Merry Little Christmas card.  Monochromatic schemes help me when I'm stuck.  Did I mention already that we're in month FIVE of creating Christmas cards?  Well, I was stuck, so I went to red to help me.

I'm a sucker for a mini album.  This little album only has about 4 pages.  (You could add more.) It's really a simple idea.  I love how the snowflake ornament is a bold statement for the cover.  It's a kit from Stampin' UP!.  Available while supplies last.

This year, I went crazy with the heat embossing.  Nearly every project has some sort of heat embossing on it.  I also did a whole lot of texture mixing.  Combining chevrons with dots or stripes, just made me so happy!  I find it visually pleasing, but if a customer didn't agree, she always had the option to use the reverse side of the paper.

These little 'file folder' projects are very popular this year.  I used our new envelope punch board to create this gift card holder. 

Candy bar wrappers are a staple for me every holiday.  I like the bold statement of the giant snowflake on the front.... looking at this photo reminds me that I still have a few teacher gifts to make.  Hope it stops sleeting soon, so I can get back to the store for more candy bars.... hope I don't eat them all before I gift them.

This is a very traditional card, with a slightly non-traditional greeting.  I love it.  It's simple, clean and very Merry!

Peace on Earth.

Simply put.  Simply sent.  Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!  Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

The Senior, The Dad & A Christmas Card, oh my!

Hello!

In our little neck of the woods, today is Homecoming Friday!  It's all very exciting, and I'm sure I'll have more pictures to share later.  For today, this one is enough.

It's the Senior with Dad.  The bonfire looks impressive, right?

All these activities are fun, but they do not keep me from stamping!  I love spending some time at my desk creating projects to share with others.  Today, I want to share another card for the Christmas Card Club Gals.

This card is very traditional.  The colors, the sentiment (whimsical, but still traditional).  I really enjoy the pretty knot and the delightful paper.  This card just makes me smile!

Thanks for stopping by today for a look!  Happy Weekend to you all!  

Camo Christmas!

Hello Friends!

I'm so happy to be back at my desk creating projects!  Today, I want to share one of the cards we'll make at the next meeting of Christmas Card Club.  These are the super smart gals that are getting their holiday crafting done early!  

This fun sample I copied from my friend, Jann.  She made a swap for our San Diego Incentive Trip last month using this 'camo' technique.  My husband just loved it!  I hope the Club gals will feel the same way!  It's a Sassy/Camo Christmas!  and, it just makes me smile!  

Thanks Jann for the inspiration!

Our Favorite Restaurant in San Diego

We love to eat.  While in San Diego, we found several fun and delicious restaurants.  This place was our favorite.

This photo was taken by a guy working a parking stand right outside the door.  He waited for a brief break in the traffic, and stood in the middle of the street to take this photo!  It totally freaked me out!  I just knew any second he would be smashed by a bus.  Thankfully, we was safe, and was able to snap a picture of our favorite restaurant in San Diego.

The husband was very impressed with the selection of beers.  That's a whole lot of things on tap!

Beer was good.  Food was good.  Company was fantastic!  

Bold Birthday, it's just that easy!

Hello!

Today, I'm happy to share with you another sample from our most recent card class.  It seems that I always need a great birthday card, so I designed this bold card for our class.  

I love the simplicity of this card.  It's easy to duplicate with your favorite embellishments or designer series paper.  The card base is white, making the inside perfect for signatures.  Everything about this card just screams easy and convenient!

Thanks for stopping by today!  

Delightful Days in San Diego!

Hello Friends!

Recently, my husband and I returned from an all expense paid weekend getaway to San Diego!  It was lovely!  I was so fortunate to have earned this trip for two from Stampin' UP! last year.  I'm very grateful to all my friends, family and customers that helped me achieve this fantastic trip, so I thought I would share a few highlights.

Friday, Stampin' UP! treated us all to trolley tickets for a tour of Old Town.  The weather was beautiful, the guide was delightful, and we had so much fun walking around the historic buildings.

This is the husband, posing in front of a giant tree in the town square.  Every plant you see in San Diego has been planted by someone and is watered regularly.  Otherwise, nothing would grow!  It's the dessert!

The Whaley House is said to be the oldest structure built West of the Mississippi.  It was built on top of a graveyard, and because of that, is obviously haunted.  We didn't take the tour.  I'll take their word for it!

Another fun thing about this trip was getting to spend time with old and new friends!  There were a few funny places to pose for pictures.  These are the husbands enjoying the free trip!

These are the demonstrators!

We had such fun in Old Town that day!  Thank You Stampin' UP! for a fantastic weekend getaway!  

It's a Really Big Bow

I know, it's a really big bow.  Sometimes, a really big bow is just the final touch I'm looking for.  This fun card was featured in a recent card class.  Some of the gals made big bows, some didn't, but everyone loved the design!

I like the new alphabet embossing folder.  The letters make this folder easy to use in any direction.  It's a super easy way to step up a project.

I'm always running out of birthday cards, so I know I'll use this one soon.

Thanks for stopping by today for a look!  Now.... go create something!

My Favorite Smile from Card Class

I really had fun designing the cards for our last Card Class.  This ended up being my favorite sample of the night.  I am really loving this color combo right now.  It comes from the Designer Series Paper, Eastern Elegance.  The stamps all come from a stamp set called, 'Happy Day'.

I started with the focal point, and designed around it.  I love how easily the ruffled ribbon goes around that circle, and it's always so much fun to distress card stock by crumpling it up.  I added rhinestones and it still needed a little something....

So, I grabbed a sponge from the corner of my messy desk and started sponging Coastal Cabana Ink all around the edges..... only to discover that the sponge was compromised.  I had already used that sponge in some shimmery ink.  Well, I think the results are just divine!  I didn't even know I was missing a shimmery ink element.  Happy accident!

Our monthly card classes are so much fun!  I hope you'll be able to join us next month.  We will have some new samples to share.  I'm sure at least one of them will have a happy accident to share!

Prince of Peace, Simply Beautiful

Hello!

I'm having a great time creating cards for the Christmas Card Club.  I've advertised this club as a more advanced class.  The cards we make typically have more layers and techniques than a simple card class would have.

The sample I'm going to share today might not exactly fit into the advanced card category.

I used a new stamp for the focal point.  It's from the list of single stamps and is called 'Prince of Peace'.  I just think it's really pretty.  It reminds me of tons of great church songs.  

If you're looking for some special technique, you won't really find one.  I did use the Cherry Cobbler embossing powder for the focal point.  I do enjoy how the diagonal stripe embossing folder combines with the diagonal stripe on the Season of Style Designer Series Paper for a sort of optical illusion chevron look. That is sort of neat.  Mainly, I just enjoy the simplicity of this card and it's beautiful sentiment. 

Have a wonderful day!  Create something beautiful!

A Fall Themed Swing Card for the Paper Players

Hello!!

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood!  Not fall temperatures yet, but I couldn't resist the challenge from the Paper Players.

I decided to play with some of the new thinlits.  Here's my Fall-themed swing card:

The colors are very fall-ish.  I really am enjoying the new Sweater Weather Designer Series paper.  There's some very nice plaids.

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Magnificent Maple, Tags 4 You

Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Crushed Curry

Paper: Sweater Weather DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink

Accessories: Candy dots, linen thread

Big Shot: Tasteful trims Bigz die, Thinlits - Label Card

I hope you're have a wonderful day and make a little time for creating!

Thanks for stopping by!

Holly Jolly Frostings

Hello!  Happy Monday to Everyone!

It's a Holiday Monday!  Hooray!  A great way to celebrate any holiday is with stamping!  Right?  So, I'm happy to share the challenge from the folks over at Fab Friday:

I'm planning cards for my Christmas Card Club, so I changed the sketch just a bit.

Aren't the frosted finishes so pretty?  They have a flat back, so they are very easy to use.  I just stuck it on with a glue dot!  Very blingy and pretty!

Supplies used:

Stamp Set: Tags 4 You

Cardstock: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Smokey Slate

Paper: Winter Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Label Bracket Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Frosted Finishes and Coastal Cabana Ruffled Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween Stamp Camp!

I really love FALL.  and, HALLOWEEN.  It's just a really fun time of the year.  I enjoy the leaves changing, carving pumpkins, the fair, the costumes, the band performances at football games.... just all of it!  and MORE!

This fall, my husband and I will enjoy a trip to San Diego.  We've never been before, and I'm very excited to go!  I worked hard last year, and was able to achieve the Stampin' UP! Getaway trip.  So, we're going all expenses paid for a weekend of just US time.  I can't wait!  I love my job!

Today, I'd like to invite you to consider your Halloween decorations.  I'm doing a Halloween stamp camp this year.  We will make these fun projects.

We will make this fun Halloween banner, Halloween gift box and Halloween gift bag all for only $20.  I copied the banner from an example at this year's convention, and I copied that box from my fearless leader, Amy Storrie.  It's so cute! I had to include it!

Here's a close up of the gift box and bag.

If you enjoy Fall & Halloween as much as I do, I hope you'll join me at this class!  You'll have to contact me for more information.  

Thanks for stopping by!

August Stamp Club, Makes Me Happy!

Hello!

It's club time!  Stamp Clubs meet this week at my house.  Every month, we meet for a great project and some yummy snacks.  This month, we are making a project I found from Convention.

It's a little sack of note cards.  It makes me HAPPY!

I wanted to use the NEW crumb cake note card envelopes, and I changed the note cards up a little from what we received at Convention.  I'm excited with how they all turned out!  The new envelope liners framelits really step this project up a little bit.  And, they are so easy to use!  

I hope the stamp club members will enjoy this project!  And, if someone brings chocolate cake to the club meeting.... well, that wouldn't be the most horrible thing ever.  :)  I hope they can take a hint!

Thanks for looking!

You're Making Me Happy!

Hello Friends!

Today, I'd like to share another card from our recent card class.  I CASEd this card from my friend, Amy O.  I often do that.  I just love her ideas!

I hope you enjoyed the video about Washi Tape!  It's such a fun, easy product to use.  I actually used a piece from the Epic Day washi tape for this card.  The gals at card class love washi tape!  

I used the new stamp set, 'Hello, Lovely'.  It's got that great ampersand in it.  How much do we love a good ampersand?!?  Am I right?

Thanks for stopping by today!  Now, go create something!  You're Making Me Happy!!

Washi Tape & Tape It Stamp Set

I can't believe my good luck!  One of my favorite new stamp sets, in video format from Stampin' UP!   If you have a minute to watch this video, I bet you will find a new idea.

Stamp something to look like washi tape?  what?  I can't wait to try it!

If you decide this set is at the top of your wish list, you can log on to my online store anytime and place your order!



Thanks for stopping by today!

Gorgeous Grunge, all pinked out!

Hello!

Tonight is the card class!  I'm so excited and can't wait to share my cards with all the gals!   I recently received the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set for free from Stampin' UP!  I popped on over to my friend, Amy O's blog and CASEd (copy and share everything) this fun sample.  I LOVE it!

I changed it up a little bit.  Making it more simple, with less ink changes, for our class tonight.  I'm really happy with how it turned out, and it was very quick to make!

Supplies:
Stamp Set: Gorgeous Grunge, Chalk Talk
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Primrose Petals, Going Gray, Summer Starfruit
Big Shot: Chalk Talk framlits
Accessories: Primrose Petals ribbon

Thanks for looking!

Come back tomorrow for a fun video about one of my favorite new products... WASHI TAPE!

A Pretty Little Happy Birthday

Hello Friends!

Check out the great color challenge from Fab Friday!

It's such a pretty, soft color combo.  I pulled out my favorite stamp set, Sassy Salutations to make a simple card for our next card class.  Oh yeah, that's tomorrow!  :)

It was hard for me to make the color bars uneven, but I think the uneven-ness of it gives it a more casual, more pleasant feel.  I can't wait to see if the gals tonight leave their card stock uneven, or if they have to straighten it out.  Fun times!

Thanks for looking!

Happy. Too Much? Never.

Hello!

Sometimes, I sit down to create at my desk, and I have nearly NO IDEA what to do next!  (I'm sure that never happens to you, right?!)  I can always count on the folks at Freshly Made Sketches to give me a great idea!  Here's the challenge:

ACK!!  It's a SQUARE!  Square cards are so hard for me.  For whatever reason, (it's because there's not an envelope)  I normally avoid them, and I did this time too.  Luckily, a sketch challenge is an idea.  A starting off point.  I am creating some clean and simple cards to share with our next card class.  I came up with this:

I'm really enjoying these colors together!  I hope the gals at card class will smile when they see the sentiment.

Supplies:

Stamp Set:  Yippee Skippee

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple

Paper: Birthday Basics dsp

Big Shot: Tasteful Trims die, Deco Labels framelits, Alphabet press Embossing folder

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Thanks for looking!

Stampin' Up! Thinlits Card Dies

Hello Friends!

I'm excited to share with you one of our newest products!  THINLITS!  I can't wait to get this product in my hands and start creating some cards!

They are available to order now.  Just log on to my online store and make your selections.

Check out this quick video, but only if you're ready to fall in love with a new way to make cards!





Thanks for stopping by today!